Can’t wait to see the price and floorplan walkthrough on the 2025 381ckre. I think that is the one I am going to buy . Down to that one or the riverstone 44dbl.
RV Miles has been on this Class A issue and has some great info too! Can't even imagine our knowledge of the industry, trends and more importantly, the options available to us without people like you and a couple other fantastic UA-camrs! Thanks Josh & Abby & Jason!
CARB has been pretty clear that the law does not allow them to make exceptions and that any exception would have to be taken up with the legislature. Also the diesel chassis manufacturers can buy credits but from what I've heard is they a refusing to consider it. It isn't just the six states you mentioned that are signing on to the CA standards. There are others that have passed or are working on the same legislation. Also keep in mind that it the states that are choosing to implement this. No state is being forced against their will. As to removing California's ability to set its own standards there was a reason for them having it. The air was lousy and with LA and other metro areas essentially being bowls they had to and still have to be more aggressive to keep from returning to the brown air. I lived there during some of it. Nothing says summer time like a dull brownish orange sun at midday. I don't really see any consumer advantage to the dealer consolidation going on. It tends to reduce brands and models available in an area. I've also found the smaller dealers tend to beat the bigger ones on price since the sale means more to their business than the to the large ones. Service tends to get worse once one of the big chains takes over too. We don't really do the big family Thanksgiving get together anymore due to distance and children whose jobs require them to work the holiday. As a result some years back my wife and I started using the extra long weekend for a state park camping trip. It frequently turns out to be our last until after the holiday season so the trailer gets winterized and awaits our return to camping in late February.
Thank you for your comments about California. We have so many people, cars, businesses, that we have to do more than most states to keep our admissions low. I was young but remember when the pollution was really bad in LA.
Ditto, I grew up in terrible air pollution in LA before the elimination of lead in gasoline and required emission reductions. Thanks for the update Josh.
As an RV transporter I have been very surprised with how this fall and now going into winter has gone. Our load boards and yards are pretty thin. I was thinking with all the new Innovations and everything that the manufacturers were coming out with that they would be actually rolling those units out the door but that doesn't seem to be the case😊
Josh I'm a retired General Motors Service Manager and fixed operations is so critical to stay profitable. If your fixed op can pay all the bills the profit begins on each sell. Short story I had a roof problem with our 21 Montana HC 295RL which we love and took it to our selling dealer to have repaired and it was so poorly handled and after a month we took it somewhere else which we spent $8000 to fix our roof. We don't plan to purchase another RV but if we did we would not be going back to our selling dealer. Service operation has to be streamed lined for all customer either its COD, Warranty or Internal. Just my thoughts.
Yeah with your background you'd be absolutely gutted seeing the state of fixed ops in rvs vs autos. It's a completely different world I've done this a while now and have met more than a handful of auto service managers who have been gobsmacked at the culture shock between the industries Suffice to say the rv industry has at least 20 if not 30 years of catching up to do in that department vs auto
Mine was more of a dealer not caring about quality after the sale was made. If you are wonder which dealer - let me just say, they "GENERALLY" did not care
...in reference to auto-leveling for a travel trailer, I'm thrilled enough that newer trailers even have installed leveling jacks that can be adjusted with any ol' cheap electric drill (unlike my original 1990's 19-footer that required aftermarket jacks that you had to roll around in the dirt underneath the trailer to set up) . I can't imagine paying $2K extra for a self-leveling system instead of paying fifty bucks or so for a battery powered electric drill.... ...and congrat's on Three Nerdish Years. NaNaBooBoo to all the naysayers from me too, Josh!!!
You could take a trip to Germany to see the quality, floorplans and fuel economy of powered rv's there. I stopped in a dealership for fun and was amazed at what is available there. It sounds like instead of innovating, the US manufacturers are spending their money on lobbyists to fight improvements. I was shocked at what is available and the low costs of units there.
Another info-packed video. Thanks! I always look forward to the monthly reports. Just wanted to say that not ALL of the Michigan Snowbirds head to Florida. There are lots of them ranging along the Texas coast all winter as well. In fact, they call themselves "Winter Texans." Another Texas hot spot is along the Rio Grande River in what we call "The Valley." The upper midwest is well-represented down here from November through April, and when they pack up to leave, we year-round Texans wish we could go with them! Also want to comment on the auto-leveling issue. I owned a 2019 Jayco 330RSTS, 39.5 ft travel trailer equipped with the BAL auto-leveler. It was GREAT and FABULOUS when it was working, but, oh, my friend, when that baby didn't work, there was no joy in Mudville. I pulled into an RV park on the coast for a month-long stay one time, and the bloomin' auto-leveler wouldn't lift anything toward the front of the rig. I spent two weeks running downhill to the bedroom every night before the replacement part arrived. It was extra-fun taking a shower in that crazy funhouse too. Wow! This is where the RV'er's sense of humor is tested. Gotta laugh when things go wrong. Laugh or go home. Anyway... would I opt for another auto-leveler in a bumper-pull? Probably not. Also wanted to mention an aspect of RV'ing that I don't see much about online. Several years ago, I pulled into a large RV park and needed help setting up. The RV park employee who helped me got to talking. At one point, he made a sweeping gesture with his arm and said, "See all these rigs? Eighty percent of them weren't towed here by the owners. They hire people to tow them and set them up!" Well, heck if it isn't true. After that, I hired someone to tow that 39.5 foot Jayco Eagle around for me, and it was great! The market area I'm talking about draws RV'ers from San Antonio and Houston, TX primarily. I don't know if this is something that's done everywhere or not, but I'm pretty sure if you don't feel up to towing your rig, you can always find someone to haul it to a campground and set it up for you. This is especially nice if you want to spend a season somewhere. Such is the magic and the madness of the RV life. Where there is a will, RV'ers will find a way. Can't wait to see how these new restrictions on motorhomes in some states play out. Should be interesting! I'm now in a Class C myself, so I have a vested interest in this issue. Thanks again, Josh. Great vidoe!
Really wish they would make PHEV motorhomes and trailers. Offers a lot of functionality and flexibility while saving money. Sure, 15mpg isn't great but its way better than 6. Plus for those who don't need to go far for camping you could probably get the equivalent of 20mpg on a roundtrip with a full charge.
