I'd like to buy a vowel please!

[Thumper]

I feel like I'm a contestant on Wheel of Fortune! What a maroon! We've had our motorhome for 8-months now and it's parked at the head of our driveway. We see it every time we walk out our front door and have to walk right by it to get to either of our cars. Yesterday, Lynn and I were standing beside the thing when she looked at me and asked, "Where's the 'O'?" Huh? What'chu talkin' 'bout woman? She then pointed to the driver's door and again asked, "Where's the 'O'?" I looked to where she was pointing and saw this:

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WTF??? It must have fallen off somehow, but I can't even see an outline of where it had been. I pulled out my phone and looked at the pics we took of the unit the day we were picking it up at the dealership and realized it hasn't been there since we've owned it! A bazillion friends and family (and of course, US) have all looked at it a bazillion times and never noticed it. So much for being observant. Oh well, I called Winnebago and asked if I could purchase an 'O' (actually I was hoping they'd send me one as a "goodwill gesture") but I was told it only comes as a complete 'Winnebago' emblem and individual letters are not available. Then I was informed it has to be ordered from a Winnebago dealer. Screw it, I may just continue driving the "Winnebag" for a while as I have too many other projects going right now to worry about it. Besides, it took us 8-months to notice it and nobody else has noticed it, so who cares? Well, I wish I could REALLY think that way, but I've always been anal about things like this, so it's been driving me crazy ever since Lynn spotted it. I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out, but I sense a call to the dealer in the very near future. :crybaby

[LJ3]

You are a bit of a Winnebag, so there's that :D Said out of love!

[BarryBobPosthole]

You are a bit of a Winnbag, so there's that :D Said out of love!

Hahaha you beat me to it.

Lynn wants to know whereher O went, Thumper.

BKB

[Thumper]

It looks like I need an O for the Winnebago and while I’m at it, a couple more letters for youse dufes. Like a B and an M.

[chadwimc1]

Any redneck could fix that with a magic marker. There ain't even no spellin' involved...

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[airbud7]

what he said^...magic marker cost $1

[Thumper]

Bunch’a deplorables.

[airbud7]

who you talking bout Thump?

https://hiphappy.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/outside-toilet.jpg

[Thumper]

WTF??? I talked to the dealer and that part runs $98.00 plus tax and shipping! Ha! I have no problem driving a Winnebag!

[DeputyDog]

I’ve got a buddy who has been doing deliveries of coaches and RV’s for the past few years. From what he’s told me, you’re lucky that’s the only problem you’ve had.


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[Thumper]

Yep Deppity. I follow a lot of the blogs and the build quality has gone straight into the toilet from what I understand. Between labor problems and supply chain issues, it’s a real mess. Luckily, mine was built just before Covid (it’s a 2020) and it was with the experienced crews. That said, I’ve learned these things are a CONSTANT maintenance item. Much more so than I ever realized. The hard core rv crowd seems to accept it as normal. If the auto industry worked like the rv industry, there’d be an armed revolution! It reminds me of the American automobile industry before the imports knocked Detroit on it’s ass. If the Japanese ever entered the full-sized rv market, the U. S. rv industry would be in serious trouble. Like the American auto market through the 80’s, we’re expected to swallow whatever crap they shove down our throats. The unit I bought goes for over $200,000 now. The BASE model is $190,775 (BEFORE any options)! You’d think there’d be some high quality work there. Comparatively, I’ve got a high quality unit, but it’s just because it’s compared to piles of crap. The rv industry is a different world and I’m learning daily. I’m addicted to the blogs now.

[DeputyDog]

He told me some real horror stories well before Covid so I can only imagine the issues now.

The vast majority of them are built here in my neck of the woods along with the “manufactured housing” units. The focus is on speed of production not quality. That’s the reason why meth use is so high in those industries.

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[Thumper]

Yessir. I read about them daily. That’s what totally amazes me. The experienced rv owners all look at it like it’s totally normal and acceptable. As I said, I compare today’s rv owner mentality to the general public’s pre-1980’s mentality regarding the auto industry. “Hey, this is the way it is, take it or leave it”! Even the “Rolls Royce’s” of the rv industry need a mobile mechanic to follow along behind them, but that’s considered “acceptable”. It’s a crazy industry.

BTW, you mentioned your buddy. That seems to be the normal delivery process and Indiana is a hot spot for the rv industry. When the factory builds an rv, they don’t truck them, but hire someone to drive them to the dealer. Many people fly up and take delivery at the factory, then drive home. It seems that rv delivery would be a pretty good gig. People are on waiting lists to have their rv’s delivered because of a shortage of delivery drivers.

