Starting to Wonder About Alliance Quality...

[rvdude]

I know that there are NO perfect rv's, even with the super expensive trailers and motorhomes. But everything I had heard about Alliance quality before I purchased one doesn't seem to be that they are any better than the rest of them. This trailer was purchased July 21, 2026 (252RL) I love the trailer layout and will be glad to get all the kinks worked out. My list...
1. Backsplash is very loose and has a large pocket of air behind it (I've seen several posts about this on the forum). It was this way at the dealer when looking.
2. Both bed struts came loose from the 1/4" plywood and the 1/4" little squares ripped off of the plywood. (I've seen several posts about this on the forum).
3. Electrical problems--had a bad main breaker. It has been replaced. The breakers were mislabeled in the breaker box. That has been done. The converter trips periodically. There is no inverter but the 2 inverter breakers have to be off or the main breaker will trip as well as my 50 amp supply.
4. On the 2nd trip, the shade under the TV came loose. I had to fix that last week while I was out with the trailer.
5. On the 2nd trip, the bedroom sliding door came loose at one end. (I've seen many posts about this on the forum).
6. On the 2nd trip, the microwave door will not open. It has only been used once. (I've seen many posts about this on the forum). I know that Alliance does not make the microwave, but maybe with all the problems they should use a different vendor to supply them.
7. The cable tv (for the rv park cable) does not work.
All of this on a 2 month old trailer that has only been out on 2 fairly short trips. I sure hope it will get better. I have 2 trips planned in October, 1 in November, and 2 in December... if it's not in the shop all this time.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Bummer....
Did you do your own PDI? Seems like a lot of these would have been found before you took the RV off the lot.

 

[Bozo]

I know that there are NO perfect rv's, even with the super expensive trailers and motorhomes. But everything I had heard about Alliance quality before I purchased one doesn't seem to be that they are any better than the rest of them. This trailer was purchased July 21, 2026 (252RL) I love the trailer layout and will be glad to get all the kinks worked out. My list...
1. Backsplash is very loose and has a large pocket of air behind it (I've seen several posts about this on the forum). It was this way at the dealer when looking.
2. Both bed struts came loose from the 1/4" plywood and the 1/4" little squares ripped off of the plywood. (I've seen several posts about this on the forum).
3. Electrical problems--had a bad main breaker. It has been replaced. The breakers were mislabeled in the breaker box. That has been done. The converter trips periodically. There is no inverter but the 2 inverter breakers have to be off or the main breaker will trip as well as my 50 amp supply.
4. On the 2nd trip, the shade under the TV came loose. I had to fix that last week while I was out with the trailer.
5. On the 2nd trip, the bedroom sliding door came loose at one end. (I've seen many posts about this on the forum).
6. On the 2nd trip, the microwave door will not open. It has only been used once. (I've seen many posts about this on the forum). I know that Alliance does not make the microwave, but maybe with all the problems they should use a different vendor to supply them.
7. The cable tv (for the rv park cable) does not work.
All of this on a 2 month old trailer that has only been out on 2 fairly short trips. I sure hope it will get better. I have 2 trips planned in October, 1 in November, and 2 in December... if it's not in the shop all this time.

Unfortunately, as is the nature of the rv industry, it generally doesn’t get better. Once again, my advice is to buy used. If you are doing an in depth pdi anyway, you will be $$$$$’ s ahead.

 

[Ox262]

Yeah, Alliance quality is no better than any other manufacturer. The only difference is that Alliance is easier to work with when their stuff breaks...and something will. You have to be your own repair person. Otherwise, your new RV will be stuck in dealership limbo while they slow-walk the repair.

And not to take away the importance of a quality PDI, but an extensive PDI will not catch every flaw. All RVs will have small problems on the second, or fourth, or sixth trip that no PDI will discover. For example, my Delta pantry drawer support broke on the first trip as well as the magnets that hold them in. The SAT connection wire had a improperly terminated connector, didn't work. One low-point valve broke when I winterized it. Bedroom thermostat was poorly wired and woke me up at 2am on our third trip flashing an error message. And don't get me started on the problems with my FR MiniLite that had 6 major issues no PDI would have caught.

Having vented about that, you have to be your own repair person and expect to fix small issues with any RV. Alliance support has been very good with my Delta issues.

