DON'T Buy an RV Before Watching This (RV Life)

[@rpforsyth]

Bought a 2021 Outdoors RV travel trailer built in September 2020. Purchased from original owner, who used it only twice and had to sell for health reasons. First owner was meticulous and went through the entire trailer with a fine tooth comb and got everything covered under warranty that needed it. No serious problems. We were lucky!

[@danphillips3589]

Outdoors is a small company well known for the quality of their manufacturing procedures and their quality control. Great RVs.

[@Elizabeth-rq1vi]

@@danphillips3589we’re watching a 2019 fifth wheel Outdoors…it looks exactly as clean as the manufacturer’s photos. We’re waiting until the RV show next weekend to see what /if a deal is made for our needs. The price is right but is in a small dealer in a small town 3hrs away & Alberta is coated with snow & is just coming out of a deep freeze so popping up to see it wasn’t practical.

[@josephwalker7646]

I have a Covid build 2021 wolf pack toy hauler it’s our 3rd fifth wheel.We bought it new 06/2020 manufactured date 05/28/2020 it’s been our best trailer very few issues we have thousands of miles on it .Maintenance is one thing I stay on top of and have done a bunch of up grades to the trailer. My last was a 2018 it was biggest piece of junk all slide floors had to be replaced after 6 month’s Lippert ground control auto level never work right . Trailers in general no matter what year you’re going to have bad ones .There was more trailers built during Covid years than any other time period so there’s going be more complaints .

[@AdventuresAllowed]

Outdoors RV is an exceptional RV manufactured by Northwood mfg, they manufacture Nash, Arctic Fox, and Outdoors RV. They build their own frames, and surpass other manufacturers with their build, and fit and finish. I have a 2011 Nash, Im the original owner, I've only repaired/replaces wear items. If you know about Northwood products, you know. It's a smaller manufacturer in OR. Glad you've had good luck with your RV, I do think that supply chain issues have and are still affecting all manufacturers unfortunately.

[@MrTahoeBob]

I'm your "first owner" type person who bought a 2020. From leaks, to leaks, to leaks, did I mention leaks? Then trim, to wallpaper, to electrical, to drawer glides, to screws over torqued to furniture not properly bolted down, to...........OMG! We now have the trailer we wanted from the beginning because I bypassed the dealerships and did my own work. Forget about getting RV maintainer support. Ours leaked SEVERELY and it was going to be five to seven months out to get it into the shop to get worked on. There wouldn't have been enough to salvage if we just left it waiting for help. FORGET support. If you're not savvy, plan on leaving your RV in the shop for half of it's life.

[@125AXer]

As the owner of a now 33 years old Foretravel Class A RV, I object to the concept of being barred from some sites due merely to the age of my coach. It is very nice, and I love owning a fully depreciated yet excellent traveling machine.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Love this! Yes, we feel the same way. It sounds like you do a wonderful job at maintaining the quality of your Class A 😊 Thank you for your support and for taking the time to watch our videos! - Kyle and Renee

[@JohnJohn-wr1jo]

In my experience the "ten year" qualifier is rarely if ever used with the exception of seasonal or permanent sites. And even then its not a hard rule in any seasonal campgrounds that I'm aware of. The only exception to the above was a "luxury campground" resort in Florida that we visited. They only allowed 10 year or less class A units.

[@Slackware1995]

One time while camping my neighbor had a 1950's classic Airstream that he said was his grand father's. It was completely mint. A beautiful rig. He refurbished everything. He brought it to a shell, put in new tanks, new plumbing, new windows, new electtic, new appliances, new suspension, etc. He fixed all issues with the frame and shell. When we talked it was basically a 2 year old rig. His only complaint about it was age restricted campgrounds. He said that several times he tried to convince them to allow him in. They required the registration and would immediately deny him, even though his rig looked better than many 8-10 year old rigs. He said he would offer to let them inspect it but none would allow him in.

[@whereyougoiwillgorving4492]

I am a NRVIA Certified Inspector and I can assure you the quality suffered during COVID. For example, I remember doing a Vanleigh Vilano in 2021 and I was attempting to get hot water to test water systems. I kept opening the pressure valve on the water heater to make sure there was water in the tank before firing up electric. Never could get water in the tank. After checking bypass valve and making sure it was open, I asked one of the dealership techs to pull the front wall in storage area so I could look at the back of water heater. Upon inspection I found the factory never ran any pipes through the water heater. They installed it in the sidewall, hooked it up to gas and electric then never ran the pipes !!! Of coarse the dealership had already completed their " PDI" and said everything was good to go ! Lol When it comes to used, it's more about the way it was maintained ! People bought RV's during COVID and didn't know how to maintain them. While there are some diamonds in the rough out there a vast majority already have water damage either from lack of maintenance or factory defects that were never caught. New or used, hire an independent 3rd party certified inspector !!! Also don't believe for a minute that a dealership is going to have their best techs doing PDI's either. Those techs are busy doing warranty repairs for the next 8 months.. unfortunately PDI'S are done by newer and inexperienced employees that are not certified techs. The main TV will almost always get tested by the dealership PDI employees because they are watching TV all day occasionally taking smoke breaks while pencil whipping the PDI checklist ! Not saying every dealership is like that however I've seen it with my own two eyes numerous times.

[@pjj9491]

❤how does one find an honest certified inspector...and what would that cost ballpark...ty

[@whereyougoiwillgorving4492]

@@pjj9491 I am unable to post any links, however if you do a Google search for "find an RV inspector" you will find the information you are looking for.

[@russbusss]

You are not wrong on one single point my friend.

[@christinaholligan8299]

You’re totally completely 100% correct We totally gave up and we’re going to accept the fact that they will not fix what they call stains Under each one of our slide outs we have water stains, which means there’s no flashing to stop the water from running back up underneath each slide. And they told us they could not duplicate it so they can’t fix something. They can’t duplicate, but they’ve logged it down so that if the floors fall through we will have documented proof that there was a problem before it fell through. There were so many issues with this trailer and of course they say they have fixed them. And there’s really nothing you can do unless you want to pay for attorney and sue them so we just gave up.

[@RoadieWingZZ]

Dealer PDI is actually PDI-lite. It’s more of a demonstration process than actual inspection and problem resolution.

[@Vancaskeys]

We don’t call our Class B Van Mr. Lemon 🍋 for nothing…we were newbies when we bought our first Van in 2021. Had no idea any of this was going on. It’s why we share all the ups and downs with owning our RV. Thanks for the great info! ❤The Vancaskeys

[@loganmckay3194]

Enjoy your channel too!

[@CraigPeer]

With all your repairs, I think you've made lemonade out of Mr. Lemon at this point. At least I hope so!