That's a technology that, on paper, always seemed under-utilized to me But i will be the first to admit I am NOT any sort of expert on any of that stuff. I'm sure there's reasons it wasn't more popular. I'm guessing it was cost-related
We've never felt auto-leveling was all that necessary. With a power tongue jack, front/rear pitch is pretty much effortless. Side-to-side is also pretty easy with the half-moon shaped drive-on levelers unless you're camping somewhere that is REALLY sloped (in which case you're going to have to drive onto something anyway!).
Agree. A Levelmate Pro and a set of leveling wedges are maybe $300. Much cheaper than a $2k auto-leveling system. And for me, I camp seasonal, so I set it and forget it.
When it comes to leveling, I have $90 Anderson levelers and a 4 foot level. After a couple of years I know how far to roll on it when needed to put that bubble in the middle. Same with front to back with the possible need to adjust the tongue jack. A couple of K pays for a lot of campsites. Hope you have a great turkey day and thanks for these videos.
I agree on the cost of auto leveling vs doing it myself. I can do a LOT with a few thousand dollars and leveling an RV has never been a major challenge for me
I tried the video you did with JD, couldn't get through the first few mins due to JDs droning on about his channel. He certainly likes to hear himself talk.
Well Josh, it sounds like things are maybe on the rise in a good way. Not crazy about the whole California ban, but hopefully they will be able to square things away. I think it’s ridiculous to think that everybody in the world is going to change over to electric vehicles to stop emissions. But whatever lol. I also like the new fifth wheel hitches that are coming out with. I think that’s gonna go a long way to helping out some of the major problems that frame flex/failure is affecting. And to be honest, I truly hope that the builders will start building more solid, reliable quality RVs. I think it’s about time especially after all this drama has gone on since Covid. I think it’s time for them to put out more quality rather than quantity. I know a lot of of it will increase the price, but I think that serious RV enthusiast and campers will pay the extra for a quality camper without a lot of the breakdowns right off the lot.Also, congratulations buddy for three years of hanging in there!🎉. As for me and my wife, we are totally grateful for everything that you do. We have an excellent idea of what we want out of an RV now thanks to you. Keep Rockin Josh 😊
My son is in the snow bike business. He tells me they sold out their first run of production, but now dealers aren’t ordering more units. There were some last year’s models from a competitor available at discounts and dealers took advantage of it. The 20+ % inflation since 2020 has worked to increase costs of all these recreational products from RV’s to boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, big pickups, etc. And a lot of quality is poor. I think the middle class American family is tapped out due to the cost of groceries, insurance, housing, education, transportation, medical expenses, and all the other costs of daily life. People just can’t sign on the dotted line for another high-interest payment for a purchase that may sit idle for 8 months of the year.
Always pay cash for toys and consider it a calculated loss. If you think that investing the money instead and the ROI will more than offset the current interest costs of financing (approx 9% for excellent credit) then good luck, you do you. I've never found it to be worth the hassle. If you're ok with the depreciation buy it and enjoy, if you don't have a pot to p*ss in than do without.
When i was in the Air Force in 1975 i was stationed at March Air Force Base when you got up in the morning you could taste and your eyes would burn from the smog . The bomb dump was 2 miles off base and 600 feet up a hill .when at the bomb dump you could not see the base . Denis from Santa Rosa Ca
I went through B-52 pilot training at Merced in 1970. We were out on a training flight and landed at the AF base at Riverside on night. Next morning we got up to go to chow and saw the yellow flags and people wearing masks. We started up and taxied to the end and the tower said we were cleared to takeoff when the KC-135 landed. I never saw it till it burst out of the smog and landed. We took off and when we got through a couple thousand feet, it was clear and sunny. Maybe it’s cleared up my now.
@@maxcorder2211 Ah heck, that's nothing! In the later 50s to mid 60s if you went outside you best not forget a knife & fork to cut your way down the road. It was that thick.
I like the air pin box .you adjust the air bag to the amount of load . The shock has a line to adjust to . I have a shocker air hitch for my travel trailer .
Re auto leveling. We moved from a small motorhome to a travel trailer in order to get more cargo carrying capacity. We looked into auto leveling but found out it added a significant amount of weight (cutting into CCC). If this new system isn’t as heavy, we’d look into it for sure.
Yeah on behalf of the Normal thinkers in California we're sorry for the ignorance. In regards to auto leveling for the misses and I it would be awesome to just be able to hit a button and it adjusts itself instead of pulling out the wrenches and level ( not lazy, just disabled). Again thank you for all the updated industry information Uncle Josh 👍
Concerning your question about leveling systems on TT. Yes, we want self levelers and are willing to pay for them. We have been looking at Cougars and the ones we want have them. My husband isn't sold on any of this camping stuff, so anything that makes it easier is good for me. We now have a 2017, 32 ft. motorhome, and I am the main driver. He has never been comfortable behind the wheel.
I only use my TT once a month so auto leveling would be a waste of money and time calling tech everytime it malfunctions. Most RV industries promote glampers who love the dressed up pigs. I've had all the different types of rigs but still the most memorable times have been in a tent, around a fire, and cooking over it.
Thank you for the information you bring to people, we plan in a year to do some traveling and researching for a well built 5th wheel for the money and Signature and Flagstaff seems like it. I understand one most take good care of it. Again thank you for what you do. Charlie and Darlene from NC
I would prefer electric auto-leveling, but wouldn't be willing to pay for it for my use case. I don't plan to move it around, so I'd only be leveling the RV once, re-leveling a bit after that, and then probably moving it one time after that. Doing that manually is no big deal. Looks like I'll be getting a destination trailer, so auto-leveling won't even be an option.
It might be a discussion worth having about how many jobs will be affected in manufacturing as well as dealerships, nationally and by state. That concerns me the most about this. How many factories will shutter? That’s a powerful argument.
