New 5th wheel purchase. I think we have a lemon, need advice

[rjs3118]

We just purchased a BRAND NEW 5th wheel in Feb of this year from large and reputable dealer. I won't mention the name of the manufacturer but they are very well know and are advertised as "one of the most popular". Well, we custom ordered our trailer and was told it would be available in April/May. We picked up the trailer literally 3 hours after it arrived at the dealer (no one other than the salesman and lot employee who does the "walk through" was even in it). From the very first night we noticed a few problem, nothing crazy, we just started to make a list. However, with each day this list has grown and grown to things that should have never made it out of the manufacturers plant. Mind you, no one else even went through this so all of these issues came straight from the manufacturer.

Our issues range from:
a black water tank level that won't stay closed (yep, you guess right. Found that one out the hard way at the dump station!)
2 windows that are literally installed crooked on our slide out
every window blind being slanted
a screen door that won't stay shut
a recyliner that wont extend
stitching that is coming out of the couch
a huge water leak under the sink that required us to use all of our shower towels to soak up (the water ran down under all the wood in the kitchen, under the carpet, into the register, etc.)
a drawer that came out during travel causing the wooden framing to be broken away from the wall
a skinned propane tank cord
missing and/or crooked screws, bent metal, and so on and so on.
Mind you, we have spent 7 nights in this trailer.

We have since called our dealer and requested to speak to the manufacturer rep that they work with to show them the many issues. We were told that "that's not how it works, that all concerns have to go through them". However, on the back of the terms of sale in the "Warranty" section, it states that "it's my responsibility to contact the manufacturer to arrange for any repairs" So, now we have an appointment to walk through the unit with the dealer but we do not want to settle for secondary repairs that won't even bring this trailer to the level that it should've been when we agreed to purchased it. Also, the repairs don't even address any future water damage that may/may not show up for years.

Has anyone had a similar issue and how did you resolve it? Did you ask/receive a re-issue or re-purchase? Should we contact a lawyer to assist in this matter?

Thank you so much in advance!

[bgum]

Gee wiz why did you ever take possession?

[sch911]

I'm sorry you didn't find those things during the PDI. And if it were me and I somehow ended up with those issues. I would fix as many as I could myself. None of them seem to be anything more than fit and finish. And I would know that they were fixed right. My thoughts about RV ownership include fixing thing myself. Even under warranty. It makes the whole process of ownership more sustainable IMHO...

[rjs3118]

12th Man Fan wrote:
I would be real surprised if you have found anywhere near all of the problems yet.

I would recommend that you take it camping and use it the remainder of the summer and use everything in the unit. Check all of the slide wipes and everything that move to see if there is a potential problem.

After you are through camping for the summer take it to the dealer with your list of issues. If it takes them all winter to fix it at least you won't lose any camping time with your family.

As far as a lemon law and contacting a lawer you probably signed some papers in the process that says you can't sue but must go through an arbitration process.

I read today that the RV industry set records this year on the number of new units sold. I assure you, you are not alone with quality issues.

Just keep good notes and document every call you have with the dealer or Mfg.

Good luck and don't give up. thats what they hope you will do.

Thank you so much for the help. In your opinion, should we contact the manufacturer before we meet with our dealer and risk souring our relationship with them or would it be better now that I know that some/most of these problems should have been detected/corrected at the set-up (dealer) level?

[12th_Man_Fan]

I would be real surprised if you have found anywhere near all of the problems yet.

I would recommend that you take it camping and use it the remainder of the summer and use everything in the unit. Check all of the slide wipes and everything that move to see if there is a potential problem.

After you are through camping for the summer take it to the dealer with your list of issues. If it takes them all winter to fix it at least you won't lose any camping time with your family.

As far as a lemon law and contacting a lawer you probably signed some papers in the process that says you can't sue but must go through an arbitration process.

I read today that the RV industry set records this year on the number of new units sold. I assure you, you are not alone with quality issues.

Just keep good notes and document every call you have with the dealer or Mfg.

Good luck and don't give up. thats what they hope you will do.

[rjs3118]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:

rjs3118 wrote:

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
I know you were anxious to get your new trailer, but did you and the dealers rep walk through the unit looking for problems prior to you accepting delivery?
Having documented those items then and having them fixed would have solved a lot of questions later, and yes I know this is a "if your foresight was as good as your hindsight" type of question but you didnt say how detailed your walk through was.

Yes, some of the issues like screws, the recyliner, were pointed out at the walk through. However, most of these problems were not able to be detected at the walk through. Really no way of knowing a black water plug doesn't work or a kitchen sink has a water leak at the dealer. The window was noticed afterward.

One of the requirements that manufacturers have for dealers is that they are required to go through the unit and prep it and the dealer is required to spend a certain amout of time demonstrating all aspects of the unit to you. The dealer wantinng you to let them handle it all may be to hide that they are not fulfilling their requirements.
Just a thought,,,,, Good luck

Hmm... I'm starting to think that may be the case. Thanks for the info

[rjs3118]

wrgrs50s wrote:
The dealer is not being honest about you having to go thru them first for repairs to be taken care of. You can and should call the manufacturer and share the list of repairs your expecting to be taken care of. Usually there is a brand/warranty service manager over the line of rig that you purchased who can help coordinate repairs with your dealer.

Too many times the dealer takes your rig in and uses the manufacturer as their excuse for not getting approval for a repair, or waiting on parts on order, etc., only to find out they have not even called the manufacturer yet.

Get the manufacturer involved and I think you will get things moving and the dealer will not be able to use them as an excuse.

