Jayco reads this?

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by ALJO

I work at a dealership and we accustom the requirements for full-timers and we always plug in the RV's (seems logic as they have their Reefer full). We also have camp facilities with 50 Amp and service onsite unless it has to go into the shop. We also have many high end RV's serviced at the site customers staying by mobile mechanic.
Dealing with factory warranties is the hardest part as the factory set the prices and time line. That is the biggest negative in a dealer service shop while the errors are manufacturing issues. That extra overhead has to be compensated in the labour cost. For any warranty issues a in-depended mobile RV specialist is an option as his overhead is low and has more flexibility.

ALJO, sounds like you work for a first class dealership!

[ALJO]

It's a smaller dealership with 6 full time mechanics. We are surround by resorts and lots of campgrounds which brings in high end sales and also volume. The key point to any business is good and friendly service. I do the end PDI where the customer picks up the unit and help them till they leave. One out of 5 stays over so we can help any issues the next day. I enjoy doing this work at 73 as I have a strong general knowledge and owned RV's for over 50 years. The fall and winter season sales is slow but there's still lots of service work and the readiness for the next main season. There's a lot of operator error on the customers side (at least 60%) because the lack of knowledge and can't express it enough that people read the manuals and learn to trouble shoot some of the smaller basic issues. The customer can safe money on what they can do. Service can handle only a certain amount of volume. The dealer has to finish each new RV before it leaves the lot, because of the lack of quality control at the manufacturing plant. For example: furnaces are mostly not serviceable on the outside and has to be removed and bench tested, which is very time consuming. And what do the RV manufactures really save by putting in an outside access door? But it creates jobs down the line, but it is costly for the consumer. Hopeful the slower demand will be a recoup for better innovations. Full computer control is not an answer either, whereby you have to wait to turn on the lights or pump till the computer is ready. Sometimes logic gets mixed up with stupidity and is not helpful for the consumer. But we already notice: Sales are down and service went up.

[Siamese]

It astounds me that anyone finds Jayco quality acceptable.

We like our 2017, 26BH, but knew going in that the quality was compromised. Sure enough, the queen bed and the lower bunk fell apart early on. Just 1x1 pine running down the length of the bunk to support it. No way that could work. And, the queen was under-engineered and poorly built, leading to early disintegration. The list of substandard components goes on and on. Even the cheesy wood paneling. The vinyl on it must be about one molecule thick, and doesn't wear well.

And the foam in the folding sofa was pretty much shot in just a few months. If Ford put that kind of cheap foam and cheap upholstery in any of their vehicles, they'd be the laughing stock of the industry.

And how about if the power steering pump gave out in my F-150 and Ford told me to see their supplier about the warranty. No way. But, Jayco and other RV makers continue to get away with that incredible nonsense. And people accept it? Amazing. And, if Ford put Furrion electronics in their vehicles?!?!?

I just fix the stuff that falls apart, and do it right so it won't fall apart again. And, we made a point of not getting a real expensive unit, so as to limit our losses if we encountered a lemon.

But to call these quality units...please.

It would surprise me to learn that Jayco/Thor uses this forum. They have the data to know precisely what their quality is, and they've found the sweet spot. They know that the market won't support higher quality and the increased price tag that goes with it. They know they can wave shiny things like custom wheels and fireplaces in the public's face, and that's what they'll spend more for. Oh, and so-called "Arctic Packages" LOL.

[dartwest]

We have a 2017 Jayflight 23RB. It is our first TT so we decided to buy an inexpensive unit in case we did not like it. I could tell it was cheaply made when I bought it. We used to have some sort of issue every trip. It was usually just a small leak that required me to tighten a PEX connector. I go prepared and can usually fix it myself with what I have on hand. One thing I did after our first trip that has helped a lot was that I went over the entire trailer and tightened every fitting, screw, electrical connector and bolt I could find. I was amazed at how many were only finger tight. Now before I travel I do a quick check and tighten up anything I find that has vibrated loose. If I had to take my rig in to the dealer every time an issue arose then I would be furious. I think Jayco makes the best TT for the money I was willing to spend. My ownership experience has not made me a loyal Jayco customer and when it is time for an upgrade then i will look at what is available at the time and choose based on value just like I did last time. If you are not a handy-man or handy-woman or willing to learn then RV ownership is going to be a frustrating experience. If I had of purchased a 100k Airstream then I would expect a different level of quality and service. As it is I am enjoying the TT life and feel good about my purchase. Besides, I am retired and need things to occupy my time and an excuse to buy more tools.

