RV build quality - Rant

[racerone]

There are few standards set for sturdiness / quality of the structure.-----Most buyers only look at cosmetics and convenience items.

 

[Scott Danforth]

torsion axles on these vs a spring axle, yes they ride better but the physics of a torsion axle mount puts all the stress on one section of the frame vs springs that spread it out over 2 mounts. If the frame is marginal, you can guess what will happen.

Frame will never be an issue again.

The frame mounting where the axle is attached has been addressed, along with adding the 2x2






The axle is a planned swap when this one dies

 

[nola mike]

You pretty much have a custom RV now...but aren't you always telling us about the design life of these kinds of things? Sounds like you have a bayliner on wheels.

 

[redneck joe]

You pretty much have a custom RV now...but aren't you always telling us about the design life of these kinds of things? Sounds like you have a bayliner on wheels.

 

[Lou C]

Same as with boat rebuilds you can build a better one than they will sell you. That’s why I rebuilt my old boat trailer

 

[WIMUSKY]

No wonder it feels like the roof gives a little when walking on it....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Aluminum stampings would have been lighter and about the same price, with a higher load capacity....

I know they make them because you can buy the replacements.



and you can find them with a google search. (this one is aluminum tube weldment)


I also have found fiberglass and injection molded reinforced plastic.

 

[flashback]

I guess it's what the manufacturer is used to using. Including retraining the labor. Sad.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Aluminum stampings would have been lighter and about the same price, with a higher load capacity....

I know they make them because you can buy the replacements.

View attachment 419702

and you can find them with a google search. (this one is aluminum tube weldment)
View attachment 419703

I also have found fiberglass and injection molded reinforced plastic.

That looks very strong. Researched my roof and the little info I found it sounds like I gave 5" wood trusses. The rest of the frame construction is aluminum. Of all places not to cheapen construction, the roof should be high on the list...

 

[JimS123]

I get plumbing and electrical issues..... seriously, have you ever met an Amish plumber or electrician?

However lack of sealing of roof racks, using zinc plated hardware vs stainless

WTF ...RVs are built worse than 80s bayliners

Yes and no.

It depends on what brand you buy. Even among the different labels manufactured by the same company there are differences in quality. It's all about the price point.

Our introduction into RVing was with a 13 year old Four Seasons (brand). After 26 years we gave her away and bought a new one. This year the old girl had her 60th birthday and is still in service.

One of the keys is that these things are not meant to be driven around (seriously....LOL). They are built light to minimize weight and that's why they fall apart. Even the plumbing and electrical systems suffer from all the bouncing around.

That's one of the reasons ours has lasted so long. It has been on a permanent site its whole life.

We bought one of the cheapest models as our replacement - a Jayco. It's now 12 years old and we have not had a single issue. OTOH, my buddy bought a similar Jayco and it literally rotted apart in 7 years. Same service.

If you want true quality, buy an Airstream. But it will cost about 3x what a comparable model costs. You get what you pay for.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you want true quality, buy an Airstream. But it will cost about 3x what a comparable model costs. You get what you pay for.

We did not buy cheap, as the NoBo was $42k - MSRP was higher because it had every option available - solar, a cold weather package, the bush kitchen, the roof racks, and a bunch of other options, then I added dual batteries, and a few other items. a 20 foot Airstream was about $80k at the time (now they are $92k).

we went this route because it was sold as an Off-Road RV, and it was better built than the Retro's or Vintage Cruiser's that we were looking at.

If I had to do it again, I think I would be building an aluminum frame and aluminum skinned trailer.

 

[Renken2000Classic]

Saw "Proudly Overbuilt" on a business truck some time back, probably a new construction company or the like, don't remember. They were probably lying, but it was a nice thought. The trick is getting the quality right without unnecessarily cutting into the profit. You gotta stay in business too.

Some stuff there is absolutely no excuse for though. No caulk/sealant for roof screws? Wow. Details can matter, obviously. Seemingly little stuff can bring down an airliner, when it all lines up just right.

The quality thing has to carry all the way through to the people doing the work, regardless of company slogans or good intentions up high. Understanding why (it has to be put together like so), and caring, could go a long way. One can be trained, the other not so much.

I wonder how much the high society culture we have now might play into this kind of thing, for American-made products. Smelling weed in the parking lot at my workplace is not an uncommon thing at all.

 

[bruceb58]

They make it "look" good on the outside but the inside not so much.
I also don't like the use of torsion axles on these vs a spring axle, yes they ride better but the physics of a torsion axle mount puts all the stress on one section of the frame vs springs that spread it out over 2 mounts. If the frame is marginal, you can guess what will happen.

Trailer Axle Leaf Springs vs Torsion Axles – The Engineering

How to choose a Trailer Axle? Should it be Leaf Springs, or a Torsion Axle for your Trailer? Here we look at the Engineering in the choice.

mechanicalelements.com

My friend's Rockwood Mini Lite that is not very old and has torsion axles...bent frame! I will never buy a trailer with a Lippert frame. His trailer is basically worthless unless it's parked somewhere to never move again.

I posted that link about torsion axles on here before. Not a fan!