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my Newmar

RustyNewmar
Explorer
Explorer
Deleted
42 REPLIES 42

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
Looks to me like a hurricane rig.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

larry_cad
Explorer II
Explorer II
Bruce Brown wrote:
soren wrote:
You have nothing more, or less than a chassis that has been operated in conditions where it was exposed to "brine", which is the anti-icing liquid used by many states in the northern part of the country. Brine is extraordinarily corrosive, and can do this damage in one exposure. The "damage" is cosmetic, prevalent on most newer vehicles exposed to brine treated roads, and is something that many, many RVs experience and pay no attention to. If you want to address the issue, research "Fluid Film". It is made specifically to treat and prevent chassis rust on vehicles. There are customer reports, with pics. on their site, of older vehicles, like Jeep Wranglers, that are operated all winter in northern salt and brine obsessed states. Most of these older untreated vehicles are rot heaps, but using fluid film regularly can keep them looking new underneath.

Good luck, and relax. The coach builder has nothing to so with this, and in our litigation happy country, destroying vehicles with brine, and billions of pounds of salt, is secondary to avoiding lawsuits by texting twits in SUVS. These twits don't do personal responsibility and believe that every road should be clear and provide safe traction 24/7/365, no matter how bad the weather is. Naturally, when they crash, it's somebody else's fault. So the toxic waste (brine and salt) spreading starts well before the weather even hits.

The question of safety and damage to the components underneath would leave any truck mechanic in the north laughing. On a scale of 1-100, with 100 being "sorry, but your frame rotted in half, and the rig is a total loss", you aren't even hitting a one yet. Wire brush whatever bothers you, soak the whole thing in fluid film, and see if you need to reapply the stuff, a year or two from now.


^^^ This.

Living in the northeast this is nothing. Keep it out of the brine and it won't get any worse.

We've ordered (3) new motorhomes, on all (3) we've made 100% sure there would be a 0% chance they'd be delivered when there was any chance of salt and/or brine.

We also don't schedule any trips when there is a chance of salt and/or brine usage. We also keep ours in a heated garage all winter.

RustyNewmar, ours is pristine with no rust. I'd be willing to help you out and trade with you. I'll take my chances on yours. :W



:W
Today is my personal best for most consecutive days alive.

Our Travel Blog

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
soren wrote:
You have nothing more, or less than a chassis that has been operated in conditions where it was exposed to "brine", which is the anti-icing liquid used by many states in the northern part of the country. Brine is extraordinarily corrosive, and can do this damage in one exposure. The "damage" is cosmetic, prevalent on most newer vehicles exposed to brine treated roads, and is something that many, many RVs experience and pay no attention to. If you want to address the issue, research "Fluid Film". It is made specifically to treat and prevent chassis rust on vehicles. There are customer reports, with pics. on their site, of older vehicles, like Jeep Wranglers, that are operated all winter in northern salt and brine obsessed states. Most of these older untreated vehicles are rot heaps, but using fluid film regularly can keep them looking new underneath.

Good luck, and relax. The coach builder has nothing to so with this, and in our litigation happy country, destroying vehicles with brine, and billions of pounds of salt, is secondary to avoiding lawsuits by texting twits in SUVS. These twits don't do personal responsibility and believe that every road should be clear and provide safe traction 24/7/365, no matter how bad the weather is. Naturally, when they crash, it's somebody else's fault. So the toxic waste (brine and salt) spreading starts well before the weather even hits.

The question of safety and damage to the components underneath would leave any truck mechanic in the north laughing. On a scale of 1-100, with 100 being "sorry, but your frame rotted in half, and the rig is a total loss", you aren't even hitting a one yet. Wire brush whatever bothers you, soak the whole thing in fluid film, and see if you need to reapply the stuff, a year or two from now.


^^^ This.

Living in the northeast this is nothing. Keep it out of the brine and it won't get any worse.

We've ordered (3) new motorhomes, on all (3) we've made 100% sure there would be a 0% chance they'd be delivered when there was any chance of salt and/or brine.

We also don't schedule any trips when there is a chance of salt and/or brine usage. We also keep ours in a heated garage all winter.

