Poor quality and lack of good service is the main reasons the sales are down. People are tired of poor quality and waiting for months for service.

I think Lemon laws need to apply to RVs nation wide to protect consumers from bad manufactures and dealerships. Just like they apply to car sales.

As a solo traveler many of the non bh “couples camper” can be modified for solo travel. Need two axles, greater than 1500 cc, dual fridges, . One thing bishs could offer especially for solo women rvers just starting out is to provide a two day training of how to take care of the trailer or mh. I think along with your new repair policy this would significantly steer customers to your company. We are kind of tired of being blown off by repair centers, mansplaining, condescension. We make up the majority of the solo travelers, start catering to us, we talk to each, good experiences as well as bad get around.

I'm currently working through NRVTA to get my certification. My current instructor just shared an actual service call he made recently. A woman of means had recently (less than a year) purchased a $300K coach. She went on a trip in Europe and when she returned her coach's electrical system was acting up, and the engine would not start. He arrived and discovered the fuel pump had gone bad. Upon informing her she insisted the pump was new as the previous technician had replaced it along with numerous other things. She handed him the service invoice from the previous tech and he found charges for parts the coach didn't even have! In all the total he charged her was $44K. He handed the invoice back to her and said for her to call her lawyer. He took pictures of the engine compartment and every part was still painted Cummings red. There wasn't even a single scratch on any of the bolts. He felt so bad he replaced the fuel pump and some fuses for free. Her case is still pending.

Solo full time traveler here. I haven't seen the improvements i expected for 30 years. In fact, they were built better back then then. #1 quality, drawers built to last and heavier duty slides to handle things bouncing in the drawer while driving. No staples and 1/4" screws hold. #2. Stand behind what they build/ sell. For every day it's in the shop, or waiting for a repair on warranty, it should automatically extend the warranty day for day. It would give them a push to solve this issue... which I also suspect has to do with them running the clock out on the warranty. If it's not fixed when they hand it back to the customer, then it's basically still waiting for the repair. Plus a part repaired or replaced under warranty, should be covered for 1 year from replacement/ repair date. The owner gave money for a working product with a warranty... but usually just gets a headache. The first company to respect the Customer will sail way beyond the rest. #3. Dinette/ booth is a waste of space... has been for a long time. How about something useable like a home office, or durable/ comfy theater seats that can also be a couch. Or customizeable options, I need a place to store an inflatable paddle board, but would rather that have an exterior access. #4. Storage, i want to take my shoes off at the door and have them out of sight. How about a little coat closet/ hook with shoe storage at the bottom. And storage in general, I want to be able to put everything in its spot, see the old class C lazy daze. #5. Comfort, what is up with furniture that looks nice, but after an hour the foam sinks and collapses, (and I'm underweight). And cover it with something that lasts. I'm also a little over 6 ft and in my Rockwood the medicine cabinet and windows are all hung 1-2 feet too low, how many people are 4 feet tall? The window in the door should have a deep tint like the windows, not textured so you can't see whose there!! #6. Security dead bolt, programmable code locks, camera at the door,... in fact, cameras have gotten so cheap. put 360 degree cameras with the option to record. There's no good reason these issues haven't been addressed yet. #7. Require the designers to go live in the rv for exetended periods of time, and use the product. And look at how far ahead the designs are in Europe. #9. Mini splits and solar, lots of solar. And large tanks. I like to travel slowly, and sitesee along the way... eventually find a town and start for a season before meandering again for awhile. #8. and just for fun...a side Patio with outdoor kitchen. It would be so much nicer to walk out and cook, or have coffee or just hanging out. Living in an RV full time can feel tight, but a patio that is just a wall that drops down could add so much usable space without adding a slide! Some designs came out with it 10 or 15 years ago... I'm surpassed it's still so hard to find, or possibly impossible on a unit under 30'. Love your videos Josh!

