Specific Recommendations for Improving TM

We went to pick up our new 2720 on Friday (unfortunately due to incorrect wiring we had to postpone pickup). We did our walk through that day and the dealer had the same problem with the leg on the table. It fell apart on him as he was demonstrating how to set it up and take it down. He admitted he thought it was a very poor design. We also will be camping with 2 small children. I would be very interested in knowing of any tricks people use to make this work easier and be safer.

CCC:

Sorry you had so many irritants to correct. We haven't bought yet, but we've looked at a lot of campers and I have an opinion that says QC are two letters missing from most RV manufacturers lexicon. We even looked at Airstream and I was shocked at the quality of this $52K camper and how much their workmanship has erroded since the early 1990s. We looked at a Rialta (that's a VW commercial truck chasis with a motor home body built by Winnebago -- a mere $64K -- shoddy workmanship and really cheal lookinh veneered press board throughout. When I opened the kitchen cabinets they hadn't even vacuumed out all the saw dust from cutting.

I suspect that even with the problems you had, TM is still fairly high up on the list in terms of quality because they are not producing huge volumes and they can use teams to build slow, rather than quickly to meet the numbers quotas. I'm sure the description you gave of the show requirements is exactly what caused what happened to your TM. I've looked at lots of new TMs, and I've noticed some minor things but nothing that really sent up a red flag to say that their overall quality was pretty bad.

As important as initial quality is, I think what and how your dealers handles those problems is far more important -- and clearly one of the things that sets TM aparts. I've read a few threads here about bad dealer relationships, but I think by and large the TM dealers are proud of what they sell and will go out of their way to help. The problem is that usually we live several hours from the nearest dealer so we just suck it up and do the repaire as best we can.

I tried to hit most everything I could think of in the acceptance checklist I compiled. You've given me some additional things to add to the checklist.

Couldn't agree more with your opinion of the owners manual. Bob Strong, or Hal (forget who) sent me the electrons of the owners manual. Being a good AF maintenance officer, I wanted to ensure that I understood the "tech order" inside and out before I bought a rig and commenced my "on-the-job" training. My first impression was that it's a scanned version of a blue mimeographed guide. One of my projects (after we buy) is to write the "Ed Felker Improved Owners Manual." It will contain concise step by step instructions. It will contain digital photos to show the steps that are being described. It will be the "idiot's guide" to operating a TM. I have a son and two daughters (grown, married, and with kids of their own). They'll be borrowing both the TV & the TM -- and the guide I write will be for my mechanically challenged, "how does tab A fit in slot B", why can't a wrench be used as a hammer son-in-law. Once written, I'll share it with anyone else who might want it. I'll even offer it to the factory if they want to give it out.

And finally, I think one of the truly great things about a TM is what you see right here -- friendly people who go out of their way to answer other owner's questions and offer tips. I was sort of sold on the TM design. I sure wanted something easy to tow -- but it's the folks on this website that really sold me on the TM. I know if I have a question or problem -- someone on these pages is going to go out into their yard, sweep the two feet of snow off their winter stowed TM, pop that puppy open, just so that they can come back and tell me what they think the answer is. That's not exactly related to the factory quality that started all this -- but clearly the personal quality of the owners and their sense of TM community is an intangible quality factor you won't find many other places.

I hope you get all your issues rectified so that when you are listening to the crickets chirp (or the cicadas), under a perfect star filled sky, with those you love most -- the main thing on your mind won't be, "Hmmm, wonder why that inverter is making that noise?"

Good luck.

Ed

I agree with Ed. I also have not yet acquired my TM, but have used this site for references and have been pleased to find it quite helpful.

The TM "family" may not be as large as some of the other clubs, but it seems close knit and friendly with members always willing to help.

I may never get my TM, due to living north of the border wher they are not sold, and to the limitations of my current TV ( limitations discovered on this site), but I enjoy checking in daily to see what information I can pick up.

John

[quote author=efelker link=board=22;threadid=1993;start=msg14177#msg1417 7 date=1086916415]
CCC:

Sorry you had so many irritants to correct. We haven't bought yet, but we've looked at a lot of campers and I have an opinion that says QC are two letters missing from most RV manufacturers lexicon. We even looked at Airstream and I was shocked at the quality of this $52K camper and how much their workmanship has erroded since the early 1990s. We looked at a Rialta (that's a VW commercial truck chasis with a motor home body built by Winnebago -- a mere $64K -- shoddy workmanship and really cheal lookinh veneered press board throughout. When I opened the kitchen cabinets they hadn't even vacuumed out all the saw dust from cutting.

I suspect that even with the problems you had, TM is still fairly high up on the list in terms of quality because they are not producing huge volumes and they can use teams to build slow, rather than quickly to meet the numbers quotas. I'm sure the description you gave of the show requirements is exactly what caused what happened to your TM. I've looked at lots of new TMs, and I've noticed some minor things but nothing that really sent up a red flag to say that their overall quality was pretty bad.

As important as initial quality is, I think what and how your dealers handles those problems is far more important -- and clearly one of the things that sets TM aparts. I've read a few threads here about bad dealer relationships, but I think by and large the TM dealers are proud of what they sell and will go out of their way to help. The problem is that usually we live several hours from the nearest dealer so we just suck it up and do the repaire as best we can.

I tried to hit most everything I could think of in the acceptance checklist I compiled. You've given me some additional things to add to the checklist.