Bought my new travel trailer last week. Grabbed a 2024 Keystone Bullet Bunkhouse with some of the end of year deals. Got it covered and winterized just before the snow fell! I would be interested in videos in the future on your recommendations for Tire pressure monitoring systems and solar inverter recommendations. Also, does changing out the tires on my truck affect stability and sway when towing? I heard that going to a 10 ply tire can make a world of difference.
Truck tires definitely can make a difference. Softer sidewalls will feel nicer when driving daily but the trailer can more easily push them around vs a stiffer sidewall I'm afraid I lack a bunch of experience with different TPMS systems to make the video you've requested but it's a great idea - something for me to consider down the line
New updates for travel trailers that I would like is across the industry disc brakes. Easy inspection and service. It would be be a great safety upgrade
Thank you Josh. The information is always interesting. Tip of the hat to you for remembering the pasting oof folks. In addition noting the awards company's have earned
There is absolutely no "Ban", the manufactures could easily purchase credits for about $10K per vehicle. What is that? About 5% of a diesel pusher? The chassis manufacturers knew this was coming, so they tried to use the RV upfitters to create a wedge issue so they could get a extension that would allow them to continue selling their heavy truck, the vast majority of their business, without purchasing credits. There is no possibility of an exemption, CARB has to follow the law. Any changes would have to be passed by the legislature. To learn more Google, union of concerned scientists diesel truck ban, they have a good background on what is happening behind the scenes
CArb website states that all motorhomes for personal recreational use are exempt anyway updated a few months ago I posted the links below. Yeah a few hoops to jump through for registration but there is def no ban
05:45 For once all the millions of dollars poured into lobbying by the industry to protect them from not engineering their products, from liability for lemons, as well as from other rules that affect other related industries didn't work? The shock is just palpable! Lobbying not working is a world in which RV manufacturers as we know them also don't work.
I noticed for 2025 Rockstaffs have auto leveling as an option on the Ultra Lites. I have no need for it. Just adds more complexity. The banana shaped leveling blocks and level mate pro work fine.
Thanks for the updates. I would be interested on autoleveling on something like an Ember that is made for off road if that was possible. I want it to be easier to setup as a solo traveler.
I loved my Riverside Retro trailer it was a great first camper!!!! I will be looking out for what=t they come up with especially what Sunset does for Bish’s. Thanks aging for the information!
Waiting for prices to follow the sales downward in the class B camper van segment, I would like one but unwilling to pay what I consider the extravagant prices.
Someone in my job is supposed to do stuff like convince you why class b's or truck campers are such a great deal But 100% real talk.. despite all my training and experience I still do not feel I can fully justify the price tags on those things
Hey Josh, do you have any insight as to when the new Furrion Chill Cube air conditioners will be available in the retail market? Thanx for the monthly updates. They keep me up to date.
I will name drop the acquisition because I was floored when I found out. Camping World has bought 7 locations from Lazydays. These were not small locations and a couple were newer locations. Phoenix @ Surprise, Nashville, Milwaukee, Omaha (Council Bluffs), Elkhart, Portland OR, and Woodland WA (Vancouver, WA).
👍🏻 it just feels wrong when I do it. Somehow no matter how I say it it’s like I’m somehow attacking another group and I don’t want to do that. It’s never my goal
@@JoshtheRVNerd Professionally, you would not be doing anything malicious to name them. You are just reporting on something that happened in the industry. Attacking another group would be calling out a certain dealership group for predatory sales practices on units that are garbage, and service departments I wouldn't trust to put air in my tires. We do need to ask ourselves how big we would allow a dealer group to get before the rest of the industry does start calling them out for being the Walmart of the industry. Crank out the volume at lower prices while not being able to stand behind or service the product. There isn't any concern for customer retention if they can entice the inexperienced consumer with what appears to be lower prices to replace the people they have pissed off. ***For any of the dealers across the nation that I talk to on a daily basis: These opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of my employer, and is strictly a hypothetical as this comment does not name any particular dealer group. But if the shoe fits, at least have the decency to lace that thing up and wear it.
@@JoshtheRVNerd No it should be THANK YOU Josh! I've been watching you for more than a few years ), creepy huh? 🥴) and straight scoop should be your middle name. Thanks for all you do Mister tight rope walker. I hope some day to thank you in person. (More creepyness)😊 😊😊😊
My $0.02 on the self leveling... If a person is super stingy about a $2K product that makes setup easier and faster, they probably shouldn't be buying a $30K+ RV. I would happily pay a bit extra for the convienance personally.
It would be hard to believe that my new class B Travato would be banned as its GVWR is around 9300 lbs. It's got the latest technology and gets around 18 mpg. Hopefully it applies to new vehicles only and not retroactive. Now you know why my state is hated so much!
Auto leveling is on the list for our expected purchase laye next year. Husband has horrible knees that will be replaced at some point. Anything that keeps him from adjusting under the camper is a plus. Lol. Thanks for the updates!
We bought a fifth wheel instead of a travel trailer because it had auto leveling. Yes I definitely would pay the $2000 for auto leveling on a travel trailer.
If a RV manufacture wants to sell 89 gas or diesel RV's in California, they first need to buy 11 electric vans, such as the Rivian built Amazon van, then sell those electric vans, and then are allowed to sell 89 gas or diesel vehicles. It is a 11 / 89 ratio they need to maintain. Ford with all of the Lightings and Mustang Mach E they are selling, and the Transit electric vans they are selling, they have the ability to sell many thousands of class C and class A motorhome chassis, along with the popular F-550 and F-600 pickup based RV chassis. They can even sell a F-650 as a RV chassis.
@ thank you for the response. I love it. So many people are surprised by how many extras I have in it. I have the loaded model. Underrated company in my opinion. Keep up your amazing videos and energy.
We will be buying our next travel trailer with auto level, At our age this one of the big hassles of setting up our camper. It seemed this feature tries to force me to buy 5th wheels so it will be great to have this feature, we want Windows, auto level, Multi use areas, even a murphy bed to add another multiuse area , instead of just a place to sleep.
I understand the regulations - in the 70s and 80s, air quality was awful. You don't want to vacation where you can't breathe. We were trying to move to the PNW but have decided to move to Vermont instead. I just don't want to subject my dogs to a cross country move and Vermont is a 2 state drive away instead.
