Lots of failures!

[N3HCP]

Sorry about this, but I really need to vent.
We have a 2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS. We've had it out on only 5 trips so far, the longest being 500 miles from home. So far we've had the following failures, the fireplace went up in smoke, the microwave died, the hitch jack needed to be replaced, one brake needed to be completely replaced, the main room slide actuator failed, and now we have a bent axle. We've been RVing for almost 40 years and have never had anything like this. Seems like the general quality has gone way down!

[stephndudb]

Last year we paid top dollar for a custom-made SOB trailer, hoping it would be better than the Elkhart trailers. Nope. Have had some sort of failure on virtually every trip. Our 3 previous trailers were all better. Sad state of affairs in this industry.

[BehindBars]

It doesn’t just seem like quality has gone down, it has! But, we all know this. Are there specific items you any help repairing?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by N3HCP

Sorry about this, but I really need to vent.

We have a 2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS. We've had it out on only 5 trips so far, the longest being 500 miles from home. So far we've had the following failures, the fireplace went up in smoke, the microwave died, the hitch jack needed to be replaced, one brake needed to be completely replaced, the main room slide actuator failed, and now we have a bent axle. We've been RVing for almost 40 years and have never had anything like this. Seems like the general quality has gone way down!

Did you buy it new or used?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by N3HCP

Sorry about this, but I really need to vent.
We have a 2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS. We've had it out on only 5 trips so far, the longest being 500 miles from home. So far we've had the following failures, the fireplace went up in smoke, the microwave died, the hitch jack needed to be replaced, one brake needed to be completely replaced, the main room slide actuator failed, and now we have a bent axle. We've been RVing for almost 40 years and have never had anything like this. Seems like the general quality has gone way down!

Now, where have we heard this?

[Semperfi24]

Looking at new 5th wheels now. There is no immanent purchase. Just looking. Seeing whats out there. Etc. I pay attention to new floor plans to see if there is anything that catches my attention. Interest rates are ridiculous at the moment, making any purchase almost a nonstarter. Anyways, point is I am purposely avoiding anything that isnt atleast a 2023 model (and even those you can find subtle differences between an early 23 and a late 23, so I stick to the later ones). I dont trust anything with a 2020, 2021, or 2022 model year attached. The "covid trailers", as I call them, just have too many issues. The typically poor quality somehow got worse during that stretch as they ramped up production. Sorry to hear about all of your issues, dont mean this to be piling on or come across insensitive to your problems. Your story is one that is too frequent in those model years. And its just not fair to the consumers that bought them. There is a 2022 on a lot that is almost 50% off of MSRP for a floorplan that my wife and I REALLY like (though its not a Forest River product, its a Montana High Country by Keystone), and I just cant pull the trigger on it because its a 2022. Its about $20k less than the '23s and $30k less than the '24s. But I am paralyzed with fear of what could be wrong with it. I really hope you get your issues straightened out, and then it is a great unit for you moving forward. Lots of owners have had issues that seem never ending, but then after they get it straight it ends up being the best RV they have ever owned.

[ak49rzrs]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Now, where have we heard this?

I was thinking the same thing

[5picker]

Originally Posted by N3HCP

Sorry about this, but I really need to vent.
We have a 2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS. We've had it out on only 5 trips so far, the longest being 500 miles from home. So far we've had the following failures, the fireplace went up in smoke, the microwave died, the hitch jack needed to be replaced, one brake needed to be completely replaced, the main room slide actuator failed, and now we have a bent axle. We've been RVing for almost 40 years and have never had anything like this. Seems like the general quality has gone way down!

Not sticking up for the R/Vs build quality (because it really is worse) but almost all (or all) the things you mentioned you had issues with were not items built by the R/V manufacturer. They are parts that were sourced for the build.

Yes, it would be nice if the manufacturer didn't buy the least expensive parts available but that is what it is today.

[Mr. Dan]

OP's Last Activity: 10-03-2023 09:25 AM

[jre1950]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Not sticking up for the R/Vs build quality (because it really is worse) but almost all (or all) the things you mentioned you had issues with were not items built by the R/V manufacturer. They are parts that were sourced for the build.

Yes, it would be nice if the manufacturer didn't buy the least expensive parts available but that is what it is today.

Not just today, it's been going on for a while.


It reminded me of something I read a long time ago when our space program first started.


Both Wally Schirra and Alan Shepard are credited with the following quote: When asked what they were thinking when they were inside their Mercury spacecraft sitting atop a live booster waiting to launch, their answer was: "This was put together by the lowest bidder."

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by jre1950

Not just today, it's been going on for a while.

It reminded me of something I read a long time ago when our space program first started.

Both Wally Schirra and Alan Shepard are credited with the following quote: When asked what they were thinking when they were inside their Mercury spacecraft sitting atop a live booster waiting to launch, their answer was: "This was put together by the lowest bidder."

