It’s common in the RV community for potential RV owners to ask other owners which RV brands they prefer.
However, a better question might be which RV brands they should avoid.
Buying an RV is a bad investment to begin with, and we want to save you from buyer’s remorse after signing on the dotted line.
Remember, this is just our opinion. Feel free to chime in with your opinion in the comments at the end of the article.
What Challenges Will the RV Industry Face in 2024?
The RV industry seemed like a victim of overproduction over the last few years. Many experts anticipate the challenge of sales will continue into 2024 and possibly even longer.
Employees are getting laid off and some brands may be facing tough times.
A frustrating challenge in the RV industry is the cost of goods. The price of goods has risen significantly in recent years. This increased cost typically gets passed down to the consumer.
You can expect to pay more for, in many cases, low quality.
Pro Tip: If you want to purchase a new RV, these are The Best RVs for Holding Value.
5 RV Brands to Avoid in 2024
It stings to regret a significant purchase. Not only are you frustrated with the financial hit, but you’re also left wondering what it would have been like had you chosen another option.
Here are a few brands we’ve seen RV owners have regrets not long after making a purchase.
1. Fleetwood
Some of the chief complaints regarding Fleetwood revolve around its customer service. Things break on all RVs regardless of brand, but what the brand does to help makes a big difference.
Fleetwood’s common breaking points seem to be cabinets, latches, and fueling systems.
Some owners (on online forums) complain that Fleetwood is slow to respond to approval for warranty work, if at all.
A company not standing behind its product can distinguish between a happy and a frustrated customer.
2. Jayco
Jayco places a lot of emphasis on being lightweight and budget-friendly. This combination doesn’t tend to lend itself well to quality.
It’s hard to produce a sturdy RV at a low cost. When a company makes “ultra-lightweight” units, things will break and fall apart.
An owner can quickly become frustrated if they feel the walls are falling in around them after only a few trips.
If you want to purchase a Jayco that can handle a bit of weight, it’s best not to go with a line that has the goal of being as lightweight as possible.
Keep in mind: Jayco makes a wide range of RV types. Their higher-end models seem to have more care and quality built into them.
3. Keystone
Most of Keystone’s complaints online appear to be due to the build finishes.
Some owners feel the cabinetry is flimsy, with some even reporting their doors falling off. The cabinetry complaints are often due to weak hinges used in the building process. This has led to owners needing to replace the cabinets altogether.
Owners have had issues with their slideouts leaking. Even a small leak can have enormous consequences for RVs, which is a serious issue.
To avoid the leaks getting worse, many owners have resorted to resealing their slides on their own after not getting them properly tended to at a dealer.
4. Thor Hurricane
The Thor Hurricane is a prime example of not letting shiny things win you over without knowing the quality can back it up.
While many would agree that this RV lineup looks great and comes with great layouts, an owner’s excitement will quickly fade once they actually use the RV.
Some owners have discovered the quality of materials isn’t what you’d expect.
Another supposedly common issue with this build is the hydraulic lines. The hydraulic lines for the auto-stabilizer jacks have been reported to leak hydraulic fluid by some owners on online forums.
This isn’t a situation anyone wants to discover when starting a long journey in their new RV.
5. Coleman
Some of those who have complaints against Coleman all seem to agree that their camper is great, except if they want to use it.
An RV does no good if the owner feels they can’t use it without it falling apart.
Some reviews state that pieces of their Coleman RV are falling off. An owner shared that a passing motorist alerted them that a piece of their RV’s siding was peeling off and getting ready to fall off while on the interstate. Other owners report trim falling off and drawers breaking.
Many of these complaints were from owners who said they had used their RV no more than five times before the issues began.
What to Look for in a Quality RV Brand
While no RV manufacturer has achieved perfection, there are a few things that quality RV brands do that up their games. Quality RV brands know how important it is to master the art of balancing lightweight yet sturdy materials.
Look for a brand that doesn’t sacrifice quality for weight.
Aside from using quality materials, find a brand that backs its products. When an RV has an issue post-sale, you don’t want a brand that feels it is no longer its responsibility. T
ake the time to speak to owners across different brands and ask about their experiences. If they’ve had an issue, did the manufacturer take care of them?
