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Post by hedwigsrevenge on Feb 18, 2021 16:57:21 GMT -5
1. Dehumidifier. Yes I know the A/C does that. I'm talking about the time during the cold months, when the A/C doesn't run.
2. Heat pump as standard. I mean c'mon, its a $60 part for regular customers, if KZ bought them in bulk I'm sure they would be cheaper.
3. A reliable tankless or hybrid water heater. By hybrid, I mean a system that has maybe 2 or 3 gallons of hot water for the sinks and a tankless setup for the shower.
4. Better, more thoughtful storage solutions.
5. Less emphasis on "glitz" and more on construction quality. Great, you have fancy lights, but the first time you go down the road half the screws fall out.
6. Make the RV designed to actually be outside. Why on earth do you have to buy a cover, or make an entire garage for something that is literally designed to be outside in the elements? Fiberglass is pretty, but let it delaminate or get cloudy. We shouldn't have to spend either hundreds of dollars every six months maintaining it or in lieu of money our time every six months maintaining it. I'm not sure why people are ok with saying "everything's fine in mine, all I had to do was upgrade or replace blah blah blah." People spend a lot of money on these things and unless they are meticulously maintained they wont last the life of the loan. What kind of roof needs to be resealed and cleaned annually? I understand washing, but I have never had to reseal my truck roof. RV Armor has something figured out, because they don't need you to treat the roof like a fragile piece of heirloom glass.
7. Better axles. I have 500k on my truck and (knock on wood) have never had to replace or repack the wheels bearings.
8. Stop prepping for solar, and just install it, or don't bother.
9. Stop expecting that having a warranty means you're a good company. I have ran into dozens of issues over my many years of RVing and every time I needed warranty work it took forever. If your build quality os good, you dont have to rely on warranty.
Those are just a few. I know there's more.
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 18, 2021 21:50:41 GMT -5
1. Never saw a need 2. Buddy has one in his class A and says it's useless 3. 3 gallon heater $150 I use one in my shop in an RV with limited space? Two heaters = added cost 4. Better how, I have plenty of space and 3/4 time. A sliding try in the basement might be nice and I can buy one if I really want it. 5. I'm guessing 40,000+ on mine and not a screw has fallen out. 6. You leave your vehicles outside at all times? You do it in the SW and you'll be repainting in a few years. 7. Better axles how? Most automotive manufacturers agree that wheel bearing repacking and cleaning should be completed every 30,000 miles or once every other year. The reason for this is that eventually grease loses a lot of its lubricity due to age and heat. 8. Why stop solar prep some of use don't want it some do. Some like trucks some don't, different strokes for different folks. Want solar order it. 9. Most every company has a warranty some are better than others. RV warranty's are poor & in most cases you go to your selling dealer unlike vehicles, where you go to a dealer of that brand. That needs fixed and until it is your better learning to fix it yourself.
They make RV's to make money and adding all this adds to the price. Most people are not going to cough up 100K for weekends and a couple weeks a year. Order a Space Craft and you might get a trouble free RV & I'll guarantee you will get warranty service. Look at the high end web forums, they all have issues. For the price point KZ is one of the best.
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Post by nvguy on Feb 18, 2021 23:59:24 GMT -5
1: Can’t say I needed one. 2: Below about 40 heat pumps just don’t work worth a darn, unless you want to use the resistance grid. 3: Why? My 12 Ga works for me just fine. It’s simple, an easily installed & maintained package. 4: Like what? What works for one may not work for another. In all the RVs I have owned, I haven’t come across much “dead-unused” space 5: This is what sells. If blue lights under the counter didn’t produce sales, they wouldn’t install them. Most consumers don’t really care what is inside the walls. 6: It’s just maintenance. Sunlight causes everything to deteriorate. RVs have a lot to deal with, they twist and bend- try towing a typical house down the road. Remember your truck roof is a one piece of metal. Unless you have a moon/ sunroof, check the various automotive forums to learn about sun roof leaks. 7: Chances are your truck has sealed wheel bearings in the front. The rears are lubricated with the gears- and most mfgs recommend rear axle lube be changed at 100K. You want really long life? Get oil bath axles at 2X expected load. But oil bath axles don’t really like to sit 50 weeks a year. Most people won’t pay for or really don’t want that much overbuild. 8: Offer so those who want it can get it. 9: Build quality is not a guarantee of perfection. Automotive warranties are not all that great either. The RV industry is much different than the automotive industry. The RV industry is in essence building a custom hand built vehicle, with off the shelf components built by several different suppliers. Biggest issue is the shortage of RV techs, right behind that is auto techs.
