Since 1988, Recreation by Design has been providing factory direct custom RVs with a vision for quality and design. Phoenix Pop Up Campers is a custom truck camper manufacturer that offers luxury models that embody opulence and comfort. The Luxe Fifth Wheel boasts luxurious Custom Cabinetry, consistent color and high-quality finish, unlike mass producers who use lower quality, builders grade hardwoods.
Grand Design is one of the best travel trailer brands on the market, known for its quality construction, innovative layouts, user-friendly features, and value for money. The American Dream offers stress-free road trips with the RoadWatch Safety System, including collision mitigation, adaptive cruise, and traction controls. The 2022 Grand Design Solitude 380FL is a luxurious 41-foot fifth wheel trailer featuring 5 slides, designed for those seeking comfort and style.
For nearly 75 years, the Rush surname has created factory direct custom RVs with a vision for quality and design. Grand Design offers an impressive selection of travel trailers, fifth wheels, and toy haulers, with models, floor plans, and features to fit your RV lifestyle. Luxe is the leading manufacturer of luxury fifth wheels and toy haulers using the highest quality construction components.
New Horizons is a family-owned and managed custom RV manufacturer that has been making RVs for over 30 years. The Bowlus embodies the ultimate performance, technology, and luxury in the perfect adventure-ready RV.
📹 UNDERCOVER RV Tech reviews Grand Design, Brinkley & Alliance RVs
Who makes the best 5th Wheel? Grand Design, Brinkley or Alliance? In today’s episode of “Undercover RV Tech” I review six …
Can you buy a Grand Design from the manufacturer?
Buying from the manufacturer, such as Grand Design RV, can be done through an approved dealership. This method offers several advantages, including a brand new RV, a full warranty, and the opportunity to work directly with the designers of the rig. This is particularly beneficial for those who want to create their own RV, as they can customize the rig to their specific needs. However, some manufacturers, like Grand Design RV, may not sell directly to the public. Ultimately, purchasing from the manufacturer ensures a new, high-quality RV, and can help avoid potential issues with complex systems during the road.
Who makes the top of the line RV?
Prevost motorhomes are the world’s premier luxury motorhomes, renowned for their sound, strongest, and safe structures for custom motorhome conversions. With 100 years of motorcoach manufacturing experience, Prevost partners with top luxury motorhome converters to provide high-quality workmanship and exquisite craftsmanship. The company has built its legacy on lessons learned about quality, constant improvement, safety, and sustainability since 1924. Prevost’s commitment to quality, continuous improvement, safety, and sustainability inspires them to set new standards of excellence and continue to innovate and improve their products.
Which RV brand has the least problems?
Jayco Class C motorhomes are popular in the RV service industry due to their ease of repair and quality. They come on Freightliner, Sprinter, Ford, or Chevrolet chassis, offering various fuel types, power, and carrying capacity options. Jayco has eight different Class C models with various floor plans, and RV Pro voted them as the leader in several categories including best quality, warranty, and resale value.
Winnebago, a well-respected brand, also ranks among the best Class C RVs on the market. Winnebago constructs every Class C with precision, ensuring the safest and most comfortable RVs on the road. Both brands have received a 4. 1 out of 5 star rating from RV Insider reviews.
What is the top RV manufacturer?
Over 800 different RV brands, built by over 280 manufacturers, have been registered in the United States in the past year. Each manufacturer offers different advantages, making it difficult for dealers to navigate the confusion. Bish’s RV, a company that has been in the RV industry for over 20 years, has created a list of the top 10 best-selling RV brands in America to help customers find the best travel trailer or motorhome.
The list includes Forest River, Keystone RV, Grand Design RV, Jayco Inc., Dutchmen, Heartland RV, Coachmen, and Thor Motor Coach. The top-selling brands are usually in the top for good reasons, as they offer the best travel trailer or motorhome for their customers.
What is the name of the luxury RV?
Newmar RVs are known for their luxury features, including residential-style kitchens, king-size beds, and spacious living areas. Despite being 50 years old, Newmar remains renowned for their innovative design and craftsmanship. The Mountain Aire model, with its powerful engine, advanced steering control, and luxurious interior, embodies these traits. Top models include King Aire, London Aire, and Mountain Aire.
Who is the king of luxury brand?
Louis Vuitton, with over $17 billion in brand value as of 2022, leads the global luxury industry with revenues exceeding $15 billion annually. Its success is attributed to its control over distribution through directly owned stores and its mastery of luxury branding. Christian Dior, founded in 1946, defines French elegance and luxury, encompassing haute couture, ready-to-wear fashion, leather goods, shoes, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, and skincare.
The House of Dior accounts for over 16 of parent group LVMH’s total sales and has experienced accelerated revenue growth, reaching $8 billion in the most recent fiscal year. Dior enjoys high profit margins and retains exceptional pricing power due to its prestige and well-executed branding, making it a top luxury brand.
What is the most high quality luxury brand?
The top 10 luxury brands in the world include Porsche (automobile), Louis Vuitton (fashion and luxury goods), Chanel (fashion), Gucci (fashion), Hermès (fashion and luxury goods), Dior (fashion), Cartier (jewelry), and Rolex (watches). These brands represent the epitome of exclusivity, craftsmanship, and prestige in the consumer market. They are iconic fashion houses, sought-after beauty products, and legendary hotels and resorts. Luxury brands are known for their precision engineering, performance, and exclusivity.
They are often associated with luxury hotels, resorts, and other high-end establishments. These brands are known for their unique and sophisticated designs, high-quality products, and exceptional service. Starting a career in the world of luxury hospitality can provide a unique opportunity to explore and appreciate the allure and significance of these high-end brands.
Who makes the most expensive RVs?
The 12 most expensive luxury RVs in the world in 2023 include Newmar King Aire, EarthRoamer HD, Volkner Mobil Performance S, Newell Coach P50, Liberty Coach Fairfax Edition, Anderson Mobile The Heat, and 2020 Saint Germain Featherlite. The recreational vehicle market is expected to reach $30. 73 billion in 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 8. 15 and reaching $45. 57 billion by 2028. The growth is attributed to the increasing number of campers opting for RVs, the convenience of peer-to-peer rental services, and the trend of road trips as a way to de-stress from daily routines.
The post-lockdown resurgence of the travel and tourism sector has exhibited significant growth globally, particularly in North America and Europe, with the Asia Pacific region experiencing the highest growth due to the increasing popularity of recreational activities in the region.
What makes an RV luxury?
