SAY IT AIN'T SO.! Toy hauler cargo doors made with WOOD????

[dh50]

Say it's not so!  This question is posed to all 'toy hauler' owners specifically.  Is the cargo door really comprised of foam board, WOOD covered by aluminum?  Read another forum where outright rot and rusting at hinges has occurred.  This would make the 'no wood, no rust or rot' claim pretty misleading, to say the least.

Please say it ain't so!  

[daplumbr]

You might want to call Livin Lite and ask them directly to see what's current in the way of construction. However, in a quick search of various forums just now, I certainly did not find any widespread evidence of problems with Livin Lite construction materials in the real world. So, unless you hear otherwise from toy hauler users, I wood not worry about it. 

Based on post below, might be especially worthwhile to contact LL directly to see if they have changed door construction materials in the last 3 years. 

[spot1]

LivinLite is a BBB member.

Check out the 9-16-2014 complaint and resolution:

http://www.bbb.org/northernindiana/business-reviews/recreational-vehicle-manufacturers/livin-lite-recreational-vehicles-in-wakarusa-in-90057343/complaints#breakdown

[fasteddieb]

Interesting complaints.

The lengthy one involving the off level windows was from someone who checked in here, I'm pretty sure.

[admin]

Interesting complaints.

The lengthy one involving the off level windows was from someone who checked in here, I'm pretty sure.

I was thinking the same thing...

[daplumbr]

Here's the link to the long thread on the out of level windows. 

http://livinlite.proboards.com/thread/364/2015-14dbs

I'm still very interested in what the factory says about wood in the door(s). I sure hope there's no wood in the door of mine. 

[dh50]

[quote source="/post/5838/thread" timestamp="1420412298" author="@exploringcarolina"]LivinLite is a BBB member.

Check out the 9-16-2014 complaint and resolution:

http://www.bbb.org/northernindiana/business-reviews/recreational-vehicle-manufacturers/livin-lite-recreational-vehicles-in-wakarusa-in-90057343/complaints#breakdown[/quote][p]This is turning out badly.  LivinLite's rep called us yesterday at dealer's request.  States that yes, there is wood in the cargo door, luan - a type of plywood.  Says to just watch it, keep up with the seal at the bottom.  Stated he was new at LL since this summer and took responsibility saying that he must do better training of the dealer's sales force.  The dealer is stating that they had no knowledge about wood in LLite's toyhaulers.  While we would like to give them the benefit of the doubt, it's hard to believe they knew nothing of this.  It could appear to some that both mfr./dealer [em]'might'[/em] be complicit in the all-aluminum 'cover-up' of wood in toyhauler line.  It's very disappointing, takes the joy out of the experience.  Most disappointing.[/p][p]
[/p][p]This is third day since signing paperwork paying premium (at least $10,000 over stick equivalent).  Paid premium for 'peace of mind', though we haven't yet taken delivery of unit; not driven off the dealer's lot since the dealer is still working on fixing the punch list items.  We're told that if we back-out on the purchase (not that we've chosen this route at this writing), the dealer (nameless at this writing) will treat the unit as pre-owned and as a trade-in.  Wow, this went south fast!  Have consumers any rights against misleading advertising claims?  Despite dealer pivoting quickly to play 'hardball' with us, we don't want to play that game.  Again, we place a premium on 'peace of mind'.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I did ask the rep at Livin Lite to eliminate this future scenario for other prospective toyhauler buyers by simple disclosure of the facts.  (Why is 'truth' so difficult and elusive these days?)  Then let the buyer make up their own mind.  The rep stated that he would tell the 'owner' who was just up the hallway.  [/p][p]
[/p][p] Any wise counsel out there?[/p][p]
[/p][p]Signed,[/p][p]Disappointed in Florida   :-/[/p][p]
[/p]

[daplumbr]

Sorry about the choices you face. No winners in this situation and no wisdom from me that's worth any more than what it would cost you. But do keep us posted on what happens. Everyone on the forum will be very interested in Livin Lite's engagement and responsiveness to the situation. 

[pinstriper]

I guess it all depends on what you signed, and what the law is in the state you purchased.

That said, I think there's a BIG difference in peace of mind between rot-resistant lauan in the door, versus wood in the frame, sidewalls, roof, or floor. I wouldn't let it sour you on the trailer.

[spot1]

Our next purchase will be a LL travel trailer or toy hauler and we plan to keep our CL 11' camper, too. We have looked at "many" RV manufacturers and found aluminum LL RVs to be a well constructed camper that we are willing to store outside in the elements.  

Agree, would not let this issue sour you on LL.

[admin]

I think the biggest part of the problem with the toy hauler is that it is essentially at its core its an aluminum box trailer with camper upgrades. I don't think its practical to manufacture a door when there are already well tested doors on the market. I'm also thinking its rather cost prohibitive to produce an all aluminum door that would meet the needs of a toy hauler load door.

Its a rough situation and I'm sorry you are facing it. In my opinion I wouldn't let the door stop me from purchasing one. I also don't know if I would blame LL over the dealer. If the dealer was unclear about the construction they should have been able to say so. It doesnt take much to make a phone call.

I also wouldn't accept delivery until you are sure about what you want to do. I think you have a lot more leverage from a personal and legal standpoint if you can make the case that the product was not produced as described. Unfortunately only a professional will really be able to give you an opinion about that though.

[pinstriper]

Meh, LL's website and materials are pretty repetitive and specific about no wood to rot. They then go on to say "it's not ALL aluminum, there's plastic and azdel and other recyclable stuff" with no mention of wood.

So the dealer is just parroting the product information from the vendor. They probably believed the vendor.

It would be nice if the dealer changes their pitch to point out "yeah, there's unavoidably some wood in the door on the toy haulers, metal would just flex under the weight and dent, but it's rot resistant lauan, like you use in bathroom subflooring in your home, so it's not a big deal".

[gnies]

Is it only the door of the toy haulers that has wood or there could be some in other trailer like mine for example?

[spot1]

[quote timestamp="1420648393" author="@paul" source="/post/5892/thread"]Is it only the door of the toy haulers that has wood or there could be some in other trailer like mine for example?[/quote]Have a Challenger entry door on our TT. Our TT was one of the first TTs off of the LL assembly line in 2010. 

Removed the window frame last December due to curosity (did not take photos) and it appears to be  lauan adhered to the interior of the outer door aluminum skin & interior composite surface. My door is built with welded aluminum tube and Styrofoam insulation sandwiched between the inner & outer skins and aluminum frame. I am not a door expert, but it looks like building a door on an RV is a very tough application with flexing and rapid temperature changes.

Plan to keep this TT, even when we purchase a larger LL RV. 

[david]

Luan plywood isn't particularly resistant to rot. You can replace it with exterior, pressure treated plywood which will last as long as you. It won't have a pretty exterior surface like luan and will need to be painted to look decent. Also the boat building industry has cored panels with a fiberglass skin that are used for bulkheads. These are totally synthetic and will never rot. Both are heavier than luan though.

David