We actively seek techs with certifications and regularly send those who express desire to stay long term for certification I would prefer all techs certified but the number of trained techs isn’t there and we aren’t always able to send every person every time All work is overseen and signed off by a senior tech or shop advisor
First of all, Josh, we love the videos. Second, some of these new "requirements" will go away when the old regime leaves. And those states that are trying to "ban" diesels are primarily blue states. As far as the big 3 auto makers, Stellantis is laying off both colors of the collar workers. We all know we're living in a depression. Times are tough. So, as you said, after an election, people go back to living their lives. It'll be better now. Sit back and watch. Love the videos, keep up the good work.
In New York where I live our Governor passed legislation banning propane in all new construction of homes. There is now talk in New York to out law RV's parked on streets with propane tanks. The tank does not need to have propane in it. Just remove the tank from your RV. The lane change gizmo has also been in trucking for years. It is VERY helpful. In truckin' down the road i have never encountered a RV during a bad lane change. The only downside would be having too many lights and bells going off which could become a distraction. Not surprised that New York is on the ban the diesel pusher list. Our Governor is on a bender to clean up the state. Street sweepers have been seen on Interstates all over the state. Which isn't a bad idea and the roadways do look better. But we wonder where is the money coming from to do this since no other Governor has done it since the '60's! The diesel pusher manufacturers need to come out with an all electric pusher. Great info video need. Thanks for sharing.
Not entirely correct. 2022 is the last full year this information is available. That year California does lead the nation, followed by New York. None of the other states make the top five, which is finished out by Texas, Illinois, and Florida.
We're sme of those that y'all "hate", as we camp year round in SC. Booked for February and will be booking a trip for MLK weekend as soon as we get the kids sports schedule.
Go to AZ Exert on youtube and look at his review of a 1999 Pace Arrow he posted yesterday 11/30 and see how they use to build them . Compared to that unit todays stuff is junk.
Hi Josh big fan of the channel! I’m a bit confused, you mentioned that the zero emissions deadline isn’t until 2036. Can you clarify why the “ban” would start in 2025? I apologize if I missed something in your explanation.
Virtually all businesses forecast increased revenue from year to year. Inflation has some effect on this. But, if they were forecasting a decrease of, say 10-15%, they would have to prepare for it by cutting expenses and people in advance. And they won’t, they’re always optimistic and usually suffer for it.
I work in the Jay Flight line at Jayco. We have enough orders that we are going up in production and adding more guys.
Gotta love the Jayco RV's. ♥
That’s awesome to hear
Can’t wait to see the price and floorplan walkthrough on the 2025 381ckre. I think that is the one I am going to buy . Down to that one or the riverstone 44dbl.
Happy 3 year anniversary Nerd!! 🥳
Thanks!
RV Miles has been on this Class A issue and has some great info too! Can't even imagine our knowledge of the industry, trends and more importantly, the options available to us without people like you and a couple other fantastic UA-camrs! Thanks Josh & Abby & Jason!
I agree - the more voices in the space the better for sure! They're one of the few sources I personally trust
CARB has been pretty clear that the law does not allow them to make exceptions and that any exception would have to be taken up with the legislature. Also the diesel chassis manufacturers can buy credits but from what I've heard is they a refusing to consider it. It isn't just the six states you mentioned that are signing on to the CA standards. There are others that have passed or are working on the same legislation. Also keep in mind that it the states that are choosing to implement this. No state is being forced against their will.
As to removing California's ability to set its own standards there was a reason for them having it. The air was lousy and with LA and other metro areas essentially being bowls they had to and still have to be more aggressive to keep from returning to the brown air. I lived there during some of it. Nothing says summer time like a dull brownish orange sun at midday.
I don't really see any consumer advantage to the dealer consolidation going on. It tends to reduce brands and models available in an area. I've also found the smaller dealers tend to beat the bigger ones on price since the sale means more to their business than the to the large ones. Service tends to get worse once one of the big chains takes over too.
We don't really do the big family Thanksgiving get together anymore due to distance and children whose jobs require them to work the holiday. As a result some years back my wife and I started using the extra long weekend for a state park camping trip. It frequently turns out to be our last until after the holiday season so the trailer gets winterized and awaits our return to camping in late February.
Thank you for your comments about California. We have so many people, cars, businesses, that we have to do more than most states to keep our admissions low. I was young but remember when the pollution was really bad in LA.
Ditto, I grew up in terrible air pollution in LA before the elimination of lead in gasoline and required emission reductions. Thanks for the update Josh.
Happy anniversary! We really like the tourists here in Florida - y'all help to keep us income tax free. 🤩
lol :)
Thanks Josh! Appreciate the details and the updates. Going to be an interesting year ahead that’s for sure!!
agreed. I'm not sure how else to even phrase it right now
Yet another fun and informative video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insight.
As an RV transporter I have been very surprised with how this fall and now going into winter has gone. Our load boards and yards are pretty thin. I was thinking with all the new Innovations and everything that the manufacturers were coming out with that they would be actually rolling those units out the door but that doesn't seem to be the case😊
That’s a good sign in a way - if you’re delivering then dealers are restocking and getting ready for sales
Josh I'm a retired General Motors Service Manager and fixed operations is so critical to stay profitable. If your fixed op can pay all the bills the profit begins on each sell. Short story I had a roof problem with our 21 Montana HC 295RL which we love and took it to our selling dealer to have repaired and it was so poorly handled and after a month we took it somewhere else which we spent $8000 to fix our roof. We don't plan to purchase another RV but if we did we would not be going back to our selling dealer. Service operation has to be streamed lined for all customer either its COD, Warranty or Internal. Just my thoughts.
Yeah with your background you'd be absolutely gutted seeing the state of fixed ops in rvs vs autos. It's a completely different world
I've done this a while now and have met more than a handful of auto service managers who have been gobsmacked at the culture shock between the industries
Suffice to say the rv industry has at least 20 if not 30 years of catching up to do in that department vs auto
I can prove people don’t care about RV quality. The proof is that people keep buying them.
