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Broda's avatar
Broda
Explorer
Apr 15, 2016

Light Weight Trailer

Our experience as new RV campers

We purchased a new 2015 Jayco White Hawk Ultra Lite Travel Trailer (TT). During 6 months of owning the unit we experience more failures than expected and horrible warranty repair results. Five camping trips with failures of one kind or another every time. Some failures were simple and i fixed them myself, others required lost time at Camping World for repairs under warranty.
The day we picked up the TT, 6 hours from our home, we got a “We Owe” list from Camping World the selling dealership. The Backrest for the table booth was damaged during their clean up and prep. We left the dealership that afternoon and spent our first night camping before driving home the next day. That night the Converter ran constantly on high speed and we found the Bathroom mirror had a large blemish. We got home the next day and called the dealership, they told us to wait about three months as all new RVs have a shake and break period in which stuff tends to fail. They also told us to contact the Camping World closet to us to coordinate getting the Backrest sent there. It took more than 90 days for that item to get ordered and received, which required a lot of coordination from us - calling Jayco Customer Service and both Camping World locations.
During the 90 days that followed we continued using the TT camping at different places. The second time, the shower leaked water on the floor and we notice the inside speakers had distorted sound, also the battery was boiling and smelling. We called Jayco Customer Service and they also explained that there would be about a three month shake and break period, not to worry as all would get repaired under warranty, just keep a list of all the issues. The third time, the front of the TT started delaminating, we found a bubble in the floor near the entry door, Chip in the stove top grill and a missing grommet, shower still leaking - very disappointing.
The Backrest finally was received and Camping World scheduled our first repair. We were informed that this first appointment was mostly to verify all the problems and get parts ordered. While they were repairing the Backrest, we called Jayco Customer Service to explain our concerns about the converter running constantly and boiling the battery. Camping World confirmed the Converter was defective and Jayco sent a replacement next day priority mail. Twenty days later we got a call to pick up our TT. Camping World had replaced the Converter, sealed the shower and confirmed all the other items on our problem list. Jayco agreed and parts were on order. We arrived and did a walk thru to confirm work performed; found an Electric Control panel was not working, they immediately worked the issue but that cost us a 2 hour delay before leaving - really after 20 days they could not have tested the electrical operation after replacing the converter. Also found the front panel for the converter was bent out, nothing was done for that. We brought the TT home, I took the panel off the Converter and found electrical wires and wire nuts jammed in like a rats nest. It took me over an hour to properly dress the wires and remove wire nuts not needed. The repair for the Backrest was completed but caused an issue with an access cover for the water pump, it did not close completely. I had to fix this too.
The fourth time camping, shower still leaking as before the so called repair, Delamination on front of TT is getting worse and found a small tear in slide out roof. Fifth time, Water still leaking from shower - very frustrating and Electric jack now intermittent.
Four months have passed now. Second time into Camping World for repairs of items noted during first repair/inspection. About 60 days later got the TT back, onsite walk thru seemed all was good. We got the TT home and started making the bed, and thats when we saw a horrible issue resulting from the Delamination repair. Camping World had to remove and replace the entire front of the TT. Well, in both corners where the mattress meets the bulkhead wall and the wardrobe closet we could see daylight. On both sides there is a 3/8 inch wide by 5 inch long gap and inside one wardrobe closet there was another gap we could see daylight. Disappointment with our purchase and Frustration getting the better of us, we RAN to a different RV dealership and traded the Jayco in for a trailer made by a different company.
For the Jayco Ultra Lite TT as mentioned earlier, i did some repairs myself. During these repairs I found several areas of poor workmanship; warped wood framing, excessive staples used to secure boards some of which missed the mark causing the wood to split, equipment installed was not centered inside the space so screws used to hold the item caused the wood edges to split, those speakers - i found had been crushed during assembly, lower end appliances, we just had a feeling of poor quality especially in the workmanship. Our experience with our Jayco Customer Service Rep was good, however Jayco has refused to compensate us for any loses.
For Camping World; we paid $580 for “Documentation Fee” to the selling dealership. Thirty days after sale we tried to register the TT at our local tax office - Camping World had not sent the documentation in - luckily the registry extended the temp tag for another 30 days. We called Camping World to inquire about there inability to process the required documentation, 15 days later the tax office received the necessary form. Neither the sales or service staff ever called with any followup to include our “We Owe” list concerns. With regards to the Camping World where the TT was serviced, the service advisor assigned to our case was most helpful, BUT - it was obvious they had poor quality of service in workmanship. Camping World also refused to compensate us for any losses.
(IMO) Our experience left us believing the quality of construction for this Ultra Lite trailer is substandard. Conners must be cut somewhere to lower the weight and cost, that coupled with mass production will yield a poor quality product. Poor after sales Customer Service and poor Repair Service at two Camping World locations will keep us clear of doing business with them.  Lastly, we will not accept a RV with a “We Owe” list again, to much hassle getting the fixes needed after the fact. Hopefully this year with our new camper will leave us with a better feeling about RVing. Good Camping……
  • Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the world of RV'ing. Sorry to hear of your troubles with the first camper, but don't be surprised if the one you traded for also has issues.

