OK...This weekend, as I was reviewing RVTraveler.com, this survey question came up:

HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP ON YOUR CURRENT RV?

EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
NOT VERY GOOD
POOR
TERRIBLE

So far, there have only been 134 respondents (as of 03/19/16 - 07:01 CST) but here is where the current participants stand. It does not define what kind of unit you have nor does it discuss full or weekenders...

EXCELLENT 8.21%
VERY GOOD 43.28%
GOOD 35.82%
NOT VERY GOOD 12.69%
POOR 0.00%
TERRIBLE 0.00%

So...with that in mind (and knowing RW does or has been monitoring this site), what if we do our own survey and maybe add a comment or 2?

To monitor the RV Traveler site results, go here:

http://www.rvtravel.com/rvtravel/vote.aspx?id=813

For us (and we discussed this together so we are averaging):

VERY GOOD

Comments: We love the RW and investigated several models (both new and older) before settling on the GK we chose. We wanted to see how the older units held up and see what newer units offered in comparison.

We rate the 2014 GK as VERY GOOD because overall, it functions and accommodates as advertised. We think that there is substantial room for improvement though mainly from an engineering design point. Why pack a RW with bare exact minimum engineering standards? Why design and install 100% capacity with no room for error? I.E. axles at 7K and 2" electric brakes and G tires? Why not make it a standard to install 8K axles, Disc Brakes and H rated tires? This provides a comfortable safety margin and would make the unit much more durable (which we all want). Why are we installing stiff pin boxes and not using a TrailAir Tri-Glide pinbox as standard? Why not install the hard mounted Progressive Industries electrical protection devices to ensure our rigs are protected? Why isn't the RV Armor roof standard instead of using the cheap, thin roof membranes? These are just a few examples...

If RW is to standout among the competition, it needs features that are BETTER than the competition.

Does it cost? Absolutely. But knowing what we know now, we would have been willing to upgrade to a safer and more reliable rig. It would have been worth the cost. As is, now "We" have to take a box and design it to be a safer and better product. A lot of us were short-changed in this respect. Knowledge is keen. If you don't know or understand your rig, you really need to get educated to make a smarter purchase decision (next time).

Maybe we should collectively get together and petition our State and Federal Representatives for stiffer manufacturing standards. Will this drive costs? Certainly. you can expect it. But more-or-less, it's pay me know or pay me later...And that's if you don't get injured or killed in between.

There is our 2 cents worth...

Your thoughts?

We have a 2012 36FL. We installed RV roof armor, G rated wheels, 8K axels, MorRyde suspension, disc brakes, brake controller and slide out storage tray, 2d battery, ceiling fan, living room exhaust fans, upgraded cable, Sattellite system with upgrade to accept Directv Genie system, additional cable drops in the kitchen and storage area, 40" smart TV in the bedroom, tri glide pin box, HD antenna, mounted knife rack above cooktop, mounted hand towel/washcloth holders on shower walls, trailer electrical connector next to hitch receiver on back bumper and shelves in the bathroom storage closet as we do not have a washer/dryer. We also installed an additional gate valve on our sewer boom to allow cross-leveling of our grey water tanks (recommended by Redwood Tech as only one great tank is useable in the 36FL unless you have a washer/dryer and then it is only connected to the washer/dryer). Why doesn't Redwood make both grey tanks useable for all functions in the coach? I would think having the shower and washer/dryer on one tank and kitchen on another, especially if you do not have a washer/dryer in your coach makes more sense than telling your customer to hook up a gate valve and let the water find it's own level between the two grey tanks, especially on a high end coach like our Redwood.

The ROG will run a full survey covering many topics that will be presented to the RW management just prior to the National Rally. It has been very successful and well received the last 2 years. I hope you will share your input this year when it comes out in late May or early June.

It sure seems the people that design, layout and manufacture of most RVs are people that have never used a RV or even spent one night in the product they are designing and building.
If they had used the product as it was intended they would have experienced a lot of the same issues and concerns that buyers / owners experience.

Not perfect! BUT I can't afford anything better! EXCELLENT!

Although we may have had some issues we love our coach and we would rate it excellent

We love ours too!!! We have had many issues but worked through them and RW covered every repair.
I can't emphasize this enough and I hope RW listens that EVERY problem we have had was due to workmanship or the technician not caring or educated enough to do the job correctly and never was the product failing except the nylon shackle bushings.

Steve

We really enjoy ours also, rate it very good.
I agree with Steve, the product is good, could be great, with either education or attitude adjustments on the assembly floor.
The nylon bushings & Chinese grease seals have been the only product failures on mine.