Mine was more of a dealer not caring about quality after the sale was made. If you are wonder which dealer - let me just say, they "GENERALLY" did not care
i'll say no to auto levelling, too much money and too complicated. an rv is a rolling diy project and needs to be kept simple
...in reference to auto-leveling for a travel trailer, I'm thrilled enough that newer trailers even have installed leveling jacks that can be adjusted with any ol' cheap electric drill (unlike my original 1990's 19-footer that required aftermarket jacks that you had to roll around in the dirt underneath the trailer to set up) . I can't imagine paying $2K extra for a self-leveling system instead of paying fifty bucks or so for a battery powered electric drill....
...and congrat's on Three Nerdish Years. NaNaBooBoo to all the naysayers from me too, Josh!!!
I respectfully 100% agree
And ty for staying until the end of the video!
You could take a trip to Germany to see the quality, floorplans and fuel economy of powered rv's there. I stopped in a dealership for fun and was amazed at what is available there. It sounds like instead of innovating, the US manufacturers are spending their money on lobbyists to fight improvements. I was shocked at what is available and the low costs of units there.
Love the Brinkley Model I!!
😊
Another info-packed video. Thanks! I always look forward to the monthly reports.
Just wanted to say that not ALL of the Michigan Snowbirds head to Florida. There are lots of them ranging along the Texas coast all winter as well. In fact, they call themselves "Winter Texans." Another Texas hot spot is along the Rio Grande River in what we call "The Valley." The upper midwest is well-represented down here from November through April, and when they pack up to leave, we year-round Texans wish we could go with them!
Also want to comment on the auto-leveling issue. I owned a 2019 Jayco 330RSTS, 39.5 ft travel trailer equipped with the BAL auto-leveler. It was GREAT and FABULOUS when it was working, but, oh, my friend, when that baby didn't work, there was no joy in Mudville. I pulled into an RV park on the coast for a month-long stay one time, and the bloomin' auto-leveler wouldn't lift anything toward the front of the rig. I spent two weeks running downhill to the bedroom every night before the replacement part arrived. It was extra-fun taking a shower in that crazy funhouse too. Wow!
This is where the RV'er's sense of humor is tested. Gotta laugh when things go wrong. Laugh or go home. Anyway... would I opt for another auto-leveler in a bumper-pull? Probably not.
Also wanted to mention an aspect of RV'ing that I don't see much about online. Several years ago, I pulled into a large RV park and needed help setting up. The RV park employee who helped me got to talking. At one point, he made a sweeping gesture with his arm and said, "See all these rigs? Eighty percent of them weren't towed here by the owners. They hire people to tow them and set them up!" Well, heck if it isn't true. After that, I hired someone to tow that 39.5 foot Jayco Eagle around for me, and it was great! The market area I'm talking about draws RV'ers from San Antonio and Houston, TX primarily. I don't know if this is something that's done everywhere or not, but I'm pretty sure if you don't feel up to towing your rig, you can always find someone to haul it to a campground and set it up for you. This is especially nice if you want to spend a season somewhere.
Such is the magic and the madness of the RV life. Where there is a will, RV'ers will find a way. Can't wait to see how these new restrictions on motorhomes in some states play out. Should be interesting! I'm now in a Class C myself, so I have a vested interest in this issue.
Thanks again, Josh. Great vidoe!
Really wish they would make PHEV motorhomes and trailers. Offers a lot of functionality and flexibility while saving money. Sure, 15mpg isn't great but its way better than 6. Plus for those who don't need to go far for camping you could probably get the equivalent of 20mpg on a roundtrip with a full charge.
That's a technology that, on paper, always seemed under-utilized to me
But i will be the first to admit I am NOT any sort of expert on any of that stuff. I'm sure there's reasons it wasn't more popular. I'm guessing it was cost-related
Industry updates, always a must-watch! To the naysayers 😜
Thank you 😊
We've never felt auto-leveling was all that necessary. With a power tongue jack, front/rear pitch is pretty much effortless. Side-to-side is also pretty easy with the half-moon shaped drive-on levelers unless you're camping somewhere that is REALLY sloped (in which case you're going to have to drive onto something anyway!).
Yeah it's very dependent on the campsite and the type of leveling you're doing.
Agree. A Levelmate Pro and a set of leveling wedges are maybe $300. Much cheaper than a $2k auto-leveling system. And for me, I camp seasonal, so I set it and forget it.
When it comes to leveling, I have $90 Anderson levelers and a 4 foot level. After a couple of years I know how far to roll on it when needed to put that bubble in the middle. Same with front to back with the possible need to adjust the tongue jack. A couple of K pays for a lot of campsites. Hope you have a great turkey day and thanks for these videos.
I agree on the cost of auto leveling vs doing it myself. I can do a LOT with a few thousand dollars and leveling an RV has never been a major challenge for me
Thank you for all the industry updates. Excellent video.
Thanks for watching!
I tried the video you did with JD, couldn't get through the first few mins due to JDs droning on about his channel. He certainly likes to hear himself talk.
Well Josh, it sounds like things are maybe on the rise in a good way. Not crazy about the whole California ban, but hopefully they will be able to square things away. I think it’s ridiculous to think that everybody in the world is going to change over to electric vehicles to stop emissions. But whatever lol. I also like the new fifth wheel hitches that are coming out with. I think that’s gonna go a long way to helping out some of the major problems that frame flex/failure is affecting. And to be honest, I truly hope that the builders will start building more solid, reliable quality RVs. I think it’s about time especially after all this drama has gone on since Covid. I think it’s time for them to put out more quality rather than quantity. I know a lot of of it will increase the price, but I think that serious RV enthusiast and campers will pay the extra for a quality camper without a lot of the breakdowns right off the lot.Also, congratulations buddy for three years of hanging in there!🎉. As for me and my wife, we are totally grateful for everything that you do. We have an excellent idea of what we want out of an RV now thanks to you. Keep Rockin Josh 😊
Ty!!
I can easily avoid those states !!!
