Are ALL Rv's a Pile Of $h!t? Or Are We Just Cursed?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Our 1st significant problem on our brand new not even used yet 5th wheel camper. Come along as I diagnose and repair our slide wall that just detached all by itself for no good reason. Luckily it's nothing too major.
#rvmaintenance #rvrepairs #rvinspection #rvrenovation #rvcommunity #rvlife #kzdurango #newgenerationrv #newrvs #rvamerica #rvliving #rvlivingfulltime #rvtravel #rvtravels #rvlifestyle #gorving #rving
Why do you continue to buy new rv’s? Why not purchase a top quality previously owned unit that has had the bugs worked out? I have had excellent results purchasing in this manner.
Rv parks are now banning older rv's
Thats a myth I bought a 2011 and all I did was work on it. Then I bought a 2022 and all I do is work on it.
Mr. Carson, you are cursed. Mine RV has no frame and it is doing pretty good. It does have frames in the cabinets and blocking at the tie downs, and truck jacks.
It's from 1985. Made by Bigfoot. Sorry you can't have it, but I'm sure you have blown through your bad luck for the year by now.
Oh, just got to video end. Thank goodness.
@@dancarlin5434 Yup, but that is why I stick to state parks or go elsewhere...
Yes and Yes! You just have set your expectations to high😳
Whew! Glad it was self-repairable. Good job!
There is no aluminum flame???? Um…. Just put a Lowe’s shed on a trailer and call it a day.
I know that’s crazy! My 2006 Bounder has an aluminum frame and they lock into each other floor wall and roof for strength… I can’t believe what these new rigs are built out of…
@@bounderchris Mr. Bounder, we had a 2014 Bounder 36E and NEVER had a major problem with it. The Worst thing I can think of is we had to replace the 12V water pump. Had to be contortionist to get to it. Other than that nothing to really talk about. Normal maintenance.
Slide wall sides are still stick framed. The rest of the Durango frame is all aluminum. Not sure what the reasoning is there.
@@evanmartin7809 You lose structural integrity when you weld aluminum. You can get most of that back with heat treating but no manufacturer is going to do that. A few manufacturers use an adhesive instead of welding to mitigate this (Cedar Creek, Riverstone, and I believe DRV are some).
Whats odd is on your 337 rls that didn't have all the lag bolts, made me wanna look at mine.
My 2023 had lag bolts in all the holes.
It's pretty well known that stick-built trailers...all of them...are poorly built and bound to give you trouble. There are high-quality campers on the market, but you'll have to sacrifice space. But isn't camping about getting outdoors? Oliver and Escape both have reputations for exceptional quality and customer service. I've had my Oliver for a year-and-a-half and have had zero issues. I just returned from a 3-week trip and the Oliver performed flawlessly. I'll take a trouble-free, frustration-free camping experience anytime over driving a massive RV down the road.
That stinks Greg. Glad you fixed it and moved on. It’s my new motto with our 2024 GD. Nothing major so far but dealing with the dealership just gives me a headache so doing repairs myself!! Mark.
I wonder what the employee turn over rate is like in these Rv assembly lines !
While I don’t wish poorly built RVs on anyone, Greg, you jumped into your last 2 rigs so quickly that you didn’t take the time to sit back and do proper due diligence on options. Your whole process was wam bam buy. Take a deep breath and figure out what to do.
I was really hoping you would have better luck with KZ, thankfully you posses the skills! I now think all new RV's are junk!! I will be following along! Like always!
The Fix might be more valuable than the other issues.
Your fixes may be a good route for the channel.
My husband is like you...when he fixes things...its better than Fort Knox.
Great fix! What about the other sides of the slide and the other slides? Are they holding together or do you have plans to reinforce them the same way...
Sorry that happened too you Greg! I’m like you, then not much I can’t fix on an RV. If I can be a Diesel mechanic on a tour bus, RVs are no problem.
