My first Dutchman disappointment - Page 2 - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Brand RVs > General RV Related Discussions
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-30-2017, 04:16 PM   #21
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
I added a TV in the bedroom. the spot that had a label on it that said there was a wooden panel behind the surface board in order to screw the mounts into. Guess what, NO WOODEN PANEL. they forgot to add it. When I called the factory they said they would check on it. After I found out that there was NOT a panel behind to mount the TV to, they never would reply to any of my emails.
__________________

franktafl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2017, 04:40 PM   #22
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hawthorne
Posts: 12
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown Lantern View Post
I agree with the don't let them steal your fun cause I've camped all my life and bought several rv's. I just think by accepting such obvious defects on very expensive vehicles we add to the problem. We wouldn't go fix problems ourselves on a brand new car that's under warranty, would we?

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk
I agree 100%. As a lifetime GM mechanic I completely understand the differences between our industry and theirs. Like I said, they just don't care. They insulate themselves with their dealer agreements. With the RV industry, the dealer CANNOT approve warranty work, only the factory can. In the auto industry more than 90% of warranty claims are approved at the dealer.

That's just one glaring difference, but it goes to the crux of the issue. The selling rv dealer knows they have crappy dealer agreements, but the profits are so large they ignore it and just deal with the crap.

I have no desire to try and change it nor rail against it. Thor Industries turned Airstream around back in the 80's but customer service and a quality product went down the toilet on the way to becoming the biggest player in the industry.
__________________

__________________
2016 VT3970
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab Dually
RobMilam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2017, 11:08 PM   #23
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
The RV industry is currently where the automotive industry was in the 70's... And there doesn't appear to be any impetus for change. In fact they are heading into yet another record year of sales.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2017, 11:32 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
snakebitten's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Alvin
Posts: 727
Texas
While I'm gallivanting across the magnificent western half of this country, without reservations anywhere, I'm a witness to what appears to be a HUGE demand for every kind of bed on wheels you can imagine.

So yea, the RV sales are in the sellers advantage. No doubt.



We can complain, of course, but we ain't doing it with our $pocketbooks!



I've got 3 RV's.

So blame ME!!!

Boondocking in Utah tonight.

Living the nomad dream.
__________________
2017 Aerolite 213 RBSL-ND
2018 Wolf Pup 17RP Limited (Tiny THauler)
2018 F150 King Ranch 3.5 Beast
2003 Ram 2500 Cummins (can't kill this beast)
snakebitten is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 12:41 AM   #25
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by snakebitten View Post
While I'm gallivanting across the magnificent western half of this country, without reservations anywhere, I'm a witness to what appears to be a HUGE demand for every kind of bed on wheels you can imagine.

So yea, the RV sales are in the sellers advantage. No doubt.



We can complain, of course, but we ain't doing it with our $pocketbooks!



I've got 3 RV's.

So blame ME!!!

Boondocking in Utah tonight.

Living the nomad dream.
I'm guilty too, 2 new ones in 4 years. Since this has turned into my official whining thread I might as well post this. A/C intake sucking hot air out of the rafters, not anymore. They should just sell Coleman's in kit form and I wouldn't have to disassemble their bad work before I make it right. Hey, Mike Holmes should do a show on rv's. [emoji1]

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 01:07 AM   #26
Senior Member
 
snakebitten's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Alvin
Posts: 727
Texas
LOL.

So true.

But, I know one thing for sure. I'd buy USED from you!!!!

It'd be the best of both worlds. Depreciated and well sorted.



You're making future RVing better for somebody.
__________________
2017 Aerolite 213 RBSL-ND
2018 Wolf Pup 17RP Limited (Tiny THauler)
2018 F150 King Ranch 3.5 Beast
2003 Ram 2500 Cummins (can't kill this beast)
snakebitten is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 01:12 AM   #27
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
I added a TV in the bedroom. the spot that had a label on it that said there was a wooden panel behind the surface board in order to screw the mounts into. Guess what, NO WOODEN PANEL. they forgot to add it. When I called the factory they said they would check on it. After I found out that there was NOT a panel behind to mount the TV to, they never would reply to any of my emails.
Wow, that's terrible! Only assembly line I've ever been on was for Siemens and if you did that kind of work you wouldn't be around to see lunch. Just mounted my TV and the wood was a little left of the decal but it was huge, no way I could miss it with my stud finder. The TV is on an extension cord cause it's running on the solar panels on my truck cover.

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 01:47 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by snakebitten View Post
LOL.

So true.

But, I know one thing for sure. I'd buy USED from you!!!!

It'd be the best of both worlds. Depreciated and well sorted.



You're making future RVing better for somebody.
Thanks! The salesman at Camping World said virtually the same thing when he saw my trade in.
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 04:15 AM   #29
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Matthews
Posts: 55
North Carolina
Glad to see GoodYear dumped the Marathons and have a new design. The Marathons weren't all that great.

Made in America being better doesn't always ring true either. Their old Marathons sucked. I'm on my 3rd set of Maxis Trailer tires... Canadian company and the tires are made in Thailand. Have never had an issue with the Maxis tires and that is three sets of four across two RV's.

