Lazy installers or just in a hurry?

[6275]

Hi all, as I spend more time in my new (first owner) 2023 keystone Raptor 429 Toy Hauler, I am noticing more and more issues with installs and quality of products in our unit. I’ve already posted on here about our refrigerator not being secured. Now we notice through use, none of the recliner couch segments are secured down. All move independently forwards and back and can even be lifted out of place. As I have gotten to know this unit more and more, I’ve also found hot wires missing insulation from being pulled through runs. I address these as I find them but six large stripped areas seems excessive. I have been making a list and we have been in contact with our warranty folks. I’m just disappointed at the lack of quality control and poor craftsmanship. I looked it over before we purchased it but these are only coming up through usage and organizing things for our comfort. No deal breakers just disappointment at the moment. Thanks for listening.

 

[St. Michael]

Watch a manufacturing video one of these days. They’re always filmed after hours. Occasionally though you’ll find one during work hours. Those guys are never walking they’re always running. IMHO they’re two fundamental problems with this industry, most everything is done manually and regardless what marketing says they’re never gonna stop a unit from moving on. I watched a lippert frame manufacturing video once where they bragged they employ over 600 welders, well in my mind that’s 600 potential points of failure.

 

[JRTJH]

Watch a manufacturing video one of these days. They’re always filmed after hours. Occasionally though you’ll find one during work hours. Those guys are never walking they’re always running. IMHO they’re two fundamental problems with this industry, most everything is done manually and regardless what marketing says they’re never gonna stop a unit from moving on. I watched a lippert frame manufacturing video once where they bragged they employ over 600 welders, well in my mind that’s 600 potential points of failure.

VERY TRUE !!!!! To most new owners, they simply can't understand why RV manufacturers don't seek quality improvements to compete with the other manufacturers like the automobile industry does... Fact is that ALL (meaning every) RV manufacturer in the price range that Keystone markets RV's are all the same basic construction technique, same basic components, same basic workforce, same basic assembly line, same basic marketing agenda. It boils down to "ALL TRAILERS IN THE SIMILAR PRICE RANGE ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME IN FEATURES, QUALITY AND COMPONENTS"...

Try and find a "better built 26' trailer for the same or lower price"... If you could, you'd have discovered the next number one travel trailer company that puts all the other manufacturers out of business by 2027.... But, if you objectively look at the market, you'll see that the only differences are colors, fabric patterns and how the customer service representative reads the company approved script when you call to complain...

It boils down to "there's only so much juice you can squeeze out of an orange"... In the past 75 years, the "bean counters in the RV industry" have perfected how to extract every drop of juice. That's the bean counters at every manufacturer's brand.

Essentially, the manufacturers all know that they're going to sell every trailer they push out the door and if one "unhappy owner" doesn't want to buy the trailer that's on the dealer's lot, there's 8 or 10 people with cash in hand to step up to the plate.... So, while they do care about putting out a better product than the competition, they're not at all interested in cutting into the profit margin to do it... So, they'll change colors of fabric, add a little "bling" and regroup the appeal to a different part of the buying public... That's what Keystone did when they discontinued the Hideout and Springdale fifth wheel lines a couple years ago. At the same time they announced those brands would no longer be produced, they announced the Cougar Sport line which just happened to be in the same price range with the same features and the same floorplans. Only difference was that Hideout and Springdale were no longer selling as well as Cougar, so they pretty much stuck a Cougar decal on the nose of the Hideout/Springdale trailers and introduced a "new, lower priced Cougar with Cougar quality".... Hmmmm

 

[flybouy]

The profit margin is key. One of the most expensive components that manufacturers have control over is labor. It's very easy for sY a television or toaster manufacturer to "automate" the fabrication and assembly. A robot or any other autonomous machine has three costs. Initial investment (a Capitol investment that can be written off over a number of years), maintenance and electricity. These machines don't require insurance, take breaks or holidays, require locker rooms, break rooms, retirement, an on site nurse if there are large numbers of them, etc.

This automated assembly line just doesn't work in the RV industry. So the industry is stuck with laborers that are paid a low wage, are worked hard, and offered minimal benefits. I seriously doubt that anyone retires from those positions.

If you're looking for high quality then you need to double your price expectations at a minimum. You can't find a wrist watch with Rolex quality at Timex price points, or a new car with Corvette performance Chevy Trax prices. I'm with John on the go find a high quality RV at the price point of the RVs we are discussing and report back. Millions of people are waiting for that but they are not "holding their breath in anticipation.