RVs are a lot of compromises. They have to be light while enduring our fantastic highways. And most important, they have to be price competitive. A $250K 5th wheel isn't a big market. All in all, for the demands that are put on them, they do pretty well. Despite the minor issues I have had with my KZ the dollar VS issues has been a great value. To expand on Edd's comments- I have some friends who had a $300K Diesel Pusher- and it was plagued with issues. So much so they dumped it with barely a year of ownership.
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Post by hedwigsrevenge on Feb 19, 2021 9:31:03 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear that you've never encountered condensation issues, a quick search on Google would show that you are few and far between, maybe share the wisdom of avoiding it? I installed a heat pump in mine, and I love it. It works wonders in the mildly cold weather (40's) Not talking about a 3 gallon heater plus another, as I said, Hybrid. We have rovers on Mars, people were on the Moon decades ago, and somehow we still have a 6 gallon WH as standard in RV's designed for 6 adults. Example, we have a small 3 quart instant pot that literally fits in no cabinet in the entire RV. It's not very big, and doesn't take up much space, but there are 2 drawers and 2 cabinets on ours. We're full timers, and have lived in almost every state in our RV's over the years. Glad to hear you've never had a quality issue. Our water heater was installed incorrectly, and I wouldn't have caught it unless I installed a tankless. It was leaking into the floor, in the sealed compartment in the back corner. The recall for the skylights wasn't fixed until the parts were back in stock. The leak caused water damage, which to this day, KZ maintains isn't their fault and is trying to say its the dealers fault for not installing in time. Yes, I do leave my 2008 truck outside all the time. I don't have a garage. We spent about a year in AZ and a total of 8 years in the SW, with that truck. Like I stated washes are a necessary part of maintenance, but having to reseal and replace "worn" or "faded" parts almost annually? The vinyl trim in our 2020 didn't make it from the dealer to our site before it started splitting at the base. I have literally never, ever, ever done the axles in my truck. I've taken it to a dealer at certain intervals to make sure all required maintenance is done right, and have never had to grease the axles. That's my point, it should be an option. I would imagine it costs more to install it as standard, and when it is installed its a 10 amp max meant for charging the battery. Which is great in theory, but personally I would rather have said I want a 1500 watt ready prep. Easy way to mark up and pass along costs to customers. Like they do with TV's or generators. Huge mark ups. I get brand loyalty, I do. But Some of things the industry has it's owners doing are a bit absurd. Searches here in this forum show serious quality control issues. Why isn't there a real quality control department at these facilities? And I say real, because the QC they have is a joke. Go to any auto manufacturer in the nation today and you'll see a separate division for QC that will send the car back through to be fixed before its even left the factory. I understand there are still problems, but at least everything they could have done would have been done. I would happily add 1k lbs. to my RV (well in reality I did) in order to make it significantly more user friendly. If you buy something advertised as lightweight, then you're going to get lightweight (cheaper) materials. I bought a 40' TT. Obviously weight wasn't too far up there on the list of things to worry about. 1. Never saw a need 2. Buddy has one in his class A and says it's useless 3. 3 gallon heater $150 I use one in my shop in an RV with limited space? Two heaters = added cost 4. Better how, I have plenty of space and 3/4 time. A sliding try in the basement might be nice and I can buy one if I really want it. 5. I'm guessing 40,000+ on mine and not a screw has fallen out. 6. You leave your vehicles outside at all times? You do it in the SW and you'll be repainting in a few years. 7. Better axles how? Most automotive manufacturers agree that wheel bearing repacking and cleaning should be completed every 30,000 miles or once every other year. The reason for this is that eventually grease loses a lot of its lubricity due to age and heat. 8. Why stop solar prep some of use don't want it some do. Some like trucks some don't, different strokes for different folks. Want solar order it. 9. Most every company has a warranty some are better than others. RV warranty's are poor & in most cases you go to your selling dealer unlike vehicles, where you go to a dealer of that brand. That needs fixed and until it is your better learning to fix it yourself. They make RV's to make money and adding all this adds to the price. Most people are not going to cough up 100K for weekends and a couple weeks a year. Order a Space Craft and you might get a trouble free RV & I'll guarantee you will get warranty service. Look at the high end web forums, they all have issues. For the price point KZ is one of the best
