I made the mistake of buying a 2004 Coachman from General RV in Akron.I am a first time Rv'er but I did take someone with me who owns RV's and claimed they could spot any no-buy issues.3 months later, I have replaced the front Brakelines,Calipers and pads. Over $1000The entire cab over is dry rotted and has delamination issues.An email to Coachman/Forest River has gone unanswered.This year vehicle was involved in their delamination mess.I found this out when the floor separated from the wall. They told me I could use the cab over for storage during travel since I wasn't going to use it for sleeping. That cost $500 to quick fix and will cost $5000 to fix it right.I have replaced the starter and various other parts and pieces.Other things I found broke after purchase are still waiting to be fixed. Drawers broken, Window Coverings Loose. Ect......I have also had to replace a tire, have the alignment totally redoneand the gear box for the steering tightened.I paid cash, so for now I am stuck with this thing. I am a full-timerso it is my home on wheels. I have well informed General RV that I think their actions have been Fraud and Deceptive Trade. I have received no response from them.During the sale the salesman kept repeating the vehicle had no warranty and was AS-IS. They knew this thing had issues.There were other issues they left me hanging with too.They never emptied the holding tanks after testing.They left the valve on the fresh water tank open.They failed to repair other broken items they should have repaired.I am hoping to park somewhere for the winter where I can work on the cab issues myself. At least enough to make sure it does not fall apart in the middle of a freeway somewhere. Unlike the generator exhaust that fell off twice before I made sure it was fastened securely with set screws. If anyone knows how to get Forest River to help me with this, I would appreciate it. At least to fix the delamination issues. As for General RV, they need to be investigated and fined by several levels of officials.

I can sympathize with you but as an "old" rv'er since the early 90's I can tell you that once you sign on the dotted line and they have your money, the dealers don't ever want to see you again unless it's for service. Sounds like these guys made sure you'd have to come back for repairs. Good luck...

While I feel your pain, I must ask. Do you really expect Coachmen to do anything for you on a 10 year old unit? My 5er is a 2004 Coachmen. It has not been perfect but I knew it wasn't before I bought it. That is why it was in my price range, it was not new and it wasn't perfect. I don't think any manufacture would do anything for you on a 10 year old unit. JMHO.

It is unfortunate but true the responsibility falls on the buyer when buying a unit like this… as you pointed out they stressed it is as is, so made no false representations…Buying something like that should have been taken to a qualified shop for a professional inspection by a disinterested party… if that had happen you would be out a couple hundred bucks maybe but walked away from a bad investment…A lot of people own RV’s for a long time but wouldn’t be qualified to do a thorough inspection like the one that was needed on the MH…It is what it is… a as is purchase… sorry you had to learn this in such a harsh way…

JJBIRISH wrote:It is unfortunate but true the responsibility falls on the buyer when buying a unit like this… as you pointed out they stressed it is as is, so made no false representations…Buying something like that should have been taken to a qualified shop for a professional inspection by a disinterested party… if that had happen you would be out a couple hundred bucks maybe but walked away from a bad investment…A lot of people own RV’s for a long time but wouldn’t be qualified to do a thorough inspection like the one that was needed on the MH…It is what it is… a as is purchase… sorry you had to learn this in such a harsh way…X-2Sad! but so true. Used unit at auction - let the buyer beware.

They told you as is no warranty and you bought it. It's yours. Coachman had a 1 year warranty that has long passed. You should do reserch before you buy not after.

Coachman issue | Good Sam Community

writerwithwheel
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
It's my understanding of disclosure in the sale of motor vehicles that if they know there is a major issue and do not disclose it, they are violating the law.
I have done various Google Searches to see how this applies to RV's and haven't had much luck finding anything specific.

As for writing a book, one of the reasons I did this purchase and these travels was to write a book. For those of you who are familiar with Steinbeck's "Travels With Charley" and Heat Moon's "Blue Highways" you understand where the idea came from.

Trust me when I say the issues with the RV will be well covered in the book.
I've also taken over 3000 photographs.
Roached RV at The Grand Canyon, Roached RV at San Diego Zoo, Roached RV in the woods of Wisconsin, Roached RV at Daytona Beach.
I've visited 31 states so far and I'm headed to 32. I have visited some of them twice because of routing. In two days less than 3 months. Almost 14,000 miles.
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
Hum, I always wondered what happen to my old C… :B:B:B

Its hard to see the emotion from your seat ( I and maybe many others have been there and learned from our own mistakes to), but emotion is guiding you thought processes based in my comprehension of your post, and no you don’t have to agree with my opinions, there only worth what you paid for them, but maybe more than your C…
What I can promise you is I gave you a honest opinion, not necessarily the one you wanted to hear, but honest just the same… they are given for you to consider or ignore, it matters not to me… remember I have no dog in this fight and no emotional baggage clouding my view…

Also my best wishes are sincere I know how difficult the position you have ended up in can be, but it can’t be wished away… when I say you didn’t do enough it’s not to be critical, but because that’s what I believe and hope to encourage you to make better decisions forward… again consider or ignore the choice is yours alone…

No, it’s not my old C, never had one, I am a trailer trash kind of guy… always was, always will be…

So with that I will only add, good day sir, it’s been a pleasure…
winnietrey
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
From a moral point of view, I think you have a good arguement. From a legal point of view, probably not so much. I believe when you signed that as-is agreement. You don't have much of a legal argument.

