RVIA "Sticker" is a joke!

[GD350M]

You know that little sticker stuck to the side of your camper near the main entry door? Yea that's suppose to mean something (at least all the blogs suggest). But this came directly from gorving website

As you shop for the right vehicle, make sure you look for the oval-shaped Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) seal. RVIA is a national association representing RV manufacturers and parts suppliers who together produce more than 95% of all RVs manufactured in the United States.

As members of RVIA, manufacturers who display the seal must self-certify compliance with more than 500 safety specifications for electrical, plumbing, heating, fire and life safety established under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Recreational Vehicles. Manufacturers are subject to periodic, unannounced plant inspections by RVIA representatives to audit their compliance. Members who fail to maintain an acceptable level of compliance can be expelled from the Association, which prohibits them from displaying the RVIA seal on their products.

So I was told that this is put in place to protect the consumer and it makes the manufacturers build a better quality unit. I was also told that because I had this "SEAL" it means that my unit was built with higher Quality as in water lines would never intersect with electrical lines. Well, someone most be getting paid handsomely!!! Cause we as consumers actual pay double the price for this seal in our final price and we don't get the quality they say we do.



This is a total rats nest of workmanship that was done on this 350M unit. I have electrical wires wrapped around drain pipes, I have water lines crossing over romex. Heck, my breaker panel has my main kitchen sink drain pipe running right behind it. So, when the pipe busts a leak, it will spray water all over the breaker box and probably cause an electrical fire. This is very disheartening knowing what I paid for this unit and this is the pride that was taken behind the walls?

 

[thompsjk]

If it makes you feel any better my 385TH looks just like that but it's a lot better than my last fifth wheel. My last one you could play a tune on some of the wires they were pulled so tight, I was nervous about sleeping in it. So it could be worse if you can imagine that.

 

[redram]

Well i have to agree on the RATS NEST. Don

 

[Cate&Rob]

Agreed on the rats nest(s). There are others behind the electrical panel and the stereo system. I was really disappointed when I looked inside these areas.
I am new to RV's but have been messing about with RV sized boats for years. To get boat insurance, you have to get a report from an independent licenced marine surveyor. I can tell you that the wiring and plumbing that I see in my Reflection 303 would not come anywhere close to passing a marine survey.
If this is "as good as it gets" . . . the RV industry has a long way to go.

Rob

 

[huntr70]

I can go take pictures of a dozen units in our shop right now, and they all look the same....

 

[tcjohnson]

Just because they all look the same, doesn't make it right.... what ever happened to pride in workmanship?

 

[Cate&Rob]

@huntr70
I don't doubt for a second that what you say is true.
I was just expressing my amazement that the "best" RV is no where close to minimum marine standards.
I would not have thought that these two similar industries would have such different expectations.

Rob

 

[huntr70]

@huntr70
I don't doubt for a second that what you say is true.
I was just expressing my amazement that the "best" RV is no where close to minimum marine standards.
I would not have thought that these two similar industries would have such different expectations.

Rob

Well, most of the difference is that these are still land based, and don't float in water.

I can tell you from personal experience that even your stick and brick homes that fall under building codes are no where near perfect either.

If these RV's were what you and I would build, they would cost $200,000......

 

[LCBoyer]

RVs, houses, cars, boats, all built by humans for a company more interested in profits than pride.

 

[THelton9414]

I've owned a lot of rvs and the Quality at Grand Design is probably the best I've seen. I feel safer in my Solitude 369RL than any rv I've been in.

 

[GD350M]

I agree with everyone that the Grand Design build quality is better. My big beef is that "WE" as "The Consumer" pay for this little "SEAL" on the side of our $60k plus camper stating that the unit was built with a higher quality standard. This same sticker that gets marked up most of the time, so that most dealers can make some money off of it. I had a dealer show me the MSRP build sheet and the "RVIA Seal" was $140 my cost. So with that I felt that ok, it's a small price to pay to make sure that the unit was built to a standard. Then when I open up the area and saw all of that...WOW!!!

I work in the oilfield as a Quality Assurance Specilist, my job is to audit venders on every tool that they build for the costumer I'm working for. If those tools are not inspected, built and tested to work properly, then they don't get shipped to the rig until it does.

All I ask is that I know that every inch of wire, pvc, carpet, etc. is saved, that's a profit for the manufacturer and in the end maybe the consumer too. But, I just want Grand Design to own this and try not to wrap romex around plumbing pipes to save a few inches in wire. Or have my breaker panel sit right in front of water and drain lines. This could be catastrophic to the consumer if something would happen and water got on everything.

Or just don't put this RVIA Seal on the camper if all it is, is just that...A STICKER!

 

[rvgolfer]

I agree with everyone that the Grand Design build quality is better. My big beef is that "WE" as "The Consumer" pay for this little "SEAL" on the side of our $60k plus camper stating that the unit was built with a higher quality standard. This same sticker that gets marked up most of the time, so that most dealers can make some money off of it. I had a dealer show me the MSRP build sheet and the "RVIA Seal" was $140 my cost. So with that I felt that ok, it's a small price to pay to make sure that the unit was built to a standard. Then when I open up the area and saw all of that...WOW!!!

I work in the oilfield as a Quality Assurance Specilist, my job is to audit venders on every tool that they build for the costumer I'm working for. If those tools are not inspected, built and tested to work properly, then they don't get shipped to the rig until it does.

All I ask is that I know that every inch of wire, pvc, carpet, etc. is saved, that's a profit for the manufacturer and in the end maybe the consumer too. But, I just want Grand Design to own this and try not to wrap romex around plumbing pipes to save a few inches in wire. Or have my breaker panel sit right in front of water and drain lines. This could be catastrophic to the consumer if something would happen and water got on everything.

Or just don't put this RVIA Seal on the camper if all it is, is just that...A STICKER!

RIVA is a group of manufacurers. It sounds good but what does it mean? When my AC unit was putting out over 80db of noise (above the OSHA Standard for permanent hearing loss), I learned RIVA has no standard for a noise level. I was also concerned about the entry steps that did not comply with the distance between each step as established in the building codes. The human body has learned the "normal" distance for steps..but, you better watch out getting in or out of an RV because RIVA has no standard here either. I have had guests almost fall and remark how irregular my steps were (new 4 step unit from Grand Design fixes this problem).

So I think RIVA is more eyewash for the factories than protection for the public.

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[vonzoog]

MSRP build sheet and the "RVIA Seal" was $140 my cost.

You got robbed. My new Momentum RVIA Seal only cost me $135.

Sorry, couldn't resist. It still was at least $130 too much.

 

[RamGunner]

The RVIA sticker is also required by some RV parks. It lets them keep out "homebuilt" units, conversions, things like that.

 

[rvgolfer]

I would advise all folks who are thinking about buying an RV to go on as many factory tours that they can before they buy. You will learn a lot more from these tours than any brochure or RIVA sticker will tell you. If you see workers RUNNING to get their tools and supplies and running to return them, and then running to their next task, you may want to question quality control. One friend got off an airplane when he observed a mechanic's lips to say "fu#$& it" as he was working on an engine. My friend got off the airplane, never flew again..the plane did have to land early. By the way, even the cheapest units have the RIVA sticker.

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