Newmar quality tanking?

[FL-JOE]

John, you are correct about the honey. At the 2 year mark Newmar replaced both my front seats plus repaired another item. At around 14 months they covered 100% on a Oasis pump failure. Each time I simply informed them of the issue, I certainly did not complain. They always stepped up for me.

Old-RVer, I feel your pain. We will probably start looking for another sticknbrick sometime in 2023. Even though it kills me to pay in these times of inflated home prices it is getting close to time. We still will travel 3 or 4 months each summer and actually considered doing that in the future by motorcycle. However, we just completed a road trip from Florida to Austin FL and back on the bike. The motels were HORRIBLE with most being remodeled. Generally they looked good from the outside, were in the $80 to $120 range, but once you got in the room it was old, dirty, and awful. Wondering if 3 years of Covid has ruined the motel industry? We may be simply downsizing to a smaller RV for part time travel.

 

[FLSteve]

Your guys are scaring me as we are one of the ones that just bought a new coach. Ordered a 2022 Mountain Aire on 9/6/21 and took delivery on 3/8/22. We have been in it pretty much since then and have put about 2,500 miles on it so far. I am not saying the stuff you are talking about is not happening ... but I just have not seen it so far on our new coach and this is sure not my first time in the saddle. Yes, we are making a list of items to get addressed sometime soon, but nothing to the extent that I am hearing and reading about. Our situation may change ... but for now we are happy campers.

FLSteve

 

[Old-RV'er]

Yes, country is beautiful, some great restaurants, some great parks I remember. I can list them if interested. Had great time, enjoyed it, but life has turning points, and all the negatives now in RV world and wanted change. Good luck to all. I just don't want to plan my life out 13 months to travel.

 

[Neal]

Please keep thread on topic. Thank you.

 

[bpaikman]

I'm hearing more and more reports of extreme dissatisfaction with what's coming out of Newmar. Very unhappy customers taking delivery and appointments already going out to the end of 2022 for warranty visits. I've heard problems started in 2019 and therefore warnings about buying used Newmars 2019 or later. Now it seems things have fallen to new lows and the question is why?

We bought a 2014 Ventana last year - Granted it's not the top of the line.
It has the beautiful cabinetry, haha. The original sofa and captain chairs - still looks brand new - I'm thinking it might be yinyl but it could be leather - it's not peeling 'ultraleather'.
We had a few minor issues that have been easily fixed.
We've put several thousand miles on it since this fall, and the overall feeling I get is that it's pretty decent. I think that it's not as user-friendly design as the same year models in other brands that we looked at, but we bought it for the brand reputation (and it was a good deal for the time)..
We budgeted for initial repairs and upgrades, But so far have not had the repairs we expected. So I'm banking the repair money. cautiously pleased so far.
Extremely drivable. Starts up like a champ every time I crank that key. I only wish it had a total battery disconnect somewhere. I have never been able to find one so I think we will have to install one.

 

[Old-RV'er]

Our 2019, at end of first year, took to Mothership for warranty fixes. We had 39 things, some major (power cord reel) and lots of little minor things, some wiring needing to be tucked away better, some wood trim needing to be nailed into wall better, the bathroom window was falling out (recall on all those windows type now). The satellite connection in the bay was wired backwards or something, just simple things which should have been caught on the line. I was pleased with the quality of the repairs and the professionalism of the work performed. That was early June 2020. Other, things have occurred in our nation/economy which are causing many to pause. That Newmar will stand behind work is admiral. Would it not be less costly to slow down production, and check everything 3 times to make sure it's good before passing it down to next station. Yes, they are going to pay regardless, but in the factory is to me cheaper to make right, than later after everything assembled, and in the way of the offending part/piece. Hopefully they will figure this out.

 

[J&JD]

We bought a 2014 Ventana last year - Granted it's not the top of the line.
It has the beautiful cabinetry, haha. The original sofa and captain chairs - still looks brand new - I'm thinking it might be yinyl but it could be leather - it's not peeling 'ultraleather'.
We had a few minor issues that have been easily fixed.
We've put several thousand miles on it since this fall, and the overall feeling I get is that it's pretty decent. I think that it's not as user-friendly design as the same year models in other brands that we looked at, but we bought it for the brand reputation (and it was a good deal for the time)..
We budgeted for initial repairs and upgrades, But so far have not had the repairs we expected. So I'm banking the repair money. cautiously pleased so far.
Extremely drivable. Starts up like a champ every time I crank that key. I only wish it had a total battery disconnect somewhere. I have never been able to find one so I think we will have to install one.

