What Hasn't Broken? | What Really Happens To The RV When Living Fulltime! | Fulltime RV Life!

We went back and forth on whether we should purchase a new RV and have the peace of mind of having a warranty and dealership to work with when issues were sure to arise, or purchase our RV used and use the savings in cost to handle our own repairs. After much research, we realized that dealerships don't really care about your problems once you've taken ownership of your RV and that basic or extended warranties aren't always money well spent. We continually saw owners giving up their rigs for weeks and months at a time to have warranty or repair work done by their dealer and decided that since we would be living in our RV fulltime and traveling the country, having a dealership and warranty wasn't worth buying new. We decided to buy a used rig and knew things would need repaired but felt confident that we could handle the majority of issues on our own. After 18 months of fulltime living, we have comprised a list of ALL the things that have broken during that time! Although the list is lengthy, most of the items were quick fixes with minimal cost involved! We've covered everything we encountered in this video and have video links below that show our repairs in case you are having the same problems and would like to reference them! Did you buy new or used? What problems have you had with your RV? Let us know in the comments so we can all help each other have smoother camping experiences!
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📣Videos and Items Mentioned in this Episode (in the order they were presented in the video):
▶ Our 1-year old roof came off! Check out how we fixed it here:
• Not Such A Grand Desig...
▶We had MAJOR bedrail clearance issues! Check out our solution from Gen-Y here:
• We Have A BIG Problem!...
▶Our skylight was leaking! Check out why here:
• We Have A Leak | We Go...
▶We upgraded our fireplace! Check out the facelift here:
• They Sent Us Two! Wher...
▶Our underbelly fell off! See our permanent solution here:
• Travel Day Disaster | ...
▶Our DIY repair went bad and we destroyed our slide! See how a mobile tech helped us fix the problem here:
• How to Fix RV Slide Ou...
▶After 1-year our truck needs upgrades! Check out our improvements here:
• Our Ford F350 Needs So...
▶We got the dreaded poo pyramid? Find our fix here:
• Things Are Not Moving ...
▶Our ceiling lights were flickering! Super easy repair found here!
• Big Camper, Little Spo...
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#rvrepairs #fulltimervliving #pavingnewpaths

[@PavingNewPaths]

Subscribe for all of our adventures: kzbin.info

[@ugetridofit]

give me a break! you put your foot in front of the recliner when you pulled the cord.

[@PavingNewPaths]

​@@ugetridofitYou clearly don't own one of these rv couches! My foot on the recliner is there to keep it from springing up! The pull cord just releases a latch, it doesn't extend the recliner! So go ahead take your break and think about it real hard!

[@jason-bu4cy]

Well you’ve changed my mind. We’ve been actively searching for a Grand Design and selling our house but I think we will continue being full time home owners. I now know why so many full time RV’rs are KZbin’rs, they need the revenue to keep up repairs.

[@PavingNewPaths]

This video wasn't meant to deter you! It was meant to show that fulltime RV living is going to come with repairs! This was over our first 18 months and with the exception of the roof all were very minor and easily fixed with Amazon or a trip to Lowes! We made all the repairs ourselves as we couldn't give our home up to a dealership every time something needed repaired! We think we have worked out the kinks as it has been smooth sailing for a while now! Plus we move every 7-10 days and most repairs came after a move day!

[@jason-bu4cy]

@@PavingNewPaths I get it. I guess in my mind full time RV = full time vacation and that’s not the reality. Everything need maintenance or repairs. Great video with good info.

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@jason-bu4cy It is still a very awesome life but if you use the RV there will be things that need attention!

[@ralphowens4510]

@@jason-bu4cy you have to do every day maintenance on your permanent residence, there isn't much of a difference.

[@jason-bu4cy]

No doubt. Just realized after watching several of you videos that we are almost neighbors. I live in Liberty Tx and I grew up in Houston.

[@tesladura3085]

Thank you for this video. You have completely cured me from ever wanting to buy an RV. LOL. I'm 62 and honestly, I'm too old to want to hassle with all the things you had to deal with in order to repair and enjoy your RV experience. I don't know how or why this video popped up on my YT main page, but am I glad that it did! Cheers.

[@PavingNewPaths]

That wasn't our intention at all! We wanted to show that although things break they are usually very minimal if you have a little handyman skills and don't require a trip to the dealer! Also this was after 18 months of moving the rv every 7-10 days!

[@tesladura3085]

@@PavingNewPaths Ha ha. Fair enough. But you're still a young man, with the energy and resources to correct all these issues. Others who share your passion can learn a great deal from you, for sure, and you have done a great service to your fellow RV'rs in sharing your experience. Much respect. cheers.

[@larkangel6593]

@@tesladura3085 we had a lazy daze for 7 years. Selling it and buying a 2nd home cabin is the best thing we ever did Besides storage costs, we had to spend money every time we wanted to prep it for a trip. Remember these rigs are at the very max of their limits. Even big rig trucks often times arent stock full or have lighter loads. But an rv or TV is always at max, which is why cooling and other stuff gets whacked So always the chores - and that's diy. What's never mentioned is warranty work has no time guarantee. They could have your rig for months Good look going private. Rv Techs are in high demand, have long wait times and are expensive Then there's the regular recurring vehicle service and license fees, just like any car or truck As far as experience, because of the number of people now roaming, you have to book places months in advance Think you can be a flexible free bird by just showing up, boondock, whatever? Lulz. You'll think you're at a rock concert with all the crowds Lastly, because of park demand, private hosts can age discriminate. No, not you, your rig For example you can have an expensive 6 year old mh, but the camp is limited to 5 years or newer The people who are currently new owners will find out how fast the years go by and are now on the other side The entire rv industry is based on a dream which may have still been true just 20 years ago, but those days are long long past The result are these types of videos - the expose flood is just starting where the truth is revealed I tell anyone that if they are still serious, get a simple bullet proof tt like a used Airstream that's been buffed, and combine it with a 5-10 yo newish truck

[@tesladura3085]

@@larkangel6593 Thanks for the advice and reality check. Cheers.

[@scoop2591]

Ya I've wanted to stay in my car instead of the expense....now I'm really convinced.

[@bryanspayde8688]

Maybe my wife and have been lucky . We have always rv d since the 80 s. Pop ups till about 2000 then we picked up a 1983 pace arrow class A . 60k miles later not a single repair . We upgraded to a 2001 Winnebago adventurer awhile back we are the second owner so far everything is doing great . No repairs yet . Best upgrade ever ! We picked it up for 20k paid an rv inspector . Zero repairs or faults found . Books are all in order . 10k miles planned this year so it will be fun ;)

[@PavingNewPaths]

I think all the earlier model stuff was made so much better than the mass produced rv's of today's time!

[@lcswartz49]

I just like to give you a word of thanks being a stockholder at Lowe’s home improvement customers like you that we really appreciate on a daily basis thank you very much for your participation to our Stores and as you know LOWES is everywhere when you need us safe travels I just thought you’d like to know😂😂😂

[@PavingNewPaths]

I love Lowes and we use them all over the US in our travels! We even made a video when we went North Wilkesboro and saw the museum! You can see it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKquhJmBr72daZY I will say in my next video coming out Thursday I had to go to the Orange store to get stuff! Lowes was too far away!

[@vidguy007]

I started out renting a Forest River class C. What I learned was I don’t want a class C, nor anything built by Forest River. I urge anyone wanting to buy an RV to rent one first. I found the perfect RV, and it certainly isn’t a foam box with luan glued to it like most of them are

[@PavingNewPaths]

We'd love to hear what you consider a perfect RV! We believe there is no perfect RV, but some are better suited for your needs than others.

[@elbonian1166]

I’m also interested in what you found. I’m also thinking of a Class C.

[@alanburns4734]

@@PavingNewPaths I agree with Just traveling, Forest River seems to be particularly poorly built, with zero qc. For ex the big padded trim pc under he slide fell off very first time we opened the slide. It was made too large. Trim stapled on and most staples missed their mark, and on and on. My prior 2015 Coleman(Dutchman) was far better

[@cryptoqueen7055]

All the great news about RVing helped me make up my mind. I’ll rent one! Let the problems be someone else’s.

[@PavingNewPaths]

For some, that is the better option! But if you're just a little handy and don't mind minor inconveniences, these problems are easily fixed and didn't cost much money, for the most part.

[@paulgrimm]

Better yet? Forget the whole idea😂

[@scottmcintosh2988]

If you mix mineral spirits and clear silicone tubes it will fix your tarps make them waterproof paint them on tarps canvas cotton sheets drop cloths !

