First trip bust

[Firelime]

Well our first trip of the year is a bust. As we were just about to depart the kitchen slide bound up on the retract and now won't come in. It is now at Campingworld. Hopefully they can figure it out early enough so we can depart tomorrow, but that is unlikely. I feel like we have joint custody with Campingworld since it's lived there half the time since we got it. Rant over.

[Irelands_child]

We have a '14 Montana with 4 BAL cable slides. Only the large main slide has needed anything done to it and that was a simple cable adjustment. I would be surprised if the OPs didn't have rollers on his, bottom and sides as even our smallest has them. Our previous 5er had a single cable slide along with 2 rack and pinion - and that cable slide in 8 years never was a problem while the two R&P were always giving me fits some way or another.

You do need to be aware of strange noises which usually indicate that there is something happening and what told me our one needed adjusting. As far as being prepared, I do carry two spare cables that are getting along in years (7 - 8 ). I also have several small cable clamps which can be used instead of the crimp ferrules that require a special $35 tool.

As far as CW - we no longer have one close. Unfortunately they are not alone in low quality work. There just are not enough competent RV techs available to cover many different makes and models - so my 5er repairs are handled by me

[IND_navyvet]

TXiceman wrote:
I have had ONE repair done by CW in Katy, TX and that is the last time any CW will see any of my RVs. They do not know what they are doing and management could not care less.

Ken

Same can be said about the Mesa, AZ CW.

[TXiceman]

I have had ONE repair done by CW in Katy, TX and that is the last time any CW will see any of my RVs. They do not know what they are doing and management could not care less.

Ken

[YnotTurbo]

Sorry to hear that your sharing your rv time with Camping World. Hope they figure it out and get you back on the road and into a campground...

[Firelime]

lanerd wrote:
our previous coach (Safari) had a cable driven slide in the bedroom I found out that the cable tension had to be re-adjusted a couple of times a year to keep the cables at the correct tension. Once I learned how, it wasn't difficult and the slide worked perfectly for many years.

Ron

I will diffently have them show me. They got the slide in and we picked it up and hit the road. The motor & gearbox need to be replaced however. So we'll drop it back off next week for that and an adjustment.

[Time4Dirt]

That's to bad, I hope its fixed soon and you can enjoy your trip.

[Allworth]

On the other hand, I have not had to adjust the tension on a B.A.L. Accuslide in six years. Replace one cable when the end button popped off, yes, but not adjust.

[laknox]

Firelime wrote:
Well our first trip of the year is a bust. As we were just about to depart the kitchen slide bound up on the retract and now won't come in. It is now at Campingworld. Hopefully they can figure it out early enough so we can depart tomorrow, but that is unlikely. I feel like we have joint custody with Campingworld since it's lived there half the time since we got it. Rant over.

A friend bought a TT from CW and he jokes about his "free covered storage" because it's been in the shop so often. Frequently, he just calls them up and tells them he wants to take it out on a certain day and to button up whatever they happen to be fixing and he'll come by to pick it up. After the trip, he drops it back off for them to finish fixing the rest of the stuff that crapped out.

Lyle

[lanerd]

When you pick it up, have them show you where the cable adjustments are and how to do it.

Good luck

Ron

[Firelime]

Well just called CW. They said they had it in their shop, so with some luck we might get lucky today.

[lanerd]

our previous coach (Safari) had a cable driven slide in the bedroom I found out that the cable tension had to be re-adjusted a couple of times a year to keep the cables at the correct tension. Once I learned how, it wasn't difficult and the slide worked perfectly for many years.

Ron

[SabreCanuck]

NC Hauler wrote:

majorgator wrote:

Firelime wrote:
I feel like we have joint custody with Campingworld since it's lived there half the time since we got it.

This may be slightly off-topic, but I've read countless comments on here that basically say the same thing. Whether its Camping World or some other dealer, it seems like many (if not most) new units spend a lot of time back at the dealer for warranty repairs. My parents have a rig that's less than a year old, and its already been back to CW for a converter replacement (which took well over a month) and back again for a radio replacement (which took 2 hours). We've only ever owned used campers, but these situations make me wonder if buying a 3-5 year old rig might very well be a better decision. This way, the previous owner will have gotten all these little annoyances worked out.

Just kinda one of those random thoughts that pop into my head.

Don't know if this is always the case, hasn't been ours.. And remember that used unit you have was new at one time and may have had issues and they've been fixed...Every TT/5er we've owned since 1999 was purchased new...and all spent very little time at the dealer and most of that was in adding upgrades...and now the new Jayco since last August and other than a few nickel dime issues, our new units have spent very little time back at the dealer..Guess we've been fortunate?

I think the bold above was actually his point, which I would agree with. NEW owner will take care of the little stuff. NEXT owner would get a decent rig without the little 'issues'.

The last 3 campers we had were all brand new. Not one of them went back to the dealer for any repairs. Lucky? Nope. We have for sure had issues that should have been warranty but I fix it myself in the driveway. Have never had anything serious enough to bother dealer with fighting, leaving the unit and being concerned with final repair quality... GOOGLE and YOUTUBE are my friends 🙂

To the OP - sorry for your situation, hopefully they will get you squared away and on the road.

[larry_barnhart]

We bought our 2001 alpenlite because it was what the wife wanted and also because the factory was 122 miles from our house. Never needed to take it to the factory but it was nice to be close.


chevman

[NC_Hauler]

majorgator wrote:

Firelime wrote:
I feel like we have joint custody with Campingworld since it's lived there half the time since we got it.

This may be slightly off-topic, but I've read countless comments on here that basically say the same thing. Whether its Camping World or some other dealer, it seems like many (if not most) new units spend a lot of time back at the dealer for warranty repairs. My parents have a rig that's less than a year old, and its already been back to CW for a converter replacement (which took well over a month) and back again for a radio replacement (which took 2 hours). We've only ever owned used campers, but these situations make me wonder if buying a 3-5 year old rig might very well be a better decision. This way, the previous owner will have gotten all these little annoyances worked out.

Just kinda one of those random thoughts that pop into my head.

Don't know if this is always the case, hasn't been ours.. And remember that used unit you have was new at one time and may have had issues and they've been fixed...Every TT/5er we've owned since 1999 was purchased new...and all spent very little time at the dealer and most of that was in adding upgrades...and now the new Jayco since last August and other than a few nickel dime issues, our new units have spent very little time back at the dealer..Guess we've been fortunate?