Forum Discussion

JIMeRIG's avatar
JIMeRIG
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019

Pin Box wing set issue...

Hi, new to the forum but looking for some advice from people with experience in dealing with RV dealer/manufacture... and if its worth the battle?


back story, last spring we bought a brand new Northwood Fiver from a local dealer and when we went to go pick it up in our new Ram pickup, it was sitting to high in the front so the dealer and I tried to adjust the pin box up to its highest setting. When doing so we noticed the pin box was very tight and the wing set was bet outward a bit. We were short for time so we ended up making modifications to the truck/hitch so that we could at least go on our trip only weeks away and the dealer said they would fix the problem... The RV towed fine but the nose was still higher then it should have been. After the season ended we dropped off the RV at the dealer for some minor stuff and the pin box issue. After several emails and calls to the dealer I stopped in and asked for a status. After having the RV for 2 months, they said the manufacture has refused to take responsibility because the wing set is defective and that its Lipperts problem even though they welded this to their frame, which they make in house (Northwood). Then the dealer told me they are grinding on the side of the pin box so it will fit and have been "for days".

I dont accept this as a solution to the problem... either the frame was not aligned when welded or they welded a defective part to their frame... Like most fivers, it was not cheap and should not come with non-repairable issues

Is this worth the fight? Should I take it up with the dealer or manufacturer? Or should I just accept that this RV will forever have a messed up wing set and the only pin box that will fit is the one they grinded...?

pictures here

https://drive.google.com/open?id=17BqKUR6rfdXoSA-B5OHkMh0_u3xEfhRh
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IoQwV9NTdbkrP6yKjFH7KUnp2xB1KvDw
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Sz9rsbEZl-qvnMvswLTu9N1ogwr931Dz
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Cm3JgzV0JrR5SMkmPX8VzvfFuwJHFOiL
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Feb 03, 2019
    JIMeRIG wrote:
    Hi, new to the forum but looking for some advice from people with experience in dealing with RV dealer/manufacture... and if its worth the battle?


    back story, last spring we bought a brand new Northwood Fiver from a local dealer and when we went to go pick it up in our new Ram pickup, it was sitting to high in the front so the dealer and I tried to adjust the pin box up to its highest setting. When doing so we noticed the pin box was very tight and the wing set was bet outward a bit. We were short for time so we ended up making modifications to the truck/hitch so that we could at least go on our trip only weeks away and the dealer said they would fix the problem... The RV towed fine but the nose was still higher then it should have been. After the season ended we dropped off the RV at the dealer for some minor stuff and the pin box issue. After several emails and calls to the dealer I stopped in and asked for a status. After having the RV for 2 months, they said the manufacture has refused to take responsibility because the wing set is defective and that its Lipperts problem even though they welded this to their frame, which they make in house (Northwood). Then the dealer told me they are grinding on the side of the pin box so it will fit and have been "for days".

    I dont accept this as a solution to the problem... either the frame was not aligned when welded or they welded a defective part to their frame... Like most fivers, it was not cheap and should not come with non-repairable issues

    Is this worth the fight? Should I take it up with the dealer or manufacturer? Or should I just accept that this RV will forever have a messed up wing set and the only pin box that will fit is the one they grinded...?

    pictures here

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=17BqKUR6rfdXoSA-B5OHkMh0_u3xEfhRh

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IoQwV9NTdbkrP6yKjFH7KUnp2xB1KvDw

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Sz9rsbEZl-qvnMvswLTu9N1ogwr931Dz

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Cm3JgzV0JrR5SMkmPX8VzvfFuwJHFOiL


    Fixed links
  • MURPHY55347's avatar
    MURPHY55347
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2019
    It's worth the fight. If you don't get it fixed correctly it will always bother you. Then you'll end up trading it next year and take a big financial hit. I think it's always best to try to go through the dealer but if they have been grinding on it for 2 months it appears as if that is going nowhere. I would tell the dealer you want the phone number to call as they is no one better to advocate than yourself. Always be polite but firm. You bought an RV from Northwood. It's a Northwood problem.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Feb 04, 2019
    I don't see how grinding is going to fix the fact that the right, what looks like a half inch, plate is bowed. How the heck they did that is a mystery but I would put up a fight. They need to cut the old pin box off and replace it with a good one.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Feb 04, 2019
    If your dealer is a strong one, they can pressure Northwood into doing the right thing.
    NW made a huge mistake on our roof and then used rediculous BS to try and get out of correcting it. Dealer set them straight and it went back to the foctory for (sloppy) repairs.
  • JIMeRIG's avatar
    JIMeRIG
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2019
    Thanks everyone for the responses. I have asked my dealer to stop all "grinding" on the pin box and to get the RV ready to be picked up. I also sent emails to the manufacture asking that this be resolved with a permanent solution rather than grinding on a removable item that may not always remain on this RV. More to come I'm sure!

    agesilaus wrote:
    I don't see how grinding is going to fix the fact that the right, what looks like a half inch, plate is bowed. How the heck they did that is a mystery but I would put up a fight. They need to cut the old pin box off and replace it with a good one.


    Not completely sure how it bent but it seems like it was when they forced the pin box into the slot which was to skinny because of how it was welded to the frame.

    ScottG wrote:
    If your dealer is a strong one, they can pressure Northwood into doing the right thing.
    NW made a huge mistake on our roof and then used rediculous BS to try and get out of correcting it. Dealer set them straight and it went back to the foctory for (sloppy) repairs.


    Just wondering, What did Northwood do for you?
  • JIMeRIG's avatar
    JIMeRIG
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2019
    azrving wrote:
    So the pin box is no longer adjustable?


    Not adjustable straight from the factory. You can actually see the top of the pin box is bent because of how tight the space between the wing set is.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Feb 04, 2019
    JIMeRIG wrote:

    ScottG wrote:
    If your dealer is a strong one, they can pressure Northwood into doing the right thing.
    NW made a huge mistake on our roof and then used rediculous BS to try and get out of correcting it. Dealer set them straight and it went back to the foctory for (sloppy) repairs.


    Just wondering, What did Northwood do for you?


    I opted for the 50A/second AC option option when I ordered. The day after I picked it up I realized the roof and ceiling in the bedroom weren't built to accept an AC.
    I called NW and they gave me a song and dance about how I bought 50A but not "second AC prep" (no such thing). This was a bald face lie and my dealer went to bat and set them straight. (the ordering form makes it very clear that 50A/second AC is the option. Besides, I even had wiring and a breaker for second AC).
    So they took the rig back and re-structured the roof. That meant they had to replace the rubber membrane.
    When they replaced the roof, rather than pull the end caps and tuck it under them (as they told me they would do), they simply sliced the roof at the ends, layed new rubber and added another trim strip and gobs of goop to cover it all up. They replaced the roof in one day.
    I learned that talking directly to NW customer support will get you someone who will tell you anything to get you off the phone.
    This was their chance to shine and they totally failed.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2019
    JIMeRIG wrote:
    azrving wrote:
    So the pin box is no longer adjustable?


    Not adjustable straight from the factory. You can actually see the top of the pin box is bent because of how tight the space between the wing set is.


    So it needs to be stripped down and repositioned. It may be a pita but I'd insist that it's made right.

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