Luxury-class motorhomes offer a high-end travel experience with all the comforts and amenities of a luxury home. These motorhomes are typically more expensive than standard ones due to premium materials, advanced technologies, more storage space, and high-quality craftsmanship. Class A motorhomes, also known as Type A, are the largest and most luxurious types of motorhomes available. Built on a specially designed motorized chassis, they are powered by diesel or gas-fueled vehicles, commercial trucks, or bus chassis.
Their massive size allows for traditional homestyle amenities, making them the most expensive and luxurious option available. Class A motorhomes are favored by those seeking a lavish RV lifestyle or a full-time RV life.
Who manufactures Grand Design RVs?
Grand Design RV, based in Middlebury, Indiana, is a leading manufacturer of RV products such as Reflection Fifth Wheel and Travel Trailer, Solitude Extended Stay Fifth Wheel, Momentum Toy Hauler, Imagine Travel Trailer, and Transcend Travel Trailer. Established in 2012, the company has become one of the fastest-growing RV companies and is a subsidiary of Winnebago Industries, a 65-year-old outdoor lifestyle product manufacturer. Grand Design RV is rated among the highest quality RV manufacturers.
📹 STUNNING new 2024 fifth wheel RV design! 2024 Jayco Pinnacle 38FBRK
44ft, 15000lbs, sectional sofa, massive rear kitchen, dishwasher, residential appliances, desk space, 1.5 baths, king bed, large …
Jacob tells it like it is! An excellent expose, that shows the soft underbelly of the RV industry. Cost is king, shove them out the door as fast as you can, for whatever you can get, and caveat emptor. If you’ve tried to get RV service and repairs lately, let me tell you it’s like the plumber in “The Money Pit” movie, who shows up in a Cadillac, and laughs at you. I don’t understand how they stay in business. At least Brinkley appears to have a lot better build quality. Maybe we need Jacob to start a “Consumer Reports” type website for RVs. Things will only get better if the consumer demands changes.
The manufacturing methods at Brinkley are really amazing; just took the factory tour and I was very impressed. I am definitely not an expert on PEX plumbing fixtures, or whether Furrion is any better or worse than a Norcold fridge. I’ve never even owned an RV, although I’ve owned many large sailboats over the years. But after working as a Manufacturing / Mechanical Engineer in automotive manufacturing plants around the world for over 20 years, I can tell when a company is building a car / truck / RV the right way. There’s no question in my mind that Brinkley knows how to design and build a quality machine. Every workstation in the Brinkley facility is set up the same way Porsche or Ferrari would do it, they really have fantastic manufacturing and assembly practices. This is why the fit and finish of their RV’s is as good as it is. You can see the intermediate Quality Control steps they are taking within the manufacture process, not just at the final inspection, and this method insures quality builds. I could see that the fabrication and installation employees on the line were using methods and tooling to produce templated parts to very exact specifications, they weren’t just stamping out templated parts and tossing them in a bin for installation later on. Everything in the plant is super organized, they keep track of every part they install so that if a customer has a problem a year later, they can find how the part was fabricated based on the VIN of the unit, help you troubleshoot yours, and Make Improvements for future units; this concept is referred to as Metrics.
Love the article! This is what the RV industry needs: accountability. My wife and I have a 2021 Rockwood Signature 8324SB that we purchased from a private buyer. I had a professional RV tech review and inspect before purchase. We love this RV. We have had very few issues and have owned it now for about a year and put over 10,000 miles and 2 months of nights in it. I have also been very impressed with Rockwood’s support. Even though I was not the original owner, they treated me very well when I asked questions. They have gone so far as to provide me with the drawings and schematics for wiring and plumbing so I could troubleshoot my own issues if needed. Way more than I expected. They also answer questions promptly. Regarding suspension, one of the reasons I purchased Rockwood was their use of the torsion suspension. I have torsion suspension on a large utility trailer, and it pulls and handles like a dream. The Rockwood is the same. When we arrive, almost nothing has moved inside, and it goes over bumps very well. I do not see why all RV trailers would not use torsion suspension. The build quality has been excellent, and we would buy another Rockwood in a minute. I did have another question. When we store the trailer, should we bring in the slides every time, we park it next to my office, so we do go out and fix lunch and spend the night in it maybe once a week if we are too tired to drive home? Love your segments and look forward to more.
Very interesting article. Next time you’re underneath a Grand Design, Jayco or Coleman and perhaps Rockwood, check the underside of the slideouts. They stopped using any protective barrier and just have thinly painted OSB. Any amount of water that wicks under there will quickly start to rot the floor out – and it’s happening.
I have a 2021 KZ Connect travel trailer that had a leak in the passthrough that made it into our front bedroom. The leak was at a braded flex hose with a pex fitting. You could visually see the braded flex hose was swelled right at the Pex fitting. As a quick fix I added a small screw clamp up against the Pex fitting and no more leaks. Did the same on all braded flex hoses with a pex fitting. I know this isn’t the best proper way to fix, but we will be upgrading RV’s soon. Thanks for reporting this issue, hopefully they are listening!
There’s a young couple that have a YT website (Wild RV Life ?), they recently purchased the Brinkley 3100 and have non stop issues with their AC units, they also had issues with their trailer brakes (there was a recall) and a few other issues that Brinkley has been able to correct (shipping them parts, etc.). They are still dealing with the AC issues – the techs tell them “it can’t be freezing over, that’s impossible” and yet … they have both AC’s with ice. I got to see the same model in person and LOVED it! We had looked at other 5th wheels prior and everything was such poor quality – they want way too much money for the garbage they sell as “new” and then you’re stuck with the monthly payment + all the repairs, what a nightmare! Thank you so much for this review, I really needed the education on the plumbing system (and the systems used for the slides). I had the RK model on my short list but it’s gone gone gone now! Saved me a mountain of misery – thank you again!
Your reviews are the most informative on the net. I am shopping for a towable and looked at the Rockwood. The incorrect plumbing was everywhere. I told the salesman and he called the manufacturer’s rep who advised it was the most efficient way to do the plumbing and they have not had any complaints. Contrary to that statement, there are complaints on the internet about these types of connections. Keep up the good work and my prediction is you will have a very popular website.
Thank you for this article. We almost bought a Brinkley but to me it just seemed like a mid-profile 5er ( shallow basement) with some very cool creature comforts on it. And then they charge the full-profile price for it. 100 plus. All of my research led us to the Alliance Paradigm 340 RL. We took delivery of our 2023 in mid August. Got it for 33% below MSRP. Fit and finish is excellent. We went through it with a fine tooth comb. Could not find one single thing wrong. I know there will be a shake down period but we are one trip in and so far perfect. 🤞 Thanks again for the review.