Newmar did not use Ulltra Leather, at least in Dutch Stars. They specified a much cheaper fabric for Flex Steel to use, thus the peeling. I have no idea what they are currently using with the new manufacturer. Judy D

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

The original sofa and captain chairs - still looks brand new - I'm thinking it might be yinyl but it could be leather - it's not peeling 'ultraleather'.

It's not UltraLeather that's been peeling - it's what is called "Bonded Leather". UltraLeather is a trademarked synthetic material and is expensive. Bonded Leather is made by grinding up a huge vat of scrap leather bits and making it into a slurry. The slurry is then sprayed onto a substrate material and dried. Over time it starts separating from the substrate as it loses adhesion. It is considerably cheaper than Ultra Leather, which is why it is so popular with the furniture manufacturers. That, and so long as it contains a minimum of 7% real leather they can convince buyers that they're getting "real leather" instead of a synthetic.

 

[bpaikman]

It's not UltraLeather that's been peeling - it's what is called "Bonded Leather". UltraLeather is a trademarked synthetic material and is expensive. Bonded Leather is made by grinding up a huge vat of scrap leather bits and making it into a slurry. The slurry is then sprayed onto a substrate material and dried. Over time it starts separating from the substrate as it loses adhesion. It is considerably cheaper than Ultra Leather, which is why it is so popular with the furniture manufacturers. That, and so long as it contains a minimum of 7% real leather they can convince buyers that they're getting "real leather" instead of a synthetic.

Disgusting, yes? That's why I call it 'spray-on leather'. I've started calling it all 'ultra leather' because some coaches we looked at were claiming ultraleather but it was peeling. Usually in Tiffin coaches, but we did see a Winnebago that was only 4 years old, low milesge, but peeling everywhere.
I feel so sorry for whoever bought that one new. It sat on a large sales lot (pplmotorhomes in sw houston) for months, during a time when coaches were flying off the lot. It never sold, and I suppose the owner took it back.

 

[bpaikman]

Our 2019, at end of first year, took to Mothership for warranty fixes. We had 39 things, some major (power cord reel) and lots of little minor things, some wiring needing to be tucked away better, some wood trim needing to be nailed into wall better, the bathroom window was falling out (recall on all those windows type now). The satellite connection in the bay was wired backwards or something, just simple things which should have been caught on the line. I was pleased with the quality of the repairs and the professionalism of the work performed. That was early June 2020. Other, things have occurred in our nation/economy which are causing many to pause. That Newmar will stand behind work is admiral. Would it not be less costly to slow down production, and check everything 3 times to make sure it's good before passing it down to next station. Yes, they are going to pay regardless, but in the factory is to me cheaper to make right, than later after everything assembled, and in the way of the offending part/piece. Hopefully they will figure this out.

Maybe they're hoping most people would take care of the minor stuff themselves.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Disgusting, yes? That's why I call it 'spray-on leather'. I've started calling it all 'ultra leather' because some coaches we looked at were claiming ultraleather but it was peeling. Usually in Tiffin coaches, but we did see a Winnebago that was only 4 years old, low milesge, but peeling everywhere.
I feel so sorry for whoever bought that one new. It sat on a large sales lot (pplmotorhomes in sw houston) for months, during a time when coaches were flying off the lot. It never sold, and I suppose the owner took it back.

I find it hard to believe that a manufacturer would try to pass off bonded leather as UltraLeather. I can see it happening on a used vehicle lot, however. UltraLeather is a registered trademark, and the furniture piece will have a tag with the name on it. Our 2007 Bounder came with UltraLeather and the furniture today looks as good as it did when we bought it back in 2007.

If a salesman is trying to convince you that it is UltraLeather ask to see documentation.

Why do manufacturers use bonded leather? Well, UltraLeather costs upwards of $74 per yard, while bonded leather costs less than $30 per yard.

 

[bpaikman]

In the used market, most people get confused, I think. I'm afraid the bonded leather has given ultra leather a bad name because over time, I certainly got the impression that stuff was 'ultraleather'.