How important is it to buy local?

Here is the thing. The warranty will be gone in a year or two. After that. It don't matter who fixes it. "Most" dealer service depts. want your business. It is how they make their living. IMOP. If a service dept is months behind. They are not good at what they do. Find another.

So go ahead and buy the camper you want where you can find it. There are hundreds of places to get them repaired. It does not have to be a dealership.