Brinkley’s response – Adjusted “Rigor” score should now be 97 for both models My wife and I are planning to purchase a 5th wheel in the not-too-distant future. Brinkley “Z” models have been at the top of our list. This article gave me pause. It is a very helpful article and the detailed, knowledgeable information is much appreciated. However, as a prospective buyer of a Brinkley, I wanted to get a response directly from Brinkley rather than secondhand. The following are the 4 items noted as negative grades per the “Rigor scale” against Brinkley: -\tMinus 10 points due to the flex plumbing hose connecting to brass fittings; -\tMinus 2 points for the Furrion water heater sensor issue; -\tMinus 1 for “fit and finish” lumber core use -\tMinus 2 for Furrion vs. Norcold refrigerator -\t= Minus 15 points I did not bother to ask Brinkley about the use of lumber core, as that is a small issue and they have done a great job protecting and covering the core pieces in my personal opinion. Brinkley’s responses to the other 3 items: Add back 10 points: Flex plumbing hose connecting to brass fittings: -\tBrinkley’s response and actual production line changes: “We have had zero issues with our plumbing connections in the field (over 1,600 units registered) or through our prototyping and testing. Everything we have done has been approved by our suppliers for the application they are used. We use PEX water lines wherever possible and brass plumbing connections throughout the entire unit. In a few specific locations, we are using an upgraded no kink flex tube that no one in the industry has previously used.
I would like to suggest doing an updated inspection of the 3 manufacturer’s. I’ve seen many responses from potential buyers and the manufacturer that suggest they’ve addressed the issues that you have mentioned, and I believe in all fairness that you should do an updated inspection on those Brands to verify as your 4 month old article can impact decisions we are currently making.
Great article. We ordered a 340RL Alliance in January of 21. Overall, we have been very happy. Our biggest issue has been the slide skis. After many replacements under warranty, Alliance reworked our slide. That lasted only about 6 months. They have since then started using a different slide ski. It’s a heavier & wider plastic. We had custom-made stainless steel skis made & installed for our unit. So far, so good.
I’ve been an RV tech for 18 years, and prior to that I also worked as a plumber. 10 years ago, I probably would have agreed with you about the plumbing quality. But speaking from experience in the field, we simply don’t see issues arise from braided flex hose crimped to pex fittings. Remeber that the psi ratings in an RV differ greatly from household standards, and there are weaker points in an RV plumbing system that will.fail.before these connections. I absolutely agree that brass fittings should be standard. Pex or braided flex hose with brass fittings will usually even survive freezing.
Another great article, thank you. From a Brinkley RV rep, they are aware of the flex pipe issue in the industry and avoided using the same products. The flex line Brinkley is using is a no crush no kink product that no other manufacturer is using. It’s choice was intentionally on the water pump to reduce vibration and a few other areas due to angle of running water lines. Their usage and attachment method is approved by the vendor and they have had no known issues with this application in the field so far in the first year of production.
As a retired Certified RV tech and Navy engineering officer and Submarine Quality assurance officer I chose Alliance. Not sure about slide room but I’ll continue to look for problems. Full time for 35 of the last 40 years my favorite slide room was a pneumatic slide on Alfa Gold, out in less than 2 seconds. Think it scares folks 😂 I believe Alliance uses rack and pinion for the one main area slide of the model I am interested in😊
Tx for article! You “destroyed” my week! LOL I am going to RV show in Tampa, we are changing our MH to 5th wheel. All 3 of those Mfg were on my list. Your compare of Brinkley vs Alliance was spot on! About 6mos ago at dealer, we compared fit/finish and saw the same thing! Brinkley was winner, now I really don’t know!
I stumbled across your article after perusal a ton of RV articles and I’m shocked you’re the first person to mention the plumbing. As a fellow mech, I’ve noticed a lot of these RVs look to be plumbing and electrical nightmares. I’m a little surprised they get away with selling some of this stuff because a lot of these practices are flat out illegal in almost every other industry.
Excellent article and information. I have been dealing with plumbing and electrical issues that are a mess in my new “high end” 5th wheel. Replacing it with the correct components rewiring and replumbing myself. Also, see the issue with fit and finish across the board and how sloppy some manufacturers are. It’s almost a choice as to the best of several evils. What are you willing to live with and compromise on. It’s hard to find a good model and manufacturer. I remember when I bought this current 5th wheel I have, the unit I looked at and heavily inspected for every detail, wasn’t the same unit they tried to get me to take delivery of after the dealer “prep”. I would love to see the “RIGOR” scale applied to an Airstream.
I truly hope Brinkley has gotten wind of their Plumbing issues and makes the appropriate changes, because we’re about ready to pull the trigger on their toy hauler . We absolutely love it and we’re expecting twins so we don’t want any more unexpected leaks.😅 taking to the road full-time and homeschooling.
We had the opportunity to visit all 3 factories while in Elkhart earlier this year. Firstly the difference between the factories was very noticeable. The Brinkley factory was brand new and was obviously absolutely spotless and their young guy showing us around was very knowledgeable about how Brinkley are doing it differently. The Grand Design factory was a different story, yes the roof system was noticeably inferior and the factory was very messy. The Alliance factory was more tidy than Grand Design but we did spot a few things about the cabinets I was disappointed in. FYI we have been in the furniture & Flooring retail business for over 38 years so we do have a reasonable idea as to what is acceptable or not. We currently own an Alliance Valor 40 v 13 and have had a few issues, cabinets, plumbing etc. But we have nothing but good things to say about Alliance customer service. In fact they are amazing. Would we buy a Brinkley, HELL YES. Their interior design is absolutely gorgeous compared to Alliance and Grand Design. Just need to stick with the Alliance for a few years until Brinkley gets all the bugs ironed out.
Deb, If we wanted you to inspect a new Brinkley fifth wheel, how can we get in touch with you in the future? We will be purchasing a new fifth wheel for fulltime living later Winter/Spring 2025. We are really trying to educate ourselves as much as possible down to which State to purchase… I greatly appreciate your articles.
Great article. First one of your articles that I have come across. Just subscribed and will look back through you prior articles. This one was perfect. It had the 3 brands I have been considering…. specifically the 340RL and Model Z 3100. I have run into the owners of Alliance and Brinkley at RV shows. In talking to them they seemed genuinely interested in feedback and improving their products…. hopefully that will continue as they get bigger and articles like this can help. Thanks!
