Industry Exposed for RV Quality Problems
This week on the RV Podcast:
- Elkhart’s RV Manufacturing Industry took a big media hit last week over RV Quality Problems involving continued recalls over manufacturing problems and so-called “Serial Recalls.”
- Over 7 Million Americans are expected to be camping over the big Fourth of July Holiday period
- Is propane safe in an RV? Do RV lithium batteries pose a fire risk? We’ll debunk some myths.
- All this plus your RV questions and Mike & Jen’s storytime, coming up in Episode #553 of the RV Podcast
You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.
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RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK
Red, White, and Vroom! 7 Million Americans RV for the 4th
Happy 4th of July to our fellow Americans, and if you are marking the nation's birthday celebration with an RV trip, you aren't alone. New data from the RV Industry Association (RVIA) indicates that nearly 7 million people plan to celebrate Independence Day with an RV trip, and this year you can count Jen and I in the mix as we hit the road with our new Cape Cod!
RV Goes Up in Flames — Fire Officials Say Mice May Be to Blame
Add fire risks as another reason to keep mice far from your RVs. An RV in Idaho caught on fire and the state fire marshal's office says the likely cause is mice. The Montana Fifth Wheel was completely destroyed in a blaze caused by an electrical failure.
End of an Era: Lance Camper Leaves REV Group, Returns to Private Ownership
The iconic Lance Camper now has a new owner. REV Group sold the California-based Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation to Vision Kore Inc., marking REV Group's exit from non-motorized trailers to focus on motorized RV brands such as Fleetwood RV, Holiday Rambler, American Coach, Midwest Automotive Designs, and Renegade RV. The sale returns Lance to private ownership.
Yellowstone tourists Watch Helplessly as Bison Falls Into Scalding Spring
Horrified tourists watched helplessly as a bison fell into near-boiling water at Yellowstone National Park's hot spring at Midway Geyser Basin near Old Faithful. Tourists watched and photographed the incident, saying the animal walked near the edge and fell in, its lifeless body still visible in the spot hours later.
Oregon Parks to Out-of-Staters: Pay Up
Add one more charge to out-of-state visitors to Oregon's state parks. First a 25% surcharge was added to out-of-state visitors using the state's campsites that started in select situations in 2022 then spread to all campsites in 2025. Now beginning July 1, it will cost more to park, too. Parking will be $2 more at state park's payment kiosks if you are from out of state.
Stranded with No Bars? T-Mobile launching Satellite Service that Lets You Text 911 Anywhere
Ever find yourself in the middle of nowhere, with zero bars on your phone, and wonder, “What would I do in an emergency, if I needed help?” The T-Mobile satellite service with Starlink that's officially launching July 23 will provide 911 texting for free to anyone with a compatible device – which is most smartphones made within the last few years – and will even help those with different phone plans.
RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK: Quality concerns and the RV Industry
This is a slow week in Elkhart. Many of the RV factories are shut down for a week of summer vacation, or they have slowed production before they start building the new models.
But just before summer vacation, the talk in Elkhart was a big story in the Wall Street Journal (the story is behind a paywall) that laid bare RV Quality Problems that have plagued the industry since Covid some five years ago,
The Journal article characterized the issue many owners face as “serial breakdowns,” noting that as a whole, the RV industry has more recalls than the automobile industry, blaming manufacturing errors, insufficient oversight, inattention, and haste.
They gave some serious examples:
“In one case, workers punctured microwaves they were installing with screws that were the incorrect length. In another, inspectors discovered misaligned furnace flues a month after the employee who was checking them quit. In 2023, the company recalled 50 towable campers after finding that workers had created a fire risk by inserting the wrong fuse into power distribution centers.”
The reason? The factory had a shortage of the correct fuse.
The story primarily targeted Forest River and also mentioned Thor. But it noted the quality issues affect the entire industry and it blamed work policies at the Elhart manufacturing centers, in particular a policy of paying for piece work.
“Unlike highly automated car plants,” it said, “RV factories typically rely on workers who assemble vehicles by hand. Employees are often paid by the unit instead of a straight hourly wage and can leave once they hit their quota. Some former workers say the system encourages speed over thoroughness.”
The concentration of the industry around Elkhart has created an intensely competitive labor market. Workers, who historically haven’t been unionized, are typically paid a relatively low hourly wage and a bonus known as a “piece rate” that kicks in if they hit a weekly production goal.
I was in Elkhart last week and there was a lot of grumbling about that article. One vice president of an RV company told me that because the industry starts work before sunup, many RV workers have two jobs. And when they are working at a piece rate, the sooner they finish, the sooner they can go home and catch some sleep before going to the afternoon job.
