Check Everything at the Dealership

[Goodyear Travels]

Well, my wife and I just returned from our first camping adventure in our '07 2720sl. When we purchased the TM from Freedom RV in Tucson there were only (2) features that we neglected to test before we drove off the lot. It was about a 100 degrees that day and guess what -- the furnace was one of the features that we didn't check. The tech assured us that the service guys had seen a wolf spider attempt to hide behind the furnace cover and they gleefully fired it up in order to stomp the poor creature when he ran from the heat.
Sounded plausible so we passed on testing the furnace. The first night out the furnace responded to the temperature drop at 5,000 ft but so did the smoke detector. Ain't nothin quite like a smoke alarm at 1:00 am. I believe if I had fired up the furnace at the dealership and let it run for awhile -- then the chemical smell that seemed to emminate from the combustion chamber would have burned off with the doors and windows open. Thank goodness I took the suggestion of some of the sponsors and brought a backup Mr Heater. It kept us comfortable through the rest of the night and I ran the furnace for an extended period in the morning and had no more problems with the furnace.

When we were still at the dealership the tech stood in tub/shower in order to give a demonstration of the recirculating toilet. He used the hand sprayer to charge the toilet but somehow water was never dispensed into the shower itself. So my dear wife is taking her first shower in the mountains and I step outside to see water gushing from somewhere under the trailer. The black ABS peetrap was poorly glued and separated from the drainpipe at first contact with water. I had to go into town the next morning for a replacement 1.25 inch pipe and some ABS / PVC glue. As a sidenote -- it would seem that the glue would be a good thing to add to a TM repair kit.

So -- I learned (a little bit late) the importance of testing everything and I learned that the extended warranty that I purchased may never do us much good partly because I prefer to do my own work on our TM. Hope someone learns something from our questionable choices.

I should say, however, that everything else worked perfectly and the seals held back some of the hardest rain that we had ever seen. Fortunately, we expected to be challenged by some circumstances (especially on our maiden voyage) so we didn't make ourselves suffer too much over events. We have no regrets about purchasing our 2720sl. It was perfect for the two of us, our Aussie, and our other little rescue dog (breed unknown).

 

[Magdefrau]

Thanks...Good reading...Yall not alone. Good recovery. We do a lot of repairs...just how life is.

 

[masterge]

Well, I pick my 2720 up on Friday from the same dealer in Tucson. I really hope this is not the norm. I know I can do a lot of needed repairs myself, but I expect a lot more from a 2007 model and especialy when the dealer is a 2.5 hour drive away. I wouldn't put up with poor quality from a new car so why should I from a new RV? Is this the norm folks or did he just get a bad apple? Majority of the posts on here talk to the good quality designed into the TrailManor. Is shoddy workmanship the norm? The probelms written about in this thread are inexcusable x2, manufacaturer and dealer. One of the reason I'm buying a TrailManor is to avoid problems like this associated with other RVs.

 

[2blueranger]

I think you'll find that the quality of Trailmanors are equal to and in most instances better than most rv's. I had a few screws loose and an adjustment that had to be made here and there when my 2005 3214ks was new. After a few trips, everything seemed to be ok. Happy Camping

 

[idaho-steve]

I would echo 2blueranger's comment about TM quality overall.

I purchased a well-used 2002 2720SL and have been over literally every inch of this trailer in my never-ending quest to "improve" it (?). I am nearly always pleasantly surprised at the overall high quality of workmanship and design -- especially in areas that are not normally visible. Wiring is well wrapped, covers are consistently well caulked, screws still secure after many miles of travel, etc.

The TM is a conglomeration of smaller subsystems and components. As with any larger system, any one subsystem can fail or a particular factory assembler can have a bad day. For this reason a complete inspection at the dealer is an excellent way to catch whatever little flaws may have slipped by the factory QA guy late on a Friday. In fact, I would recommend the inspection and then "camping out" in the immediate area to go over everything else that evening by yourself to make sure the instructions were understood and to "play" with the various subsystems. (For example, use the city water to fill the FW tank, disconnect city water and run the FW pump to make sure it runs smoothly (and quietly). This way any small problem does not turn into a major annoyance after you arrive home many many miles from the dealer.

