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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Maybe the title of the blog post should have been “If you like fixing things, a travel trailer might be for you!”

As a result of the trip, I have a lot of fixing to do. If you are even reasonably handy, this probably won’t be an issue. However, if you are not a “do it yourself” sort of person you WILL at some point be paying someone to repair things on your travel trailer. This unfortunately is just a fact of life with every RV, no matter what type.

Manufacturers could build stronger, better trailers, but with far fewer competitors than before 2000, that seems unlikely today. Given the state of manufacturing right now, please invest in a independent certified inspector if you’re thinking of buying a new or used travel trailer. You do not want to start your RV adventure with a list of repairs, or worse yet, a lemon RV.

First, you will have your initial shake down period after you buy your trailer. During the first year, you’ll test everything and tackle any problems while your warranty can cover repairs. After that it’s really maintenance and repair as needed. Make a note to yourself – “There will at some point be repairs”.

Our trip this year resulted in a number of things beyond simple maintenance. Here’s my list after our 3316 mile trip through the states of Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas.

1. Two windows need new external seals. I am noticing some pretty substantial shrinkage on the seals. This is not related to the trip, just an observation I made during my inspection.
2. Rebuild floor cabinet next to couch.
3. Re-attach a pantry shelf face-board, and reinforce the top two shelves.
4. Replace the control box on the brand new Lippert Recliner.
5. Replace the bathroom sink.
6. Replace both slide motors on the table/recliner slide.
7. Shower access panel cannot be screwed shut.

The cabinet near the couch collapsing was the result of a poor design by Grand Design. What I didn’t realize it that the cabinet was really just a two sided box with a couple of 3/4″x3/4″ boards stapled to the other two walls to set a shelf on. See picture below.

I stacked the cabinet too heavily, and it gave way because of poor construction. I thought some six packs of home-brew would not be a problem – wrong! However, another person with the exact same model of trailer told me his collapsed with just a dust buster hand held vacuum in it. So what kind of weight can a two sided shelf hold? Not much!

This from the manufacturer that touts Amish craftsmanship – it’s not! Amish workers take each RV part and actively build the units with staple guns and brad nailers, following the manufacturer’s design. No one in their right mind would construct a cabinet this way.

So as a result, I created two plywood side panels. I cut holes in the plywood to accommodate existing wiring. Each side has a bottom and top rail. The bottom has a piece of wood that joins the two sections together. The top rail holds a full-size piece of plywood that has the original stained 1/16″ piece of plywood on top. This is now so strong it could easily support anything I put in there.

The Pantry is probably a prime example of the same sort of shoddy construction. I have now reinforced the top two shelves with a center brace. This would have taken under a minute per shelf at the factory to complete.

I checked under the face boards on each pantry shelf and discovered that each front brace didn’t connect to one side of the cabinet. If this was a high school shop class, the student who built this would not get a passing grade.

The original bathroom sink cracked by the drain. I have no idea why this happened, other than it was cheap thin plastic. Since it had an odd 14×17 size, I ordered the matching Lippert sink. However, the sink is not the same as the original. It has a larger basin and the ABS plastic is thicker now; so I’m hopeful it will last longer.

On the negative side, the way the new sink attaches is not the same as the previous sink. Lippert Manufacturing includes the same brackets but with no hardware to insert in the plastic posts. Worse yet, they have no idea what to use. How can a manufacturer not know how to assemble their own product? They told me to call Grand Design and see what they were using on their line. I have no idea if Grand Design even uses this size sink anymore – I doubt it.

There has been no update from Grand Design after two weeks. So, in the meantime I hack sawed off the old threaded bolts from the old sink and screwed them into the new posts. Time will tell if that is a good solution. If Grand Design comes back with a recommendation, I will buy what they recommend and keep that in the camper, should my fix fail.

I have installed the new sink and water tested all the connections and the drain.

Now, on to the most involved repair:

Click hear to read my post on our schwintek slide issue in June. Now the slide motors on the opposite slide started sounding old and very tired. While retracting the slide you could hear the motors struggling to get to speed. We actually were on pins and needles wondering if we would get home before they completely stopped working. Tammy said that they sounded so bad that she wanted nothing to do with moving the slides in or out.

