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fwunder View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Reconsidering purchase - shoddy workmanship
    Posted: 05 May 2015 at 8:57am
Hi Leigh,

Sorry for your disappointments. As has been previously said, it pretty much is the state of things. Overall, I am very pleased with my 178 purchase. Thanks to this group and others I had no expectations before I purchased and immediately after began to "fix and mod". It's actually been fun for me. Generally, I shake my head, might even slip a swear or two, and move on. I really haven't had any major issue. Not making excuses for shoddy workmanship and your dealer should be working to make sure you are satisfied.

With regard to the battery. Interstate does use the term "Deep Cycle" for the HD24-DP. I think that term is used loosely. It is an (est.) 70 amp/hr battery and retails for around $100.00. 70 Amp/hr is not a lot of battery and I would argue that the battery is a true deep cycle, but you did get what you paid for.

One of the first things I did was swap out the group 24 battery that came with my pod with a dual 6 volt 230 amp/hr  system. You will find many battery discussions from searching the forum.

And...welcome!

fred
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Leighbeelu View Drop Down
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Posts: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2015 at 8:10am
Thank you everyone for your input. I guess my answer is that this is typical in this industry.

To techntrek, regarding the battery, I took it on a trip and with the fridge on gas, it lasted one day and we hardly used it. I was at a music festival and was gone during the days. Once it stopped working, I would run the car and charge it to at least 2/3 and by the evening it was all but gone. AND we weren't even at the campsite. Is the battery in the photo correct? Is there something draining it that I am unaware of? My invoice says "Deep Cycle" battery.

Thank you, Leigh
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Joined: 05 Nov 2014
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Posts: 98 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2015 at 12:06am
I understand your frustration. I also purchased a 179 and I had a lot of the same problems. I can't believe a lack of workmanship and pride. 
I here the comment that this is just how RVs are built. Its not like buying a car.
I like my 179 R.pod, but if I do buy another RV I think I'll wait tell the car dealership come out with one.Ouch
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 8:25pm
sad but very true!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Nov 2009
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Posts: 1223 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 8:17pm
    It is difficult to except poor workmanship and the sad part the RV industry excepts it as normal and continue to build the campers as you described with shoddy workmanship. My personal thought it's mostly the hiring of unskilled labor that are not supervised and little management to over see the quality of work. Our 2009 r-pod I thought was built rather well compared to most other campers but our Vibe that easily fit the definition of shoddy workmanship. Do not expect the RV industry to have the quality of the automobile industry.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 8:15pm
A question on "battery would not hold a charge".  The battery you show should run the 12 volt stuff in the pod (with the fridge on LP and not DC mode) for several days.  How long does it last?  Have you kept the battery on a trickle charger or the pod's converter since you picked up the pod, or have you charged it overnight every 30 days and then disconnected the battery?
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Joined: 05 Apr 2015
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 8:09pm
We took delivery of our 2015 RD 178 in March. In early April, we did a 2,900 mile trip south from Michigan through Florida, Alabama and return to Michigan.   We have 4 problems with the Pod. First, the R - Dome is useless. The plastic track will NOT stay in the channel at multiple locations. Second, the refrigerator continually beeps when on AC power. I unplugged the interior light to deactivate the switch to silence that beast. Third, the dinette frame is very cheap pine stapled together.   I fixed that with 18 gauge finishing nailer but not sure if that is a long term fix. Fourth, the interior Fantastic Fan bezel is cracked in multiple places and needs replacement.   After paying top dollar for this RV

there is no way I am fixing it myself.
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 7:54pm
Said it before.. "Way better to have a good dealer than a good trailer.. one can be fixed."

Most of what you listed is warranty covered.. Did you bring any of it up with your dealer, or have them fix it?

On the battery, while I like a true deep cycle myself, your "dual purpose" battery, well one of the dual purposes is.. RV.. Hard to get to bent (IMHO) about an RV battery, in an RV.

One thing to remember, even though we pay "good money" for them, the Pods really are just about the least expensive TT in their class/length.. In the end, that means something. Also, as Outbound above stated, it's a lot more like buying a house, rather than a car. having only bought one new house in my life, and it was custom built by one of the top builders in our half of the state.. after 2 weeks in it, we had a 3 page punch list for his crew to fix. And they did. They came back at 6 months and did about a half page of stuff.. and we hadn't driven it down a single highway.
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 7:02pm
Originally posted by Leighbeelu

Is this typical or do I have a lemon???

Typical.  And, its typical across all manufacturers for this price range/recreational use class of trailer.

Buying a recreational trailer is not like buying a new car; its more like buying a new house.  They are put together quickly and economically and quality standards seem to apply to significant issues only.  Problems like the ones you have described are expected, and dealerships are the ones to address and fix these issues.  That's why the trailer comes with a bumper-to-bumper one year warranty.

I've seen similar posts to yours over the years.  The specific problems tend to vary somewhat.  And, the owner's opinions as to whether they are major or minor issues also varies greatly.  Some are gravely disappointed, others are unconcerned - where, to my eye, their issues were similar.

Choosing a dealership is just as important as choosing the trailer itself.  A good dealership will do a thorough check of the trailer before you take delivery and fix any glaring problems before you arrive.  Then, when you come to pick up your trailer, the dealership will demonstrate the full operation of your trailer and answer your questions.  Finally, before you leave, they'll remind you that you're covered by warranty for a year and ask you to make a list of any issues you may find when you head out on your first trip.

When I picked-up my trailer, I was given a five-page pre-delivery checklist, completed and signed by a technician.  I was given a two hour demonstration of the trailer - from filling the fresh tank, to how to flip the water heater bypass valves, to operation of the A/C, stove, microwave and TV and everything inbetween.  [I've owned trailers before. I knew how these things work.  But, they insisted.]  And, before I left, I was booked into a return appointment in six weeks as a 'just in case i spot any problems (feel free to cancel or reschedule).'

Did I have issues?  Yup!  You bet!  Two pages of them.  Was I concerned?  Not at all.  I brought the trailer back on a Monday, left the list in the sink, and picked up the trailer on Thursday - everything fixed.  Found my checklist in the sink with big checkmarks beside each item.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2015 at 6:18pm
Sounds like a lot of that should have been discovered during your dealers prep and your walk through. The pods have a 1 yr bumper to bumper warranty. All should be fixed by the dealer that sold it. 
We are on our second pod and havent had those problems on either pod.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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