[@kal7049]

What company made the van?

[@CraigPeer]

@@kal7049 Thor Tellaro = Mr. Lemon

[@Vancaskeys]

@@kal7049 Thor

[@dennycappetta2035]

So much great information. I studied the RV Industry for a full three years before we bought our RV. I bookmarked all the big and small RV dealers (local and across the country) along with RVTrader and RVT on my browser and even bookmarked certain models I was interested in. Every day I would look at every bookmark. I also spent a quite amount of time on KZbin watching multiple RV videos. My thought process in buying cars over the many years has always been buy used but buy top of the line. These vehicles are usually made with better quality materials and better quality workmanship. I discovered the top of the line RV models (and pricing) and what made them better. When a good quality unit was posted, I knew right away how good of a deal it was.

[@rvfuntimes6144]

I attended NRVIA and got my Inspectors Certificate. Was a qualified RV Inspector.. The first three parties that contacted me for a price quote were not interested account of the rate I quoted.. So after a year and no one else contacting us I use all my tools now to help friends and RV'ers in CG's. Thats the way it goes. Oh and I was in Ft. Myers 6 months then moved to Wyoming to volunteer at The Grand Tetons at String Lake. The wife and I where Volunteer Rangers trying to protect the Bears from the Humans.

[@lorrainegorden1811]

My husband did almost a year of research before we bought our travel trailer. We bought a 2020 and knock on wood we have had NO issues at all with our Stella. We are now going to transition into now full time RV living in a brand new 5th wheel. I watch every week for the best info!! Thanks Hanks!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

We love hearing this Lorraine!! Congrats to you both on the transition into full-time RVing 😊 We appreciate your support and all the time you dedicate to watching our videos ❤️

[@riptide1965]

Hi guys! Wanted to jump in and say this is great info and thanks for getting this out there. I’m an RV tech working at a dealership for a few yrs now, and I can tell you the quality did a massive decline when Covid hit. The manufacturers were so swamped with orders they literally hired people off the streets to jump on the assembly line. Thing is, these people didn’t get paid until the unit rolled off the assembly line. So naturally the work was hurried and careless. The attitude was to let the technicians deal with it at the dealership. In fact manufacturers set aside a set number of dollars per unit for warranty work when it gets to its destination. Units that commanded big money then now sells for a fraction. Quality is slowly returning but still far. I too would advise a 3rd party inspector before any purchase, new or used. Our dealership welcomes inspections, on new units we repair under warranty. Used we sell as is so at least the buyers knows. I bought used. I own a 2017 camper and I’ve been very happy with it. Just my two cents. Love your channel.

[@bethrichards2640]

Too right. In our industry we call those folks sandwich makers, because we hired McDonald's into worker shortage. Not their fault. I'd jump from fast food into manufacturing too, but quality - Not so much.

[@PaulieLauraXombie1331]

Wife and I are picking up our 1997 dolphin tomorrow! This thing was babied its entire life only stored indoors I would have never expected to find one so old and well built.. actual wood! Not the newer materials and in our price range.. We definitely may face a few road blocks with it being a 27 year old RV but she’s pristine and purs like a dexter! Thank you for all your content! ❤

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That sounds like an amazing find! It's so rare to come across a well-preserved RV like that. We’re excited for you both and hope everything goes smoothly ❤️ Thanks so much for watching and sharing your story!

[@oliviaelena8622]

My boyfriend and i purchased a 2021 forest river sun seeker class C. There’s some wear in tear in the cabin I’m talking scratches some peeling on seats and a missing cup holder. But we love are new home and we can’t wait to start full time RV. I’ve been watching your videos for the past two weeks and lemme tell you y’all make me more excited to get on the road. I love how y’all handle any problems you encounter and how realistic you are thank you for being here!!

[@johnmusial699]

Were in a truck camper thats 20yrs old. Weve been to 46 states. Stayed all kinds of places. Weve never been turned away fo being over 10 yrs old. We have opted to not stay in places that wouldnt allow us to drop the camper. Looking to move into a brinkley this year. Love the channel.

[@swompy5146]

Hello to you all. What the both of you are saying is all truth. We lucked out and bought a 2006 RV 8 years ago, still going strong. We do see the things you talk of in some other rvs, but mostly at this point for us, things break, ya fixem. Right now we are in Florida mooing at all the cows. We are happy to find your videos and pray for your success. Everyone listen up and learn. Happy Trails

[@ScottVanArtsdalen]

Yay! It's Thursday! Always good to get the knowledge from folks who have been there and done that.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

🤗

[@VayaconChupacabra]

I do! I do! We bought a 2022 Coleman Light 1805RB (Keystone Parent) in the first week of August of 2022. At the end November 2022, we brought it back to CW for warranty work. I came in with a list of 7 things. I managed to get all 7 covered under warranty. At first only 4 were approved. The CW service rep I was working with suggested that I call Keystone directly with my 3 remain claim numbers. Keystone approved the last 3 things right away. I was pretty stoked about that. The 7 things that I had repaired were; 1.) right side bed window was not installed correctly and leaked. 2.) rain gutter over door was not centered above door and would get caught up on the door, making it hard to close. 3.) slideout motor was not mounted flush to the wall due to the screws being set at crazy angles. the motor was about an inch off the wall with 2 of the screws being stripped. 4) front, left rocker trim was missing a molding end cap, which allowed this panel to vibrate and crack along the underside of the floor. Didn't help that this panel is pretty much a 24GA formed length of sheet metal. 5) Galley window frame where the ends came back together was rough cut and looked like a cracked extrusion with an irregular gap, without any form of sealant. 6) Right side, rear awning rail/gutter pulled away from exterior wall about an inch when the awing was extended out. 7) and my favorite one....the shower plumbing was not glued together at the fittings. Water would drip from the underbelly every time we showered. And for funnzies.......at the end of July 2023, 1 week before the warranty expired, I took it back in for another water leak at the right rear corner. it seemed to happen randomly, or so i thought.....this one turned out to be the interior fittings at the external shower were only threaded on and not tightened down properly. It only leaked when I used the rear shower, and primed those lines. A new season is about to start!! Fingers Crossed.

[@charlesperry1051]

We have not had an issue with the 10 year rule. We had an 11 year old travel trailer. One time we were asked for photos of our unit before we could make a reservation. They were happy with the photos. We keep our RV looking new.