At our last stop I told Tammy “They only need to work two more times and we are good”. Had they failed on the road, I was prepared. I had two spare motors waiting inside the trailer in case it was necessary to make the change. However, no one really wants to spend their time in a campground messing with repairs.

So when I got home, I immediately replaced both of the tired motors. Now they sound brand new and operate great.

Now I only have one original motor left, and I’ve ordered a replacement for that one since it seems like the old motors have reached their expiration date.

So in conclusion – I have no idea what a dealership would have charged me for all the work I did…but it would have been a lot. Ball park labor rates are probably $125.00/hour. I would guess that they would have charged me at least eight hours of labor plus the parts (which would have had a mark-up) and not fixed things as well as I did. My guess is that I would have been pushing towards a 2000 dollar repair bill.

This is why it pays to do things yourself if possible. My cost was a total of 260 dollars in parts. Another benefit is that my trailer isn’t sitting on a dealers lot waiting for someone to repair it, which can take weeks and sometimes longer. If leaving your trailer in a dealers lot gives you separation anxiety – you are not alone!

Things are going to break; it is a fact of travel trailer ownership. It is much better if you can fix things yourself. You will be surprised how much you learn about your rig when you repair it yourself…good and bad.

Personally I enjoy fixing things, but you may not. That’s why RV repair facilities exist. If you are not comfortable with maintaining or repairing your RV you should definitely find a repair facility or Mobil RV repair person you can trust. I know there will be things I may not be comfortable fixing. In those cases I will need to rely on a repair facility.

Repairs can be somewhat minimized if you “get religion” around maintaining your travel trailer. Of course there will always be those things that break that have nothing to do with maintenance (just like the cabinet and sink issue above). So, in some cases the best you can do is become intimately familiar with your rig and stay on top of issues as they arise.

Safe Travels!

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After reading this post I immediately thought of my Dad who we referred to as the “Anti-Handyman”. If something needed fixing around the house or with one of the cars, it wasn’t going to be my dad fixing it. My Dad was smart; he knew his limitations. He realized that he could actually make things worse by doing it himself. As my brother Bill and I got older we both became quite handy which worked in my Dads favor.

After reading the post, I checked a series of comments and felt surprised when some people actually encouraged this RV owner to “go for it… if it’s already broke, you can’t make it any worse.” Actually, this is really bad advice. If you don’t have the knowledge and basic skills to do a job you actually can make things much worse. Just ask amateur mechanics that have broken off engine bolts. Later they had to go through the extra work of having the broken stud removed.

I’ve restored eight vintage motorcycles.I can disassemble the bikes, paint the frames, replace faulty parts, repair brakes and bearings, and put them back together easily. I avoid working on the engines because mistakes outside my expertise would likely cost a lot to fix.

A Travel Trailer is just another vehicle, it just doesn’t have a motor. However, there is still a lot that can go wrong, and if you don’t have the basic skills to handle it, you can make things worse.

Many RV novices end up with broken water lines each year because they winterized their trailers incorrectly. Even resealing your roof the wrong way can set you up for trouble.

So what can the anti handyman do? Here’s a few suggestions:

1. There are classes on RV maintenance that are being offered at RV dealerships. Sign up for classes that you think will benefit you the most.
2. Pair up with a trusted friend that has an RV. Have him/her help you with whatever needs to be done. Don’t just watch him/her do the work; be actively involved doing the repair while they coach you.
3. YouTube – There are many great videos on how to do things. Repacking wheel bearings comes to mind because there are quite a few videos on that. Keep in mind, even though the videos go into great detail, they are not interactive; so that if you have a problem (Such as removing a bearing race), you will be on your own. So have a back-up plan.
4. Facebook – I found Facebook to be good for finding some information but many times the routines are just photos. Remember photos only tell one second of a story. Now one thing that might help is if you can leverage a person from your Facebook group (that lives nearby) to teach you in person.

These are just a few suggestions. I am sure that a simple google search on RV repair classes etc. may give you even more ideas.

My main caution is just “don’t make things worse”. Additionally, if you’re under warranty, it’s probably best to have your trailer fixed by the dealership. Screwing something up under the warranty period may just void your entire travel trailer warranty. This will make you really sad and frustrated when something big happens and you need to rely on that warranty.