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 19, 2021 16:23:48 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear that you've never encountered condensation issues, a quick search on Google would show that you are few and far between, maybe share the wisdom of avoiding it? I installed a heat pump in mine, and I love it. It works wonders in the mildly cold weather (40's) Not talking about a 3 gallon heater plus another, as I said, Hybrid. We have rovers on Mars, people were on the Moon decades ago, and somehow we still have a 6 gallon WH as standard in RV's designed for 6 adults. Example, we have a small 3 quart instant pot that literally fits in no cabinet in the entire RV. It's not very big, and doesn't take up much space, but there are 2 drawers and 2 cabinets on ours. We're full timers, and have lived in almost every state in our RV's over the years. Glad to hear you've never had a quality issue. Our water heater was installed incorrectly, and I wouldn't have caught it unless I installed a tankless. It was leaking into the floor, in the sealed compartment in the back corner. The recall for the skylights wasn't fixed until the parts were back in stock. The leak caused water damage, which to this day, KZ maintains isn't their fault and is trying to say its the dealers fault for not installing in time. Yes, I do leave my 2008 truck outside all the time. I don't have a garage. We spent about a year in AZ and a total of 8 years in the SW, with that truck. Like I stated washes are a necessary part of maintenance, but having to reseal and replace "worn" or "faded" parts almost annually? The vinyl trim in our 2020 didn't make it from the dealer to our site before it started splitting at the base. I have literally never, ever, ever done the axles in my truck. I've taken it to a dealer at certain intervals to make sure all required maintenance is done right, and have never had to grease the axles. That's my point, it should be an option. I would imagine it costs more to install it as standard, and when it is installed its a 10 amp max meant for charging the battery. Which is great in theory, but personally I would rather have said I want a 1500 watt ready prep. Easy way to mark up and pass along costs to customers. Like they do with TV's or generators. Huge mark ups. I get brand loyalty, I do. But Some of things the industry has it's owners doing are a bit absurd. Searches here in this forum show serious quality control issues. Why isn't there a real quality control department at these facilities? And I say real, because the QC they have is a joke. Go to any auto manufacturer in the nation today and you'll see a separate division for QC that will send the car back through to be fixed before its even left the factory. I understand there are still problems, but at least everything they could have done would have been done. I would happily add 1k lbs. to my RV (well in reality I did) in order to make it significantly more user friendly. If you buy something advertised as lightweight, then you're going to get lightweight (cheaper) materials. I bought a 40' TT. Obviously weight wasn't too far up there on the list of things to worry about. Secret to condensation is ventilation even in cold weather. I looked at your model and it looks like no storage and for us it would be a pass. Wife has every gadget known to man kind stored in ours, 5qt stand mixer, blender, waffle iron, crock pot, ice cream maker etc. One of the things we looked at was storage area, we 3/4 time and still have room in cabinets. Here's our floor plan, lots of cabinet storage, 6 drawers is the kitchen and I have no idea how many cabinets I'm not going to count. 353RKT We have had enough 5W's we knew exactly what we wanted and this checked all the boxes. Your floor plans looks like at least 4 adults and 6ga in not enough, our 12ga is sometimes not enough for two. I think disc brake should be an option too but it's not, some want solar I'd pass I have generator. They come prepped for a washer/dryer and how many use that?