Thanks for all of the good info! My wife and I are torn between a 2024 GD Solitude 378MBS and the 2024 Alliance Paradigm 380MP. My question is this…Alliance has dumped the Schwintek bedroom slide, and went with the BAL Accu-slide for their Paradigm lineup. I reached out to Alliance, who are great to deal with BTW, and confirmed that the tension adjustment is in fact on the bottom of the bedroom slide for the cables. Given that…I’ve watched your article on the BAL Accu slide system, and you recommended to just “walk away” from an RV with these types of slides. So, given the plumbing issues on Solitude’s, and the slide issues on Paradigms, which one would you choose? We actually like the Paradigm better, but concerned with the slide system, and having it serviced. We love the Solitude as well, but not sure about the plumbing??? Not sure which one trumps the other, but we’re purchasing one of them. Thanks!
Painful to watch as a Grand Design owner. The plumbing problem has existed for years. I removed all the soft hose in my ’19 GD trailer (except for the black tank flush lines) and replaced everything with pex. Crazy ridiculous amount of work for a basic system that should just work. Thanks for all your articles.
The slides, & plumbing issues seem like the builders could fix easy, and not impact the cost of the unit. I also think the builders should be forced to hold the note for 2 years, if your unit goes in for repair, and 1 month later you still do not have it, you do not have to pay the note. Repayment starts 90 days after you get your unit back. 😊
In 2018 I purchased a used private party 2015 Grand Design 303RLS with recommendations from other Grand Design customers. I soon found out they are not such a “grand design”. They in the same category as all rv manufacturers. First problem was air conditioning intake it was not sealed from hot air from ceiling space. Corrected that. After using the using the trailer a few times i noticed a leak on the ground area of water heater. No leaks around gas/electric screen area. Removed the hutch drawers, low behold there is the leak. During manufacturing somebody had cross threaded a fitting on water heater. Instead of fixing the problem they put some kind of goop around it. Corrected that problem. Soon found out another leak on the ground under water hook up area, it was not hose problem. Took the panel off in cargo hold area so I could see the piping, another fitting had been cross threaded, instead of correcting the problem they put some kind of goop around the fitting. After they put that goop around the fittings it had dried out and cracked. Took about 3 years for problem to show up. We love the layout of the coach❤. As of 2023 we have not had any other problems.
I already have a Grand Design. You are 100% correct about the plumbing. What do you suggest or recommend to rectify the issue? Clearly cutting out all the incorrect fittings and junctions could cause problems that have not yet arisen. However, not correcting those issues could lead to trouble down the road. What do you advise?
Just today I was looking at trailers and was in a few alliance models and everyone of them the fit and finish still had the splinter drawers in both premier and avenues. I was floored at so many issues in them like you spoke of, I had to just walk on. These were all 2023 & 2024 models. The cougars I viewed had better fit/finish but the counters and other things were on the poor end which just makes me sad. Glad I found your articles and web site because it made it that much better to “see” the reality to what I’m looking for in my next unit which will be for full time living so I make a much better selection. So I keep Loki h as I tick off the list ones that may end up being those lemons and I don’t get stuck unhappy and major broke in the wallet!! Ty soooo much for being so open with all of your fantastic information!!
I could not agree more with all you said and for me the number one no go for buying an RV is the water system. We all know how much damage and what a pain is when you have a leak. I walk in and look at that first, if it is a no go in the area alone I walk right out. I don’t look at anything else. I don’t want the headache.
We’re looking at a new rv and I’m an RV tech. We are considering these 3 brands. It’s interesting how alliance moved from the schwintek to the cable slides. When I took a poll of other rv techs, the majority of them prefer the BAL cable slide. Now, not being able to adjust the cables is a different problem. Also, you counted off for GD and alliance for the Mach ACs because you’ve seen many problems with them. That’s probably because they’re used on so many rigs. I’d be more concerned about the “untested” unit on the Brinkley. Overall interesting article.
Great article, totally agree with the plumbing, also one other thing is the suspension on all these RV’s a weak point. We have upgraded 8K axels and disk brakes and were still just barely under our weight limit. Any 5th wheel should come with a minimum 10,000 lb axels or at least give you the option for them. the 1& 3/4 leaf springs should only be put on utility trailers not something that weighs between 13,000 and 20,000 lbs. The wet bolts are terrible, you can’t lube half of them because either the sewer pipe is in the way and you can’t get the grease gun up in there to lube it OR the brass bushings are completely destroyed after 500 miles and they won’t take any lube. It’s such a garage system, they all need something way better. Im going with Morryde independent suspension on our next rig. I spoke with Morryde and they said there’s are 9,000 lb axels so that’s great news.
I have been eagerly awaiting this article because we, like a lot of folks, are weighing these three options. We went to the Hershey show and looked at all of them and I concur on the fit and finish. They all look good in a 360 tour on their websites but the Brinkley stands way out in person. Hopefully they address that potential plumbing issue. I think it’s fair to point out that the GD is $15K more than the competition. Not sure what they’re charging for. Hey, at about 10:39 you say you give the Brinkley a 0 out 10 on slides but I think you’re still talking about the Avenue. Correct me if I’m wrong. Thanks for making these articles!
Are you sure about that BAL Accu slide? I thought they had come out with a newer version that was vastly improved. I was on a lot full of Vibe RV’s in September, and every one had the newer version of that cable slide system. I had the bad version on a 2018, but the adjusters and cables were easily accessed above the slide box by removing the top wood trim. You just had to reinstall the trim with Velcro or wing nuts so you could take it off to access the motor with a drill if and when it failed like mine did at a campground.
Great review!! Thank you for taking your time to help us all spend our hard earned money in a better way. 🙂 I walked an Alliance Paradigm recently, and all the drawers in the kitchen were tilted out at the bottom, giving it a washboard appearance among many other finish issues. What is your grade for the side wall construction of these three manufacturers?
Thanks so much for providing this great information, it was so very eye opening. Since you have pretty much knocked out all of my perspective upgrade options, could you do a article on RV manufacturers that do plumbing correctly? if any exist – may be a very short article. Also, if you find incorrect fittings in your RV, should you make preventative repairs?
Love your article. As a fellow RV tech, your evaluation seems spot on. Just went to Tampa Super RV Show and was so disappointed with Alliance and GD. One point I wish you would have covered was structural build between the three which one favors over the other. From my experience and inspections Brinkley has a superior build quality over Alliance and GD.