Learning how to maintain your RV is a great thing; it makes you independent and can save you thousands of dollars. You just need to make sure to take your time and learn the proper way to make the repairs. Even an Anti Handyman can become quite skilled given patience and good instruction.

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Despite the horrible weather, this really is the best time to start on any travel trailer repairs or projects (unless they involve water). After all, you are probably not going to be camping for at least three months. On the bright side, your trailer has a furnace so if your working inside – no problem.

Here in the Dallas area, the temperatures are decent enough that almost any type of maintenance can be done. Temperatures can still get below freezing at times so it makes sense to blow the lines out if any plumbing repairs are on your list.

So what are some of the things that might make your list?

A complete cleaning of all areas of the trailer.

Visual inspection of all areas where water might seep into the trailer. This means the roof, windows, vents, etc. If your windows are the type that require an external seal, this might be the perfect time to replace any seals that have shrunk.

Clean out all your external appliance panels (refrigerator, Water Heater) sometimes critters will build nests in there so make sure you inspect them regularly. Use this time to do any preventative maintenance to these areas as well.

Fall, Winter, or Spring might be the perfect time to repack your wheel bearings and adjust your brakes for the upcoming camping season.

Inspect all the wiring running underneath your trailer. Don’t forget to inspect the wiring that runs to your trailer brakes.

Inspect your Hitch Assembly for rust.  Sand and repaint as necessary. Most hitch manufacturers recommend inspection for rust and repainting annually.

Double check your battery fluid levels if necessary and make sure you keep it on a trickle charger.

Check all your tires for any damage or defects.

Change all the items that need batteries, such as smoke detectors, CO2 Detectors, Tire Pressure Monitoring systems, etc.

Add additional lighting or modify any storage areas.

Additionally, take some time to go through all the things you haul throughout the year. If some of the items were not even used last season, decide if they are even necessary to carry along on your trips.

These are just a few ideas, I’m sure you can think of many, many more. This is the best time to get proactive with your travel trailer. No one wants to get 75 miles down the road to deal with an issue that could have been handled easily in the off season.

As I say all too often “It’s always something”!

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It’s an age-old story, you purchase an RV and then you create a punch list.  This is a list of things that need to be taken care of by the dealership; and typically this is where all the problems begin.  Your RV sits at the dealership while they try to figure out how to repair and/or get authorization to repair it.  Most of the time this becomes a back and forth between the dealership and the manufacturer.  You wait as the dealership gets pre-authorization, parts ordered; and then you wait for a service appointment.

Meanwhile you are without your travel trailer and the camping season slips away.  When you finally get your RV back – it’s all to often a disappointment; either it wasn’t fixed correctly or they tell you that there is no fix for the issue.  We’ve seen this time and again over the years;  most recently on our Imagine Travel Trailer.

1st Choice RV

One thing that was really a source of frustration for us was the entry door and screen door. The two doors never matched up correctly to latch together.  In addition the deadbolt in the door would not fully engage.  The dealership looked at it after it sat there for a few weeks and then they called and told us it just couldn’t be fixed, so they didn’t even try.  They explained that any fix they could think to apply would make matters worse.

This is the problem with the RV industry today…they just do not know how to repair RV’s, they just know how to sell them.

After expressing my frustration to the Manufacturer, they told me about 1st Choice RV in Goshen Indiana (Since I mentioned I would be there to take a factory tour).  So I reached out to Connie, and told her about my issues and we scheduled an appointment months in advance.   I kept in touch with Connie as other issues popped up over the summer and added them to our list.  In addition,  I added a suspension upgrade so I shipped the parts directly to 1st Choice RV.

Now, having had so many bad experiences with RV Dealerships I had no idea how long it would take to complete our punch list.  We rolled into their lot on a Tuesday afternoon (forgetting that we would lose an hour as we entered the eastern time zone).   Connie told us to back the rig up, hook up to the water and electric;  and they would get together with us first thing the next morning.  1st Choice RV is a full service shop, one look inside and you can see that these folks do everything.  I can see trailers being totally rebuilt, walls and slides are being repaired; it was quite amazing.

The Service Manager Bert met with us right away the next morning.  Together we reviewed the large punch list.  As we walk through the trailer Bert finds additional items to repair, like loose trim strips; and Bert adds these items to our list.