The industry wasn’t happy with the Wall Street Journal article. But it exposed some serious issues and probably gave added fuel to some class action lawsuits already in the system about quality issues and what many say are outdated work policies that encourage speed of assembly over excellent workmanship.
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ
Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.
One thing that happens all the time in our Social media groups – whether it's our private RVLifestyle Community or Facebook Group – is that people share practical tips that have helped them, or they offer practical advice to those seeking help.
Today, I'd like to share three posts like this with you, in the hope that they will help you.
The first post is from Eric, who had a tip that makes it easier to hook his truck to his travel trailer.
Eric showed a picture of his receiver, which he painted “Camper orange”, so it would really stand out, making it easier to see when he is trying to connect. He said it was a “Game changer!”
I hope it can help one of you.
Next up is Glen. Glen had an issue. He said, “We don't drink wine. What do I do with this space?”
Glen shared a picture of a tall and narrow cupboard, that looked to be not real deep, to the right of his microwave and above his stove. This cupboard had a holder with circular shapes in it clearly made for holding wine bottles, six bottles to be precise. He also shared a second picture, which showed he could remove the circular shape for wine bottles, and just have this tall and narrow open space.
Anyone else have a similar RV with a space like this? The group had many ideas of ways to use it. Suggestions included:
– cutting boards
– a slide-out spice rack
– sheet pans
– roll up kitchen towels
So many great ideas and about 850 comments last I checked!
And then the last post I'd like to share with you is from Tracy. Tracy and her husband bought a used travel trailer on a nearby lake to create a summer place for their family and grandchildren.
The place ultimately required much more work than they had initially anticipated, and the couple had to redo everything, including the walls, floor, plumbing, lighting, and more. But wow! What an end product!
Tracy shared pictures of how this travel trailer by the lake looks now and it is absolutely stunning.
Tracy picked a nautical theme for her design, using the colors white and navy blue. She added so many effective details, like attaching a “rope” covering over the handles for the cupboards followed through in other places such as rope on a lamp or canister to hold utensils like spatulas. She also added whimsical decorations like a “No Wake Zone” sign to a bedroom or faux fish to a bathroom wall. Her electrical lights looked like they were residential, they were so unique. She added a faux white brick look to some walls, and I could go on and on.
The whole look was very inspiring and Tracy certainly gave everyone new ideas about how to personalize their rigs.
And that's it. Three different posts, three different types of inspiration. I hope it can help one of you.
RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
QUESTION: I'm curious, is it common for campgrounds to have dog breed restrictions? We’re looking to get a Rottweiler puppy and wondering if we’ll run into issues camping with a “bully breed.” We own a travel trailer and camp mostly at privately owned campsites and when looking at the sites we’ve been to in the past, there’s been no reference on any breed restrictions but curious on what other experiences are? – Melissa
ANSWER: I’m not sure if we’d characterize it as “common,” but yes, some RV parks do indeed restrict dog breeds. We’ve seen rules prohibiting Rottweilers, PitBulls, and even German Shepherds. Others just have rules against having an aggressive dog and we’ve heard of campgrounds that have applied the word aggressive to entire breeds. It does little good to argue with campgrounds with such restrictions. They can set whatever rules they want. If you do have any questions about whether your dog breed is prohibited, it's best to call the campground before making a reservation.
QUESTION: I feel like we have been living under a rock and have somehow missed the discussion on why everyone is moving away from propane? Is it due to fire danger or leaks? And is the thought to replace propane usage with all-electric, thus the need for larger capacity lithium batteries? And don’t lithium batteries come with their own maintenance requirements and fire hazards, especially as they age? Other than different technology, I am not sure I see the total value? – Jenna
ANSWER: We wouldn’t say “everyone” is moving away from propane but people have several concerns about using propane in RVs, though it's actually quite common and safe when properly maintained:
Safety concerns are the biggest factor. Some people worry about gas leaks, explosions, or carbon monoxide poisoning. While these risks are real, they're manageable with proper installation, regular inspections, and good ventilation practices.
Refilling logistics can be inconvenient. You need to find propane dealers, potentially wait in lines, and physically transport heavy tanks. This is more cumbersome than simply plugging into electrical hookups at campgrounds.
Weight considerations matter for smaller RVs or those watching payload limits. Propane tanks add significant weight, and you often need multiple tanks for extended trips.
