4 Common Holiday Rambler Motorhome Problems (Troubleshooting)

With so many recreational vehicle manufacturers and brands, choosing a particular unit or model to invest in can be daunting. Yes, like your traditional house and car, it’s a significant investment, considering how expensive each unit can be.

Imagine buying a home and a truck in one go, and you’ll get an idea of the enormity of this purchase. Some even sell their possessions to buy an RV and live their dream nomadic traveler’s lifestyle.

RVs make camping and traveling more comfortable, thanks to their various features. But these vehicles are not created equal. Some are larger and more equipped than others.

Bigger and pricier RVs, commonly known as motorhomes or coaches, have more amenities. Smaller ones—travel trailers and camper vans—have at least the basic facilities, such as a bathroom, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a receiving area.

Considerations when investing in an RV

Choose an RV model that suits your specific budget and traveling needs. A typical travel trailer or fifth wheel is ideal if you’re a couple who wants to spend your retirement traveling the country. On the other hand, a fully-furnished motorhome is more suitable for a large family. These beasts can sleep up to ten people and house several bathrooms.

However, avoid getting sidetracked by features and forgetting about the most critical aspect of your search: QUALITY. Unfortunately, because different companies manufacture RVs, they vary in quality.

Some perform better and last longer than others. Therefore, it would be best to research the manufacturer and model you find interesting before heading to any dealership. Also, be ready to conduct a thorough inspection and a test drive.

Is Holiday Rambler a good brand?

Holiday Rambler is one of the first companies you will encounter during your search. It was founded in 1953 and is one of the earliest RV manufacturers and motorhome pioneers. The company also introduced aluminum body framing to create lightweight RVs.

Generally, Holiday Rambler builds Class A, B plus, and C motorhomes, meaning they serve a wide range of markets. This manufacturer’s flagship brands are Invicta 36DB (38-foot gas-powered Class A motorhome) and Armada 44LE (44-foot diesel-powered Class A motorhome).

The sheer size of these fuel guzzlers allows for more utility and better conveniences. However, they are also the most expensive. That’s why you rarely see them on the road. Behind all the positive reviews and accolades Holiday Ramble has received over the years is a string of bad reviews about their more recent product lines.

We’ll look into the common problems encountered by late owners of Holiday Ramble to help future investors weigh their choices better. Many buyers regret their choice because they didn’t have reliable information to base their decision on.

How to Fix Holiday Rambler Motorhome Problems

1. Feeble trailing-arm suspension

Most motorhomes, including Holiday Rambler motorhomes, have trailing-arm suspension in which the axle or wheel trails behind, hence the name. Manufacturers prefer this design because it is lighter and more rigid than A-arm suspension.  It also takes up less space, creating extra room for the engine and transmission system.

As a result, this design is ideal for the rear suspension system. With that said, the trailing-arm suspension has its share of disadvantages. For instance, it tends to create more camber change. Camber is the angle of the tire with respect to the car’s vertical axis.

Motorhomes perform better with less camber due to the types of terrain they travel on. More camber means more wear on the tires. This also affects the kinematic control of the RV.Generally, however, this suspension system should be efficient for large vehicles, such as an RV.

The problem is a Holiday Rambler motorhome’s trailing-arm suspension is less durable than that of other RV brands. Many RV owners claim their trailing-arm suspension breaks easily. A broken trailing arm is replaceable, but you must remember it’s also dangerous.

2. Difficult to handle

Driving an RV is different from driving a typical sedan or SUV. This is why truckers are required to obtain a separate license. Factors such as the RV’s dimension, the towing situation, and any accessories involved can affect how quickly you can shift gear and keep the RV stable.

And when it comes to stability, several things are at play—your tires’ alignment, the axle’s rigidity, and the suspension system. Many Holiday Rambler owners claim they sometimes have difficulty steering the wheels.

This can be particularly dangerous when a larger truck drives past you at high speed as it disrupts the flow of wind around your vehicle, causing it to swerve in a different direction. As a result, you can fall into a ditch or hit oncoming traffic if you fail to maintain or regain stability. Some owners install stabilizers to help with steering.

3. Tires wear out fast

The tires on your RV will wear out eventually, but it’s different if they wear out faster than usual. RV tires undoubtedly wear out longer than a car’s tires because they are larger, thicker, and have more tread. In addition, they are designed to take on the jagged terrains of the wilderness.

But if you notice that your tire tread is no longer visible after only a few trips, you must be worried. As it turns out, many Holiday Rambler motorhome owners claim to have encountered this problem. They say they needed to replace their RV tires only after a few years.

This directly correlates to the tires’ quality or the driver’s poor driving habits.  If it’s a quality issue, you’ll notice the wear forming even if you’re only driving on finished roads and smooth surfaces. But if the wear isn’t even, it’s more likely due to constant swerving and skidding. Your preferred route and the wheels’ alignment may also be to blame.

If your tires are not vertical, and your route compels you to turn right or left often, eventually, your tires will wear out only on one side. You can’t fix the wear, but you can even it by rotating your tires. That’s more efficient than replacing them too soon.

4. Leaking hot water tank

There have also been reports of leak problems in the Holiday Rambler motorhome. Some owners claim their hot water tank is leaking. Considering how precious water is in the wilderness, every drop of water you have in your RV counts. It might seem trivial initially, but water drops every one to two seconds can fill an entire bucket overnight.

They also claim this leak has already spawned various issues, including forming a foamy substance along the corners and edges of the shower room, which is a characteristic aftermath of any unattended leak.

While this may be an isolated case, it’s still important to consider, given how many customers are drawn into the Holiday Rambler’s catalog. If it happens to the shower, who knows which part of your RV’s plumbing system is also as loose or low quality as your water heater tank ?

Conclusion

Choosing an RV requires patience and diligence. Don’t rush. Think of it as similar to buying a house. After all, a motorhome or coach can cost just as much as a detached family home, depending on the brand and model. Also, the RV will be your primary or secondary home anyway, so there’s little difference.

And like a traditional home, you want it to be as comfortable and easy to maintain as possible. Of course, you need to consider the quality and price as well. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a Holiday Rambler motorhome, despite all the negative reviews it’s been getting. It’s a great product.

Yes, it has flaws, which the manufacturer is trying to address, but which make and model is perfect? The answer is none. All RVs lack and have more of something. It’s just a matter of knowing the best way to deal with the flaws. This is why every RV owner must learn at least basic repair and maintenance.