My advice, open the slides, park it, don't drive it anywhere, and it probably wont fall apart on you.
I’ve never seen a slide out, framed out in wood usually it’s aluminum, but I haven’t seen them all either
Gonna start calling you *Fix It Felix*! 🙂
And Kz says their GOLD campers are built for FULL TIME LIVING LOL
Why not just buy a Park model, set it up in your spot in Arizona, and haul all your toys and equipment on a flat bed trailer and go and and buy a regular camper for trips around your area. It seems to be a better solution to your problem. Seems all fifth wheel rigs are just junk
I'm with you, as much as you would like to make them pay to fix it, sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. Fix it yourself and be done with it.
I don’t think you’re cursed with bad luck. I do think your expectations of rv construction isn’t realistic. They are ALL junk. Just gotta keep repairing them an expect it won’t be the last repair. Like most RVs it’s built on a Lippert frame!
Hope you don’t experience any serious issues but…it is an RV regardless of brand 🙄
Personally I would have sister’d that split plate that you scabbed a piece in with another full length board affixed on top.
Wishing you better luck!
Skills pays the bills brother
I thought you had an Independent inspection? This is really crazy…..understand your ability to repair but the manufacturer should see this!
Greg, I've owned RVs since 1970. My first 2 RVs were the best ones. A 1976 Holiday Rambler, then a 1973 Fleetwood Terri travel trailer. Since then the industry has been in decline. Over the last 10+ years many notable manufacturers have been bought out by Equity Corporations and the quality counties to decline. In my opinion, the only higher quality units are made by family or privately owned factory direct companies like Oliver, Luxe, SpaceCraft, Brinkley and Pebble one of the new all electric RVs. Airstream, Tiffin, DRV and Heartland are now owned by Thor. Fleetwood, American Coach, Holiday Rambler, Lance and Renegade are owned by the REV Group. This corporate buy out is also effecting campgrounds. The bottom line for me is the industry has gone to hell in a hand basket.
I’m glad you got it fixed. Here’s a thought, you need to start building RVs. You would build them as solid as a rock and you would put most of the poorly built manufacturers out of business business.
I hate that your having such bad luck with your rvs. Did you look at Brinkley RV? I'm having very good luck mine. Z3100
Carson’s RV Repair!
Buy a brinkley, or Arctic Fox,
Brinkley is no better. Its grand design 2.0....
Well. glad you were able to fix it. Which I doubt very few of us RV would been able to accomplish. Personally, I think I'll hang on to my 2017 travel trailer 27.7 Prowler. Which I've had no problem with. Sounds like all the campers Manufacturers are turning out junk. Sense China released their military grade bio weapon on the World. Which they were never held accountable for.
Just my opinion, I would have clamped and glued that split board and put another one on top and glued and screwed it to the first. But your fix will work just fine. They put the board down in the wrong grain direction. 1-1/8” thick lumber is called 5/4.
Correct sir, the only time we EVER use 5/4 is when we do composite decking, I never dreamed I would see a 1' 1/8" x 1' 1/2" piece of wood used as a sill plate. I'm still reeling from the fact that it isn't aluminum square tubing.
Well it's fixed and you know what you got ,but there should be aluminium frames for those slide outs ,as they are they are flimsy.
I watched you at the manufacturer,shaking hands etc all the compliments bla bla bla ,and I thought to myself if that will become unwravelled if there are issues,and it's happened perhaps it's time to face off with these companies and let them know that you will complement them ,give a good review once you have owned it for a few months ,because all the BS and lip service is a hollow gesture when their products are not up to standard .
You better make sure that you carry your full complement of tools everywhere you travel !
Maybe turn the channel into a How to Fix a new RV motor home ,by the time you have repaired everything,it should be fit for purpose.
It’s a Thor product. They have the worst rep in the business
Who in their right mind,good or bad would sell you an RV.
As I said when you first introduced this new unit #3. Stop buying Thor products, they are all a POS! If you can afford it, buy a New Horizons and you will never look back.
