Holiday Rambler-Campmaster RV Exposed: Leaks, Axles, and Costly Repairs on a Discontinued Toy Hauler

(Serious Concern)

Consumers repeatedly report costly surprises after taking delivery—leaks, soft floors, spongy roofs, slide and axle issues—followed by long waits for dealer service once the sale is complete. A third-party, certified inspection is your best (and often only) leverage before signing. If your inspector flags structural or system defects pre-sale, you can negotiate repairs or walk away. Once the dealer has your money, several owners describe being “pushed to the back of the line” while units sit for weeks or even months awaiting warranty authorization or parts, resulting in canceled trips and mounting expenses.

• Action: Book an independent inspector, not one recommended by the selling dealer. Start here: RV Inspectors near me.
• Scope: Insist on moisture mapping, roof membrane inspection, axle alignment, frame rust/crack checks, GFCI and shore power tests, LP system pressure test, and appliance function under load.
• Documentation: Get a written report with photos and moisture meter readings—this becomes leverage to compel pre-delivery fixes.

(Serious Concern)

Across older towables—especially discontinued lines like the Campmaster—owners commonly cite roof and wall leaks that lead to delamination, mold, and structural soft spots. For the Campmaster, age compounds the risk: original sealants dry out; roof membranes crack; fasteners loosen. Water intrusion often starts around roof penetrations (vents, skylights), front caps, and windows. Left unchecked, it can migrate into wall cores, weakening adhesion and creating ripples or “bubbles” on fiberglass skins.

• Search owner photos and repair logs: Holiday Rambler Campmaster Water Damage and YouTube: Campmaster Delamination.
• Forum deep-dive: owners discuss leak tracing, seam resealing, and full roof replacements on similar-era HR towables: Good Sam search: Campmaster Leaks.

(Serious Concern)

Toy haulers see concentrated loads near the rear garage/ramp. Owners raise concerns about uneven tire wear, bent axles, and, in severe cases, frame flex or cracked welds on older units. Improper loading, worn suspension bushings, and under-spec axles can accelerate problems. Evidence often shows inside-edge tire cupping, hot hubs, and erratic tracking—red flags for underlying alignment or axle issues.

• Investigate axle and frame threads: Campmaster Axle Problems and Frame Crack discussions.
• Recall check across HR towables/motorized families: NHTSA recall search.

(Serious Concern)

Owners of older HR towables report miswired outlets, overloaded circuits, erratic converter/charger behavior, and failing transfer switches. Aging wiring harnesses, corroded grounds, and DIY add-ons multiply the hazards. Symptoms include GFCI trips, flickering lights when using the microwave, and shore power heat at the cordset—warning signs of resistance and potential fire risk. Inspectors often recommend infrared scanning and torque checks on breaker lugs.

• See recurring reports: Campmaster Electrical Problems (YouTube) and Google discussions.
• Broader HR electrical complaint context: BBB search results.

(Moderate Concern)

From brittle PEX fittings to leaky tank sensors and venting issues, aged plumbing systems are a frequent sore spot. Reports include fresh-water pump cycling due to micro-leaks, black tank odor intrusion from dry traps, and cracked fittings at the water heater. For toy haulers, extended boondocking loads may stress fittings and introduce vibration-related leaks.

• Owner how-tos and failure reports: Campmaster Plumbing Leaks and Black Tank Problems.

(Moderate Concern)

Common reports include rooftop A/C failures under heat load, noisy blower motors, furnace ignition issues, and absorption fridge inconsistencies on LP. Appliances near end-of-life can be costly: a full A/C replacement, absorption fridge swap to 12V compressor models, or furnace rebuild may run into thousands, especially when paired with labor shortages at RV service centers.

• Appliance failure patterns: Campmaster A/C Problems and Fridge Problems.

(Serious Concern)

Where equipped, slide-outs can suffer from misalignment, seal wear, and floor rot at the corners. Toy-hauler ramp doors on older units are high-risk: delamination, compromised seals, and weakened struts. Owners describe water tracing down the ramp hinge line into the garage floor, causing soft subfloor or mold. Entry doors can lose alignment, creating latch difficulties and drafts.

• Ramp/door threads and repair walk-throughs: Ramp Door Problems and Slide-Out Problems.

(Moderate Concern)

Reports of poor fit-and-finish include loose trim, veneer delamination, cabinet hardware failures, squeaks/rattles, and brittle plastics. These may sound minor, but when combined with water intrusion or frame flex, cabinetry can rack and hardware loosens faster. Replacing older proprietary parts can be frustrating due to discontinuation.

• Owner complaints and DIY fixes: Fit-and-Finish Problems.

