Opinions on Salem

[tuna]

Wife and I are pretty set on purchasing a Salem 30kqbss this upcoming summer. I was just curious how everyone feels about their rigs? Anything I need to look out for or should I look at a different model before I buy a Salem?

[swharrell]

We bought a 30QBSS this year and have only had it out a couple of time so far but, we really like it. Like others here will tell you, just make sure you do a good walk thru and ask alot of questions.

[Gregg Willow]

I have had good luck with my 221RBXL. The only issue I had was that the corner shower basin leaked pretty good. I used clear, bathroom silicone around the top of the shower basin and where it meets the wall. I also brought the silicone in from the wall to the basin where the shower curtain is on both sides so that if any water was running along the top of the basin towards the curtain it would fall into the basin and not the floor. For the life of me I hate when manufacturer's cut corners like this. For now on I will add spraying the shower walls and looking for leaks during the PDI. I would have the dealer remove the service plate first though so you can look under there with a flashlight while they spray.

Also, mine had a wobbly dinette table with the two support poles. Complete junk. There are a few threads on how people have modded this. I basically changed mine to hinge from the wall with one folding leg at the other end. Solid! This type of dinette is used in many manufacturer's models and not just a Salem issue, but a wobbly table is a pain.

On that note, be sure to download the PDI sample from the Library link above. You'll see it at the Most Popular Files box towards the left. Take time with your PDI and don't worry about how long it takes. The dealer slots plenty of time for it but a lot of people go through the process too fast. Consider taking small movie clips using your smart phone so you always have a reference of certain PDI topics (water heater settings for winterization, etc.).

I have had a lot of fun with my Salem camping or doing mods. Been a blast!

[Ida Ratherbe Camping]

We have a Salem 32BHDS that we bought last year. Few minor problems with the A/C, which was replaced. Bad motor. Had a water leak where the stove vent went through the side. No caulk on the cover on outside. Had to have some stuff replaced because of water damage but under warranty so no problem there.
All and all we love our new camper, have stayed in it around 35 days since purchase and the worst problem so far is that we cant use it more.
Just check out everything during your PDI and use your camper. Enjoy

[Terier]

I have a 2011 Salem that I just love! It's been pretty much trouble free except for the pigtail on the propane tanks. I also had a very detailed PDI.

[tuna]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I definitely feel more comfortable buying a Salem after hearing from all of you. I'll expect a couple issues but hopefully all will be under warranty or an easy fix.

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[Great Laker]

My best advice is Pre-Delivery inspection x100 and purchase from a local reputable dealer that you can trust for your warranty work.

[epicloopers]

We bought a Salem 312QBUD last year and I haven't had any issues out of it as of yet.

[Night Stone]

We have a 2013 Salem 181BHXL, dealer fix a few minor details during the pdi when we bought it 2 years ago. Since then we haven't had any minor/major issues. Everything works in our trailer.

[Teamfour]

2014 282RK here with 17 days camped so far this year. ZERO problems.

[Taranwanderer]

We purchased our 2009 Salem 292fkds in October of 2011, have used it for the past 2 seasons and the start of the third. No major issues to report, just some minor things that I fixed myself (like the spongy floor in shower that needed some bracing under/around the drain,) and some small things the dealer fixed (loose kitchen window screen, refrig condensation hose dry rotted.) Then there's the crappy ZX75 Concertone, which has never worked right and I was just going to replace (they don't use that model anymore now, anyway.) Overall, it's been a great camper and all the major systems have worked well, whether hooked up or dry camping. If I could wave a magic wand and make it into a toy hauler, I'd be keeping it. That's the only reason I'm trading it in for an XLR. Part of me is thinking that I'm nuts for doing it.

[wombat9395]

We bought a 2014 30KQBSS in May and we have had a few minor bugs to work out. We did a walk through with our dealer and he went over things in the unit with us but there were a few things that we just did not notice. This was our first TT purchase and we were concentrating more on how to operate everything than on the minor bugs I think. Our dealer has been good about fixing things but our unit is now a good 50 miles or more from the dealer and a long haul round trip so we are in no hurry to haul it back and forth and then have it sit for days in the shop to be fixed for these minor issues. We love our camper and spend every minute that we can camping. I would recommend this model to anyone but do look hard at evrything and ask lots of questions. Lift the cushions and look for nails and screws that are not properly set, ensure that the speakers all work correctly, test all appliances, check all drawers and cupboards. Then once you purchase and take delivery of your camper...have a great time every chance you get!

[Kuba]

2012 26RKS here, love it! i keep it 90% seasonal. Only minor issue i had was pvc drain pipes under sink were leaking. Took 1 minute to retighten them, im assuming it happened due to vibration.
Other than that, i use it 3 days a week from May, till end of October.