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Post by hedwigsrevenge on Feb 19, 2021 16:42:40 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear that you've never encountered condensation issues, a quick search on Google would show that you are few and far between, maybe share the wisdom of avoiding it? I installed a heat pump in mine, and I love it. It works wonders in the mildly cold weather (40's) Not talking about a 3 gallon heater plus another, as I said, Hybrid. We have rovers on Mars, people were on the Moon decades ago, and somehow we still have a 6 gallon WH as standard in RV's designed for 6 adults. Example, we have a small 3 quart instant pot that literally fits in no cabinet in the entire RV. It's not very big, and doesn't take up much space, but there are 2 drawers and 2 cabinets on ours. We're full timers, and have lived in almost every state in our RV's over the years. Glad to hear you've never had a quality issue. Our water heater was installed incorrectly, and I wouldn't have caught it unless I installed a tankless. It was leaking into the floor, in the sealed compartment in the back corner. The recall for the skylights wasn't fixed until the parts were back in stock. The leak caused water damage, which to this day, KZ maintains isn't their fault and is trying to say its the dealers fault for not installing in time. Yes, I do leave my 2008 truck outside all the time. I don't have a garage. We spent about a year in AZ and a total of 8 years in the SW, with that truck. Like I stated washes are a necessary part of maintenance, but having to reseal and replace "worn" or "faded" parts almost annually? The vinyl trim in our 2020 didn't make it from the dealer to our site before it started splitting at the base. I have literally never, ever, ever done the axles in my truck. I've taken it to a dealer at certain intervals to make sure all required maintenance is done right, and have never had to grease the axles. That's my point, it should be an option. I would imagine it costs more to install it as standard, and when it is installed its a 10 amp max meant for charging the battery. Which is great in theory, but personally I would rather have said I want a 1500 watt ready prep. Easy way to mark up and pass along costs to customers. Like they do with TV's or generators. Huge mark ups. I get brand loyalty, I do. But Some of things the industry has it's owners doing are a bit absurd. Searches here in this forum show serious quality control issues. Why isn't there a real quality control department at these facilities? And I say real, because the QC they have is a joke. Go to any auto manufacturer in the nation today and you'll see a separate division for QC that will send the car back through to be fixed before its even left the factory. I understand there are still problems, but at least everything they could have done would have been done. I would happily add 1k lbs. to my RV (well in reality I did) in order to make it significantly more user friendly. If you buy something advertised as lightweight, then you're going to get lightweight (cheaper) materials. I bought a 40' TT. Obviously weight wasn't too far up there on the list of things to worry about. Secret to condensation is ventilation even in cold weather. I looked at your model and it looks like no storage and for us it would be a pass. Wife has every gadget known to man kind stored in ours, 5qt stand mixer, blender, waffle iron, crock pot, ice cream maker etc. One of the things we looked at was storage area, we 3/4 time and still have room in cabinets. Here's our floor plan, lots of cabinet storage, 6 drawers is the kitchen and I have no idea how many cabinets I'm not going to count. 353RKT We have had enough 5W's we knew exactly what we wanted and this checked all the boxes. Your floor plans looks like at least 4 adults and 6ga in not enough, our 12ga is sometimes not enough for two. I think disc brake should be an option too but it's not, some want solar I'd pass I have generator. They come prepped for a washer/dryer and how many use that?
We didn't expect to fulltime in ours, but we couldn't pass up the sale of our house in the market we were in, so we figured lets just live in the TT, since we already bought it. We have all sorts of gadgets, I do the ventilation in the cold with the "fireplace" going, but we still get excess condensation, especially in the bedroom as there are no vents, just windows. It's significantly worse if its cold and raining. I bought a dehumidifier and they fill up pretty quick if its wet outside. I definitely would not buy this one again, or even recommend this series to anyone.
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Post by lynnmor on Feb 19, 2021 17:41:39 GMT -5
You are living in a small, poorly insulated box, any trailer will be a challenge in cold weather. Keep showers to a minimum length of time, using water no warmer than necessary. Don't hang wet towels or clothing inside to dry, all of that water is part of the problem. Cooking will add moisture, use the exhaust fan or cook outside when possible.
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Post by hedwigsrevenge on Feb 20, 2021 9:15:47 GMT -5
There in lies the rub. Are we expected to seriously not actually utilize the kitchen or shower that came with the RV? That's like saying you bought a car that has A/C and heat but if you use it, the vehicle wont be able to drive. Having a factory installed and designed for said space dehumidifier would negate the need to not use the kitchen that is in your $40k+ RV, and allow you to take longer showers in your $40k+ RV. I'm not too sure why we make excuses for things we buy as if it's our fault for having the audacity to use the RV as it is intended to be used. You are living in a small, poorly insulated box, any trailer will be a challenge in cold weather. Keep showers to a minimum length of time, using water no warmer than necessary. Don't hang wet towels or clothing inside to dry, all of that water is part of the problem. Cooking will add moisture, use the exhaust fan or cook outside when possible.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 20, 2021 10:07:17 GMT -5
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Post by hedwigsrevenge on Feb 20, 2021 17:29:24 GMT -5
It sounds like I'm in the wrong business if we call these things hobbies. It must be nice to have your life!