Given these Goodyear's higher tow speed limit they might be worth checking out for the occasional run on the interstate.
WackyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 11:31 AM   #30
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
The Endurance tires look a lot better than the Marathons, even the sidewall looks tougher.
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 11:51 AM   #31
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobMilam View Post
I agree 100%. As a lifetime GM mechanic I completely understand the differences between our industry and theirs. Like I said, they just don't care. They insulate themselves with their dealer agreements. With the RV industry, the dealer CANNOT approve warranty work, only the factory can. In the auto industry more than 90% of warranty claims are approved at the dealer.

That's just one glaring difference, but it goes to the crux of the issue. The selling rv dealer knows they have crappy dealer agreements, but the profits are so large they ignore it and just deal with the crap.

I have no desire to try and change it nor rail against it. Thor Industries turned Airstream around back in the 80's but customer service and a quality product went down the toilet on the way to becoming the biggest player in the industry.
Kinda funny you mention Airstream, friend of mine was just telling me about a new $100,000 one that's been at the dealer three months for repairs. Guess the rich folks aren't any better off than me.
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 07:08 PM   #32
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown Lantern View Post
Kinda funny you mention Airstream, friend of mine was just telling me about a new $100,000 one that's been at the dealer three months for repairs. Guess the rich folks aren't any better off than me.
I have torn down and rebuilt a couple of Airstreams. The only advantage to them is they are mostly metal so there is less to rot out. I have been messing about with RV's for almost 40 years. Nothing has ever been trouble free or perfect. Some are better than others. The complexity has increased exponentially over the years, the quality of the assembly crews and sub-assembly suppliers has not improved much at all.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 08:54 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
First camper I bought was when I was 18. Don't remember what model year but it was a Shasta and that was 1981. I've had too many to remember but never an Airstream. The old Shasta was built like a tank and weighed about as much as one. In 1984 I bought a new 2.0 4-speed Ford Ranger. Talk about having too little truck for the job! It had 16 miles on it when I first hooked it to the Shasta and that truck made it to 200,000 with the original engine and clutch.

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2017, 11:58 PM   #34
Senior Member
 
snakebitten's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Alvin
Posts: 727
Texas
These days I feel old.

But then I come across a couple of fellas like you and Aaron.

Not only do I learn stuff. But I feel younger.

Yaw are ancient!!!
__________________
2017 Aerolite 213 RBSL-ND
2018 Wolf Pup 17RP Limited (Tiny THauler)
2018 F150 King Ranch 3.5 Beast
2003 Ram 2500 Cummins (can't kill this beast)
snakebitten is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2017, 12:15 AM   #35
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by snakebitten View Post
These days I feel old.

But then I come across a couple of fellas like you and Aaron.

Not only do I learn stuff. But I feel younger.

Yaw are ancient!!!
Ain't it the truth brother! My first job was pumping gas at a Union 76 gas station and it was way less than a dollar a gallon.
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2017, 12:21 AM   #36
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by snakebitten View Post
These days I feel old.

But then I come across a couple of fellas like you and Aaron.

Not only do I learn stuff. But I feel younger.

Yaw are ancient!!!
Old enough to know better, but still young enough not to care [emoji3]

Aaron[emoji41]

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2017, 12:28 AM   #37
Senior Member
 
snakebitten's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Alvin
Posts: 727
Texas
Lol.

You guys are great.



I'm sitting IN the camper in Green River, waiting for it to be less than a 100F furnace outside. Been up in the altitude for most of the last 2 weeks. Had to come down sometime.

Gonna have to re-acclimate!

Until then, blessed to have a brand new 13.5 in this little camper. Hardly burdened.
__________________
2017 Aerolite 213 RBSL-ND
2018 Wolf Pup 17RP Limited (Tiny THauler)
2018 F150 King Ranch 3.5 Beast
2003 Ram 2500 Cummins (can't kill this beast)
snakebitten is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2017, 12:33 AM   #38
Senior Member
 
Brown Lantern's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Under my desk
Posts: 195
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Old enough to know better, but still young enough not to care [emoji3]

Aaron[emoji41]

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
I just checked Google for pics of a 2016 Concord 300DS...NICE!
__________________
2018 Coleman Money Pit (rebuilding it one piece at time and didn't cost Camping World a dime)
Brown Lantern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2017, 12:37 AM   #39
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown Lantern View Post
I just checked Google for pics of a 2016 Concord 300DS...NICE!
Thanks
Belongs to Mama

I am the truck driver and chief mechanic.

I like it though, it fits the bill for what we need right now. I think it is the 10th or so RV I have had. First Class B+/C.


Aaron

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2017, 02:26 AM   #40
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hawthorne
Posts: 12
Florida
We're downsizing from the 3970 to something around a 3200 series. I told momma we were advertising it as "No warranty issues, everything has been fixed".

That should offset some depreciation, yes?
__________________

__________________
2016 VT3970
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab Dually
RobMilam is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 04:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×