I just picked up a brand new Airstream Interstate class B motorhome in South Florida a few days ago and they charged me to winterize it. I was just wondering if that is normal?A little background first:In South Florida, it rarely, if ever, gets cold enough that you would need to winterize an RV.The coach was delivered to the dealer already winterized. The dealer de-winterized it.The dealer charges $589 for "prep" fees which includes items such as inspecting, cleaning and adjusting the vehicle, and preparing documents related to the sale.I paid an additional $132 to have the coach winterized immediately after I accepted the coach.By having water in the coach, I was able to complete my pre-deliver checklist so it made complete sense that it would be de-winterized for delivery.I'm heading north for some skiing in a few weeks so I needed the van to be winterized.My questions for the forum are these, When you pick up an RV up north in the winter, do they de-winterize it for you so you can test the system and then re-winterize it for you? If they winterize it for you, do they charge you for this service or is it simply a part of the delivery service and the "prep" charge on the purchase invoice?

Buying that rig, it seems a bit greedy to charge for winterizing- I would have thought they could throw it in. They don't give those things away.

There's no standard. Dealers love to nickle-and-dime things like this. If you know what you want, it behooves you to define it in the purchase agreement. Or, learn how to winterize the trailer yourself, and save $120 of that $132.

It was October 11 years ago when we bought our Roadtrek in Vermont. The dealer had de-winterized it when the rig was first put in his lot, but re-winterized at no cost for us. Your dealer should have included all the prep costs in your price negotiations. You may have been "took" a bit...

nothing new the dealers will charge what ever they think they can get away with.

Pretty much chicken shissh for the dealer to jack you up for a mickey mouse charge like that. You just gave him a whole bunch of money and it would show some good to throw this in.It would leave a sour taste for me with that dealer for sure...Best to just forget it and get on down the road.Congrats and enjoy your new rig.

Forum Discussion

holstein13

Explorer

Dec 02, 2016

Are RVs delivered winterized in cold environments?

I just picked up a brand new Airstream Interstate class B motorhome in South Florida a few days ago and they charged me to winterize it. I was just wondering if that is normal?

A little background first:

In South Florida, it rarely, if ever, gets cold enough that you would need to winterize an RV.
The coach was delivered to the dealer already winterized. The dealer de-winterized it.
The dealer charges $589 for "prep" fees which includes items such as inspecting, cleaning and adjusting the vehicle, and preparing documents related to the sale.
I paid an additional $132 to have the coach winterized immediately after I accepted the coach.
By having water in the coach, I was able to complete my pre-deliver checklist so it made complete sense that it would be de-winterized for delivery.
I'm heading north for some skiing in a few weeks so I needed the van to be winterized.

My questions for the forum are these, When you pick up an RV up north in the winter, do they de-winterize it for you so you can test the system and then re-winterize it for you? If they winterize it for you, do they charge you for this service or is it simply a part of the delivery service and the "prep" charge on the purchase invoice?

Seeking Advice

34 Replies

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2016
nothing new the dealers will charge what ever they think they can get away with.
ryegatevt
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2016
It was October 11 years ago when we bought our Roadtrek in Vermont. The dealer had de-winterized it when the rig was first put in his lot, but re-winterized at no cost for us. Your dealer should have included all the prep costs in your price negotiations. You may have been "took" a bit...
mike-s
Explorer
Dec 02, 2016
There's no standard. Dealers love to nickle-and-dime things like this. If you know what you want, it behooves you to define it in the purchase agreement. Or, learn how to winterize the trailer yourself, and save $120 of that $132.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2016
Buying that rig, it seems a bit greedy to charge for winterizing- I would have thought they could throw it in. They don't give those things away.