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Topic: Advice on problems or dislikes (Read 2347 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #25 –
That is a great idea! Where would I post  your great topic of "considered but did not buy a LD?" I am new at using computer sites.
Sam
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #26 –
"Where would I post  your great topic of "considered but did not buy a LD?" "
----
There are former owners of LDs on this forum, and a few (perhaps more than a few; difficult to say) who may never have owned LDs but are members of the forum. But, unless these former owners or "never owners" choose to post the reasons why they either no longer own an LD, or the reasons why they never did and selected another brand of RV type, I doubt that the suggested topic of "considered, but did not buy" will generate much relevant response.

IMO, most owners of LDs are very candid about what they like and dislike about their rigs, and are very willing to share their experiences; I would expect that this would be similar or the same in owner forums of other RV types and/or brands. If I were considering RVs other than Lazy Daze, brand-specific owners' forums would be very helpful resources.

YMMV, as always.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #27 –
We own a 2017 Rear Bath model.  Our total wait-till-drive-away time was about one year, maybe a little less because while we had ordered a 2018 model, we were offered one of the last 2017 chassis if we wanted it.  We did, and bought it.  My primary gripe is more of a muscle-memory thing then an actual design flaw, but I am constantly hitting my head on the protruding overhead cabinet hanging above the rear-facing dinette seat.  My wife has never had the problem, but I am several inches taller.  I  hope to train myself one day to remember that it is above me when I raise up.

Like most others on this forum, we have owned many RVs over the years, spanning from VW Westfalia to pop-up trailer to Airstream trailer to diesel pusher to Winnebago Class A to smaller Class C Winnebago, etc.  We have seen and researched all types and manufacturers over the years and decided that our (most likely) last RV would be our new LD.  Possibly the best built RV on the market, and certainly so for a Class C motor home.

That said, I really did not have many complaints with our two Winnebagos.  I have seen some new Winnebago Class Cs, and I think the quality has diminished.  The big manufacturers are putting all of their design and marketing effort into the fancy Class Bs.  If I were to buy again, it would be another rear bath LD, no question the most bang for the buck.
2017 RB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #28 –
After owning a LD I’d say the end caps cracking is an annoying flaw while the wood frame and the numerous leak possibilities is a fatal flaw. My next RV will have a modern aluminum frame.
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #29 –
In five years of ownership, my 2015 TK has had the following issues:
  • I've never been a fan of the LED lights they used. Some flickered even when new. More have started flickering, and one has gone out completely.
  • A screw came loose. We tightened it.
  • The little thing holding a gas strut to the cabinet door over the stove broke. Fixed it with a tiny bolt and some LocTite.
  • The latch on the entry door squeaks when under way.

Which isn't bad for 4 years of fulltime use. Apart from the door latch, it's dead quiet going down the road.

People admire its shininess and retro look -- we get compliments regularly on our "beautifully restored" coach. The tank gauges even still work.

We got our rig weighed by the Escapees guy, who was impressed at how well balanced Lazy Dazes are. Most rigs he weighed were several hundred pounds heavier on one side than the others. Ours was less than 50.

Lake Newton is a feature, not a bug.

The spring-loaded panel between the back of the driver's seat and the bathroom provides top-notch entertainment for knucklehead cats when you're trying to read.

Minor design nitpicks:

I wish they'd make the aftermarket Andy Baird Pantry either a factory option or standard equipment. It's far too useful not to have a pantry in that otherwise dead space. Surely they've seen enough of them on rigs in for service to realize it's something owners really need.

I wish they'd ditch the gas oven, and go with a nice cook top and a convection/microwave oven instead. Our gas oven stores miscellaneous flat items and is as unsatisfactory as a cabinet as it is as an oven.

I wish they'd look at the nice entry doors on old Gulfstream BT Cruisers. The door has a gas strut to keep it from slamming open or closed. The prong thing on the LD takes too much force to release and ends up tweaking the door. Everything else about the interior and exterior fitment is so nice, it's hard to see why they would overlook such a simple improvement.

I'd like to see a real 110 volt outlet for the TV cabinet -- "just use an inverter" isn't a great answer for how to get power up there for peripherals. It would provide a much more convenient home for the DSL modem, wifi router, Raspberry PI media server and hard drives than the overhead cabinet next to the entry door. Does anyone still even use DVD players? A pre-wired phone jack would be nice too.