Yeah, you lost me at giving Brinkley an ‘F’. You went for semi-scientific scores, then arbitrarily gave Brinkley an ‘F’ (numbers to letters – weird!) to be edgy. Brinkley is hands down light years ahead of GD and Paradigm in build quality. Their CS team even responded to your article on FB, explaining why they designed the plumbing that way and basically demolishing your drive-by points. What did GD and Paradigm say? Crickets and I know that because I’m in FB groups for all three. So shitty light fixtures and half assed blunt saw cut wood is just fine right? Brinkley uses high quality flex lines because it isn’t a great idea to plumb rigid lines into a vibrating pump – even if it’s rubber mounted. Not all lines are spec’ced equally – did you ever seek feedback from Brinkley owners to see if they had water line issues? I really liked your article right up to the point where you became a shill for Alliance, despite overwhelming evidence of their numerous QC issues. And for the record, no, I don’t own a Brinkley and yes, I’m well aware, first hand, of the plumbing design issues you explain.
Hi Jacob, first let me say your articles are awesome! I’m a huge fan!! Your critique of Brinkley’s plumbing elicited this response from the company. Would really like to get your thoughts on their claim of using a type of flex hose that should be ok: “We are aware of this issue across the industry. The flex line we are using is a no crush no kink that no one else has used. We use it intentionally on the water pump to reduce vibration and a few other areas due to angle of running water lines. Our attachment method is approved by our vendor and we have had no known issues with this application.”
YouTube content is typically created to be picked up by the algorithm so the “shock factor” is often employed. Regardless of which brand you buy, failures will occur. Some are due to poor choice in parts, others poor install, and others user/operator error over time. Pros and cons to flex vs rigid PEX for sure, but it’s okay to use flex in the right spot in an RV. Lots of opinions out there, but don’t panic if your RV has flex braided lines here and there. I’d be more concerned about having a good pressure reducing valve (PRV) and ensuring your RV is winterized properly as those two factors may very well have more of an impact on plumbing failures long-term.
Just a note on the Alliance Avenue slide outs-The cable system is only for the smaller bedroom slide. Both the main living area slides are mechanical electric through frame. Alliance’s position is that the cable is more dependable than the Schwintek used on the bedroom slide before. I had a cable slide on a much larger slide on my first TT and never had an issue with it. I hope this continues.
The Furrion AC has been an utter disaster for an awful lot of owners to the extent that I’d be very tempted to avoid any unit with one. Yes the frame on the 390RK has been a mess. However the good news is that Grand Design has recognized the problem and is not only taking care of existing owners but has a fix implemented for new production units.
The one thing with Alliance is that is something was wrong, they will fix it. The drawer, that should have never left the factory, they would replace. Other things, yes it should have been caught at the factory. Great review on the big brands. I walked through some Brinkleys but didn’t catch the plumbing (wasn’t actually looking to buy, so wasn’t looking also).
So plumbing wise the red pex crimp Can be removed if hear touches them. I use a hair dryer to remove them. When I put the flex hose I did the same thing but it was VERY difficult to get those pex on them. I wish I could explain how difficult but I’ll just day it 4x as long to get on. I can’t see those messing up . Mine going good 4 years strong no leaks
It’s interesting your choices of “who are the best….” Are these your opinion of the top three of the middle priced/lower priced brands? I’m honestly curious about this. What is your opinion of the Jayco brand? After spending hours, turning into a total of months worth of those hours I found Jayco to be one of the “better brands” as well. Your opinion of my opinion sir????
Well done. Thanks. We didn’t look for all the things you mentioned, but the main reason we didn’t buy a Brinkley was frameless windows because they don’t open all the way (lose cross-breeze that we love in good weather) and they’re too dark (bad for nice views and more open interior feel). Idk why anyone would like frameless windows aside from the sleek appearance.
Thanks for the info., we are starting out small and working our way up later on. We are looking at Grand Design “AIM” TT’s and perhaps Keystone “Cougar” or Forest River Microlite (or the Flagstaff version). Would be nice if you could look at some of those smaller (cheaper) TT’s. But thanks again for giving us some info. on what to look for ourselves at the dealer lot…we found the info. on “Thermofoil” covered particle board countertops especially helpful! Q: Does the “flex” type (non-Pex) tubing/plumbing have a correct clamp/fitting? 👍
God thank you for pointing out the plumbing. Been loving my grand design for the most part, but they don’t know how to do plumbing at all. Has cost me hundreds in diy repairs on leaking lines in multiple places, that ruins all the mdf constructed cabinetry. And they put one of the main electronic control box right under the bathroom sink plumbing with 0 water protection. If I had to pay a professional for repairs I would easily be looking at thousands by now.
Plumbing issue in Grand Design and possible precautions: I have just purchased a Grand Design Imagine XLS 17 MKE. It strikes me that the one big difference with house plumbing is water pressure. It is barely one story high and does not require a lot of pressure. When operated by the pump the pressure should be well controlled and not excessive. But when you connect to a municipal water supply you could get ANY pressure. Does this trailer have a pressure regulator to prevent excessive pressures. If not, it probably isn’t too difficult to fit one. An alternative work-around would be to always use water pumped from your own tank and only use municipal supply to fill the tank. Such measures shouldn’t be necessary but could be a good safe-guard. I would love to hear any comments about these ideas.
We bought a 24 Model Z 3610 and have been using it full time for about 4 months. The Furrion fridge did have a problem right off the bat. It had a nasty rattle noise while the compressor was running. To avoid a trip to the dealer, i pulled the unit out which required drilling out several large rivets in the top, removing 4 screws on the legs, pusing the unit back to remove 4 more screws behind the upper bracket and removing the bracket completely. I was very impressed by how well the unit was secured but, i really wish that they had used nut-serts and bolts on the top of the fridge instead of rivets. while the rivets are arguably better, they make serviceability of the unit quite difficult. I think nut-serts and some M6 bolts with either blue locktite or lock washers would be just as good, Anyway, the condenser in the fridge had a flimsy support system that allowed it to contact the cabinet and make a loud rattle noise. After a couple tries, i ended up placing a thin rubber mat between the condenser and the cabinet to ensure that the rattle would never happen again. I would caution anyone doing this to lay down some cardboard in front of the unit on the floor when you roll it out as the wheels have sharp edges and can damage the vinyl flooring.
I own a Grand Design 2970RL and I’ve had to repair every water fitting for just what he has pointed out. I tell the dealer they don’t care and like he said it would be difficult to replace all the plumbing hose. The basic problem is it expands then leaks. So I’ve replaced fittings, larger sizes with different clamps and hoping it won’t leak. You have to keep the pressure down as well. The book calls for a maximum of 45lbs, I run 28lbs. So far so good. And I’ve repaired almost all the fittings so fa. Oh this unit was built in 2022. I have repaired a number of things throughout the unit from door stops because the builder didn’t know how to center a screw, to drawer guides, replaces shades that the PDI didn’t catch, just one thing after another. Would I buy another Grand Design, NO!
