Story about build quality in Winnebagos - Montana Owners Club

ranch560 · 07-31-2013, 01:01 PM

I have read many stories about the build (or lack of) quality for our Montana's on our MOC site. As an owner of a new 3582 (now 14 months old), I am always interested in issues and problems associated with our trailers.

As an avid RV enthusiast I follow several blogs from time to time. This one caught my eye about a couple whom special ordered the top of the line Winnebago and have refused to take delivery because of build quality issues. It makes Winnebago look different in my eyes now and also makes me compare them to Keystone. Keystone easily comes out ahead!!!

Even though this is about a motorhome, it is very interesting.
http://www.outsideourbubble.com/

richfaa · 07-31-2013, 01:42 PM

Build quality is a across the industry issue all manufacturers have the problem. If more of us would do as the Winnebago folks Rv sales would plummet and the manufacturers would respond with better quality. But we will not and they will not.

**DQDick** · 07-31-2013, 02:44 PM

It doesn't take long talking to other campers to make me appreciate the few problems we've had with our Monty.

K0LCB · 07-31-2013, 03:26 PM

Since John K died the quality of Winnebago has been on a slide.

1retired06 · 08-01-2013, 03:08 AM

Wow, talk about lack of pride in product. Dealers could help quality via walkthrough inspections and aggressively refuse deliveries on units with deficiencies. Builders would clean up their acts quickly.

MIMF · 08-06-2013, 04:13 AM

When I worked at Cedar Creek, on rare occasion when a fresh unit was delivered to a dealer, we would get a call from that dealer and the decision would be made to have the delivery driver return it to Topeka, IN. Of course, the driver would be paid to do so and they love it when that happens!

Normally, this would happen when it was a special order for a retail customer by the dealer. At Cedar Creek, we also had the retail order a unit and they would come to the plant and watch it being built which was over several days. Like about 10 to 12 days.

That being said, give me a Montana any day!!

ranch560 · 08-07-2013, 05:05 AM

I just went back to this site and got an update on what was going on. Sound like word got out and their problem is becoming the talk of the big rig world. And now they are at the Tiffon factory probably looking to still upgrade to a new coach. I'm sure Tiffon loves this after reading their story.

On an amusing note to the story, in the comments section (there were 86 comments), it appears two people using the internal Winnebago internet service gave negative comments dissing the potential purchasers and trying to make them look like crackpots (Winnegago employees?). I'm sure they thought no one would know from where their comments were sent from! I wonder what the Winnebago CEO thinks of this?

Good reading with my morning coffee!!!

Denfinger · 08-07-2013, 05:36 AM

Vote with your money always works in the long run.

richfaa · 08-07-2013, 09:01 AM

We are now 14 months into the 2013 3402 best you can buy, top of the line Montana. We have laid back this summer and have not travelled as much as we usually do. We went to the Mid Atlantic rally this month and this is the FIRST trip we have taken where we DID NOT have a problem of any kind. Way to Go keystone. trip to Florida problem, Trip back problem, trip with local camping group, problem. problem found in driveway before we left for trip. Mid Atlantic rally 900 miles towing round trip and nothing fell off, nothing broke, nothing went flat.

At this point of ownership we had 23 issues with our 06 3400. We have 17 with this 3402 7 of which were corrected at last years fall rally so the build quality is better???? This is a much better unit than the 06 3400.Better vendor quality, better design better a lot of things but build quality....no improvement.

Rainer · 08-07-2013, 02:32 PM

...and also remember that folks are much more apt to air their complaints than sing their praises, especially with the Internet where everyone is given a soapbox and an open forum (if you heard it on the Internet, it must be true....).

Take it all with grain of salt, the good and the bad.

Hooker · 08-07-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by ranch560

...As an avid RV enthusiast I follow several blogs from time to time. This one caught my eye about a couple whom special ordered the top of the line Winnebago and have refused to take delivery because of build quality issues. It makes Winnebago look different in my eyes now and also makes me compare them to Keystone...
http://www.outsideourbubble.com/

No, I've never owned a Winnebago, but substitute any RV manufacturer's name for Winnebago...at one time or another every RV maker has cranked out an RV exactly like the one noted above.

richfaa · 08-07-2013, 03:30 PM

Every brand of RV no matter the price range will have issues as that is just the way it is in the Rv industry. Build quality is not a top priority. Most people will not admit to problems of any kind after spending big $$ for the RV. Also every Rv manufacturer has its nightmares. I look at the number of issues we have had as about average for a heavy user.

Flymutt · 08-08-2013, 11:33 AM

If I read this correctly, the resolution was that Winnebago gave the customer their money back (or backed out of the sale). It does sound like this unit was a lemon but we don't know what the company offered to settle the customer complaints. We know the customer's side but not the company's take. That would have been interesting.

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