Did they feel heard and like they were in good hands? Customer service plays a vital role in happy RV ownership.
Pro Tip: Looking to get something in your RV fixed? Before you book a repair appointment, read up on Should You Avoid Mobile RV Repair?
Is Buying an RV in 2024 a Good Idea?
It’s always scary to make a large purchase such as an RV. The reality is, as long as you thoroughly research the brand and layout you’re considering, you should have a general idea of what you’re getting.
Adjust your expectations and know that there will likely be, at a minimum, small fixes that you’ll need to make. Knowing the common issues with a particular brand will make you feel better prepared for what’s to come after you bring your RV home.
If an RV is a purchase you hope to make in 2024, don’t let fear hold you back.
No purchase is 100% perfect, but you won’t get to enjoy the journey if you don’t take the risk.
Are you planning to buy an RV in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!
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Just shameful these cheap RV companies. Typical corporate arrogance!
I mean like come on! Things falling off your RV while you’re driving after only a few months old? You can get a hefty fine for losing your load in any state! It could also severely affect your insurance and you could be sued if that hits someone.
Of course these corporations would have something in their fine print of your contract that they can wash their hands from their lemony scent!
I hope they all go broke when the smoke clears from this RV fad, and only the good ones remain standing. I remember the 1970’s the big issue was the same; pressboard cupboards, balsa wood and mould😠
Hello peeps, Hope you all had a great Christmas!
Please note that I am not at all upset that my brand of RV showed on the list in the number two spot. I am on my third Jayco and this, because I just kept wanting bigger after a couple of years owning each one. Maybe I have been lucky in my experience with Jayco. Currently in my second JayFeather model and have had zero issues so far after 3 years. True, all three did have some minor issues that had to be addressed shortly after picking them up. All warranty work for stupid stuff like misaligned awning arm, much too touchy thermostat, and other small issues. The thing is, in my shopping for an RV experience, I looked at so many other brands and saw that one brand excelled at this and not at that and the other(s) all fell into this same path in one way or another. I think if you do your due diligence and learn about RV manufacturing and build, the best you can ahead of time, you can better discern what you believe is better or worse quality. The customer service score can be an influence to purchase or not as well, and as the article pointed out… ask around of other RVers and use the internet. Oh, my very first rig was a Fleetwood and that one almost caused me to think I never want to own a camping trailer/rig ever again.
What I have written is my opinion the same as the context of the article. It is based on my experience with Jayco to date. I’m sure they have issues the same as other brands. Yes, they are built more or less for being lightweight and more budget-friendly, but I have had a very good experience with them thus far.
Safe and Happy travels and a New Year to everyone!
What are the 5 best brands of rvs you recommend now?
Should include Winnebago towables. Winnebago sold off towables and not the same quality Winnebago. Warranty coverage poor. Customer service is responsive with no results. My slide quit working at 11 months after purchase. One side wall was bulging as a result of Winnebago not manufacturing correctly. They refused to fix. Stuck with a $3000 bill on a less than year old Micro Minnie.
I bought a Jayco Eagle 5th wheel new in 2015. It was my wife’s and my dream R V and we were so proud of it.Then my wife mentioned that the tires were wearing funny. I crawled up under it to insect the suspension. What I found was cross members breaking loose from the frame.Then I found out Jayco would not warranty it.Instead they said I “probably ” hit a pothole. Needless to say, I spent $2000to repair it. Never again will I buy Jayco.
All the people I know who have purchased an RV post pandemic/RV boom have told me that there is one thing or another wrong with their rig, from annoying things like sharp edges on cabinet pulls, to delamination in the shower, or even worse leaks in the roof. However in every case the biggest complaint was the total lack of customer service, and so many broken promises by the service departments. I own a 2013 Thor Four Winds 23U, no slides, Chevy E4500 as the base, and it’s perfect. So we can deduce that the companies are capable of producing a good product, but are guilty of chasing the $$$ and let attention to quality fly out the window.
This article seems to be very biased. You can’t judge motorhomes to travel trailers. Next time do more research.