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 20, 2021 21:29:36 GMT -5
We didn't expect to fulltime in ours, but we couldn't pass up the sale of our house in the market we were in, so we figured lets just live in the TT, since we already bought it. We have all sorts of gadgets, I do the ventilation in the cold with the "fireplace" going, but we still get excess condensation, especially in the bedroom as there are no vents, just windows. It's significantly worse if its cold and raining. I bought a dehumidifier and they fill up pretty quick if its wet outside. I definitely would not buy this one again, or even recommend this series to anyone. OK I see what your saying, you RV was built as a week end & vacation RV. I live in the SW with humidity normally single digit or low teens, in rain area I might need the humidifier. We are currently in cold and snow just left with no condensation problems. I added a small quartz heater in the bedroom crack windows days in the bedroom. Anytime the showers used the fan goes on, that helps a bunch, shower w/o and the with the fan and watch the mirror fog, I get none with the fan on.
I have had a 5W that had a ceiling vent in the bedroom, loved it and wish they all did. I have thought about putting one in just haven't got to it yet. If the humidifier works let other know. One of the best things about these forums is sharing what we learn.
Oh and the washer/dryer question, Me, I did the install. I have an 18 CBFT refrigerator I just ordered some "upgrades" (fans & thermistor) for it. If they work as advertised I'll share that as the big RV box temp does not stay consistent. Happy Camping, and travel safe.
PS: If you made more on the house and like the life stile you might think about an RV upgrade.
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Post by jfspry58 on Feb 21, 2021 23:23:37 GMT -5
1. Dehumidifier. Yes I know the A/C does that. I'm talking about the time during the cold months, when the A/C doesn't run. 2. Heat pump as standard. I mean c'mon, its a $60 part for regular customers, if KZ bought them in bulk I'm sure they would be cheaper. 3. A reliable tankless or hybrid water heater. By hybrid, I mean a system that has maybe 2 or 3 gallons of hot water for the sinks and a tankless setup for the shower. 4. Better, more thoughtful storage solutions. 5. Less emphasis on "glitz" and more on construction quality. Great, you have fancy lights, but the first time you go down the road half the screws fall out. 6. Make the RV designed to actually be outside. Why on earth do you have to buy a cover, or make an entire garage for something that is literally designed to be outside in the elements? Fiberglass is pretty, but let it delaminate or get cloudy. We shouldn't have to spend either hundreds of dollars every six months maintaining it or in lieu of money our time every six months maintaining it. I'm not sure why people are ok with saying "everything's fine in mine, all I had to do was upgrade or replace blah blah blah." People spend a lot of money on these things and unless they are meticulously maintained they wont last the life of the loan. What kind of roof needs to be resealed and cleaned annually? I understand washing, but I have never had to reseal my truck roof. RV Armor has something figured out, because they don't need you to treat the roof like a fragile piece of heirloom glass. 7. Better axles. I have 500k on my truck and (knock on wood) have never had to replace or repack the wheels bearings. 8. Stop prepping for solar, and just install it, or don't bother. 9. Stop expecting that having a warranty means you're a good company. I have ran into dozens of issues over my many years of RVing and every time I needed warranty work it took forever. If your build quality os good, you dont have to rely on warranty. Those are just a few. I know there's more. Although I get your point, I do disagree on some of your points. Here's my list. 1. I've never really needed a dehumidifier. We use our exhaust fans while cooking and showering, and we DO cook indoors a lot. 2. Not a fan of heat pumps for residential use so I personally do not want one in my RV either. I have owned them in the past and personally prefer a good split system. It could be a useful option for someone who actually wants one or lives in an area where the climate is suitable for a heat pump. 3. I'm very content with the 12 gallon unit in my Durango; we've never run out of hot water. But... the 6 gallon WH in my previous 5th wheel was too small, so if you have a 6 gallon, I totally get your point. The Durangos and Durango Golds actually now come standard with a tankless model. Mine is an early '21 but is identical to the '20 models, so the change must have come at the same time as a few other mid-year model changes. It does appear that KZ often makes minor changes mid-year. 4. Our 333 has more than enough storage both inside and out for my wife and I to take extended trips. The basement is HUGE! We are not full timers but we do spend months at a time in it... and she likes to take EVERYTHING! 5. I totally agree about the glitz, but unfortunately it does sell. I've had zero issues with our trailer. The build quality is the best of any RV I've owned. 