Warranty coverage

[keh3491]

My husband and I are looking at 5th wheels and plan to go full time soon. We are so confused on the coverage options out there. We have only been looking at campers that have a manufacturers warranty for full time use. We saw that good Sam had an extended warranty, what is the point? Can we get a camper not covered for full time use and just add coverage to it?

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

The first thing about warranties to learn/ remember is that RV warranties are like a home warranty when buying a new home, nothing like an automobile warranty.

The builder has nothing to do with the warranty for appliances in the kitchen, the AC, the furnace, heck, even the sprinkler system in our last home.

The RV dealer will diagnose and repair, or install parts, or new units, but there can be a delay in getting the warranty repair approved. It took 42 days for the replacement of a thermostat to be approved by Suburban and the replacement to be shipped to the dealer for our first trailer. Diagnosis was done in fifteen minutes as I dropped the rig off, and installation and testing was less than an hour.

Over six years full timing, we've replaced a water heater, a fresh water pump, a blower and control board for the furnace, the electric heating element and control board for the Dometic fridge. All covered by an extended warranty which was outside the mfr warranty. But we had to pay parts shipping in each case. All done by mobile techs.

We also had to replace both axles after faulty welds broke for the mounting brackets which was done by Dexter. Extended warranty covered that also. Took 31 days for Dexter to get the replacements shipped to the dealer. Luck we were near my daughter's home when the failure occurred and we did not have to stay in a motel for a month.

We paid less than $1,500 for the ExtraRide Warranty. But we have a low end TT.

[BarbaraOK]

We put 10% of the purchase price into a maintenance/repair fund and add to it each month. Have been doing that for 14 years and the fund is always in the black. When something needs to be serviced or fixed/replaced, we do it. And if we identify something worn that could be a problem, we replace THEN, not wait for it to break so it will be covered. This fund also covers batteries/tires, which need to be replaced every few years.

[CFerguson]

The best response I ever heard was by a poster here last year. It was like:
"send me the money and then call me anytime and i'll tell you why your claim isn't covered under the warranty".
Yep, that's the way rv warranties work. (and if you are the poster I am quoting, please claim the credit- I still chuckle about that post)

[theoldwizard1]

Most warranties do NOT cover the appliances (refrigerator, furnace, A/C, etc) because they are covered by the manufacturer.

You also want to know if there is any reimbursement for hotels if it take days to repair.

[Jayco-noslide]

I think I wouldn't count on a warranty leading to no worry. How good will the factory warranty be? Well, it could take them weeks to do the work or you may not be near someone authorized to do the work. Or they might say the item isn't covered. I never buy an extended warranty for any product. You're better off saving up some repair cash. If a warranty is reasonable then it's not going to cover much and vice-versa. RVs are expensive; new or used.

[pennysmom09]

I have always agreed that extended warranties are a rip off. However, 5 yrs. into our 7 yr. warranty we have had 3 very expensive repairs done which include the refrigerator, our awning motor and electric heater. It saved us hundreds of dollars. We used a mobile RV tech.

[midnightsadie]

start looking at used for sale by owner rv,s then you can buy a warranty for it. you,ll save thousands.

[valhalla360]

If you buy new, plan to spend the first 6 months local to the dealership and use everything trying to find issues.

Once you are no longer local, expect dealers to not want to deal with you and if they do, there is normally no time frame for getting the repairs done.

Even at the dealer you bought from, don't expect prompt convenient service. They will take a guy paying full shop rates over discounted warranty work in a heartbeat.

Save the extended warranty money in a maintenance fund...9 times out of 10 you will be far ahead doing so.

PS: Buying new is far from trouble free. Friends buying new have more complaints about repairs than we've had buying used.

[midnightsadie]

warranties cost thousands and just arn,t worth it.they,re the bigest rip off out there. use the one year warranty that comes with the rv then if something breaks call a mobil tech ,he comes to you quick service ,you wont have to let your rv sit at the dealers lot for months for a simple repair.

[wanderingaimles]

Warranties are not as comprehensive with the RV industry as they are in automotive. Many dealers only service units they sold, even though technically they can work on others. Brands have varying levels of coverage, and varying degrees of desire to cover their products.
A few do seem to have more favorable customer opinions than others. Grand Design owners seem most happy and in varying degrees Winnebago, K-Z, Jayco, and then it falls to the others,
Warranty coverage as far as duration can be seen as something of an indicator by some, and in general Jayco, K-Z, some Keystones, Palomino, a few others offer warranty periods longer than one year.
Remember, the warranty from the manufacturer is for what they build, appliances, frames, axles, etc are warranted separately by the companies that provided them.
Your best chance at a unit with few problems is to do a very thorough walk through BEFORE delivery, and have everything addressed prior to taking possession, when you are in the position of power.

Hope this helps.

[Lwiddis]

Line up your extended coverage before you buy IMO. Read carefully the insurance contract. Then read it again..both of you. Note any annual inspection and the cost of the inspection. Miss an inspection and you are SOL.