 

[rvdude]

Yes the PDI was done at the dealer. Everything was fine bringing it home (4 hours) and the first trip out (4 days). This trip was about 6 hours away and 8 days. Anyway, I bought it from 4 hours away due to being $5000 less than anywhere near me. However, I can say that my local dealer (who I didn't buy from) has worked on it 3 times the week before my trip last week and I got it back the same day each time. And when the backsplash parts arrive, they will be replacing it, repairing the bedroom door, the microwave door, and whatever the problem is with the converter breaker tripping without leaving it there forever. And I agree that Alliance does take care of things. So even with all of the issues, they and the local dealer are taking care of me. I know there are problems with ALL rv's, it is just a little disappointing when there are so many issues so quick. But I do love the trailer and will be glad when all the kinks get worked out. Overall I'm happy, just had to vent. I do have a local mobile repairman that I've used in the past and he is really good and very reasonable on his prices.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Yes the PDI was done at the dealer.

Did the dealership do the PDI or did you do it?

 

[jagibson58]

I made a note of problems I saw and presented them to the dealership. Took them over a month to fix a couple of things, although not critical items. Brought the RV home and had my RV professional do a thorough look. We worked out a solution with Alliance with the repairs. Needless to say, several other items needed to be replaced. Basically, sloppy pdi at the factory and the dealership.
My RV professional tells me horror stories every time I see him, he tells of folks that have had negative results with RV dealerships. The latest is RV techs are leaving the dealerships and going into business for themselves.

 

[M and E]

Did the dealership do the PDI or did you do it?

I get your point on this Jim. We have to understand the conditions we are operating in regardless of the activity; totally get that. The fact is that we have to do PDI but only because the manufacturers and their distribution network literally wont. I think Northwoods is the only exception to that. We shouldn’t have to. Idealistic perspective of mine, i know. Don’t get me wrong, I think Alliance does a better job than most. But the quality does not nearly match the price point…not by a long shot. Besides a modestly better build quality, the only real differentiator is their customer service, and that too needs a boatload of work. I love the rig, only kinda like the quality and customer service.

 

[rvdude]

The dealer and I went over the trailer. None of these issues showed up initially. It was after 5 nights (1 at the dealer, and a 4 night trip) and being at home for all of August without getting to go out. I was out there at different times with AC's and lights running arranging things, etc with no problems (other than the broken bed struts). The electrical issue happened about a week before the trip last week. And the microwave door and the bedroom door happened on the 6 hour drive last week. Anyway, as I said, I do love the trailer. The items should be taken care of in the next week or 2.

 

[Hilldweller]

Good luck; keep us up to date.

 

[rvdude]

Update... the backsplash parts are still on order. I could have replaced the backsplash myself but I figure Alliance can pay for their poor glue job and replace it. I shouldn't have to spend a bunch of my own money and time to redo their mistakes after I spent a bunch to buy it. The bedroom door and the microwave door will be repaired by the dealer at the same time (once again, even though I didn't buy from them). The converter breaker has not tripped since Sep 29th. I ran both ACs and lights before I left town with the trailer on Friday 9th. I unplugged the trailer, traveled almost 2 hours, plugged the trailer back in, and have been running both ACs wide open (still real hot in southeast Texas) since Friday and so far all is well. Maybe that was just a little gremlin that is not present any more. Anyway, as I said earlier, I love the trailer and the layout. I'll just be glad to get these few kinks ironed out.

 

[Bozo]

Update... the backsplash parts are still on order. I could have replaced the backsplash myself but I figure Alliance can pay for their poor glue job and replace it. I shouldn't have to spend a bunch of my own money and time to redo their mistakes after I spent a bunch to buy it. The bedroom door and the microwave door will be repaired by the dealer at the same time (once again, even though I didn't buy from them). The converter breaker has not tripped since Sep 29th. I ran both ACs and lights before I left town with the trailer on Friday 9th. I unplugged the trailer, traveled almost 2 hours, plugged the trailer back in, and have been running both ACs wide open (still real hot in southeast Texas) since Friday and so far all is well. Maybe that was just a little gremlin that is not present any more. Anyway, as I said earlier, I love the trailer and the layout. I'll just be glad to get these few kinks ironed out.

In my experience, the gremlins do not fix themselves. I prefer finding and fixing an obvious problem than one seemingly “fixing” itself. I would always wonder.

