2021 tiffin phaeton owner, I literally just picked up my RV from getting the middle AC replaced, $3400! Bedroom slide hole was cut too big so it would not retract, took 3 years for a tech w/ Lippert’s help to figure it out, $1500, Tiffin refusing to pay us, even though documented it was broke during the warranty period; our cabinets had tons of marks on them, drawers had splintered wood, a screw thru the face of on drawer, they’d also fall out, promised new cabinets but told they’d have to be plain brown as they don’t make the 2 tone gray color anymore. The recliners & loveseat, bolts were too small so they eventually broke away and fell forward when you got up from seat! 75 punch items! I’d give them a 1 out of 10 and that 1 would be for the chassis, the Freightliner drives like a dream!
Now she's working with a younger guy who spent $500,000 He's been living in the bay over there waiting to get it repaired now for 6 months! Just like the other guy at the slide outs rain poured right in and he's got mold growing all inside of it now. 😢
People are having horrible issues with Tiffins on everything from roofs and slide outs leaking, plumbing, electrical and even screws that are too long on outside walls. They do not provide good customer service. Therefore, I am amazed that you gave them what I consider to be a good review. Nobody should pay that much for a motorhome and immediately have to redo the plumbing. As a matter of fact no one should have to redo plumbing on any new RV. Good plumbing is not hard to do especially in the manufacturing faze.
You need to add a category for warranty service. There are some horror stories out there with tiffin coaches. Brand new coaches that have been out of service for over a year waiting to get fixed and tiffin refused to do anything.
That was us and there were several at same shop! One year solid in service, the next year most of the year but we took it out for small trips, 3rd year was our first year of real use and we’ve decided to just fix things ourselves. 😢
I have a 2013 Tiffin with the same hoses and fittings. I think they use them for moving with the slides. So why not use the same system everywhere. Economics of scale. I did replace a pex clamp that failed with a standard SAE clamp, that has held for 8+ years.
A big part that is missing out of this video is how well the frame is built; especially after travelling for awhile. There's another channel on RU-vid where a lady discusses those problems faced by customers owning Tiffins that are pretty bad. ( delaminating of outside panels, leaks, backward electrical wiring, cabinets coming apart, cracks in walls...)
Just completed replumbing my Tiffin using brass fittings and perfect circle pinch clamps instead of the plastic crap they built it with, became sick and tired of "blowoffs" during the night, day or whenever the pex slid out the plastic fitting. The remainder of the coach is exceptionally nice.
Let me know how that work for you. Brass is a better quality fitting in the sense that it is less prone to cracking, but because the ribs that grip the PEX tubing are the same on brass and plastic, I suspect that if you reattached flex to the brass PEX fittings you may end up with leaks again long term. You said PEX slid out of fittings, did you have a PEX tube come off of a PEX fitting? Or was it the flex hose clamped onto PEX fittings that failed? I'm curious what year and model Tiffin do you have? Thanks for watching and for the feedback.
Thanks for exposing this ridiculous problem. As you said, it's inexcusable! We consumers need to hold them accountable. Other than not buying something, what can we do? I had no clue about such things when I bought my 2022 Rockwood 2911BS Travel Trailer in November 2022. I bought a brand new, very expensive (to me}, thing. There's no reason to even consider that there is a plumbing issue before it even left the factory. Sure enough, on our 3rd trip, one of those incorrectly plumbed fittings under the kitchen sink was leaking so badly that I had to turn off the water when we weren't using it. The dealer "fixed" it under warranty. Unfortunately, they didn't actually fix it. They just redid the already incorrectly plumbed fitting. They even left the old PEX band in the sink for me to find so that we could realize what "good job" they did. Fortunately, I can park it in front of the house for a few days before anyone gets antsy. I'll bring it home and spend a few days fixing all of the plumbing fittings the right way. What a joke. If I knew even half the garbage I know now about RVs, I would not have bought one!! But I did, and we love it, and I'm going to make the best of it.