[ALJO]

Yes there are some quality issues which can be improved in the RV industry, but the customers usually sets the tone. When demand is high quality goes down (hiring of more un-skilled labor). After warranty issues has been fixed and if owners maintain their unit well it will give also lasting pleasure and higher trade-in value. I have seen poorly maintained units from 5 year old completely destroyed by owners. Use the right exterior sealants on roof, windows and seams will avoid water intrusion. Owners of RV's should learn the skills of maintaining.

[WeRJuliian]

Originally Posted by ALJO

It's a smaller dealership with 6 full time mechanics.

The best kind.
Give me a small business any day, they're not so hidebound by Big-Company policies and penny pinching and, to be blunt, they're more likely to want to keep my business.

We get our cars serviced by a two-men-and-a-dog backstreet shop, and have never had a complaint.

My local Jayco dealer, however, isn't in the least bit interested in service, just sales. We were there recently, and asked how much they would charge to repack the bearings on our TT. A simple enough job, you'd think, and probably a common request...
The service manager had to look in his Big Company Book of standard prices, and eventually announced that it wasn't a job that they had a price for (which makes me wonder if they'd ever actually done it!). Finally, he stuck a finger in the air and said "$400"

I think I'll be getting my hands dirty, myself, thank you, but, to my original point, I WISH we had a small shop near us. I'd far rather give them my money.

[Chet & Marie]

Originally Posted by WeRJuliian

The best kind.
Give me a small business any day, they're not so hidebound by Big-Company policies and penny pinching and, to be blunt, they're more likely to want to keep my business.

We get our cars serviced by a two-men-and-a-dog backstreet shop, and have never had a complaint.

My local Jayco dealer, however, isn't in the least bit interested in service, just sales. We were there recently, and asked how much they would charge to repack the bearings on our TT. A simple enough job, you'd think, and probably a common request...
The service manager had to look in his Big Company Book of standard prices, and eventually announced that it wasn't a job that they had a price for (which makes me wonder if they'd ever actually done it!). Finally, he stuck a finger in the air and said "$400"

I think I'll be getting my hands dirty, myself, thank you, but, to my original point, I WISH we had a small shop near us. I'd far rather give them my money.

We are fortunate that we have 2 JAYCO dealers near us and a 3rd independant service shop that provide excellent and reasonably priced service. We have had few problems but do take the TT in each year for wheel/brake checks and roof inspection. We expect our Jayfeather to last us until we are 80 (only 70 now) when we will get another new one.

[Chet & Marie]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Because 95% of the time you only hear the bad. You just admitted you have a good unit. I have a neighbor who just traded up, JAYCO for JAYCO because his experience has been good. I also have many friends who have done the same and you will find that across all brands.

Look at what wags999 said and I had the same experience. I averaged over 10,000 miles a year with very few problems and the ones I had were mostly components (Coleman, Carefree, Norcold) and were all handled very efficiently. We did have the slide crack on our PINNACLE, but again JAYCO immediately got us scheduled at the factory and fixed it. All our other issues were handled expeditiously by our dealer, or directly by JAYCO using a mobile tech while on the road.

I think the term "PIECE WORK" is a misnomer. Everybody at JAYCO is paid the same, whether it's the person installing the inside finish or building the roof assembly. They have a daily quota which I think is 15 a day. Do they all have the same work ethic? No, but that applies to every industry too.

Is JAYCO perfect, is GRAND DESIGN perfect, are FOREST RIVER products perfect, no they all have issues. Are they all junk, absolutely not? The majority serve their owners very well without major problems. As I said in my first post when you rely on multiple suppliers building the vast majority of components, except the structure, things will go wrong. People always use the auto industry as a comparison. How many of us will never buy a FORD, CHRYSLER, or GM because we've had past problems with that brand?

Off my soap box...

Hi Grumpy. We love our JAYCO and have had few and no major problems with it in 3 seasons. We had an awning issue and JAYCO replaced it with no questions.We have 2 service oriented JAYCO dealers close at hand that we like. This is our 4th JAYCO and plan to get another new one in 10 years when we turn 80. I just do not understand how we can be so happy with ours while others on the forum are plagued with one problem after the other. By the way we use ours60 nights a year and put about7500 miles on it.