Terrible workmanship and quality control

[azdryheat]

Just another in the series of terrible workmanship and lack of quality control at Dutchmen.

Today I took down my main cabin TV to check the connections and found the TV mount was loose on the wall. There are four screws (supposedly) holding the TV mount to the wall. Closer examination showed only one screw actually securing the entire mount and TV to the wall via a wall stud behind the thin paneling. Two other long screws went only into the thin paneling and not into any wall studs behind the paneling. The fourth screw was short and only attached the TV mount to the strip of wood between the mount and the wall. It was an easy fix. Perhaps that's why we have to strap down our TV's.

I sure would like to spend a few days on the Voltage assembly line and watch these clowns putting our trailers together. Maybe take along a big club to get their attention when they screw up. lol

Sure would like to be able to recommend the Voltage to others but, after 1 1/2 of fixing factory screw-ups, I can't.

[Thom]

Originally Posted by azdryheat

Just another in the series of terrible workmanship and lack of quality control at Dutchmen.


I sure would like to spend a few days on the Voltage assembly line and watch these clowns putting our trailers together. Maybe take along a big club to get their attention when they screw up. lol

If you could do that and record it, you would win America's funniest videos.... except no one would believe it but those of us who suffer through the reality of it...

[hddecker]

I watched the videos of Dutchmen assembly process, guys running from station to station to catch up, if they didn't no big deal, just cover it up and ship it out.

Then I watched the video of a Lance being built, the assembly line ran at a slower pace and stuff got done in the station it was supposed to done in.

The biggest peave that I have is the wiring. Dutchmen, cut a chunk of wire hook it up and stuff the excess in the wall, under the tanks or whereever it will fit. If it's to short splice in another chunk.

Lance builds proper wiring harnesses and lay it in and secure it the way it should be. There is probably a good chance that Lance would be able to provide a wiring diagram that made sensce.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by hddecker

I watched the videos of Dutchmen assembly process, guys running from station to station to catch up, if they didn't no big deal, just cover it up and ship it out.

Then I watched the video of a Lance being built, the assembly line ran at a slower pace and stuff got done in the station it was supposed to done in.

The biggest peave that I have is the wiring. Dutchmen, cut a chunk of wire hook it up and stuff the excess in the wall, under the tanks or whereever it will fit. If it's to short splice in another chunk.

Lance builds proper wiring harnesses and lay it in and secure it the way it should be. There is probably a good chance that Lance would be able to provide a wiring diagram that made sensce.

Not only CAN Lance provide a wiring diagram; they WILL if you ask nicely and provide them with your VIN. I have had contact with the Lance factory with a couple of questions that my dealer couldn't answer. We are looking at a Lance to replace the Coleman eventually. They have been more than happy to answer the questions and make suggestions on where to look for alternatives. FWIW Lance is privately owned, which means they need to make a profit, but it does not become the primary motive.

I have seen a lot of RV's over the years, poked, prodded and torn quite a few apart. It seems that the smaller volume manufacturers make a better unit overall. Everybody has a bad day and puts out a poorly assembled unit every now and again, but the big volume companies seem to have a lot more problem units than the law of averages would indicate.

The last RV assembly line I toured was Sunline back around 1998, it moved at a steady pace but things were completely assembled and checked prior to it moving on to the next station. The Sunlines were some of the best built conventional TT's around. There are still quite a few of them on the road, and Sunline has been out of business since 2006. They were purchased by venture capitalists in 2004 and gone just over 2 years later. It has happened to many great brands. Unfortunately RV's require competent assembly, and that just cannot be done on a high speed, high volume production line with today's work force IMHO.

Aaron

[DesertRat]

Like Aaron I toured the Teton factory in 2004. My Teton was a 2003. I looked at quite a few different RV's at the time & Teton looked the best to me. After touring the factory I know I made the correct choice. Except for the decals my Teton looks as good today as the day I bought it. Another small manufacture that went under in about 08 or 09. Too bad they made a first rate RV.

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by DesertRat

Like Aaron I toured the Teton factory in 2004. My Teton was a 2003. I looked at quite a few different RV's at the time & Teton looked the best to me. After touring the factory I know I made the correct choice. Except for the decals my Teton looks as good today as the day I bought it. Another small manufacture that went under in about 08 or 09. Too bad they made a first rate RV.

We had some quality manufactuers in Canada that have sadly been done in by the
mega-corps and the recession.

I have been hearing rumors of a few trying to make a come back. It would be nice if they did, but it will be a tough market to break into.