Bashing a camper, just because you can.

[Thomas G.]

Add another name to this list as the mob builds its righteous indignation.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

The line between bashing and constructive criticism is drawn on an individual basis.
Chandler may personally be a well intentioned and honorable person but that does not change the fact that there are problems or issues with his trailer that need to be addressed.
To me nothing is more frustrating than buying a product especially a high cost product and being unable to get prompt service or answers to my concerns . Being a small company or being busy is not an acceptable excuse for not answering phone calls or E-Mails from your customers.

Seems Parkliner has made some adjustments and addressed some of these issues- see http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...-56219-18.html post#248 where the batteries no longer have metal cables and are enclosed in a sealed box.

[rabbit]

Tom, I have not committed myself to exhaustive study of the cessation or interruption of production of fiberglass camping trailers but I will hazard a guess that there was no single cause common to the demise of all those on The List. I suspect that "enthusiasts" lose interest in the process of realizing their dream, that one-man bands typically make tremendous commitments of time and energy which they cannot sustain in the face of age, illness, and low margins on the fringes of a leisure based economy which reveals wild swings between high demand and no demand, and very typically naïveté concerning the absolute necessity of leveraging sufficient operating capital and a resultant "slow payer" alienation of creditors. I agree that bad street cred doesn't help any business of any size succeed of course.

jack

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

The line between bashing and constructive criticism is drawn on an individual basis.

Very true Steve, I imagine this line is drawn quite differently the more intimate you are with a product. I know I have reacted differently when comments affect my choices too.

[Ed Harris]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Seems Parkliner has made some adjustments and addressed some of these issues- see http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...-56219-18.html post#248 where the batteries no longer have metal cables and are enclosed in a sealed box.

From what I recall the battery setup in that particular trailer is a one-off made that way for the customer only.

Further though the enclosure may be sealed from the trailer interior it looks like the batteries and the charger/converter share the same space and it is not sealed between them.

One of the points of using a sealed battery enclosure is that outgas from a battery is highly flammable and explosive so this is hardly the fix for that. It is not too smart to let the batteries and potential spark creating electronics share the same airspace.

And then I don't see any safe vent path to outside anywhere at least in the picture in the link.

[Bob Miller]

Perhaps it was because of the views and observations made by non-Parkliner owners that prompted the builder to correct (some) issues that were generating negative publicity. That battery tie down/containment issue, while small, was a red flag as to other possible shortcuts that might have been taken during assembly.

That said, mighty Dutchman, builder of thousands of non-FGRV's under many brand names is, perhaps even more guilty of poor quality in builds as well as in poor customer communications.

On a new 17' Coleman(branded) hybred we bought for our extended families use we found the following issues:
1. Dinette table was to small to support the bed and fell through, it took over 5 weeks to get a new table top.
2. Dutchman refuses to replace upholstery stained by a water leak that was covered. Seems that stains are OK.
3. Numerous design errors are rampant: Difficult to store bunk ends without damaging the tent supports and seals (Dealer damaged two before they found the "Right" way to store) still no instructions on how to do this properly from the Mfg
There is no place to store the tilt out mattresses (as in competitive units) when travelling, making the interior almost useless while enroute
4. Optional stereo/dvd player cannont be reached or even read without a step stool for anyone under 6' tall and the designated location for a very small flat screen can only be viewed from one couch
5. Wires & plumbing run under sinks & counters block storage space
6. Available storage under counters blocked off by screw secured panels.
Ad the list goes On... Needless to say we would never recommend that anyone buy any thing built by Dutchman

But Dutchman is big enough to ignore a few complains because they use a dealer system with 40% plus mark-up and thrive on first time buyers.

