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jschwindt's avatar
jschwindt
Explorer
Sep 21, 2014

Unable to get sanibel fixed under warranty?

We purchased a sanibel 2014 fifth wheel in Dec of 2013. One of the reasons it got our attention was the 2-year warranty. But no one told us we couldn't buy it at one dealership & NOT get it repaired at another dealership! This sanibel has major issues along with small issues. We purchased the rig 300 miles away from our home as the local dealership did not have what we wanted at the time. Now we took the rig to our local dealership for warranty work......they have had the rig a total of 115 days, we have had it in our possession 138 days. It just sits at the dealership until we request it back, we get it back with damage done to it, scratched counter tops, chips, gouges in paneling, but no repairs have been done! I have called the sanibel manufacturer in indiana & talked to Roger Stickel. He said: "we don't force any dealership to work on another dealerships rigs!" Are we up a creek here.....or is it lawyer time??? I would NOT reccommend anyone buy a sanibel!! They have w-a-y to many issues!!! Or did I get a lemon??

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  • Charlie_D_'s avatar
    Charlie_D_
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    Made by Forest River. Although my rig has been issue free except for some slight damage to the Darco wrap and I can't speak for all of the Forest River products but the Prime Time branch has issues with the bottom of the slides. They use a Darco wrap and it becomes damaged leading to water intrusions. There is a post almost 2 years old discussing the issue and Prime Time has failed to respond to anyone who has posted. Some have taken it upon themselves to find and implement a solution. There are also several reports of issues with frame flex and issues.

    As I read more of the other subjects posted it seems to me that Prime Time is becoming less and less responsive to members.

    Go to the Forest River website and join the Sanibel forum. Perhaps, but not likely, that you may get some help there. Good Luck.
  • Charlie_D_'s avatar
    Charlie_D_
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    K Charles wrote:
    The OP doesn't say what they think should be fixed under warranty. We don't know what his complaint is so how do we know if it should be fixed by the dealer or not.


    Would think that a 2 year warranty would cover anything that is broke.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    There are only a very few RV manufactures that will pay any dealer a fair price to make warranty repairs. 300 miles isn't that bad if the selling dealer will repair the problems. On my previous RV I was 2000 miles away from where I purchased it. I bit the bullet and paid for repairs. When a major problem showed up I traded it.
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    The OP doesn't say what they think should be fixed under warranty. We don't know what his complaint is so how do we know if it should be fixed by the dealer or not.
  • Roger10378's avatar
    Roger10378
    Explorer II
    Sep 21, 2014
    Take it back where you bought it.

    Dealers get a certain amount of the sale price for doing warranty work. If you buy from a dealer he gets the money and then you expect to get it fixed some place else that dealer is left hanging.

    It is the same in the auto industry. If you read you car warranty it says that you should take it to the selling dealer unless you need repairs while away from home.
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    You found out what many other RV owners have found out. Most dealers will take care of their paying customers and warranty work on the rigs they sold before warranty work from another dealer's rig. And, you can change Sanibel in your post to just about any other brand or manufacturer out there and the story would be the same. Best of luck.
  • Ranger_Smith's avatar
    Ranger_Smith
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    It just amazes me that these RV manufactures keep putting out junk. Then they don't honor their warranties and try to find any way they can to wiggle out of it. What are the MAJOR issues? I would take it back to where you purchased it.

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