I've been seeing more complaints about redwood fifth wheel units lately, and it's honestly a bit disheartening when you consider how much these rigs cost. If you're dropping six figures on a luxury coach, you expect a certain level of craftsmanship that goes beyond just fancy light fixtures and residential-style refrigerators. Redwood positions itself as the top-tier choice for full-timers, but the reality on the ground—or in the campgrounds—seems to be a bit more complicated than the glossy brochures suggest.
Don't get me wrong, they are beautiful trailers. But if you spend enough time in owner forums or talking to folks at the fuel pump, you start to hear a recurring set of frustrations. It's not just one-off "lemons" either; there are patterns that potential buyers should probably know about before they sign that massive loan agreement.
Quality Control at the Factory
The most frequent complaints about redwood fifth wheel trailers usually start with "I just picked it up, and" It's that initial honeymoon phase that gets cut short by poor quality control. Owners often report finding sawdust in the vents, loose trim pieces, and cabinet doors that aren't quite level. While these might seem like small "nitpicky" things, they point to a rushed assembly line.
I've heard stories of people finding structural screws that missed the studs entirely, hidden behind the wall panels. When you're paying for a premium product, you shouldn't have to spend your first three weekends fixing things that the factory inspectors should have caught. It feels like the industry as a whole has moved toward a "fix it at the dealer" mentality, and Redwood hasn't been immune to that shift. The problem is, once you leave the lot, getting back into a service center can take months.
Plumbing and Water Issues
Water is the enemy of any RV, and Redwood owners have had their fair share of battles. One of the common complaints about redwood fifth wheel plumbing involves the PEX connections and the placement of the water lines. Because these are large units that flex quite a bit during travel, those connections can wiggle loose.
I've talked to owners who discovered standing water in their underbelly because a fitting behind the shower wasn't tightened properly from the factory. Even worse are the reports of leaks in the slide-outs. When you have hydraulic or electric slides, the seals need to be perfect. If the trim isn't seated right or the seals are installed crooked, a heavy rainstorm can turn your luxury living room into a swamp. Dealing with mold and delamination on a trailer that's only a year or two old is a nightmare no one wants to deal with.
Slide-out Failures and Alignment
Speaking of slides, they are a major point of contention. Redwood uses some heavy-duty slides to accommodate those residential appliances and solid wood cabinetry, but that weight puts a massive strain on the motors and tracks.
A lot of the complaints about redwood fifth wheel models center on the slides getting stuck or "jumping" the tracks. If the coach isn't perfectly level—and sometimes even when it is—the sheer weight of the kitchen slide can cause it to bind. I've heard from folks who had to manually crank their slides in just to get off their campsite, which is the last thing you want to do when you're supposed to be relaxing. It's a complex system, and when it fails, it's usually an expensive, specialized fix that most general mechanics won't touch.
Frame Flex and Structural Concerns
This is the big one that keeps people up at night. Like many high-end fifth wheels, Redwoods are built on frames that are supposed to handle the rigors of full-time use. However, "frame flex" is a term that pops up far too often in discussions about these trailers.
Frame flex happens when the chassis moves more than it should, often leading to cracks in the fiberglass exterior, usually near the corners of the front bedroom slides. Owners have reported seeing the molding pull away or the caulking crack repeatedly in the same spot. It's a structural headache that can be incredibly difficult to resolve. While the manufacturer might offer a fix, it often involves stripping back the skin of the RV to reinforce the steel underneath. If you're looking at a used Redwood, this is the first thing you should check for.
Appliance and Component Gremlins
Redwood likes to brag about their residential components, but sometimes those components aren't meant for the "earthquake" that happens every time you pull a trailer down a highway. I've seen complaints about redwood fifth wheel refrigerators vibrating loose or the heavy convection microwaves rattling their mounts.
Then there's the electronics. The multiplex wiring systems that control the lights, HVAC, and tanks via a touchscreen are great—until they aren't. When a physical light switch breaks, you replace the switch. When a control board for a digital system fries, you might lose the ability to turn on your heater or extend your awnings. Owners have voiced frustration over the complexity of these systems, especially when they fail in remote areas where there's no tech support in sight.
The Customer Service Experience
This is where things get really heated. Redwood is part of the Thor Industries family, and if you know anything about the RV world, you know that customer service ratings for the big conglomerates can be hit or miss. The most common complaints about redwood fifth wheel service involve the "blame game" between the manufacturer, the dealer, and the component makers (like Lippert or Dometic).
Owners often feel like they're shouting into a void when they need warranty work done. You might be told that a part is on backorder for six months, effectively grounding your "full-time" home. For people who sold their bricks-and-mortar houses to live in a Redwood, being told their home is unlivable while they wait for a factory authorization is devastating. It's the gap between the "luxury" branding and the "budget" support that seems to sting the most.
Is It All Bad News?
After reading all that, you might think Redwoods are total junk, but that's not necessarily the case. The reason you hear so many complaints about redwood fifth wheel units is partly because people have such high expectations for them. You don't complain about a cheap entry-level trailer having a loose cabinet; you expect it. But when you pay for a Redwood, you expect excellence.
There are plenty of owners who absolutely love their rigs. They praise the insulation, the massive storage capacity, and the way the trailer tows behind a dually truck. Once you get past the initial "shake-down" period—which usually takes about a year of fixing factory mistakes—a Redwood can be a very comfortable place to live.
What Should a Buyer Do?
If you're still set on a Redwood, the best advice I can give is to go into the deal with your eyes wide open. Never, ever skip a professional third-party inspection. Even if the rig is brand new on the dealer lot, pay an independent inspector to spend six hours poking around in the cabinets and climbing on the roof. They will find things you'd never notice.
Also, be prepared to be your own advocate. You have to be persistent with the manufacturer and the dealer to get things fixed. The people who are happiest with their Redwoods are often the ones who are handy enough to fix the small stuff themselves and savvy enough to navigate the warranty bureaucracy for the big stuff.
At the end of the day, a Redwood fifth wheel is a complex machine that experiences a minor earthquake every time it hits 65 mph. Things are going to break. The real question is whether you're okay with the "luxury" price tag knowing that you might still be dealing with some very un-luxurious headaches down the road. It's a beautiful lifestyle, but it definitely requires a bit of patience and a very thick skin.