[Thumper]

BTW, you mentioned Indiana is the hot bed of the industry. With Covid, rv sales have exploded. People are looking for options for travel and avoiding the airlines. If you order a new rv these days, or at least a popular model, you may be waiting at year for delivery. Like what the chip shortage has done to the used car market, the labor and parts shortages have done the same to the rv industry. Used units are bringing top dollar because people don’t want to wait. As a result, the manufacturers are cranking these things out as fast as they can, using unskilled labor, in order to fill new orders before the buyer cancels and decides to buy used. New units are falling apart as they roll out of the factory.

[DeputyDog]

He quit doing as much when Covid hit but he was making deliveries all over the country. He even had his wife doing it also. He made a lot of deliveries down to Fort Myers and up your way.

A couple of years ago that’s how we travelled when we went to Siesta Key at Christmas time. They each had a coach to deliver in Fort Myers so we rode down with them, boondocked when we had to stop to overnight. We stayed with friends who have a house in Sarasota and then rented a car to drive home.


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[BarryBobPosthole]

Are Winnebagos made in Iowa? I used to go to Sioux City on business once in a while and I seem to remember seeing a plant there. Or maybe it was the Winnebago tribe’s casino. Which was quite the let down by the way.
Its hell to get old and not remember details.

BKB

[chadwimc1]

WTF??? I talked to the dealer and that part runs $98.00 plus tax and shipping! Ha! I have no problem driving a Winnebag!

You're an ebay magnate. Get on there and order one...

[DeputyDog]

They might be. I know that he would do a few trips to Iowa to pick up units, usually the smaller ones like Thumper’s,

The industry is centered around Elkhart Indiana and the neighboring counties. Elkhart is even home to the Recreational Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame. (How many of you even knew such a thing even existed)?

https://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/


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[DeputyDog]

Are Winnebagos made in Iowa? I used to go to Sioux City on business once in a while and I seem to remember seeing a plant there. Or maybe it was the Winnebago tribe’s casino. Which was quite the let down by the way.
Its hell to get old and not remember details.

BKB

I just looked it up. They have facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Florida.


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[BarryBobPosthole]

Around here, Winnebago and RV are used interchangeably, kind of like Coke and soda.

BKB

[Thumper]

Around here, Winnebago and RV are used interchangeably, kind of like Coke and soda. BKB

Wrong, that’s coke (with a lower case “c”) and soda. A Coke is a Coca-Cola. I remember, back in the day, a “Jeep” meant anything with 4-Wheel drive.

[Thumper]

The main headquarters for Winnebago is in Forest City, Iowa. People drive their rv’s to Forest City from all over the country for repairs because it takes months to get an appointment at a dealer. If I were younger, I’d seriously consider starting my own business as a mobile rv tech. You could write your own ticket. Probably retire at 50 or so as a bazillionaire! I’m serious, theres a huge gap to fill there.

[Chicken Dinner]

My Mrs. is hot and heavy on getting an RV when I retire and towing a big ass trailer around the country is down near the bottom of my list. Your posts on build quality and the amount of maintenance required just confirms it.


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[Thumper]

Consider this. You’re hauling a house down bumpy roads, all the while it’s twisting and turning. Kind of like your house going through an earthquake, except instead of lasting a few minutes, it goes on non-stop for hours at a time …. Over and over and over, every time you go anywhere. It’s always a joke that rv’ers have a cup full of pins, screws and miscellaneous pieces they find on the floor and have no idea where they came from, until something big falls onto the floor. Then it’s like, “Oh, now we know where those screws go!” :)

[Thumper]

I’ve had a dozen or more boats over the years and it’s the same deal. I’ve always heard the joke, “A boat is like a big hole in the water that you just shovel money into.” Then there’s always the two happiest days of your life, the day you bought your boat …. and the day you sold it.

But all kidding aside, we love the thing and look forward to some great adventures. It’s just a big learning curve if you’ve never had one.

[Chicken Dinner]

I’m no stranger to boats and a firm believer that the best boat is one a good buddy owns. My wife, God love her, has champagne and caviar tastes. As a result, anything she’d be happy with doesn’t meet my value prop.


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[BarryBobPosthole]

I’ll split with you on the boat thing. If you keep your boat stored inside it’ll extend the life a ton. I’m sure the same is partially true at least for RVs. My Champion is a 2000 andI’ve had itnow 21 seasons. It doesn’t get used a ton but I manage to get out five or sixtimes auear and its made the trip on bumpy ass interstates to Canada five times and back. The first screw hasn’t yet fallen out. Its never failed me andnever been towed on the lake before either. (knock on wood)

And look at Airstream. You don’t hear the same gremlin complaints and issues with Airstream. I had a work associate in Arizon that had a small one you can pull behind a car and they were out in that thing every weekend.