RustyNewmar, ours is pristine with no rust. I'd be willing to help you out and trade with you. I'll take my chances on yours. :W
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910

chuckftboy
Explorer
Explorer
That rust is clearly from salted roads and using unpainted or uncoated metal parts is a manufacture issue. Not cleaning the chassis upon delivery is on the dealer but even if they cleaned the chassis, any part not painted would still rust.

Doesn't look like any real damage so far so cleaning it up and coating shouldn't be too hard.
2019 Horizon 42Q Maxum Chassis w/tag
Cummins L-9 450 HP / Allison 3000
2006 Jeep TJ and 2011 Chevy Traverse Tows

2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
This is the dealer's issue and the manufacturer is not going to tell anyone it's safe to drive. How could they make a statement like that? You could have an accident on your own and blame the rust.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

timmac
Explorer
Explorer
Tom/Barb wrote:
RustyNewmar wrote:
Dear fellow RV'ers, here is a link to the pictures from underneath our brand new Mountain Air. Please note most of these shots were taken by the dealer prior to us taking delivery !

https://imgur.com/a/7InJw

Thank you, Paul & Kim.


I do not know how much Newmar has to do with how a coach is treated or used after sale. Your pictures show mostly chassis parts that are rusted. It looks like the rust is mostly surface rust, and not a safety issue.
If this were my problem, I would spray the whole chassis with THIS Then keep an eye on it. see more rust, spray it again.

This stuff works well applied with a small garden pump up sprayer.


BINGO

I was going to say the same thing, might as well treat the rust now cause rust never sleeps, don't wait months or years or for the dealer that wont come thru, start fixing it today or else..

bigred1cav
Explorer
Explorer
What vehicles does the Lemon Law cover?
Only new vehicles are covered by Georgia’s Lemon Law. New vehicles are self-propelled
vehicles that are primarily designed to transport people or property over public highways and
were purchased, leased or registered in Georgia. The title of the vehicle must still be in the
name of the person who originally purchased or leased it and cannot have been previously
issued to anyone other than the selling dealer.
Vehicles not covered by the Lemon Law include:
Vehicles purchased or leased as used
Vehicles whose title and other transfer documents indictate they are used
Vehicles that have been titled to any person other than the selling dealer, before being
titled to you
Motorcycles and mopeds
Trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
Boats
Vehicles that are no self-propelled, such as trailers and campers
Demonstrator model vehicles are covered as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is issued as a
condition of sale and it otherwise qualifies as a new motor vehicle.
Motor homes and conversion vans are covered to a certain degree. The self-propelled vehicle
and the chassis of a new motor home are covered under the Lemon Law. However, the Lemon
Law does not cover those parts of a motor home that are designated, used or maintained
primarily as a mobile dwelling, office or commercial space.

What defects are covered and what defects are not
covered?
Any defect or condition included in the manufacturer’s warranty that substantially impairs the
vehicle’s use, value or safety to the consumer is covered under the Lemon Law.
Substantially impairs – the defect makes your vehicle unreliable or unsafe for ordinary use, or it
diminishes the resale value of your vehicle more than a meaningful amount below the average
resale value for comparable motor vehicles.
The Lemon Law does not apply to any defect or condition that is the result of abuse, neglect or
unauthorized modification or alteration of the vehicle.
How long do I have to bring a claim under the Lemon
Law?
One year from the date you took delivery of the vehicle, or after the first 12,000 miles of use—
whichever occurs first. This is called the Lemon Law rights period. You must establish that the
initial repair attempt took place within the first year of delivery or within the first 12,000 miles.


http://www.robins.af.mil/Portals/59/documents/Judge_Advocates_Office/Civil_Law_Division/AFD-090317-034.pdf

After cleaning your used car in preparation for selling it, you now must decide how much information to disclose when talking with prospective buyers. This conversation can make or break auto sales.