This is our first KZ, the other 2 were from a different manufacturer.
Dude. Just take it back and go buy a Brinkley.
Some people are slow learners & don’t listen to reason
All RV's are junk.
Yep, I have had multiple RV's. If you are not a do it yourself kind of person you will be miserable owing a RV. Dont care which brand, they all have issues and you are better off doing your own fixes. Good job. Now you better go check out the other side of the slide. :)
I'm of the opinion of keeping things simple. No need for all of these slides. They will all fail eventually. Just get a travel trailer or try to find a fifth wheel with no slides. Remember your camping , You don't need a condo on wheels. If you want the luxuries of home, stay home.
Exactly. Anyone buying units with slides is just asking for problems. Slides suck.
I've had travel trailers since 1972. I would never buy a trailer with slides. The trailer loses a lot of strength when they cut that big hole in the wall for the slide.
I bought a 2019 with a slide that is 1/2 of the wall length. ZERO problems. It was built with a support frame around the whole thing where the slide comes out. This >2020 campers are failing everywhere... I did just have to replace my 6 year old (manufactured date) battery that came on my TT.
Yes, I bought a 16 foot Shasta about that time we used it for years.
Honestly, if you truly want to know what you're getting, schedule a time to tour the RV facility and spend a week there while they build your entire RV all the way down the line. Would be a great opportunity for you to film some content and see specifically where gaps might be.
100% JD, makes perfect sense. Hope all is well, brother.
+1 on the factory tour. We drover to Elkhart a couple of years ago to tour the Renegade plant when we were thinking of going the Super C route. Plans changed and we decided on going the travel trailer route and went to the Imperial Outdoors factory. That made up our mind for us and we now have an X195 in our driveway.
Rvs are all built the same. What I think matters is, if you are lucky enough to have a rig built by people who at the time of construction, knew what they were doing and cared about their work.
Why do you continue to buy new rv’s? Why not purchase a top quality previously owned unit that has had the bugs worked out? I have had excellent results purchasing in this manner.
You never fully explained what the dealer had to say. After saying that you were going to call then you went right into repairing it yourself???
And on another note, your last POS was never fully explained , but I guess there was a Nondisclosure siged..just a guess...need to let your subscribers know this crap if you're going to put out videos.
Why are YOU doing this????? You could void the warranty by doing this.
Hope not.
Because he will repair it correctly. If his repair doesn’t work out just take it to a dealer and don’t tell them you tried it yourself. They won’t suspect a scabbed in board but may suspect when they see the proper amount of fasteners correctly placed by someone who knows what they are doing.
@@jamesmcrae9238 First off his repair was crap....second they will know....no manufacturer would do a repair like that
@jamesmcrae9238 . Don't think Greg is that kinda person to hide the truth. Plus, it is already on UA-cam. He's a firm believer in being a stand-up straight man like myself.
@@waltfriedrich7631 lol good one. I would bet you $1000 his repair was better than most dealers would have done.
I fix my own RV as well. I agree with you, I can't imagine owing an RV if you're not handy and self sufficient to fix most things.
What is the over/under on the next NDA and channel wipe?
They run a 3/8 lag screw 1-1/2” from the end of a pos 2x2. What could possibly go wrong?
With such small 1x2 especially on a slide they should have used bolts, washers and lock nuts. That means they have to predrill holes especially that close to the end....daadaaa
What happened to the new 2nd Grand Design pulled away?
My dog took a crap once, it looked like a castle ..he then used his paw to create a mote ..it was a GRAND DESIGN
Greg....your expectations are not set too high. As a retired GC and I'm sure you can relate to this, we are accustomed to producing quality for our clients and building ongoing relationships for repeat business. Something that the RV industry just can't wrap their heads around. Their attitude is "faster, cheaper, cheaper, faster, cheaper, cheaper, faster, faster....send it off to the dealer and let them worry about fixing the issues.
