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Old 07-02-2014, 10:45 AM   #1
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Horror stories!

I'm quite flabbergasted to read the horror stories people have been confronted with their trailers. I must admit I've heard similar stories (especially water leaks) from other companies' products. Surely, there must exist some company with a good record, and can that fabricate camping trailers with some care!?

Anyways, I just found out the front panel on my 2007 ST26B is rippling. And that the cause may well be water infiltration. Of course the caulking, like the trailer itself, isn't new. I will climb up there and recaulk but I'm afraid that if there is water trapped in it may develop into rot.

If anyone has an idea of what my best course of action is at this point, please let me know. And suggestions on who builds good camping trailers are welcome too ;-)
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Old 07-02-2014, 11:13 AM   #2
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Sorry to hear you have found problems with your trailer
The old saying -- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, still holds true today.
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Old 07-02-2014, 04:53 PM   #3
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There are several very good trailers out there, but be prepared to pay over $100,000 for one that will not have many of the issues that plague most of the RV market today. Almost every trailer is built with the same components and slapped together. Very few items in our trailers are actually specific to the RV manufacturer. They just slap them together and sell them in quantity. The "one of" manufacturers or small ones that are high priced have a lot more time put into them - and you pay for it!

I also find some of these "horror stories" to be small issues that could be dealt with easily if the selling dealer was willing to actually provide good customer service - but most aren't. They are only interested in the sale.

We spend 4 weeks straight in our unit every year - can't justify $100,000 for a unit at this time. Perhaps in 9 or 10 years we can spend three months in our unit - then I will be looking to spend a lot more.

I find it funny how many people buy a $40,000 to $50,000 unit and expect to full time in it for ten or more years. If I'm going to full time RV, I'm prepared to spend over 6 figures. The cheaper ones are not made for that level of use.
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Old 07-02-2014, 06:12 PM   #4
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I dunno...my UPO is that even the more expensive ones can be problematic.

Some of it is luck of the draw, most of it is lack of dealer worth. We spent $10K on first Zinger, and $19K on the second. Trolling the RV show, these units were best bang for the buck. We have been relatively trouble-free...and seasonal camp spending every weekend and at least 2 full weeks in the unit.

Retirement is a loooong way off, but plan is to at least 1/2 time it. I will likely spend a bit more (maybe 30-50K), but no way am I dropping 6 figs on an RV.

Again...just opinion. Also...more people will gripe about small problem than praise lack there of.
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Old 07-03-2014, 08:23 AM   #5
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Most of the water problems are coming from bad or missing sealant. Even on a new trailer that has never been owned, The sea lent could be a lot older than most realize. They sit out on the lot degrading. You have to do a good PDI and inspect the roof and all seams. look at the sealant and replace if necessary. When we picked our trailer up over a year ago, I had the dealer re-seal all sorts of places. I have since re-sealed the rear corners and the front corners and some of the areas around the skylights. Twice a year I seem to be adding more lap sealant. This stuff cracks and does not last forever.
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Old 07-03-2014, 09:34 AM   #6
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I can assure you the higher price does not mean fewer issues...
in fact, it MAY mean MORE, and more expensive, issues...

I had a 'cheaper' orphan from a discontinued mfg that, after the initial pdi items were fixed, had NO issues...

and a brand new 'more expensive' unit that could not be used for months at a time !
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Old 07-05-2014, 05:24 PM   #7
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Is this the first time you checked the caulking?
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Old 07-06-2014, 05:53 AM   #8
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Yes. I bought it in march of this year. My first camping trailer.
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Old 07-06-2014, 02:45 PM   #9
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Did you check the caulking when you bought it?
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Old 07-06-2014, 04:04 PM   #10
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check the caulking

OK, I will admit, and bet that 90+% of us did not check the caulking on our units when we picked them up.....Who does that?
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Old 07-06-2014, 04:20 PM   #11
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OK, I will admit, and bet that 90+% of us did not check the caulking on our units when we picked them up.....Who does that?
I agree you probably should. I did not.
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Old 07-06-2014, 04:24 PM   #12
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On a used camper? I would go over everything especially the caulking on the roof.
Shardy007, check the seam caulking, if there is a problem, and even if there is not a problem, I would cover all the seams with Eternabond. http://www.eternabond.com/?Click=205...FW4Q7Aod-BcAwA
The link has good info how to use the tape properly.
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Old 07-06-2014, 05:27 PM   #13
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I checked it on our Zinger the day we did our pdi (it was new but still checked). I will be checking it on our new sabre next week as well.
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Old 07-06-2014, 05:42 PM   #14
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We asked the dealer to check it for us whenever we had it in for service, they were very happy to do it, even went up on the roof to check it and gave us some tubes of the correct calking in the correct colors to take home.
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Old 07-06-2014, 05:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kcandsting View Post
We asked the dealer to check it for us whenever we had it in for service, they were very happy to do it, even went up on the roof to check it and gave us some tubes of the correct calking in the correct colors to take home.
You have a good dealer unfortunatly that is not the norm. Most dealers are only motivated to sell, service is not a priority.
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Old 07-06-2014, 07:50 PM   #16
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I dont think the cost of the unit is the issue. I work away from home and spend about 200 nights a year in mine.
I think when you full time in your camper you are more likely to watch for problems, Lloyd is right an ounce of prevention goes a long way.
I have noticed a little bubble on the edge of the slide roof and I will cover it with eternabond before I have a problem.
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Old 10-21-2014, 04:57 PM   #17
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I am new to camping. Last october 2013 bought my first trailer Sunset trail bht27 Started out with damaged left side panels when i went to pick it up . The caulk came off at both ends at top front at cap. The bump out leaked on 2 different occasions . They replaced walls in bump out and replaced front cap . Still leaking.. Dealer has worked well with me, but patience wearing thin. Put a call into crossroads.The dealer has had the unit more than i have.. It just came out of warranty Hope i dont't have any problems with that. Only had it out total of 5 times this past year. Ant suggestions?
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Old 10-21-2014, 08:54 PM   #18
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What is a "bump out"?
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Old 10-21-2014, 08:58 PM   #19
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What is a "bump out"?
The slide out.
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