3 LIES RV salesmen tell - from a RV tech!

[@DoubleGChargo]

I’m disgusted enough that I’m not buying an rv. I’ve been in a self converted cargo trailer for the last five years. My stuff doesn’t break. My parts can be bought at Home Depot or Amazon. My camp chef instant water heater finally quit at almost six years old. My $160 dorm style fridge started making noise so I replaced it. No big deal. I’d rather keep my hard saved monies in my pocket than give it to a dealership or salesman.

[@barbaralawrence5617]

YES, please do a series on truck size vs. RV. We're looking at 35ish foot 5th wheels and an F350 dually with a gas engine (based on our travel style). We keep reading conflicting and confusing information.

[@951WoodworkDesigns-bx4kn]

I’m not an expert by any means, but based on my research, you’ll need a 1 ton dully. A gas engine is okay, but a diesel has far more torque which will not only be very helpful every time you pull from a stop or travel up a hill, but diesel engines also have what’s called an exhaust brake which will help to keep your speed reduced while traveling downhill and save your brakes. I believe it’s also easier on the diesel to pull a 5th wheel vs a gas engine. These are at least issues or questions you should ask. Don’t talk to an RV salesman about what truck or engine you should purchase as they aren’t qualified and will likely agree with whatever you suggest, or tell you that you can tow with an F250 as they’re cheaper. It’s also going to depend on the weight of your 5th wheel and the tung weight. You need to make sure that the truck will not only handle the tung weight and is able to pull the trailer weight, but in addition to the tung weight you also need to consider the weight of everyone and everything that will be in the truck while towing the RV. The F350 dully will be sufficient to tow the rig, but if you don’t mind maybe a little worse ride, but a far sharper turning radius which is extremely helpful with a 5th wheel, you might consider an F450. I think it’s probably overkill for your needs and, no doubt it’s far more expensive, but you won’t beat the turning radius. Good luck with whatever you purchase!

[@rnordquest]

If your mission is coast to coast 5 times a year and you’re in a hurry it may not be the best choice. If you’re going local 5 weeks a year, no problem. Don’t get too much truck either. The trailer was designed with a certain truck suspension in mind. For example an F650 would pull it just fine but the suspension harshness would likely cause frame issues.

[@dougharder6258]

They all lie, but my experience is, Camping World is the worst. When you call them out they just follow with more lies.

[@w1tjl]

I went to a few camping world dealerships and both lied about the refrigerator type, claiming it was a 3 way, (propane, 110 and 12v). When I signed the contract I was told they were mistaken snd that model only came with a 2 way fridge. They would not upgrade it and basically said take it or leave it

[@hoytoy100]

Just bought a travel trailer from a camping world dealer. You have to know what you need/want and can tow/carry before you go in to negotiate a price for your pre-selected rig. Like a vehicle, if you just walk in wide eyed with no research done, the sales folks will sell you a nice bridge in Brooklyn.

[@lobowynnTV]

I’ve heard nothing but negative responses about camping world

[@professionalinspectionserv9468]

Yet folks continue to buy from them...

[@CfRlCajunfishRiplips]

When I was shopping for a new RV a few years ago out of 5 dealers Camping World was the worst place I ever been. Lies on top of lies. I never seen so many hidden fees. Mom and pop dealers are the best to shop at in my experience. Those big box dealers hate someone with a little business sense and when you ask to get up on the roof watch them try to distract you.

[@Steve-yo4ld]

Easy to remember, no salesman is your friend! And also remember, you can never have too much truck, but you certainly can have too little! Just because your vehicle is rated for xy&z doesn't mean you should, especially if you're planning on full-time!👍

[@smore7633]

Please do a video of truck size and how to check you weights for towing. You do a great job on your videos 👍

[@johnharris6655]

After a good career selling computers my dad retired before computers he sold cars. He would tell the younger salesmen to never lie to a customer. There is nothing worse than an unhappy customer who never comes back. Case in point, a guy came in looking to buy a large 5th wheel and only had an F-150 to tow it. My dad told him that his truck could not safely tow that big of a 5th wheel, and he would be happy to show him some smaller trailers he could tow safely. The customer told my dad "I have looked at that same 5th wheel at 3 other dealers and they all said I could tow it, you are the first one to tell me the truth, I was actually going to trade in my F-150 for something bigger but looking for an honest dealer." The RV dealership was also owned by the ford dealer across the street. My dad walked him across the street, sold him a new F-350 crew cab with dual wheels and a 7.3 L power stroke and then sold him the 5th wheel he wanted. Sale back then came to about 90K. There was a reason my dad at 70 years old out sold the younger guys.

[@Qpitmaster]

Not all RV salespeople 'lie'. Our RV dealer is 15 minutes from my house and when we bought ours (brand new in the spring of 2020), we made it a point to have a relationship with our dealer. It's a family owned dealership and the general manager now knows me personally. Any maintenance work to be done such as roof inspection, wheel bearings, A/C maintenance, I'm slotted in at the front of the line. I've referred the dealership to my friends and they have bought RV's from them. I even door-dashed them cookies and treats for the whole tech team to thank them for all their hard work and to show appreciation. It's the same situation with our Chevy dealer. We are fortunate to have a dealership that's close-by that values relationship building. It goes a long, long way to RV enjoyment. Love your videos by the way....

[@ecowise9700]

Sounds like you are good a bribing your way for preferential treatment.

[@Qpitmaster]

@@ecowise9700 Bribe? How about just being a good person and thanking them for good service. Not a thing wrong with doing that.