[@mikecgeorge]

Thank you so much for publishing this episode! I have been saying the exact same thing to all my friends. Now you just explained all of this really well! We just bought a used 5th wheel RV last October, and purchased a 2020 that was actually manufactured late 2019. I really wanted to avoid purchasing a “COVID Trailer” not to say that there are not some really good trailers out there with no problems at all, but manufacturers let quality assurance slip to take advantage of getting more sales $$$ as quickly as possible. So thank you for this episode!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Absolutely, Mike! We are so glad that this could be of help 🙂 We hope that your 5th wheel is treating you well and last a long time for many adventures to come. Yes, you nailed it in saying everything you did. We really appreciate your time and support for watching our videos! Stay safe - Kyle and Renee

[@melodygrandinetti5016]

We bought our 2021 tt and very thankful that everything was working and never had any problems still enjoying it

[@HappilyEverHanks]

So glad it's a great rig for you!

[@bobbiejean5548]

I have a 2021 travel trailer up for sale. I did not purchase it because of Covid. I purchased it in August of 2020. It was a great purchase for me. I never had problems with it at all. I am selling because I married and my husband has a larger 5th wheel. So they aren't all bad out there. Oh, and I met my husband at an RV park last winter. 😊

[@Hattori_Fujiyama]

you met ur husband last winter? so you guys met, dated and married in less than a year? yikes....

[@RoadieWingZZ]

@@Hattori_FujiyamaLol, it happens. Met my wife in June and married the following February. That was 32 years ago….

[@swayme67]

I recommend hiring an NRVIA Certified Inspector to check out the rig you are about to purchase before dropping a penny on an RV. The cost of the inspection is tiny compared to buying an RV with tons of problems. It is also a way to get some peace of mind when buying an RV (and even brand new RVs have issues the dealership will not or doesn't know about to reveal) and if you decide to buy a fixer-upper, the inspection will tell you what you need to work on! What a fantastic way to get into this wonderful lifestyle with some confidence. Many inspectors offer after-purchase training to help new owners understand their RVs, too. NRVIA---check them out!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi there! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us. You are so correct! The amount of stress and headaches you can save yourself by hiring a certified inspector is worth the cost. We appreciate you and your time in watching our videos 😊 - Kyle and Renee

[@wickblackwell5218]

I am an inspector and repair tech. My last three call outs were brand new RVs with a ton of issues. Just look at the welds in the bay. If they look like crap good chance rest of trailer is same. You hit the nail right on the head with warranty issues.

[@Lumpschlevot]

My wife and I purchased a Lance 1995 back in 2021. We are totally satisfied with it and have not had anything abnormal happen to it. We also have done a few upgrades since. I noticed the same make and model has just about doubled in price since. I think we got a really good deal in hindsight. If we decide to sell, the new owner will get a smoking deal for a lightly used, well maintained travel trailer versus new. It’s easy to be fearful of purchases but with a little due diligence, there are really good deals to find. Getting educated and experienced goes a long way. Keep educating your viewers. The more knowledgeable buyers out there will have a positive impact on the market. Good for all of us. Ignorant consumers hurts us all in the marketplace. The more sellers can get away with, the harder it is for savvy consumers to strike the right deal.

[@kevinlangston3696]

We bought a Micro Minnie Winnie in May 2020. Bad battery connections from the dealer, leaky bathroom skylight was missing the inner trim piece. Within 7 months the (dinette-only) slideout bolts to the outer shell had worked loose. The slideout was noticeably wiggling as we drove to trade it in. I had noticed the trim inside frequently came off behind /inside the slideout starting with the second or third weekend trip but the dealership couldn't check it out for many months. The 2021 Cougar we traded for in December of 2020 had a cracked and leaky bathroom skylight, improperly installed (leaky) bedroom window, a leak under the kitchen sink, battery that failed within 2 to 3 months despite being plugged in, most of the staples on the TV shelf missed their target and were holding only air. Oh, and the first set of tires only lasted 3600-5000 miles. 3 blowouts in less than a week. I hope I've got the bugs worked out, I've spent enough time and money on it I should have been invited to the Keystone Christmas Party.

[@JamesDonovan-p5r]

Same bad Minnie

[@LindaHansen-t6f]

We bought a "Covid build" RV brand new last year. Mostly minor stuff that needed fixed but the one that made me face palm was the gray tank didn't have a way of dumping it installed. Good thing we found that before we took it on a trial run.

[@Kwikrnu]

I have a 2021 Arctic Fox built in late 2020. I’ve had no issues with my RV. It’s been great!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

So glad to hear this!! We hope 2024 is full of fun adventures for you 😃 Thank you for your time in watching our videos - Kyle

[@AnnN1124]

It's an Arctic Fox! I'm not surprised at all. We have a 2014 Arctic Fox and it's as good as the day we bought it! Enjoy it; you'll never regret it.

[@Mike-te1xx]

Ya baby!! Picking up a 2024 Artic Fox this week!😊

[@RVHitchedNRollin]

This was a great video, and I must say as a new RV’er your videos have been very beneficial. I bought a Travel Trailer in 11/2022 and kept looking for anything that could be wrong so I could get the dealer to fix it. I actually needed to have a new door and door frame replaced because they were both warped. Luckily, with me buying in 11/2022 I was able to have it fixed before my first trip in 04/2023. I’ve been lucky so far that the techs at my dealership have been very responsive on fixing all my problems. Please keep making these great videos because the wife and I have used your advice on the road as we try to venture out further with each trip!

[@genacolton2579]

We purchased our 2022 Grand Design on 12/27/2021. It came directly from the production line. We are “almost” full-timers with a seasonal lot in Ohio for summers and a lot in Florida for the winters. Knock on wood, we have not had major issues with our rig. Only the expected minor stuff like falling blinds, non-latching drawers, oh, and an awning arm screw coming out while driving down the highway causing the entire arm to twist! What you are saying about the realities of purchasing an RV are 100% spot on! Research is KEY to making an informed purchase without buyers regret! Thanks Hanks, I’ve been following you since BEFORE our first RV purchase!

[@curvechaser2345]

Great video Hanks!! I was in the market to purchase a RV over the past 5 months and was looking at everything until finding your videos. I ended up with a 2018 Grand Design Momentum that I purchased from an individual family who spent an hour on a video call with me then invited me to spend the night in it and use everything as if it was mine. He is a maintenance person for the Marathon pipeline and was very meticulous with this RV. I ended up meeting a great family and I got a great RV! I can’t imagine purchasing a new one, or a COVID build, from a dealership and dealing with the unknown of used or poor quality from a newer one. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to new vs used or individual vs dealer…each situation is different but you told it how it is. Thanks for your videos and hope to see you out on the road sometime!!

[@mamaebbie7326]

We purchased a 2021 and it has been a wonderful 5th wheel. No issues at all. We look forward to enjoying our rig for many years

[@jeffreykee2009]

We bought our 2021 Thor Four Wind 22E in May 2020 - got an amazing deal and have had nothing but an amazing experience. No build quality issues beyond the normal quality of how RVs are built - weird thin board panels / "walls" - things creaking - etc. Obviously you hear the complaints more loudly than people who are thrilled with their purchase. On a side note thanks guys for your channel and content, always informative. Keep it up!!

