2013 Leprechaun water leak problems
My wife and I bought a new 2013 Leprechaun 317SA that we like a lot except we have very bad water leak issue in it. The front cap on our unit, and apparently on a lot of 2013 Leprechauns, was mounted...
Forum Discussion
Just got in from a busy day. I'm replying to GollyCollie and tvchen. I will PM you regarding specific questions, but I think this thread has value to the RV.Net group, so I'm answering here now.
I took delivery 10/28/13. I had driven down to Winter Garden to look at this particular unit on 10/24/13. I really liked it, as no other class C has an interior this nice. I have had several RV's, all of which had problems, regardless of the price, so I looked it over closely, and decided to buy it. We arranged for me to take delivery 10/28. (following Monday). Over the weekend, I logged onto RV.Net to see if there was any posts regarding Leprechauns. Lo and behold, there was GollyCollie's post. I read it carefully, and made notes to ask GRW at delivery. So, at delivery I said I had read a thread on RV.Net regarding water leaks in Leprechauns. I had no idea at that point that GollieCollie had bought from the same dealer. (Your coach was there I guess, but I did not see it). I mentioned to the salesperson as well as the service advisor that I had read about cab leak problems with Leprechauns. Both just poo pooed the question, and said that they always check all roof seams before delivery, and fix anything that looks amiss. I could see that some additional sealant work was done, and the bunk was obviously dry, so I took them at their word.
Since my coach leaked the first time it saw any rain, I can assume the repair was done without verifying the result. Additionally, my coach was on the showroom when I bought it. I assumed that was because it was "special", but obviously for a different reason. I've been too busy today to contact GRW, but I will in the next couple of days.
Regarding the RV, I went today to Apalachee RV Center in Auburn GA, about 40 minutes from my house. Apalachee is an independent RV center that I have used before when I backed a TT into a tree. They are worlds ahead of any RV dealership I have ever frequented (I've had 13 RV's in 15 years. My Dad had them for 30 years before that). Check their website at www.myrv.com. I have an appointment with them 12/3/13 to find the leaks, repair as required. Dealing with Apalachee is nothing like dealing with a dealer. I will be paying them their labor rate, non negotiable, for whatever it takes to guarantee the unit is leak free. This will be at least $1,000, and up to $2,000. It could be more than that if their leak test determines that more deconstruction is required. Whatever the cost, it will be far less than what I would lose on a trade, and the fact is there isn't anything I would rather have than this unit without leaks. So, that's my plan for now. Other than the molding around the cap, there is no difference between a Leprechaun and any other rubber roofed RV. An experienced RV repair center should be able to test, verify, and repair this RV. That is my primary goal. Letting GRW know what's going on is secondary to me at this point. Possibly later, if repairs are not successful, then dealing with GRW might move to the forefront. That they misled me, and withheld information that they knew would cause me not to buy, is without question. But, I'm in Georgia, don't have a lawyer in Fl, and at this point I'm still hopeful I can get what I originally bargained for for just a few more dollars.
Whew!
CT51
I took delivery 10/28/13. I had driven down to Winter Garden to look at this particular unit on 10/24/13. I really liked it, as no other class C has an interior this nice. I have had several RV's, all of which had problems, regardless of the price, so I looked it over closely, and decided to buy it. We arranged for me to take delivery 10/28. (following Monday). Over the weekend, I logged onto RV.Net to see if there was any posts regarding Leprechauns. Lo and behold, there was GollyCollie's post. I read it carefully, and made notes to ask GRW at delivery. So, at delivery I said I had read a thread on RV.Net regarding water leaks in Leprechauns. I had no idea at that point that GollieCollie had bought from the same dealer. (Your coach was there I guess, but I did not see it). I mentioned to the salesperson as well as the service advisor that I had read about cab leak problems with Leprechauns. Both just poo pooed the question, and said that they always check all roof seams before delivery, and fix anything that looks amiss. I could see that some additional sealant work was done, and the bunk was obviously dry, so I took them at their word.
Since my coach leaked the first time it saw any rain, I can assume the repair was done without verifying the result. Additionally, my coach was on the showroom when I bought it. I assumed that was because it was "special", but obviously for a different reason. I've been too busy today to contact GRW, but I will in the next couple of days.
Regarding the RV, I went today to Apalachee RV Center in Auburn GA, about 40 minutes from my house. Apalachee is an independent RV center that I have used before when I backed a TT into a tree. They are worlds ahead of any RV dealership I have ever frequented (I've had 13 RV's in 15 years. My Dad had them for 30 years before that). Check their website at www.myrv.com. I have an appointment with them 12/3/13 to find the leaks, repair as required. Dealing with Apalachee is nothing like dealing with a dealer. I will be paying them their labor rate, non negotiable, for whatever it takes to guarantee the unit is leak free. This will be at least $1,000, and up to $2,000. It could be more than that if their leak test determines that more deconstruction is required. Whatever the cost, it will be far less than what I would lose on a trade, and the fact is there isn't anything I would rather have than this unit without leaks. So, that's my plan for now. Other than the molding around the cap, there is no difference between a Leprechaun and any other rubber roofed RV. An experienced RV repair center should be able to test, verify, and repair this RV. That is my primary goal. Letting GRW know what's going on is secondary to me at this point. Possibly later, if repairs are not successful, then dealing with GRW might move to the forefront. That they misled me, and withheld information that they knew would cause me not to buy, is without question. But, I'm in Georgia, don't have a lawyer in Fl, and at this point I'm still hopeful I can get what I originally bargained for for just a few more dollars.
Whew!
CT51