[@kevincameron8437]

There can never be too much education on picking the correct tow vehicle, so yes, post more about that topic. And I think self education is the key to not getting hosed by salesmen. I had one that said my Ram 2500 would tow most anything, which led me to believe he didn't know anything about payload and diesels....So, you have to go into the showroom knowing your vehicle and it's capabilities. Thanks for sharing.

[@raydaigle2945]

We bought our new RV in 2019 from a camper/RV show. Delivery was a month later at the showroom location. When we did our walkthrough we noted the sink was different then the unit they showed us at the show. We brought it to the salesmen who tried to convince us it was the exact same unit. Fortunately my wife had taken some photos at the show and we were able to show them the correct sink. It was at this time we also realized the stove was different as well. They were able to find the correct unit and have it ready for us within 2 weeks. The moral of the story is, take lots of pictures when you are signing the papers.

[@outbackwack368]

We had this happen to us when we were considering a small travel trailer for our Hyundai SUV. The SUV was rated at 3500 pounds and they wanted to sell us a trailer that weighed 3500 pounds. We abruptly left.

[@Gary-dc2nm]

In the early 90’s I worked for an Oldsmobile dealership. We had an elderly couple come in with brake problems. When the car was brought into the shop it had a weight distribution hitch on it. Mind you this was a new olds 98 with a 3800 v6 and they were pulling a 34’ travel trailer. Their brakes were brunt so bad that the pads and shoes fell apart when dissembled. We were surprised they had already towed it almost 600 miles wondering why the transmission wasn’t burnt up as well considering how weak those 440 transmissions were. Never the less the dealer didn’t warranty any work and the said the RV salesman assured them that their car was perfectly ok to pull the trailer. Never let any salesman tell you what you can do without getting more information. Thanks for the videos.

[@lightdancer2251]

I loved Oldsmobile..I had a beautiful old wagon, yellow and cream colored, it floated…wish I still had it… now I drive Subaru outback’s…still love a wagon..ish…

[@ttman5069]

Definately need a video (calculator)on truck - trailer weight towing compatibility. Problem is that RV’s are coming from the factory at a weight that doesn’t match the sticker, so the calculations will be off from the start without a good scale weight for the specific trailer. Common lie we got - we will fix that before you leave. You better triple check before you sign anything because the sales department communicates poorly with the service department, and doesn’t control when they will work on the unit!

[@TheBob17543]

Actually, every unit has a sticker on that shows its exact weight when it was weighed after it was built! It is illegal to place incorrect stickers on , which is the reason they weigh each unit individually. On all Forest River units you can find these stickers in the door jam.

[@mwaynem]

A lot of 1/2 ton trucks have the CGVW for a lot of trailers but don't have the vehicle GVW. just because you're truck has combined GVW of 15,000lb doesn't mean that you can safely tow a 9,000lb trailer.

[@niveknospmoht8743]

As a certified ASE Mechanic I whole heartedly agree with number 1. 1/2 ton trucks are not built or designed to tow anything more than a single axle trailer 5th wheel or not. Passenger car rear axles and brakes with 4 ply tires is just the beginning of that potential nighmare

[@codytripp6822]

You have no clue and shouldn’t be giving anyone advice on towing. 🤣😂 My 1/2 ton has 11,000lb towing capacity and a 2,000lb payload capacity on OEM E rated tires. ASE doesn’t mean you know shit about tow capacities of trucks and by your comment it’s evident you are clueless.

[@mikemorgan5815]

1/2 ton pickup can safely carry 2 people and 3 bags of groceries and maybe 2 bags of dog food.

[@amahana6188]

I told an RV salesman at an RV show to stop telling ppl they could tow a 30 foot, 8000lb TT with a Ford Explorer. In front of a few ppl. He absolutely didn’t care that he was giving out dangerous and reckless information like it free candy.

[@thechroniclesofmaintenance4192]

Good video. The first six of our eight new RVs was purchased from a local family owned dealership that had earned my trust with decades of good service and fair purchases. Good people running their business the way it should be. New RV #7 was a toy hauler and they didn't have any offerings so we went to Camping World. Silly me thinking all dealerships were honest and trustworthy like that family owned dealership. CW tried to pull a couple fast ones during purchase, but the real living hell was trying to get service. Oh the stories I could tell.

[@HikeCacheRepeat]

I work at an RV dealership and agree about all of this! I advise every customer to research before buying. Know what you're getting into so that your purchase is going to be exactly what you want. Pay attention!

[@johnharris6655]

Every time I think of buying an RV I check into a very nice hotel and forget the RV.

[@timburton9514]

Amen! We sold our RV 3 years ago, saved up and are going to Alaska next month.

[@justaviewer111]

Funny, I opened a second window to search for your video on matching tow vehicle to RV as you were asking if you should do one! Yes! However, as a member of some forums, this area is a minefield of strong opinions, anecdotes, warnings and bad info. Be sure to cover wind loading for light but large, tall and boxy trailers. Don't be afraid to sprinkle in some post accident photos of wrecks on the freeway. In fact there are some dash cam channels that will show you actual videos of this. Scary stuff for sure. It's amazing to me just how easy it is for a vehicle to flip over even on much slower city streets and rural roads so you don't even need a freeway to kill yourself or others.

