Elkhart, IN

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by captmetal

and we elect crooks to run our government

Please don't go there...

[JohnR13]

To: Miramar Owner - interesting, and probably partially correct re: automation. But look also at a specialized truck industry like fire and emergency vehicles. No automation because everything is custom. Yet they manage to send out high quality product with minimal post-production repairs. just sayin'

[bigben]

In a second career, I was in manufacturing. Some of our biggest concerns to maintain quality were standardizing processes, materials and manpower. Getting trained, reliable manpower was always the biggest test. All of this on a product with a 14 second cycle time making upwards to 4500 units per day, selling for $450 per unit, with a $25 margin. Tight!!

Now think about how many rvs get made per day, how many variant models there are and then think about the article relative to manpower. It would be a nightmare trying to stabilize processes and manpower.

Not making any excuses for the manufacturers but know that everyone suffers from the same issues - even the high end shops.

[Miramar Owner]

Originally Posted by JohnR13

To: Miramar Owner - interesting, and probably partially correct re: automation. But look also at a specialized truck industry like fire and emergency vehicles. No automation because everything is custom. Yet they manage to send out high quality product with minimal post-production repairs. just sayin'

That proves it can be done. However, those are specialized vehicles and VERY costly for what they are. As an example, I own a convenience store. One of the most expensive pieces of equipment I have (for it's size) is a single head counter top ice cream machine. It is very well built and cost $14,000. Why so much? It is specialty equipment with a relatively narrow market...not many people need an ice cream machine. The same can be said for the cash register system ($12,000), gas dispenser ($32,000)...I could go on. That is also true of fire engines and ambulances.

Specialty markets are willing to pay whatever it costs to get the equipment they have to have. There in lies the problem. The recreational vehicle market is not willing to pay the price for the quality...at least that is what the manufacturers believe.

If you think about it a new conversion van can easily cost $80,000. Should we expect to buy a fully loaded 30' RV for the same price and then expect the same quality.

I have no major complaints about my Miramar. Sure it isn't built like my ice cream machine or with the same quality as my gas dispensers, but I don't expect it for the money. Even so I love my Miramar.

[bigben]

Miramar Owner - we are in the same place with our Challenger. We've made some mods and upgraded some things. Overall though, we've been quite happy with our coach and with Thor. We still contend that $ for $ - feature for feature tough to beat our home on wheels.