Rant complete

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Tom, I have not committed myself to exhaustive study of the cessation or interruption of production of fiberglass camping trailers but I will hazard a guess that there was no single cause common to the demise of all those on The List. I suspect that "enthusiasts" lose interest in the process of realizing their dream, that one-man bands typically make tremendous commitments of time and energy which they cannot sustain in the face of age, illness, and low margins on the fringes of a leisure based economy which reveals wild swings between high demand and no demand, and very typically naïveté concerning the absolute necessity of leveraging sufficient operating capital and a resultant "slow payer" alienation of creditors. I agree that bad street cred doesn't help any business of any size succeed of course.

jack

Darn! I was hoping to blame all of the past manufacturer's failures on a couple of bad actors here.

But seriously, I hope the recent innovators can last until they figure out how to make it a profitable venture. It is a cool market niche.

[mary and bob]

Nothing to do with this topic, but I clicked on Tom's "this list" in post #21, then on Uhaul members and find that we are not on the list, nor are some other Uhaul owners that I know of. Not that I really care to be on a list, but how did that list come to be?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

Nothing to do with this topic, but I clicked on Tom's "this list" in post #21, then on Uhaul members and find that we are not on the list, nor are some other Uhaul owners that I know of. Not that I really care to be on a list, but how did that list come to be?

When the black helicopters come over the horizon, you don't want to be on THE LIST.

[Mary F]

Bob, I think you're added to that list if you click "Join Group" (upper right on the window frame).

[accrete]

To Brian: I get it. And thank you for all the ponderings via PM's and threads. It has been enjoyable.

(First a bottom line statement...I'm grateful to this forum, its members, and their ponderings...that have prompted me to do some simple tweaks on PL#35 to make it more mine, and a happy place to hang out in!..i state as i am typing this response from my happy place inside the PL.)

On our PL #35 mentioned in a prior post by Ed (and thank you for your input on all this Ed!)...

Just and FYI, i did not request the battery box or design so something was at work in Chandler's mind that prompted that to be included. The whole "Box" idea might have simply been an outworking of having some extra space to play with since i did request the fresh water tank to be placed on the other (curb) side of the rig, freeing up the space taken in the stock position(?)

Yes Ed is correct in pointing out that though there is a _box_, it does include both batteries and charger. With that pointed out to me (somewhere in the many posts leading up to this) i am in the process of designing a simple tweak to contain gases in the battery area only and then vented to outside.

Cheers,
And here is also to Diversity!
It would be a boring world if it were all one model.

Thom

[Donna D.]

I think the fit 'n finish of all brands is similar to the fit n' finish of owners of all molded towables. Some of us are in better shape than others.

[deryk]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I think the fit 'n finish of all brands is similar to the fit n' finish of owners of all molded towables. Some of us are in better shape than others.

Lol

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I think the fit 'n finish of all brands is similar to the fit n' finish of owners of all molded towables. Some of us are in better shape than others.

I resemble that comment.

[Brian M. in NY]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I think the fit 'n finish of all brands is similar to the fit n' finish of owners of all molded towables. Some of us are in better shape than others.

Thanks for phrasing my sentiments so succinctly. If you keep picking at it, it's never going to heal!

[Robin G]

Brian, You think Parkliner is the only brand ever bashed? LOL...... I can tell you haven't been around long!

But have to ask, is it bashing or suggestions, concerns or ideas? Guess it depends on how you look at it. I don't believe people wish to drive Parkliner out of business. They only wanna tell them how to create a better trailer!
I would hope that Chandler can take suggestions, ideas, concerns and use them to benefit both himself as a business and his customers.




I will say that if there are safety concerns that they are addressed and addressed ASAP! I think your post/topic arises due to the Parkliner/Battery topic and in my opinion I didn't see bashing. We have a plethora of members here with strong opinions all of whom were trying to help a member, isn't that what this forum is about? So I don't know that I would take it as bashing.

And personally, the only thing I think should be a concern is that Mimi and her family are safe and the issue didn't have different results. And that yours and every other Parkliner are safe for you to travel in and create great memories.

Hang around long enough and I promise you will see real bashing in just about every topic we have at one time or another.

Just enjoy your trailer! That is the beauty of this life we live, we have choices and one choice is what trailer to buy!