mdprince
Santa Clarita, CA
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Joined: 11/13/2004
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When we bought our new stick house about 11 years ago, I had all sorts of little things that had to be fixed, adjusted, you name it. The new microwave stopped working on day 2, there were squeaks in the floor, etc. Got it all fixed in short order.
Same with the Rev we bought new in 06. It's like buying a new house sitting on a new truck !
Took a while to get everything sorted, and when I could fix it, I did, and usually better than the dealer. As another poster suggested, it's a work in progress but I wouldn't change a thing.
2006 Revolution LE 40E
2004 Jeep Rubicon Toad/Brake Buddy or
20' Toy Trailer/Quads 'n Dirt Bikes
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hottubkid
SCHAUMBURG,IL
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Joined: 12/29/2004
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Usually on a new house you don't have to fight to get it fixedRIGHT the first time
mdprince wrote:When we bought our new stick house about 11 years ago, I had all sorts of little things that had to be fixed, adjusted, you name it. The new microwave stopped working on day 2, there were squeaks in the floor, etc. Got it all fixed in short order.
Same with the Rev we bought new in 06. It's like buying a new house sitting on a new truck !
Took a while to get everything sorted, and when I could fix it, I did, and usually better than the dealer. As another poster suggested, it's a work in progress but I wouldn't change a thing.
hottubkid60193@yahoo.com
2004 SOUTHWIND 36E Tow 2003 CRV
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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An RV is a lot like a boat. When we lived in Seattle we owned a cruiser. It was an excellent boat--one of the best made--but it was moored in salt water and was a never-ending maintenance job. While our RVs haven't been quite that bad for required work, it seems like things do crop up on a regular basis.
I agree that a stick house is much the same, but not nearly as much fun to work on! 
2000 Born Free 24RB Class C
2002 Honda CR-V toad
Roadmaster Sterling A/T towbar
VIP braking system
Eddyline Merlin kayak
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LLT
VA
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Joined: 12/02/2005
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You're combining a house and a vehicle -- there's always something to fix or tinker with, depending on your level of anal retentiveness.
I spent two years fixing problems (big and small) -- at first, it's frustrating... I reached a point where I was contemplating getting rid of it, but I turned into a challenging hobby and now I enjoy tinkering and performing all of my own maintenance. I've learned a lot.
Just roll with it (sic) or find another recreational activity because this one will drive you crazy. 
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marvmarcy
Polson, MT, USA
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Joined: 04/19/2003
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hottubkid wrote:Usually on a new house you don't have to fight to get it fixedRIGHT the first time
mdprince wrote:When we bought our new stick house about 11 years ago, I had all sorts of little things that had to be fixed, adjusted, you name it. The new microwave stopped working on day 2, there were squeaks in the floor, etc. Got it all fixed in short order.
Same with the Rev we bought new in 06. It's like buying a new house sitting on a new truck !
Took a while to get everything sorted, and when I could fix it, I did, and usually better than the dealer. As another poster suggested, it's a work in progress but I wouldn't change a thing.
My last new house was a nightmare. The builder required every problem be submitted in writing. When they ignored my letters, and I called to find out what happened to my written requests, they told me they couldn't address any phone calls and to submit my problems in writing. That happened over and over until the "warranty" period was over and they refused to do anything.
My last dpmh had a significant repair in the factory service center. I found the repair wasn't done properly after I sold the mh and the buyer sued me for misrepresenting the unit's condition. Then the mfr refused to stand behind their repair.
I'm much happier with my Newmar fifth wheel than I was with any of the seven mhs I owned.
Marv
2001 Volvo VNL42T420, ISX450/1650, super 10sp w/GearMaster
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLRK (20K GVWR, tandem duals)
Piaggio MP3 400 scooter
RVing since 1979 - Fulltime since 2000 (mostly CO, MT, NC & Key West)
Retired USAF
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jy
south east mich.
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Joined: 01/17/2004
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I have a 99 MH that I bought in 2000 with 15k miles.It now has 70k miles.Every trip I take I keep a notebook near by and write down everything that needs repair.If I can repair it on the road I do and cross it of the list.If not I repair it at home before the next outing.If you don't keep up with the list pretty soon you'll have a 100 items to fix.JMHO.
99 Coachmen 322QB, Ford V10,10 foot Haulmark trailer for dirt bikes, Ford Ranger toad, Gibson exhaust,Royal Purple lubricants.
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Grillmeister
Iconoclast
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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Quote:Every trip I take I keep a notebook near by and write down everything that needs repair
That is what I do 
Show me the GRILL and STAND BACK!!!!
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Bionic Man
Colorado
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Joined: 04/03/2009
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IMO, quality control in the RV industry is significantly below just about any other industry. I agree that there is more to an RV than a car or a boat, but come on they should still be better.
I've bought two new 5ers. Both of them had multiple PAGES of things that needed to be fixed. Some things may be attributed to the complexity of an RV, but most boil down to poor QC. For example, on my current coach many of the places where something should be fastened with three screws were only fastened with one. Or the fact that my pre-wired, generator ready, unit was wired improperly, and Gulf Stream was unwilling to fix when I installed a generator about two months after warranty ran out. I could go on and on.
Compare that to my boat (purchased new, NEVER been back for repair) or my truck/Jeep/300C, which have had almost no problems.
I also wish that someone would come into the industry and build a competitively priced unit with attention to QC. Until then, I would just say that you have a typical RV. Once you get the "bugs" worked out after a year or so, you should really enjoy the unit.
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 HO Cummins
2002 Sea Hawk 32' 5er
2004 Crownline 216 LS 350 MAG
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dennis16002
Butler, Pa, USA
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Joined: 01/11/2004
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I would check around the engine, there may be 2 valves to shut off the coolant flow to the dash heater. Next I would find a different mechanic, your coach has self adjusting brakes, & it has NO rotors, drum brakes & dust shields, you can't see the rear brakes unless the wheels are removed & the drum taken off.
DHS
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jwmII
out west
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Joined: 05/12/2003
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It's interesting in that as long as the RV industry has been around the buying public has not learned and accepted that most of them if not all of them are junk. When you really get into the inner workings and see the sloppy workmanship and low quality of these things it is anybodies guess how these things hold together as well as they do.
There is very limited skilled workers on the assembly lines.
They don't even clean out the saw dust and wood chips and wire peelings from the internal unseen areas. Everything is stapled. There are no nice wood joints in the cabinetry. The name of their game is throw it together,ship it and bill it and get on the next one.
And imagine this,after slopping these things together and selling them with a healthy profit margin they for the most part can't stay out of bankruptcy court.
jwmII
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