Couldn't agree more with your opinion of the owners manual. Bob Strong, or Hal (forget who) sent me the electrons of the owners manual. Being a good AF maintenance officer, I wanted to ensure that I understood the "tech order" inside and out before I bought a rig and commenced my "on-the-job" training. My first impression was that it's a scanned version of a blue mimeographed guide. One of my projects (after we buy) is to write the "Ed Felker Improved Owners Manual." It will contain concise step by step instructions. It will contain digital photos to show the steps that are being described. It will be the "idiot's guide" to operating a TM. I have a son and two daughters (grown, married, and with kids of their own). They'll be borrowing both the TV & the TM -- and the guide I write will be for my mechanically challenged, "how does tab A fit in slot B", why can't a wrench be used as a hammer son-in-law. Once written, I'll share it with anyone else who might want it. I'll even offer it to the factory if they want to give it out.

And finally, I think one of the truly great things about a TM is what you see right here -- friendly people who go out of their way to answer other owner's questions and offer tips. I was sort of sold on the TM design. I sure wanted something easy to tow -- but it's the folks on this website that really sold me on the TM. I know if I have a question or problem -- someone on these pages is going to go out into their yard, sweep the two feet of snow off their winter stowed TM, pop that puppy open, just so that they can come back and tell me what they think the answer is. That's not exactly related to the factory quality that started all this -- but clearly the personal quality of the owners and their sense of TM community is an intangible quality factor you won't find many other places.

I hope you get all your issues rectified so that when you are listening to the crickets chirp (or the cicadas), under a perfect star filled sky, with those you love most -- the main thing on your mind won't be, "Hmmm, wonder why that inverter is making that noise?"

Good luck.

Ed
[/quote]

Ed, this is an extremely thoughtful post. Again, I believe the initial quality of my TM was an abberation. I love the engineering of the TM and the American story that it is. I am part of the TM community now and only hope to see it get better and better and attract more and more customers. I think TM has the potential to be an Amerian icon like Airstream. She is a beauty and attracts so much attention on the road and in the camp. Attention to details in every aspect of their product could get them there and I would love to see them there.

I like my TM a lot despite some of the problems I've had. I'm sure I could have avoided many of these problems if I had known about this site before purchase. Part of it was learning curve and this site has been extremely helpful. Dealer and TM customer service have been good.

I have a copy of your step by step and they are extremely helpful. It takes time and energy to come up with a simple and concise manual with digital pictures and all. I would love to see you work for TM on this endeavor.

Ed,

TM should give you the loan of a brand-new trailer, so you can use it while you write your manual and perhaps add to your already terrific checklists. After a year they could sell the trailer to you for fair market value (or less). That would be a win/win situation for both you and TM. The entire Trailmanor community would benefit from a deal like that.

Just my 2 cents worth,
Bonzaibeaver

[ess2]

Caver & cc-Turtles: You are right I'm running out of time waiting for the perfect TM! Super 1 finally met my price on their last 04 3023 so I'll pick it up next week! This forum has been a great help in understanding the TM. I look forward to learning more & solving problems-if any!! I plan to pull it from AL Gulf Coast to Alaska Soon!!

Bonzai:

As the saying goes, "... I could kiss you on the lips!"

Hey, Mr Hulsey, did you read what Bonsai said -- what a terrific!!!! suggestion -- and the manual would be incredible.

... but like so many other things that I've posted to this website, just one man's opinion.

Ed

[quote author=kidsplayhouse link=board=22;threadid=1993;start=msg14102#msg1410 2 date=1086658024]
I would be very interested in knowing of any tricks people use to make this work easier and be safer.

[/quote]

I just removed mine and used an Allen Wrench approximately the same size as the holes in the leg. I bought an extra Allen wrench set for the cordless drill to use for the leveling jacks. I just used the one that was closest to the size of the hole. It will now take about 5 seconds to put on and you could put it so that the 90 degree angle of the Allen in the hole. Very easy and very secure. I just put the Allen Wrench in the door storage compartment inside the TM.

[quote author=efelker link=board=22;threadid=1993;start=msg14177#msg1417 7 date=1086916415]
CCC:

You've given me some additional things to add to the checklist.

[/quote]

Ed,

On the equipment list, a high pressure capacity tire pressure gauge is needed. All the manual ones I had were 50 psi capacity. I found a nice one at Radio Shack for about 10 dollars. It is digital and lights up in the dark and has 125 psi capacity.

Very nice tool.

Also, the screw TM use is a special type, #2 square bit. A normal Philips or Allen will not do.

[Denny_A]

[quote author=kidsplayhouse link=board=22;threadid=1993;start=msg14102#msg1410 2 date=1086658024]
We went to pick up our new 2720 on Friday (unfortunately due to incorrect wiring we had to postpone pickup). We did our walk through that day and the dealer had the same problem with the leg on the table. It fell apart on him as he was demonstrating how to set it up and take it down. He admitted he thought it was a very poor design. We also will be camping with 2 small children. I would be very interested in knowing of any tricks people use to make this work easier and be safer.
[/quote]
My wife seemed to have a knack for causing the table leg to fall apart whilst opening it. After 2 frustrating reassembly events, I vowed to catch her in the act.

It seemed, that while she was swinging the leg down, she would simultaneously be sliding the extension downward too. If done quickly it would travel past the proper engagement position and wack the floor, causing the leg to stop short of the proper spot. Then she'd swing the leg backward and start pushing and pulling on the slide mechanism. It would either fall out completely or jam hopelessly.

Since we learned to swing the leg fully into position first, then extend the slider - no problems.

Denny_A