New travel trailer expectations

Physically check on your trailer every few days. Don't assume it is being repaired. Good luck.

TC campers wrote:
Thank you for all the responses. I'll hold off on naming the company and trailer at this point. I will follow up after my visit on Monday to the dealership. We purchased a new trailer because we had never owned one and didn't have clue in what to look for in a used unit. I am a general contractor by trade and would have no issues making all the necessary repairs, but don't feel that is my responsibility. I would never had removed the skirting that covered the bottom just to see how everything was constructed before buying, but now? probably. I will certainly add extra supports under the tanks if they won't. Still have a sour taste in mouth for the whole thing.

Exactly.....you have now learned that when shopping for a trailer, it's good to lay on your back under the darn things and look at the general build quality. I did exactly that with probably a dozen different brands before buying my trailer. As a contractor, you of course will immediately see things that will make it clear to you they are not all built the same.
One of the big problems we hear about on this and other forums is folks taking their RV back to the dealer, and having no use of it for a month or two while it waits for, and gets repaired. In my case, the few issues I had with my new trailer, I was able to solve myself, at home, in less time that it would have taken me to hitch it up and drive the 40 miles to the dealer. Should I have had to do it myself ? No....it should have been done right at the factory or caught at the dealer pre-sale. But at least now I know it is right, "to my satisfaction".
I may be an exception to the rule though, because I actually like tinkering with it, and making things better, or more to my liking, than how they did it.
Let's face it, a travel trailer is still a rather crude device, unlike modern cars or trucks. So, being a crude device, us home tinkerers can still work on them.

TC Campers. I'm with the crowd that suggests you bring the trailer back to the dealer parking lot Monday AM. I wouldn't be belligerent, but would be firm. If you just got the trailer a week or so ago, I think you might be successful in just getting a new on instead...depends on the dealer. There are a couple good dealerships around here that should want to work with you, hopefully you purchased from one of them.

If you get a new one of the same flavor, I'd recommend the dealership checking/reinforcing the water tank before using.

Good luck! and welcome to the forum

Thank you for all the responses. I'll hold off on naming the company and trailer at this point. I will follow up after my visit on Monday to the dealership. We purchased a new trailer because we had never owned one and didn't have clue in what to look for in a used unit. I am a general contractor by trade and would have no issues making all the necessary repairs, but don't feel that is my responsibility. I would never had removed the skirting that covered the bottom just to see how everything was constructed before buying, but now? probably. I will certainly add extra supports under the tanks if they won't. Still have a sour taste in mouth for the whole thing.

Sorry to hear about your RV troubles. What brand?

Keep in mind your dealer did not build it and it is not the dealers fault this happened. Is it ridiculous? Yes, but this falls on the shoulders of the manufacturer. Being aggressive and demanding of the dealer is not in your best interest, at least not yet. If the dealer is a good dealer with a legitimate service department, they can fix this. If you bought your trailer from someone over the internet 1000 miles away, then you have a larger problem.

If you got it from a local dealer, take it back to them and have a calm, adult conversation and give them a chance to fix the problem. Don't scream and talk about your lawyer, that is counterproductive at this point. After you talk with your dealer, contact the manufacturer to make sure they understand your frustration. Again, the person in customer service at the manufacturer did not build it or design it so yelling at them will do you no good.

If you got your trailer from a distant dealer, pretty much all you can do now is call the manufacturer.

Good luck, stay calm but firm and it will all work out. Demanding a new trailer of your dealer is a very long shot at best. The warranty, which is from the manufacturer and not the dealer, will pay to fix the problem, not replace the trailer. Talk with the Service Manager first and if you don't get any satisfaction, ask to see the GM or the owner.

gmw photos wrote:

First of all, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of your troubles.
You are now experiencing what many consumers of the RV world have, and that is, poor assembly and quality control. If you are going to continue in this hobby, then get used to, and learn to be handy with basic tools.
Should you have had to inspect the frame members that hold up the water tank ? Well, no, clearly, the end consumer should not have to do this. But as you found out, it would have been easier in the long run if you spent a solid saturday afternoon crawling under, over, inside and outside your trailer, and fixing some things "right". As I often say, these things comes to us, "some assembly required".
It's easier to deal with things during a trial run in "camp driveway".

As to the suggestion to "take it back right now and park it on their lot", that is very poor advice. You own this camper. Why would you take something that you own, and without any return authorization, just take it someplace and park it on property that you do not own ? That is not the way a business transaction works.
If you want the dealer to work this issues out, you need to talk to them in a calm and professional manner, schedule an appointment, etc. In other words, go through all the normal business steps. To just take it back there and abandon it is childish at best.

Personally, if it were mine, I would fix the issues myself, make sure it's all done right, and go enjoy the camper.
Welcome to the world of RV'ing.

I agree with GMW on all except the fact that the OP situation should be 100% covered by warranty AND the best way to get the ball rolling on any warranty repair is to drop the unit back in the dealers lap IMMEDIATELY. You do need to be calm and fair - don't scream and yell and demand a new trailer - you bought it, it came with a warranty which SHOULD cover all of this, now let them fix it. That's not to say that the dealer won't TRY to lay some of the repairs off as somehow being the customers fault, and therefore billable repair. So, be prepared for that, if it comes up.
Did the water tank fall out because it was full and not designed to travel when full? I know some units are that way. If so, it's not a warranty-able repair (if they know it was full).

I would not "not trust" the dealer to fix everything if they are any sort of reputable place. They should have the expertise to repair anything that could possibly go wrong with units they sell....you don't take your car to a computer / electronics repair shop when it has an electrical fault - you take it to the auto repair shop because they handle any issue that comes up for the car.....same goes with RV's.....

I absolutely agree that the trailer, as sold, should be road-worthy. But many of them aren't. I know of many other folks who have had to reinforce the tank supports -- there have been several threads about "pregnant" water tanks that sag badly when filled. It is a hassle. I am certainly not saying, though, that the OP should have anticipated this problem. But other folks may want to add heavy duty metal pipe straps under their tanks, to guard against this issue.

exactly

profdant139 wrote:
No big deal. A little duct tape, and problem solved.

Did you fill the tank fully before leaving? Our service tech told us not to do that. In response, I went under the trailer and reinforced the supports for the tank. I still don't travel long distances with the water tank full, but I am less concerned about the tank falling out.

I guess my expectations are in the clouds. Because I expect my 60 gallon fresh water tank to hold 60 gallons of water and not fall out going down the highway! Why should we as consumers settle for less?