Trouble with slide outs getting repaired

[mcshelll]

My husband and I bought a used fifth wheel (2007 Heartland Big Country) in early May only to find it has some issues with the hydraulics of the slide outs. We bought this rv to go on a big trip in July. We purchased it in another state so the dealer authorized repair at a local dealer. The problem is we waited two weeks for an appointment and took it then, May 20th. They checked it out for 4 hours and then pulled it out of the shop to wait for diagnostics equipment to be sent form the manufacturer. It has been sitting and will still be sitting until June 8th when they will look at it again. They will try to diagnose the issue that day, but then we have to wait for parts and again wait for another appointment. This all seems really wrong to me but my husband seems to think this is how a really place has to handle it. I don't think our rv will be fixed at this rate by July. I have not even set up thing in this rv and we have not done a test run before our big trip. This is our very first rv so I would like to know if this is what others experience when repairs are needed?

[jffnkrn]

Congrats on the new purchase. What did ya get?
We bought a new unit form out of town recently and during our trip home realized a mistake was made as the usability of some things. We actually took a bit of a loss, but overall ended up in a decent deal. We traded locally and now have a few warranty issues. I guess where I am going with this is use everything to its fullest, electric, gas, batteries, on and off of dry camping, full hook ups etc. Keep a pad of paper and pen a list everything from the loose screw to the misaligned door, trim inside and out. Do a super good usage on your "Shake Out" trip, "Maiden Voyage" or whatever you want to call it. As soon as you know of items, notify your dealer and get an appointment to drop it off, let them fix everything under warranty. Obviously there will be some things you need to adjust, tighten etc. to prevent additional or further damage, but log those items too and make sure the warranty is still covering items. They need to understand that simple adjustment if any you made were in the best interest of the coach and prevention of further issues. Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

[mcshelll]

Sorry I forgot to update this. We ended up taking the rv back to the dealer we bought it from. They were going to fix it for for us, but they gave us back every penny we paid for it and we bought a new fifth wheel instead.

[zigzagrv]

If you have the manual for the slide system, there should be a procedure in it for opening/closing the slides manually. If you get them closed, put a slide lock (if you don't have them, they can be made with a simple piece of wood cut to the right length) in each slide to prevent them from coming out while moving. Good Luck!

[mcshelll]

That is true, we do have three slides that operate from one button. I do know this dealer is very busy too. However, I did not understand waiting so long after already waiting for the first appt. That was May 20th and now they will not look at it again until June 8th. Then they would order parts and we would wait for another appt. All that waiting I do not get. So we are taking it back to the dealer we purchased it from and hope they fix it quickly. They are aware we have a trip scheduled and they take responsibilty for all repairs as it was this way when we bought it. We were unaware until we drove home with it. The slide outs came out as it was being driven. We have it home now to drive to Tulsa tomorrow, all slide outs are out about 4-6 inches.

[RAS43]

Not defending the dealer but the OP may have a trailer with multiple slides that work off one switch and move in/out one after another. They may be more difficult to diagnose then a unit that has individual controls for each slide. Just saying.
Glad the OP got help from the selling dealer.

[agesilaus]

Part of the problem is the timing. We had slide problems too and I thought we'd take it to the local dealer. We show up and he tells us that he might get us an appointment by mid June (this was 10 days ago). It's camping season everyone who's unit has problems wants to get it to the dealer and they are swamped. If you took it in in November they'd probably get right to it.

Our slides are electrical and I replaced a bad motor and a bad switch on the other slide. All I needed was a digital multi meter and I probably saved myself a $1000 by fixing it myself.

[45Ricochet]

BTDT about 9 years ago. Haven't been back to a dealer since. I'm sure there are a few good ones, kind of like the good ole 6.0's.

[NC_Hauler]

mcshelll wrote:
Thanks to everyone for the quick replies. We just talked to the dealer we bought it from again and are taking it back to them tomorrow. Fingers crossed they fix it right away and right the first time! I knew this repair dealer was messing with us on the repairs but had to ask those with experience to be sure.

You're doing the right thing...good luck and let us know, if you don't mind, what the problem was

thanks,
Jim

[mcshelll]

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies. We just talked to the dealer we bought it from again and are taking it back to them tomorrow. Fingers crossed they fix it right away and right the first time! I knew this repair dealer was messing with us on the repairs but had to ask those with experience to be sure.

[NC_Hauler]

rjxj wrote:
Diagnostics equipment? I'm not being smart mouth but it's not a space craft. Unless it's some fancy module that automatically puts the slides, stabilizers and awning out on it's own I can't see them needing a whole lot more than a digital volt meter. Something sounds wrong and maybe you need to move on to some other shop.

The pump pushes oil out into cylinders to create movement. Some basic hydraulic tests as simple as cracking open a connection can tell a lot. System pressure is checked with a $10.00 hydraulic gauge. This is very simple stuff.

Agree, sounds like these people have NO CLUE on what to check out with the hydraulic slide issue...not too much to the closed hydraulic system to check, valves, pump motor, sump and enough hydraulic oil in the reservoir to extend the slides...

Agree, get it away from where you have it now...who knows what they would tell you and then charge you to fix it..."waiting for diagnostic equipment":R...yeah, they're buying time to try to figure out where they parked your 5er.....get it and move it quickly, the dealership sounds like it is sadly lacking in experienced technicians.

donn, so simple a caveman could probably figure it out:B

[lj2654]

I agree with colliehauler!

[colliehauler]

I would call the mfg and see if they could recommend a Mobil service tech or take it back to the selling dealer.

Your local dealer sounds incompetent.

[donn0128]

Diagnose a hydraulic system? That I dont understand. Hydraulics are so simple even Joe Dufus should be able to diagnose it. Hydraulic pressure in one direction forces the cylinder out, hydraulic pressure in the opposite direction forces the cylinder closed. I just dont get it????

But getting put on the bottom of the list when bringing an RV to a non selling dealer is totally normal. Sadly from your description it sounds to me like the dealer you chose is clueless.

[mcshelll]

The problem is we are in a rural area and it is the only place that works on them for miles around. I think we are going to drive it back to Tulsa (4hours away) and let the dealer fix it. I just wanted to know if this is how things work in the rv world for some reason? I think they are being unreasonable. The thing with the diagnostic equipment is what we are told the manufacturer told them to do. It seems funny to me too.