I think after a couple of "shake-down cruises" you will be very pleased.

Regards, Steve

PS: For me, this forum has been a huge assist. I think the good folks here have "been-there-done-that" a million times and are very willing to lend a hand with whatever "adjustments/improvements" you need to make.

 

[meriflower]

One of the reason I'm buying a TrailManor is to avoid problems like this associated with other RVs.

Hmmmm. I would suggest reading posts in the technical forums. TM's are just as prone to problems like any other RV. Does that make them bad, no, but they are not going to be problem free either. Things will go wrong in any RV on the market. You just have to hope that they are all minor and are few and far between and don't keep repeating.

As far as picking up your TM on Friday, go over everything with a fine tooth comb. Also test every thing while at the dealer. If something doesn't work have them fix it or if you find the unit totally unacceptable, refuse it. Also if repairs are needed, get everything in writing.

 

[MidwestDave]

Dealer prep

When we purchased our new 2720 this spring the dealer held us off a few days. He got back from Tennessee and requested that we did not pick up trailer until Wednesday. He said he needed time to go over the trailer and check things out before we took delivery. We have had our trailer since May 10th and have not found any problems. All appliances, air conditioner, and furnace work well. I am glad he took the time and care to make his customer satisfied and happy. Anything mechanical such as a TM can have problems due to manufacture or installer error. The dealer should be able to find and correct these things. Happy trails all !

Midwest Dave
Quad Cities USA

 

[EMPTYNESTERS]

We picked up our 2006 2720SD in March and the only problem we had was a few cabinet doors that didn't shut tightly. Otherwise...everything was great. We did use the checklist found on this site for taking delivery of a new TM. We have had a few minor "incidents" since , however...we brought them on ourselves!!! Enjoy your new TM!

 

[grlewis1]

Quality Control

DW & I bought our new 2006 2720SL last December. During the walk thru with our dealer, it seemed to us that the factory left much of the quality control issues for the dealer to address. Our RV had many dirty fingerprints on interior walls and moldings, excess glue along seams and
around fittings, excess caulking around joints and trim pieces, bottom of cabinets had rough edges with splinters, uneven stain on wood cabinets, loose screws on cabinet hinges and missing screws around window frames. Sofa pillows were also missing. Photos of some of our issues
are attached. Thankfully, the dealer corrected all of them. Our major disappointment came, when we addressed these issues in a letter to Mr. Hulsey and never received any acknowledgment from him or the company. Therefore, we still don’t know who is responsible for quality control. Should it be the company before the unit leaves the factory, or the dealer who gets paid a reasonable fee for dealer clean up and prep charges. We can tell you this, that after using our TM 8 times this year, we have had NO issues with any of the appliances or the
unit as a whole. It has quality components that work just great. We have also found that we are the talk of the campground each time we set up and fold down our TM. It makes for a great conversation starter and many new friends. Don’t forget to pack plenty of TM brochures in your TM for those in the campground who inquire about your TM. So make sure you remember to take your delivery check off list, when you pick up your new TM. You can find one on this forum at http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2358&referrerid=1785
And Enjoy exciting TMing for many years to come.

 

[henriettahankenson]

Re: Master George comment
Reading this thread makes me feel I should start looking at something else. I have been researching every TT for two years now and settled on the TM, for the low towing and the floor plan. But after reading this, I am getting gun shy. I want something I (a single female) can go cross country to visit ederly parents. I don't want a bunch of things going wrong while traveling alone....any thoughts?

 

[ThePair]

The only problem we've had with our TM out the door was a sink drain that was a little loose from travel. I hand tightened it. The toilet didn't flush solids well, but that's Thetford's design, not TrailManor's. Anything else has been my doing and/or vibration which can afflict any RV or camper/trailer.

I certainly wouldn't turn away from TM. We have no regrets at all.