[@PavingNewPaths]

Water proofing is not the problem! The slide is so big and if you level your rig it won't run off! When it rains we try to tilt the rig a few degrees front to back and that seems to help!

[@Myronkline]

Thank God I watch this video. I was literally days away from buying an RV, the fifth wheel trailer for a regular tow behind trailer. Now, I’m out. I will never think of owning an RV again after this video.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Our intention was never to make you think twice about owning an rv, but rather to try and do some of the repairs yourself, instead of dropping it off at the dealership for months on end. We live in our rv fulltime as a family of 5 and move every 7-10 days, so we think it's actually held up great! Most of these minor repairs cost very little in time and money to repair and only required a trip to Lowes or an order from Amazon to be fixed.

[@juliagregory5696]

hi myronkline thank god i saw it too and today i took down the for sale sign down outside my house i cant thank this man enough he made me one happy lady today

[@adventuremanintheclouds8968]

The amount of issues you had in such a short amount of time is unbelievable

[@PavingNewPaths]

All of these issues took place over our first 18 months of fulltime living. We move every 7-10 days and ask a lot from our RV and we never once had to give up our home to a dealership to have something fixed! We made to video to show what it is really like when you use an RV everyday and we can only imagine how much worse it would have been in an RV not made for fulltime use!

[@cb2132]

It wasn't new and the previous owner probably did no maintenance. Our Rv is new, and we have had a few issues but they have been easily youtube and fixable with a reasonable price.

[@jottrn2359]

We're stationary full timing in 2022 Keystone Cougar 364bhl. It's just a year old, its only journey was to its current location. So far I've had the toilet flush valve leak all over the floor first time I hooked up to water supply. Replaced it myself. First time I used shower, water was leaking from the bottom. Took it in to be fixed. Several random pieces of trim have come loose. One night, one of the kitchen pantry shelves just collapsed... The large shelves were just secured with staples and no braces, so I installed some braces. The bathroom exhaust fan got stuck "on" and had to replace the switch. The residential refrigerator struggles to stay cold enough when temps are above 92 or 93. Oh, and every interior door was so far off aligned that none of them would close despite RV being level until I retooled the holes. These things should have much longer than 1 year warranty.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We wanted to show what fulltime travel and living looks like! If you use your RV and move it there will be problems and things that need to be repaired! We only showed the major things in this video! There are several things such as screws backing out, doors not shutting right and little fit and finish things that we just took care of as they happened! All in all, we are very pleased with our Grand Design as we have been in it for 18 months now and we move every 7-10 days, so it has held up very well for what we have asked it to do!

[@RayMrRobert]

I always hoped to be a full time rv’er you made me so happy I never did.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Being a fulltime Rv'er is great, we wanted to show what really happens if you RV fulltime and travel! Things will need to be repaired along the way! If you are handy you will never have to take your RV to a dealership to be repaired!

[@stephaniebrown5208]

I'm sorry. thank you for sharing this. I have a Jayco that's less than 5yrs old and I've put so much into it in just the first year I've had it which it was lightly used when i purchased it. Much of this sounds like my terrible Camping World experiences including the wrong a/c they installed and would not exchange and correct with the one they said they would install even with everything in writing as proof. I'm learning to do my own work since I can't trust anyone and I'm having to become my own mechanic as a single woman with a hernia trying to figure all is this out. I've spent thousands of dollars on my RV that's only 4 years old. This lifestyle is character building to say the least.

[@PavingNewPaths]

If we can ever be of help, even if it's just a question, please reach out to us! Becoming your own mechanic (or finding a trusted tech) is the absolute best thing you could do!

[@3sons66]

Just goes to show. RV trailers are not made for full time living. When your maxing out any design, whether it be mechanical, electrical, or environmental, that's designed for light use (i.e. seasonal) it will fail and fail often. Great video as to what someone can expect. I'm glad you were able to fix most things without going to the dealership!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Except one thing Grand Design is advertised and sold as made for fulltime use! We are in our 3rd year now and we love it! We made this video to show what fulltime living really looks like! The big takeaway is nothing ever broke sitting still, almost all of our problems happend on a move day!

[@lilibear62]

You are so calm and patient, I would have given up running and screaming! We just bought a 2020 Jayco Eagle and have had several problems already too, and we've barely used it. It's really sad how poorly they are put together and how incompetent most dealers are at repairs. You pay a lot, the warranty work sucks, the time it takes for repairs is forever, the quality just isn't there! I've heard horror stories about $300-400,000 rv's as well. Price doesn't seem to matter. We lemon-lawed our 1st class A years ago because there were so many little things and we were full timing as well. I was flabbergasted, I had no idea there were so many things that could happen. In hindsight it wasn't that bad. Next we bought a used class 3 just to travel with our 2 toddlers, it was perfect! Sadly we sold it just because it was sitting too much. We then bought another class A. It had some issues right out of the gate, but not horrible. Again, it sat too much and got infested with mice. 🤢 Fast forward 20 years later we buy the travel trailer and it's been quite a few things already. Refrigerator, heater, dump valves leaking, flooring coming loose, slide isn't flush, oh and my favorite the dealer drilled through the wall and the sliding door (because the door was open when they mounted the tv!) to mount a TV in the bedroom. We still don't have a replacement door 2 years later. I think a good repairman could make a fortune fixing these things if they were at all competent. I would like to sell our trailer and buy a small class C again, but my husband might call a divorce lawyer!😂😂

[@PavingNewPaths]

We knew going into this that if we were going to travel and live fulltime that there will be problems! That is why we found a great used one and put the money we saved over buying new away for repairs! With the exception of the roof all the problems were very minor and easily repairable! We meet so many people that end up giving the RV up for weeks or months to the dealerships to have things fixed! We wanted to show that if you are handy or can source a mobile tech you will never have to give your RV up to have repairs done!

[@lilibear62]

@@PavingNewPaths that's true, but in my opinion you shouldn't have to. I think the industry is really broken.

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@lilibear62 As long as we continue to buy them they will never stop making them they way they do!

[@danandsuch4065]

@@PavingNewPaths READ what you write! "...IF you are handy.." This good tech, he travels with you 24/7/365 for free? Do you really think people WILLFULLY give up their RVs for months?

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@danandsuch4065 Not quite sure what you're referring to, but being handy is a choice, either you want to make repairs and fix things yourself or you choose to spend money to have someone else do it for you! We have been fulltime for 3 years now and have never had to give our RV (home) up for a single night due to any issues! I have made all the repairs myself and when the issue is bigger than what I think i am capable of, I source the appropriate help, example we found a mobile technician to help us replace the slide skis, and we found a roof company to fix our roof on the road!

[@tysonmayberry1208]

Patience is a virtue and you Sir are blessed with a mountain of it. I spent 2 yrs living fulltime RV and had not 1/2 the problems God Bless you and the missus and carry on!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks so much! Most of these things have been pretty easy fixes, minus the roof!

[@MrCountrycuz]

My Dad and I lived in a 1974 27 foot impala trailer. Nothing ever broke on that camper and we lived in it full time as we were Carnies and that was our home.

[@PavingNewPaths]

The quality of things built back then is far superior than what is being produced these days, in our opinion!

[@AcuraAddicted]

What a nightmare! Thanks for putting this video out, this completely changed my mind about purchasing a used RV for full time living.

[@PavingNewPaths]

You will have minor inconveniences if you purchase new or used! This wasn't to bash the manufacturer or previous owner. We are a fulltime family of 5 and move the rv every 7-10 days on average. After 18 months, we've had our share of minor problems, but most were fixed with a quick trip to Lowes and very little money spent! We are actually very impressed with how it's held up!

[@robinbanks1111]

I decided to buy new with the idea that I wouldn't have to do any repairs. It's true the dealership wants nothing to do with you after the trailer leaves the lot, and in my case they were completely useless anyway. I was also faced with the prospect of losing my home for an undetermined amount of time while it sat on a dealer lot waiting to get in for repairs. In the end my BRAND NEW Forest River trailer needed upwards of $3000 worth of repairs straight off the lot (and a number of problems still exist). I was lucky enough to find a great mobile mechanic who came to me so I didn't have to ship my home back to the dealer. Forest River did reimburse me, but that was after 18 months of persistence. My advice - don't buy new! If you decide on a new trailer, go over it with a fine toothed comb before you take delivery - that means all systems must be functional : run all the taps including shower, flush the toilet, light the stove, make sure there's hot water, open every window, cupboard, door, the awning, and the slides. The dealership will NOT check anything after they get delivery - they put the onus on the new owner to make sure the unit is 100%. And never buy the extended warranty.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Your perspective is spot on and exactly why we bought used!