Thought it was something like:
"We're riding on 5 million components, every one supplied by the lowest bidder.":

[Iwritecode]

I thought it was just a quote from a movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuAUE58MQt4

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by Semperfi24

Looking at new 5th wheels now. There is no immanent purchase. Just looking. Seeing whats out there. Etc. I pay attention to new floor plans to see if there is anything that catches my attention. Interest rates are ridiculous at the moment, making any purchase almost a nonstarter. Anyways, point is I am purposely avoiding anything that isnt atleast a 2023 model (and even those you can find subtle differences between an early 23 and a late 23, so I stick to the later ones). I dont trust anything with a 2020, 2021, or 2022 model year attached. The "covid trailers", as I call them, just have too many issues. The typically poor quality somehow got worse during that stretch as they ramped up production. Sorry to hear about all of your issues, dont mean this to be piling on or come across insensitive to your problems. Your story is one that is too frequent in those model years. And its just not fair to the consumers that bought them. There is a 2022 on a lot that is almost 50% off of MSRP for a floorplan that my wife and I REALLY like (though its not a Forest River product, its a Montana High Country by Keystone), and I just cant pull the trigger on it because its a 2022. Its about $20k less than the '23s and $30k less than the '24s. But I am paralyzed with fear of what could be wrong with it. I really hope you get your issues straightened out, and then it is a great unit for you moving forward. Lots of owners have had issues that seem never ending, but then after they get it straight it ends up being the best RV they have ever owned.

You may be missing opportunities by focusing only on the model year. The RV quality problem, while being generally very bad, is also inconsistent. Regardless of model year, my observations is that some units are well built and some are terrible, even for the same model or manufacturer in the same year. Point is, I think there were bad ones pre covid, and bad ones during covid, and probably bad ones post covid The piecework wage system under which they are built hasn’t changed, the suppliers and methods of construction haven’t changed, and the company’s hunger for profit hasn’t changed for years. And, until some quality conscious serious competition moves in to take on Elkhart, I see no reason to think the RV industry will improve itself in the future. That 50% off 2022 may be worth another (really close) look.

[tomkatb]

Been driving our 2018 CC 34RE fifth wheel about 30.000 miles in the last 6 years.

Maintenance has been pricey.

Almost 40% of the original price. Some upgrades 25% of the 40%.

our roads are not real peachy.

New axle. New ladder, factory one was installed too low. Blow out, tire plus fender. Issues with the water tank. All new suspension, bolt failure. All new slide floor. New TV. Mounting bolts broke out of the Jensen tv.

$4000 in structural improvements. $1000 trim repair. $1000 in caulking.

RVing is not cheap. Just better than motel trips.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

I thought it was just a quote from a movie.

Nah. Real history is here.

You didn't think I would kid, did you?

[Sunseeker16]

It's all about preference, supply and demand. Preference for me is simplicity. I don't need all the fancy electronics, I don't mind pushing a button to operate a device. No touch pads or apps for me. I don't want 12 volt fridges, solar panels or fancy inverters. My absorbtion fridge works fantastic. Supply and demand boils down to, if you are happy with shelling out big bucks for an inferior product then nothing will change. Just my opinion so I guess I'm at the bottom of the influence pool and will likely never find what I'm looking for if I need to buy something newer.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Sunseeker16

It's all about preference, supply and demand. Preference for me is simplicity. I don't need all the fancy electronics, I don't mind pushing a button to operate a device. No touch pads or apps for me. I don't want 12 volt fridges, solar panels or fancy inverters. My absorbtion fridge works fantastic. Supply and demand boils down to, if you are happy with shelling out big bucks for an inferior product then nothing will change. Just my opinion so I guess I'm at the bottom of the influence pool and will likely never find what I'm looking for if I need to buy something newer.

You forgot mechanical thermostats. Don't need a digital that can't be comprehended (there are posts...) or needs rebooting with a hidden button sequence. A real mechanical thermostat (in both our trailers) lasts for decades.

[Sunseeker16]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

You forgot mechanical thermostats. Don't need a digital that can't be comprehended (there are posts...) or needs rebooting with a hidden button sequence. A real mechanical thermostat (in both our trailers) lasts for decades.

Knock on wood mine is working well. I guess it's digital as it has a digital display. I also wonder where folks are going to find replacement electronic parts and control panels some years down the road.

[Bluemoon]

Originally Posted by N3HCP

Sorry about this, but I really need to vent.
We have a 2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS. We've had it out on only 5 trips so far, the longest being 500 miles from home. So far we've had the following failures, the fireplace went up in smoke, the microwave died, the hitch jack needed to be replaced, one brake needed to be completely replaced, the main room slide actuator failed, and now we have a bent axle. We've been RVing for almost 40 years and have never had anything like this. Seems like the general quality has gone way down!

Not discounting your grief, but I’ll be willing to bet that most of the issues you mentioned were precipitated by prior events of some sort. We have a 2020 Classic and have had only one issue, a bad leveling jack. The Flagstaff and Rockwood brand is better than most and they stand behind it if you approach them in a professional friendly manner. If you don’t find a way to deal with frequent maintenance you’ll go nuts and spend your whole life angrily venting to people who’ve been there/done that and found joy in the journey.

[Bob K4TAX]

Digital is just that, 1s and 0s. I don't really know if it is more accurate or not. Just better defined to the user.

I've always purchased used cars, used trucks, and used trailers, and there is a reason for that. I find better quality items as the typical pieces of crap never make it to the sale table. Plus I am fortunate that I can do my own inspection and determination of the current state of affairs of the specific unit. Just like fine wine at a restaurant. If I don't like it, I send it back. And I've done that several times. My money, my time, my taste.

I've said many times that new always guarantees new, but does not always guarantee good. That is exactly why companies provide a warranty. It takes care of expected failures from day one to a defined period of time.