Now I’m not a stumper for Grand Design by any means, and we own a 2019 Solitude, but you made it sound like all Solitudes and are the only ones that have frame issues. We all know that GD is not the only manufacturer that can have frame issues, and the frames are made by Lippert. No mention of how bad Lippert is, from bad welding techniques and frame hangers ripping out. Our Solitude frame is not built the same way as the 390RK you preview in your article and we have no problems with it. But I have to agree with you on the plumbing systems – atrocious! If these manufacturers can not install water systems without them leaking, why would I want their (Lippert) hydraulic leveling system. But the manufacturers you reference on your article are not the only ones with issues, friends of ours bought a new, New Horizons 5th wheel and they had window leaks all over the place and hydraulic hoses blowing out all over the leveling system. So the very upper end of the RV spectrum is not totally without problems either. Also electrical wiring on most RVs is hap hazard at best. But to see how bad it is you have to remove cargo panels and look behind the walls, or lower the coroplast (underbelly) and look up inside. Now I hear Brinkley uses color coated wiring harnesses, and does have and use wiring diagrams, but I have no direct knowledge of this or how well the electrical wires are installed. On the whole, I don’t see much difference between Thor, Winnebago or Forest River. Alliance and Brinkley will get there eventually, especially if they gain market share, they will get bought out by one of the big three as well.
I’ve got the Coleman Mach A/C units on my RV for six years now on my fifth wheel no issues or repairs,cools the RV fast during the HOT HUMID Summers in IllInois n Missouri ….Guess they don’t make them like used to.Just a quick note ….CLEAN THE AIR FILTERS EVERY MONTH OR SOONER DEPENDING ON HOW OFTEN YOU CAMP…..
It’s amazing to me that many years of reviews of owners and dealers all over the US and Canada agree that Grand Design is a quality company with endless people saying they love them. I have watched many independent certified inspectors say they are their first choice in a travel trailer and also give fair praise to Brinkley and other quality brands. The drastic desparity between those reviews and this one suggests to me that something is wrong. I have literally never seen a reviewer so happily trash the Grand design.. I was surprised. I will go over my 2025 Reflection 312bhts tomorrow with the inspector when i pick it up and raise some of these concerns.
I find all your vids fantastic, honest and very worth perusal!!! If… IF buyers really wanted a better RV all they need to do is NOT buy one UNTIL they (most/all) manufacturers are FORCED by this decision to rethink how they build RVs. It’s really THAT EASY, but…. it’s also unrealistic to think people will actually be patient long enough to FORCE manufacturer to STOP BUILDING THIS CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and all manufacturers know this about human nature…. this is why people are willing to finance a $100,000 piece of CRAP for 20+ years at these ridiculous interest rates. So, in the end people get/buy CRAP because the are willing to BUY CRAP. Manufacturers are willing to fulfill their willingness to be stupid and be taken advantage of…. sorry to sound so….. hmmm….. TRUTHFUL!!!
Wow this is some of the best content I’ve seen on this topic on RVs on YouTube. Thanks for all your hard work. I’m finding your articles very helpful as we search for our first family bunkhouse for our family of 6! I think a great idea for a article would be to look at some of the most popular bunkhouse floor plans like the imagine 2800 bh, jayco jayflight 285 bhs, jay feather 27bhb and heartland mallard m26 just to name a few. Looking forward to your future articles !
Sooooo…new to this full-time trailer living lifestyle (although I own a small 15′ travel trailer that I’ve completely renovated). I bought a used 2022 Grand Design Imagine 2670MK. I didn’t get an inspection (which I later regretted). The first (and only) previous owner had the trailer set up in an area that had VERY hard water. So, it’s taken awhile to try and get the grey and black tank sensors clean (lots of CLR and industrial strength vinegar) not to mention the rest of any water related components. I’ve recently started working on upgrades and mods (especially with the bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixtures and valves) and straight away noticed the problematic plumbing your article described. Let’s just say you’ve inspired me to replace the entire system with PEX B style plumbing. I say all the time that Wile E Coyote is my spirit animal…Back to the Ol drawing board :^(
Your articles are so great, and well done. I’ve been an RV’er for a long time and consider myself experienced and can fix most the problems I encounter. But, that pales in comparison to your real-world experience working as a tech in the industry. Your insight is remarkable, I love your attention to detail. Probably my new favorite YouTube website that I wish I found sooner! Cheers from south Alabama!
Just bought a 2900, heard GD quality has really tanked lately. The fit and finish of the 2900 is unparalleled in today’s market. I will keep an eye on the bathroom sink plumbing, but good news, they have shut offs, so i can shut them off when I leave for a few days. The ram style slide mechanism is good, industry standard. No cables or tracks, so pretty much bullet proof.
You asked about brands to review… Rockwood/Flagstaff (either as they come from the same factory) and Surveyor. I currently have a Flagstaff 21ds and know that eventually we’ll upgrade. How do these analyses compare to travel trailers? I’m not gonna get a 5th wheel but this was very telling if Grand Design TTs would follow similar trends.
Grand Designs are pieces of 💩. We had a small Jayco jayflight slx8 264BH for 3 years before selling it to my parents and buying a grand design with one slide and bunks. The stove and oven couldn’t get hot enough to boil water or bake cinnamon rolls. Warranty claim was denied even though it was 75 degrees too cold. The blank tank NEVER emptied even with multiple flushes and tilting the camper to help drain which you should never do but how else were we supposed to get the 💩 out?! No matter what we did the warped bottom of the black tank would never fully drain causing it to stink within the first couple months of having it. With our Jayco, it didn’t even have a flush and we were able to fully clean it out by simply filling the tank and dumping it a few times. It never stunk once. The grand design couldn’t cool down below 85 even if it was 80 outside. It was always hot so we could never comfortably camp in the summer. Our camper after the grand design (our current camper) is a Jayce Eagle bunkhouse and we can comfortable cool it in 100 degree summer heat with the 30amp breaker. 50 amp isn’t even need. We will NEVER own a Grand Design ever again.
Man you right about Grand Design. More like Grand Disaster . I’m surprised you didn’t rate floors. Plywood. Grand Design is O s b. And soon as the pluming waters it down then waves and in even floor. We went with a Jyaco. Plywood floors and roof. It’s not as good as it should be but seems the best for the money. Frame floor and roof solid. Folks don’t buy a rv without plywood floors.
Wish I would have seen this article before buying my GD imagine xls. I’m at least glad I did enough research to know to buy used and save myself some money and from the scammy dealerships. That said, I’ve been correcting all plumbing fittings, starting with the leak at the water heater which all have brass fittings that convert pex to vinyl tubing. Not cheap, but still cheaper than buying a new Rv and dealing with fighting for warranty service.
