Bad Service of Airconditioning

I would not recommend Travers RV service due to bad customer service. I had Travers install a new roof and air conditioning system on my 2011 Thor Windsport about a month ago. Fifteen days ago I took my RV on a trip to Texas where there was 100 degree temperatures. When I got to Texas I quickly learned the air conditioner was not working as was expected but could only blow hot air which made the inside of the RV over 100 degrees. It was impossible to sleep in the RV due to the heat. I called Travers to see what could be done. I told him that I did not want to cut my vacation short and drive all the way back to Missouri. He suggested I call someone local in Texas for help. I called RVMan in New Braunfels who came out and diagnosed the problem as a bad air conditioner. He showed me the diagnostic result that showed low amperage that caused the air conditioner to blow hot air. RVMan had to install a new unit which solved the hot air problem. I sent Travers the invoice from RVMan but Travers refused to pay me. Now I am out a couple of thousand dollars due to them installing a bad air conditioner. Travers maintained that the air conditioner was working when it was tested in their service center. So basically they called me a liar when I reported to them it was not working. The RVMan wrote notes detailing what was wrong with the unit on the invoice that I sent Travers. I have spent a great deal of money at Travers so they feel like they do not need my business anymore because I am asking for my money back from a bad installation on their part. I do not recommend Travers RV Service to horrible customer service

Asking for Advice

way2roll
May 27, 2025
Certainly a new AC would have a warranty. If it was really defective contact the manufacturer and ask they replace it. Now that you replaced it with a new one on your own without going through the manufacturer you may have some difficulty getting your money back. Likely you need to have the old one in your possession in order to prove it's faulty. If it was working when it left the dealership then I would expect that as their response. Sometimes these things come down to people skills. Coming in hot and demanding this and that based on another repair service's opinion sets the stage for being defensive unwilling to work with you. I would contact the manufacturer of the bad AC unit and start there. I would also add/ask , did you verify the AC was working when you left Travers? If the AC was bad, how is that Travers fault on the install? If they broke something on the install and you can prove it, well provide that documentation to an attorney and file a civil suit. But if the AC was defective that's not Traver's fault. That's the manufactures fault. Another replacement AC seems a bit overkill. Did the tech mention it may be just wiring or the board?

5 Replies

Grit_dog
Navigator
May 28, 2025
Sucks to own a RV or any toy if you’re at the mercy of shops and mechanics, as generally they’re even less honest and more money grubbing than auto mechanics imo.
That said, if the AC worked when you had it replaced the first time and then you didn’t or weren’t able to provide that shop the opportunity to fix it, then most of it’s on you, unfortunately.
I understand the Rv was unusable but when’s the last time you got your money back for something you didn’t return? That is simply the case here.
jc_oney
Explorer
May 28, 2025
Unfortunately the RVMan that diagnosed the faulty air conditioner threw the unit away so I did not have the unit to send it back. Being a newbie to the RVC world I became a ping pong ball between Travers and the RVMan. I did not know you would have to send the bad unit back to the manufacturer. The RVMan showed me his diagnostics and said it was a defective unit. Travers is standing by its position that it was working when it left their shop. So far I have been scammed out of $6,000+ money from Jay's RV Service when I first purchase the RV in September 2024 and now I am down $2,000 from Travers installing a faulty air conditioner and can't get my money back. Is there any honesty in the RV service world?
- StirCrazy
  Moderator
  May 28, 2025
  if rv man through out a brand new unit I think you are going after the wrong person.
  
  if I was travelers and you didn't have a brand new unit to bring back to me for diagnostics you wouldn't get a cent either. and a rv tech who diagnoses a new ac would know they are going to need it for warranty/refund, but you wouldn't get a refund as no where did they say have the unit replaced, they agreed for some one to look at it and make a diagnoses. normally after you get that you would call travelers and say it is going to take this part and they will tell you to have it done or not.
  
  sorry if this comes off a bit harsh, and it is not what you want to hear but I don't know any business that would re-imburse you in these circumstances.
- way2roll
  Navigator III
  May 28, 2025
  Well you have to be diligent, protect yourself and be your own advocate. These places are in the business of making money, but you provide that money and so can control the situation quite a bit. You should have verified the AC was working yourself when the work was done at Travers. Always validate that what was fixed was actually fixed. When you got to RVman, I would not have been 100% sure the entire AC was completely defective. That's pretty rare. Given that it was a brand new AC I would have explained to RVman it was new, and if it was defective it should be covered under warranty - and called the manufacturer directly. Ask that they work through RVman if it truly was a defective unit to replace it. I suspect (but without proof) that RVman fleeced you for a new AC. And not surprising, that if you had someone other than Travers replace a brand new AC, and throw it away that Travers won't touch it now. ( RVman didn't throw it away BTW, he most certainly kept it for parts or fix it to install for the next customer. ) If I were travers I'd be asking the same question, if it was defective or we broke it, prove it. Now you can't.
way2roll
Navigator III
May 27, 2025
Certainly a new AC would have a warranty. If it was really defective contact the manufacturer and ask they replace it. Now that you replaced it with a new one on your own without going through the manufacturer you may have some difficulty getting your money back. Likely you need to have the old one in your possession in order to prove it's faulty. If it was working when it left the dealership then I would expect that as their response. Sometimes these things come down to people skills. Coming in hot and demanding this and that based on another repair service's opinion sets the stage for being defensive unwilling to work with you. I would contact the manufacturer of the bad AC unit and start there. I would also add/ask , did you verify the AC was working when you left Travers? If the AC was bad, how is that Travers fault on the install? If they broke something on the install and you can prove it, well provide that documentation to an attorney and file a civil suit. But if the AC was defective that's not Traver's fault. That's the manufactures fault. Another replacement AC seems a bit overkill. Did the tech mention it may be just wiring or the board?

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Bad Service of Airconditioning

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