[@davidlarson7994]

We bought a 2023 Forrest River Rockwood 5th wheel. After 6 times out camping and almost 2000 miles on it, the only problem we have had was PEX pipe connection water leaks when it got real cold (20 degrees) Just tightened them up, replaced one connection under kitchen sink. I can live with that. Very happy with our purchase so far.

[@kimmelsadventures]

I use to transport RVs out of Indiana for a living. Don’t buy ANY RVs coming out of there. They are built in a 3 hour window from the time the frame and axle comes in the door until it goes out the final door. Not even enough time for the glue to dry properly. Lance, Bigfoot, airstream or Outdoor RVs from La Grande OR is the way to go. All those other ones are such junk even the $90k top of the line ones. I’ve found that even tho i may have towed that exact camper before some will pull way different and more dangerous then others too.

[@The_Nomad_Murses]

You guys hit the nail on the head! Literally everything you said was so true!

[@Dflyfishing]

Me and my wife love your videos. We went all in sold the house and was like let’s buy a Fifth Wheel. We have only stayed in one one time lot more work than expected. I’m just trying to learn along the way watching your videos for winter living I haven’t get much sleep at night when it’s cold. The skirting is a must it has helped out a lot. Thanks for all the videos and help along the way. We are going back watching every video from the first one all the way till now be safe on your journey.

[@lorirouleau4303]

We bought a 2023 Rockwood 5th wheel. Ordered it 1/23, it was built the second week of May 2023 picked it up the last week of May. So far we have had no issues at all. Just love it. My husband did tighten a few connections and screws. I think some manufactures are higher quality than others so do your homework!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is so wonderful to hear that your Rockwood has been treating you guys well! Nice job on landing such a great unit. We hope you guys have a wonderful new year and a lot of upcoming adventures 😃 Thank you so much for your support - Kyle and Renee

[@PapaGanoush17]

Nobody cares

[@fourhill]

Having previously owned a travel trailer and I have experience maintaining and repairing my RVs. I bought a motorhome last year. I bought a used (2018), very low mile class C that was in perfect condition for 1/2 the price of the same model new. I gave it a thorough inspection (4 hrs) myself. Because it was pre pandemic it had all the options that were not available on the new unit and the materials and workmanship where noticeably better. I have used it several times. with no issues.

[@meghanssoftballvideos8723]

I own a 2020 Entegra Esteem 30X (class C). The Ford E450 is a 2019, while the RV is 2020, manufactured in later 2019 but a 2020 model year. It was built pre Covid, purchased in April of 2020, just a month after the pandemic hit. I believe anything manufactured late 2020, you would find a lot more issues. Fortunately, I’ve had nothing but normal, minor issues. Really like your content guys. Keep up the great job.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much, Meghan! We are really happy to hear that you haven't had to deal with any major problems with your rig. An Entegra sounds nice by the way! Way to go 😃 We appreciate your support in watching our videos - Kyle and Renee

[@raykimsey1801]

We ordered a new Oliver in March of 2020, just before the boom started and picked it up in October of 2020. Maybe because it was made at a small family run business in TN, we have had only really one issue. This fall one of the PEX connections on a hot water line started dripping. I took a new piece of PEX and crimped a new band on the connection and we are good. We have made multiple trips across the country and up and down the East Coast. So we are pleased with our camper.

[@JetTech1966]

The whole covid camper is a real thing. They were slapped together with chewed gum and silicone. I've seen it first hand and it's actually heart breaking to see. What a bad period in all of our lives.

[@denanethereford5536]

My RV manufacturer couldn’t afford gum. Pretty sure they used only spit and staples (when they missed, they just kept adding staples)😅

[@cisco1dog]

Our 2022 is fine after 8 months.

[@Kwikrnu]

My 2021 has been great. No problems, excellent build quality.

[@JetTech1966]

@@Kwikrnu Lucky for sure!

[@dennisjordan8300]

#Thanks #Videos We are thinking of buying one this year, we are still on the fence. We have been watching 1000 of Videos. (All Of Yours!) We won't rush into it. We do want a new one with a warranty..

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Sometimes buying new is a good option! Thanks for watching out videos!

[@rvscootin3457]

Thanks for another great video! We bought our 2021 Solitude 390-RKR in 2023. This was our 4th RV over 9 years. It had some minor issues, and was built before the TSB notices started coming out for late year builds. We saved $35,000 over the new RV price. It was slightly under 2 years old. I typically do all the system(s) work and maintenance. It was certainly well worth the savings to buy a slightly used late model RV.

[@ardvark16]

I have a 2021 Grand Design Reflection purchased new in 2021 and have had almost zero issues. What you should tell people is that unless you commit to going back to your dealer, other dealers will often not fix your rv. When we needed one issue fixed none of the Grand Design dealers would do warranty work because we didn’t purchase from them. The sad part is that Grand Design told me that they have no control over that issue. If you can’t fix all or most of it, don’t buy an rv. They aren’t a car or a boat and the entire system is awful.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Yes, you bring up some amazing points here. It is an unfortunate situation that you were put into and all of us have to eventually deal with. I wish that the dealerships would have more accountability in this matter. We hope that you have a wonderful upcoming 2024 year full of adventures. Thank you for your time and for watching our videos - Kyle and Renee

[@ATLJonathanH]

Grand Design allowed my Mobile Tech to perform warranty work from day one. I filed the claims myself and Grand Design sent me the checks. I paid the Tech directly.

[@secondchancesrvadventures]

We bought a 2021 Grand Design Imagine, built in 2020, and a 2023 Grand Design Reflection. A nice upgrade. Both had minor issues but we have been very happy with both. We’ve also been blessed with a great dealership who were wonderful through both sales and getting those minor issues addressed immediately. We full-time in the summer so they get heavy use. These are our first two RVs so we can’t compare to the pre-covid rigs.

[@debyarger3084]

We bought our Grand Design reb22 in late Aug of 2020. I think we got one of the last good ones. Our dealer wanted us to trade in our flagstaff highwall, but I chose to sell it on Market place ,where i was able to sell it for 2 grand more than what the dealer wanted to give me.We had zero issues until late spring of 2023. We had to replace the water pump and a few months later we had to replace the thermostat. Two things that have gotten a lot of use. No extended warranty was purchased because my hubby is a pretty good handyman. Our awning tore the second year in, and they replaced the fabric for free, and we installed it. We travel for at least five months out of the year, and our rig has served us well. Good info for all the newbies out there.