[@JoltsFTW]

RV salesman here! 👋🏻 Saying that RV salesmen get paid more for selling a bigger RV is nothing short of crass. We get paid on the profit margin, not the total cost of a trailer like say a realtor would get paid on a percentage of the cost of the house. So, I could sell you a $20k trailer that has $5k of markup and make more money than a $100k trailer that may only have $2-3k of markup due to old age, competitive market, etc. Although it seems raional to assume that just because an RV is more expensive, it makes more money, a lot of times that is just not the case! Looping all salesmen into this label that you're creating is not at all fair to our image. I work at a family owned dealer in TX and am very cautious with my clients on towing requirements, and also prioritize my clients' needs more so than getting a high-paying deal. After all, you treat people right and fairly, all it does it drive more sales for you through referrals and repeat business. Take care of people, and they will take care of you. I may be an RV salesman, but I consider myself more of a people salesman that provides recreational vehicular service. I am here to be a guide, a friend, and to build a relationship. I make a living talking with people and maintaining a good relationship, so I believe I have the best job there is! Disappointed to hear people have one bad experience at a large corporate dealership and then loop all people with the same job title into the same description. Maybe give your smaller, more local dealers a chance instead of these multi-million dollar companies and you will be surprised at the service that you receive!

[@Robnord1]

Valid points, one and all. I do mobile RV repair, and interact with salesmen and other local dealer personnel all the time. Salesmen integrity and expertise varies wildly from one individual to another, even at one dealer. My favorite salesmen are at the smaller dealers, and are not afraid to use the phrase "I don't know" or "I'll find out and get back with you". .

[@Drvinnieboombatts]

I bought a Jayco brand new, dealership said they PDI it, took it home to find a cut in the water tank, a screw hole in the top window seal and gauges in the skylight so that it could leak. Called them they denied everything and their service department was backed up 3 months. Just…. These dealerships are terrible to us American customers, I hired an independent tech to fix the issue s. What’s crazy is I put a terrible google review and a day later the sales manager spent 3hrs trying to convince me it wasn’t their fault and if I could take it off. 😮

[@ScottRoberts-r5d]

Thanks. When I was a brand new RV tech, all I did was PDI’s.

[@edmrowiec1936]

I had the same experience at CW. One of the so called Half-ton towable trailers was way over on the payload (not the GVW) and the sales guy just told me to put airbags on the truck and they could even set me up (ya right!). The most interesting thing was that when he wrote up the deal the cost of the trailer was more than what was advertised on their website and that included taking my trailer as a trade (so basically giving me $0 on the trade). He said the price on the website was an error. Needless to say I still have my old trailer.

[@SpykersB]

I have read your type of story about CW price dramatic increase when sitting down doing the numbers $; so many times from others these past few years, definitely glad u walked away. 🍻

[@shiftfocus1]

I guess I was lucky. Or maybe I had read enough to spot the obvious BS when we bought our TT. But they did REALLY push the extended warranty. As I recall they offered 3 additional years for $2500, with scare stories of “do you know how much a fridge costs?” I didn’t, but asked around, and quickly realized I’d be better off putting the $2500 aside rather than giving it to them. And as it turned out it was 11 years before I had to replace that fridge.

[@bretvanzanten]

I had seen a floor plan I loved online but the dealer did sell that brand so he tried showing me similar floor plans. I poked my head inside and said nope, doesn't have or allow for xyz. He told me there is no such thing as that floor plan, and there is no such thing as a perfect floor plan so you have to give a little to find the perfect trailer.

[@hermes6587]

With two trailers I bought, a travel trailer and a 5th wheel, when making the purchase we were not only asked what vehicle we had, but actually wanted to see it to insure we had enough towing capacity and said they would negate the sale if the vehicles were not up to snuff. Those were the good examples. On the other hand years ago I read on a forum from a guy who when purchasing a TT specifically asked if his truck could tow it and the salesman told him "no problem". On his first trip to Colorado heading up one of the mountain passes, his truck was struggling so much, he could not go over 15mph and then started smoking. It ended up destroying his transmission.

[@CopCat34]

We went to Camping World to see a Cougar 22rbs or a 25rds. The salesman struggled to open the doors for both travel trailers. He explained that this was common and that they had an RV straightening box, similar to a frame straightening device for cars and trucks. Once the trailer is straightened, the doors will open easily. We left that dealership and went to another one. We went to look at a Forest River Wildwood travel trailer. There was a huge bulge in the middle of the floor, the cabinet door had fallen off, and windows would not slide open. The salesman at that dealership explained these were normal wear and tear items. All travel trailers we looked at were brand new and not used. We live in the Southwest, and we were surprised that these trailers could not make it 1,000 miles without literally falling apart.

[@chesshead3943]

Wow! Thanks for sharing!

[@ccut1955]

I don't have any stories of lies, but when we bought our fifth wheel I did a lot of reach of the floor plans, weight, axles and construction. So when we decided on the rv of our choose the sales we were dealing with tried but failed to impress us because we even my wife knew more about the rv we want than he did. It was fun experience and then the finance was another story. All I can said is if you say no enough to their add ons they will give them to you for buying the rv from them.

[@Shuffler703]

Many RV sales folks were selling cars or something else a few months a go. They are not professional RVers.

[@undercoverrvtech]

Thanks for watching and commenting! My goal with these videos is to put pressure on the RV industry to improve

[@h20fowler2012]

When I was shopping for an RV, I knew the tow limits of my vehicle. And payload is the number I was concerned with most. I was looking at rigs with a tongue weight u day 600lbs. (Dry). Multiple sales people told me with a WDH even a 1K tongue weight wouldn’t matter bc the wdh will distribute most of that weight. I also had sales people tell me that the occupants in the vehicle, and the stuff in the bed of my truck did NOT count towards tongue/bitch weight. I also reminded them that the posted numbers from most manufacturers did not include batteries and full propane tanks in their numbers, which is why it was called dry tongue weight. You will max out your payload limits way before your tow limits. Stay under payload, and know what it includes, and you’ll more than likely stay safe. I also had a 3rd party inspection on my new 2024 trailer. My dealer welcomed the inspection. Which is one of the reasons I bought from them. They also tried to push me towards a WDH they sell “with every trailer they sell”. I did my own homework, and got my own hitch, again due to tongue weight. Great video.