[@kevinschwinkendorf3202]

When you buy an RV, take it on a few weekend trips before going across the country. Determine what tools, parts, and supplies you’ll need to repair anything that can possibly break. You’ll still have repair challenges but you’ll be better equipped to handle it.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We live and travel in our RV fulltime, We have made every repair you saw in this video on our own while on the road! This is our home and we have never had to give our RV up a single night to have a dealership make any repairs! We also made all the repairs ourselves because customer service and a warranty are just going to leave you disappointed!

[@larrymiller8210]

Iam tired! Have a 36 ft. Class A and I have glue, wrench, clamps, ac DC tester, roof patch, extra water pump, extra pipe fittings, and a good dose of patience some times. Love our motorhome! But, it's constant things. Enjoy life on the the road, but bring enough s%&t to fix it. Love your attitude about all the stuff going on. Attitude is 90% of the fix. Thanks from a 68 year old that had been through the mill.

[@PavingNewPaths]

My last job taught me a lot of patience and how attitude makes all the difference in the job! This RV stuff while inconvenient at times really is not all that bad! The roof was the only issue that got me down about the RV, but all the rest were easily fixable with an Amazon order or a trip to Lowes!

[@Sunshine_day]

I'm not a very handy person and I'm a single sixty year old female. I had an older 5th wheel as a guest/ spare bedroom for a few years. I could do sealing for leak prevention, but when more & more things started breaking, I sold it to one of my daughters ex-boyfriend. It was such a relief when he moved it off the property. If I ever hit the road for long road trips, I'll probably just stay in my car & tent camp. Much easier for me in my opinion.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We just wanted to show what it is really like to live and travel in an RV fulltime! We love our RV and because we took care of all the problems ourself we never had to give our home up to a dealership when things broke!

[@horizon42q]

Amazing! You are an expert now. You learned in 18 months what took me 23 yrs of part time RVing

[@PavingNewPaths]

It was a very eventful 18 months!

[@horizon42q]

@@PavingNewPaths You should see my list on my expensive 2020 Winnebago Horizon. Now after 4 trips to Forest City it’s finally a great RV. My first list had 43 items. Thanks God, the last list was only 6 items.

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@horizon42q My list was so long when I started filiming I was like wow some of this I already forgot broke! So far we have this thing just about perfect and break down and repairs seem to be minimal!

[@georgevue8175]

Cool video - Looks like owning an RV is a full time part-time job, 20hrs/week of required maintenance to keep the wheels from falling off.

[@PavingNewPaths]

It is actually not that much work! This was 18 months of break downs! We averaged less than $300 a month total for the whole year in maintence cost and that includes preventive maintenance!

[@dc6233]

They're junk, they are all built like absolute garbage. There are no industry "standards", they just slap them together and call it a day. They need to use better materials in critical areas and make sure that any and all plumbing, electrical and mechanical connections are done well. Instead, if 2 screws strip out of 5 but it holds for the moment they built it, they let it go...

[@brustar5152]

BINGO!

[@Dilberts_Dogbert]

​@@PavingNewPaths it seems the base build quality of your pre-owned may be far better than current new 2021 on. I too thank you for the realist picture you have given here. Things break in life😎

[@randybreuer1685]

For your foggy window ,try a window repair service that specializes in de-fogging windows .

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks! It's on the list but hasn't been a major problem, so it keeps getting bumped to the back of the line of things repair. We may try the repair ourselves, as many viewers have said it isn't that difficult.

[@peggyr.346]

We are looking at a 2018 Grand Design 303RLS and the owner is also selling his 2006 Diesel F350. It’s our first time with a 5th wheel and we plan on living in it full time as soon as we sell our home! I learn so much from watching maintenance videos like yours! It’s all Greek to me, but the more I watch the more familiar I get with the terminology and the way to do things. Hubby doesn’t worry about such things.. me? I”m writing things down and making lists! Lol. Thanks for a great video! (I’m going to be back tracking and watching your older videos as well!). Many happy adventures for you and your family!

[@PavingNewPaths]

We are so glad you found the content helpful! Kevin is a list person so before we started this lifestyle he had all the lists going! If you ever run across any questions, feel free to run them by us! We all start at the same place, so any problems we can help you avoid, we would be happy to share what knowledge we have gained along the way! Good luck with selling your home! I think you'll love fulltime rv life!

[@peggyr.346]

@@PavingNewPaths thank you soo much!

[@mikemarchini644]

These trailers are built as cheaply as possible, like American cars of the 70s. I used mine once than parked it in the driveway for the past 5 years. It will be our emergency home if we get burned out of our real home. Good luck to you, it was very entertaining.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We love our RV and wanted to show what it is really like to live fulltime in one! We don't regret one minute of owning this, we just think people expectations about owning one don't match the reality! If you can make repairs yourself and avoid ever involving the dealership you will be better off!

[@jbfCanada]

When my kids were old enough to want to buy RVs, I explained to them that having an RV is nit just like having an RV, it is more like having an RV Hobby. I have owned 9 RVs over 30 years. They all require some maintenance and repairs over time. For me mostly little things, I’ve never had to replace a roof. But screws pop off, a furnace stops heating, no hot water, a sliding door stops sliding, and so on. It really helps to be able to do much of the repairs yourself. I find the RV dealers around me have service departments booked weeks to months ahead. Nevertheless, an RV doesn’t require as much work or money as a boat …

[@PavingNewPaths]

Yes it definitely helps to be handy and not afraid to attempt to fix things that break! Most things have been minimal for us and ready fixes with a quick trip to lowes or Amazon order! We left the roof to the pros! Do your kids rv now that they are grown or did they choose other hobbies!? We had a bass boat as a hobby once! She was costly when things decided to break out get damaged!

[@jbfCanada]

Two of our three kids actively RV now as 35-45 year old adults. The third would like to as well, but has young baby. Kids enjoyed RV’ing most from about 3 years until about 12-13 years,and again after about 25 years and up. They were not as keen as teenagers and as young adults, because at that time friends and social contacts become so important to them. Which is why, our perfect RV has changed over the years. Bunk beds when kids younger, smaller units while working but kids not coming, back to a little bigger units again when retired and doing longer trips. I have always said that your perfect house often changes as kids, pets, work, relatives come and go too.

[@PavingNewPaths]

I'm glad to hear your kids rv as adults now! I so hope our children continue to rv when they are adults! And yes, the perfect house and rv change through different stages of life! Kevin and I keep eyeing Class As but are saving that for when our kids are grown and gone!

[@karlmiller7500]

B O A T break out another thousand

[@RetiredLover]

The same problem is when you purchase a yacht to live in full time. If you are not a ‘handy-man you had better be well off financially!

[@garyhawthorne4599]

Great video of the problems and repairs you made. You are very talented in repair and routine maintenance. I am very sorry to see the very poor construction of a very expensive trailer. It seems like to many RVs are made poorly.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We made this to show that living fulltime in an RV is not always a vacation! We also wanted to show if you are handy, you can make all the repairs yourself and not be stuck relying on a dealership! We love our Grand Design and would buy another one! We think it has held up very well considering everything we have done with it!

[@robprince9366]

Unbelievable and I know that 5th wheel cost allot of money. Grand Design has some great floor plans but missed the mark on quality.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We actually made the video with the intent of showing how good the quality has been for us! These problems were over an 18 month period living fulltime and moving every 7-10 days! Yes there were problems and we resolved them all but imagine how many more problems we would have had with an RV not designed for fulltime use!

[@roamingnomeRV]

"Murphy" will always show up, and sometimes he moves into your spare bedroom! Plan for it!

[@PavingNewPaths]

I have a saying that everthing that happens to an RV happens in pairs! We love the RV but the first 18 months was full of issues and repairs!

[@josephharrell5724]

Excelent video. You covered a lot of territory and you did it without dragging on with any particular issue. Dude you are like me you even covered things that didn't break but other people have had problems with. You have to be a handy man to RV a lot and mitigation as with your shackles and bolts is the key to avoiding catastrophe.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! When I made the video, I felt like I needed to tell the whole story of what it was like in our first 18 months of travel and what all broke! I also thought it was important to bring up all the things we thought we would have problems with but did not! Thanks for watching!