Josh, thanks for your content. You asked the question. The area that legislation could improve in the RV industry is consistent warranty responsibility to the end user. In the automotive business it is pretty simple in a legal sense, you break and the dealer fixes. The dealer is responsible for the repair. The manufacturer is responsible to pay the dealer a retail rate for the repair in most states. In the RV industry the dealer shrugs and blames the manufacturer, the manufacturer shrugs and blames the vendor/supplier and we stand in a circle and point fingers. I have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for an RV and although they are nicer it still comes out the same. As a customer I do not care who, what, when or where just repair, my broken expensive RV in a reasonable amount of time. If the manufacturers had a decent dealer body it would not matter where the customer bought their RV. When I retired from the automotive industry over 60% of our operating profit came from service, parts and body shop. Service can be the most profitable part of the business and results in satisfied customers and repeat buyers. The RV industry operates in the 1970's methods, it is the 2020's, come on!

I personally would like similar laws on RV sales that cars have. It needs to be more regulated only because so many people are getting hurt.

BRAVO! This is all great stuff! As a solo, brand new rv owner the amount of things i DIDN'T know was astronomical. All of this information would have helped in my decision on purchase enormously! Im considering trading and upgrading my trailer now that i have a little more knowledge on what i need, want, and what i DONT want to repeat. Keep it coming Josh! This is great stuff. I have a 2023 and am looking forward to 2024 or 2025 upgrade. BUT..until the industry stops building crap and puts it together i wont purchase anything. Im looking and waiting!

One reason We started camping was because We could take our dog with us. Boarding a pet is costly.

I really appreciate you asking on behalf of the manufacturers about “what makes a solo camper” because I’ve been heavily considering a camper for primarily solo use for a few months now. For me what would make something a solo camper vs a couples camper would be a combination of things that A: save length/weight at the cost of 2 person comfort and B: increase single person utility at the cost of 2 person utility. For example I don’t want two tiny wardrobes on each side of the bed because that means less clothes per cubic foot and it means I have to walk around the bed just to get to all my clothes or potentially offering a full size bed instead of a queen bed especially if it was an east/west bed where those few inches can make big changes. The other thing I’d like to see to make a better solo camper is for manufacturers to get away from this mindset of “small camper are for short trips” especially when it comes to kitchen storage. If I’m going alone I don’t want something 30+ feet long because if I hit a tricky spot I don’t have someone with me who can spot for me trying to pull into a tight space or get around a tight corner so I really want the smallest camper possible but it seems like the kitchen space is the first to go when making a camper smaller and I don’t want to have to go to the store in the middle of a camping trip because there’s nowhere to put all the food I would need otherwise. I do like that many manufacturers have already moved out of the mindset that every unit needs a sofa and dinette and we’ve been seeing more and more dinofas and dinette/lounge convertible areas because that sort of combining duties that you won’t need at the same time to save length/weight is great but I’d still call most of those couples campers because it’s often clear that they were designed for two people and they either become more effort for one person or have a bunch of space that’s useless if there’s not a second person(I don’t really need to access both sides of the bed if I’m alone)

I can’t commit to buying a camper from these mainstream manufacturers until the product offered is not only more robust but they support dealerships with warranty costs and pay for the labor they refuse to invest in on the assembly line. All the issues I’ve had have been from poor workmanship from the factory and dealers are left hanging with angry customers and new inventory that’s crap and destined to be needing repair immediately after leaving the lot.

@4:48 'Cash in the pocket before you unlock it.' 😂💚💯 This is PERFECT for a JOSH SHORT! Thank you for another helpful, educational, humorous video, @Josh the RV Nerd at Bish's RV!

Hey Josh, another floor plan suggestion: we need more floor plans with a desk area!