[@coolwater55]

Liked your comment, but tongue/bitch weight...? Hope you weren't talking about the missus!😂

[@kenwiltshire7834]

Yes I would like a lesson on how to select the right tow vehicle

[@nickkercheval2704]

My RV salesman told me he WOULD NOT pull any RV with a half ton!

[@sarahann530]

Why not. ?

[@nickkercheval2704]

I should have said any 5th wheel RV

[@sarahann530]

@@nickkercheval2704 I don't know of many 5th wheel RVs designed to be towed by a 1/2 ton

[@nickkercheval2704]

@@sarahann530 There are some “lightweight” under 30 feet that are advertised as half ton towable. Maybe numbers seem to work but reality is different

[@sarahann530]

@nickkercheval2704 Why would the reality be different if the trailer falls within the towing specs of the truck ? Is a half ton capable of towing anything ?

[@wornoutwrench8128]

How do you tell when a salesman is lying? His lips are moving. I'm a retired mechanic, I have a pretty good eye for seeing things wrong. My wife and I were on a lot looking at a used Class B. It was an older model but pretty nice and in decent shape. As I was having a good look I popped the cover off the load center and what a mess. something got hot at one time and melted a few fuse holders. I'm looking at this right as the sales guy was telling me how the unit had just come out of the shop after a HUGE inspection and everything was tiptop shape. The look on his face when I pointed out the mess that should have been a fuse panel was priceless. Needless to way we took leave. My neighbor a few doors down from me bought a trailer from the local dealer. I can't remember what he was driving, some kind of a smaller SUV, Hyundai or something like that. I'm looking at his set up saying "I don't know", no problem he says, the salesman says it will handle it. So he takes it on a trip, 1/2 way across Canada. 30Km/h going through the Rockies, even on the flatlands it was no good. He got back and bought a new truck to haul it with. Yeah, salesmen. A necessary evil. The other thing I wish they would do is put the real price on the unit. This is the price, there is no movement, there is no deals. Don't inflate the price then knock a few bucks off so you thing you get a deal.

[@johnharris6655]

No offense but you never met my dad, brutally honest with customers. He would not sell and RV people could not tow safely.

[@wornoutwrench8128]

@@johnharris6655 no offence taken. There are good people out there, but few and far between I have found.

[@johnharris6655]

@@wornoutwrench8128 I agree, as the son and son-in-law of 2 former car sales men, I can spot the Bad ones a mile away.

[@MrKevinLeis]

Was so lucky to have found an independent dealer. Our salesman was honest about what we could and could not tow with our Tundra. If you’re looking in Colorado, pikes peak travel land is amazing to work with.

[@martinhudson8515]

I love your informative videos. People and salespeople never add in the weight of the people in the cab, weight of the hitch, and weight of anything else in the truck. Two adults and a hitch can easily take up 500 - 600 pounds of your total weight capacity. I’ve seen way too many units going down the road that are overloaded. Just because it can physically pull it doesn’t mean it can stop it. If the trailer brakes fail can your half ton truck stop the weight and inertia of a trailer that max’s or exceeds your tow rating. Keep educating everyone it’ll make the roads safer.

[@JimWalton-h4r]

A vehicle guide would be very beneficial. There are many so called experts, especially on Facebook that don't have a clue guiding people to unsafe conditions. Truthfully, there is a lot of conflicting official data and how to accurately determine what your vehicle can safely tow can be difficult to determine if you don't understand the numbers. You made a statement in this video that is partially correct. One of the reasons you see a trailer wagging as it goes down the road is that the tow vehicle not correctly sized but another reason, even if the pull vehicle is sized correctly is improperly loaded trailer.

[@SpykersB]

Yeah but u got to remember rv's aren't like a utility trailer where you have choice to load. 🍻

[@billygarrett3911]

We just walked away from a sale at Campers World in Newport News, Va because the sales person and GM tried to tell us that “it is a state law that we have to give them an additional $1000 in order to get the financing thru the banks” Needless to say I threw the BS flag, demanded to see the law and walked away. I have contacted my bank, the Va DMV, BBB and no one knows of such law.

[@allenpardon8211]

Yup, just 2 months ago I went to patriot rv in ky and I brought up frame flex on the 5th wheels and out of the 6 people that worked at the dealership that was involved with us had never heard of such a thing. To say the least, we didn’t buy anything.

[@undercoverrvtech]

Wow...yeah I would steer clear of them too. Thanks for watching!

[@larrygray1557]

Speaking of towing, while this one discussed truck/trailer, an idea for a future video. Some manufacturers have begun shifting away from the Sprinter 3500 to the Sprinter 4500 and people re distracted by the increase in OCCC. Unlike the Ford E350 to E450 where towing capacity increases it is easy to assume that same would apply on the Sprinter 3500 to 4500. Unfortunately, towing a TOAD actually decreases from 4220lbs on the 3500 to 3125lbs on the 4500. The 5000lb hitch in meaning less other than a good thing supporting the lower weight as the lowest common denominator which is what establishes towing capacity, not the highest, The problem stems from BOTH the 3500 and 4500 have the same GCWR of 15250 with towing capacity assumes full OCCC useage and is calculated GCWR minus GVWR. The GVWR for the 3500 is 11030 vs 12125 for the 4500 which really bumps the OCCC up, but subtracts from the towing capacity. This eliminates several TOADS that a 3500 can handle including Ford Escape/Maverick Hybrid, Chevy Equinox, Trailblazer AWD and it's twin Buick Encore GX AWD. Jeep Wrangler/Cherokee are borderline MAX for the 3500 with no excess to carry anything unlike the Ford/Chevy models above on the 3500 Chassis. They are all non-starters on the 4500 Chassis - but ripe for RV salesmen to assure that will tow.

