Congrats, Ed and Steve Newton !

Topic: Congrats, Ed and Steve Newton ! (Read 19 times) previous topic - next topic

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September 18, 2005, 06:41:08 pm

Hi, group!

Sometimes we make affectionate jokes about Ed and Steve Newton's resistance to changes, but these guys have built a 50 years strong business, in an industry known for frequent manufacturer's sinkings, and they build a really beautiful, and specially well built motorhome.

Sometimes we forget to which extent goes Lazy Dazes's quality!

Here's is part of a message I received from an owner of a brand new (first trip, three months) 5th wheel built by Northwood, an Arctic Fox, their premier line. Northwood is a reputable, four star rated, recognized as a quality builder (Lazy Dazes are in the rarefied 5 star rated list):

"..... However, just in the basics THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH IT! Hereâ€™s my list (which I sent to the manufacturer):

1) 3 cabinets are not screwed in properly (hinges are not flatâ€"they were screwed in on an angle) and are coming loose (the one I use most cannot be screwed in at allâ€"it wonâ€™t holdâ€"and the hinge was bent but I tried to unbend it today, with success I THINK). My husband said matches or dowels need to be inserted into the holes.

2) a piece of gray â€œmoldingâ€ (reverse cove, I think) between the kitchen counter and wall has collapsed on its side and is ripping at the bottom. This is very prominent and in the area I use constantly. The RV person who looked at it said the only way to fix it correctly is to take out the whole counter.
The gray â€œmoldingâ€ on one side of the bathroom sink also is not pushed down well (has a fair gap) and looks like it could also go on its side easily. Both of these were not put in place correctly.

3) a bedroom drawer is just hanging there (cannot be used). My husband knows how to insert a shim but he said that, if someone could move the wood strip the back bracket it attached to forward an inch or so, a shim would not be necessary (that would be preferable).

4) the carpeting under one part of the slide is not attached and leaves pieces of carpet junk all over the floor every time to slide goes in or out, and I have to push the carpeting back underneath. This is VERY DISTURBING.
It causes me extra work every time I operate the slide. When I am moving daily I put a sheet under the front section of the slide in order to keep from having to do a major floor cleaning every day (it leaves carpet debris on the floor with each movement in or outâ€"this way the sheet catches most of it, but I have a dirty sheet on the floor by the slide whenever I am not camped for a period of time). The Fox came this way, and the dealer attempted to solve the problem by cutting back the carpet. It did not work.

5) one stereo speaker buzzes badly (with soft, gentle music). My husband took it out and we discovered that it does not buzz when held vertically, but it does when held horizontally. My husband thinks a new speaker is necessary.

6) water is leaking from the top of the tub onto the floor every time I take a shower. Today I tried to caulk what I thought was the problem area, but I donâ€™t know yet if this was the solution.

7) the black slide seal is not flush against the slide at one spot outside (I can put my hand alongside it)

the shower curtain is a pain to get to retract (itâ€™s SOMETIMES easier when itâ€™s DRY)
9) the door to the outside seems to me to be falling down slightly and
at times I can hardly open it (had to take it to a service station once because I couldnâ€™t get it open nor could a man who tried to help me). He had to open it by grabbing the bottom of the door and pulling hard. The RV person who looked at it said there is no movement in the hinges but there is a screw sticking out of the lock (it wonâ€™t go back in).
10) the holding tanks leak, both black and gray. Before they leaked with movement (when I drove, but not when I was in one place), but now they leak even if I am just sitting there, camped (I performed experiments). When I open the cap, a load of water pours out and it is a black/gray mix (yuck).
I also cannot get the black sensor to work, no matter what I do (put no toilet paper down, flush the tank with each dump, fill up with fresh water to the top and drain, etc.). I also flushed the black tank until the water came out clear, drove, and opened just the cap, and some raw sewage came out (there wasnâ€™t supposed to be anything in there!). This doesnâ€™t make sense to me, but this is what took place. I am having a lot of problems with this leakage issue.
11) the top of one wardrobe door doesnâ€™t attach well and stay closed (Iâ€™m still working on this one and have not had time to find out yet where the source of this problem lies).
12) the linoleum was not cut right and, when water spilled under the sink once, it pulled away from in front of the sink. Now there is also a bubble near the heating vent.
13) the Fox came with a small scrape in the bath tub (itâ€™s blackish underneath) and I put some white paint on make it look better. It wonâ€™t hold
14) the wallpaper border is coming unglued along the top and bottom in the slide

15) I followed the instructions regarding the sink to a T. I used dishpans in them to protect the bottoms of the sinks. Now they are stained with lines from the bottom of the dishpans, and it looks like they have a couple of chafe marks from the dishpans (the instructions said to protect the bottom with a dishpan or grate).

16) two of the brown plastic â€œropesâ€ near the ceilings are not pushed into the corners well. Can I warm them with a blow dryer and push them in? There is a cut-off edge of wood behind one of these ropes, and the rope doesnâ€™t cover it. This is a small area but I donâ€™t like looking at it. I would like it to be filled in so it doesnâ€™t look like a cut-off edge of wood (it looks unfinished).
17) the top kitchen drawer (smallest one) is warped enough across the front that I notice it every time I look down. I am constantly cooking there. I would like one that isnâ€™t warped.
18) the large cabinet to the right of the bed when facing the bed has a large crack on the inside running from the bottom up for several inches and the front is not put together properly (there are open sections). I need a replacement for this defective door.
19) The top of the slide (the carpeted â€œborderâ€ that moves in and out with the slide), underneath the wooden molding at the top, is hanging down on one side. One side is up and looks fine, but the other side is hanging down and I see the place where the two white pieces (that run along the wood) donâ€™t join (just a gap, that I tried to fill with white sealant, but it did not help at all). I donâ€™t like looking at this day in and day out....."

Now, friends, compare this to the new Lazy Daze owner's first days and first trips reports that are posted here almost every week...
And consider that Northwood is highly considered specially if compared to Fleetwood, Coachmen, Gulfstream and others...

I think that the Newtons deserve a deep respect for the motorhomes they designed and build.

Eudoro