That's what drives me crazy about this industry. The RV plumbing is wrong, so it leaks and then they "repair it" by putting in the same bad plumbing! It's insanity! Thanks for sharing
I have to say that I love that you pull no punches. I have learned so much from you that I am using while we look for our full time retirement coach. Thanks so much
I'm glad you like my "harsh truth" style! I don't know where you're at in your shopping, but if you haven't yet I would check out my shopping course - undercoverrvshopper.com/mini-course/ If you're a ways away from buying, I would just take the free version. But if you're seriously shopping and close to buying, the paid one will help you a lot. Happy shopping!
We have a 2018 Phaeton. Had a 2007 Allegro bus before that and neither have had any leaks. I do agree looking at it your right the plumbing could be way better. Other then that your right the Tiffin amenities are awesome. Great video thanks 👍
We own a 2021 Allegro open road 32 sa, and love the thing. Many of the components on Tiffins are the same as every other manufacturer uses, ( ac units, microwaves, tv’s, awnings, fridges, hot water heater, ( Truma), furnaces, ( Suburban), Onan generator, nearly all transfer switches, and electrical, ( ours has the Magnum system), slide out systems, ( Hwh), engine, ( V10 Ford), drive train, transmission, (our is the Ford F53 chassis with Allison transmission), none of which is made by Tiffin, and they have little control over that industry My opinion is most modern motorhomes are too dependent on the computerized electronic controls systems, ( called Spider system on Tiffins). We are very happy with our Tiffin, very high quality and well built. Very similar in quality to the Newmar rigs we looked at, ( it was a tossup for us which to buy). Just my opinion.
Jake, your vids offer us a LOT of GREAT info!!! I look forward to your "next one" like waiting for Christmas. If I was 40 again, I would love to work for/with you for free because I would learn a fortune of usable information that would save me a ton of money. THANK YOU for helping all of us with our rollin' boxes of problems. Stay safe...
Thank you! I'm glad you like the videos so much. I have some interesting reviews coming out soon! Also, if you want to save money and you haven't taken my Tool-Free RV Maintenance course, you should check that out. 1/4th of the repairs I do are avoidable, and the course covers how you can save up to $50k in repair costs - www.howtonotbreakyourrv.com/
The problem here is it is now under the Thor name and we all know what Thor puts out. Sadly, they sold out to Thor ever since the quality that Tiffin was known for was in jeopardy. Good video !!!
My 2011 DRV Mobile Suite hydraulic slide out on the living room side creeps out while traveling. I bought a RV Slide out lock that mounts on the inside of the rig. Works great and solved a problem for $50.00.
I pulled the bottom off our Grand Design trailer and completely re-plumbed it. I was more sad than upset about the garbage plumbing. We run 50psi all day, and haven’t had a single leak since the rebuild.
I love these reviews. I think with enough views you will singlehandedly fix the plumbing standards of the RV industry. You're the only person I've seen talk about this.
Funny how the only thing that failed was something that is not readily seen? I guess they all look for what to do cheaply that people won't notice? Good work Jake
What about the cracks on body panels near slide outs looked at over 20 Tifin motorhomes and 14 had start or body cracks on outside panels near slides. Next when I talked to owners all said for get the factory promises as they worth the hill or beans.
Tiffin is a nightmare now. His grandson doesn't take care of customers until they get another You Tuber Liz to help get a buy back. One guy paid $850,000 the hot and cold we're installed backwards. The camera and turn signal were also backwards. They use Corian on the shower so it was slick as ice to try to stand on and very dangerous and apparently Bob tiffin's grandson said well just get some of those grip strips and put it down on top of that like that's a possible solution. He took her to Florida had the slideouts out and then it started to literally when it rained started to rain inside and pour in from the slide outs so then mold grew and they tried to give him a song and dance until Liz got involved and this man is not a pushover. I was appalled that the way he was treated. I don't know what they're doing over there. Apparently he went on a tour and realized why it was such a hot mess. They're doing things like it's still 1960. There's also not a whole lot of quality control going on because that wasn't the only bad one. Now there's another younger man who spent half a million dollars on his Tiffin and he spent the last 6 months sitting and living in their repair bay. They aren't giving him any updates on when he'll get the repairs done. He also had rain pouring in from his light outs. After seeing what these two men have gone through. I wouldn't own a Tiffin. Even if you gave it to me for free.
