A rant on RV electronics...

I'd like to take a moment to preach on the ills of getting too fancy with RV electronics.

The industry must think that the fancier they can make our RVs, the more we will want to buy them. Which, in theory, is not a bad idea for many. I admit, there is a certain "cool factor" involved with having things in my RV that I don't even have in my own home.

However, in the process of designing our new homes away from home, I think the industry is overlooking something terribly important...that much of this really cool stuff is not designed to handle the abuse that the highways and byways will throw at them.

As an example, I'd be willing to bet that the retracting mechanism used in the new and amazing disappearing and reappearing TVs were probably not originally designed to take the abuse of chuck holes and speed bumps. And I'd also be willing to bet that they weren't redesigned to do so either. Another example is the miraculous up and down sliding galley cabinets. Is this another cool gadget waiting to break?

As in the case with Concertone...nice idea, if it had worked. But it was simply NOT designed to take the road abuse that our RVs must endure!! What did they replace it with?? A Jensen product. What have Jensens been making for decades??? Car stereos...designed from the frame out to take what ever abuse the roads can throw at them on a daily basis. Bet you won't hear too many complaints about them, cuz their technology is already tried and true to fit the application. Now, if they could only integrate surround sound. SIGH

Forest River, etal...if you're going to install creature comforts and fancy gadgets in our homes away from home, PLEEZE for the love of all that's good and decent, make darned sure they're not going to be a thorn in our side...down the road.

Test it first and guarantee it second. Keep your customers coming back for more.

Nuff said.

TC

Wildcat stopped using lipperts tv actuator and are now using one that is used on power seats on GM cars, if I remember correctly. I didn't see one working but it looked well built. I don't recall if he said why they switched, but i'm sure has to do with reliability as the Lippert actuator would be cheaper. You know what comes with cheaper, junk.


Earl

Mopar_Earl wrote:Wildcat stopped using lipperts tv actuator and are now using one that is used on power seats on GM cars, if I remember correctly. I didn't see one working but it looked well built. I don't recall if he said why they switched, but i'm sure has to do with reliability as the Lippert actuator would be cheaper. You know what comes with cheaper, junk.


Earl

If their using a car seat actuator, does that mean on top of up and down, you can also tilt front to back?

TC

Nice semon TC ........... well said!

Needless to say, I ment to say "sermon" ........lol. Should't ever type in at 1:45 a.m when you can't sleep!

DW being only 5' tall really likes the cabinet lift. We do hope it remains trouble free.

Good post TC and great update Earl. Thanks for both.

I would love to send back my broken Concertone for Jensen system. I now take along a old radio with me for music.

I agree with TC's post and hope you'll continue to see our work towards installing automotive grade, road-tested technology into the Wildcat. Like I've stated before, our goal is continuous improvement (CI) and your feedback here ultimately helps our cause.

Wildcat Chris wrote:I agree with TC's post and hope you'll continue to see our work towards installing automotive grade, road-tested technology into the Wildcat. Like I've stated before, our goal is continuous improvement (CI) and your feedback here ultimately helps our cause.

TC