Sorry it happened to you.

As a side note ford front brakes are famous for locking up. Something about they used a ceramic piston, rather than steel. and overheating the brakes, and disuse contributes, So that is not a surprise. On a 10 year old MH. Hard to blame the dealer for that.

And 6 or 7 hundred pounds, at least you say? in the cabover? while going down the road? that is a huge load. That would be extremely hard on any overhead. I would never get over maybe 150 or so, while driving.
shadows4
Explorer III
Aug 29, 2014
Well look at the bright side. If you are a "writerwithwheels" just think of all the first hand knowledge you have now on what to look for when purchasing a used RV. And you won't even have to come up with any jokes as they have already been included for you!!! Let us know when the book comes out.
Good luck, John
writerwithwheel
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
I bought what I could find in Ohio. I was looking at Class C's and ever other dealership tried to shove me into a 15-20 year old Class A because they all claimed that's all they had on their lots in my price range. In fact, General RV tried to do the same thing initially. This C came in after my first visit there.

I contacted and looked at units from private sellers too. I did what I could in the short time I had to make the purchase. 5 weeks. I wanted a small RV
that got better mileage and maneuverability, not a Class A with space and lousy gas mileage. I have taken this Small C into places where no Class A could even begin to travel.

It has nothing to do with emotion. This 4 wheeled piece of garbage came from Butler PA. Are you by chance the previous owner?
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
And you got what you got… it hurts, but you didn’t do enough that is painfully obvious to you (when you remove the emotion) and us (which is why we see it differently)…

What you think they should do and what you think is the right thing for them to do is immaterial to them at this point… I can’t believe that will change either…

I realize and knew from the start you bought what you could afford, and for that reason alone should have required that you to do more leg work and research so you could buy a better unit in your price range… believe me you could have done better in any price range, but it requires you to do more and better for yourself… not always easy, not always quick, but always doable…

Again I wish you the best, think about and consider selling and replacing before you get to far invested into a dwindling asset, even after the repairs… when the hole is to deep stop digging…
mgirardo
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
Did you call Forest River? The only time I've gotten an email response from Forest River is when I was responding to an email they sent me. Even then it would take almost a week for them to respond. When I called and left a voicemail it would take a few days for them to return the call.

I would not expect Forest River to do anything, but it can't hurt to give them a call. They didn't own Coachmen during the model years that it was a known defect, so I can't imagine they would step up, but who knows.

-Michael
writerwithwheel
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
I never said the overload on the front caused the brake failure, I just said it might have added to the stress on the front of the vehicle.

As for my mechanical knowledge, yes I took someone with me who had the following acclaimed background.

1. Years of RV ownership.
2. Mechanic Training
3. Ran a shop Customizing trailers.

The delamination was NOT apparent the three times I saw the vehicle at the dealership. I spotted it the first time when they delivered the vehicle to me. The entire passenger side of the front of the cab over looked wavy and had dents in it like it had hit something. I took it to the dealership the next day and that's when they proclaimed it "normal when sitting in the sun."

I was told by the dealership that repaired the floor that there is nothing normal about. They asked me if I was sure I got the same vehicle I looked at.

So, there are all sorts of things involved here.

And yes, I think Coachman/Forest River should step up and help
with the delamination issues. That was a KNOWN Coachman defect in those model years.

I did do what research I could before I bought. I did spot issues on my own. That's why I took the second set of eyes with me before I purchased.

I bought what I could afford. Not everyone can run around in a brand new Class A.
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
I can only repeat what I already said… in short…
It is what it is… a as is purchase… sorry you had to learn this in such a harsh way… and hope you learned to protect yourself in future purchases…

Nothing you added in your last post changes the reality of the purchase even if it were much newer and you paid much more for it…

Even the original warranty covers ONLY the original owner and only for the stated period of time… anything else is good will and you won’t find that at its age… now if there was a unrepaired recall not disclosed you might have a argument…

I wish you the best of luck going forward, somehow I think you might need it as new and different problems surface on what seems to have been a poorly maintained vehicle…
westend
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
All of this seems related to the level of knowledge of the buyer, the economics involved, and the circumstances of the RV when purchased.

The OP has little knowledge of how mechanical systems work and was at least prudent enough to choose the addition of a second pair of eyes when purchasing. However, that does not mean that the choice of eyes was correct or enough to find all the defects. This insufficient level of understanding is illustrated by the AC fan issue and the misconception of weight loading causing the brake failure.

The OP chose not to have a thorough mechanical inspection done, instead relying on the seller to disclose any known defects or inspecting for any unknown problems. This was mainly a matter of economics since an RV technician would have seen and reported most of the glaring issues like delamination and failed brake hoses/calipers.

I'm pretty much astonished that a buyer of a motor vehicle would assume that there are no issues with a 10 yr. old vehicle. Nowhere in the OP's narrative are mentions of typical mechanical systems, wear to the vehicle, or the absence/completion of service records. To blame a mfg. and assume assistance for ongoing problems 10 years after the RV was built, is just ridiculous.

IMO, the OP should seek assistance from a service technician to uncover any/all issues with the RV and quit blaming the dealer or mfg. for his problems. There is just a huge lack of knowledge depicted here.

Forum Discussion

Coachman issue

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

1970 coachman

1999 coachman 085sd

Coachman class c

1976 dodge coachman leprechaun

2019 Coachman Leprechaun 319mb