We bought a NewMar Bay Star in 2022 before we were aware of this issue. I was relieved to find that it was correctly plumbed. Maybe Tiffin will wise up because of this issue. Thanks
I have learned so much from your videos! Thank you for taking your time to educate us! I am going to some kind of RV in about 6 months as we going to retire in 17 months. I am trying to figure out new vs used. My research tells me to look for an older ( Golden Era) motor coach as the build quality was much better. Of course I will hire a certified inspector. I am fairly handy so as long as it is generally in decent shape I stand to save a lot of money.
Congratulations on retirement! If you haven't yet, I would check out my shopping courses - undercoverrvshopper.com/mini-course/ I also offer consulting if you need extra help picking something. I've bought a used motorhome myself to full-time in and it served me well for years, so you can definitely get something quality used if you know what to look for. Happy shopping and thanks for watching!
What about the motor train? If you there is no reliable drive train to power the coach then one should just stay at a nice hotel. This video is incomplete.
I love your videos. I bought your online course and it’s been VERY helpful! Keep up the great work! I would love to see a review on the InTech RV Willow TT.
Completely agree except with residential fridges. I have replaced these under warranty and they’re just not that great in many mobile environments. Especially the Korean junk models. That plumbing is inexcusable. I wonder if that has changed since Thor bought Tiffin or if that’s how it’s always been done?
ORV is a separate brand from Northwoods. A sister company. I'm not a tech but was looking at an ORV, they use swintec slides. Called ORV to ask about the troublesome slide system and was told that since schwintec now uses a metal gear instead of plastic they are more reliable. We decided to go with a Northwoods Artic Fox that uses a rack and pinion slide. The Nash also uses a rack and pinion slide.
Where is your Everchill 2024 12 volt review, ours has failed, fridge is at 44 degrees, freezer 8 degrees, the fridge food fails in 2 hours. Then the fridge throws alarms, under voltage, but we are on shore power, then it throws 2 more alarms, fridge sensor alarm, and then freezer sensor alarm, then at Powers’s off, force it off with 20 second power down, and it repeats all of these issues. Is there a path forward or git red of it?
Just BAL Accu-slide.... which I know is confusing because the Accu-slide and Exact-slide can look similar. I teach how to tell the difference in my shopping courses- undercoverrvshopper.com/mini-course/
Well, I've worked on Tiffens from before Thor bought them that had as much bad plumbing. Unfortunately the RV industry just believes this to be acceptable practice.
I love your reviews. They're very helpful. My husband wants to buy a Leisure Travel Wonder RV, but the cost is so high. I've been researching the Tiffin Midas Class C. Is their plumbing also inferior? Thanks for any advice!
After short of buying a custom built rv there are none that have quality enough to purchase. So Brinkley out Alliance out Forest River out to Keystone Jayco and all the other manufacturers out. So unless I have 270.000 to 1 million rving is OUT. Thanks for the info now I will just by house in AZ or Florida and for get rving.
On my Palomino, I also had pex clamps on vinyl hoses., with plastic tees. Guess what started leaking? A cheap fix, that took way too long, due to trying not to tear out the sink to repair.
Hello I been following your channel for a couple of months. I just purchased a 2025 sierra 4002fb in Ohio. Maybe you can help me how to find an inspector in Ohio zip 45067 . Before I take it to Houston, tx . Thank you very much
So if I’m about to buy one of these what can be done about the plumbing fails prior to purchase. Mind you it’s La Mesa RV which is a whole other subject on its own.
You mentioned Brinkley, who has reached out to you with information on what you have stated about their plumbing. I suggest that your continued credibility is based on you reaching out to the manufacturer , listen to their information, and then verify what they tell you is indeed fact! Thank you.
I don't speak to manufactures on the phone because 1) I want written record of what they tell me and 2) I try to keep my reviews objective by not forming relationships with brands. Brinkley would not email me like I requested and only wanted to talk over the phone....