In order to give 1st choice RV access to the trailer we decide to leave for the day.  We load the girls in the back of the truck, stop for breakfast; and then at 2:00 PM take the factory Grand Design Factory tour.  When we returned, amazingly everything had been completed on our punch list.  In addition they had ordered a fireplace to be delivered the next day to replace the existing one since the thermostat was not working.

All of this work would have taken months at our dealership…and even then the repairs would have been substandard.  These repairs are first-rate. Now the door and screen operate as they were designed to function;  and the deadbolt engages completely.  Our trailer now looks and acts like a new trailer.  Just as it should have when it left the manufacturing plant.

Now this is where fate takes over.  The next morning at 1:00 AM we awake to loud beeping.  It shocks us and upsets the dogs. Going out into the living room I locate the source of the sound; the Propane alarm.   Since it is the propane alarm going off I assume at first that we had a propane leak.  Then I see the code indicating that we have an electrical fault.   So, to stop the beeping I cut the 12 volt power to the trailer.

After googling our issue, it seemed almost certain that we had a converter issue.  This wasn’t the end of the world, but it did mean that there would be no furnace; and it was cold.  We turned on the fireplace, and we went back to sleep.

I was waiting at the bay door as the service crew arrives at 6:30 AM.  After finding Bert I give him a run-down of the new problem.  At 7:00 AM, their electrical technician Adam is installing a brand new converter.  Had this happened on the road who knows what would have happened; or how long we might have been stranded somewhere.

In the 30 years of owning travel trailers, we have never come across a place this great.  If by chance you’re in the area and have a problem with your travel trailer, this is the only place to go.  We are so sold on 1st choice that we would drive the 900 plus miles just to make sure the job is done right.

To visit 1st Choice RV on their website click here.

To read the final chapter in this trip click here.

The post 1st Choice RV – They will make your trailer everything it can be and more. appeared first on .

Our House on Wheels

The internet has given us a wealth of information including trailer blogs and Facebook pages.  These revolve around every conceivable make of travel trailer, fifth wheel, and motor home.  The intent of these pages is to be informative to the owners or potential buyers; however, many times they have the opposite effect. Why might that be?

1. People tend to complain about the problems with their RV more than talk about how great it is.  That unfortunately is just the human condition.  I’m sure if you look at any restaurant review on-line, the bad outweighs the good.  That’s because most of the time if you are happy, you just go about your normal routine.  If you are unhappy you will probably let others know.
2. People seem to forget that almost all travel trailers initially have issues that need to be worked out.  Even brand new houses have small issues that need to be worked out.  It’s probably unrealistic to think that you can buy a travel trailer and not find something that may need to be adjusted or repaired.  It is after all a small house that is bouncing down the highway on wheels at 55+ miles per hour.  This is why RV companies have a warranty period, to remedy some of the issues you may encounter after you take delivery.
3. A single post sometimes turns into a feeding frenzy.  Most posts are well-intentioned I believe, but sometimes there is what I would call “a pile on” effect.  This is where others with the same or nearly same issue begin a rant.  Imagine if you were shopping for an RV and you stumbled on to one of these threads.  It may completely change the way you feel about the trailer that might have been right for you.
4. Beware the forum lurkers.  These are folks that may be members of a site but may not have pulled the trigger on buying an RV yet;  however, they are quick to shame the company that makes the trailer any time someone has an issue. On every site it’s best to rely on the folks that have a level head when they post.

The internet is a great place to find information on your travel trailer but you really need to keep the above points in mind.  There is a wealth of information out there on every model, and the internet is a fantastic place to educate yourself about your travel trailer from simple maintenance to recall information.  It’s also a great place to find out what kind of modifications might make a great improvement to your travel trailer, such as bug screens or clear entrance door windows etc.

Our advice would be the following: Try not to put 100% of your faith in the threads you read and instead look at the company behind the Travel Trailer; what is their repair record, how is their customer service. what is their dealer network like?  Forum threads are a great place to hear what may be problems with the model you are interested in;  but they can be gripe sessions and like cars, there are the occasional lemons.  Think of the large number of RVs that are manufactured in a given month.  If even 2% have an issue it may seem to the reader that the whole line is substandard.

Remember what ever travel trailer you choose, it is still a small house on wheels. Make the most informed choice you can on the company behind the travel trailer and the other aspects that are most important to you!

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