[@Keith80027]

Please make a video on what is the right and legal tow truck. I have a dually F350 for a 29 foot 5th wheel and wish I had a F450. Too small of a tow truck is the biggest safety problem I see daily on the road.

[@marcibowman1603]

Wow. This happened to my elderly mother. We asked I the truck would pull the rv and were told yes. It would not.

[@stephenbrasure4331]

Due to the quality of your videos, you should do a video on how to determine whether a vehicle can tow a desired RV. Along with that, a video demonstrating how easy it is to get axles weights and total weights at a CAT scale or other facility with scales. Just last year, we purchased a 2015 Winnebago Via and I knew that we would have to be careful about not overloading the rig with gear. A trip to the CAT scale with the rig loaded confirmed that we were well below the maximum carrying capacity. But you know how many owners ignore cargo carrying capacity or don't understand how to do the computations.

[@edmrowiec1936]

I could probably google this but where did you find a scale that you could use? I’ve seen them at service stations but always assumed those are just for commercial vehicles.

[@ellieptheriac]

Yes, I would love to have a video on how to choose proper tow vehicle for camper!!!! ❤ you are so awesome!!! Thanks for all of your hardwork and attention to detail!

[@michaelhopkins2965]

We just bought a new trailer last year at an RV Show. We had already done all the research. I've owned other trailers. Bought one new, and one used. We knew exactly which specific model and manufacturer we wanted. THE only reason we got a different one, was because it's, made in the same plant. One gets Rockwood trim, the other gets Flagstaff. Everything else is exactly the same. I tested everything before I took delivery. Everything I pointed out on my "punch list" was taken care of. It didn't sit on the lot. They get delivered, they get bought. We'd been looking for one for awhile. Without wanting to order one. Turns out, waiting was good. Fully loaded. Lots of extras. "Discounted" for the show. We paid for the trailer. Got the extras included. We took it early on the first day of the show.

[@outdoorslifesurvivecraft5078]

I'm a semi driver and I think it would be a great idea that you did a video on tow weight. These weight numbers can be quite confusing to people. I've met people that think they can put 8,800 lbs. in the back on their half ton truck. OR, pull 15,000 lbs. with it.

[@jonedwards2107]

I did my research before I went in, got the trailer I wanted. My tow vehicle has a soft rear suspension, and the trailer is an off-road package, so plenty of sag at the hitch. I need to put a heavy duty suspension in the TV rear end. Subaru Outback Onyx XT. I installed a 7/4 power plug, and a Redarc controller.. the hitch weight is not that far below the recommended maximum, so I carry water containers in the rear bath to counter the weight of batteries and propane (which I discovered after the fact are not included in the dry weight), before I knew NOT to use a WDH with a unibody, I used one for a 1500 mile trip and for a 600 mile trip. Then I took a 2000 mile trip with a full (30 gal) freshwater tank. A 2% nose up attitude may not sound like much, but it puts your low beam lights at high beam level, and irritates every driver coming from the other direction. It also overloads the hitch by a couple hundred pounds. Even so, the car handled the trip beautifully, even through the Colorado mountains. Still, in the future, dry freshwater tank, 15 gallons in bottles in the rear bath, and no heavy gear in the cargo compartment in front. Only essentials. I don’t want to drive nose up. Causes wiggles. I can drive 50 all day long, no problem. Oil temp never got above 230 degrees, water temp never rose out of the safe range. Had the power to climb up those 10,000 foot mountain roads, no braking issues going back down. At 50mph, I am not in any hurry, I just plan my days of travel at 300 or so miles per day.

[@ReflectedMiles]

A 300 lb. trailer does the worst "wagging" behind my GMC Sierra. Any size / weight of trailer can behave that way, unfortunately, depending on the hitch used and how the trailer is loaded.

[@Premier-Media-Group]

Also, don't forget that most towables (and some motorized) units are NOT designed to be driven with anything in the fresh/grey/black tanks. They will actually end up ripping out of the underbelly while you're driving down the road. Search YT - there are a bunch of videos about this and how to maybe fix it. Salesmen (and RV owners, actually) should actually have some CDL non-commercial training before they do anything with rigs at 50ft and 50k total GVWR.

[@w1tjl]

Yes, tow vehicle sizing info is very much needed! A course would be great!!

[@shirleyhledik4666]

Bought a used 27 ft toy hauler with a rotten awning. Company said it wasn’t cost effective to replace awnings on used trailers. Didn’t have a 3rd party inspect the trailer.

[@guillermoperez6744]

Yes, definitely do a series on truck. Sizes VS RV sizes. I am a truck driver in Florida and I see the swaying. Everyday people trying to tow big trailers with F150 and 1500.