I just got back from the Coachmen Rally at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds. We had over 40 Class "B"'s there many of them were solo travelers. It is an ideal platform for solo traveling since it is easy to drive, no towing a trailer, easy setup, and basically park it anywhere. Many of these travelers were women. Two single bed models seem to be an ideal situation, using the second bed for additional storage or even a desk for working on the road. Many manufacturers are adding additional tech to making Internet access easier or having a way to add Starlink system or other 5G system. Many of these women also traveled with their pets. As far as pets are concerned; something as simple as a eye hook for a leash on the running boards or frame on an RV. Possible adding a drawer system at floor level that would have a food and water bowl available. Something really needs to be done as far as RV techs are concerned. Car dealers like to brag how many of their techs are certified either by the manufacturer or some other certification process. This is especially true with many of the newer high tech integration systems coming into the market place. Something needs to be done to increase this amongst RV dealers. I have had nothing but bad experiences with my dealer and I am currently looking for somewhere else to have my repairs and extended warranty inspections done. Thanks again Josh for being the lone honest voice on the web.

Another home run Nerd. I watched most of your videos. We just bought privately a 21 Transcend 200mk that was barely used and got what I think was a good deal. Interest rates and fuel prices aside, the biggest shock is the prices the campground resorts are charging. $80-$100/night? Thats almost hotel pricing. These resorts are the same places not allowing units older than 10 yrs. Keep on keepin on Josh.

It's definitely not a good time to buy at all!

For twenty years, I've been camping with my dogs and my horse. (That's like camping with 3 toddlers.) As I've gotten older, the future looks different to me. The future now is solo camping in a TT under 25 feet with safety features for me and my dogs. Ventless floors are a good start. Pet friendly upholstery is another. A FULL bed would be great. Lots of drawers and maybe a small hanging wardrobe. Bedside tables for the necessities of solo women camping. A dinofa is fine. Or a bar seating/ office space for a desk is perfect. Lots of outlets, including inverter prepped. Kitchen storage, good pantry, no oven for me, and put that microwave/airfryer where i can reach it without a step stool. Have an appropriate backsplash behind the sink AND stove! Or how about the entire kitchen wall? So many things we solo women campers could tell the industry. Safety is important. I'd like an installed alarm and cameras on both sides of the trailer that i can check through my phone or tv. Interior Temp alarm for my dogs. Always a reciever hitch for toys and the dog fence. Two days of training in the "how toos and whatfors" would be brilliant. Thanks Josh for all you do and all you dhare and listening.

Manufacturers need to do a better job on Quality control. Dealers should not have to rebuild or fix a camper when it gets to the sales lot . Manufacturers all so need to pay up when Dealers repair or replace damaged or faulty equipment an supply said equipment to dealer in timely manner. That is why Buyers are upset an mad at Dealership who can't get parts

A couple’s camper should DEFINITELY not have an outdated uncomfortable “Denny’s” diner booth dinette as the only seating option😮Give me a comfortable sofa or theater seating or give me death😂

DON’T BUY Let RV manufactures suffer. They screwed the consumer for three years now it’s time for them to pay. Crappy quality, over priced and no accountability. I say FU. I’m looking for a tiny piece of remote land that won’t loose 50% of its value in a year and if I build a remote camp on it I’ll save a ton of money and actually be able to use it without having to pay the campgrounds there exorbitant rates..

It's Josh --- FOR THE PEOPLE ....

Thanks Nerd!! Woohoo 30% Solo travelers and so many women!! Yes - focus manufacturers, we are here 💃and we have been enjoying the couples campers. I personally would like and think most women would prefer: Full size bed options. Twin too small to have furry friends on the bed and Queen takes up so much space. Safety - I have seen where women are adding more latches and locks in addition to the deadbolt exit and interior doors. Eating area in maybe counter island or bar style and desk space. Many of us are still working. A desk that is at least 25 inches deep would be nice. Anything less and I am looking down at a severe angle on the laptop screen or monitors. The U-dinette can sometimes function here, but you have clear things off to eat sometimes with the table sizes and can't mount anything like additional monitors and docking stations without running into problems. Women typically are going to go for the more nimble sizes (I prefer under 30') for towing ease. The same with height, average woman height is less than 6' so while it can make it feel open to have barreled ceilings/roof, not only is it harder to clean/maintain those higher spaces but it can be scary towing.