I'm now wondering if the dealer doesn't want us to contact the manufacturer because it turns out that they dropped the ball somewhere along the way with their set-up?

[rjs3118]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Normally, when a camper reaches the dealership from the factory, the dealership has to "prep" the trailer. When it comes from the manufacturer, the dealer has to do things like, install the propane tanks and battery, anchor things down, adjust things, what-not.

Then, in preparation for the buyer's "walk through," they hook up the electricity, fill the water tank, test all the systems. Then when the buyer arrives, everything is set for a walk through demonstrations.

If you just picked up the camper from the dealer before allowing them to pep it for final sale, then you probably did have many issues afterwards.

I've visited several RV dealerships (one is only 5 miles from my house), and they are getting to know me pretty good there. I have on many occasions looked inside different RV within a day after delivery, and they are usually in pretty good disrepair. The manufacturers depend upon the dealerships to untie, screw, and unscrew, set up tables, adjust, fix and prep practically everything.

Not sure what you experienced, but sounds like you were just too eager to take possession and not allow the system to function as it does.

If you agreed to take possession of the camper from the dealer without any dealer prep as an attempt to save a few dollars on prep-fees and such, then .... there-in is your problem.

It turns out the dealer did do a prep and had us come back a day later to pick it up (I was wrong when I said we picked it up the same day). So what I'm gathering is that this water leak and the black water tank should've been noticed if they did their "prep" correctly?
Thanks for the informative reply!

[rjs3118]

fj12ryder wrote:
Did you discover any of these issues at the PDI, Pre Delivery Inspection? Most of these issues should have been fixed before it even pulled out of the lot. It might have been better to wait a couple days before picking it up to allow the dealer to do a thorough walk through and fix the obvious stuff. Then do a PDI yourself, and pick it up after the dealer has repaired all items on the list.

However that is all water under the bridge. All you can do now is work with the dealer and builder and make sure they do everything exactly the way you want it. But since the dealer has your money, you can only hope that they are a reputable dealer and will stand behind their work, and their product. You did say they were, so hope for the best.

Good luck, and post back as the saga unwinds. 🙂

Correction: after speaking with my wife, I was wrong (shocker). The dealer did have us come back a few days later after we initially went through it. Our salesmen said that they did the final prep before we took it home after our second visit.

[kerrlakeRoo]

rjs3118 wrote:

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
I know you were anxious to get your new trailer, but did you and the dealers rep walk through the unit looking for problems prior to you accepting delivery?
Having documented those items then and having them fixed would have solved a lot of questions later, and yes I know this is a "if your foresight was as good as your hindsight" type of question but you didnt say how detailed your walk through was.

Yes, some of the issues like screws, the recyliner, were pointed out at the walk through. However, most of these problems were not able to be detected at the walk through. Really no way of knowing a black water plug doesn't work or a kitchen sink has a water leak at the dealer. The window was noticed afterward.

One of the requirements that manufacturers have for dealers is that they are required to go through the unit and prep it and the dealer is required to spend a certain amout of time demonstrating all aspects of the unit to you. The dealer wantinng you to let them handle it all may be to hide that they are not fulfilling their requirements.
Just a thought,,,,, Good luck

[rjs3118]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
I know you were anxious to get your new trailer, but did you and the dealers rep walk through the unit looking for problems prior to you accepting delivery?
Having documented those items then and having them fixed would have solved a lot of questions later, and yes I know this is a "if your foresight was as good as your hindsight" type of question but you didnt say how detailed your walk through was.

Yes, some of the issues like screws, the recyliner, were pointed out at the walk through. However, most of these problems were not able to be detected at the walk through. Really no way of knowing a black water plug doesn't work or a kitchen sink has a water leak at the dealer. The window was noticed afterward.

[newman_fulltime]

i hope you enjoy your keystone

[path1]

Lemon law for NY doesn't say anything about RV's. Maybe under something else.

Good luck

https://ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/lemon-law

[wrgrs50s]

The dealer is not being honest about you having to go thru them first for repairs to be taken care of. You can and should call the manufacturer and share the list of repairs your expecting to be taken care of. Usually there is a brand/warranty service manager over the line of rig that you purchased who can help coordinate repairs with your dealer.

Too many times the dealer takes your rig in and uses the manufacturer as their excuse for not getting approval for a repair, or waiting on parts on order, etc., only to find out they have not even called the manufacturer yet.

Get the manufacturer involved and I think you will get things moving and the dealer will not be able to use them as an excuse.

[midnightsadie]

nothing new there is just no quality control in the rv business. some have more problems than others, hope yours get fixed, but I,d bet a steak dinner there not going to replace the rv.

[DutchmenSport]

Normally, when a camper reaches the dealership from the factory, the dealership has to "prep" the trailer. When it comes from the manufacturer, the dealer has to do things like, install the propane tanks and battery, anchor things down, adjust things, what-not.

Then, in preparation for the buyer's "walk through," they hook up the electricity, fill the water tank, test all the systems. Then when the buyer arrives, everything is set for a walk through demonstrations.

If you just picked up the camper from the dealer before allowing them to pep it for final sale, then you probably did have many issues afterwards.

I've visited several RV dealerships (one is only 5 miles from my house), and they are getting to know me pretty good there. I have on many occasions looked inside different RV within a day after delivery, and they are usually in pretty good disrepair. The manufacturers depend upon the dealerships to untie, screw, and unscrew, set up tables, adjust, fix and prep practically everything.

Not sure what you experienced, but sounds like you were just too eager to take possession and not allow the system to function as it does.

If you agreed to take possession of the camper from the dealer without any dealer prep as an attempt to save a few dollars on prep-fees and such, then .... there-in is your problem.