I thought  the 12 volt outlets on the dash were connected to the house batteries and not the starter battery. But no. At least we now have a nice set of jumper cables in case we inadvertently kill the battery again.

A cheap small window air conditioner fits very nicely through the kitchen window. It takes over from the swamp cooler when the temperature goes over 100 (Covid lockdown problems). It's much quieter and more effective than the rooftop A/C. Is it time for Lazy Daze to start looking at mini-split AC units for the next generation instead of the noisy, power-hungry rooftop ones?
fu
2015TK
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #30 –
My entry door squeaked when I was first drove the rig.  Eventually I realized I wasn't shutting it hard enough to latch firmly. 
But, I'm sure you've checked the adjustment on the door.  Maybe it could be set to latch tighter.    Frank
plan B - 2023 Travato
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #31 –

Hi Fu; I agree with some of the comments you made. I retrofitted some incandescent lights to LED strips by Nighthawk, and also some bayonet replacement incandescent to LED that had manufacturing problems related to surface mount technique, and some of the di were marginal. They also were more expensive in the 2014 time span. Flickering is still showing up on some of those even after 5 years. M4 has been exceptional for looking like the original florescent. Newer lights are built better, now that they have become 'mainstream'.
    I put a cat door behind the driver seat into the bathroom. For my third cat I had to remove the door, so he could ooze through.
    The external door latch had the plastic receiver on the door. I replaced the metal hook on the outside wall. You can loosen the grip by compressing the flat bars, or expand the bars to just the right amount of latch pressure. So no bent doors. That plastic receiver is getting hard to find. I have a couple spares. That magnetic one recently reviewed; I might have to try that.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7M9X68/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_h.xrFbH9VPYKZ?ie=UTF8&tag=scmcldo-20&th=1
    It's pretty easy to extend 110vac to the TV area. Mine is that fold up shelf (presently) and it has 110v under it. I've added both 12v dc and 110v ac outlets in places.  I use a DVD, player not much, but I don't full time either. Mostly because I have so many DVD's.
    My cabinet doors have spring struts, not gas springs.  They do crap out, better ones are available. RV Designer H279 RV Cabinet Door Support - Black - 2 Pack
     Yes I've had fun adjusting doors on at least 4 LD's. The older styles. There are a lot of adjustments! Some requiring 2x4's, but also the width of the door allen screw, latch adjustments on the frame and on the door; screen door to fit to the outside door, including small felt pads. No squeeking, rattling, just the right sound and feel to latch and open.  Sadly on one I couldnt get the door lock to work with the key. I could pick it faster than using the key. The dead bolt still worked though. No parts, and that lock/latch hasn't been made for years.
   Oddly one of the outlets on the dash in my '99 the upper with the door (power point) runs off of the chassis battery, the lower one just below it runs off of the house battery. I might have changed that when I put in my 'real' radio after putting up with the radio LD put in for a few months. I remember access was better to that socket while the radio was out. I later found out that the lower dash under the steering wheel was pretty easy to remove. Also taking out the engine cover (a pain) gives good access to the radio area.
    The pantry should be an option. For me it would limit some vision out the back. It is still on my list though. I can't get the proper trim from LD anymore, so it's been shuffled down the list. (I don't full time).
     Sort of split A/C systems are available, so called 'basement' units with ducting running up inside a wall. Not really split, but would still need ceiling air ducts. Still too involved for small short rigs.
     You could put in a better oven like Andy Baird did, or go to just a cook top, and put in a real storage cabinet underneath. A convection microwave would require generator, or shore power, but newer other motorhomes do that.
     A good list overall Fu. The worst squeeking I have is the styrofoam housing on the water heater. Pretty quiet except for the engine. I have the 'loud' Emerald II Onan generator. I almost don't use it. 120 hours in 20 years. Mostly maintenance runs.
      RonB

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #32 –
Steve K won't be happy unless I complain about the drawers that won't stay closed. Even the cheapo RVs have better drawer glides than the LD.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #33 –
"Steve K won't be happy unless I complain about the drawers that won't stay closed. Even the cheapo RVs have better drawer glides than the LD.
Chris"

Chris, Chris, Chris,.....I am awake and read your #1 LD pet peeve for the 100th time in the last 18 years. Here are two options for you.
#1, pay me to fly to Denver and show you how to insert your drawers or adjust the tabs.
#2, order replacement glides, get some LED headlamps (Costco has some) so you can see what you are doing, and get some knee pads so your ancient knees don't get bruised, and get going on replacing them.