Sounds like 21st production attitude of all things not just RVs. 🙄
Wood frame, good lord. My fiver has no wood in the framing, all welded alum and 100% hydraulic slides. Go get a Riverstone or better yet a custom New Horizon and be done with it. Might as well spend some of that GC money, you can't take it with you.
Tuber does videos on start to finish on Riverstone 5th wheels at the factory. Amazing to watch.
Shazam dude. You are not cursed. Your days of woe WILL get better soon. You're like me, I have that set of skills to fix anything wrong with my motorhome. If shiz hits the fan anymore, a you tuber has a 6 part series of videos on Riverstone 5th wheels. Each video has a section they cover at the factory from frame to finished product. The construction is out of this world, hands down the best on the market. Just watch the wall construction one and you will see. You guys keep the faith in being the great people you are. Always, Steve Robinson
You’re sure making us feel better about our RV’s! Yes, the key is avoiding dealers and doing repairs yourself or hiring a good mobile RV tech. We learned early on that the most expensive and timely repairs are warranty repairs!
Do some research!!! Any of theses companies that have high volume outputs you not going to get a quality built unit!!! Look for a company that only builds a few a day, not per hour! There are RVs out there but they don't come cheap, I think you have a Beer budget and expensive taste!!! Thor units are known to put lipstick on a pig!!! Good luck.
I cannot believe this happened to you again. I feel so sorry for you! Do the repairs you did void your warranty?
How about before you buy a unit, you have a qualified rv inspector look it over for potential issues! Then use that info to better negotiate a price that may include potential repairs! Be smart when buying any RV.
I’ve only been into RVs for a few years but it looks to me like physics is catching up. These units are just TOO BIG TOO UNDER ENGINEERED AND TOO MUCH TROUBLE. If you want a house buy a house. If you want to travel keep it simple and stop expecting too much from shysters whose morals don’t exist.
Thud, the sound of people cancelling their KZ orders because of your recent discovery 😮
You should have bought a Flagstaff or Rockwood.
We actually almost ordered a Rockwood Signature, we looked at a few models the dealership had but they were way too small for us, but they appeared to be a good build, I did like their suspension system they put underneath of them.
Well that wasn’t impressively built. Nice job on the repair. Might pay to double check the slide is centered in the opening.
I’d send them a $4k bill.😂
Nice repair job on the wall. I rather tackle repairs myself (and do things with pride) versus having to bring it somewhere else. Then you really know it was fixed correctly (and likely better than originally). Also the time you would spend taking it somewhere and having a long wait for the service center to repair it you can instead be camping and enjoying the great American outdoors!
ALL RV'S ARE CRAP!!! Your not alone, your the majority. UA-cam search DIY rv, and Converted to camper. You'll find Ambulances, Pusher diesel Busses, and hand built camper tops made of 2x4's gabled metal tin roofs, hand crafted on the truck bed. These rigs are the only ones that hold up. All commercially built RV's accept some custom diesel busses are Piles of POOP!!
They are all POS's. I don't care if it is a $100k fifth wheel or a $500k Class A.....crap, crap, crap workmanship and quality of materials. I'm never buying another RV.
You went from the mediocrity of Grand Design to the Yugo-like quality of a KZ? KZ!? I know you're friends with Dustin Simpson - he should have warned you that KZ is literally the Yugo of the RV industry. KZ RV. Oh my word.
All i can say is WOW, that wall is built like crap. Was it even insulated?
Seriously, as while back i told you you should have bought the Riverstone you panned by. I was not kidding and im still not.... You want a good unit, Riverstone or DRV. Both have good frames and hung wall construction. Yea they cost more but its worth it. They are not without issues too, they are RV's after all but they are not built out of scrap lumber.
Liz Amazing YT channel did a video on some RV folks she can recommend based on owner reviews and visits to the manufacturers. It seems the majority of the issues, along with poor workmanship are the slides. Lastly, it is pure BS that you pay this kind of money for these things and then you have to fix their crap.