[@SpykersB]

I'll never forget seeing in a campground just outside of calgary, parked right beside us, a 44ft 5th wheel being pulled by a short box, single wheel, f350! 😳. Like the stupids r up in canada too! My first thoughts r I don't want to be on the hwy when these idiots are 😬. 🍻

[@josephelden4573]

Have owned TT'S since '95. Started small and worked out way up. I learned early on to figure out what my vehicle could tow and didn't get sucked in to the ultralight or 1/2 ton towable marketing. In 2015 I bought an F-250 to pull our new TT. I towed it twice with a leased F-150 knowing I was turning it in. It was ok but once I got the 250 there was no going back. In 2022 we decided on what will probably be our last trailer and decided on Reflection 31mb. This time General RV asked that they see the vehicle I intended to tow it with to make sure it was safe. Never had that happen before. The truck was fine. In fact we just got a 2024 and it has more cargo capacity and towing. My guess is someone threatened a lawsuit? The Silverado story was similar to what people told me many times.

[@medbill]

Please make a tow vehicle selection video!

[@MichaelR-r2q]

Adding a tow vehicle to RV weight ration video would be nice to further educate me. It's the one aspect of RVing that still baffles me. I believe I am safe with my 05 Tundra and our 2024 Wolf Pup. Thanks Jacob for all your hard work.

[@chesshead3943]

Thanks Jacob! It almost seems like RV dealers should be required to get the specifics of the planned tow vehicle, and then document as part of the sale the gross trailer loaded weight, the estimated payload weight on the tow vehicle, and that the tow vehicle is still within spec. Also how much remaining payload weight is still available inside the tow vehicle for gas, passengers, luggage and other equipment.

[@VinceDodge-el7lx]

I have only just started to listen to your video's, but i would agree 100% that you should do a video on ensuring you have the proper tow vehicle for your RV for three reasons. #1 - You are absolutely right that you can't believe what anyone (RV salesmen, truck salesman, buddy, etc.) just tells you about towing capacity and towing vehicle size. #2 - there are a lot of factors involved in finding out what the real towing capacity is for your truck (engine size, cab size, bed size, differential gearing, actual suspension, oil cooling capacity...). #3 - Unless you check it on a scale, you don't really know what the pin weight is for your fifth wheel and if you have exceeded the GVWR of your tow vehicle (which also include any passengers and cargo along with the actual pin weight of the RV)

[@lilcheeps6147]

I was looking at a 38 foot Forest River Suite when I called the salesman the first question he asked me as what size truck I had

[@kevinbohn2024]

Sound right to me

[@johngalt5205]

IMHO, the only RV types a consumer should consider are; travel trailer (with a properly sized tow vehicle), class B, commercial-truck based Super-C, or class A. Why? They are the only ones that do not upset the vehicle dynamics when used designed and properly. I had a lot of time to thing about it driving my 2002 Georgie-Boy Landau 2950 DS over 1000 miles back from Washington State. That thing is gorgeous inside, and a maneuverable hot-rod. Class As and Super-Cs are built on true truck chassis designed to carry heavy loads all the time over long distances. Class B's are just cargo vans, where the cargo is cabinets and whatnot. As long as a travel-trailer is not too heavy for the tow-rig, improperly loaded, or driven poorly you should be fine. 5th wheels put that gigantic sail area way up high over the bed, which is just asking for a strong gust of wind to tip the truck over. Truck campers are worse, because in addition to the sail area they have all that weight in the stratosphere. Class Cs might be the worst. They often have tiny tires at the ragged edge of capacity, and the front tires have a much narrower track than the rears, and often there is a huge percentage of the weight over the rears. Often they have titanic rear overhangs waiting to smack into something. Now, some of the new tiny Class-Cs like the EKKO might be OK because they are short, and the coach is not too terribly wide, and they are not too tall. But, for that price there are a lot of very nice sub-30 foot Class As for about the same price (Winnebago 29NP Vista), and you get a lot more room, they can go almost everywhere the EKKO can go. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZqcm3R6hdKJoJI Just my opinion.

[@rossjennings5735]

I’ve towed plenty of rigs and owned a class A as well. By FAR the 5th wheel has been the easiest to tow and least affected by cross winds. Sure there are those 5th wheels with 13.8” height but the non basement models like the reflection 280rs I bought are lower than my class A height. There’s a reason full timers have 5th wheels not tow behinds

[@steveborchello4744]

Great information! Please keep the videos coming. I appreciate all your help and assistance. I recently learned from one of your other videos on how the plumbing in my Tiffin is incorrect. All of my white in color flexible plumbing lines were using a PEX fitting along with a PEX clamp… And they all started leaking at the same time. After reviewing your videos… I saw that you recommended a regular hose clamp on those connections. I ordered some quality stainless steel hose clamps and started replacing each PEX clamp with the hose clamp. Problem solved. I tremendously appreciate all of your videos and insight!! Thank you, Steve from Michigan

[@undercoverrvtech]

Hi Steve, thanks for watching. For clarity, in the video where I show using a screw type hose clamp, I'm working with hose barb fittings, not PEX fittings. While a screw type clamp may solve the leak temporarily, I would not consider it a permanent fix. Best of luck with your Tiffin!

[@ryanreiter3913]

Great informative video. One question- how does one go about procuring a third-party inspector?

[@Robnord1]

Go see the manager at RV parks in your area. Most all of them know who the truly good mobile RV techs are. The new 'Licensed RV inspector' thing is not as good as an actual repairman in my opinion.

[@mariondiemert430]

Please make a video about which vehicle can tow which RV. We had Texas Best Inspections take a look at our Leisure Wonder and they found things, our dealer had to address. Inspections are important folks.

[@lucmorel2958]

Yes, do a series on truck. An example is the difference between f350 and f450. The 350 as a bigger payload but the 450 as a smaller turning radius (it's useful with a big toyhauler) but it as bigger brakes than the 350. What should we choose? An other topic is how to calculate the pin weight when you looking for an rv

[@gizmobowen]

I know nothing about buying an RV but really want to. The algorithm brought me here and I'm actually glad it did. So much to learn and you seem like you're gonig to be a good teacher. Looking forward to finding out all the stuff I don' t know I don't know.

