RV tech reviews Ember RVs UNDERCOVER - Honest Review!

In this video I'll be reviewing a 2025 model (2024 built) Ember RV travel trailer 26RB Touring Edition.

[johnhaithcock]

You are spot on with your plumbing comments especially on the water heater. Mine popped off 11:00 pm and it sounded like a shot. Of course that was followed by the worst RV sound of all: running water. It was the hot water line and pumped a bunch of steaming hot water behind the wall in the basement. It was like a steam bath in there. Thanks for your report.

[jimmoore]

Would love to see an Ember Overland model.

[-bvxz]

I bought a Rockwood Signature, brand new custom order. The issues began immediately. On the closet slide out (Schwintek)…the fiberglass of the front facing sidewall of the slide box spider cracked. Had the wall section replaced, and a year later it cracked again on the new fiberglass wall. The walls are only an inch thick and and do not have sufficient bracing/studs; also doesn’t help that Rockwood followed none of the Lippert installation requirements for the Schwintek system (rollers and wall backing/reinforcement). Rockwood will do NOTHING about it. I’ve also had a bent axle from the factory (Dexter replaced it), a wheel randomly fall off on the road, roof material incorrectly installed and bubbling up on the slide outs, I had to completely re-plumb the rig with pex and proper fittings because of leaks, ceiling panels were falling down because they weren’t glue laminated properly at the factory (so Rockwood stapled it up, but the staples only go into foam because the roof is made like a luan board foam sandwich, and the list continues to grow. It’s a complete piece of junk and the manufacturer does NOT stand behind their product. All of the Indiana produced RV’s a complete junk!! Avoid at all costs!

[charlesklaus]

Thanks for another informative review Jacob! At the price point of Ember RVs, this is a Very disappointing result. With all the hype about Ember, I would expect much higher quality. Hopefully the Ember people will see this and improve as some other manufacturers have. Love your grading app and tool free maintenance course! Keep up the good work!

[dandoyle]

Accurate report - unfortunately. I would never buy an rv with a membrane roof. I own an Ember 191msl. The structure of fiberglass foam cored walls and floor are the reason I bought this unit. Mine has a thick fiberglass roof you can walk on. No complaints about the structure. The countertops are the same thermoplastic - pretty, but longterm problematic; should be made of solid synthetic - mdf is junk. Lots of little issues (and my Truma ac lost its gas (no Schrader port to fill), but overall the overland series is good. The axle "stalks" on your review trailer are Scarry. The biggest problem Ember faces is the Elkhart Indiana mind set. A long term use of the cheapest systems available. It would be easy to use proper systems and quality parts for very little extra build price. So many reports of subsystem failures should be a red flag to source better parts and subsystems. And the water system plumbing on all brands is junk. If someone in Indiana would look at the "saltwater " marine boat (yacht level quality) build components the industry as a whole would produce a travel trailer that is not "junk" quality" start by hot dip galvanizing the frame (or go HEAVY aluminum. Run the wiring neatly and use non pex plumbing. The RV industry has a long way to go. A few brands are stepping up. Shoddy construction has to be called out - the problem is the companies need to react to the ongoing complaints about specific items and fix the once and formally. When a trailer goes out the door it needs to be perfect, not sent away with known defective parts.

[linkfloyd]

Disappointed by this result but not surprised. Please review Jayco and Imagine travel trailers. Thanks!!

[displacedtexan]

If you find an Overland Series, I’d love to see a review of those. It’ll probably have some of the same issues but some differences.

[NickLevine-es]

Great review, thanks for the insight. We walked into an Ember and noticed finishing issues as well, which concerned me regarding what you can’t see, this was very helpful. Would be great to see you review an inTech Aucta/OVR.

[subiesojourner]

After watching some of Liz Amazing videos, I'm not sure I'll ever buy another camper.

[stevebridges]

I appreciate your review, I was an RV tech but that was back in the 80’s and I have lost a step or two since then. I was looking at a 2023 Ember that is a new never been sold unit last weekend, I had seen the Ember RV reviews from the people who “ Give you the good, the bad, & the ugly” yeah I had interest in the Ember the first time I saw one on the internet and these folks who do not look under the skin were giving these reviews like the Ember was better than the second coming of Christ will be. These 2023 models were heavily discounted but when I looked at them and the doors on both ends were being held closed by the folding grab handles for the outside stairs, not just on one but all three that they had in stock I was shocked. Then some of the things you pointed out about the fit and finish of trim were prevalent in all three of the coaches. I am trying to get back into an RV, something 1/2 ton towable for the state parks around Texas that is budget friendly, these even heavily discounted would be disaster. You just reinforced my thoughts even my wife who is not as observant of the fit and finish things, she wants a camper worse than I do and I would sell both of my older brothers twice over to get back in an RV, and my brothers and I are close and have always had fun together. Thank you for the honest and no holds barred review, it is greatly appreciated by an ex-RV tech from the 80’s. May God’s blessings for you to numerous to count!!

[tonylips]

Am interested in the Intech Navigator. Have you ever reviewed an Intech RV? Keep the great videos coming 🤙

[jujor]

Have you taken a look at the Ember Overland series? I’d like to know if they’re built the same way. I also see they have a different suspension. If you haven’t reviewed those yet, I’ll be looking forward to a video on that. Thank you.

[jimgeorger]

I have learned a ton from your daily emails!

[bryanbarton]

Your videos really add a unique value to the RV community that is otherwise not available to the public. Thanks!

If possible, it would be great to watch a review of the East to West Alta Xtreme trailers. East to West seems to market them as good for full-time and harsh conditions, and it would be great to know if that's true or not.

[jrags]

Thank you again, still looking at airstreams, (i know overpriced) but had friends talk about ember now I know.

[barbaradowney]

We were very interested whey they first came out and joined a FB group with wannabes and owners...after a month or two and numerous owner complaints of leaks and other problems the site was very suddenly shut down...that really disappointed me as a wannabe as I wanted to see if and how the issues were taken going to be taken care of...so it was a hard no for me...though we were looking at the original Ember with the independent suspension...so many were caught up in the "hype" and just assumed they were awesome...after several years of research we are thinking either a Brinkley or an Outdoors RV...they are an apple and an orange but we are thinking they are some of the best built, least problematic RVs being built today...Thanks Jacob for your videos and what you do to keep us informed!

[bndfishing]

I looked at a bunch of Embers because we were set on one. After seeing them on the lot and at shows, we have passed on Ember due to crap quality.

[Bmotoglen]

I thought you hated the BAL cable slide? Or is their exact slide a good option?

[cablemanf]

We are trying to decide between the Apex Nano 213RDS & Winnebago Micro Minnie 2225RL, have you done reviews on either one yet? Watched all your videos, did we miss one? Thanks!

[jimcornelius]

I am glad I brought an Arctic Fox.I was looking at Ember.😂