The camper industry just saw a massive boom due to the onslaught of COVID-19. We were all confined to our homes for months on end. The only way to stay safe was to stay isolated, and that, of course, has its limitations both physically and physiologically. Then we all seemed to remember that RVs existed, and the market went nuts. With this boom comes many newbies with little-to-no knowledge of the market and what to buy, and what to pass on. These are five brands that many RV reviews suggest avoiding. 

How to buy an RV? 

Like any other vehicle, there are many different uses and models of RVs, from converted camper vans to full-blown, class A RVs. It can be tough to sift through all the information and figure out what’s what. On top of that, buying anything in the RV segment will likely run you a decent chunk of cash, and we all want to avoid a $200,000 mistake. 

RVs are much more complicated than normal cars and trucks

Not only are these behemoths expensive, but they are also complex. Think about it; all your car or truck has to do is drive and stop, for the most part. But, RVs have to do everything a normal vehicle does (depending on which type you get) and have to be fit to live in for a period of time. This is not something that you want to mess up. Camper Guide has compiled a list of the worst RVs and found five companies that got the most. 

Coachmen has been getting a lot of complaints lately

Coachmen is a subsidiary of the very well-known and respected Forrest River RV brand. It would seem, based on the number of poor RV reviews, the apple has fallen pretty far from the tree. 

Coachmen has been around since the mid-’60s and have long been respected in the camper world. Many aspects of the company’s modern makes are great, like automatic leveling and programable thermostat, but lately, they haven’t hit the mark overall. 

The main reason for avoiding this company is the overall build quality seems to be lacking. Many reviewers claimed they found crooked screws, loose bolts, and shoddy electrical insulation when working on the campers. Others report things like broken levels and easily worn chairs plague these campers within a short time of regular use. 

Some of the Coachmen models with issues include 2015 Coachman/Freedom Express, 2015 Coachman Prism, 2016 Coachmen Brookstone and the Coachmen 276RKDA.

Keystone isn’t cutting it

Camper Guide recognizes Keystone as one of the more rugged of its ilk, but owners weren’t feeling it. While some users had some structural and technical complaints, the main thing seemed to be the lack of customer support and a poorly designed website. This may seem small, but with a machine as complex as a house on wheels, customer care can be invaluable to the avid camper. 

Winnebago! Say it aint so

This is a polarizing one to have on the list. Even Camper Guide addresses that many RV travelers prefer the classic camper company to anything else on the market. Still, it seems many owners and users are having issues. 

CG reports that many of the RV reviews show that Winnebago might struggle with its wall construction. Some users complain that inner walls are bent in some cases. In other cases, customers report that they have had trouble getting Winnebago to honor warranties. The result is time-consuming and expensive repairs at the buyers’ expense. 

The Hurricane is getting thrashed

This brand is an off-shoot of the massively successful Thor Motor Coach brand. The hurricane has been getting a lot of attention but not because of how good it is. Unlike the others on this list, the quality of the cabin is not the problem here. Thor makes high-quality, beautiful coaches, but that is not what most users are focusing on. 

The Hurricane RVs are reported by Camper Guide to suffer hydraulic issues. The reviews are saying that many people struggled with “oozing” hydraulic lines from the auto-stabilizing jacks, poor customer service, and outdated materials. 

Jayco got caught up too

Some of the Jayco RV reviews are less than inspiring. Like most things, the reviews can be pretty varied. According to Camper Guide, the Jayco has a lovely-looking interior which keeps some owners and users happy for a little while. At a closer look, the interiors are said to show some signs of rushed and cheap construction. 

Camper Guide mentions reports of water flooding interiors and even some missing fixtures, in some cases. Issues with the Hood vent have been reported, along with the occasional crooked toilet seat.

Take your time when buying an RV

An RV is a big purchase, and there are many different types of people who buy and use these vehicles for various uses. It pays to do a lot of research and find reviews specific to the way you intend to use the craft. If at all possible, look at them yourself and make judgments based on what you see.