Did you ever notice

[scottz]

The wonderful craftsmanship on the Montana line? I think they use a claw hammer to smash holes for wiring. This hole for two small wires.

[BB_TX]

I suspect it is not just Montana. You would think they would use a large paddle bit or Forstner bit to get a neat round hole.

[scottz]

Your right, not to single out the Montana line. It's just sad to see workmanship like this.

[1retired06]

Used to be better.

[BuilderBob]

Seen that kind of craftsmen ship on a lot of rig's I don't think they know how to use a drill
bit or a hole saw.

Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW crew cab 4x4 LB

[rohrmann]

It's almost impossible to imagine old country Amish craftsmen doing stuff like that. I would hope the workers doing things like that are not related to the craftsmen that build the beautiful Amish furniture.

[Eagleback]

They use a roto zip kind of tool. it looks like that hole started as a round hole and then the installer could not reach the wires, and with the end of the day trying to make the quota (He,She) just made the hole bigger for 2 fingers to get to the wire. Buy the way i have found holes like that and in SOB'S also

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by 1retired06

Used to be better.

It was not in 2006 same stuff in our 2006.

[Dave W]

Those are the kinds of short cuts that are made when factory workers are paid as mostly piecework

Our long gone '06 Glendale Titanium had the same kind of 'workmanship' and it was built in Canada and not by Indiana's AmishMennonites. The current '14 HC is actually better with mostly hole sawn accesses that I've seen so far.

[mlh]

If it’s covered up I don’t care what shape the hole is. An odd shaped hole does exactly the same thing as a round one does.
Lynwood

[scottz]

Originally Posted by mlh

If it’s covered up I don’t care what shape the hole is.

I do. Of course it doesn't show ( just barely) but it represents the kind of workmanship throughout the unit.

More samples,

I had to repair all the fasteners holding the skirting to the frame. Some of them fell out, some were twisted off, others pulled through the skirting because they didn't use washers.

When I replaced the marker lamps, I found several them where they used the holes in the lamp base but stripped it out in the aluminum. Their solution? Drive the screw through another spot in the lamp base. Not sure these guys should be allowed power tools.

It is not isolated to RV's, I see the same thing everywhere. They are out there, but It to difficult to find people who care about their work. I try to do as much as i can myself.

[mlh]

“I see the same the thing everywhere”
No you don’t at least not in the products we make. We do take pride in what we make.
Lynwood

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by scottz

I do. Of course it doesn't show ( just barely) but it represents the kind of workmanship throughout the unit.

More samples,

I had to repair all the fasteners holding the skirting to the frame. Some of them fell out, some were twisted off, others pulled through the skirting because they didn't use washers.

When I replaced the marker lamps, I found several them where they used the holes in the lamp base but stripped it out in the aluminum. Their solution? Drive the screw through another spot in the lamp base. Not sure these guys should be allowed power tools.

It is not isolated to RV's, I see the same thing everywhere. They are out there, but It to difficult to find people who care about their work. I try to do as much as i can myself.

Every camper I've owned had the fender screws changed. Always with stainless steel bolts, washers, and nylon nuts. Having gone over staples and nails. like you I mentioned some should never touch a nail gun. They probably are not safe with a hammer either. Piece work ~ hurry and go home no need to care about how the job is done. No such thing as pride in the work at any builder these days. Calling it "Amish Craftsmanship" would be an embarrassment to the Amish in many cases.

[team bradfield]

on our maiden voyage, 4200 mile RT to Utah we lost 2 fender skirts, the screws were still tight with pieces of the skirts still attached for the rear, fought the remaining ones the whole trip back, changed out screws to bolts and nuts. Dealer put a heavy style of skirt, hopefully it holds up.

[scottz]

Originally Posted by mlh

“I see the same the thing everywhere”
No you don’t at least not in the products we make. We do take pride in what we make.
Lynwood

Do you build RV's?

[mjammersc]

Sort of goes with their favorite attachment too of choice, the air stapler. When in doubt add more staples and have the air pressure so high they blow through the material. During a factory tour at the rally I told the guide I was going to steal them all off the line if they didn't learn to use them right

[mlh]

Originally Posted by scottz

Do you build RV's?

No our shop isn’t big enough. Their offices are bigger than our shop.
I do understand this thread, but what is quality in a camper. To me it’s how the doors fit, are the frame welds high quality this type of thing. The shape of a hole where you can’t see it, saw dust where you haft to take the camper apart to find it doesn’t matter to me.
Lynwood

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by mlh

No our shop isn’t big enough. Their offices are bigger than our shop.
I do understand this thread, but what is quality in a camper. To me it’s how the doors fit, are the frame welds high quality this type of thing. The shape of a hole where you can’t see it, saw dust where you haft to take the camper apart to find it doesn’t matter to me.
Lynwood

I'm sorta with you on this but by the same token I understand where everyone else is coming from. If they take shortcuts like this, you HAVE to question if they are taking shortcuts with more critical components......And I think that is the point they are trying to make. Its the mindset of the shop. Is it get it out no matter what condition or is it hold on lets get that right since it will leave the owners on the side of the road......


There are some very critical parts on an 5th wheel that I plan to take a very close look at and upgrade asap on our new 2018. Tires, axle components, frame and hitch are going to get a real good going over for sure. If the base Trailer portion of the rig is ok more than likely you will make it home with the rest of the stuff sitting on top of it. If I can get it home I can fix it and that is all I am really worried about. It is also one of the reasons I don't own a Class A diesel pusher instead of a 5th wheel. There are lot more things on a diesel pusher that can leave you on the side of the road unable to get it back home!

[summer home]

Our 2017 375FL had a fair size gap between the wall and the tub surround at the top...of course, un-caulked... When I was up there to caulk, I saw the beautiful demolition hole that was made for the vanity light fixture... and all of the saw dust/wood chunks still laying on top of the vanity.
When we looked at the unit, the crown molding in the dining area had about 4' hanging in midair.. the salesman said "don't worry, we will fix that" ... I said, it should have been fixed BEFORE any customer was allowed to see it.....

[Dam Worker]

Quality wont change except perhaps by some new smaller startup brands but unfortunately they quickly get bought out by the Thor's, and other huge company's. Look at what kind of quality our big three auto manufacturers were churning out until the Honda's and Toyota's inroads on sales made our American companies step up to the plate and start building units with a lot higher quality. No I am not expecting imported RV'S but I would sure like to have a bit more quality control over profit in our units. Just my opinion but I will stick with it as I think for the price of these units they should have a bit more quality.

Tom Marty