 

[Ox262]

I concur Bozo. But unfortunately, I have a similar random issue. My converter tripped the breaker once for reasons unknown, and my GFCI has tripped twice on two different camping trips, again for reasons unknown. I've owned the 262RB for a year and have camped in it multiple times for over a total of two months. But those electrical gremlins only happened a few times over many trips. So I guess the question is do we gut our RV, take it offline for a month or more, to try to locate that small crimped or poorly installed wire? I don't know, tough question, given in my case I've only seen the issue three times and it's seemingly random. Unfortunately, it all goes back to Alliance and their "build for speed not quality" mentality.

 

[rvdude]

So far "Mr. Gremlin" is on vacation... he hasn't presented himself since Sep 29th when I reset the converter breaker. It was fine at home and I did run both AC's and some lights while getting ready for this trip. I've been out the past 7 nights and it has been unplugged for travel and plugged back in several times running both AC's wide open at 74. It will be unplugged in the morning for the drive home and then plugged back in after I get home. Luckily I store it at my house and can keep an eye on it all of the time.

 

[Flyer32RLS]

Update... the backsplash parts are still on order. I could have replaced the backsplash myself but I figure Alliance can pay for their poor glue job and replace it. I shouldn't have to spend a bunch of my own money and time to redo their mistakes after I spent a bunch to buy it.

I agree 110% with your first statement. The quality should be better. That said, sometimes you can shot yourself in the foot and add self imposed stress on yourself by making a stand that the dealer will pay when it would be faster and cost less down time for you and the RV to just do it yourself. There is another reason for doing it yourself, if you can, and that is you know it was done right, at least done the way you wanted it done!! Hate taking mine to the dealer and so far, a year into it, have not even called them one time.

 

[Midnight Rider]

I agree 110% with your first statement. The quality should be better. That said, sometimes you can shot yourself in the foot and add self imposed stress on yourself by making a stand that the dealer will pay when it would be faster and cost less down time for you and the RV to just do it yourself. There is another reason for doing it yourself, if you can, and that is you know it was done right, at least done the way you wanted it done!! Hate taking mine to the dealer and so far, a year into it, have not even called them one time.

I agree. With some motivation and \the experts on this site you can fix a lot. Not all, but a lot.
the people, on this forum have helped me with my confidence fixing the rig and having the guts to at least try.
stay out of dealer unless it’s a must.

 

[Lantley]

I agree. With some motivation and \the experts on this site you can fix a lot. Not all, but a lot.
the people, on this forum have helped me with my confidence fixing the rig and having the guts to at least try.
stay out of dealer unless it’s a must.

stay out of dealer unless it’s a must...... Those are words to live by.
That is what makes the RV world a special place You wouldn't avoid an auto dealership or treat the auto world the same way but the sooner you learn to do things yourself if at all possible the better off you'll be.
Taking the attitude I spent a bunch of money and I shouldn't have to spend a bunch of my own money and my own time to get this fix is a mistake. Understanding there Is no one to return to, to get things fixed but yourself is the better approach. The Sooner you adopt this approach the better off you will be in the RV world. ..... And yes there will always be things that need to be fixed

 

[Bozo]

stay out of dealer unless it’s a must...... Those are words to live by.
That is what makes the RV world a special place You wouldn't avoid an auto dealership or treat the auto world the same way but the sooner you learn to do things yourself if at all possible the better off you'll be.
Taking the attitude I spent a bunch of money and I shouldn't have to spend a bunch of my own money and my own time to get this fix hello is a mistake. Understanding there Is no one to return to, to get things fixed but yourself is the better approach. The Sooner you adopt this approach the better off you will be in the RV world. ..... And yes there will always be things that need to be fixed

And one of the best reasons to automatically knock 40% off whatever price dealer has on any unit.

 

[RockDr896]

I have applied this to everything I own....I just fixed a dishwasher (my house) as it just fell out of warranty in April of this year. The problem....the software simply had too many errors in it's cache....apparently they accumulate from not closing the door all the way....it confuses the sensor.....fricking software crap. I just found the highly protected maint info "Some tech always leaks the info" and simply accessed the tech mode keystrokes and reset the board...........

Bottom line....somebody is out there telling you how to do it. Now days it is either electrical, software, mechanical, carpentry, or plumbing. All things that anyone can skill up on and do. It will save you months and you can own some tools that will help you do the same at your house. Hopefully we will see the younger generation and former "non trade" owners..."have no fear" ...and take on the challenge. Midnight Rider and Lantely say it best.

Now Bozo's comment is right, but getting a new rig at 40% off their "out the door price"....few have had the nerve to bring a gun to a dealership and get the 40% price reduction...LOL...kidding of course, about the gun.....might make a great comedy sequel to the Robin Williams movie