This post isn't meant to bash any brands or dealers. Just wondering if others have experienced substandard service at their dealers. Been RVing for abour 20 year and owned several trailers, both 5th Wheels and Travel Trailers. Guess we've been lucky because I've never had to take any of them back to the dealer for any work. Repaired minor issues myself. Brought a new Jayco last year and took it back for some fairly minor warrenty work; floor brace missing, slide roof not glued down, window shade broken and a few other small items. When we took the trailer in we were promised it back in 2 weeks since we had a short trip planned. Thought that was reasonable as I could have done everything in probably a half day if I had the time. Picked up the RV today after 5 weeks and had to basically threaten them to get it now. Of course the RV was filthy and the first thing I noticed was the big slide rubber seal was not attached and blowing in the wind. Nothing wrong with the seal when I brought it in. Had to laugh when I asked about the window shade that wasn't fixed. Was told they's get it ordered on Monday. After 5 weeks they hadn't even ordered it. Also chuckled when we got the rig home. One small item they were suppossed to fix was a kitchen drawer catch, as the drawer opens during travel. They had annotated on the work order "drawer latch replaced". When we went in the trailer at home, the drawer was open all the way - some fix. Guess it's back to doing these repairs myself. We're very happy with the Jayco, no so much the dearlership service department. I'll be talking with the service manager on Monday, for all the good that will do. Am I just unlucky or is this the standard? Bill

I would only take it in if it were a recall issue. Otherwise I fix it myself. It's just not worth the hassle.

Unlucky! Every dealership I've worked with has been fantastic! Even if we didn't buy the camper from them. Maybe the dealerships are a bit better in Indiana since 1) so many manufacturers are right here in Indiana. 2) because there's many RV dealerships in Indiana and each one is competing for your business. 3) Good service and good warranty work will develop a customer loyalty which will create repeat business and with competition among dealers in Indiana, the thing that separates the men from the boys is the service department! Especially when so many dealers are selling the exact same campers and the exact same brands! Competition is a good thing! Maybe in your area your dealer does not have competition so they "think" they can afford to be lax in their service!

Well, it might be standard.We developed a small in the piping behind the shower in our motor home and took it to a dealer (which I won't name) to be repaired.They in their wisdom decided without telling me that they would replace all the plumbing lines and started cutting the main lines from the back of the coach to all the fixtures.When I found out they said because their was a leak that all the lines were probably no good and should be replaced.As I worked for a plumbing company at the time, I took the motor home out of the dealership and into our shop and had one of our plumbers replace all the lines.He told me that they did not all need replacing, but the dealer should have repaired the leak, pressurized the system and then done more repairs if necessary.So this particular dealer took a relatively simple job and turned it into a nightmare.Don't know, but I will never trust another dealer to make any repairs without getting at least two opinions from now on.

I am not defending RV dealers by any stretch of imagination but 2 things that are most important to know-- RV dealers don't particularly love to do warranty work- They are very busy during the summer season and are not the most logistically capable people around.Lets leave it at that for now. I am in the midst of a warranty repair that has been going on since the first part of the year - not all the dealership's fault but there are things that they could have done to make the customer's experience a lot better. I am dealing with a good fellow now and a lot depends on the person that you are dealing with. In this industry they have you over a barrel and they know it. unlike with the automobile industry, to get warranty work done you have to go to a specific dealer of which there is typically only one per city / location and they have this attitude (supported by the manufacturers) that if you did not buy the trailer from them then you are at the bottom of the list. Try that cr*p in the auto industry and the consumer would walk. If the RV industry had to meet the standards of say the auto industry both in build quality and in customer service there would be no industry and we'd be back in tents.

Billstar1 wrote: We're very happy with the Jayco, no so much the dearlership service department. Why does Jayco get a pass? The dealer didn't build the unit- the defects you had to get repaired were from the factory!

Warranty Work at Dealer | Good Sam Community

skipnchar
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
There are good dealers and bad dealers and it makes no difference what brand they are selling. Obviously some BRANDS have a lot more for a dealer to do than others but dealers are individual businesses and you will find the entire range of service levels and skills. I certainly wouldn't generalize that "dealers" perform poor service work (or good service work).

One CLUE I've always found to be helpful is whether a particular dealer will perform warranty work on units they did not sell. If they won't do this they are PROBABLY not a very good repair facility because there is fairly good money is performing this work but manufacturers will only pay for it ONCE. If they frequently have to redo work it's on their dime, thus they don't want any more warranty work than they have to take.