[@michaelerickson4848]

Bought a jayco 2020 last summer it was only used twice like brand new saved over $20,000 compared to the same model in a 2020 that was still a new one at the dealer no problem so far I sold my 2013 KZ and I was surprised when the people came to look at it that they told me other campers that they looked at the people would not put water in or powered up to show them how everything worked. I spent an hour and a half going through the camper with them and they were so grateful it was sold that day

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Love reading this, Michael! Nice job on saving a good amount of money and doing a diligent walkthrough yourself 😃 You are made for the RV life! We can't thank you enough for your support in watching our videos. - Kyle and Renee

[@asgoodasitgets1]

You guys are great and love your discussion topics! I traded my TT for a new 5er in Jan of 21 while the prices were still lower and there was a selection. Our rig has had some minor issues that all but one was covered by Keystone. We did upgrades immediately while there was still inventory. The 10-year rule is true at several locations we have stayed at regardless of the condition or brand and asked for a copy of the registration! Now that people are back to pre-covid traveling and the “novelty” of RVing has decreased, inventory is growing and prices are going back down. Absolutely hire an inspector and assure the needed repairs will be accomplished prior to taking delivery. Safe travels! 🤙🏼🍻

[@pappydc12]

In 2016 we bought an old Roadtrek 23 Popular class B. We were totally new to RV's but were patient and able to park it next to our house. Over the next couple of years I learned ALL about black tanks, water/propane lines and even how to work on a 3-way fridge. The Roadtrek also had a little Onan onboard genny that needed work. I'm handy and frugal, so I fixed as much as I could. Important thing was the wife and I learned a lot. In January of 2020 we bought a 2017 Keystone Passport 23RB from a private owner. I kind of new what to look for and questions to ask. I cant imagine buying a $$$ new RV and relying on a 2-hour walkthru to train me up on RV ownership!! We will probably get a bigger rig this year....new to us...but not from 2020-21 or brand spankin' new.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Love this!! Sounds like you and your wife are well cut out for the RV life. We are just like you guys, in the fact of being frugal and trying to always expand our knowledge. Not having to rely on dealerships for repairs is a great asset to have out on the road. Keep us posted! Thank you for your wonderful support and for watching 😃 - Kyle and Renee

[@Mommadukes337]

We have a 2019 imagine and trended it in on a Reflection 2022. We haven’t had a lot of problems with the 2022. Love GD’s!

[@bethrichards2640]

You are 100% correct on quality, and parts/materials availability. My career has been in manufacturing, automotive and aerospace, not RVs, but it's all similar. We had to source from new vendors, other countries, find alternate materials, etc. Add that the workers making the product were all stressed and worried about toilet paper for home, and not so worried about their quality. On that note, never buy a car made near the Christmas or 4th of July shutdown in the U.S. Nobody is doing their best work.

[@livinmybestlife2000]

1st, my husband & I adore you both. We watch all your videos! You’ve taught this older, but less RV wise couple so much. THANK YOU! You both show team work and share amazing, helpful info. Covid…ugh. Well, we bought a 2022 Forest River Vibe. We did not take it in a single time, except for inspection the following year. We used it so much because at that time, after doing 4+ years of research, talking, thinking, renting, we were considering full timing. We just did not know when that transition would happen. So, we bought the Vibe. ❤LOVE LOVE 💗 Our family had such great times. Quality… amazing. 2 issues. 1 call and that was actually mailed to be replaced. Front cap was misaligned, which was not noticeable. It became noticeable when my husband went on the roof WITH THE INSPECTOR at the time of purchase. Inspector explained how easy that fix was, but that it did need attention. He did assure us it posed no reason not to purchase. S0, we bought. Roll forward March/ April 2023…we realized we loved the life style, our home had tripled in value and we were2 & 3 years from retiring. Wheels in motion, sold house in 48 hours, went full time May 31, 2023. We, my husband and I, were living in our 38’ bumper pull 34BH Forest River Vibe. Storage… well of course that was an adjustment. We knew we would upgrade and I KNEW what I wanted. I was restricted to parameters due to our truck and the budget we set. Of course I had my eyes on $300,000 😅😂🤣, not a thing for us (but boy they were pretty. Anyway, I accidentally found what I had my sights on…but it was June (summer😮). Rule: DO NOT BUY AN RV IN THE SUMMER. 😏❌ We decided to look. I was adamant that we were not buying the one RV I knew I wanted, fit the rules based on what our truck could handle & I knew that June was not a good time to buy. That Saturday we got the ball rolling on our purchase and trade in. A week later we brought her back to the RV spot. What did we buy you may be asking, well I will get to that. But let me share the issues we have had with our 2023, built 2022 first. 1) decorative wood over slides in living room were cracked in corners and split a bit. 2)missing trim under the bar. 3)window in living room had leak 1x never did it again. 3) 1 of the couches is just awful- made out to a bed it has an awful slant & cushions are very mushy compared to the other couch. 4) bedroom door, has a botched spot that’s scratched terribly and door needs replacing. 5) outside kitchen door has warped and the hinges were definitely not done properly. 6) the bedroom slide where outdoor kitchen is has a rubber seal. When it was installed to fit the person doing it failed miserably, leaving a huge gap where air, bugs…lord knows what else could get in. 7) Door closest to our kitchen was definitely botched on installation…total bad job! As I looked at the list it is more about products going into from other manufacturers. Quality control checks 100% should have caught all except maybe the couch…not sure. Door issue is definitely a factory build issue. The question, as I watched and wrote this was, “Can I blame these things on Covid?” I am not sure I can say yes and that be honest. How many RVs are exactly perfect? We did not have an inspection we paid for. We did have a friend who does it for a living go and check it. He noted the door. He mentioned some other minor items to give us some negotiating power. We were given what we owed on our Vibe and a significant deal on our 5th wheel. Covid effect? I am sure that is a thing for some. I do not feel it was for us. Our Forest River Sierra Luxury 38FKOK has been a dream. Additionally, every issues has/is being addressed. We are dealing with items being on back order, but every single item is being covered by warranty. I wanted to share because I want people to understand, as you both always say, the big or full story. I am on many social media groups to learn and one thing I read is the bashing of RVs built 2019-2022 by people who have not looked at them at dealerships or purchased one. Those folks just go on what they hear, not real evidence or data (yes I do ask…it is the teacher in me.). Due diligence is key. You both advocate that. Thank you for doing this video. I think for those that stop & do the research, they can make the decision best for them. THANK YOU & keep being amazing!

[@MrRMB1]

A lot of 2020's were built in 2019, pre-pandemic. Our Entegra is one of them. It's built like a tank and we love it. It's the brand new ones that I question. So many brand new ones are loaded with problems and issues. Great video!!