6. I keep all my vehicles in a garage when not in use. Why would I treat my 5th wheel any differently? It is as big an investment as any vehicle I own. It also, due to the very nature of the beast, must be designed quite differently than a truck or car. The roof and walls must flex or it will self-destruct while bouncing, twisting, and turning down the highway. 7. I've had no issues with my axles, but they are an oft-upgraded item. That being said, automotive and trailer axles are totally different, and by nature, require completely different maintenance. 8. Again, I do not currently need solar panels, but I do like the idea of the wiring being in place should I decide I want them in the future. 9. On the contrary, a company who offers a 2 year warranty instead of the industry standard 1 year, at least appears to believe their product is better. Again, as has been pointed out, at this price point, KZ builds some of the better quality towable RVs available. This is the first KZ product I have owned, and thus far, I have been pleased. Best of luck in the future and safe travels, Jay
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Post by laknox on Feb 22, 2021 11:28:17 GMT -5
1. Dehumidifier. Yes I know the A/C does that. I'm talking about the time during the cold months, when the A/C doesn't run. If you're camping a lot in cold weather, or plan to, then go for the dual pane windows. Using propane heat does generate a lot of condensation and people have complained about that. Usual solution is to use electric heat to supplement the furnace, especially if you're in a non-metered campground. Also, cracking windows or vents helps. I've also read where people will cover the inside of their single-pane windows with 1/4" bubble wrap for an extra layer of insulation that works nearly 100% for keeping condensation down.2. Heat pump as standard. I mean c'mon, its a $60 part for regular customers, if KZ bought them in bulk I'm sure they would be cheaper. So long as you're not in really cold conditions, I can see it. Once you start getting below 30-ish, then you'll wish you had a furnace.3. A reliable tankless or hybrid water heater. By hybrid, I mean a system that has maybe 2 or 3 gallons of hot water for the sinks and a tankless setup for the shower. Eh... I like my 8 gal gas/electric water heater just fine. My old Komfort had a 10 gal and I never ran out of hot water when showering, even on gas only. The few times we were in a campground, I'd pop on the electric switch on top of the gas, and DW and I could shower back-to-back with zero issues, other than having to dump the grey tank. :-)4. Better, more thoughtful storage solutions. I haven't seen a FW yet that I'd complain about having enough storage, but then we tend to travel pretty light. As it is, I'd bet that our payload only uses 30-40% of the available storage in our rig. Yeah, we're pretty much long-weekend-warriors for now, but even when we will start going for longer trips, the vast majority of our "stuff" will be clothes, and there's plenty of room for that.5. Less emphasis on "glitz" and more on construction quality. Great, you have fancy lights, but the first time you go down the road half the screws fall out. I agree on lots less "glitz" and better "bones". FWIW, I've never had screws fall out, though I do check screws on occasion. Even then, I've found very few loose ones.6. Make the RV designed to actually be outside. Why on earth do you have to buy a cover, or make an entire garage for something that is literally designed to be outside in the elements? Fiberglass is pretty, but let it delaminate or get cloudy. We shouldn't have to spend either hundreds of dollars every six months maintaining it or in lieu of money our time every six months maintaining it. I'm not sure why people are ok with saying "everything's fine in mine, all I had to do was upgrade or replace blah blah blah." People spend a lot of money on these things and unless they are meticulously maintained they wont last the life of the loan. What kind of roof needs to be resealed and cleaned annually? I understand washing, but I have never had to reseal my truck roof. RV Armor has something figured out, because they don't need you to treat the roof like a fragile piece of heirloom glass. While I'd love to see a spray-on roof from the factory, most roofs, with a bit of inspection and maintenance, will last way longer than most people will keep their rigs. I do an yearly inspection on mine and, if I see any cracking in the caulk, I clean it up, grab the Dicor tube, and fix it. I'll usually put Eternabond over the top of it, too. Hell, one of the first things I did when I got my KZ, was to Eternabond the entire front roof seal, right over the Dicor. One less thing to worry about. Very early on, I managed to scrape under a tree branch at my Dad's house (not used to 12.5' vs 10') and I just cleaned the roof and put some tape over the scrapes (no penetration that I could see), and zero problems. I'm lucky in that I have covered storage, so my roof and caulking is "weathering" very slowly. My old Komfort got a couple wash 'n waxes when we went down to Mexico, but other than an occasional wash at home, it was never waxed in the 13 years we owned it. Yeah, it showed, but that was more due to