BKB

[airbud7]

What Barry said^...I hate seeing a nice boat left out in the weather and I've always wanted an Airstream.
9 reasons
https://www.airstream.com/blog/9-reasons-you-dont-want-an-rv-unless-its-an-airstream/

is reason #5 what you have Thump? (In the picture)?

[Thumper]

Yessir, and the base model Airstream version of what I have, STARTS at $240,000. Can you loan me a few bucks? :(

[BarryBobPosthole]

Does Airstream make a motor home? I was talking about the pull behinds.

[airbud7]

Dam Barry!....I didn't know they made one either!...but they do!

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2020-atlas-tommy-bahama-exterior-front-3-qtr-web-png-1587074843.png

[Thumper]

Yep, same chassis as mine, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis.

https://www.winnebago.com/models/product/motorhomes/class-c/navion

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[Thumper]

BTW ... the BASE price on that Atlas is over $276,000! Ouch!

[BarryBobPosthole]

So you want quality butyou don’t want to have to pay for it.
Damn socialist.
BKB

[Thumper]

Nothing's perfect and Airstream has it's issues like anyone else. Here are some posts from some of the forums I follow: (the particular model doesn't matter, any model will have issues and nobody is immune)

I took my new Atlas RV home from the dealer and started inspecting and getting familiar with all the equipment as I had a long anticipated vacation coming up. I immediately noticed that the Onan generator did not start properly and the solar system was barely charging the lithium batteries. A list of the issues with my brand new Atlas after first taking delivery are below:

Cummins Onan RV QD 3200 generator not working at all.
Battery charging system is not charging the battery properly.
The Magnum MMS1012 is not properly set-up for the lithium battery and does not meet the specifications to charge Battle Born 100Amp lithium batteries.
When the house battery becomes depleted, everything inside is shut down and nothing works. The manual suggests turning on the chassis engine for a few minutes to charge it. This function did not work. Meaning you can be stuck with no power and nothing electronic working in the RV even when you connect to external power!
Victron Energy MPPT Control locked up and not working.
Sliding door not properly installed and broken.
Folding Stairs sometimes do not work properly.
Cannot connect to the solar charging system APP
Shelving in the storage compartment is incorrect size and falling down to the second compartment.
Pantry storage compartment not properly locking, opening on every turn.
Several door hinges broken.
Skylight occasionally not closing properly.
Manual describes a completely different inverter charger controller.

After delaying my trip while my Atlas spent three weeks in the shop, here's a list of additional issues I found during my first trip:

Power Stabilizer Jacks completely locked out and not functioning.
Skylight broken cannot even open.
The side storage compartment door is broken and cannot open.
Echomaster mirror monitors with sight cameras and parking sensors are very old technology, with low resolution, very low brightness, and are extremely slow. It takes two to three seconds from turning the signal to seeing the image in the mirror, which is an incredibly long time while driving.
Driving in the daylight when the sun is out, you can barely see the image and when you put on sunglasses it is virtually impossible to see.
When you put bicycle carrier racks on a hitch mount, you get attention blinking on a screen all the time, which is very distracting and and no way to clear or disable this warning.
The wires inside the control cabinet are loose and make a lot of noise while driving, creating an additional distraction.

Here's another owner:

I bought my new Atlas (paid over a quarter Million $$$) and am on my first trip. I am on the road, running dry and winterized, with two 10 year olds, and my wife. 26 hrs on generator, heading south on 81, and the generator died. No power to the switch: it doesn’t illuminate, no juice. No place to plug in, headed toward Albany, and I will ask to plug in at the dealer for the night, camp grounds closed. Atlas and Gen Brand new. Other than that, steps work intermittently, that will get you stuck somewhere, I am looking at possibly removing the automatic stairs so I can get home. I have duct tape over the door handles so nobody opens the door: we are using cab door. The shower is coming apart, very messy caulking, wood veneer fell off. Half of my GFI plugs, and the TV don’t work. 5 of the drawers and cabinets flew open, leaving stuff all over the floor. Turned out that the cabinet doors and drawers were all just slid in and not connected. There is no manual start button on the Cummins Onan 3200. Breakers all look ok. Really hope I can last 3 more days without much sleep, and without freezing to death.

You can find 'em all over the net. Just saying, nothing is flawless and the motorhome market, no matter the builder, is sloppy at best. Quality control is more like, "if it runs and rolls, ship it!" I'm tellin' ya' ... if the Japanese ever considered entering this market, the U.S. builders would go straight into the toilet almost overnight, but I don't see that happening and evidently the U.S. builders aren't concerned about it.