[@heidiocain]

What a great video! Clear, concise, easy to follow, with relatable problems and solutions. I am duly impressed and have taken note of a few things to inspect and probably maintain on my 5th Wheel -which is not a Gr.Design. However, an RV is an RV when you break it down and have to maintain it. Thanks for all the thorough information and the tips. I appreciate all your hard work, and the thoughtful effort to share your knowledge with others. Thanks again for this informative video.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We live and travel fulltime, and no one was making this video! The one about the reality of what happens if you do use the RV! The great thing is, with just a little know how, most things can be fixed on your own, and don't usually cost a lot to fix! We wanted to show that yes, things break, but there is no need to turn your rv into a dealer dor months on end waiting on simple repairs to be made!

[@codyor4483]

A couple of suggestions; For all the folks looking at a new RV, read the owners manual BEFORE you buy. (you can download it off the internet if need be). It will let you know whether or not the RV is a full-time living RV. Most are not. The warrantee will be voided if you live in it full time. The second thing is that find out what the Manufacturer considers "Full Time". Some manufacturers consider a 2 week stay, "Full time". to get out of covering anything under the warrantee. Lastly, There is no "Building or Construction Codes "covering the manufacturing of RV's. They are literally thrown together. Be sure to do your due diligence.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Yes all of this is true and helpful for those in the market! We chose to buy used knowing we would save a ton of money and rely on ourselves to fix the little issues that rise up versus taking it to a dealer for the fix!

[@aliveandwell2078]

Warranty? RV warranties are a joke. Try to get any type of work done in a reasonable amount of time is like an act of god. My suggestion is to get good at doing minor repair and find a good local repair shop or Mobil repair guy. If you have an expectation of great customer service after your purchase you’ll be greatly disappointed

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@aliveandwell2078 That is why we wanted to make this video! We bought a great used unit and got exactly what wr wanted! We did not have to hope a dealership or a warranty would take care of us! When things broke we fixed them and moved on with out ever giving our home up!

[@codyor4483]

@@aliveandwell2078 boy you got that right. I was told by a RV rep. that the only thing the warrantee covers is the stove. The rest is just smoke and mirrors.

[@Cue881]

Boy O Boy!, That was something else! God Bless you for your endurance. I think you qualify as an RV tech now! Now you sure know your RV inside and out. Hope sailing gets smoother for you. That was an excellent video

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! This was just a breakdown of everything that has gone wrong in the first 18 months of full time RV living! Besides the roof almost everything was easily repairable with an Amazon order or a trip to Lowes!

[@dasfreakster]

Nice. Thanx for the video. Just got a new '22 Momentum 31G from GD. Fit and finish sux. Already had them in for warranty work a couple of times for things that should have been caught at the factory. SMH......

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks for watching! This was not meant to be negative towards our RV! We love our Grand Design and would buy another one! We think it has held up great considering what we have put it though! This was 18 months of fulltime living moving every 7-10 days! We wanted to show the reality of fulltime RV living and how things will break and need to be repaired! We also wanted to show that you can fix everything yourself, with the exception of the roof without ever having to give your RV up to the dealership for months on end!

[@publius9606]

Thank you for talking me out of what would have been a really expensive mistake! I was dating a girl who sold her home, bought a 5th wheel, and intended to live full time in it. I was specious but went along to keep the peace. We ended up parting company in the. Funny how things work out the way theyre supposes to sometimes 😁😁👍

[@PavingNewPaths]

That wasn't our intent at all! These were all of the problems we had after 18 months of moving every 7-10 days as a family of 4! We wanted to show that although some things break, most are super simple fixes and don't require you taking your rv to the dealer to wait in long lines to be fixed! Most things we fixed were a quick trip to Lowes or an order from Amazon!

[@mikes-wv3em]

theyre all gonna live in senior housing, broke, eating catfood, from RV costs. or go out to slab city like the other dirtbags.

[@AaronG72901]

Breaking up with a 5th wheel owner😅 this is great!!

[@juliagregory5696]

@@PavingNewPaths that may not have been your intent but you have have helped so many people in doing so,i thankyou sincerely young man and that offer of a beer stands firm the whole point is for that huge amount of money it should have been perfect and it was not.take a pat on your back i salute you.have a blessed life and may the wind be always at your back xx

[@danieldubois3707]

Great video. We have a 2020 397. 1st trip out West the main slide wouldn't retract all the way - 5 months to fix at dealer. 2nd trip out West - Auto-level tried to commit suicide and resulted in the right front jack bent 30 degrees (stuck in Sheridan, Wyoming for 2 months). 3rd trip out West - passenger side leaf spring flattened out ... while waiting for mobile tech the frig cooling unit crapped out. We had (have) same issue with bedroom cabinet side coming out. We replaced all the valves under the sinks - finally installed the "venturi" type windmill thingy on the roof vent - 100% solved our odor issues. Back deck we "rinoed" .. but where the cable attaches to the deck - I ended up installed bolts and nuts (also had to replace the rubber seal around the edges). We have the original rotoflex pin.. so far after 3 - 8 month West trip not an issue (B7W companion hitch). Our West lake G tires lasted 25000 miles when I decided it's long enough... probably could have gotten 30K. Numerous minor fixes... enough to demoralize but so far willing to make a 4th trip in a couple months (from San Antonio). I have more angst trying to keep the 397 comfortable in 105 heat and/or 20 degrees or less... the furnace is a joke ..

[@PavingNewPaths]

This video was our first 18 months of fulltime use and we typically move every 7-10 days! Almost all of these problems happened on a move! We also had several months where nothing went bad, the problems seem to show up together! We just replaced a fan motor in the center AC unit, and it looks like both of main slide skis are broken again and need to be replaced! Depending on the wind today we might be getting new slide toppers soon!

[@tomweymouth3820]

While we were at the FMCA rally last March we had our foggy windows fixed. All they did was take the window out, separate the two panes of glass, clean, and reassemble with a new butyl tape seal all around the outer edge between the two panes of glass. For that they charged me $175.00 per window. There was NO difference in price for big or small windows. After seeing how it was done I would not be afraid to do it my self next time, you appear to be a DIY kind of guy so I think it would be simple for you to fix your window. Love your videos by the way.

[@PavingNewPaths]

First, thank you we are glad you enjoy our videos! Second, I thought it would be a much bigger deal to fix the fogged-up windows! I might have to do some research on this and figure out if it is something I think I can do! Thanks for the tip!

[@tinamarieb49]

I thank you for the tip too! I have several windows in my house that need this repair. I may give it a shot.

[@comfortouch]

6:00 Just a suggestion, Get an inflatable mattress or inflatable pool lounge and blow it up under the water logged slide topper when rain is forecasted. YES it is ridiculous to have to do something like that, but, it'll keep the water weight off the top of your slide.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Slide toppers are a blessing and a curse! we move so much that anything we would do would be an inconvenience, i just take the broom and drain it after every rain now!

[@Bojammer]

Wow, I'm glad this video came to me. I'm thinking about a full-time RV. I"m surprised I sat thru the whole video. I'm going to think long and hard about my future decisions. Thanks

[@PavingNewPaths]

This video wasn't made to make you question the decision to fulltime or not! We live as a fulltime family of 5 (4 when the video was shot), and move every 7-10 days on average. Our video was to show that things may break but with a little time and research, most issues can be fixed by you, instead of taking it to the dealer for months on end! We are the second owner, and even with our new roof and minor repairs we've made, we still haven't paid anywhere near what a new rig costs, and we've never had to turn it over to a dealer to sit in a line to be fixed.

[@Bojammer]

@PavingNewPaths Thanks for super fast reply. Im really enjoying your videos. I have some time before i make a decision. The one thing i have going for me is that im pretty handy also.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We think being handy is half the battle with rv's! Also think the more you move it within the first year, the more things you will have to repair. These repairs were over an 18 month period and we haven't had anything significant in a long time! We appreciate you watching our channel! You may find our "Path to Maintenance" Playlist the most informative, regarding rv related repairs. Let us know if you have any questions or if we can help further with your decision!