[@roberts2714]

Yes a video on tow vehicle buying tips would be great! Especially which capacity numbers to focus on and tow vehicle size and weight suggestions.

[@billdonnelly7556]

Truck video is dearly needed, please do it.

[@HistorySeekers]

Please make a detailed video about the correct tow vehicle.

[@feelingsimplyquilty]

We are about to purchase a trailer and truck and would like to see a video on how to best choose.

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Thanks for your commitment to RV enjoyment. I wish I’d known about 3d party inspections when I bought my first RV. Since all (I think) RVs are built by hand (& not on an assembly line, like cars & trucks), mistakes happen. The “skirting” on my 5th wheel was longer on one side of my 5th wheel. The extra length was just enough to cut into the sidewall if the unit’s tires under heavy suspension (e.g. big bumps in the road). Perhaps an experienced inspector would have caught this manufacturer defect. I didn’t, even though I regularly checked tire pressure & lug nut torque. This defect led to shredding a tire on the interstate. Ironically, after I convinced the manufacturer to let my dealer determine the source of the shredded tire, the skirting caused the spare tire to shred on the way to the dealer. Fortunately, no serious damage and injury occurred as a result of the manufacturing defect, and the manufacturer (eventually) agreed to replace both tires & the damaged wheel. Our experience could have ended much worse. This is just another example of why RV inspections are important.

[@hoytoy100]

Just bought from a camping world. We knew exactly what we wanted and wound up knowing much more than the sales person. If you do not know what you want, you are leaving it up to someone else to convince you on what to buy. Bad situation.

[@DargoDog]

LOL!!! I went RV shopping about nine months ago, its a good time to shop in North Idaho, right before the dealers move the bulk of their inventory south; they are more willing to cut a deal so they don't have to transport it. I asked the salesman about getting the rig set up for a PDI, he asked, "What is a 'PDI'?" (first clue...) I explained it to him and of course he said that they take care of all of that, and their technicians make sure the rig is 100% before I am "allowed" to take it off of the lot. This is right after I saw him destroy a campers electrical system because he connected the jump pack wrong... literally smoke coming out of two control panels. With all of this, what are your thoughts about ATC campers?

[@daydreamer0923]

Your an awesome human being. Thank you. I appreciate you very much. I wish more folks could be as honorable as you. Again Thank you. 👋🙂

[@californiahikingadventures2249]

PDI means probably didn’t inspect

[@coolwater55]

😅

[@undercoverrvtech]

That is a good one...lol Thanks for watching!

[@bethe2873]

I tried to decline the dealership inspection that cost me over $1,000, but I was told I couldn’t. 😡🤬

[@RVmomtube]

yeah its true, as dealers we are not allowed to send it off the lot without a pdi. LOL this was such an uneducated comment on this video (by the creator, not you)

[@aaragon6866]

Please do a proper truck vehicle for your potential rv purchase

[@DrBob64]

Warranties are worthless if you can’t get it fixed in a timely fashion or the warranty runs out while waiting to get it looked at. Things tend to break one day after the warranty expires. I got a good price on a new RV buying it in November in Indiana. Problem was that I didn’t get to use it for 6 months and half the warranty period was gone. Second, COVID meant no parts and few technicians to get the work done. Did the manufacturers extend the warranty due to COVID issues?, no. They raised their prices due to demand and service was pitiful. I couldn’t wait for the warranty to expire, so I could properly repair my RV in days, instead of months and use it during the nice weather seasons instead of letting it sit on their lots. They say they are not responsible for it on their lots. Not a problem until someone breaks into it or steals it. They also destroyed 2 new batteries by leaving things turned on and not detaching the negative battery cable. There is still power being drawn by the LP gas detector,etc when the cut off switch is in the off position. You wait months to get your RV back and the battery is not only dead, but it is toast. They charge to get you out of there hours later and it dies before you get home. Can’t hold a charge in a damaged battery. Then you have to fight to get your battery replaced with a new one for free. Once you pay for your RV, you are no longer their priority. They make their real money on parts and service, but why would you go back to them? Simple, they may be the only dealer for your brand in the state and no other dealership can warranty your RV. The things you learn from experience.

[@chaosncheckt9356]

Number one is spot on. Had many sales persons tell me "oh, your Ford can easily pull 9000lbs. RV buyers need to do their own research and fully understand what their vehicle can tow. Don't take the sticker on tow capability at face value. Understand the dry weight of your RV, load it and get it weighed, and load your truck and weigh it as well.

[@kerrylewis1325]

Thank you again. Definitely will be getting a 3rd party inspection before I buy.

[@undercoverrvtech]

Thanks for watching! Glad the video was helpful

[@aleciakimball-jl6qt]

Yes please- course on tow vehicle vs towable rv. And can you review the newer 2024-2025 Flagstaff Micro Lites?

[@joeg7443]

A bit broad on PDI's there. Our nationwide company pays hourly to us PDI inspectors and we can still being doing them years into working here. Depends on demand. Add to that the pay for RVTI level 1 instruction to hires that don't already have it. Perhaps buyers could ask about the dealerships PDI policies. But, as a company man and an independent mobile tech, I would recommend getting the second opinion.

[@dearyvettetn4489]

We just bought a tow vehicle and have a short list of RVs suitable to tow with our new-to-us-truck. We recently attended an RV show and while being lead to rigs too big for us to tow and telling the salesman as much, he joked (Lord I hope he was joking..) that we should buy a bigger vehicle. LOL 😐 They really do think that we’re dumb don’t they?