[@Sekaniy]

Excellent video. Tent camping for the last 15 years. I have done research in recent years and during Covid for making the jump. Im glad we didn't. We have all of the bells and whistles for tent setup that RV campers are impressed with our setup. We have looked at the 5th wheels all the way down to teardrops now. We are weekend warriors and can deal with all weekend raining. We even went to some RV shows. We were close to getting one 2 years ago, but we knew all of the extra cost of owning, pulling, fixing a trailer we said, let's wait. A salesman said we can pull a 37' travel trailer with a 1/4 ton truck no problem 😮 I know we will probaby get one, but simple seems better for our fit know.

[@onebarranch709]

Yes, this is a thing. We have a covid build and to make a long story short...when you buy from any dealer, have it inspected by an outside source and do not make any purchase payment until everything works.

[@Kindness-tk6no]

We bought used the first time. We purchased a 2011 Cedar Creek Custom. Thankfully I am an Aviation maintenance tech. All I did was trouble shoot and work on it. The problems ran the entire spectrum from electrical to mechanical failures. So we then said to ourselves let’s buy a brand new one. So we did and we chose a 2021 Grand design Solitude which was not our first choice by the way. We would have preferred a Mobile suite or Redwood. We have been living in it full time for a year and a half now. Its been very solid so far with only three mechanical repairs. The heater blower motor went out just last month December 2023. Last April when I inspected my trailer brakes and wheel bearings found that the break assembly had come apart inside the drum. Removed and replaced the assembly. We also had an anti siphon valve go bad on the black tank flush line which the dealer could fix and refused to investigate. So I had to trouble shoot and repair myself. We figured out right off the bat that dealer rv repair shops are a nightmare. They are lucky to be able to fix a light bulb. We purchased the National RV repair plan when we bought are rv. Which allows a mobile tech to do warranty work. I used it when the heater blower motor when out. I could have done the work myself but didn’t want to. Total bill would have been 916.00 dollars we paid 299.00 for everything and I didn’t have to fix it or deal with the warranty people. We did do one major upgrade to our rig and that was having an rv armor roof installed before we went full time.

[@jeremyj612]

Great conversation guys! Very thankful the used class C I found is a "2020" that's actually a 2019 build. You guys are always so fun and engaging, thanks again!

[@cherrysirisi5017]

What a deeawteeaw couple! The reactions, the banter between the 2, explanations , commentary etc. Deawteeaw!

[@simonjohns6474]

My wife and I are planning on getting a camper at the end of this year. I came across your videos and have been binging them like Netflix. Keep up the good content!!! Side note: My moms name was Renee and everyone always called her Nae Nae as well.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi Simon! This is so wonderful to hear 🙂 Congrats to both you and your wife on your upcoming camper purchase. Love that about your mom by the way! Keep us posted if you have any questions. We appreciate your time in watching our videos. Thank you so much! - Kyle and Renee

[@hgoff5617]

we have a 2010 trailer - we have never been to a park that required a 10 year or less. Guess we aren't just high end... we love it.

[@mfrain3870]

I saw your Imagine with the Tom Schaeffer’s sticker at the door. That’s where we bought our Grand Design as well. Great video!!

[@jeffimlay3216]

1 hour ago. Thanks for the great content always. We did a lot of research and Covid just happened in the middle of when we were ready to buy. We found Grand Design to be a bit more costly but had the things we wanted. We special ordered it with the options we wanted in May of 2021 and took delivery in late August 2021 on our 2022 model. So far it’s had some minor issues. Shower wasn’t caulked properly and leaked to the basement. The body was found to have three cracks in it that the body shop said was attempted to be fixed by GD but done incorrectly. GD paid to have these hairline cracks repaired. Overall we are happy but certainly some flaws we chalked up to it’s plastic and metal that will break. That said, is there some proof of what you’re saying that 2021 and 2022 models are bad. We love the layout and options. And we bought new as this was our dream buy as we get closer to retirement. And we are part timers and live in our home 10 months of the year. Rv about 2 or three months. Short and long trips. Any additional thoughts? Buy a 2024? Thanks again for all the content. We’ve learned a lot with your videos. Safe travels, Jeff and Becky

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi Jeff and Becky! It's hard to say as far as purchasing a new RV. Each RV is so susceptible to these details that are overlooked. I'm not sure where we stand with the 2024 models, because we haven't had the chance to walk through any recently. I would just stick with certainly having an inspector from the start and documenting everything in writing. Those are the only 2 quality assurances that you can guarantee to be under your control going forward. I wish I could be of more help..Keep us posted! Thank you for your great support and for taking the time to watch our videos 😊 - Kyle

[@MulligansBlog]

Our Kodiak is a 2022 and we have had zero issues. We are selling as we purchased a Class C. We purposely purchased a pre 2020 Jayco. 👍

[@hutchr6142]

Great Review! I have a friend who is an RV mechanic and Surveyor/Inspector of RV's. He has helped a lot of people in the discovery of what they are purchasing. AND for ethical reasons, he won't work on any surveys he has conducted.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That is really cool to hear! It definitely sounds like a great option for others out on the road to become an RV surveyor or inspector. We definitely would like to expand our knowledge in this one day soon!

[@RVReno]

We own a 1996 Country Coach Allure and it is built solid. We know a few people who have purchased travel trailers in the last year and all of them have had to take their trailers back to the dealership more than once.

[@EthanWI349]

Thank you for all your advice!This video was extremely helpful and timely. My partner and I are now both working as fulltime telecommuters so we are in the process of buying our first travel trailer to start an extended duration RV lifestyle. There has been a LOT to learn and we're hoping to hit the road starting in early March for a three month journey through the southwest (to escape Wisconsin spring). Keep these videos coming and please recommend your best videos for first-time RVers.

[@anastasiam.8809]

We bought a 2012 two years ago--haven't had a problem soar (except when we opened the slide into some branches.

[@JenniferPryke]

We bought a 2021 GD Imagine XLS 17MKE. We have had 1 major slide problem, repaired under warranty, and all other problems have been minor. This was our first TT, and it was a “COVID buy”. We have been so happy with our decision, and we travel for lengths of time ranging from a weekend to a few months. We are happy campers!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi there! Congrats see you on your 2021 grand design imagine 😃 that is so wonderful to hear that things have worked out great for you so far! Y’all keep living it up, you are doing it the right way! Thank you for your support and for watching our videos - Kyle and Renee

[@michaeljohnson8126]

You hit the nail on the head. To meet demand rvs were shipped out the door as fast as they could make them. Employees used to get paid by the hour then they started paying by the coach. The more you got out the door the more money you made. Dealers were getting rvs unfinished and some cases had code A violations that made it dangerous to even be in one. When I got my 2018 fifth wheel half the rv was done, the other half was not. Hydraulic lines, electrical lines and even gas lines were rubbing on metal, all major no no’s. Do your home work!