OMG - that is terrible...those big RVs just aren't worth it....better to buy a smaller RV, they have less things to go bad....cheap materials and build quality...Canadian builds are much better.
I highly recommend looking into fiberglass RV’s, you will sacrifice in size some. But the longevity and quality and peace of mind are worth it. All you have to do is buff and wax once or twice a year and you’re good. You’d have almost never have a leak, or have to seal a roof as it’s two half’s mated together. I recommend looking at Oliver trailers. More budget friendly options are Bigfoot, escape, and then scamp and casita. I know many people including my boss and uncle that have put over 100k+ miles on their Oliver and casita, and not a single thing has ever broken.
Why won't you buy used?? What makes you think NEW is Better? The definition of insanity........
ohh boy, if you tought GD were bad quality, KZ is a whole nother level, and customer service support is virtually non existant. good luck
Infact all RVs are pieces of crap. Facts. Jayco would say. Oh you tried to fix it. That voids your warranty sir
That’s why you don’t buy a warranty.
@@jessedi I was referring to the factory warranty from the manufacturer . If you touch it they will say since you put hands on it that will void it. Ask me how I know .
It's sad that a person has to deal with the build quality of these newer units. You pay a premium price for garbage, IMHO all of these companies make pos products. It pays to have skills to fix this junk.
You should have bought a new outdoors rv. No one makes a better built RV i guarantee.but what do I know keep buying the kZ junk and I'll keep watching your videos and having a good laugh not at you but at the junk you buy lol. until the next RV happy trails. Ervin
That's a crazy failure, I don't think I've ever seen it happen before. Glad you have the skills to get it fixed though. Hopefully you don't have more problems! Our 382MBQ has been relatively trouble free so far.
It was definitely a new one for me. I'm just glad it wasn't anything too major. I will say I was 'unpleasantly' surprised to see those dinky little wall studs and tiny sill plate, made out of wood. Every manufacturer I've owned had aluminum square tubing as their wall structure, even in the slide boxes.
I will never buy another RV. They are all junk from the factory. Every time you pull one down the road, it is going through an earthquake. They are built with cheap materials and they charge an arm and leg. There is a reason why they only give you a one or two year warranty. Because they know they are junk.
Should of checked out outdoors rv out of OREGON they are built on thicker frames built way better then most out there thus far . if you had just gotten that why didn't you take it back make them replace or fix it
Don't feel too confident, the rest of your RV is built that way. It'll just be a matter of time before the low grade/knot filled lumber they used snaps apart.
Aren’t most modern RVs, aluminum framed with laminated walls, including the slides?
Sorry about your luck! You never get a break. Hope the company will step up and fix this big problem. Have a good day!
I think you know the answer to your question. We all should consider these units to be just loosely assembled kits consisting of substandard pieces. Throw away the parts that are garbage from the get-go and assemble the rest the way they should be assembled
Wow the build of that slide wall is like a cheap stick and tin trailer….
I’d get a Montana or a Solitude. I’ve been on factory tours for both and they are built way better.
When you buy cheap, low quality campers like KZ, this is what you get.
RV makers should be forced to hold the note if your camper goes to the shop more than 30 days, you stop paying the note, and you do not start back up until you have used it 14 nights to ensure repairs are done correctly.
I’ve been following your saga for a couple of months now, and when i saw what you replaced the G.D. with, i couldnt help but think, “man, this guys a glutton for punishment”. Best of luck to you! (p.s. Less. Is. More.)
I personally would be afraid to to do the work even though you are well qualified. What about the warranty,are you not avoiding it?
Great job on the fix, it probably would have been at the dealership for a month for that and still not as good as what you did. It’s so sad that if we want a new rig this is what we have to put up with. Things need to change!
Very true. I don't have time to take it here or there and then back and forth again, so to speak. I've definitely found if you want to be in the RV world you best know how to do some fix ups.
Just buy an airstream!