[@zombiemike5611]

I had the dealership tell me it was required to buy a weight distribution hitch before I could leave the lot, per policy, and the cost of $850+ installed. I bought a Gray Wolf 18rr and I have a Chevy 2500 HD with a tow capacity of around 17,000 lbs. I left the rv there and did more research. Clearly, I didn't need it, and if I did, I had a free install anyway, not $250 fee. They also tried to add two other fees, and I was told they have no way to take the fees off. So after the back and forth and I told them I didn't need the hitch, I was able to take my camper with the ball hitch I said originally.

[@Jeffrey-l9p]

Would be great if you made a video about matching a tow vehicle to an RV. I'm looking at a one-ton truck to haul a 14000 lb camp trailer. I'm curious about gasoline vs diesel.

[@lesliegannon4031]

Yes. Please on Rv tow vehicle vs what is being towed.

[@markwiegard8384]

A tough comment: Truck size to RV. Helpful would be: Truck brand: weight of passenger plus hitch weight (bumper or bed hitch) and other stuff carried in truck = total RV pin weight. Bumper hitch pin weight total 5th wheel hitch pin weight total Now you can start shopping for an RV.

[@barbthompson2374]

Yes, we are at this point right now! We want a camper, but need to get a vehicle to tow one. From what we’ve been reviewing, we’re looking at 5,000 - 6,000 lbs GVWR. We want to be able to travel into the mountains without damaging the transmission of the tow vehicle. And you are correct, information from both car and camper sales people is sadly deficient. Ideally, an SUV would be best as I would use this for a daily vehicle when not towing, plus we would be bringing our two large dogs along on the camping trips.

[@milesandjohnsadventures]

Great video! We are on our second rv and it’s not better than our first one! And we bought them both brand new!

[@krazyinthekootenay712]

Trailer wag could also do to some front end parts being required on the tow vehicle... Aka I know this first hand

[@halharper5558]

This is great information, Jacob. I'm looking at a RAM 2500 to be able to rent almost any trailer for short vacation trips. I don't even look at renting beyond the capacity of my intended truck.

[@wk7060]

They will throw a hitch on a truck and not setup correctly too.

[@barrynash1126]

This is certainly true. A couple months ago I bought a new trailer and negotiated for a WDH as part of the deal. I stood by while the tech attached the hitch to my truck and never made any measurements, not even the basic "ground-to-wheel-well" heights both before and after loading the trailer on. He said that he had installed hundreds of hitches and had a "feel" for what looked correct. Yeah, right. When I got home and did the measurements myself, I found that the height of the truck's front end (with trailer) was actually an inch HIGHER than unloaded -- all the tongue weight was going on the rear axle and the WDH wasn't doing me much good at all. Bottom line is that I went through the manual for the WDH and made my own adjustments to get the hitch ball the right height and the load better distributed (raising the truck's rear measurement UP and the front measurement DOWN). Really disconcerting that this guy who claimed to have SOOOOOO much experience was so incompetent. A lesson for all who pay someone to install a WDH.

[@charlesklaus6290]

Thanks for another informative video Jacob! Some of what you teach I already knew but it's nice to get professional confirmation! Keep up the good work!

[@ronstoner1656]

We have purchased many new RV's over the year's. The most common theme among the salespeople we have met is complete ignorance. There are few times when a reasonable solution has been given for any situation. We do our homework, inspect the RV thoroughly and then discuss the "deal" on the RV of our choice. We wanted an Entegra motorcoach a few years ago and the first dealer we visited had the model we wanted listed on the lot. I asked to have at least a full day for inspection prior to purchase. They seemed offended and we left. Ended up flying to a location and making our purchase at a different dealer. We spent two days inspecting. The dealer repaired everything and we purchased.

[@undercoverrvtech]

Good for you! Yes, finding a dealer who is reasonable is important. I think it is the right call to not do business with a dealer who does not want you to properly inspect an RV. Thanks for watching!

[@beckyp1958]

YES! Please vid on best/right tow for your trailer

[@carlrodd8510]

been thinking about getting a rv, something small to tow with my Jeep GC and the more I investigate the less I'm inclined to purchase. seems to be a scummy industry.

[@matthewlockhart3226]

Yes, please make a video on towing capacities.

[@jacobwilliams4724]

I think RV dealers should have better understanding and information on pickup to rv ratio. As well as proper weight distribution. I bought a RV in 2022 and bought a ProPride hitch before I picked it up. When I got to the dealer, they said that it was overkill and not needed. I told them I wasn’t leaving the lot without the proper equipment to hit the road safely. In my opinion, dealerships in general need to be overhauled. From purchasing, to servicing, and maintaining inventory.

[@Strears50]

Yes, pls make video on correct combo of trailer and tow vehicle. Thx from possible first time buyer.

[@alejandrojarquin2132]

I just purchased 2024 geo pro bhs and I’m picking up on Wednesday

[@JoeKinAround]

I'd be interested in a guide to truck sizing. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the different numbers each truck has. I'm in the process of buying an F-350 so I can tow a fifth wheel, which will initially be under 30'.

[@wendybenson5903]

Just found your channel. Subscribing right now! You speak in a clear, understandable way and I love that! I'm extremely interested in learning about the trucks that tow and anything else you can teach me. My husband and I are on a four year plan of getting onto the road full time.

[@joewest2560]

We just want a small rv to tow with our honda passport, I see the rated 5000 lb but I don't want to overload it