it being stored outside than anything else. Wax wouldn't have helped, IMO. AZ sun kills =anything= outside, except cacti, no matter what you do.7. Better axles. I have 500k on my truck and (knock on wood) have never had to replace or repack the wheels bearings. My old Komfort had 5200 lb axles under it, with EZLube bearings. At about the 10 year mark, I had the bearings replaced with good Timkens and the shop that did it said that the old ones showed little to no wear (they were US made), but for $30 a wheel for the set, I went with the new ones. I'd just jack up a wheel at a time each year, and pump grease in until I could hear air popping out the seal, and that was good enough for me. I never repacked them or checked the bearings, other than trying to "wiggle" the wheel while it was off the ground.8. Stop prepping for solar, and just install it, or don't bother. Why should I pay for an option that I don't want? 'Sides, I'd very much question the quality of =any= factory "solar prep". Personally, I'd use the installed wiring as "pull tape" to pull =proper= wiring in. As for factory-installed solar packages, same thing. I'd question the gauge of the wiring, the quality of the panels and the charge controller.9. Stop expecting that having a warranty means you're a good company. I have ran into dozens of issues over my many years of RVing and every time I needed warranty work it took forever. If your build quality os good, you dont have to rely on warranty. When I was shopping, the only 2 =major= companies offering 2 year warranties were KZ and Jayco and, guess what? They were #1 and #2 on my short list. There were others in the top 5, but with only 1 year warranties, they were far down the list.Those are just a few. I know there's more. Just my thoughts.
Lyle
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Post by lynnmor on Feb 22, 2021 16:40:45 GMT -5
1. Dehumidifier. Yes I know the A/C does that. I'm talking about the time during the cold months, when the A/C doesn't run. If you're camping a lot in cold weather, or plan to, then go for the dual pane windows. Using propane heat does generate a lot of condensation and people have complained about that. Usual solution is to use electric heat to supplement the furnace, especially if you're in a non-metered campground. Also, cracking windows or vents helps. I've also read where people will cover the inside of their single-pane windows with 1/4" bubble wrap for an extra layer of insulation that works nearly 100% for keeping condensation down.2. Heat pump as standard. I mean c'mon, its a $60 part for regular customers, if KZ bought them in bulk I'm sure they would be cheaper. So long as you're not in really cold conditions, I can see it. Once you start getting below 30-ish, then you'll wish you had a furnace.The dual pane windows have caused some people a lot of trouble, they are not thermopane that are completely sealed, they are two sheets of glass with a gasket that may leak. The propane furnaces do not add moisture inside the RV, the combustion air is from outdoors and it is exhausted outdoors. While heat pumps are now being used in some higher end RVs, I think this conversation is referring to heat strips. Heat strips are cheap and do add some heat but some expect too much.
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 22, 2021 20:29:19 GMT -5
Although I get your point, I do disagree on some of your points. Here's my list. 1. I've never really needed a dehumidifier. We use our exhaust fans while cooking and showering, and we DO cook indoors a lot. 2. Not a fan of heat pumps for residential use so I personally do not want one in my RV either. I have owned them in the past and personally prefer a good split system. It could be a useful option for someone who actually wants one or lives in an area where the climate is suitable for a heat pump. 3. I'm very content with the 12 gallon unit in my Durango; we've never run out of hot water. But... the 6 gallon WH in my previous 5th wheel was too small, so if you have a 6 gallon, I totally get your point. The Durangos and Durango Golds actually now come standard with a tankless model. Mine is an early '21 but is identical to the '20 models, so the change must have come at the same time as a few other mid-year model changes. It does appear that KZ often makes minor changes mid-year. 4. Our 333 has more than enough storage both inside and out for my wife and I to take extended trips. The basement is HUGE! We are not full timers but we do spend months at a time in it... and she likes to take EVERYTHING! 5. I totally agree about the glitz, but unfortunately it does sell. I've had zero issues with our trailer. The build quality is the best of any RV I've owned. 6. I keep all my vehicles in a garage when not in use. Why would I treat my 5th wheel any differently? It is as big an investment as any vehicle I own. It also, due to the very nature of the beast, must be designed quite differently than a truck or car. The roof and walls must flex or it will self-destruct while bouncing, twisting, and turning down the highway. 7. I've had no issues with my axles, but they are an oft-upgraded item. That being said, automotive and trailer axles are totally different, and by nature, require completely different maintenance. 8. Again, I do not currently need solar panels, but I do like the idea of the wiring being in place should I decide I want them in the future. 9. On the contrary, a company who offers a 2 year warranty instead of the industry standard 1 year, at least appears to believe their product is better. Again, as has been pointed out, at this price point, KZ builds some of the better quality towable RVs available. This is the first KZ product I have owned, and thus far, I have been pleased. Best of luck in the future and safe travels, Jay