[@lorrieleaver2447]

What a horrifying nightmare for you guys to have gone through. I’m sure the previous owners would have had some idea that all was not well but they took your money anyhow 💰 I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through with each drama. I’m definitely not going to even look at these type of campers but I’ll stick with the well known motorhomes and have a full inspection prior to handing over any money. What a lesson you had to learn and I hope your never have to repeat this again. From this day forward may your lives be full of safety and your journey full of love 💕 💫

[@PavingNewPaths]

It actually was not a nightmare at all! The previous owner did not sell us a bad RV! Our RV was in perfect condition when we purchased it and for the first few months of ownership everything was fine! We made this to show that no matter how well you take care of your rig and what preventative maintenance you do things will break! We are very pleased with the RV and think it has done well considering we have lived in in fulltime for 18 month and we move every 7-10 days! Almost all of these issues came during or after a move! We fully expect when it's time to upgrade we will go through another period of things breaking and repairs! We wanted to show that you can take care of everything yourself and not have to give your RV up to the dealership every time something breaks!

[@lorrieleaver2447]

@@PavingNewPaths My apologies for misunderstanding the underlying issues and the true situation of your experience. Thank you for your explanation as it’s been both informative and educational.

[@sandytrahan3778]

Oh wow!! That is just crazy on how much stuff has been wrong with your camper. Especially in the first 18 months. But so glad that y'all were able to get it fixed properly.... Thanks for sharing, and once again your videos are always awesome...

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! There are a lot of videos out there that make fulltime living look problem free! We wanted to show the reality of what really happens when you travel full time! While it looks like a lot of problems most of them were minor except for the roof!

[@sandytrahan3778]

@@PavingNewPaths Well I'm so glad you did this video... Ik there will be problems but you showed some major ones of possibly happening. Now I know to always check EVERYTHING before and after traveling when I finally do get to get on the road. Can't wait to see the whole family back together again doing videos...

[@juliosandoval8244]

Theres more to campers defective from the time it leaves the factory

[@mikescaffo4850]

Wow you have really opened up my eyes and literally changed my mind about mabe doing this in the future thanks for your time and being willing to share with us and not candy coating everything

[@PavingNewPaths]

You should still do this! We love our RV and the life we have traveling and exploring the USA! We did make the video because no one ever talks about the reality of what happens when you live fulltime in an RV! Yes somethings will break and can be frustrating, but if you can make all the repairs yourself and avoid relying on a dealership, customer service or a warranty you will be much better off!

[@johncumbo8274]

Your amazing. You can problem solve and fix things on your own home. The average person can’t do that and it becomes part of the problem. Also what I’m getting from these vids is people want the dealer to repair the faults because they paid so much money for their mobile homes. It’s a vicious cycle. I enjoyed your problem solves and how you repaired them. JC

[@JamieTransNyc]

@ 10:25 I was so glad to hear you fixed it with plumber's putty, and not silicone sealer.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We try not to use anything silicone based on the RV!

[@frankroper3274]

I bought 5th wheel RV 2 years ago and I have been living in it at one site. It was used and I bought it on CL and the guy said it was in good condition and no leaks and everything worked. I just counted everything I had to fix or do and it was 30 things...and it did leak but he kept it under a roof so he may no have known. I'm single and save money on utilities since I didn't need a house. I got to watching all these videos of people living in campers and their car and had to try it. I have to say so far I am fine with it!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Once you get your list taken care of, I bet the number of things you have to fix going forward will be minimal! That's what happened with us!

[@frankroper3274]

@@PavingNewPaths If you haven't replaced the anode in your hot water heater thats good too! Mine is only 10 gallon so it will rust pretty quick!

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@frankroper3274 We do our maintenance pretty regular because we do live and travel fulltime! We sanitize and change the anode rod twice a year!

[@MsYouANDREATube]

I appreciate how you deliver your message. quick back ground story, explain what happened, how it should be and how you fixed with a general awareness knowledge of how it should work and why! appreciated! im going to rewatch and bust out my notepad and pay attention!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! This video was year one, check this out to see what happened in year 2! kzbin.info/www/bejne/goutfHmEd8h7iqc

[@JDubsPub]

Holy guacamole! I can only imagine how challenging and debilitating these issues would have been for someone not nearly as handy and knowledgeable as you are. Thanks for the video and explanations.

[@PavingNewPaths]

The first month I literally said what have we gotten into; every day was something new! We try to do a really good job on maintenance and making sure we take care of everything! We wanted to show that no matter how good you take care of an RV, if you use it and move it frequently you will have things that need attention! Besides the roof everything else was just minor inconveniences!

[@JDubsPub]

@@PavingNewPaths Understood and an awesome video it is. As a new full-time RV'er myself, I've already learned quite a lot from you and I thank you for that!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We are glad that we could help you!

[@GimpyCamper]

Good video. That’s the life of being a camper owner. We don’t full time but I park my camper at my neighbor’s house. A couple years ago she said “you’re the only person that I know who buys a new camper and works on it all the time” 😂

[@PavingNewPaths]

Oh goodness! You certainly aren't alone! If you aren't fixing something that is broken, you better be doing preventive maintenance, otherwise you'll be fixing something soon enough!

[@sissinoklahoma2057]

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but the slideout topper can be removed, the tension tightened (by rolling it tighter) and then sliding it back in. Since yours is already ripping, when you replace it, you can fix it then. We replaced both our lounge and bedroom slideout topper for $100! Don't overspend, bc you're supposed to replace them every 2 years (when full-time) anyway!

[@PavingNewPaths]

They are fine when the water is not on there! the problem is if you RV is level the water will not run off the big slide topper, so it just pools up and stays there! I will replace them when they need to be replaced not because a certain time passed by!

[@billhungerford5930]

Wow, incredibly well done video. I'm surprised thr RV Association didn't quickly reach out to you, offering big money for you to take this video down! Thanks man!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! This actually was not done as a knock on our RV! We made the video to show what living fulltime in one looks like and how if your handy you can take care of most of the issues yourself! We love our RV and can only imagine how long the list would be in one not designed for fulltime use!

[@jamesbell6765]

Excellent video! We had a similar experience in a 2019 Grand Design 380FL in our one year full time adventure. Ours was brand new and we had to threaten to sue Norcold to get a fridge issue resolved which took 7 months to be right. In the end, we realized the entire QC element in the RV industry is in bad need of improvement. Thanks again!

[@PavingNewPaths]

We bought used for this very reason! We knee if you use it there will be problems and for us to travel fulltime we didn't want to be tied to a dealership for every issue! We used our savings from buying used and made all the repairs oursleves without ever having to give our home up!

[@jamesbell6765]

@@PavingNewPaths Well, that was the original plan until my wife fell in love with the front living setup in the GD 380FL with two bathrooms which we could not find used since it was a new configuration. I could not break her away! By the way, we had the same fridge door issue and I have a video explaining the antidote with the extra washer. Search on “Norcold 2118…Quick Fix”. Bottom line, the hinge supports at bottom are not heavy enough if you weigh down the doors too much with glass bottles, etc. We sold it after a one year full time run and we were happy to be done with RV'ing for awhile. Thanks again for your excellent video.

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@jamesbell6765 These were problems we had over the first 18 months since we made the video we have not had anymore issues to deal with! We think its a growing phase and once you find all the weak links these RV'S are pretty good!

[@IntheBlood67]

It seems the Sales Department doubles as the Quality Control Department!

[@randybrandenburg5364]

What a great video. Even though I really want to, I am not near mechanical enough to go full time. Don't take those skills for granted.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! It's not as bad as it looks this was over an 18 month period all these issues happened! We knew we would try to fix every thing ourselves when we started as we live in it fulltime and cannot just give our home up to the dealer everytime it breaks!

[@CBWANADA]

Thoroughly enjoyed your content. The cadence and patience in your voice made it interesting to listen through! Maybe ...just maybe because I've been through so much of this myself! Ah..the stories, experiences...

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We didn't make the video because we are mad or disappointed, we actually love our RV! But there is a side the RV living that no one ever talks about, how many things that will break and need repairs if you do use your RV! Its always an adventure, even when it shouldn't be!

[@falcorthewonderdog2758]

I bought a 20 year old 36 foot National Dolphin LX with 12k miles on it. Other than minor repairs I've had no issues with this beautiful class A RV. Paid 20k 4 years ago. Rig cost 128k new. Would likely be 200k today. Look for a well cared for single owner low miles unit. Have it inspected. Be prepared to have some repairs done. Have some cash on reserve. Unfortunately trailers 5th wheels etc aren't built to the same quality as class A rvs due to weight limitations in a trailer. Also newer rvs just aren't built to the standards the rigs were built in the early 2000s.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We did exactly that we saved money by finding a used RV that was in great shape and used the saving for when repairs were needed! The roof was the only thing that happened that was unacceptable, everything else was very minor and easily repaired! We love ours and wanted to make a video that was real about what actually happens when you travel in one full time!

