Purchasing trailer with no local warranty support?

Generally speaking the RV industry is not like the auto industry. Warrenty work is almost always the selling dealers responsability. Mfgs dont pay enough for anyone else to want to work on them. Getting mfg authorization is another hassle no one want to take on. Unless it is a major repair, I would just be prepared to do all my own work and move on.

Find out if the manufacturer will allow a mobile RV tech or independent shop to handle warranty issues.

Consider a week of camping close to the dealer after pickup. Most issues will surface within that time. Use a hose to simulate rain if necessary.

My local dealer wouldn't come down on the price of the 5th wheel I wanted so I drove 2,000 miles to another dealer. But, I called and spoke to the local dealer service manager and asked if they would warranty any repairs. He said yes, so I save a lot of money by buying out of state. No problems other than normal waiting and not fixing correctly. But you get that at most dealers anyway. Learn to do it yourself to safe headaches.

95jersey wrote:
Can other RV dealers or repair shops do warranty work for brands they don't sell? Or am I hosed? Unfortunately if I have to go to an authorized dealer, that will have an effect on which models I want.

"Repair shops" that aren't authorized dealers don't sell trailers, just repair them, so then the question is whether they can get factory replacement parts. In theory they can't, at least not from the manufacturer, which is why repair shops and dealers representing other brands will attempt to buy repair / replacement parts from other dealers who are authorized vendors of that brand. Dealers are privately owned businesses that have nothing to do with the manufacturers they represent ... what they do have is a contractual agreement with the manufacturers they do represent to sell that product, repair that product, have access to original factory parts to effect the repair, and make warranty claims on behalf of the RV owner to the manufacturer within the terms of any warranty that may apply. Dealers who don't represent a given product are not afforded these privileges, meaning if a dealer has no ability to source parts or make a warranty claim it's unreasonable to expect they'd agree to take on service work that may require either. Example - if a dealer sells K-Z Spree but not say Coachmen then he's an authorized K-Z Spree dealer and has an agreement with K-Z to represent that product in both sales & service BUT he likewise has no such agreement with Coachmen so if you as a customer take a Coachmen to this dealer and request service his service manager will decline servicing the trailer if warranty is involved. Further, for service that does not involve warranty the service manager may still not accept working on a product the dealership doesn't sell if for no other reason than he doesn't have access to that manufacturer's parts supply, other than attempt to buy from another dealer who does represent that brand. Obviously if generic parts to effect the repair are readily available then it's up to the service manager to decide whether he has the time available in his service schedule to accept the job and that decision will be based on whether his own customers seeking service time have first been accommodated. It's only common sense, regardless that some forum pundits will insist that any dealer refusing to work on your trailer is just being difficult because they won't be paid full rate for warranty work by the manufacturer(s) they represent, neither of which is true.

So far my wonderful quality NW has needed a good $5k in repairs.
I would never buy anything but local.

What works in Indiana may not work where you live.

Our local dealer is a good one and will do warranty work. However, because they are busy you may have to wait several days or more for them to get to yours, even if you bought it from them.

Think about it, who gets first priority, the person that you sold the TT too or someone who saved money buy going somewhere else?

If work is slow there maybe little difference, however TT sales have set new records.

The least you should do is talk to the dealer so you know where they stand on warranty work on a unit they did not sell.

rbpru wrote:
The least you should do is talk to the dealer so you know where they stand on warranty work on a unit they did not sell.

Bearing in mind that any verbal assurance now may mean little later on when you are seeking service, whether under warranty or not. And by "dealer" the only person that would count is the service manager who ultimately is the one to decide who gets service, and when. In point of fact, he / she is the one person you do want to know well, no one else. ;)

I have yet to encounter one single instance of any dealer refusing to do warranty work in any of the RVs I bought elsewhere.

In my opinion, this is a fear tactic used by the dealers to keep potential customers from shopping for a better deal elsewhere.

You’re fortunate if the selling dealer will provide service (mine wouldn’t). Forget about other dealers.

I purchased my latest FW factory direct 1,000 miles from home.