Oh wait; option #3, spend your grandchildren's inheritance and buy a new LD! As patient as you are you should easily wait until 2023 for your new unit..but then like somebody else complained, you will have a rig without a phone jack....they commented about does anybody watch DVDs and then complain about wanting a phone jack?!!!

As for what I used to dislike about my rig, it was the fogged windows. I have now trained my brain to think of them as mood windows; every morning they start off clear and then they fog to create some romantic atmosphere. Sort of like making lemonade when all you get are lemons.

One other dislike I have had over the years are the stalkers who walk back and forth staring at our rig hoping someone will come out and give them a tour. Sort of how I met you Chris in southwest Colorado in 2002 when I was the stalker!

Steve K.
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #34 –
"One other dislike I have had over the years are the stalkers who walk back and forth staring at our rig hoping someone will come out and give them a tour."
---
Your "stalkers" are pretty timid; mine just knock on the door if it's closed, holler through the screen if the door is open, or march up and ask if they can see inside the rig!  ;) 
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #35 –
I wouldn't say the drawer hardware is a top complaint--the wooden frame probably deserves that honor--but the flimsy single-rail drawer slides installed by the factory are the cheapest possible. Dual-rail full-suspension drawer slides should have been made standard decades ago.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #36 –
The wood frame and the inevitability of leaks if you slack on proper maintenance is a bummer...but dollars to doughnuts I wouldn’t trade our 2000 rear bath with over 150k on the odometer with any brand new class C I’ve seen on a lot. Despite ours gladly showing it’s age and being 20 years behind development it still somehow comes across better thought out and constructed than a current gen class C. I really can’t imagine how nice a brand new LD would be without wear and tear and the few improvements they have implemented over the years....maybe one day I’ll be able to find out.

Furthermore the effort required to stave off leaking and potential wood rot on a brand new lazy daze would be incredibly minimal.
2000 RB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #37 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
I wouldn't say the drawer hardware is a top complaint--the wooden frame probably deserves that honor--but the flimsy single-rail drawer slides installed by the factory are the cheapest possible. Dual-rail full-suspension drawer slides should have been made standard decades ago.
Thank you, Andy.🙂

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #38 –
Even my little $18,000 (list price) Trillium trailer had better drawer slides--two per drawer--than my Lazy Daze. (I say "had" because I removed the drawers to make room for a larger sink and a gray tank.)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #39 –
Has anyone replaced the hardware on the drawers?
Sam
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #40 –
I have, and I‘m sure that many others have done the same; do you have specific questions?
2003 TK has a new home
 
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #42 –
Quote from: Chris Horst  - 
Yes, all of the hardware everywhere. What do you want to know?

Chris
Was there a particular manufacturer of hardware you would recommend. Any words of advice before starting this project? Thank you again for your expertises.
Sam
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #43 –
There are dozens of choices of drawer pulls and cabinet hardware; different manufacturers, colors, finishes, materials, shapes, prices abound! You might want to start with Amazon to get an idea of what’s  available. Amazon lists manufacturers at page left; if you don’t see a specific product on Amazon, you might look at the manufacturers’ sites for more choices.

If your original cabinet and/or drawer hardware uses backing plates behind the pull or knob, be careful when removing these; if the hardware is original, the backing plate is likely very well-stuck to the vinyl. The vinyl tears easily, so you might want to pry off the backing plates very carefully; I used a plastic “putty knife” to avoid tearing or gouging the surface.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #44 –
Quote from: Joan  - 
There are dozens of choices of drawer pulls and cabinet hardware; different manufacturers, colors, finishes, materials, shapes, prices abound! You might want to start with Amazon to get an idea of what’s  available. Amazon lists manufacturers at page left; if you don’t see a specific product on Amazon, you might look at the manufacturers’ sites for more choices.

If your original cabinet and/or drawer hardware uses backing plates behind the pull or knob, be careful when removing these; if the hardware is original, the backing plate is likely very well-stuck to the vinyl. The vinyl tears easily, so you might want to pry off the backing plates very carefully; I used a plastic “putty knife” to avoid tearing or gouging the surface.