[@stepfour]

Well Hanks... I think your theory is right on the money. We t traded our Flagstaff 5th wheel for a 2022 Alliance (leftover) in 23... near then end of the season. Luckily we were able to get one trip in before winter and it's been at the dealer ever since! I made a list of 14 things that needed fixing... and not little things... the tanks were not labeled correctly reading wrong tanks, the led taillight was not working.. a screw drilled in too far cut across the floor from the slide... TV wires not connected inside the wall, electric hot water heater didn't work, lettering coming off the front... and I few other things. microwave issue. Stove light didn't work... I can't even think! Before the purchase I did some research... I watched a tour of the factory... and listened to their quality over quantity motto... I would like to write to the company and say WTF?! Been at the dealer since 11/20/23 to date...😢😮

[@MicheleCheeseman]

Really great information for inexperienced buyers!! Great job as always Hanks!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jayneubauer3401]

We bought a 2018 (yeah us!) new. Our plan was to live as full-time RVers after a year (we had to actually retire first). As the maintenance manager of the RV park we summer in in Ontario Canada, I can say a few things. Yes, there is a quality difference between our 2018 and the 2021/2022's. Some are small things, some aren't. Now, to the 10 year rule. Again, and I will tangentially speak to "our" policy (since I don't own the park I cannot act as a representative formally). There are several reasons that the owner uses, and I see them all as valid, however there IS a caveat. The reasons are he doesn't want garbage being brought to the campground that is unsafe. And potentially abandoned. Another reason was broached in your video - the eyesore. Now, to the caveat - inspections. If you have a propane inspection and a reasonable RV inspection (within the last 2 years-ish), you should be good to go. Again, safety is the biggest issue. It finally comes down to a call by the owner. I have only seen him turn MAYBE 2 or 3 away in 3 years. His biggest issue is with the "set it and forget it" sites. The ones that people will park their RV on it, and it is winterized for the off-season, and never moves. This is also the majority of the sites in our park. We are one of the VERY few that moves in the winter, as we continue to travel, and our campground here is seasonal. Some of these units actually date back to the 1970's!!!!! They have been here so long. They are being moved as they come up for sale (a few a year are sold for varying reasons). I had to demo 1 last year due to an addition being added to it that included a roof over the trailer (1972!!!). Raccoons had taken up residence over the trailer, and due to re-grading by the site holder, water got rerouted INTO the addition and this all caused rot, mildew, mold, not to mention the animal waste that caused a HORRIFICALLY noxious, completely unsafe condition. Just a few thoughts from the "static" side of things.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thanks for your great insight! That makes sense with those set it and forget it rigs

[@LisaOlejniczak]

Interesting enough we had purchased an RV in 2019. We did use it a lot during the pandemic. We then sold it. It was a solitude a year later because my husband was deployed. We recently did just buy a new 2023 so far we’ve only had some minor issues and have really enjoyed using it, but we’ve only had it since March 2024. so I guess time will tell. Love you guys by the way love you.

[@minimaxmiaandme.4971]

Bought a Little Guy Mini Max and took a 4 month cross country trip (Canadian here). I had a few issues - solar panel blew off (dealer issue),door would't lock properly from the inside and water tank issue but nothing that was so big, I couldn't wait to get home for my dealer to fix under warranty. The following season I just had a faucet that needed to be untangled. Now looking at my 3rd season coming up and hopefully all the little issues have been addressed. The first trip I hit a lot of rain the first month and not a single drop of water inside. Quality builder in my estimate and my dealers were great with repairs.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is so great to hear! It’s always nice to hear about the stories where the customers are taken well care of 🙂 we appreciate you taking the time to share this with us. We hope that you have many adventures to look forward to in the year of 2024. Thanks for watching! - Kyle and Renee

[@backroadsbetty]

We are full-time RVers/Nomads. There are lots of different opinions of course. Ours is that we usually prefer older RVs/Motorhomes. On our channel show how we live in our first newly purchased RV. And to be honest... we love the base, but in our older RVs we were able to see what was NOT well build when we bought those and what we needed to improve ouselves. When we say older, we mean like our former RVs from the 1980s and 1990 (Airstream & AVION). We just love older we guess. Thanks for the video.

[@thomasgodfrey2014]

Couldn’t agree more. My coach is 29 years old. Some criteria for mine was. No slides. Forward facing bed / entry door at cab, diesel pusher. Fully self contained. And I have real wood cabinetry

[@dennisw.truman3325]

We bought a 2021 NuCamp Tag Boondock XL Camper trailer in 2020. We have traveled across the country twice a year since then. No problems with the camper so far.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi Dennis! We love hearing this 😊 Congratulations on your camper and all your upcoming adventures. We appreciate your time in watching!

[@brucetifer]

Good video! We bought our Ty February 2020. It’s a Coleman bunk house. Works for us (retired) and we had the same experience with the water heater.(duh) no real problems we knew what we were getting into. We park it in the woods about 45mins from home and pretty much spend the summer June to September. Look forward to Thursdays, keep ‘em coming!

[@morsegrad88]

We bought a 2022 Sunset Trail, had some issues with it, most major being broken slide cable, which the dealership fixed, 8 months later, lost most of a season of camping. I would say the issues were mostly cosmetic, but the major issue was with the lack of customer service. It was so poor they called me twice asking me when I was going to bring the rig in for repair, after it had been at their facility for 4 months. Eventual discussions of lawyers got the ball rolling, and we had a great season with it in 2023. We love our rig, just not the dealership.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Goodness, we are so sorry to hear that you had to deal with this with the dealership. It's crazy how much lack of accountability there is out there. We are glad to hear that you were able to get everything addressed in our back out on the road. Thank you for your wonderful support and for taking the time to watch our videos 😃 - Kyle and Renee

[@missesascreationlab7408]

Very valid points oh the Covid years.. but we did our research and chose exactly the model and floorplan we wanted in a used '21 Cedar Creek 5th wheel that had 30 travel miles and six months of a full time family in it. Now our family has been full time for the last 16 months and the thing is tough as nails. Actually wintering in the Smokies of Virginia right now and staying warm and without any issues (that I didn't create myself!). So I think it would be over-generalized to say that '21 or 22' models are risky. I did subsribe your channel to help with my research so you have contributed largely to my success! My fave video is the insulation boards in the snow - I did that and swear by it! You both are awesome!