[@ZeebNinja]

Luckily you are a doer...and are willing and able to fix issues. Someone who is not would have left full timing after the first few months.

[@PavingNewPaths]

My wife said the same thing! If you couldn't fix any of this, we would have to quit traveling! It seems most of the growing pains have been worked out but that usually means something new is about to pop up!

[@oidirk]

I am so depressed right now! 😁😁😁 I have the exact same RV and truck (both 2022). I’ve been at my first park close to home while I wait for my house to sell. So far all is good but when I start traveling I am getting nervous! But great video and thanks!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Don't be! This was 18 months and 20K miles of traveling! We have had our share of issues, but we expected them because of how we use the RV! Besides the roof all the other issues were very minor!

[@ronhooker5820]

Got me nervous too . Wanted to go full time but I am not a handyman . Thinking about forget it .

[@PavingNewPaths]

@@ronhooker5820 It is not all that bad, we are fulltime but we move a lot and often so we ask alot of our RV! In 18 months we moved over 50 times, most of our problems came durning or after a move!

[@mr.wilson8340]

@@ronhooker5820 Don’t do it! You will regret selling your home for a rapidly depreciating RV that is built like garbage. I can’t imagine what it would be like to spend my days cooped up in one of these rolling pieces of garbage. 18 months and the regret will set in and your home is gone.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We have been doing it for 18 months and don't regret one minute of it! It is a truly amazing life once you decide to let go of owning stuff and trade that for time and memories with the things that matter!

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Some of the places we’ve stayed over the years that water filter would have disappeared overnight. Think I’d hide it behind the tires. Great vid! It definitely does pay to be handy. Imagine all the funds and sitting time if a dealer had to fix each of those issues

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Oh! Forgot to mention stick folded pool noodle under that topper awning. Will make a high point so the water can’t pool.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We typically stay at places where we don't have to worry about things coming up missing! We have checked into a few places where after setting up we got the vibe it was not right and have left! It defiantly helps to be handy!

[@Turningwrenchs]

After years of repairing all my RV repairs i thinking moble Rv repairs is a great job with lots of changes to do one thing i enjoy and that Fixing things

[@PavingNewPaths]

I enjoy fixing my own problems and one could make a great living repairing RV's! I however would not want to do it for work!

[@blutoiswatching]

Having worked at an RV dealership 3 yrs first gave me the best information on owning an RV of any kind. My 1st was a slightly used non-slide 40' pusher, eventually my neighbor bought it when they retired with minimal issues. Waited 10 years before buying a Heartland 40' 5th wheel, first year was fix it or re-do it from factory. 10 years later it was stolen out of storage and squatted in by drug dealers who trashed it, I'll be doing full upgrades this summer with better products now than the 1st re-do. I'm actually looking forward to it after spending the last year looking at new and used RV's, those would be more work at double the cost than my current rig! Thanks for the links and other videos for tips and tricks 👍

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you for watching! Sounds like you have a big project on your hands, but in the end you will have an RV you know everything about!

[@blutoiswatching]

@@PavingNewPaths My son runs a plumbing company, we have great plans for all the plumbing and HVAC to be done right and tight. I come from a custom home building background and part owner, it's the tips on particular items in an RV I'm looking for. The skylight above the shower is one I haven't decided on what to replace with yet...along with the list of 101 other things. I'll keep watching all your videos!

[@PavingNewPaths]

We can only share tips on the things we have broken! Which seems to be a lot at this point!

[@scoop2591]

This is one of the BEST RV videos !👍

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you!

[@davemack400]

I had two expensive slide in campers and experienced all sorts of issues, moved on to a custom built dodge pro master camper van, and 10 months later no regrets. Mass produced campers suffer from poor components and craftsmanship vs a custom built camper that is built with quality parts and craftsmanship that seem to hold up a lot better. Aside from tightening some fasteners that have coke loose from 18k miles of travel it’s been great. A smaller unit like I am using is not ideal for some if not most travelers, but if you can do it, do it.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We always hear great things about the camper vans from the owners! We actually love our RV this video was not meant to be a rant it was to show people that fulltime RV living is not always a vacation! We believe since we travel and live fulltime, we could have made this video no matter what brand we owned as they will all have troubles if you use them!

[@lifeisshortmakeitsweet8058]

I have a class b and absolutely love it. More issues with my c than this b. Most issues I have with the van are due to me lol.

[@IntheBlood67]

Outstanding! Strength thru struggle........to coin a phrase! You have "True Grit" to persevere!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks!

[@TradinTigerJohn]

Driving any RV, towable, or motorhome, down a well-maintained highway is roughly equivalent to a magnitude 5 earthquake in terms of vibration, acceleration, and torsion. Get on a rough road, an interstate that's been through a bad freeze/thaw winter, or a secondary road, and the vehicle gets subjected to the equivalent of a magnitude 7 earthquake. Go off-road and all bets are off. Now do a thought experiment: Subject a house to this and see how long it lasts. RV'ing is a wonderful hobby. Understanding what you're facing and being prepared to deal with it is part of the deal. My kids will never forget the memories we made in our 30' bunkhouse. To design and build something that's both a vehicle and a house that works without continual maintenance is impossible. (Notice I didn't say continuously. We'd often go for several weeks with no problems at all). There are some golden references and recommendations in this video regarding major items like roofs and slideout services. I developed a healthy contempt for RV dealers and service centers. To get an RV and expect no repairs is like getting your scuba diving certification and expecting not to ever get wet. Both are wonderful hobbies. And this is a great real-world tutorial on RV'ing!

[@PavingNewPaths]

We love our RV and wouldn't trade it for the world! But we wanted to show what it is really like when you live and travel in it fulltime! If you are handy you can continue living without ever having to take it to a dealership! If you're not you will hate RV life having to rely on the dealership to help you everytime something breaks!

[@susansnyder6373]

Loved the video! Congratulations on birth of baby boy

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! They are doing great and will be returning soon to the KZbin production!

[@timzbel6389]

This was SO helpful seeing the repairs in chronological order because I saved almost all of your repair videos for future reference. Thank you!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you, Tim! It made more sense to just tell the story from the beginning! I had an ongoing list and when I opened it up to shoot this video there were things, I had forgotten about that had broken!

[@ralphowens4510]

you are smart to learn from kevin's misfortunes, but he has learned to adapt quickly before they got worse.

[@gregvoight8616]

Man you're very good in describing all the problems. Good informative video !

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@boondockduane]

Grew up with Airstreams, we have owned two ourselves. I always remember what my Pappy said. RV’s, especially travel trailers were never made to “Live” in. Then we bought a InTech Terra…. Great Video!

[@PavingNewPaths]

We actually think ours has held up really well (with the exception of the roof) considering what all we put it through

[@charlenebrasher8307]

I lived full-time in an RV. They are just not meant for full-time occupancy. Indoor moisture during the winter was a constant battle. Storms, seeping water, mold, equipment breaking down and more.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We actually think ours is great for fulltime living! We made the video to show that there has been issues we have also asked a lot of our RV and continue to ask a lot of it! We have managed to take care of all the issues without ever giving our home up to a dealership to have work done! We love our Grand Design and will consider another one in the future, but the reality is if you use the RV and travel you will have things to fix, but you can do it yourself with an Amazon order or a trip to Lowes!

[@tomtheisen3175]

I live in Las Vegas, have a 2001 Pleasure Way class B I got in 2007 & went full-time in 2017 & no problems at all. Only thing I've fixed is a new fridge in 2013 before I went full-time & a water heater last winter & that's it. I have a cargo trailer I converted to basic comfort, TV fridge etc but still hauls my motorcycle but I only use that from Sept to May then I put it in storage & leave Vegas area & travel to cooler weather places. I love full-time better than my 4 homes I had before. Maybe your mold & water was from being in a cold or wet State but in my opinion the south west is best for full-time RV living.

[@realpatriot5896]

I think I will build my own RV since I have the tools to do it!

[@bradharber5750]

GREAT video, thanks for all the info. We've not started our journey yet but have come to realize that carrying a good tool selection will be a requirement.

[@PavingNewPaths]

You're very welcome! You definitely don't want to be out there without an essential tool, especially if it's one you might need during a travel day!