(Serious Concern)

Toy haulers often advertise generous cargo areas, but several owners across the segment report real-world cargo carrying capacity (CCC) that shrinks once options and full tanks are accounted for. Overloading or poorly distributed weight can produce sway, premature tire wear, and brake overheating. Some older Campmaster units may lack modern stabilization equipment; aftermarket equalizers and shocks may be needed.

• CCC and towing discussions: Campmaster Weight Issues and Sway Problems on r/rvs.
• Cross-reference tire, bearing, and brake maintenance intervals; failures are highly consequential at speed: Tire Wear evidence.

(Serious Concern)

With a discontinued model, factory coverage is largely moot, and parts availability becomes the chokepoint. Owners describe long waits for compatible components, dealer scheduling delays, and finger-pointing between component vendors and service centers. Some buyers report being told that “it’s normal for an older toy hauler” when seeking repairs for structural or systemic defects—leaving the consumer to shoulder costs.

• Consumer complaint snapshots: BBB search results and Warranty Complaints (Google).

(Moderate Concern)

Marketing materials from the era often promoted robust toy-hauling capacity and extended camping amenities. Owners’ real-world reports suggest compromises: weak ramp seals, noise and heat transfer through the garage wall, marginal insulation (hot in summer, cold in winter), and components that struggle under continuous use. These shortfalls can translate to higher generator run-time and increased maintenance.

• Owner reality checks: Insulation/comfort complaints.

(Serious Concern)

Based on consumer complaints across BBB entries, forums, and social media, recurrent allegations involve warranty denials (for owners who bought years ago when coverage applied), extended service delays, and product defects with safety implications. While each claim is fact-specific, buyers should be aware of legal frameworks that may apply:

• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (U.S.): Governs warranties on consumer products. If a written warranty still applies (e.g., extended service contracts), unreasonable delays or repeated failed repairs could trigger remedies.
• State UDAP statutes: Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices laws can apply to misrepresentations or omissions during sale.
• State RV/auto lemon laws: Often exclude used units, but some states permit claims for significant defects within narrow windows. Consult a local consumer attorney for specifics.
• NHTSA oversight: Safety defects, including axle failures, brake issues, and fire hazards, fall under NHTSA jurisdiction. Always run a VIN-specific recall check: NHTSA recall search.
• FTC rules: Truth-in-advertising and warranty disclosure regulations apply to dealerships and warranty providers.

If you pursued a warranty or lemon-law claim on a Campmaster or a similar HR towable, what happened? Share outcomes that could help others.

(Serious Concern)

From a risk perspective, the Campmaster sits at a high-risk intersection of age, discontinued manufacturing support, and toy-hauler loading dynamics. The most serious hazards reported across similar-era units include:

• Loss-of-control risks: Axle misalignment or overloading can cause sway, blowouts, and braking challenges—critical at highway speeds.
• Fire and shock risks: Electrical faults, overheating shore cords, or miswired circuits raise safety concerns.
• Structural and health concerns: Water intrusion leading to mold and compromised structural integrity.

Financially, these defects can trigger high-cost repairs. A roof replacement plus rot remediation can exceed a meaningful percentage of the trailer’s value. Axle and suspension work is expensive and time-consuming. Simultaneously, service backlogs can force owners to forfeit camping seasons while still making loan and storage payments.

• Corroborate patterns via owner reviews: RVInsider: Campmaster Problems and Google: Campmaster Complaints.

(Serious Concern)

Multiple owners of older HR towables describe buying used units with “dealer PDI included,” only to discover leaks or appliance failures on their first trip. When they return the trailer, it enters a service queue for weeks. Some complain that warranty administrators (if an extended plan is involved) insist on step-by-step diagnosis approvals, stretching repairs over months. In the meantime, owners lose deposits on campsites and miss family events.

• See patterns by searching: Campmaster Service Delays and BBB complaints.

(Serious Concern)

Buyers report “normal” looking ceilings at purchase, later discovering high moisture readings and soft floors beneath caulked trim. In toy haulers, the garage-to-living-area transition is a frequent failure point, with staining visible only after heavy rain. Remediation can require subfloor sections, new insulation, and paneling—frequently uncovered by the buyer, not the dealer.

• Owner case threads: Water leak findings and Delamination problems.

(Serious Concern)

Some owners recount inside-edge tire failures and smoking hubs on highway climbs, later learning their axles were bowed or bearings under-serviced. The result: emergency roadside assistance bills, missed events, and damage to wheel wells and skirting. In serious cases, insurance claims follow.

• Risk context and fixes: Campmaster Tire Blowout and Axle Replacement.