Tammy keeps track of the number of miles we have traveled with our 2017 Imagine Travel Trailer. We are well over 30,000 miles now. That’s quite a few miles of travel and more than any other trailer we have owned since the 1992 Prowler.
The 1992 Prowler was a really well-built trailer. However, we probably had only half the mileage we have put on the Imagine. The big difference is that we never had to fix a single thing on the Prowler, and we had that trailer for eight years. Quality was much better back then, because there was a lot of competition. Click here if you would like to read my opinion of quality in the RV universe.
As our needs changed so did the trailers. Since the prowler had bunk beds and the kids didn’t travel with us anymore, it just didn’t make sense to keep it. From then on we purchased trailers that would be good for us to travel in with our dog(s). After the Prowler came the 2001 RVision Trail Cruiser, then the 2007 Coachmen. That takes us up to 2015 and our Jayco. That’s when we were shocked to see the drop in quality. In 2017 we saw the floor plan of the Imagine and we went that direction. We probably would be hard presses to find a better floor plan for us. However, the Imagine had quality issues as well.
I probably could list everything we have fixed since 2017, but it would be a long list. Most of the repairs have been small things like rebuilding cabinets, plumbing issues, sink replacement, Propane regulator replacement, toilet seal. resealing the outside of the trailer, bearings, brakes, etc. However, we had our major issues as well, like a new roof and replacing slide motors.
As I have mentioned often, the key to keeping a travel trailer is staying on top of things. That goes for any recreational vehicle. There are some folks that only go up on their roof after they have a problem. That’s just too late. I am up on my roof after every trip. If you don’t want to do this, either have a dealership inspect your roof or get a spray on roof that requires almost no maintenance. Even I realize I am not 20 years old anymore and there will come a time when I just won’t want to climb up there.
Going underneath the trailer isn’t any easier, but stuff just needs to be done. Of course there’s always stuff going on to keep you busy inside the trailer as well.
During this last trip to Dodge City, Kansas, we had a leak at the shower faucet. Of course the folks that construct these RV’s never live in them. As a result there is no access panel behind my shower faucet. This required me to disassemble the faucet at the campground to try and figure out what was happening. In our case the diverter was loose because the nuts that hold the faucet tight to the backsplash were very loose. That allowed enough flex in the line to drip water at the cold faucet connection.
There are few choices available for RV Shower faucets today. I’m not sure a residential faucet would work due to the weight. Fortunately I repaired mine but when and if it fails I will buy a Phoenix Model which is all brass on the inside. The model I have hasn’t been manufactured since 2018.
Cheap parts are often used. That’s because your goals and the RV Manufactures goals are different. You are concerned about the longevity of your trailer and they are worried about making as much money as possible. They could use copper plumbing and pex tubing throughout the trailer but they choose not to…because they are trying to maximize their profits. Here’s the solution: Build it right and just charge more.
The reality is things can, do, and will break in a travel trailer. It is your job to be ever vigilant so that you minimize any impact to the trailer.
I’ve always said I don’t mind fixing things, but I don’t like fixing them under duress. Unfortunately, I’ve had quite a few that happened just that way.
So now with winter rapidly approaching for many of our friends in the northern states, make sure you winterize so you are not under duress in the spring. If your still in the warm weather states just stay on top of things and get out there and camp!
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