Adventurer Camper 2012 Black Mold -need advice ??

Hi everyone..I am new here on forum as well as owing a camper. I need advice and pretty fast,"PLEASE". OK to make this as short as possible, Purchased 2012 Adventurer Camper 86SBS Nov.2013 Salesman said it was only used a few times...it was beautiful!

Sat in it aprox.45 min and never had it out of driveway, only to take back to the dealer several times..

First of all, went to pick up camper and was told they had a problem with front jack, but have fixed it...(was told) " sometimes when campers sit a while, this happens..NO PROBLEM!.."first indication" right? So had to wait a few days to pick it up which was at the end of day..the only time they had available, pick up,5:00 pm. Dark! Excited to get my new camper- I agreed....got home and noticed no tail light on camper..went to unload camper and rear jacks are not working! and remote control is now blowing fuses!
Took camper back..(was told) "happy jack was rusted but they cleaned it up and it is just fine. the fuses were due to pigtail wiring issue when they loaded camper!

So now I get camper back and I'm told camper to heavy for my truck,3/4 ton GMC Sierra HD.. back to dealer,so I am forced to purchase airbags and leaf-springs installed...Now I get camper home, yea!

The next day I am very excited to start adding all my new sheets blankets etc..and "unbelievable"...left corner of roof above bed is leaking rain and showing a blackish" stripe! I open cabinet above bed..OMG ! I pushed on side wall, "soft saturated wall- falls apart which exposed the inner wall..black mold and water, "structural damage for sure"!
Used ladder to investigate and noticed no antenna- leaving an open hole with wires exposed to elements! I then checked radio, NO reception..stuck in CD, speakers are blown!
The extent of mold and water was obvious, this had been going on along time. so back to dealer..

Where I need help...because I have not had a chance to check out camper due to the ongoing problems so far, and the extent of damage now evident..

what would you do, and what would you expect from dealer?

I purchased camper Nov. maybe had it 4 or 5 days..with all the week+ trips back and forth, parts etc.repairs, I was never able to take out of driveway! and further,without my knowledge,(surprise visit) they took front cap off..and now sales mgr. tells me they just need to replace a few pieces of wood on your camper!

I feel that with all the problems it would not be unreasonable to demand my money back or a replacement...I have yet to see either!
I believe because I am a woman and or they really confused my kindness for stupidity!

Your experience and advice is greatly appreciated,

Thank you kindly,

Truck Campers

Gripnriprod
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
By all means, demand your money back !
northbound_rose
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
DO they have to refund my money by law or do you think dealer could force me to take it back? i purchased it as is!
sabconsulting
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
Sorry to hear of your problems.

You really want to be rid of that camper; sounds like they sold you a lemon.

I don't know the details of the camper in question, but the mention of replacing wood and paneling being soft suggests this camper has considerable wood in its construction. If you look on this forum you will find many reports with pictures where people have started with a bit of a leak only to find that they have had to replace the whole roof, or rebuild the whole nose, etc.

I have a timber-framed camper and because it has an inner skin and an outer skin, water can often travel considerably between the two and cause a lot of rot before it even becomes evident inside the camper. By the time the kitchen cabinet in my camper was showing a slight water drip during heavy rain, the water had destroyed the top plywood layer of half the roof.

I'm telling you all this in case the dealer argues they can repair it - they might just repair the visible bits, but leave underlying structural damage.

I don't know what the law is in your state regarding rejecting items like this. That would certainly be my preference because after that string of problems and the way it sounds like they have been economical with the truth, I'd prefer not to use that dealer in future. However, if you can't legally reject the camper for whatever reason an alternative is to demand a replacement - so they have still made a sale. They can therefore sort out that camper in their own time and find someone who will take it.

Good luck,

Steve.
Sheriffdoug
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
I thought you had, "Lemon Laws", in the US?
loulou57
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
Sorry to hear about your issues.

You say you bought the unit "As Is". Sorry to say but you got it as it is. I am a woman and don't believe that you have been taken advantage of because you are also.

I would be pleasantly surprised to hear that the company has to offer you a refund or credit, even to repair any damage because of it being sold as is.

It will be interesting to hear where this goes.
billtex
Explorer II
Jan 13, 2014
Sorry to hear of these problems.

Lemon laws would not apply as the camper was bought used...likely "as is".

Who damaged the antenna that lead to leaking?
Was it like that when you purchased?

Is this an independant dealer?

It is likely the only recourse you have is with the dealer.

It is unlikely the Mfr would be liable for a used camper...

I know what they say about hind sight...but $100 for an RV Tech to inspect would have been $ well spent...

IIWY; I would do my best to work with the seller and see if you can reach a resolution.

Good luck, Bill
the_tc_life
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
northbound.rose wrote:
...

So now I get camper back and I'm told camper to heavy for my truck,3/4 ton GMC Sierra HD.. back to dealer,so I am forced to purchase airbags and leaf-springs installed...Now I get camper home, yea!

...

huh? I have a slightly bigger adventurer and when I bought it I used it perfectly on my old 74 gmc 3/4 ton. I don't understand why you would have had to do those mods with that model. yes I now have a 1 ton but that's just my preference, not a requirement for my 810 model. at least that's something you have now on the truck that works good, no matter the outcome of this camper.

as for the rest of the problems...sorry to hear about that. I think the only thing you can do is continue to deal with the dealer (whoever that is) and see if they are willing to help. yes Washington has a lemon law but like someone else mentioned...im not sure that would cover a tc. maybe something to check into to find out for sure. I hope something gets resolved for you.
Led_67
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
So they say that you need airbags etc. because your truck is not big enough ?? sounds kinda fishy so check out this link called Can I Haul That it will help to determine where the smoke is going.
Also you may want to check the dealers rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as if there are any complaints already filed.
Good Luck
12V_Cummins
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
Someone knocked off the antenna never replaced it and its probably been leaking for a looooooong time.
eagle777
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014
I don't think that 86sbs is much if any heavier than the 2013 86fb I just put on my 3/4 2500 duramax so that should not be a problem. I would at least add Timbrens at around 300 vice the airbags as to me just something else mechanical to go out. wish u luck on the fight and any additions to the truck take it to another dealer as that dealer knew that antenna was not there, bet they didn't try to play the radio while you were looking at it.