As a future solo camper...and a male at that...I can potentially work with a fair amount of design stuff. I personally find booth dinettes to be a waste. I don't need to sleep 10 people. I would appreciate a focus on a theater seat or a couch that is long enough to be able to comfortably lay on long ways (not faux theater seat or love seat kind of thing). I am willing to accommodate the lack of a dinette with a table, TV tray, bar seating, etc. I think something that isn't dinette for 4 would be a useful option too...table with a chair or two. I often now just eat at my home desk watching Josh the RV Nerd videos on my desktop computer. I'm very ok with that. Bunks are useful, but not as sleeping space. They would be storage, or a la Ember, a convertible space. So fold up bunks with cargo doors are more interesting than bunks shoved in a corner with a single small access space from the middle of the RV. I'd love to see some sort of organized storage...I love the wicker baskets that some models have. A storage space that was a stack of 4 or 8 of those (floor to ceiling) would be useful as a future solo full timer. Thanks Josh!

Thanks for the question of solo rv design. Women like feminine designs. Just because we're are rving doesn't mean we are not able to enjoy our comfort space. I'm going on my first travel trailer run to Georgia today. Overjoyed. Buying a Snoozy next year and will be creating a soft beautiful space away from homebase. Bringing my dogs and will be modifying it with leash rings outside and a sink in the wet bath. Your videos are so needed. Keep up the great work.

Hi Josh. On the crime thing, people should check locally with law enforcement for a “safe sale” exchange location. In Omaha, the Douglas County Sheriff’s office has set space aside in their parking lot to help dissuade online predators from taking advantage of sellers. We are in the process of selecting a travel trailer for the first time. The specific reason is so we can be more spontaneous because we won’t have to board our dogs. We have large dogs, so a slide is mandatory to be sure they (2 dogs) have sufficient space to lay down, four-to-the-side. It’s just my husband and me, plus the two dogs. The dinette is unnecessary and we are definitely more interested in the sofa with a footrest, or the theatre seats. We are also interested in the bunks in the event my niece, her husband, and their two kids would use the camper. We like the option of the Murphy bed, so long as it’s not the bendy mattress (seeing a few plans that have successfully implemented it). Not sure what we’ll find locally, as it seems the on-the-lot inventory includes dinettes. I like the idea of an owner training session - could include a lot of information that isn’t necessarily technical, too. We would be willing to pay a small stipend for it. Wish us luck! Thanks for your insight and humor. You’re on my KZfaq regularly. You’ve piqued my interest about the new floor plans.

Smaller Brinkley 5th wheel checks a lot of boxes. Ideal RV -couples RV, has roomy theater seating across from TV, bar seating- no dinette, king size bed. Usable kitchen counter space.

I started asking for solo specific RVs about 3 years ago and eventually accepted I'll probably just have to get a cargo trailer and do the floor plan myself....which is why I started looking at cargo trailers and conversion videos about 4 months ago. Solo's don't need to sleep five people. We need to sleep one, and maybe an occasional guest (grandkid). We are more likely to dry camp and boondock, so we want good power options like solar, batteries, and a back up generator. We want storage and the CCC to handle it, while towing with a mid-size truck or SUV. And we want a work space; whether it's a desk for a computer or a workbench for a hobby. We're solo, we entertain ourselves, and there's more to life than hiking, bird-watching, and getting drunk by a campfire. Oh, and since we're solo...we're a one income household. The RV needs to be affordable. We don't need fancy, we need function. We can do our own decorating to personalize it for ourselves. :)

While it may not be the best time to buy through a dealer, in our area used private sale prices are being slashed like a hot knife through butter. We just purchased an almost mint condition (couple very small cosmetic flaws on the inside) 2016 Grand Design Solitude 379FL for the JD Power low market price that had only been listed for a week! This is happening all over our area that is flooded with used rvs on the market. The deals are out there, you just gotta do the legwork to find them strawberry.

Couples camper=2 wardrobes and equal amount of drawers. 😊

28:25 My Mom's 2 Chihuahuas plus me and my cat! That's the reason why we have the bunkhouse 5th wheel now!

