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Asking a group of RV owners about what they don’t like about their recreational vehicles can be a loaded question. A recent post on Reddit attracted a lot of negative attention from the community.
Many RV owners find major design flaws in their precious campers despite paying premium prices. Unfortunately, it’s nothing new and has been going on for decades.
Today, we spotlight some of the most common design flaws across the RV industry.
Let’s get started!
RVs Aren’t Designed Perfectly
While modern recreational vehicles are practically home on wheels, they’re far from perfect. Manufacturers try their best to design and create rigs that cater to a broad audience. Unfortunately, no matter how hard they try, it’s a nearly impossible task.
As a result, you’re likely never going to find a camper that is “perfect.” Typically, at least a handful of things will drive you bonkers. If you’re lucky, you can make some upgrades or modifications to fix them.
Do All RVs Have Flaws?
Whether you spend $20,000 or $250,000 on your RV, it’ll likely have a flaw or two. Some manufacturers have a reputation for taking extra care to ensure that every rig that rolls out of their facilities is ready in tip-top shape but that doesn’t stop design flaws.
No matter how meticulous a manufacturer is, as RVs travel up and down the highways, things are bound to wiggle loose or break.
So, even if your brand-new recreational vehicle is in perfect condition, it’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong.
Owning an RV can require you to quickly learn to become handy and able to fix various issues.
One Reddit user reached out to the RV community to share their frustrations about common flaws they’ve noticed. It wasn’t long before others joined in and added to the list. Let’s take a look at some of their biggest complaints.
Plastic PEX Connections
One of the most significant flaws in RVs is the PEX connections used in the plumbing system. Typically, manufacturers use this because it’s lightweight and usually gets the job done. Unfortunately, connections can break or come loose from vibrations or incorrect installation.
A loose connection causes leaks in your camper’s underbelly and other hard-to-reach areas. This can lead to extensive damage, especially if they go unnoticed for an extended time.
It’s also common for these plastic connections to experience issues in freezing temperatures when your RV is not correctly winterized.
We recommend replacing the plastic connectors with brass ones which are available at your local hardware store when they break.
No Wiring and Plumbing Schematics
Another common complaint regarding flaws with RVs is that almost none come with wiring or plumbing schematics.
This can be critical information for those who want to do upgrades or make modifications. The last thing you want is to drill or cut into a wire or plumbing line.
Some manufacturers are willing to provide these items upon request, but not all. Many owners feel they should come with the owner’s manual and materials provided at the time of purchase. Hopefully, brands will listen and start including these documents in the future.
Cheap Tires
To cut costs, manufacturers use cheap, low-quality tires, putting consumers at risk of tire blowouts. Especially if they have had an issue before, it’s not uncommon for an RVer to immediately replace the tires.
Thankfully, some premium RV brands have started using more reputable tires. Either way, it’s essential to inspect your tires regularly. This includes looking for abnormal wear and tear and ensuring proper inflation.
Additionally, avoid overloading your rig and exceeding the cargo carrying capacity. These can all contribute to you experiencing a tire failure.
Lack of Insulation
Similar to using cheap tires, some manufacturers skimp on insulation to cut costs and save money. We’ve seen RVs with little insulation in some areas, especially bunkhouses. This can lead to cold drafts in the winter and problems staying cool in the summer. This can be extremely challenging and frustrating if you plan to live full-time in your camper.
Unless you plan to stay in milder climates, you’ll likely need to fix this design flaw by beefing up the insulation.
Investigate any areas where you notice hot or cold air entering your rig. You can find foam board insulation or foil Reflectix at your local hardware store, which is easy to install. It’s a cheap and effective way to maximize your comfort and attempt to address this problem.
We added foam insulation to the entire bottom of our RV and it drastically improved our ability to keep our RV warm while traveling Alaska.
Cheap Door Locks
Just like the cheap tires, most manufacturers use incredibly cheap door locks. There are typically only a handful of key combinations for these locks.
As a result, there’s a good chance someone in your campground has a key that could unlock your rig.
One of the first upgrades we recommend owners do is to replace those cheap door locks. We always replace our door lock with an RVLock. It is one of the most popular brands and does a fantastic job of allowing us never to be locked out of our RV.
They mainly use a numeric pin to unlock your door but also use nearly a million key combinations. You can rest easy knowing the chances are low for someone having a matching key.
Minimal Storage Spaces
It can often seem like some RV manufacturers forget that users will want to bring stuff with them. Another common design flaw in campers is that they lack storage. Sure, many larger rigs offer more space, but they’re also typically more expensive.
Unfortunately, if you purchase a camper with minimal storage space, there’s not much you can do about it. You’ll need to get good at practicing minimalism and evaluate everything you want to bring with you. If you’re using a truck to haul a travel trailer, you can also use the truck bed space to bring any gear and equipment.
Our current RV has this issue with only one tiny door and compartment for storage outside.
Inaccessible Spaces When Closed
Many consumers often forget to consider what areas of their camper will be accessible with the slides retracted. We consider it a design flaw if the bedroom, a bathroom, and part of the kitchen aren’t accessible.
Reaching these areas makes those long travel days easier. You can grab food out of the refrigerator, use your own restroom, or get some rest and take a quick power nap. However, you may not notice this as much if you typically stick to shorter trips.
There’s No Such Thing as a Perfect RV
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no such thing as a perfect RV. If you dream of finding it, you’ll want to lower your expectations.
You’ll likely need to make a modification or two to get your new rig how you like it.
However, that can be part of the excitement and fun of owning a camper. You can take your time to convert it into just what you need or want.