Concur with Joan. Buy one and test it out to make sure it fits. Also, matching/integrated backplates are a plus to prevent finger nail gouges/scratches.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #45 –
Quote from: Cor2man  - 
The wood frame and the inevitability of leaks if you slack on proper maintenance is a bummer...but dollars to doughnuts I wouldn’t trade our 2000 rear bath with over 150k on the odometer with any brand new class C I’ve seen on a lot. Despite ours gladly showing it’s age and being 20 years behind development it still somehow comes across better thought out and constructed than a current gen class C. I really can’t imagine how nice a brand new LD would be without wear and tear and the few improvements they have implemented over the years....maybe one day I’ll be able to find out.

Furthermore the effort required to stave off leaking and potential wood rot on a brand new lazy daze would be incredibly minimal.
If you buy new and keep up with maintenance the wood frame is fine but if you buy used its a crap shoot as to whether your LD is a dream or a nightmare. That's just something used buyers need to be aware of.
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #46 –
Hello. Here are my observations.
We have a 2016 TK which was the floor model so we did not have to wait a year! For the most part we are thrilled with our purchase, however, we are continually frustrated with the TV while dry camping. We use a small inverter so we can use the satellite DirectTV box.  It works about two hours and then the inverter (brand new!) starts to beep which means there is low  battery even tho the battery panel shows 13.1% .  Do we need to get new house batteries? Is there a wiring issue? Not sure.

Also, lately the water pump does not stop making noise as it seems to be pushing air out of the lines.  It takes about 5 minutes and then stops. If the pump button is turned off, it will make the noise again - very noisy at 2 AM! Maybe it needs replaced???
 I wish the awning extended over the entrance door- the support bar is in the way.

The thing we like most about the TK is the wrap around windows. It gives the sense of being outside while while feeling cozy inside. All the windows are great!

All in all, it will be worth the wait!




2016 24' Twin King
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #47 –
Hi ssragan.  I understand the aggravation factor.  Batteries don't display 13.1 %.  Is that 13.1 volts, or do you have a battery monitor that displays how many watt-hours you have left? If the inverter is beeping, usually that is a sign that the batteries are down to about 10.5 volts or exhausted. You might be taking more power out of them than they had.  I asume you aren't plugged in. How much power do you use in a day, and do you have solar.  If that 13.1 is volts and it is your solar controller, it just could mean that solar is trying to charge your batteries but is losing the battle with power drain. 4 year old batteries should still be ok.  The Direct TV LNB uses power, the satellite dish more, the satellite box uses power and the TV uses power. I could see about 50 watt hours per hour. So fully charged batteries (200 WH) could be down to 50% drained in two hours. Not good for battery life. Depends on indiviual power requirements and type of TV.
   The pump problem sounds like a dry tank, and it can't suck any water into the pump.  How full is your tank?  Was it winterized properly if you had sub freezing weather?
    I have a TK also, and I wrap a swim noodle around the support bar next to the entry door to avoid hitting my head. It only takes hitting your head a few times to remember it is there. Hard on new people though.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #48 –
Thanks RonB
13.1 is volts on the Solar Boost panel.
When the inverter beeps after 2 hrs tv time the panel reads 13.1. We just bought a new inverter—- maybe we should call the company.

The water pump is using water from a full tank of water. We dry camp often . The pump has been finicky after the first year. Vince at mother ship tweeted it to not make the jack hammer noise.

Oh well.,.. we are not mechanical so we will take it to a local shop. Sounds like the mother ship is very busy!

Thanks for your input!
2016 24' Twin King
Re: Advice on problems or dislikes
Reply #49 –
Quote from: ssragan  - 
Thanks RonB
13.1 is volts on the Solar Boost panel.
When the inverter beeps after 2 hrs tv time the panel reads 13.1. We just bought a new inverter—- maybe we should call the company.

The water pump is using water from a full tank of water. We dry camp often . The pump has been finicky after the first year. Vince at mother ship tweeted it to not make the jack hammer noise.

Oh well.,.. we are not mechanical so we will take it to a local shop. Sounds like the mother ship is very busy!

Thanks for your input!
I don't recall when AGM batteries replaced flooded batteries, but if you have flooded batteries, have you checked the distilled water level? 

Chris

Formerly: 2002 30' IB