 

[brulaz]

Unfortunately, people we talked to before purchasing our Trailmanor said the most important consideration was a reliable and local dealer to fix problems, under warranty or otherwise. And they were not talking about Trailmanor, but Airstream.

So we got the impression that pretty much all makes of trailer have problems.

We purchased ours because we liked the light-weight engineering and layout. But there were substantial QC problems. Most of which are behind us now ... knock on wood.

Other than that, we love the product.

 

[Bill]

Re: Master George comment
Reading this thread makes me feel I should start looking at something else.

It is important to realize that this is a problem-solving forum, and therefore people bring their problems here to ask for help. The fact that you read about a lot of problems means that we have a lot of members, and the members have confidence about getting help here. But it doesn't mean that TMs have more problems than other brands. As Brulaz pointed out, even the high end trailers such as Airstream (my parents owned 3 of them!) have problems. Without doubt, some are workmanship related, and it seems like they shouldn't happen if the factory is paying attention. Some are design problems, which get fixed over the course of time. And some are simply random. Most are easily addressed, especially with the help of the members of this board. But the need to do so can be disappointing, no doubt.

TM builds maybe a thousand units a year, so they have a very small experience base compared to a company like Toyota. As you know, Toyota builds millions of vehicles a year, and they still have problems and failures, some pretty serious. You'd think that after building millions, they would get it right. But there is no such thing as perfection, and occasional problems are inevitable. You have to decide how you are going to handle that. You can address them calmly, quietly, and rationally, and fix the problem and move on. Or you can scream and holler accusations and threats. Guess which will yield a better owner-user experience for you?

Just my thoughts. But don't give up on TM just because this board encourages the owners to ask questions and fix problems.

Bill

 

[PopBeavers]

Consider that GM just recalled 250,000 cars, TM is doing pretty well.

All cars, trucks, and RVs will, from time to time, have a problem that the owner can not fix.

If you were on a road trip and you need to rebuild the engine, how would you handle that? The TM will not have that magnitude of a problem, unless it is in a severe accident.

But that is just my opinion. After the one year warranty ran out, I have had only nominal issues:

1. torn awning.
2. broken Formica along the edge.
3. I should sand the rust spots in the from and spray some black paint on it in places.
4. The corner trim was worn from the rear bed latch rubbing on it while towing. This was cosmetic, but I did not like it. So I had the corner trim replaced.
5. I installed a different faucet in the kitchen. I discovered that if I close the TM and the faucet lever is in the up position that it will dent the interior roof. That was my fault.
6. I broke the switch that controls the rear shell lights. That was my fault.

I can not think of anything else that has been an issue. We bought it new and took delivery in March 2005.

I would be more concerned with whatever you are towing it with.

 

[cochise-TMO]

grlewis1
Site Sponsor wrote:

Our major disappointment came, when we addressed these issues in a letter to Mr. Hulsey and never received any acknowledgment from him or the company. Therefore, we still don’t know who is responsible for quality control. Should it be the company before the unit leaves the factory, or the dealer who gets paid a reasonable fee for dealer clean up and prep charges.

I can only nod my head in total agreement with the complaint about not getting a response from Mr. Hulsey. I have sent letter to the company and never received an answer, not until I involved RVIA and the CEO of Suburban Manufacturing (the furnace people) did something happen. As far as pre-delivery prep is concerned, it all depends on where you buy. I bought from Texas RV Center (as did someone else here), and we both had the exact same problem, he 6 months after I reported it to Texas RV, so they had not learned anything from that experience. We also had weight issues that are now going to be investigated by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Do we like our Elkmont 24? Yes we do, and TrailManor has finally made good on their warranty (but not before getting other companies involved) and we are now 11 months after we purchased it going to get on the road for what is left of the summer. But it would have been nice if TrailManor in general and Mr. Hulsey in particular had been a little more customer oriented.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[MisterP]

One potential way to minimize new trailer delivery problems is to use a PDI checklist.

There are many PDI (pre delivery inspection) checklists out there, but I used this one as a basis for refusing delivery of my toyhauler a couple of years ago.

http://changingears.com/rv-checklist-inspection.shtml

The best protection you have if buying a new vehicle of any type is to not sign any contracts or paperwork until you have fully inspected it. When I bought the TH the dealer was upset that I wanted the inspection and kept trying to get me into the office to sign paperwork.