Storage and space issues come up frequently. Propane tanks take up valuable storage space, and there are regulations about where they can be mounted and how they must be secured.
Regulatory restrictions exist in some areas. Certain tunnels, ferries, or parking structures prohibit vehicles carrying propane. Some campgrounds also have restrictions.
Maintenance requirements turn some people off. Propane systems need regular inspections, leak testing, and component replacements. The fittings, regulators, and lines require ongoing attention.
That said, many RV enthusiasts swear by propane because it's efficient for heating, cooking, and refrigeration, especially when boondocking without electrical hookups. The key is understanding the system and maintaining it properly.
As to lithium batteries, modern lithium systems pose little to no fire danger, which is a good thing because many RVs locate them right under the bed.
MIKE & JEN’S STORYTIME: A Construction Zone “Adventure“
MIKE: On the RVLifestyle.com blog this week, we recounted the story of our worst travel day ever. We spent some 4 hours in stop-and-go construction traffic but here’s a part of the story that didn't make the blog report.
JEN: That's right! Last week, we were driving our brand new Cape Cod RV through what felt like the construction zone from you-know-where. Lane closures everywhere, traffic crawling along at a snail's pace…
MIKE: Oh man, the construction! It seemed like every few miles, we'd hit another backup where they were funneling three lanes into one. You know how it goes – everyone's trying to merge at the last possible second, creating this accordion effect of stop-and-go traffic.
JEN: We were actually doing pretty well, being patient, taking turns letting people merge ahead of us. I was thinking, “Hey, we're handling this like pros!” And then…
MIKE: BAM! Out of absolutely nowhere, this red car just pushed right into our lane – right into the side of our beautiful new RV!
JEN: I felt the whole vehicle shudder! The car clipped our driver's side mirror, knocked it way forward, and just kept coming. Mike's frantically trying to steer us out of the way while this car is literally scraping along our Cape Cod's side!
MIKE: My heart was pounding! I'm thinking about our brand new RV getting torn up, and this red car just… keeps going! Pushes us aside and pulls ahead like nothing happened!
JEN: That's when my inner detective kicked in. I immediately called 911, and while I'm on the phone with dispatch, I'm following this car, honking my horn, trying to get them to pull over. The dispatcher told me to stay on the line and keep following.
MIKE: Meanwhile, I'm checking our mirrors, trying to assess the damage
JEN: The amazing thing was, Mike's basically conducting a low-speed chase through construction traffic! After maybe 20 minutes, the Indiana State Patrol had a car positioned ahead and they got the red car to pull over.
MIKE: Three troopers showed up! Three! It was like a scene from a movie. And here's where the story gets really interesting…
JEN: The investigating trooper comes back to us, shaking his head with this bemused expression. He says, “Despite the damage to their car, they don't want to file a report because they'd get ticketed.”
MIKE: And get this – our mirror? It just popped right back into position! Not a scratch on our RV! But their car.. scratches all along the passenger side where they'd scraped against us.
JEN: The trooper had to give them what he called “a lesson in how to merge.” The elderly woman who was driving explained that she'd had her turn signal on, so she thought she could just move over.
MIKE: But here's the thing – she was right alongside us when she put that signal on! There's no way we could see it, and even if we could…
JEN: The trooper explained it perfectly: “You put your turn signal on when you're ahead of the car you want to let you in. When they make space for you, then you merge. Not before. And there's no rule or law that says anyone HAS to let you merge just because you put your signal on.”
MIKE: It was like watching a real-life driving lesson happen right there on the highway! And you know what? After they declined to make a report, they just drove off – probably a lot wiser about merging etiquette.
JEN: Looking back on it now, we learned that sometimes the worst situations can teach us the most about how we handle adversity.
MIKE: Exactly! We could have let this ruin our whole trip, gotten angry, let it eat at us for days. Instead, we chose to see it as an adventure – and honestly, it's going to be one of our favorite travel stories to tell.
JEN: The moral of our story? Construction zones and traffic delays are going to happen. People are going to make mistakes on the road. But how we respond to these challenges – that's what really defines our journey.
MIKE: Whether you're in an RV, a car, or just navigating life's construction zones, remember: stay calm, help each other out, and sometimes the best stories come from the days that start out looking like disasters.
JEN: And always, always check your mirrors after an incident – sometimes they just pop right back into place, and you realize you're more resilient than you thought!
MIKE: Safe travels, everyone. And remember – it's not about avoiding the construction zones, it's about how you navigate through them together.
JEN: With patience, kindness, and maybe a good sense of humor!
BOTH: Thanks for listening to our adventure!
