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GTMADNS's avatar
GTMADNS
Explorer
Apr 08, 2016

Labor time guide for rv repairs??

I have an extended warranty that is arguing with the repair shop on hours to replace an alternator on a 2006 coachman cross country. It's a Cummins isb motor. They are only willing to pay 1.4 hrs vs the real time which is about 4 times that to do the replacement. I called freightliner and even the girl in the rv section said no way would that time be right unless the body was off the chassis. Anyone else go through this and get the company to get their head out of their buts on times to do repairs.

Anyone work at a rv dealer? Is there a time guide like Mitchell's or all data for cars for rv's??
Thoughts I need to call warranty and selling dealer in morning to get this repair finished.
Thanks
  • access to some of the components is a huge factor in labor time. in the example of the alternator a side radiator with rear access is fairly easy a rear radiator with slides can be very difficult as some oems have limited access to the engine from the top or from underneath . that may be why some shops don't accept aftermarket warrantys and also charge a higher labor rate for motor homes. the repair shops need to be paid a fair amount for their labor or they will have to close their doors
  • Had my fridge coil replaced a few years ago under my extended warranty. RV shop wanted $125 an hour, and listed 4 hours to remove the fridge, swap the coil and re-install the fridge. EW company would only pay $113 an hour, so I convinced the RV shop to take the lower amount, since they had already replaced a roof air under the same EW earlier, and made money on the time it took. In the end, the RV shop took about 6 hours to do the job because they didn't originally scope the job and understand with an icemaker, the replacement coil styrofoam needed to be trimmed to fit. They ate the almost $250 in labor overage.
  • I don't know about what contract says about person coming out. That's usually an adjuster to verify what's wrong not what it takes time wise to repair. I'm reading the contract now.
  • Some warranty companies have local reps that will come to the shop and review with the shop in case of discrepancy
    What does your contract say about the situation?
  • I work for an RV dealer. The ESC has NO basis on what RV dealers get. They sometimes set a flat rate that is not realistic. IF we sold the contract we will eat the less time. IF we did not sell the contract, then the Customer has to pay the difference and fight it out with the ESC company. Arguing with an ESC is more futile than arguing with the IRS. If it is NOT urgent for the repair, you may get relief by arguing. Some of our customers have fought and won, but it takes 2 to 3 weeks. In the meantime the RV sits waiting for the outcome. Doug