My son is in the snow bike business. He tells me they sold out their first run of production, but now dealers aren’t ordering more units. There were some last year’s models from a competitor available at discounts and dealers took advantage of it. The 20+ % inflation since 2020 has worked to increase costs of all these recreational products from RV’s to boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, big pickups, etc. And a lot of quality is poor. I think the middle class American family is tapped out due to the cost of groceries, insurance, housing, education, transportation, medical expenses, and all the other costs of daily life. People just can’t sign on the dotted line for another high-interest payment for a purchase that may sit idle for 8 months of the year.
Always pay cash for toys and consider it a calculated loss. If you think that investing the money instead and the ROI will more than offset the current interest costs of financing (approx 9% for excellent credit) then good luck, you do you. I've never found it to be worth the hassle. If you're ok with the depreciation buy it and enjoy, if you don't have a pot to p*ss in than do without.
Thanks for another informative RV update. I hope you and your family have very happy holidays.
Glad to be of service!
When i was in the Air Force in 1975 i was stationed at March Air Force Base when you got up in the morning you could taste and your eyes would burn from the smog . The bomb dump was 2 miles off base and 600 feet up a hill .when at the bomb dump you could not see the base . Denis from Santa Rosa Ca
I went through B-52 pilot training at Merced in 1970. We were out on a training flight and landed at the AF base at Riverside on night. Next morning we got up to go to chow and saw the yellow flags and people wearing masks. We started up and taxied to the end and the tower said we were cleared to takeoff when the KC-135 landed. I never saw it till it burst out of the smog and landed. We took off and when we got through a couple thousand feet, it was clear and sunny. Maybe it’s cleared up my now.
Wow that’s kinda crazy
@@maxcorder2211
Ah heck, that's nothing!
In the later 50s to mid 60s if you went outside you best not forget a knife & fork to cut your way down the road. It was that thick.
Thanks..Officially updated now..
Glad to be of service
Happy 3 year anniversary. Thanks for the information.
TY
Thanks Josh
You got it!
I like the air pin box .you adjust the air bag to the amount of load . The shock has a line to adjust to . I have a shocker air hitch for my travel trailer .
Thanks for the input!
Re auto leveling. We moved from a small motorhome to a travel trailer in order to get more cargo carrying capacity. We looked into auto leveling but found out it added a significant amount of weight (cutting into CCC). If this new system isn’t as heavy, we’d look into it for sure.
It'll still add more weight but not as much as some previous systems
Yeah on behalf of the Normal thinkers in California we're sorry for the ignorance. In regards to auto leveling for the misses and I it would be awesome to just be able to hit a button and it adjusts itself instead of pulling out the wrenches and level ( not lazy, just disabled). Again thank you for all the updated industry information Uncle Josh 👍
You bet
Concerning your question about leveling systems on TT. Yes, we want self levelers and are willing to pay for them. We have been looking at Cougars and the ones we want have them. My husband isn't sold on any of this camping stuff, so anything that makes it easier is good for me. We now have a 2017, 32 ft. motorhome, and I am the main driver. He has never been comfortable behind the wheel.
TY for letting us know!
I only use my TT once a month so auto leveling would be a waste of money and time calling tech everytime it malfunctions. Most RV industries promote glampers who love the dressed up pigs.
I've had all the different types of rigs but still the most memorable times have been in a tent, around a fire, and cooking over it.
TY Dennis
I appreciate the info you talk about it helps me even though I can't buy yet it is good to know
My pleasure. TY for listening :)
Thanks nerd!
My pleasure. TY for watching
Thank you for the information you bring to people, we plan in a year to do some traveling and researching for a well built 5th wheel for the money and Signature and Flagstaff seems like it. I understand one most take good care of it. Again thank you for what you do.
Charlie and Darlene from NC
Thanks Charlie and Darlene! You’re going to love those 5th wheels
I would prefer electric auto-leveling, but wouldn't be willing to pay for it for my use case. I don't plan to move it around, so I'd only be leveling the RV once, re-leveling a bit after that, and then probably moving it one time after that. Doing that manually is no big deal. Looks like I'll be getting a destination trailer, so auto-leveling won't even be an option.
I've heard that sentiment before.
It might be a discussion worth having about how many jobs will be affected in manufacturing as well as dealerships, nationally and by state. That concerns me the most about this. How many factories will shutter? That’s a powerful argument.
Yeah i'm curious to see the impact
Bought my new travel trailer last week. Grabbed a 2024 Keystone Bullet Bunkhouse with some of the end of year deals. Got it covered and winterized just before the snow fell! I would be interested in videos in the future on your recommendations for Tire pressure monitoring systems and solar inverter recommendations. Also, does changing out the tires on my truck affect stability and sway when towing? I heard that going to a 10 ply tire can make a world of difference.
Truck tires definitely can make a difference. Softer sidewalls will feel nicer when driving daily but the trailer can more easily push them around vs a stiffer sidewall
I'm afraid I lack a bunch of experience with different TPMS systems to make the video you've requested but it's a great idea - something for me to consider down the line
I live in Washington St, and we don't even do emissions anymore.
Thanks Nerd!
#nerdherd🎉
New updates for travel trailers that I would like is across the industry disc brakes. Easy inspection and service. It would be be a great safety upgrade
I don't hate that.. at all
Great info Josh. Curious on diesel ban. Is it just purchases? If so, nothing prevents consumers to traveling to a neighboring state to purchase.
That’s my loose understanding but there’s almost more UNknown than known
I'd pay the $2k for auto leveling. Good video!
Thank you!
I would also
Thank you Josh. The information is always interesting. Tip of the hat to you for remembering the pasting oof folks. In addition noting the awards company's have earned
You bet. My goal is always to be fair
There is absolutely no "Ban", the manufactures could easily purchase credits for about $10K per vehicle. What is that? About 5% of a diesel pusher? The chassis manufacturers knew this was coming, so they tried to use the RV upfitters to create a wedge issue so they could get a extension that would allow them to continue selling their heavy truck, the vast majority of their business, without purchasing credits. There is no possibility of an exemption, CARB has to follow the law. Any changes would have to be passed by the legislature. To learn more Google, union of concerned scientists diesel truck ban, they have a good background on what is happening behind the scenes
CArb website states that all motorhomes for personal recreational use are exempt anyway updated a few months ago I posted the links below. Yeah a few hoops to jump through for registration but there is def no ban
Thank you RV Hero
My pleasure
Easy on the hero front. There are more deserving of that title 😊
Josh.....Bish's needs to give you a big bonus !!!