As a result of some major defects I refused delivery and did not get the trailer until 2 weeks later. There were other issues later that would not have been found in the PDI which had to be dealt with as a warranty issue. But as long as the dealer retains ownership, you do not have to accept delivery if something is wrong. And you should not if there are any problems. I told them in advance I was bringing a PDI checklist, sent them a copy, and told them I would not sign anything until the inspection was done.

My wife was inside the dealership while this was going on and saw more than one couple led into the office for paperwork, then coming back in an hour later stating there was a problem with their "new" trailer. They were told the trailer would have to be scheduled for warranty repair. Bad dealer? Perhaps, but I don't believe they are alone in doing business this way.

 

[brulaz]

After mailing in my lengthy complaint, we got a call from Mr. Hulsey himself, suggesting I contact him or Ed to work through the problems. After that phone call I got a package from Ed with some sink clamps a few other itmes that I needed.

I later sent another letter with more complaints/requests and very quickly got back a new wall lamp and grey waste pipe bracket.

That I'm doing the repairs myself may have something to do with their response. AFAIK there is not yet a Canadian dealer of the Elkmont series.

 

[cochise-TMO]

After mailing in my lengthy complaint, we got a call from Mr. Hulsey himself, suggesting I contact him or Ed to work through the problems. After that phone call I got a package from Ed with some sink clamps a few other itmes that I needed.

I later sent another letter with more complaints/requests and very quickly got back a new wall lamp and grey waste pipe bracket.

That I'm doing the repairs myself may have something to do with their response. AFAIK there is not yet a Canadian dealer of the Elkmont series.

Considering that we just had warranty repairs made to the tune of over $ 5000.00, and that at the dealers discount to TM, I am very certain that the reason you are getting such good service is that you are doing everything yourself. The dealer charges $ 105.00/Hr, and they usually gives the manufacturer a 10% discount on labor.

I used to get better customer service at Montgomery Ward and they folded because of poor customer service, so go figure.

 

[all4camping-TMO]

TM for single lady

I purchased my 2006 TM2619 spring of '07 and my first REAL voyage was from Chattanooga, TN to Yellowstone, N.P. I pull with a Ford Exp Sport' 03/ 2dr and did not want to get another vehicle since this one is paid for. Of course I was camping every night until I got to Fishing Village where I was camping for a week, and the camping in a different place every night make me think about a few things: how much of an inconvenience will you consider it to set up the camper several nights in a row - depending upon how long you plan to drive beforehand and how tired you are will make a difference. I drove 8 hrs, it was summer so there was ample light (MOST times) to setup. I planned ahead (brought or had the next meal upon arrival)and did not have to disconnect from the tow so that was a plus. I was mostly just stopping to rest and sleep before the next days drive so I did not put up the cabinets, drawers, etc. that I had sitting in the floor in front of the fold down table - I ate outside OR set the stuff on counter space if I HAD to use the floor space. If not, I just crawled into bed and the break down and getting on the road the next day went very quickly. Now, I'm 52 and single so I, too, looked for the camper I could "handle on my own". I have no regrets since I was not going to purchase another tow vehicle. IF I had a larger tow vehicle (like my brother's Chevy Tahoe) I would have considered a small travel trailer for the ease of setup and getting inside upon arrival (in case of bad weather, arrival after dark whatever) BUT I love how my TM 2619 tows and I've learned to back into sites with ease and accuracy (takes practice). My brother has a 26 ft. Outback tt and really, I can set up almost as fast as he can. His biggest advantage is that he can get into his trailer anytime and can leave his refrig plugged in while not camping. I have to "pop up" to get inside and unpack a few things or at least rearrange. You can do it! It's still much easier than a traditional pop-up with canvas. I go somewhere every month. There will be some repair and adjustment issues along the way - but don't worry - between the forum folks and the manufacturer you will be fine! I love my TM 2619!