RV News - New RV? I'm Not Buying it - February 2024

[@thestooges333]

Finally somebody that tells it like it is instead of sugar coating it, Like most rv KZbinrs do.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks! I have no affiliation with any dealer or manufacturer and don’t need advertising. It helps to not be beholden to anyone when giving the news. Thanks again!

[@meganraphael7150]

Thanks tor the info. What year(s) do you consider pre-pandemic for quality?

[@thestooges333]

Obviously 2019 and before

[@JohnMarucci]

My 2020 Keystone Bullet was built in May 2019 and was pretty well built (besides anything Dometic). My take is avoid manufacturing dates after the ramp up in production in June 2020.

[@meganraphael7150]

Thanks for the helpful info! When do you think Covid quality level ceased or do you think it is still ongoing? Can I assume a 2023 and 2024 are good/better quality? @@JohnMarucci

[@koalabear6722]

Ty for the report. 😊 we too, will keep what we have. 😊 it's paid for and has everything we need. Separate bathroom, black tank flush, heat, air and more 😊 😊

[@JohnMarucci]

Yep, makes sense to keep what is working for you!

[@Rick-x8h]

Yep you and a couple other KZbinrs put the same report out. My wife and I have been part timing for abit over 30 years. We are retired and ordered a big class C in 2021. Paid cash for it and it’s a well put together gulfstream motorhome. Seeing how pathetic the rv manufacturers are now and a hand full of nonsense out in the rv parks we debated selling it or keeping it. Her side of the fence is keep it and mine is sell it and be done with it. If we end up listing it that’s fine, it might take awhile but no big deal, there’s no bank note on it. Motels and eating out and seeing the sites without dumping tanks and all the other stuff is looking good!

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@don_sharon]

We've dealt with 3 dealers in the past 6 months about buying a class A coach. Coupled with the purchase we made in 2021 of a Lance trailer, I can say with confidence, if a dealer's lips are moving, they're lying. They are worse today, than they were in 2021 and prior. We paid for inspections (3) on everything we were interested in, and found problems that were characterized as LIFE SAFETY ISSUE and MAJOR ISSUE. But when we asked if anything was wrong, the response was, nope - it's ready to go. As a dealer, they should know the issues, such as slides DIDN'T WORK to the point the mechanisms needed to be REPLACED. How can that be.... So, we are keeping our 2014 class A and will enjoy it for the foreseeable future. We are not interested in the new stuff (major quality problems), and not interested ever again in dealing with an RV dealer.

[@JohnMarucci]

Wow, what a set of experiences, thanks for sharing. Good idea to get the inspections you mentioned. Glad to hear you are keeping what you have for now. I’m not at all convinced things have changed for the better yet in terms of quality, although I am getting reports that there is starting to be movement in the right direction.

[@BenjaminMedlock]

I am with you. I am keeping what I have and keeping it well maintained! Great update.

[@JohnMarucci]

I think that’s a good call. It took a while to get my trailer where I wanted it. No reason to upgrade. Thanks for sharing!

[@jimolson5769]

Great update as always John, thank you! We have a 2021 Forest River Salem and I think we have worked out the kinks on it. One was expensive...the fridge died (12V, no propane), was no longer under warranty...that was expensive to replace! We have also made some modifications like making the bunkhouse beds vertical spacing better for less of a claustrophobic feel on the bottom bunk, and we even added an exterior storage access door below the bunkhouse. So we have it all set up the way it works best for our family....and wouldn't even consider trading it in for anything newer based on the reports that you provide.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@deannejones2115]

We just bought a 2016 couples trailer that is in fabulous condition! We're super happy and it was a great deal and well maintained! Guess we did it right

[@JohnMarucci]

Sounds like you made a good decision!

[@lisawright9626]

We have a 2011 that my husband has maintained and made a lot better than the newer ones! Paid for and does the same thing as a new one! I’m holding it!

[@JohnMarucci]

Makes good sense especially if you can maintain the unit well. Thanks for sharing!

[@ralphp3057]

Another good report! Thank you John . I have zero desire to purchase any new RV . Continue to use my 2020 Casita . I didn’t really have any kinks as you mentioned! Thanks !😁👍

[@JohnMarucci]

Good to hear that you’ve had a good experience with your Casita. Thanks for sharing!

[@robertthompson6958]

Always stop what I’m doing to watch your videos John. And this one didn’t disapoint.

[@JohnMarucci]

Great to hear that you enjoy the newscasts. Thanks for letting me know!

[@GK49245]

Rich content, good recommendation on buying new. I agree with one exception - smaller RV’s 25 ft or less. Purchasing a new molded fiberglass RV, like Oliver, Escape, Big Foot, Casita,… remains wise. Thanks.

[@JohnMarucci]

Good point on the smaller molded fiberglass models. Sticker shock aside, I’ve heard very little negative about these brands. Thanks!

[@Robyrob7771]

Thanks John, we are going to stay with our 2017 r-Pod for at least another year. RV show pricing wasn’t enough and trade in pricing was too low.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your experience and plans!