So I feel I was scammed by the actual dealership! Made a deal with dealer 3 hours from home, for a model I couldn’t find locally. When I got there for the trade, they came up with excuses on my trade (front cap fade, new tires) granted it was 4 years old. Boosted the deal by $3k !! Should have walked, but was already feeling the pressure!! Anyway went through with deal. Through FB site learned of someone questioning about a trailer and with some questions learned it was my trade. We have become friends since then. They said they too were given the runaround about the trailer, said they would have to pay for cap to be painted! Dealer did paint. This past spring while on a trip they had both tires on one side blow out causing considerable damage to the Rv and causing them to cancel vacation. The tires were the original and had not been replaced!!! So buyer beware, individuals aren’t the only ones who can scam you!!!

I have a trailer for sale and that scam was tried on me. I know my RV never had rooftop damage. I sent them packing. Thx Sir Nerd. 🤓

Thanks Josh, I am one of the people that would be a solo camper. To me it is an easier to tow unit with lots of cameras to backup and make sure I am not hitting something. It would be no slides option, and for me, it is a go anywhere type.

4:48 "Cash in the pocket before you unlock it!" Said by Josh the RV nerd probably. Really good saying.

Great video, Josh. Thanks nerd. I think the most important decision about buying an RV is researching and going with the right dealer. Where I purchased (twice) wasn't the cheapest deal, but they treated me fairly and service has been great.

Josh, when you brought up what distinguishes a solo RV from a Couples camper it reminded me of someone that irks me enough to mention it. Unless a couple is full-time RV-ing, what's the need for a king bed. When traveling together, we'd both happily take a few more inches of hanging closet over a king bed we won't be spending that much time in when a 60x80 queen is plenty. Obviously, when going solo the same remains true for me.

Prepandemic, virtually everyone who traveled and stayed on the Texas coast had at least one pet for the winter there. That was in place when we first traveled their in 2009. Perhaps the longer time caused folks to take pets with them vs weekenders.

I am a solo camper and own a ‘22 Rockwood GeoPro 19fbs which is perfect for me and my schnauzers. I love it. But, there is one thing I would want no matter what kind of RV I had and that is proper plumbing with shut off valves and easy access to connections. I would be willing to pay a bit more for good, compatible water lines plumbed to code. Everybody knows water is the worst enemy of a RV. I check water connections every time I tow just to make sure something hasn’t jiggled loose and the hardest part of that process is getting to the connection. And, the fact my little Geo Pro does not have a dinette is my favorite thing. I made some small swivel side tables that fits into the ja knife sofa cup holders that work very well indeed.

Traveling with my dogs was the main reason for originally buying a camper. I love my Alliance fifth wheel that is very pet friendly. No carpet anywhere and no vents in floor.

When we look at campers we actually look at the floor plan and where to put crates for dogs. Some floor plans just don’t work. We found a way to make it work with our current 5th wheel with some modifications for our golden retriever’s large crate. We removed chairs by the dinette we hardly use and it slid right in.

Personally....I would consider an rv where you can walk around a queen bed and get to the bathroom from either side a couple's camper and 1 where the bed is only accessible from 1 side a singles camper.

I’m waiting till Sep to buy a small class C so hopefully prices drop more by then. I believe RV needs legislation to improve repairs and improve quality building standards. They had a long time to get there act together and all that matters is money. Doers do what the checkers check and right now there is no real organization checking or enforcing.

Absolutely love your industry updates Keep keeping everyone informed and up-to-date NERD

It's interesting you mentioned the technician training program. If I were to buy an RV, I would like to be able to get some training so I could do my own minor repairs. That way, I could avoid the downtime and loss of use of my trailer. Maybe that already exists. I haven't looked that deeply into it.

Thanks Josh, I look forward to seeing your update every month. Only 1 layer today, must be warming up!

