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07-02-2014, 10:45 AM
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#1
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New Camper
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Qc
Posts: 7
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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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07-02-2014, 11:13 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,160
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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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07-02-2014, 04:53 PM
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#3
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 844
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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.
__________________
Scott
2013 CrossRoads Cruiser Patriot CF345RF
2011 Ford F350 Lariat FX4 CC 6.7L Turbo Diesel (Heavily Modified)
Saskatoon, SK
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07-02-2014, 06:12 PM
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#4
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 937
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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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Eddy & Brenda
Canton, OH
2015 Silverado HD 6.0L
2014 Zinger 32QB
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07-03-2014, 08:23 AM
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#5
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 688
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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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Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch
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07-03-2014, 09:34 AM
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#6
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW, TexUS
Posts: 1,032
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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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07-05-2014, 05:24 PM
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#7
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 80
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Is this the first time you checked the caulking?
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07-06-2014, 05:53 AM
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#8
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New Camper
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Qc
Posts: 7
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Yes. I bought it in march of this year. My first camping trailer.
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07-06-2014, 02:45 PM
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#9
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mebane, NC
Posts: 2,394
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Did you check the caulking when you bought it?
__________________
2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2011 Zinger ZT26BL-sold
2014 Sabre 34REQS
***Member of the Mason-Dixon Group***
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07-06-2014, 04:04 PM
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#10
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Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: minnesota
Posts: 365
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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?
__________________
2013S22BH/2015 f-150 ecoboost
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07-06-2014, 04:20 PM
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#11
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: May 2013
Location: So IL
Posts: 1,811
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mnsunset
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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I agree you probably should. I did not.
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Tim
13 ST25RB
08 F-250 SC 6.8L XLT 4x4
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07-06-2014, 04:24 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,721
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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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Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
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07-06-2014, 05:27 PM
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#13
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mebane, NC
Posts: 2,394
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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.
__________________
2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2011 Zinger ZT26BL-sold
2014 Sabre 34REQS
***Member of the Mason-Dixon Group***
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07-06-2014, 05:42 PM
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#14
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 178
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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.
__________________
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB
2012 Ram 1500 Hemi, with full tow package
Reese 1500, 15000 hitch
and sway bars.
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07-06-2014, 05:52 PM
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#15
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: , RI
Posts: 1,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kcandsting
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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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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Al Laura (Lily & Breeze Portie Girls)
2011 F250 6.7 PS Tuxedo Black 4x4
11 305SKP- TPMS- RideRite air bags
Reese 16K Slider Wet Bolts
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07-06-2014, 07:50 PM
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#16
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: kansas
Posts: 181
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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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2012 305sk traded, and 2010 F-350 power stroke with 220,000 miles. 2012 F-250 power stroke
2015 Grand Design 337 RLS
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10-21-2014, 04:57 PM
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#17
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: md
Posts: 37
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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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10-21-2014, 08:54 PM
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#18
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,012
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What is a "bump out"?
__________________
Clif and Millie
Ozzie (half a dog tall & 2 dogs long)
Mabank, TX
2009 Ford Lariat F350 SRW CC Diesel
2013 Cruiser CF305SK Patriot Edition
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10-21-2014, 08:58 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avvidclif
What is a "bump out"?
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The slide out.
__________________
Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
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