[@yuriy1277]

Really good video, so I thought I would share my experience so others might use this info as well. We did research on buying a full time RV because my wife will be traveling to clinical sites and then doing travel CRNA assignments after and we settled on a Grand Design especially after seeing that you guys like yours. We just found and bought a new 2023 3950bh and got exactly 40% off MSRP. HUGE savings. We also decided to go with the extended warranty because we used to own a class C and had some issues and the only thing we paid is a $100 deductible. The warranty we got allows us to go to any mechanic and worst case scenario we pay upfront and they reimburse us. As for the 10 year rule for RV parks it’s for insurance purposes. Some RV parks will actually state this on their websites. You never know how it’s been mechanically kept up. This is also true in the trucking world as some shippers/receivers don’t allow trailers over 10 years, again for insurance purposes. Anyway, can’t wait to start living in our RV.

[@lisaslifko8707]

We bought a 2022 and, thank God, we’ve not had any major issues compared to many of the things we’ve seen online across RV’ing forums.

[@SoRDouglasdale]

Ours is a 2021 and it's great! We had a few issues at first but generally it's wicked 🤘

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Good to know!

[@brentglisan8069]

We purchased a 2021 travel trailer. So far so good I don’t consider door or other minor adjustments necessarily a factory quality problem I would guess if I could pull my house down the interstate 65 miles an hour it would most definitely need some adjustments after it had some miles on it. With that being said all manufacturers were having a hard time hiring and keeping the experienced employees they were accustomed to and that lack of experience if not supervised definitely can lead to quality issues. I’ve been following rv channels for many years and let’s be honest we have all watched so many buyer beware videos prior to the pandemic quality problems didn’t begin with Covid Do your homework prior to the purchase and if you don’t feel 100% confident in the dealership you visit move on to the next. Thank you for the good information it’s definitely a great research video. I will definitely agree there were rushed and substandard units that made it off the line during Covid but many manufacturers still produced quality units that will provide years of enjoyment to those that purchased them.

[@hobbs4288]

I refuse to buy used. After years of seeing what other people do to their rigs I just assume they are all damaged. Flooding them out or driving them around like they are filming The Fast and the Furious. I will try my luck with a new rig.

[@loganmckay3194]

Love your channel. Helpful info for sure, always great content!

[@DC-ve1jd]

Thank you for this video. Covid ruined everything and my dreams of the nomad life. This video confirmed what I’ve been thinking and seeing in my research.

[@timkinney9690]

We bought a used 2014 5th wheel because we didn't like the layout of the newer ones. We did not want to have to put the slide out just to get to the bedroom or kitchen. So far, we are happy with our 5th wheel.

[@mikesharp9427]

Bought a 2021 Open Range 284RLS in January of 2023 It was built in December 2020 and we’re in our second 6 month snowbird season with it. We have had zero issues with it and love it more now than when we first laid eyes on it. It’s our third rig and by far the best!

[@dominickdesantis1083]

Rv’s are very different! During the pandemic, unfortunately many short cuts were taken to meet demand. Several manufacturers have issues. People also signed bad warrantee contracts. Your video is perfect… take your time; think about it and get an inspection! I have a 2005 Motor-coach and it’s beautiful. Things built properly last a long time with some repair to maintain. Things built improperly will need major repairs and be a nightmare to own. Thank you for this video!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi Dominick! Thank you very much for your kindness, and taking the time to write such a great comment. We really appreciate you and your time for watching our videos 😊 yes, it is all about taking your time with these purchases. The pandemic certainly set up the industry for some short cuts indeed. Stay safe out there!

[@boyerbiz57]

We bought a grand design 31 G towable toy hauler new in 2021 but we looked at a lot of trailers for 3 months and this is our 3 rd RV and we got very lucky we only had one thing that happened when we picked it up during the walk threw and one off the cables on the back patio snapped. We are very happy with are 31 G we had more trouble with our first trailer a 2004 tailgator it spent more time at the lot than our camping so we learned a lot that time the hard way! We will be traveling at the end of April so we will see how it holds up! We have up graded our suspension for the road across the country!! Thanks for the great video.❤️

[@JohnJohn-wr1jo]

Great video. One observation from someone whos been camping for 70 years and owned every class of RV the last 50 years. RV Quality has steadily deteriorated over that period primarily because the overall components quality and build quality have been compromised to cut corners and save money. The last four years the workmanship took a nose dive for obvious reasons. Factoring these 2 issues I will hold onto my 20 year old unit which still looks brand new on the inside.

[@clintoncoey9840]

I own a 2022 Transcend 265BH. I bought it new, did two shake down trips then took it on a 2000 mile road trip.

[@DeniseHoyles]

Great information. We purchased the Thor Four Winds last year. No major problems, but not to say we haven't had problems, so far the issues have been fixed. It was a brand new 2023.

[@keithkrueger5352]

WE ordered a new Grand Design 5er in January 2021, recieved it in April 2021, with no proublems, we camp about once a month with one longer trip once a year, no problems so far.

[@mikebutler4322]

We bought a new 2018 travel trailer, only had a few minor problems. Traded that for a 2021 Keystone Sprinter 5th wheel and have had no problems. It was always my understanding that new RV’s have always been subject to warranty issues. Love “The Hanks”, keep up the great work!

[@vickihanks8691]

Ours is now 10 years old and we just moved ro a new park last year. Barely made it.. We bought ours in 2014. It still looks nice so we are good for another couple of years as we will only winter in it. Thanks so much for this information.😊😊

[@stephaniegeorge3610]

We have a 2022 FR Heritage Glen and its been wonderful! No covid problems at all!

[@jeffbrown574]

We purchased our in May of 2021. We were campers to begin with but only in a pop-up. We did our research and the one we bought has been very good to us. I guess we got lucky.

[@RVHelper]

First, you two are great. I’ve been watching you for 3 years now. We bought our camper used from a dealer, It was less than a year old. I couldn’t get an inspector out to look at it. There were none around. We were lucky, there weren’t anything major I couldn’t tackle. I jumped right into this thing. I went to Texas to go to school and I started an RV tech business. In my opinion I don’t understand why banks don’t require an inspection before they lead you money for an RV. They do for a house. I always advocate for inspections, but there aren’t enough inspectors to go around. Maybe I need to go back to school.

[@sarahann530]

Banks require an appraisal for a house not an inspection

[@4838usa]

Got a super old RV as it was all I could afford, thank GOD I chose the most helpful RV park to leave it abandoned during the pandemic ❤

[@xxshiftywolfxxgaming1142]

we purchased our new travel trailer a few months ago and have only taken it on our shake down trip (work related otherwise we would be in it constantly) but we got a rig that was "used" where the original buyer purchased it and intended to live in it and realized it was to small for them. they brought it back a week later and we got it about a week after that. we got a dealer warranty on it. it was a 23 and great for our price range. Primetime tracer ultra lite 28BHS. we actually had money down on another one and canceled our hold and got our money back to get this one.