Boy im in the market for a new 5th wheel and im second guessing what to buy and how to over come the fear of having the troubles you are having good luck.
First - to answer your specific question, yes, you are cursed, lol. But also, great job! Based on our decade of RV experience, I have learned that if you can fix it yourself, DO IT! I hate to say this, but if someone is unable to perform at least basic maintenance, plumbing, electrical, and structural work, they should not own an RV. You will need to be able to perform most of these repairs yourself, and your RV will be better built in those areas you repair yourself, plus you will know how it's put together if you have any other issues moving forward. Waiting on a dealer or relying on a warranty is not a viable plan for most people, because you will be at the mercy of their schedules, and you will be without your rig for much of the time waiting for those repairs. I have lost track of the repairs I have performed on our RVs over the years (including an expensive diesel pusher). I've seen so many people freak out and run to the dealer or to their insurance company for what amount to relatively minor issues, most of which can be fixed in an hour or so. Just fix it!
Totally agree on all points, guys. I'm not much for waiting on anybody or anything, being a contractor we're always on the go and I always dive right in to fix my own problems. Thank you so much for being here and for the input.
This whole thing will collapse if you drive on a bumpy road.
We have the very same model only a 2023. Here are a couple of things you should look at before you load her up. 1) that really convenient upper shelf on the front (right behind the hitch) is held on by a few staples into the thin paneling behind it. Might want to reinforce that. I added 2 1x3 legs to it 15" each side of center and that seems to be holding. 2) the closet rods are just screwed into the same paneling with no backer boards. Might want to reinforce those as well. We also added a 33" wide cargo tray that makes the basement space very convenient also switched out the std battery for a 300Ahr lithium as the std deep cycle wouldn't last over a few hours. We are actually pretty happy with the rig and have over 10,000 miles on ours.
Right on. I was just looking at that closet rod system thinking I better reinforce that thing. Good to know about the storage bay just above the generator bay, I'm using that to house maybe 20lbs worth of our outdoor 10X12 rugs and our wheel covers but I will reinforce that area as you suggested. Glad to hear you're loving your 358RPQ, we sure love the floorplan. We never boondock but I was planning on adding another battery for the extra power reserves.
Werent those screws too large and long for the purpose they were used for ?
We bought a two year old Rockwood mini lite 4 years ago, and have had no major issues. Framed in aluminum tube, torsion suspension, etc. Hope you have better luck.
You just voided your warranty 😢 As one of your other viewer's said. It pays to be able to do your own repairs. Im glad for your repair, but I was worry at the start of the video. Enjoy!
I hope,(and assume you did), you made sure that those screws you put into that 1x1 1/4 wood at the base of your slide out wall do not protrude below the slideout floor, as that could tear up your floor. Good idea to change the channel name. "Cursed with the Carson's." Or might I suggest a few "Cussing with the Carson's"(I don't recall you ever cursing), or how about "Fixing your RV like it should have been built in the first place". 😅. You definitely have the necessary skill set to own a RV, that's for sure. Safe travels
Triple measured the thickness of the floor for certainty.
This is why a laugh when they say screwing a lag bolt into a block of wood is "structural" Doesn't take much pressure to split this whitewood as is demonstrated in this video. I would have felt a lot better to see hex bolts, large flat washers, and nylon lock nuts.
Lmao! Self inflicted abuse. Don’t buy anything until they figure it out. Buy something 2017-2019 when the cogs of the wheels were in motion.
Now there's a thought that did cross my mind, and you just gave me an idea, yes a new RV company built to last called 'Rock Solid RV', lol.
Park model brother…best move we’ve made.
A couple of years ago I bought a 2005 bounder after trading in my 1995 bounder to get this one with slides. I’ve always worried about the slides breaking constantly worrying every time I put them in and out, but so far they’ve worked better than anything else on the truck so I guess it’s all and who builds them.
Ps. You don’t need a huge pile of POS!
Buy a oliver or something and call it a day