@@thompsongl I saw a ladder outside that Josh could climb up for a raise.
Screenshotting for the boss 😆
@@JoshtheRVNerd, I have the ladder ready for ya
For $2.000 i will level it myself.. it takes 10 min at the most
I feel the same way
05:45 For once all the millions of dollars poured into lobbying by the industry to protect them from not engineering their products, from liability for lemons, as well as from other rules that affect other related industries didn't work? The shock is just palpable! Lobbying not working is a world in which RV manufacturers as we know them also don't work.
I noticed for 2025 Rockstaffs have auto leveling as an option on the Ultra Lites. I have no need for it. Just adds more complexity. The banana shaped leveling blocks and level mate pro work fine.
Yeah that's new. More and more I wonder if the "Signature" series has a place in the lineup though they sure are nice to go thru!
Great job, as usual, Josh.
TY!
Thanks for the updates. I would be interested on autoleveling on something like an Ember that is made for off road if that was possible. I want it to be easier to setup as a solo traveler.
I've never seen it on a smaller unit like that before but I’d love to if they ever do make it!
Thanks Nerd!! Also quick question, what are your thoughts on the ProPride hitches?
Spendy but excellent
For me Autoleveling is not necessary, I do not plan to move it. Now if I was towing it alot, very necessary!
They do provide excellent stability thankfully
I loved my Riverside Retro trailer it was a great first camper!!!! I will be looking out for what=t they come up with especially what Sunset does for Bish’s. Thanks aging for the information!
TY Craig!
@ Sorry about the sloppy auto correct and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!
I call it "Auto Corrupt" lol :)
I'm interested in auto leveling for travel trailers, especially on the Brinkley model I
TY Jeff. I'm surprised at their price point that hasn't been offered - at least initially
I suspect in time it'll become available
Waiting for prices to follow the sales downward in the class B camper van segment, I would like one but unwilling to pay what I consider the extravagant prices.
Someone in my job is supposed to do stuff like convince you why class b's or truck campers are such a great deal
But 100% real talk.. despite all my training and experience I still do not feel I can fully justify the price tags on those things
My concern is eventually they could just ban even licensing or registration of these big RV’s in those states.
You're right the Green New SCAM should end once President Trump gets into office!
Hey Josh, do you have any insight as to when the new Furrion Chill Cube air conditioners will be available in the retail market? Thanx for the monthly updates. They keep me up to date.
apologies I do not
I will name drop the acquisition because I was floored when I found out. Camping World has bought 7 locations from Lazydays. These were not small locations and a couple were newer locations. Phoenix @ Surprise, Nashville, Milwaukee, Omaha (Council Bluffs), Elkhart, Portland OR, and Woodland WA (Vancouver, WA).
👍🏻 it just feels wrong when I do it. Somehow no matter how I say it it’s like I’m somehow attacking another group and I don’t want to do that. It’s never my goal
@@JoshtheRVNerd Professionally, you would not be doing anything malicious to name them. You are just reporting on something that happened in the industry. Attacking another group would be calling out a certain dealership group for predatory sales practices on units that are garbage, and service departments I wouldn't trust to put air in my tires. We do need to ask ourselves how big we would allow a dealer group to get before the rest of the industry does start calling them out for being the Walmart of the industry. Crank out the volume at lower prices while not being able to stand behind or service the product. There isn't any concern for customer retention if they can entice the inexperienced consumer with what appears to be lower prices to replace the people they have pissed off. ***For any of the dealers across the nation that I talk to on a daily basis: These opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of my employer, and is strictly a hypothetical as this comment does not name any particular dealer group. But if the shoe fits, at least have the decency to lace that thing up and wear it.
I have a Rockwood 30 ft 5th wheel (2023) and don’t have nor want auto leveling. Just another thing to break.
Ty bill
@@JoshtheRVNerd No it should be THANK YOU Josh! I've been watching you for more than a few years ), creepy huh? 🥴) and straight scoop should be your middle name.
Thanks for all you do Mister tight rope walker. I hope some day to thank you in person. (More creepyness)😊 😊😊😊
We were at a campground in Myrtle Beach in mid-November and saw one of your Bish’s Fixit vans.
Yeah we have a mobile service crew there
Well After 3 Year's Your Full Time Now. By The Way Thank's To You all My Kid Did Not Get Dad's Camper. 😁👍
My $0.02 on the self leveling... If a person is super stingy about a $2K product that makes setup easier and faster, they probably shouldn't be buying a $30K+ RV. I would happily pay a bit extra for the convienance personally.
It would be hard to believe that my new class B Travato would be banned as its GVWR is around 9300 lbs. It's got the latest technology and gets around 18 mpg. Hopefully it applies to new vehicles only and not retroactive. Now you know why my state is hated so much!
As far as I know there will be a line in the sand with a cutoff date but again.. there are almost more questions than clarity on this topic
Always thorough & accurate. 👍
Much appreciated
I appreciate your informative candor . ( Guess I spelled it rite )
You make knowing and learning entertaining.
Yep! You got it!
13:05
⚠️
Kinda scary there 😮 ! Wondering how long that was open 🚪 ?
Not long. That was a freshly delivered rv from the factory. one of our folks apparently didn't get the door shut at check in
Keep up the great work, NERD! 🤭😇
It’s always appreciated
Travel Trailer auto level is not worth the cost to me. Just my thoughts. I always love your update videos.
I personally agree but that's just me
Auto leveling is on the list for our expected purchase laye next year. Husband has horrible knees that will be replaced at some point. Anything that keeps him from adjusting under the camper is a plus. Lol. Thanks for the updates!
I’ve heard similar before
We bought a fifth wheel instead of a travel trailer because it had auto leveling. Yes I definitely would pay the $2000 for auto leveling on a travel trailer.
Ty. Appreciate the perspective
That was a great discussion
Ty
Great video. I wouldn't ever consider living in any of the 6 ultra progressive blue states.
