What are the designers/engineers thinking?

[mikkeeh]

Just purchased a new Chaparral 370FL. Some design issues are popping up. Haven’t even got to camping yet, and finding quite a few issues. 1) Storage under the bed..pneumatic lifts aren’t strong enough to hold up the mattress. You have storage space all the way to the headboard...but need to use a stick to hold the bed up so you can access it.
Outside compartment doors are large, with no hold backs or bumpers. The doors are extremely light, and just a little wind will slap them against the coach. It’s impossible to hook up your water hose with one hand..while holding the door open with the other.

Outside tv is designed to mount flat against the unit with appro 1.5” clearance. The electrical outlet is 6” from the mount..and you have to open the cover to use it. The cover sticks out 3.5 inches...so if your tv is larger than 12” diagonal....it wont mount with the outlet open.

Do they even look at this stuff????
Sorry for the rant....but some of this stuff is nuts!

[doc73]

Originally Posted by mikkeeh

Just purchased a new Chaparral 370FL. Some design issues are popping up. Haven’t even got to camping yet, and finding quite a few issues. 1) Storage under the bed..pneumatic lifts aren’t strong enough to hold up the mattress. You have storage space all the way to the headboard...but need to use a stick to hold the bed up so you can access it.
Outside compartment doors are large, with no hold backs or bumpers. The doors are extremely light, and just a little wind will slap them against the coach. It’s impossible to hook up your water hose with one hand..while holding the door open with the other.

Outside tv is designed to mount flat against the unit with appro 1.5” clearance. The electrical outlet is 6” from the mount..and you have to open the cover to use it. The cover sticks out 3.5 inches...so if your tv is larger than 12” diagonal....it wont mount with the outlet open.

Do they even look at this stuff????
Sorry for the rant....but some of this stuff is nuts!Attachment 167554Attachment 167555

I will agree, it does often seem like the people who make the designs for the campers do not actually camp..

[cavie]

What are the designers/engineers thinking?:roflbla ck:

[CaptnJohn]

HHMMMmmm "What are the designers/engineers thinking?". A better question "What designers/engineers?". Cost is a factor so one could ask if they even have a GED most often.

[vmax]

I agree. If you design and engineer rv' as an occupation you should be required to own one. It seem like the designers of the RV's in other countries really take pride in what they build like the Aussies or the Europeans.They build some very nice units and seems like they are actually purpose built and designed very meticulously. Whereas in Indiana the folks aren't taking the build quality seriously and mass produced mess it what we get. Good luck with your new unit.

[Kimber45]

get a pull out adjustable tv mount so it clears the outlet. but yes that is poor planning.

[Locky]

Our only outside outlet and cable hook up on ours is in the front storage compartment.

[mikkeeh]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

get a pull out adjustable tv mount so it clears the outlet. but yes that is poor planning.

No doubt that would work. Just an extra $75 that shouldn't be necessary.

[KyDan]

Can't help you on the stupid location of outlet vs TV mount but I do suggest Ebay for some storage hatch hold open magnets. My 3 year old trailer came with the old fashioned spring clip that takes two hands to clip and un-clip.
Every time I walked up there with something in my hands I had to set it down and clip the hatch!

The magnet hold opens are awesome!!
Get some!!

[doc73]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Can't help you on the stupid location of outlet vs TV mount but I do suggest Ebay for some storage hatch hold open magnets. My 3 year old trailer came with the old fashioned spring clip that takes two hands to clip and un-clip.
Every time I walked up there with something in my hands I had to set it down and clip the hatch!

The magnet hold opens are awesome!!
Get some!!

I just bought a set of these for the under belly front hatch. I have yet to get them installed since its been a bit cold... But they look like they will work great!

[Evereddie]

I think the concept is to move the inside TV to the outside. If your TV is like most it has a flexible mount already on it. Does not your TV have a flexible, mount?

[amblt]

Originally Posted by mikkeeh

Just purchased a new Chaparral 370FL. Some design issues are popping up. Haven’t even got to camping yet, and finding quite a few issues. 1) Storage under the bed..pneumatic lifts aren’t strong enough to hold up the mattress. You have storage space all the way to the headboard...but need to use a stick to hold the bed up so you can access it.
Outside compartment doors are large, with no hold backs or bumpers. The doors are extremely light, and just a little wind will slap them against the coach. It’s impossible to hook up your water hose with one hand..while holding the door open with the other.

Outside tv is designed to mount flat against the unit with appro 1.5” clearance. The electrical outlet is 6” from the mount..and you have to open the cover to use it. The cover sticks out 3.5 inches...so if your tv is larger than 12” diagonal....it wont mount with the outlet open.

Do they even look at this stuff????
Sorry for the rant....but some of this stuff is nuts!Attachment 167554Attachment 167555

Must have been designed on a Monday or Friday.

[Evereddie]

Oops, it posted twice.

[llr]

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack the thread, but.....
Does anyone know what that TV mount is called or the brand? I have that outside mount and would like to add a bedroom TV that can be shared with it.

[kenandterry]

No such thing as RV designers and engineers. Most of the workers for them can’t spell RV, don’t own an RV, they just assemble them as quickly as possible.

That’s why they get paid just over minimum wage?

Therefore the TV problem exists....you assume they thought that out?

As far as catches for the doors.....you shouldn’t have to buy these, but there’s tons of different styles available. See below. Just “google”.....

rv latches and catches

[Bobaloo]

You can get a decent mount from Harbor Freight for about $20.

[Evereddie]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

No such thing as RV designers and engineers. Most of the workers for them can’t spell RV, don’t own an RV, they just assemble them as quickly as possible.

That’s why they get paid just over minimum wage?

Therefore the TV problem exists....you assume they thought that out?

You might facetious or joking but despite the sloppy workmanship there are designers and engineers. There are a lot of aspects they have to take into account. Overall weight, the left vs. right balance, towability, making the trailer balanced no mater what state of fullness the tanks are in, keeping up with designs that people want, etc. I think that the designers can do a pretty good job but it is destroyed when the sloppy overworked, underpaid workers get ahold of it. And to be fair it's really management and the supervisors to blame.

[frankm]

Originally Posted by llr

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack the thread, but.....
Does anyone know what that TV mount is called or the brand? I have that outside mount and would like to add a bedroom TV that can be shared with it.

Try this website, scroll to the bottom of the first page:

https://shop.ramco-eng.com/collections/moview-mounts

[D_B Travelers]

The DW and I decided a few years back that new RV designers should be handed the keys to a trailer/fifth wheel with a tow vehicle on their first day at work, and told they have to take their family on a 30 day trip in the unit. When they returned all the units would be designed WAY different. We laugh when we see a new TT or FW advertised as "sleeps 8 (or even 10) people", then after touring it we note that there is no food pantry, a 7 cu. ft. fridge, a total of 3 cabinets and 3 drawers, and no place for linen to be stored. Sleeps 8 or 10...yes, but 8 or 10 can't LIVE in it for the weekend without having tubs and coolers stacked outside or in the middle of the floor. I finally made an Excel spreadsheet with columns to check off these important items, and then added each unit we looked and marked how they did. Some we just loved until we starting counting the items they didn't offer but were needed for our purposes; finally picked one that checked all the boxes.

[LairdT]

What do RV design people consider when planning our rigs??? My Nitro has the water inlet directly over the electrical inlet. Any dripping or leaks etc run down into the connector, making a joke out of any thoughts of safety! Anyone own a house where water leakage into electric connectors meets code?? Can’t be someone’s proud moment in thoughtful design safety!