[@DragonPilot]

Our camping trailer is 10+ years old and in excellent condition! We are very comfortable in it. We have upgraded this and that at no small expense, and have stayed on top of maintenance…all DIY. I just can’t for the life of me see why we would want a new RV…a good used unit, perhaps, but new? No way! 😊

[@JohnMarucci]

Fully agree, thanks for sharing!

[@bw6078]

It will be interesting to see what the spring holds for the local Jayco dealer. They have quite a back log of RVs. I don't know how the dealer can go on merely hanging on to the current stock without offering what I would think would be better deals than what are currently being offered. I think the used market will remain saturated for a few years as people split their holiday time up between air travel and camping to make use of what they have and are unable to sell.

[@thestooges333]

The reason they can’t sell their RV’s is because they want over inflated prices like they paid in the first place. Anybody in their right mind wouldn’t buy them unless they slash their used prices in half at least. Just because they owe $25 k for a 2-3 year old rv doesn’t mean that’s what they will get if they sell it themselves.

[@JohnMarucci]

Good point on people being underwater on an RV loan driving pricing on used RVs. Thanks for sharing!

[@markkabat7878]

Have a 2019 John and plan on rolling in it as long as possible. Quality issues are abound everywhere. New RVs, homes, auto, even aviation, what is happening at Boeing…

[@JohnMarucci]

Same here. Thanks for sharing!

[@let_it_ride]

Always great information, thanx for sharing.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks!

[@FXTdriver]

I was recently at a Crossroads with my 2018 Grey Wolf 27RR. It's been a very good trailer for what we paid for it brand new in late 2017. However with the birth of my Son and taking him on 1 trip, it suddenly felt a lot smaller. I also upgraded from a 1/2 ton to an HD diesel, so I have room to upgrade now and would love to go to a 5th wheel for the extra space if we get to do a cross country trip in the near future. Our 27RR is now 6 years old and I was debating, do I spend the money on doing some larger maintenance tasks on the 27RR or do I roll the dice and take on a payment for a new 5th wheel that would probably be largely unusable for the first 2 years while it's getting all the warranty problems repaired. I opted to spend the money getting the 27RR resealed and hold on to it longer until hopefully the manufacturers have a Quality Control renaissance before I drop the money on a 5th wheel.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@guypaquet4578]

i can see it over here in Eastern Canada, older model on RV lots and not much movement... I will keep what i have for now.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@housesOTR]

Thanks, John. Always good to see you.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks!

[@On-down-the-road]

Hello John, i have liveed in my camper, 1998 Duchman 26' Its given all it can and its time to move on. I bought a 2007 springdale, 35' with super slide, and bedroom slide. This was a private sale. Well taken care of, and used 2-4 times a year. I am very happy to move into it, and travil, after just retiring last month. I believe anyone buying a toy hauler, 5th wheel unit is just foolish. You know the ones im talking about, they are too long, too heavy, and need redesigned. Between the new builders, new floor plans, they do look very nice with such amenities. In the past 4 years, pandemic era buyers have worn out thier welcom, and are selling sooner than pre pandemic owners. Giving a surplus of used units. With the new units, well not being of QUALITY CONTROOL, the market is going to fall, and has started with layoffs, and shutdown of some of the newest companies. My vote, stay with an older unit, pre 2020. And hope change will come with Quality, and pricing. For 2025. I will see you "Down The Road" in the very near future.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@StevenZinck]

I've got a '24 InTech Flyer Explore on order... hoping it isn't a dud! Do you have any experience or opinions on InTech?

[@JohnMarucci]

I believe they are all aluminum structures and the couple that I’ve been through seemed well built. Hopefully it will perform well for you. All the best!

[@StevenZinck]

@@JohnMarucci correct, the frame is all aluminum. Thanks

[@jcshort31]

I look forward to your videos every month

[@JohnMarucci]

Good to hear, thanks!

[@cvaughn858]

Hey John, have you ever done a keystone bullet factory tour?

[@JohnMarucci]

I have not.

[@Yolotheairstream]

I am curious, At what point will the market be so saturated to where there is no movement with new or used rvs? How can there be continuous demand?

[@JohnMarucci]

Good questions. At some theoretical price point, supply and demand should reach equilibrium. If, for example, a dealer reduced the price of a new 2022 model enough, I might be interested. However, the price would have to be low enough to remove the risk of me going through the likely problems I’ll encounter.

[@mgysgtk8835]

As always great 👍 information. I too, have decided the stress of let us say, what I got was not honestly presented to me. But i have come to terms. I just going to sink more money in mine, to get what i was promised by sales. Get what mine was supposed to be able to do. I am tired of the RV stress world. I older now anyways. This will for sure, be my last. But!!!!, because of my headaches my SIL and daughter (aged 45years old) have decided not to be RV people. It kinda passed down to her, no more RVs. It just like my dad and our family of being passed down, no slides on your RV. I think the industry may have made a few extra dollars during COVID 2020, 2021, maybe 2022, but i think their future is now going negative. And the generation under me as i mentioned my daughter won’t be getting into the RV world. But this is more than the greed of manufacturers, this is also greed from various RV parks. High dollar, junk RV parks. I believe it is a bigger vicious circle of everything in the RV world of going to take a many year financial tumble.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing!

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Great report 👍

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks Patrick!