You charge $150 for your “how not to break your rv” class… I have worked for decades in field service maintaining and repairing many different types of equipment. I consider myself above average for an RV owner and maintainer. …I’ll take your course but if I don’t come away from it feeling like I got value from it… I am going to let everyone know that.
This article was very helpful!! Thanks for the great information! I was curious if you have ever been able to look deeply into the Van Leigh Beacon RV? I know they don’t make them anymore but I have an opportunity to buy one from a dealer that is part of their “unsold new inventory.” I’ve heard such good things about them but have never looked in depth at the plumbing or other systems. What do you think? Any help you could give would appreciated!
thank you very much for doing this article. I have been researching the market for over a year and a half. I’v have been zeroing in on Brinkley and Alliance and I must say that your reviews of their models was really disappointing. The notion that an RV manufacturer would cheap out on plumbing, or that they would do it incorrectly is mind boggling. After all my research, I am beginning to think that it is just not meant for me to become an RV owner. I hate getting ripped off and then not having a manufacturer or dealer there to stand behind their product!!! I. realize nothing is perfect, but these reviews were eye opening.
This article was so interesting, thanks for sharing your insights. I went to the show to look at each of these campers a few months ago and was totally unimpressed by Grand Design, especially after following so many Youtubers that love them. I did like the Paradigm and am glad to hear about the plumbing being correct, water problems are the worst. I will definitely be checking the finishes when i go to the show in Tampa in January. Brinkley was nice but up there in the price range.
I have told the “big wigs” at the shows when I have seen them (brinkley recently) and they could have cared less about my same exact input as your article, they just walked away…… and so I returned the favor by doing the same!!! for some reason they think their poop does not stink and cannot accept criticism that would only make them better??? honesty is a bitch sometimes but for those who listen is is worth it in the long run!!!
I just watched this and it was informative. I have a 2017 Cedar Creek and do all my work myself. I never realized that soft pipe was an issue. I checked mine after perusal and the only place there was soft pipe was in and out of the 12v water pump. It used gear clamps and not pex clamps. I’ve done a bunch of work on my unit and its the things that you can’t see are the scariest. I removed the entire bottom of mine to remove a couple of stinky dead mice.( you pay that much money you would think the thing would be sealed up to stop them from getting in). When open i sealed everything up. Found the fresh water tank almost ready to fall out. Missing fasteners! Then also missing on all tanks. Fixed a window that leaked – not installed correctly, but couldn tell until it already leaked.
Many operators take these units off road when boondocking. They are meant to be operated on paved surfaces. The tremendous stress of being rocked back and forth is devistating even to the strongest of vehicles. There are trailers designed for off road use that hold up well for purpose. There are many articles on YT showing folks abusing their units.
Plumbing, I have a Grand Design Imagine, and right from the start I have repaired 6 (six ) plumbing leaks. It’s a 2022 2970RL. Very disappointed! I pulled it off the lot with water coming out of the bottom of the TT. I’m a tech for RV’s and I’ve had Grand Design replace both awning fabrics from tearing. And there has been a lot of issues I’ve had to repair. It’s unfortunate the RV industry is NOT what it was back in the day when all brands tried to be the best. Too bad!
Hi Jacob my name is Dave and I have a Jayco 29.5 bhds. 2022 and the roof is getting ridges between the front cap and about 3’ to 6’ long and Jayco tried a parcel re glue and the first 80 degree day the ridges came back plus many more. My service technician said it needs a new roof (tpo) and Jayco is no it’s with in spec. NEED HELP thank you Jacob.
Thanks for the article. I recently took delivery of a Brinkley Z3100 and really like it. I noticed the plumbing issue from the water pump to the rest of the system because I watched you plumbing article. I think it should be a simple repair if the correct hoses exist. Are you able to recommend any by chance? Thanks
Good article I clearly think the Brinkley Z3100 is a winner here. The price point is affordable even here in Canada, I Have a 2022 Cruiser Aire Cr31SI 5th wheel, and it’s a real lemon, the awing thore away on our first outing, not the fabric the installation bar on the trailer. the wire of the living room slide was braiding we had to replace that, the shower was not assembled correctly, and water was seeping under the RV floor. The manufacturer finally paid for all of this after 6 months of hassling the dealer for over a grand cost to us. So for us, I’d take the Brinkley 3100 in trade for our lemon. Glad to see there are still some good RV`s in this world. Thank you for this article.
Alliance responded to my concerns about their Delta slide mechanisms and plumbing. They indicated they are not using the evil BAL accu-slide and are using PEX thru out. ” I’m glad you have noticed our upgrade to the water lines utilizing all PEX plumbing throughout….The 292RL will utilize a rack and pinion on both of the main slides. The 294Rk will use the same system for the theater seat slide and will use the BAL Exact slide on the entertainment slide.”
Jacob, how weird that Brinkley would do most of the plumbing correctly but not in the bathroom…the bathroom in the 2900 is my favorite…Question: If it’s just under the sink and in the bay connections, would it be that difficult to correct the problem? I am pretty sure Brinkley will get on this, but that means until they change the process all the 2900s made will have this problem. Thank you so much for your articles. Hubby and I loved the GD 23G but belonged to a group and heard so many complaints of leaks we scratched them off our list. We just love the Brinkley and are waiting for them to come out with a TT which they are supposed to in the next few months. I love that your website is growing!
Just found your YouTube website! It’s been a big help. My wife and I love camping and currently have a 2007 Jayco Eagle. We love the trailer but this last year we have put some major money into repairs. (Brakes, front landing jacks and new max air vents) I don’t look at this as a bad design just wear and tear. BUT I’m retiring I two years and we are going to buy a new 5th wheel. Not for full time living, but for some long Campout in the summer. Why am I dragging on about this. We love your content and will use you advice and knowledge as we keep looking for our next RV. As of now. We like the Montana 311rd and a similar Durango Gold. I haven’t heard you talk about either of those brands? If I just missed it, please forward that segment if you can. Keep up the great job!
My Alliance Avenue has perfect fit n finish, not one thing out of place. So far no issues with the only schwenteck bedroom slide. Fingers crossed 🤞. Top notch customer service! No plumbing issues with either bathroom, counters holding up nicely n we’ve been living full time for almost a year! Still looks brand new!
I guess we got a GD unit that was built at the right time in 2021. We are fill time for over 2.5 years. Never had any plumbing issue to date. Maybe when the GD service center checked the system, while it was in for warranty work, that helped(?). Now I also keep our water pressure(45-50 psi vs 55 psi) a little bit under the ‘max’.
