| Re: [GMCnet] New RV Quality [message #325145 is a reply to message #325132] |
Wed, 18 October 2017 19:54   |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma:
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Yep, it's pervasive in the industry these days, travel trailers, 5th wheels, and motorhomes.
Most of yall know I have a SOB, a 2003 Fleetwood Discovery diesel pusher. It has been (KNOCK ON WOOD), very reliable but has enough issues to keep me in projects. My problems are more age related than quality related however although my coach was the first year for full body paint and Fleetwood had some quality issues that have resulted in most 2003's having peeling clearcoat.
I belong to a Discovery regional group similar to the Dixielanders. In the club we have 61 coaches from 97 (the Discovery first year) to 2018. There are quite a few original owners of the first generation Discoverys still around. They report that there were very few initial quality issues. Most the 3-5 year old coaches are pretty well debugged but I'd NEVER buy a new one...even if I hit the lottery. The aggravation level would probably cause me to do something I'd regret.
Two years ago, two of my friends and club members both bought a 2016 Discovery from General RV during the yearly LazyDays rally in January. One of the coaches lives about 5 miles from me. They've had a few issues but nothing serious and most caused by the idiots at Bankston RV in Huntsville who break 3 things for every thing they work on. The other coach went to Charleston SC and they are IDENTICAL and only a few numbers apart on the VIN.
The second coach has been a disaster. They went to Alaska and had so many leaks they had to travel with the generator on so they could run the dryer and dry the towels they had on top of the dashboard because the windshields leaked so bad. They came back with a 4 page typed, single page punch list and left it at the factory in Decatur IN for 2 months. The quality difference is astounding even down to the neatness of the wiring in the electric bay. On a recent rolling rally with them, they lost a starter (Warranty) and the pump motor on the leveling jacks. I helped him diagnose both problems. The complexity of the systems increases the difficulty but when you have 12V on the motor or starter lugs and nothing happens, they be bad!
The pump motor was 3 weeks old and was a Lippert (bought out PowerGear) component installed by Tom Johnson Camping world. My friend had paid a small fortune for expedited shipping because they were leaving on this trip. When we diagnosed the problem, he called Tom Johnson and asked them to have the motor on hand when they got there today. They said no problem and actually did order it from Fleetwood who ordered it from Lippert (why they didn't order it direct from Lippert makes no sense to me and everyone who touches it adds their markup)! Anyway, they arrive at Camping World today to find no motor. The part was not in stock at Fleetwood and Fleetwood didn't reorder part.. and didn't let Tom Johnson know plus no one followed up on either party. It's supposed to be there Monday and Camping World is supposed to install it (warranty) and DELIVER the coach 200 miles to my friend.
I wouldn't let Camping World work on a shovel and not just because of the owners politics. Fleetwood screwed up but the bigger screw up was Camping World for not getting a confirmation or doing a followup.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