Thanks nerd! Absolutely love your content. My wife and I are currently doing research and renting RVs to get our first one. We’re definitely in that couples plus pets segment. We have two large dogs that don’t do well being boarded and we want them with us on our trips and honestly that’s part of why we’re getting an RV. And one with more space for them. I think a segment that I’m starting to see just a few models that you’ve been showing off start to serve, but it’s the, two remote working people and their dogs part time on the road 25% of the time kind of life. I would love a travel trailer that caters to that. We’re not living in it full-time, but we wanna be able to be gone for a week or two at a time and working and that means two people on zoom calls. So more office slide outs with a door and separate AC so that we can be somewhat separated and both be on calls. Integrated starlink, fewer bunks more desks, I’m starting to see this a little bit, I would love to see more of it. We’re not retired. We’re a couple with dogs who want to be on the road, but not living in it. We’ve got a house, you know we’re not gonna be in a motorhome or a fifth wheel but we want to get a ~30-34’ travel trailer that we can work in for a week at a time. That’s comfortable with two big dogs. And a king bed please and thank you! Hope this helps and thanks for all the content you create

Toll roads now send you the bill in the mail. Also parking tickets get mailed too. A friend had to borrow a vehicle from us for a emergency trip out of state - we got a parking ticket in mail. Great video and lots of good information.

Josh, being that im still looking (❤ is stuck on 24view) I PERSONALLY appreciate your educational videos. Every little bit i can absorb helps. Worked 30 yrs on the road as construction medic but lived in several different models over 10 yrs. Still like to be updated. THKS HERO! Love to you n the family.❤

It’s a GREAT time to buy if you are aren’t saddled with debt and you don’t need a high interest loan. Unlike full MSRP Covid prices, you can now buy a new RV at a 30-40% discount👍

It may seem good that gas price is down... but it's down because they are draining the national emergency reserve. When that's gone prices will be unhinged.

I would consider a couples camper that had a bed that when two people were sleeping in it an one person would have to climb over the other to get in or out of the bed a solo camper

I almost always solo camp, i have a Grey Wolf 20 RDSE. It works just fine for me. When researching before i purchased the primary things I looked for was 2 axles, no bunk house, and nothing over 30ft. Im also not a fan of walk thru bathrooms, but that would not have been a deal breaker. With those parameters there was not a lot of options out there. I couldn't find anything local in stock that I liked. So I had to start looking further away, which further limited me to dealerships that had a local location for warranty purposes. The camper I ended up buying was 3ish hours from me. When I first started looking I wanted something that would allow me to easily take my kayak(s) with me, but thay was pretty much non existent. So yes, there is not a lot out there for solo campers.

I am one who is reticent to say that the answer to the RV service problems is more legislation. Rarely does it actually result in better outcomes and is generally more expensive to the end consumer. Having said that it is absolutely the responsibility of manufacturers to pay for warranty claims and as Josh mentioned dealers don't want to do it. A lot of them are not staffed for a lot of warranty claims and isn't a profit center for them. I think that the mfgs should allow owners to utilize and pay for mobile techs to perform warranty work and pay a flat rate for the service call and 100% of the repair and allow the mobile tech to source the parts at the cheapest most efficient source. This would result in a lot better customer experience and free up dealers to focus on selling and delivering RVs. Just my .02.

You get it, Josh. RV manufacturers should definitely be more inclusive to both pet owners and solo travelers. I wonder why they are so slow or resistant to 'reading the room' in order to serve a wider range of populations. It can be an awesome win-win.

I am a female who frequently solos in my big ol' Class A, but if I bought a towable for soloing, I would want a 180 backup camera, a big pantry, a kitchen that's set up for regular cooking (counter space & larger oven/convection), and a more roomy bathroom. I am willing to sacrifice bed size/bedroom space to make room for features.

Josh, keep the information flowing it helps. Law and legal "Slip and Slide" is all I can say.