Good luck / Skip
linnemj
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
We also had bad experience with dealer warranty work. Short story is they had the trailer for 11 weeks (during the slow season). One warranty item was to replace the tub since it has a crack. Forest River sent the part at no charge and authorized 2 hours labor. When I went to pick up the trailer, they charged us an additional 8 hours labor. The dealer claimed that since my wife put a thin link of caulk along the top of the tub surround, it took additional time to remove. Of course no call to let us know! We got the charges somewhat reduced. In addition they charged a $125 diagonstic fee and 10% of the total for "shop supplies". Total rip-off.

We learned our lesson! We now use a local independant RV tech is there is service I cannot do. Reasonable, professional, and on-time work.
Bigbird65
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
We bought our trailer in March from McClain's RV in Ft. Worth. I have to say that they have been exceptional on the few warranty issues that we have had. I think it really makes a big difference when the dealership has a person in charge of warranty work who really takes a genuine interest in your problems and she did. Glad to recommend McClain's.
ljr
Nomad
Aug 09, 2014
I bought my first TT from a small dealer and dealt directly with the owner. Warranty issues were few, minor and quickly handled. Bought my second from the same, now much larger, dealer. Issues were again few and minor. When I called about getting them fixed I talked to a service manager who said he'd call me back. That was 9 years ago.

I bought my third factory direct.
haste_maker
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2014
Not wanting to bash any brands or dealers..but I brought a new "Sierra by Forest River" from the only dealer for "Sierra" in "Dodge City, Al" in 2012, and this was a very bad mistake by me, which will never happen again, and we traded the "Sierra" this past "June" just to get rid of it...our new to us trailer was used & it is a better trailer, even being used than the new trailer...
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Billstar1 wrote:
We're very happy with the Jayco, no so much the dearlership service department.

Why does Jayco get a pass? The dealer didn't build the unit- the defects you had to get repaired were from the factory!
wmoses
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
I am not defending RV dealers by any stretch of imagination but 2 things that are most important to know-

- RV dealers don't particularly love to do warranty work
- They are very busy during the summer season and are not the most logistically capable people around.

Lets leave it at that for now. I am in the midst of a warranty repair that has been going on since the first part of the year - not all the dealership's fault but there are things that they could have done to make the customer's experience a lot better. I am dealing with a good fellow now and a lot depends on the person that you are dealing with.

In this industry they have you over a barrel and they know it. unlike with the automobile industry, to get warranty work done you have to go to a specific dealer of which there is typically only one per city / location and they have this attitude (supported by the manufacturers) that if you did not buy the trailer from them then you are at the bottom of the list. Try that cr*p in the auto industry and the consumer would walk. If the RV industry had to meet the standards of say the auto industry both in build quality and in customer service there would be no industry and we'd be back in tents.
Ka_Ron
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Well, it might be standard.
We developed a small in the piping behind the shower in our motor home and took it to a dealer (which I won't name) to be repaired.
They in their wisdom decided without telling me that they would replace all the plumbing lines and started cutting the main lines from the back of the coach to all the fixtures.
When I found out they said because their was a leak that all the lines were probably no good and should be replaced.
As I worked for a plumbing company at the time, I took the motor home out of the dealership and into our shop and had one of our plumbers replace all the lines.
He told me that they did not all need replacing, but the dealer should have repaired the leak, pressurized the system and then done more repairs if necessary.
So this particular dealer took a relatively simple job and turned it into a nightmare.
Don't know, but I will never trust another dealer to make any repairs without getting at least two opinions from now on.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Unlucky! Every dealership I've worked with has been fantastic! Even if we didn't buy the camper from them. Maybe the dealerships are a bit better in Indiana since 1) so many manufacturers are right here in Indiana. 2) because there's many RV dealerships in Indiana and each one is competing for your business. 3) Good service and good warranty work will develop a customer loyalty which will create repeat business and with competition among dealers in Indiana, the thing that separates the men from the boys is the service department! Especially when so many dealers are selling the exact same campers and the exact same brands! Competition is a good thing! Maybe in your area your dealer does not have competition so they "think" they can afford to be lax in their service!
sch911
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
I would only take it in if it were a recall issue. Otherwise I fix it myself. It's just not worth the hassle.

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