[@charlesbritzman501]

IMHO you did a great job on this video.. You covered a lot of ground quickly and also clearly I just hope you never let your Jedi skills go over to the Dark Side (such as RV Sales)

[@fasteddie51]

O My Gosh, I fulltime and have for 2 years in a Northwood/Nash pull trailer and have not had a single issue. Recently I have been wanting to buy a new Class C and pull a car. After a lot of research and your video, I have decided to keep what I have. Thanks a lot for the great video and helping me to decide.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We love our RV, but the reality is if you travel fulltime and use it, there will be things that need repaired! We wouldn't change anything, but wanted to share the experience that it is not always a vacation when you life fulltime in one!

[@sarahbainbridge-seevinck7361]

Gotta say I'm not overly impressed with Grand Design. I know problems happen with all RVs but GD rigs seem to have a higher proportion of issues and are usually caused by sub-par construction. and lots of water issues. It seems like even going with a higher-priced init doesn't save you from shoddy design and finish?

[@PavingNewPaths]

What we have learned is that no matter what you spend on an RV it will have problems especially if you use it! We actually think ours has done great considering what we ask of it! In those 18 months we moved every 7-10 days, that's over 50 Campgrounds in that time! Almost all of these issues came during a move or after a move! We wanted to make a video to show the reality of fulltime living, and how it's not always perfect! We love our Grand Design and when it's time to get another we will check them out again, they will all break it's just a matter of when!

[@GUITARATORY]

They all do

[@franticproductions]

A temporary fix for thermal pane 'window fog', [use a hair dryer] "Slowly, and on low". (don't overheat, can crack the glass if it is real cold). Remember, 'slowly, low heat'. keep it moving!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thats a great tip! Thank I will give it a try!

[@wallykosh6383]

Wow you do have a lot of patience and do not seem to be upset. I would have dumped this thing a long time ago.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks!

[@cjramseyer]

Great video.....Please call out the dealership by name. I realize that you may not want to because you want to be a stand-up guy, and I appreciate that. However, I would argue, that we need to demand better service and higher quality from dealers. They have gotten away with treating customers like crap for far too long. We spent the better part of the last year looking for a new RV. Went to General RV.....all they wanted was the sail, they couldn't hear any of the things we told them. Went to Camping World.....Service forgot about me for more than 8 months.....The list goes on. Finally found two dealers that went above and beyond to take care of us (Klein's RV, and Marlett RV). Don't accept bad service. Thanx for another great video

[@PavingNewPaths]

We actually bought our rv used! The previous owner took great care of it and only had it about 6 months before selling it to us! We made this video to show that when things break they are usually cheap and fairly easy to fix without having to rely on a dealership for service! We realize we have more issues than most since we live in ours fulltime and mice every 7-10 days on average!

[@pauldoherty435]

Nice video and explanation of the issues you saw. You’re the guy I want to be a used RV from!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! Our RV is now a well-oiled machine once we worked all the kinks out!

[@Sarahkate2684]

It's been nice to be able to watch some of these repairs. We are new to RVing (Momentum 350G) and hope we don't have these problems.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We hope that your experience is smooth sailing! But in the event things do happen know you can probably handle most things youself and it gives you a chance learn your rig and make improvements!

[@ralphowens4510]

watch his videos, he has a good grasp of what he is doing.

[@kerneypeart]

Hey man I enjoyed your video! I know how it goes living full-time in an RV. I don’t know if that was ever intended to be a thing to be honest with you but here are,Full time and loving it!…who knew? 🤷‍♂️ But you know it’s just like anything else, you have maintenance in a house ie lawn maintenance, roof maintenance, HVAC maintenance, etc. but at least with an RV you can change your scenery. No RVs might not appreciate in value like a home does but what is your freedom worth? Plus a Home is not an asset it’s a liability but that’s an argument for another day. Anywho, I also heard you say that you didn’t get your fogged window repaired yet because you could not get a good solid number on it from anyone. I don’t know if this will help but I have found a company out of Searcy Arkansas called the RV Fog Dr. that has an excellent rating on there window repairs. I have several fogged windows in my RV and they quoted me on average around $250 per window give or take and you just call them up, make an appointment drive there and they plug you up to shore power in your spot and you can stay with the coach while they repair your windows. That’s what I understand. I don’t for sure as I have not yet made it up there but that is my plan and the ratings are great and when I talked to them they were super nice on the phone. So maybe you can give them a call. Hope this helps 🤷‍♂️ RV Fog DR. [phone] Searcy, AR

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We are glad you enjoy it! This is exactly why we made the video, there are so many videos out there making it appear as a fulltime vacation! When in fact it is no different than owning a house, you will still need to make repairs and do maintenance! We were not making this to throw shade at the RV but instead to shine some light on what fulltime living really looks like! Granted all the problems were over an 18-month period and we had several months where nothing at all went wrong! Thanks for the tip I will look them up next time we are in the area!

[@MrRaleighman123]

Excellent Video. Informative and all. Thanks for your time.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We made it because we actually love our RV and there are noy many videos out there that show what really happens when you live and travel in it fulltime!

[@pipedady83]

When you buy an RV walk through with them while they are doing the inspection. And if you can when purchased go stay in campground near by and let them know anything wrong you're coming right back. And don't give them an inch. Everyone gets screwed buying a new camper. They are all junk .

[@PavingNewPaths]

That is why we bought used! A new RV would have been worse and we took the savings from buying used to make the repairs ourselves! No warranty or dealership will ever save you from issues or repairs!

[@richardberger326]

Don’t buy new Hi-Lo.

[@aaronweiser5421]

The bigger they are the more problems you have...........

[@winstonprather1582]

Wow, great video, and I'm sorry you had so many issues! Normally buying a used trailer you do not have all these issues. I think the seller did you a dis-service! You have amazing patience and perseverance my friend. I thought about buying used and ended up with a new OutdoorsRV in 2020 and fingers crossed I have only had 1-2 problems so far. I wish you good luck down the road and hope you are over most of your issues at this point. Great to see you are able to fix most of the stuff yourself. I actually enjoy working on the trailer myself and learning how all of the systems work but being required to is not ever fun!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We don't think the previous owner did anything wrong! The RV was only 6 months old and in very good condition! What we have noticed is almost all of these issues came during or after a move! We wanted to show what living in an RV fulltime was really like! You will have things that need attention, but if you can handle them yourself and avoid the dealership you will be better off! With the exception of the roof these were all mostly minor things to repair!

[@MR-si1eq]

I'm in the RV business. I've only been hauling for a little over 3yrs. The things I've seen coming from the manufacturer would curl your hair. But yes the things you described are a price people pay for life in the road. I think a big part of people's issues are vibration issues. All that rattling. Cause a majority of the problems. Not sure what one can do to fix it. Good video. 1st time. I've subscribed and will check out the rest of your videos. Be safe.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thanks for your insight and for subscribing! We are glad to have you here!

[@johngibson3594]

Just an FYI I had an issue with water pump fittings and line hookup leaking and it was hidden until it leaked enough to rot the floor out. I originally thought it was caused by the outer compartment door but after removing the bunk it was under I saw the corrosion around the connecting areas which had loosened over time. Just another area to check that I never thought would be an issue and I never saw any damage in the camper. Also the part underneath where your insulation came out was holding water in a major way another hidden issue that I wasn’t aware could be a huge issue. The trailer we did repair but it was about 4000 to fix and when removing things water damage kept showing up. Having the gutter ends on the little rail at the top is so important to keep water from running down the side of the camper. I had slide topper installed over slide because water was coming in at slide. My trailer was about 4 years old when I bought it used. I had a great time but realized between 5 to 7 years get rid of it and get a new one because driving them down the road with sway and bumps breaks the seals and water is your worst enemy in a camper because all the sway causing seals to fail and open for water to get in. Good luck hope this adds to your rev knowledge

[@PavingNewPaths]

We regularly check the mess behind the wall for leaks! I also do a leak check every move by using the onboard pump! If it stops cycling, there is no leak but if it is constantly coming on with no water functions working you are leaking somewhere! We also have drilled a few holes in the underbelly so if there ever is water in there we will see it leaking out! Water issues are my worst fear so I try to stay on top of all those things!

[@kenj.8897]

You are one patient guy , I commend your tenacity to keep going. I'm subbed after this awesome vid 👍

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! It sounds like a trainwreck even when you say it fast, but it wasn't as bad as it looks this was over 18 months! Besides the roof almost everything else was an amazon order and a trip to Lowes!

