When it comes to RV design, manufacturers sometimes hit the mark, and other times, they leave us scratching our heads. From inconvenient features to downright baffling design choices, there are plenty of “what were they thinking?” moments in the world of RVs.
In a vide from RV Tips & Travels, the host perfectly encapsulates some of the worst ideas RV manufacturers have come up with. So, what do you think?
1. Multi-Piece Rain Gutters
“Let’s start with number seven on today’s list: the design of the rain gutter you see on the majority of travel trailers and fifth wheels.”
The video explains how RV manufacturers often use multiple pieces for rain gutters instead of a single, continuous piece. This leads to seams that eventually leak, causing water damage to the RV. It’s almost as if they thought, “Why make it simple when we can make it leak?”
2. Freshwater Tank Gravity Fill Removal
“The next stupid idea is something I’ve seen manufacturers actually start to remove from RVs, and that is the freshwater tank gravity fill.”
Removing the gravity fill option makes it more complicated to fill your freshwater tank, especially when you’re at a campsite with limited water hookups. It’s as if they decided, “Let’s make filling the tank as inconvenient as possible!”
3. Incomplete Water Heater Drainage
“There is no easy way to completely drain a tanked water heater.”
The design flaw here is that water heaters in RVs often can’t be fully drained, leading to potential freezing and bacterial growth. Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to leave water sitting in a tank for weeks or months?
4. Overcomplicated Wet Bay Panels
“This is the back of a Nautilus panel. Trying to understand this? Good luck.”
The video criticizes the complexity of modern wet bay panels, which require more hoses and fittings, increasing the likelihood of leaks. It’s almost like they wanted to create a puzzle for RV owners to solve every time they winterize their RV.
5. Slide-Out Switch Locations
“Instead of having someone stand outside next to the tree that we may or may not hit, you can instead operate the slide-outs from a button inside the pass-through storage.”
While this is actually a good idea, the video humorously notes that the addition of Bluetooth and wireless controls might not always add convenience. Imagine trying to explain to your grandparents how to use an app to open the slide-outs!
6. Backup Camera Power Design
“Manufacturers really need to start providing an accessible power cut-off switch for that backup camera.”
The constant power supply to backup cameras is unnecessary and can drain your battery. It’s almost as if they thought, “Who needs battery life anyway?”
7. Combo CO and Propane Detectors
“Please don’t replace these sensors with a combination unit.”
The video advises against using combination CO and propane detectors because they can’t be placed in a location that effectively detects both gases. It’s a classic case of trying to do too much and failing at everything.
Bonus: Inconvenient Design Flaws
“Okay, so as a bonus, I decided to add one more thing that I wanted to talk about today.”
The video wraps up with a bonus section on other minor yet annoying design flaws. These are the little things that make you wonder if the designers ever actually used an RV.
These design flaws might make you laugh, but they also highlight the need for better, more user-friendly RV designs. For a full rundown of these ridiculous ideas, make sure to watch the video at the bottom of this article. You’ll find even more tips and tricks to navigate these design quirks.
