I had my awning torn off in a windstorm. In about October I made an appointment to drop my trailer off at a dealer to have it replaced. The appointment was for the end of DEC. After waiting 60 days for my appointment I dropped it off. When I did so I asked how long it would take and told them I had bad luck in the past with extended waits. They told me....10 days. Here we are 3 months later and it's not done yet. Same thing happened to me last year but it was about 60 days. Had the same thing happen at another dealer the year before where I made an appointment months in advance and they had the trailer for 60 days and had not touched it. Is this standard for the RV industry? I means this is ridiculous. And it's in the winter months when I would think they would be able to get things done pretty quick. What the heck would happen if I had a real issue in the summer or during a period when I needed to actually live out of my trailer (like I am doing this summer when I move)? Dealers: Chesaco RV in Edgewood MD and Petes RV (formerly Gayle Kline in PA). Does it really take 6 months in the off season to get a simple repair (from the time you call to make an appointment to the time you get the rig back)? What kind of industry can operate like this? What if fixing your car took this long? How could someone possible full-time RV when it takes this long to get a repair done? thanksMatt

I lost our awning in a hail storm and called my mobile RV repair guy. He stopped by the next day, measured, and we decided what fabric I wanted. He ordered it and the next week he came and installed it. Very easy, efficient, and cost effective.

This is one of the reasons that I am glad I can most if not all repairs on my 5er myself with DWs help. I would have verified that the dealer had the parts on hand before dropping off, at the end of ten days and no trailer, I would be calling every day, and asking how is the repair coming.

Before I clicked on this, I thought for sure the dealer would turn out to be a Camping World. Surprise, it isn't! There are supply problems for some parts these days, but who knows. You should definitely call the dealer. If you don't like their reason for not getting it done, tell them you're coming to pick it up in X number of days, whether it's fixed or not. They can't make money on work not done.

We always use a mobile tech. Dealers are useless. We made the mistake twice of leaving it with them . One repair they lied about doing. Kept it for weeks. The second time we waited weeks and finally just told them to give. It back. Got a mobile tech from then on with no problems.

They are preying on your good nature. Go get your rig and ask someone to show you how its done.

RV At Dealer for 90 Days Now for An Awning Replacement!!!!!

Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Mar 25, 2021
I measured mine and ordered from Amazon, got it in 2 days and took a couple of hours to install with my brother's help. If you can't do it get a mobile repair service.
GDS-3950BH
Explorer
Mar 26, 2021
Both of those dealers suck. Chesaco sucks more than Pete's, but not by much. If you absolutely need to use a dealer for service which is not warranty related, which it sounds like the issue is not due to wind damage, drive further north to Keystone RV Mega over the line in Greencastle PA. At least you'll only have to wait a month or two there if you're lucky.

"Is this standard for the RV industry?"

Yes. They're busy prepping and pushing new sales out the door while your rig rots away on some back lot. They probably let your battery/s discharge to nothing and killed them too in the process, and hope it did not develop a leak while sitting because they could care less about that also. If I was to guess at the percentage of RV dealer that suck in this regard I would say more than 80%, 99% if it happens to be a Camping World.
pitch
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2021
12th Man Fan wrote:
If the stealer has ordered the new awning you will probably be on the hook for some charges. Unfortunately having an appointment with one of these jokers only means they will make someone available to accept your rig and they have a place to park it, nothing more.

I asked my stealer on warranty work to order the parts and I would bring it in when they arrived and they had time to do the work. They refused to order the parts unless the rig was on the lot.

This is a one way street right now. I will use a mobile tech if I need something I can't do myself.

Good luck.

I wouldn't pay a penny,no matter what. Dealer breached the contract, job should have been done in ten days. Pick up your trailer and drive off. Let the dealer find a market for his new excess awning.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2021
Even if I had a dealer to go to, I don't, I would use a mobile tech. Have the awning shipped wherever necessary, & be prepared to give the tech a hand since an awning is a big awkward thing to handle.
cummins2014
Explorer
Mar 26, 2021
bowler1 wrote:
I had my awning torn off in a windstorm. In about October I made an appointment to drop my trailer off at a dealer to have it replaced. The appointment was for the end of DEC. After waiting 60 days for my appointment I dropped it off.

When I did so I asked how long it would take and told them I had bad luck in the past with extended waits. They told me....10 days.

Here we are 3 months later and it's not done yet.

Same thing happened to me last year but it was about 60 days.

Had the same thing happen at another dealer the year before where I made an appointment months in advance and they had the trailer for 60 days and had not touched it.

Is this standard for the RV industry? I means this is ridiculous. And it's in the winter months when I would think they would be able to get things done pretty quick.

What the heck would happen if I had a real issue in the summer or during a period when I needed to actually live out of my trailer (like I am doing this summer when I move)?

Dealers: Chesaco RV in Edgewood MD and Petes RV (formerly Gayle Kline in PA).

Does it really take 6 months in the off season to get a simple repair (from the time you call to make an appointment to the time you get the rig back)? What kind of industry can operate like this? What if fixing your car took this long? How could someone possible full-time RV when it takes this long to get a repair done?

thanks
Matt

Thats 80 more days then I would have let them keep it. As been pointed out there are a lot better alternatives.
Fizz
Explorer
Mar 26, 2021
Our trailer is now parked permanently as a guest house at the cottage.
I took the awning off and installed it on our deck. It was just the two of us, a bit awkward but easily done in a couple of hours.
bowler1
Explorer
Mar 27, 2021
Well the story gets better. I emailed the dealer at the same time that I made this post. I told them the situation and that I needed the trailer back. I do....I am in the Army and moving from MD to TX. I move out of my house in a month. I am moving my family of 6 into my trailer in a month. The response got was that the trailer would be ready for pickup next WED.

But then....last night I got an email saying that they received the awning yesterday and it was damaged. They said they ordered another that will be shipped in 2-3 weeks. That does not work with my timeline.

But here is the thing....I don't know where else to get the work done at this point. I was also getting the wheel bearings re-packed and some tires replaced. I would like that done prior to my 1800 mile move to TX.

I am not aware of any mobile RV mechanics in my area.

I am beyond pissed. I planned accordinly for something absolutely needed.

Do I have to be one of those complete A___hole customers in order to get what I want? I hate doing that and shoudl not have to.

matt
dedmiston
Moderator
Mar 27, 2021
Shame on that dealer for putting you in this predicament.

Thank you for your service. We should be treating you better. If I knew what dealer it was, I'd call and give them a piece of my mind.
cummins2014
Explorer
Mar 28, 2021
dedmiston wrote:
Shame on that dealer for putting you in this predicament.

Thank you for your service. We should be treating you better. If I knew what dealer it was, I'd call and give them a piece of my mind.

Maybe he will tell you ,and you can go get them.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Mar 28, 2021
You don't need an awning right away, get one at your destination. Tires should be bought from a local tire dealer, not an RV dealer. Wheel bearing service is best done yourself or use a local garage, an RV dealer will use the cheapest help and do a sloppy job while charging way too much. Yes, you are the customer, accept nothing less than what you agree on.