[@jaimeriveras]

Great video. I can't believe the terrible quality of RV's. I have owned four boats. They take a terrible beating on the ocean and work in humid, hot, salty environments. Their electronics, engines, AC's, water, etc. systems are more complex than in RV's. Still, they are much, much more reliable. The RV industry seems to be a fraud.

[@PavingNewPaths]

We're actually pretty happy with our rv since we live in it fulltime as a family of 5 and move every 7-10 days on average! Boats definitely take a beating on the ocean! Maybe rv manufacturers could learn some things from the boating industry!

[@southernsunshine6154]

I’ve owned saltwater trawlers and sailboats plus older motor homes and campers. Campers used to be made better.

[@aa5az423]

You’ll find your tires “work in pairs” too!LOL!

[@PavingNewPaths]

So far we have never had to deal with tires in pairs when it comes to flats! But we have experienced what it feels like to change 6 tires at a time!

[@robertnasser9937]

Before your next trip and before you drop your jacks, try to spin the feet of your jacks, if you can spin them, lock tight and retorque the bolts or lose the feet on the hwy

[@PavingNewPaths]

Great tip! I will check them the next time we move!

[@k-mparker]

Great video Kevin!!! Excellent video!!! Have u ever considered becoming a RV tech? You definitely would be a gooood one!!!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! I thought about it when we first decided to go fulltime! But it would have been to much like my old job and I decided I didn't want to make it a living instead I would just take care of my stuff, and occasionally friends and familys problems!

[@Lonnwriting]

You seemed to keep calm considering the deluge of problems. Great job fixing them.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We actually don't film the moments when it happens as we are usually not so calm! We wait until we have accepted what happened and how we are going to fix it before we film! In the end getting mad still is not going to fix the problems your having!

[@davidcline9547]

Damn, I thought I had a bunch of stuff to fix on our rig! I can not imagine living in one. You went through ten years of stuff to fix in 18 months. We made one trip with our class C and had both a/c stop working, door handle came off in my wife's hand and the shower leaked. 3 months later and we are still waiting on the warranty work to get done! Great video!! Really enjoyed it!!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We feel like we have ironed most of the bugs out for now! We wanted to show the reality of living fulltime in an RV, and that things will break but almost all can be fixed with out relying on a dealership! Besides the roof the rest were pretty minor!

[@bertschb]

Great video! I've owned three Grand Design 5th wheels and only had two or three minor issues with each of them (e.g. loose piece of trim, flickering ceiling lights, etc). Your experience is much more typical and you did a great job covering all the items you ran into. I laughed when you got to the part where the side of your dresser fell off. Sorry

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We love our Grand Design! We just wanted to show what it's really like when you live in it fulltime! Yes, there are issues and things that need repaired, but we found that if you take care of them yourself you never have to rely on a dealership to fix your problems and you really learn you rig!

[@Msrverpilot]

We had a G D Momentum 381 in 2018 , kept it 3 years, traded for a RiverStone Legacy 42 FSKG, we had some problems with GD on the beginning, we’ve also had some workmanship issues with Our Riverstone too . All in All we pick the Riverstone over our GD , it’s insulated so much better, tows so much better, and yes we liked our GD . Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.. from the hills of Tennessee Take care and be safe

[@PavingNewPaths]

We hope you had a Merry Christmas too! Thanks for the input about the Riverstone! They look like an excellent choice!

[@kimberlyjweinert2422]

Wow! Great video! Thank you! Wish u well and safe travels!

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We can't wait to get back on the road!

[@SteveKetchum]

I think you did a great job with your video. On the electrical system take a look at the inverter. The one installed on my new 2022 310GK was rated for a surge peak of 50amps I believe, doesn't really matter. The thing that the factory did was forget that inverters de-rate with temperature increases. The manual said it was located next the hydraulic pump, it was actually behind the electrical panel were it gets really hot when it's 100 plus outside. I've changed mine to a 75amp continuous dual battery unit, added a marine 1/2/all battery switch and a deep cycle marine second battery that has solved many electrical associated problems.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We have never had any electrical issues with our RV! Ours also didn't come with an inverter so we don't have to deal with any of those types of issues! We did have to replace the stock lead acid and decided to swap it out with one lithium! We found our stock converter wasn't suited for lithium batteries, so we changed the converter to one made to fully charge lithium!

[@buzzuti]

Great valuable insights in this video! Seems like the dealer one purchases from is an really important aspect of the decision process.

[@PavingNewPaths]

Thank you! We did not purchase the RV through a Dealer we bought it directly from the previous owner! We choose this dealer because they had the washer/dryer and we wanted them to install since you have to drill a hole in the side of the RV! I would never take my RV to a dealership, when I need help with something I call a local mobile tech! We live fulltime and cannot give our house up to a dealership to have repairs done!

[@richschoonover8887]

Gotta be ready to fix stuff constantly and even have down time. Our 2019 Solitude 310GK has been in the shop for frame repairs for 3 months. Have lost the whole summer. This is the second trailer we’ve had with a Lippert frame that cracked above the spring shackles. The list of repairs on our Solitude is very long from the rear axle brakes coming apart on the second trip to all of the window and slide trim falling off on various trips. Slide rams failing, kitchen island came loose, various wiring connection failures, etc. I do all my own repairs and it’s been camp one weekend and do repairs the next. Unfortunately I see all of the same stuff on other brands so no way to avoid it. So much for GD’s 25 step quality check…

[@PavingNewPaths]

This is why we bought the floor plan we wanted used! We heard so many horror stories of brand-new ones spending months in the shop after one trip! We used the money we saved and made all the required repairs and couldn't be happier!

[@lancewulfers2502]

Get a medium sized kick ball from a discount store and push it between your slide topper and slide roof. That will give the slide topper a peak which should help shed water.

[@PavingNewPaths]

I have heard of the beach ball trick will have to give it a try! Thanks for the tip!

[@juliohno]

OMG! LMAO! I LIVE IN MY RV TRAVEL TRAILER FULL TIME AND SO DOES MY MOTHER IN HER 5TH WHEEL AND WE HAVE BOTH BEEN DEALING WITH ONE PROBLEM OR ANOTHER EVERY SINCE WE DECIDED TO BE FULL TIME RVers 2 YEARS AGO. I GOT ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR VIDEO WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST IT AND I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING! YOU HAVE A GREAT ATTITUDE CONSIDERING EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH. HEY IF YOU CANT LAUGH AT LIFE RIGHT!?! THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY AND SHOWING ME IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST TRAVEL TRAILERS AND THE SHODDY CRAFTSMANSHIP BUT MY MOTHER HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN I HAVE AND YOUR RV LOOKS PRETTY NEW AND YOUR GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS TOO. NICE TO KNOW IM NOT THE ONLY ONE! I LAUGHED SO HARD I WAS CRYING. I COULDN'T HELP IT! WHEN THOSE RV ADS TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE ADVENTURES YOUR GONNA HAVE IN YOUR NEW RV THEY DON'T SPECIFY WHERE THOSE ADVENTURES ARE GONNA TAKE YOU OR THAT ONCE YOU GET THERE YOU'LL BE TOO BUSY WORKING ON YOUR RV TO ENJOY THEM! HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU MY FRIEND. SAFE TRAVELS!

[@PavingNewPaths]

We just filmed something and said we are starting to think the adventure is the journey of getting somewhere to see what breaks along the way, instead of the actual destination! You are definitely not alone! We all have troubles! Glad we could give you a laugh!

[@brentfrench752]

First time viewer of your channel, and I’m pretty impressed with your video. It would appear that a few of your initial problems must have been known by the prior owners? It’s great that you were able to diy repairs. Everyone that buys a rig, especially full-timers state that you WILL have repairs to be made, especially with new rigs. You hope that the prior owners of the used rig already to care of all the issues when they owned the rig, but…However, it seems to me that you have had more than usual. Unfortunately, I have seen numerous reviews where people complain about issues with slide toppers ripping or coming apart. If you plan to ever go to a Grand Design rally, make a list of your problems and you can often get those issues repaired at the rally for free, with the exception of major issues. I hope you don’t have any major issues with your rig going forward.

[@PavingNewPaths]

The prior owners only had the rug about 6 months before selling and it was in great condition! We have no hard feelings towards them or Grand Design! This was meant to show that fulltime RV living is going to come with repairs! This was over our first 18 months and with the exception of the roof all were very minor and easily fixed with Amazon or a trip to Lowes! We made all the repairs ourselves as we couldn't give our home up to a dealership every time something needed repaired! We think we have worked out the kinks as it has been smooth sailing for a while now!