If a RV manufacture wants to sell 89 gas or diesel RV's in California, they first need to buy 11 electric vans, such as the Rivian built Amazon van, then sell those electric vans, and then are allowed to sell 89 gas or diesel vehicles. It is a 11 / 89 ratio they need to maintain.
Ford with all of the Lightings and Mustang Mach E they are selling, and the Transit electric vans they are selling, they have the ability to sell many thousands of class C and class A motorhome chassis, along with the popular F-550 and F-600 pickup based RV chassis. They can even sell a F-650 as a RV chassis.
Ive read articles that it's a certain number of chassis in certain classes. That also counts things like box trucks and things like that as well.
That’s the problem - there are so many interpretations and lack of clarity as to what exactly will be happening
Love my sun lite 16bh classic. Are they an independent builder or are they part of the big three builders. Sorry can’t find that answer. Thanks
Sunset Park is a totally independent little guy. That's why this was kind of surprising
@ thank you for the response. I love it. So many people are surprised by how many extras I have in it. I have the loaded model. Underrated company in my opinion. Keep up your amazing videos and energy.
There's a LOT to be said for taking a more basic camper and "tricking it out" really
Josh, would love to see a Bish's location in PA. Just putting that out there if ya'll look at expanding in the future.
Man.. I'd love some more coverage. We lack stores in a lot of regions for sure
We will be buying our next travel trailer with auto level, At our age this one of the big hassles of setting up our camper. It seemed this feature tries to force me to buy 5th wheels so it will be great to have this feature, we want Windows, auto level, Multi use areas, even a murphy bed to add another multiuse area , instead of just a place to sleep.
More options are becoming available
Auto leveling is optional in a fair number of trailers now but often not stocked to keep pricing aggressive
I don’t want to pay for auto leveling. Or for extra electronics. If I want extra crap, I’ll buy it and install it myself.
I understand the regulations - in the 70s and 80s, air quality was awful. You don't want to vacation where you can't breathe. We were trying to move to the PNW but have decided to move to Vermont instead. I just don't want to subject my dogs to a cross country move and Vermont is a 2 state drive away instead.
We don't winterize here. (S. Alabama 😂) The hubby grew up in MI. We only visit during the summer. 😊
Sunbirding!
Do you send all your mechanics to the NRVTA to learn about the RV systems that they work on?? They are much different then cars and trucks.
We actively seek techs with certifications and regularly send those who express desire to stay long term for certification
I would prefer all techs certified but the number of trained techs isn’t there and we aren’t always able to send every person every time
All work is overseen and signed off by a senior tech or shop advisor
First of all, Josh, we love the videos. Second, some of these new "requirements" will go away when the old regime leaves. And those states that are trying to "ban" diesels are primarily blue states. As far as the big 3 auto makers, Stellantis is laying off both colors of the collar workers. We all know we're living in a depression. Times are tough. So, as you said, after an election, people go back to living their lives. It'll be better now. Sit back and watch. Love the videos, keep up the good work.
I will be curious to see how the legal battles over emissions plays out
diesel fuel is on the way out some states it is hard to find away from interstate the big problem is world trade ships
I would happily pay for the extra option of auto level.
ty for the feedback
In New York where I live our Governor passed legislation banning propane in all new construction of homes. There is now talk in New York to out law RV's parked on streets with propane tanks. The tank does not need to have propane in it. Just remove the tank from your RV.
The lane change gizmo has also been in trucking for years. It is VERY helpful. In truckin' down the road i have never encountered a RV during a bad lane change. The only downside would be having too many lights and bells going off which could become a distraction.
Not surprised that New York is on the ban the diesel pusher list. Our Governor is on a bender to clean up the state. Street sweepers have been seen on Interstates all over the state. Which isn't a bad idea and the roadways do look better. But we wonder where is the money coming from to do this since no other Governor has done it since the '60's!
The diesel pusher manufacturers need to come out with an all electric pusher.
Great info video need. Thanks for sharing.
Well hopefully a logical middle ground is found
The leveling system would be nice, but for the extra price, it's not worth it to me. I will stick with my orange blocks.
TY Mike
At $2k I would definitely opt for auto-leveling.
TY Bill
Those 6 states are the highest in debt states in our country!!! Cali is more in debt than over 30 other countries!!!
Not entirely correct. 2022 is the last full year this information is available. That year California does lead the nation, followed by New York. None of the other states make the top five, which is finished out by Texas, Illinois, and Florida.
@@packetman1 Your wrong. You need to do serious research and you see I am right.
@@packetman1 He said countries not states. California is in huge debt, but the illegals are well taken care of.
We're sme of those that y'all "hate", as we camp year round in SC. Booked for February and will be booking a trip for MLK weekend as soon as we get the kids sports schedule.
i think it's awesome you get to really put them to use like that
We're just jealous :)
If they ban the sales. Then they will ban them in their roads. Heres an idea. Ban all vehicles from driving in my state?
Go to AZ Exert on youtube and look at his review of a 1999 Pace Arrow he posted yesterday 11/30 and see how they use to build them . Compared to that unit todays stuff is junk.
Hi Josh big fan of the channel! I’m a bit confused, you mentioned that the zero emissions deadline isn’t until 2036. Can you clarify why the “ban” would start in 2025? I apologize if I missed something in your explanation.
It's a progressive rollout where each year emissions requirements get tighter. It hit a point some suppliers weren't able to meet guidelines
@@JoshtheRVNerd Thank you sir. Truly appreciate all the effort and info you put into your videos.
#RVNerdHerd 😊 🎉 😊
39:36 I didn’t know that!
So yeah!!, what Josh said!!
That was the end of the video - not sure what you're referencing but ty for watching!
@ oh the stick your head and poo poo comment about the naysayers. 😆
oh lol :)
Virtually all businesses forecast increased revenue from year to year. Inflation has some effect on this. But, if they were forecasting a decrease of, say 10-15%, they would have to prepare for it by cutting expenses and people in advance. And they won’t, they’re always optimistic and usually suffer for it.
Yeah it seems to be the case
I'd absolutely pay for the automatic leveling.
TY Peter