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Post by laknox on Feb 23, 2021 10:12:00 GMT -5
The dual pane windows have caused some people a lot of trouble, they are not thermopane that are completely sealed, they are two sheets of glass with a gasket that may leak. The propane furnaces do not add moisture inside the RV, the combustion air is from outdoors and it is exhausted outdoors. While heat pumps are now being used in some higher end RVs, I think this conversation is referring to heat strips. Heat strips are cheap and do add some heat but some expect too much. Regarding the dual-pane windows, I'm just going on what I've read in the past 15 years. People that had issues with condensation during the winter, got a rig with dual panes and, no more condensation. Same with the furnaces. Maybe it's just being sealed up, I don't know, but people who have said they've used propane heat exclusively, always seemed to have more condensation problems than people who used electric. Oh, heat strips. Yeah, that'd be nice to have, I suppose, but I'm still a fan of the oil-filled heaters and, maybe, a small, quiet, fan. I've only had to use heat in either of my FWs on about a half-dozen occasions. My brother borrowed my old Komfort to go camping with some guys from church and ended up having to use it...or tried to. It had the classic "spider web on the gas jet" problem. Fortunately, the others were well-versed in getting it cleaned out, so he and my nephew had heat the next morning. :-) Lyle
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Post by hedwigsrevenge on Feb 24, 2021 9:38:39 GMT -5
You know, we made more on the house than expected, but by the time we thought we should sell the rv and get a different one, I had already ripped out half the things in it. If you've ever torn apart an rv, you will really quickly see how much "quality" is put into the building of these things. End of the day, we needed more storage, and it isn't a 5th wheel with a basement. So I did what I had to do. We didn't expect to fulltime in ours, but we couldn't pass up the sale of our house in the market we were in, so we figured lets just live in the TT, since we already bought it. We have all sorts of gadgets, I do the ventilation in the cold with the "fireplace" going, but we still get excess condensation, especially in the bedroom as there are no vents, just windows. It's significantly worse if its cold and raining. I bought a dehumidifier and they fill up pretty quick if its wet outside. I definitely would not buy this one again, or even recommend this series to anyone. OK I see what your saying, you RV was built as a week end & vacation RV. I live in the SW with humidity normally single digit or low teens, in rain area I might need the humidifier. We are currently in cold and snow just left with no condensation problems. I added a small quartz heater in the bedroom crack windows days in the bedroom. Anytime the showers used the fan goes on, that helps a bunch, shower w/o and the with the fan and watch the mirror fog, I get none with the fan on.
I have had a 5W that had a ceiling vent in the bedroom, loved it and wish they all did. I have thought about putting one in just haven't got to it yet. If the humidifier works let other know. One of the best things about these forums is sharing what we learn.
Oh and the washer/dryer question, Me, I did the install. I have an 18 CBFT refrigerator I just ordered some "upgrades" (fans & thermistor) for it. If they work as advertised I'll share that as the big RV box temp does not stay consistent. Happy Camping, and travel safe.
PS: If you made more on the house and like the life stile you might think about an RV upgrade.
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Post by jfspry58 on Feb 24, 2021 22:52:24 GMT -5
You know, we made more on the house than expected, but by the time we thought we should sell the rv and get a different one, I had already ripped out half the things in it. If you've ever torn apart an rv, you will really quickly see how much "quality" is put into the building of these things. End of the day, we needed more storage, and it isn't a 5th wheel with a basement. So I did what I had to do. For some reason I thought you had a 5th wheel. If you have a travel trailer, that makes a huge difference in storage. There are some advantages to a travel trailer but storage is not one of them. Even though our 5er has a lot of storage, I'm still thinking of adding some shelving to the ends of the bedroom closet and putting a hinge on the bench seat in the bedroom so it becomes a hamper. You can never have too much storage. Lots of luck! Jay
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