Thanks for this article. IT is the 1st time I bump into one of yours vídeos and subscribed given the depth and how throughout this article is. I will certainly will download the guide you mentioned in this article. Two favors: 1. Similar to this one, if you have a article of most reliable components and equipment, can you be so kind to send me the link?. Say top 3-5 RV fridge and what makes them reliable. Same with RV A/Ca, slide system, solar system brand, different materials and manufacturing methods are better (say countertop and cabinets,). 2. The RVs I looking for are towables under 26ft. Like Rockwood Mini lites, Freedom Express, etc. Also so called offroad or boondocking models like Embers overland and mini, Ibex, Intech Expedition, etc. Have you reviewed these brands?
Ohh and another thing. You just saved me 120000 dollars in headaches!!! I was really looking at trading my older DRV to get a GD MOMENTUM. Well after perusal this the MOMENTUM to go buy a MOMENTUM has lost its MOMENTUM 🙄. These manufacturers just can’t get it right. I bought a used DRV because I knew there would be problems and I would have throw the depreciation money I saved buying used to fix it. And sure enough that’s what happened. We have a pretty great rig now. Just need more space for the grandkids!
I’ve been in the RV industry for just over 7 Years. Started in the flooring production line for Jayco ( Star Craft and Highland Ridge ) for 5 and the last 2 as a rv tech at a dealership. I’ve mainly worked on Grand design and I can confirm the water leak issues is the worst problem with them on any model since that can lead to bigger issues if left unchecked. Once you use and abuse it under warranty it’s a decent overall rv. Definitely seen those bent outriggers and the flooring coming apart inside the basement so get a good inspection done and don’t rush it. Recently been working for another dealer and now work with Brinkley and Alliance as well. My first impressions are definitely towards Brinkley. No major issues worked on yet. But in my experience working at the factory, actually building them. I got to see Quantity is the ultimate goal over Quality. It’s only a matter of time before Brinkley will ramp up production and naturally loose some quality to be able to meet quota. We used to build the smallest 15 to 20 foot travel trailers at 6 to 8 minute line moves per department. Meaning we would build up to 44 trailers in an 8 hour day. Usually done in 6 hours some days. Which means from start to finish we would of completed about 5 to 8 trailers per day since there are about 36 bays through out the factory building. Not alot of room for “quality” at these high quotas. After covid it only got worse for a while. I’ve been to Grand Designs factory in Indiana and it’s the same exact standards as Jayco as I seen the crew going to work.
All true. we just bought an alliance Avenue all access 26 our day. The fitting finish is terrible and there’s really not much to this fifth wheel. I feel like the bones the plumbing roof the siding’s all good quality but the little details are very sloppily done. The slide is making contact with the breaker box either when it comes in or on travel it flexes and hits it most of the problems other than the grand designs, structure problems or easy fixes for the manufacture to make a better quality product for the consumer fitting finish issues is definitely a company leader ship failure. That is one thing that can be done properly if supervised and taught properly.
I’m glad you brought up plumbing, but what is the right way to add a flexible connection to the pump? Sur-flo recommends at Least 1 foot of high pressure flexible line at the input and output. Vibrations from the pump can damage a hard pex connection. My RV was connected with hose clamps to a PEX T, it never leaked but unfortunately it broke . Now what?
On plumbing, the waste valves on my Grand Design absolutely suck! The handle connects to a cable, much like a bicycle brake cable, which connects to the valve. If the valve sticks, your SOL. Should be a rigid connection from the handle to the valve. I had a gray tank valve stick in a campground. The articles on youtube said to drop the underbelly and replace the valve. I did that. Crazy pain in the neck. If it had been the bkack tank, it would have been a nightmare. Any suggestions?
I was all set to get a Brinkley 2900, went to see it at the Hershey show. You were lucky to get a unit with nice fit and finish. The unit they brought to the show was a mess of misaligned cabinet doors, and showed a lack of foresight for installing an actual entertainment system. The excuse from the factory rep was that everyone has those problems. WRONG ANSWER! Two GD solitudes at two different dealers had washer dryer doors that would not latch, and water closet side storage doors with more misalignment than my 17 year old Montana. Don’t even get me started on the ugly sealer job on the front cap. Wood trim around the slide still had saw marks on it. Off the list they fell as well. Montana and Paradigm looked PRETTY good, but Keystone customer support is a nightmare, and in my area, Camping World is their dealer. I appreciate good support, especially for all the small stuff that comes up, and don’t want to be mugged the Chicago mobsters, which currently leaves me with Alliance. Do you have any thoughts on the KZ Durango Gold?
I know you said ” lumber core ” is the better material for cabinet construction. But this material still sucks!!! A little bit of water, and it will swell and flake. It’s literally a pine board wrapped in MDF covered with a veneer tape. If they are going to use veneer tape, why not just use plywood? As much plywood is used in the rv industry, I am sure dumpsters of ” scrap” plywood are taken to the landfills. This would make it so much more water resistant . Or come up with a material that can be used along the base of the cabinets that is more water resistant.
Hi Jacob, I see there are a lot of comments here so you may never even see this comment. I completely understand. But You said leave a comment with a brand and model that we would like you to review. My husband and I would like to see you de a article and complete review on a KZ Venture Sonic SN211VRB. Ours is a 2022. So far it has been fantastic except we are already having to replace the shackles and leaf springs, with just about 5000 to 6000 miles on the camper. We are still weekend warriors. We are installing the CRE3000 kit with wet bolts and leaf springs here in the next few weeks. Only one leaf spring is going bad but we are replacing everything while we are at it. Thank you.
Super info. I am going through my 2018 VanLeigh Vilano using the info provided in this article, your lemon checklist, and plumbing article. So far not bad but not as good as I thought. Today I am going to check plumbing and what I know so far it has pinch connections on the flex tubing and that has been a problem. The line going into the water heater popped off and trashed my bay. 1100 at night. Not fun. I have been fultiming for 6 years and your info is really good. Thanks
Was just perusal Josh the RV Nerd and came across your article. Every RV owner, soon to be owner and manufacturer should subscribe to this. I wonder if you would do this type of check with Class B & C models since I have not purchased yet. This is wonderful for people that don’t know what to look for or aren’t handy or females. Keep up the good work!
I have a 2021 Solitude S-class 2930 – just got finished fixing a plumbing issue and am replacing the flex line with led wherever I can. I invested in Govee leak sensors (have 6 placed throughout) – the recent plumbing leak was detected by the Govee leak sensor. It was caused by a seal in a threaded fitting that would leak when the hot water heater was activated – the cold water pressure increased causing the fitting to leak some. I replaced some of the flex line with pex while I was in there.::