Hey NERD! my wife and I have been watching your videos for a few years as we dream about getting on the road. I'm one of those 'slide skeptics' as I've seen so many failures and problems with them 'back in the day', my camping experiences go back to the 70's as a kid, and 90's as a young adult. Technology has come a LONG way, but unfortunately, from my intimate insider info from fleetwood/skyline in Oregon, the production quality VARIES, new hires, bad days, and bonuses to get 'units out the door', all add up. I appreciate these industry videos, as I know MOST people don't want to look behind the curtain. which is why I'm taking the time to comment, which I rarely, to help with the algorithm and stuff for ya, as I do appreciate what YOU do. I'd personally much rather build my own, schoolie or something, as I know what the quality of the build would be. Sadly, wanting to travel and NOT boondock all the time, that's getting less and less feasible.

Thanks Josh. i really appreciate all the info you provide in these each month.

Legislation is badly needed in at least 2 key areas: states need to properly define and address RV lemon laws. Most states are lacking in this regard. Secondly, fair reimbursement to the dealership for warranty work should lead to more than faster customer service. It would also impose a financial incentive for manufacturers to improve there quality. Finally, have you considered establishing a dating website/app for all of those single women campers? " Bish's Bodacious Boondocking Babes"

Regarding links in text/SMS by anyone including friends & family, always be suspicious of the link! You never know when aunt/uncle get hacked and their contact list becomes new targets of opportunity.

The industry is missing the travel trailer for tall, (6'6"), or taller people!!

The local used RV Dealer has been going to RV auctions for 20 years in the DFW area. This year has been a flood of 2022-2024 foreclosures; most of them in good shape. That's where you can find a killer deal.

Thanks Josh, for doing your homework, then sharing everything with all of us!

We love camping because we can take our dogs with us. We chose our Ember 28MSL because it had a floorplan that worked perfectly for us and our pets. It has a camp side cargo door with a screen so the pups can keep an eye on us. How about a top list of Nerd Preferred campers for people with pets? (As if you don't have enough to do)

100% no. these trailers are overpriced junk and the warranties are a joke. the government needs to get into the rv world and regulate them hard.

Thank you Uncle Josh 🤗🤗🤗 very good information there! ❤

Josh, as a military/government employee for 24 years, legislation and regulations are like food; you absolutely can have junk that is very flashy but just empty calories and actually terrible for you, or proper protein and vegetables that may not initially taste nice, but is actually working to better your life experience.

Interesting to hear about Navarro College getting a RV tech program. It's about 10 miles from the Casita factory just north of Corsicana, Texas. An area I drive through quite a bit.

I just sold our TT private sale and hoping to get a new one in the Spring but we'll see. Interest rates, gas prices, awful dealerships (not Bish's), low quality, full campgrounds, expensive RV resorts, on and on. I love camping, just not all the challenges that come with it.

We do appreciate you, Josh. Thanks for putting in the long hours to get us the info we need. Female solo camper here -- resounding yes to the lack of solo camper configurations. I'd actually be ok with a "couple's camper" as long as it wasn't 30 feet long. At the local RV show back in the spring, there were tons of huge family/couple's campers, and a smattering of teardrop/A-frames, but not really anything in between. I've also perused local dealer web sites, and while they do have some models, the majority of the inventory is way bigger than I'd need.

Interest rates still too high just like house and auto rates

Good talk. I have said this before but I think it's high time that the RV industry be as regulated as the auto industry. If their "self-regulation" actually worked to the benefit of the consumer I would have a different opinion. However the fact is the RV industry has brought these changes on themselves by working to minimize costs to the point they don't really support their products or their customers. I'm not sure there is a lot of difference between a solo camper's needs and couples camping. If I were a solo camper I would still look for a queen bed, decent kitchen and a dinette or dinofa. Either our current GD 22MLE or our previous Micro Minnie 2106FBS would make good solo campers. Where there might be a difference is less to do with singles or doubles but how they utilize the trailer. People who work from their trailers will tend to want effective working space. This means having enough room for equipment, papers, etc without have to setup and tear down for each work session. Something our current and previous trailer don't excel at (though the 22MLE dinette might be ok for a solo camper). More single people might fit the working from trailer model but I think getting tied to how many people over how will the trailer be used will result a dead end. This is an area where I think Ember did a good job with their bunkhouse models that can be converted to office or storage space. Any one of them would work well for solo campers, couples or families.