I have a Rockwood review coming out soon! If you can't wait, several people have reviewed them in my database inside my shopping course - undercoverrvshopper.com/
This video is mostly superficial. Tiffin's are low-qualify crap. Giving many items a 10 says nothing about how it was installed/integrated. Read the forums. Huge build quality issues across the range.
2024 Forest River Salem FSX 169 RSK- ours is ordered. I didnt look at plumbing under sinks But I do know there is a hose coming from under the bathroom cabinet to the toilet. That is the white flex hose. Prior to signing on the guided line purchasing at can we ask the dealer to switch that out to PEX and do you think they will? Should we try to switch this out ourselves if they say no? Can a non mechanical person do this accurately?
I would not recommend trying it yourself unless you are comfortable doing DIY projects. Watch my Playlist about the plumbing problem and repair methods to learn more about what that would take to accomplish.
It's all well and good to look at a few key aspects when considering buying a motorhome but if Tiffin can't even guarantee that something as fundamental as the plumbing is correct then I have zero faith in the quality and correctness of the whole RV. I mean who at Tiffin allows this kind of shoddy work to leave the factory floor when you're forking out 6 figures? Seriously if you can't fix this issue before it leaves your shop why on earth would you lay the burden on your customers? I would steer well clear of these people not to mention the nightmare one must go through to even get warranty work done. Hard pass on this.
No really surprise for Grand Design but hey at least the frame has not broken in half yet. OH wait, that is right give it 3.1 years after the warranty and it is sure to happen in any of their 5th wheel configurations. Especially if you put more than 4 weeks of use in it per year.
Sure, I don't have any issue with their suspension components, they also make Slim-Rack slide system, and most through frame slide systems which I rate well. There are certain things like their hydraulic levelers and slide actuators that I end up replacing a lot, but there are probably more products that work well than don't from them.
bottom line is this. don't buy a motor home. we can cruise the heavens but we cant make a motor home that last longer than ten minutes. motor homes are like solar panels. its just a bad idea, unless you have bottomless pockets.
Tiffin was already getting low on the quality scale. When Thor bought them out they really plummeted. Just a fancy paint job with a gorgeous interior concealing a mess.
Technically this wouldn’t be considered a defect, it’s poor design. I would think that if you want an RV inspector to point out design flaws you better ask. Otherwise they’ll just point out defects
No, sadly they won't. They're not trained to check the plumbing. They're trained to make sure all the systems are working and that there are no manufacturing defects. I still really recommend an inspection before buying a RV. But I also recommend educating yourself because things like plumbing and bad slide outs are not something an inspector will tell you. If you're seriously shopping, I'd recommend my shopping courses - undercoverrvshopper.com/mini-course/
I've not hear of them! Always glad to learn about independent RV makers. From the looks of their website they are not a manufacturer but a custom RV builder. As there is only one listed for sale online currently, it is not likely that I would be able to take a look any time soon. If you want to know how I would grade them, your best bet is to take my shopping course so you can assess one if you are able to see it in person. I wish I could say that if it is expensive it is plumbed correctly, but Tiffen as well as small independent manufacturers like Northwood have proven that wrong. undercoverrvshopper.com/
We got a bad one no one will call us back we have a 50 th anniversary they will not call us back it is sitting on the side of the road 15 miles up the road with 3000 miles Call us Tiffen
why pay al that money for what is essentially a vehicle to these companies that cant even bother to carry a ISO 9001 quality certification like passenger cars do. that would insure they have procedures in place the insure quality and the repeatability of that quality
Newbie here- can you do a video of what should be in your tool bag for camping? Does your paid app have repair how to’s? We have already ordered a Forest River Salem FSX 169RSK
Tiffin was great when Bob was in charge. Leigh Tiffin is worthless, and a true Thor executive who doesn’t care. He brags about quality, when it is now one of the worst in the industry. Sold my Breeze at a loss just to be done with it.
@@undercoverrvtech i did an think you gave them a way to high of a score i had a tiffin an the slides broke had leaks in the roof just to start i dont give a crap about their so called great cabinets.