    The good news is once you get it all sorted ( whether you have the dealer do it, or you fix it yourself ), then going out and traveling and camping is huge fun.

    Best of luck and safe travels to you.
  • Sorry for your troubles. Jaycos have a better reputation than most, and a longer warranty.
    Unlike what seems to be most on this forum. I don't believe your experience is normal. I have bought 2 new TTs, and one new pup. I didn't have near the problems with all combined that you are describing. My pup never went back to the dealer. I did replace a side panel that the seam came loose on. My first TT only went back once for a recall, and my current TT has been back once, for very minor issues, like a loose cushion seam, and loose bolts on the AC. All repaired in short order, But not of course at Camping World.

    It appears to me you have got a lemon. The delamination alone is enough to warrant a new unit replaced at Jayco's expense. Were I you. I would give them a call, and explain you want it replaced. NO TT should have that many problems. In truth, it sounds like it was built by management while the workers were on strike.

    Good luck.
  • Lynnmor wrote:
    Sounds like you got one of the better ones. When I came on the forum and posted a lengthy list, some blamed me for the problems. People often defend this industry.


    An oversimplification of fact. We all know the RV industry is still well behind most others in terms of product quality control and customer satisfaction, has been for as long as anyone can remember, so posting page long diatribes in such detail about one's own personal experience doesn't solve anything as there's no one here that can do anything about this anyway. :R Most, when seeing a never ending post like this, will simply not bother reading it as it takes just too much effort, especially when it's not presented in paragraphs that can easily be scanned, so ultimately the end result is exactly the opposite of what the poster is looking for. I can be sympathetic to the OP's plight but it only takes reading the first couple of lines to figure out they're not happy and decide to not waste my time forging through a page long list of complaints ... and saying so doesn't mean I'm "defending the industry". :S
  • Sounds like you got one of the better ones. When I came on the forum and posted a lengthy list, some blamed me for the problems. People often defend this industry.
  • I'm speechless ....

    So I'll just say, "Welcome to the forums!" Keep posting and sharing your experiences. You're among friends here.
  • Welcome to the world of RV ownership!

    I buy used, and get the best unit I can find, and then do my own repairs or rebuilding. My RV is my retirement project(s), my wife says it keeps me busy and out of her hair.
  • Broda wrote:
    Our experience as new RV campers


    As "new RV campers" this may all be surprising to you but the reality is your experience isn't all that unusual. Venting here on the forum may make you feel a bit better but otherwise there's little point to such a detailed report that many simply won't read simply because it takes too much effort ... better for you to have simply summarized that you're disappointed and leave it at that. Welcome to the world of RVs. :W