As always, thank you for your thoughtful and informative videos! In response, it's a terrible time to buy. Prices keep dropping on the units I've looked at, and interest rates haven't budged. I appreciated your thought that when you've found the "one," it's a good time to buy. I've paid too much through COVID, and that gives me some solace 😊. Yes, we need regulations. Capitalism is great but has some flaws, including consumer protection. It doesn't take much time to read about how virtually every new RV owner loses out on camping for the first year while they're waiting for warranty and other repairs. I could definitely contribute to that anthology. My household expanded with COVID fur babies. I've specifically looked for units that can accommodate. Now if we can just convince RV parks that big and many dogs are ok... Thanks, again!

My brother damaged his awning last year on the first camping trip of the season (May long weekend). He took it in for warranty service the same day. He got it back in September. Missed almost the entire season with their trailer. That’s not okay!

I am in the market for a travel trailer, but the private sale prices are just as high as the dealerships.

Thank you very much this is all really really good information😊

After 40yrs in the automotive industry in a dealership setting. The industry regulations have improved our business. I've spent a number of years as a shop Forman and warranty administrator. And can although dealerships are not losing money on warranty repairs , they are not making nearly as much as they do on customer payed repairs. I do agree the parts situation has been the largest thorn in the side of the RV industries customer experience.

Thanks for the info Nerd! Hey Josh, I think PA has a great idea for that bill. Put a little pressure on the manufacturers...it's wrong of them to keep warranty repairs held up for so long...with the quality of the current industry I think it's beyond time to have some legislation...I don't think people would want all the legislation on the car industry to go away in the name of their freedom.

Another great update!

Thanks Josh! Appreciate your hard work keeping us informed. 👏👏

Thanks Josh. Can't wait to see some new floorpans!

Thank you for creating this video. I appreciated the content.

So I’m planning on being a solo camper with pets. I think most couples campers are fine for solo campers. My biggest issue is that I’m looking to tv rather than rent and I’m looking at a fifth wheel and so many of those are set up more as bunkhouses

I think the NuCamp Tabs would be great for solos. I know Bish doesn't have them, but they have all the needed parts in a smaller size.

Interesting on the profits in service. In the auto industry the dealership aims 60% service and 40% sales to pay the bills.

Excellent idea on the format changes.

It took a couple of years before I found a camper that I liked enough to trade in my camper.

My parents are about to buy one for their retirement travels but I'll be living in it temporarily (full time in Ohio where we have harsh winter weather) and I'm... worried, to put it mildly lol

"I dont like that you try to keep us aware and informed. I'm only interested in hearing things that reinforce my foregone conclusions. I prefer ignorance over education" - 99% of voters in the US.

Not certain a stand out “solo camper” isn’t a target.

Floor plan with a space for a cat litter box.

Great video, thanks Nerd.

Knowing you can get a better deal through a private sale vs knowing you can drop off at consignment and pick up a check... Sometimes the consignment is well worth the fees. How to know your in a country area... when there's a tractor driving down the road in the background.

Ok Thanks Nerd 🧐

Great Information…keep up the good work !!! What is typical consignment fee ?

Best single person RV is the Coachman Catalina 164RB.

My opinion on solo camper is small unit with a east/west bed because no one wants to climb over another person to get out of bed.

It's hard to define what makes a camper "solo-friendly", but one clear thing that isn't: having a dinette, a sofa, theater seats, and a bunkroom all at the same time. When I see bunkroom, I only care if it's useful as an office, or at least some kind of storage. I might want to have some friends over to play games or watch something, so having a dinette (preferably with an extending table) and sofa and a theater seat might be okay; though I would most likely pull out the theater seat and get a single recliner to save space and have a bit more room for shelves or something. If I wanted someone overnight, a single sleeper sofa would cover that.

Good information. The Volvo company owns Prevost. I did not know that.

Good job Nerd 😊