To help with your sales pitch, consider the following advice:

Be honest. A potential buyer can verify if you're being up front or trying to hide flaws though a car history report or by having it inspected by a certified car mechanic.
You don't have to disclose every flaw. It's not your responsibility, but if the buyer asks, tell the truth.
If the car is say 20 years old, the prospective buyer is expecting flaws. Don't be afraid to reveal that you recently replaced the radiator or that the air conditioning is on the blink. If the car is old, the buyer is obviously in the market for a beater, comfortable with the idea of mechanical imperfection.
Be prepared to answer, "Why are you selling it?" Have an honest answer that favors the positive over the negative. Saying, "I'm looking to upgrade" is far more favorable than, "Six times in the last month I had to hitchhike home from work after the car conked out on me."
If you do hide potential mechanical problems that eventually surface after selling the car, you're not required by law to provide legal compensation (Lemon Laws only apply to dealerships selling new or used cars). You freed yourself from all responsibility once you handed over the car's title. The buyer, however, can make your life hellish with repeated phone calls asking for money, or even using social media outlets to denigrate your name.
Information You MUST Disclose When Selling a Car
In most states you, by law, must disclose whether the vehicle has been:

Salvaged.
Damaged in a flood.
Rebuilt.
In all three scenarios, this information should be stamped or marked on the title either as salvaged or rebuilt. This, at the very least, protects you from any potential down-the-road charges from the buyer that you concealed damage information.

Do you have any experience selling your cars? Share your insight on what information you disclose when selling a car with our online community by leaving your wisdom below in our comment section.
https://www.dmv.org/articles/what-to-disclose-when-selling-a-used-car/



RustyNewmar wrote:
Dear fellow RV'ers, here is a link to the pictures from underneath our brand new Mountain Air. Please note most of these shots were taken by the dealer prior to us taking delivery !

https://imgur.com/a/7InJw

After being invited, we traveled to Georgia to attend the open house at National Indoor RV Center. We meet our future sales person Angie Morrell and were treated to a wonderful time wile viewing many motor coaches. We left Georgia with every confidence in our new dealer.

A short time later we traveled to Texas to view and fall in love with a 2017 Newmar Mountain Aire. We agreed to the sale the last week of 2016 with delivery in late April 2017. After owning, servicing and repairing our four prior Newmar units we felt no need to slither under our new 2017.

We found rust early summer 2017. After confirming rust with Newmar, Newmar blamed the dealer. We contacted NIRVC, intending to explain the factory finger pointing. Much to our surprise,NIRVC quickly informed us of, and e-mailed us dozens of pictures of what would have been deal ending rust !!

Our last E-mail contact with Newmar was on January 2nd 2018, sent directly to Mr Miller- President and Mr. Parks- CEO. The only question contained in this E-mail was "The great saddening deal of rust in the suspension and steering components brings questions of safety, can this coach be driven on public roads at freeway speeds ?". To this date, there has never been an e-mail response.

It is our hope, in making this public, no other RV customers will have to endure this great deal of frustration and stress.

Thank you, Paul & Kim.

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Explorer
RustyNewmar wrote:
Yes this is a 2017 and had the dealer made us aware of the rust we would not taken
delivery of this coach ! Why doesn't Newmar make a statement that it is safe to drive ? Thank you for your time, Paul & Kim.


After you are out of the loop, would you jump back in by making statements now? Newmar can't evaluate the problem now it is out of their control.

It is your coach, the rust problem is between you and your dealer, their mistake of not telling you about the rust, is off set by you not doing due diligence of not inspecting the coach..

I say that knowing I probably would not have looked at the chassis either. BUT we are responsible for knowing what we are buying.

But it is a case of what to do now. (If it were me) I'd spray it with rust converter wait a few weeks, inspect it again, if there is any rust spray it again, then have the whole chassis undercoated, and place the coach on an inspection cycle of every 6 months to catch any advancing rust.

There are several brand names of these rust converters on the market, I don't know if one is any better that the other.
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.

RustyNewmar
Explorer
Explorer
Yes this is a 2017 and had the dealer made us aware of the rust we would not taken
delivery of this coach ! Why doesn't Newmar make a statement that it is safe to drive ? Thank you for your time, Paul & Kim.

Ivylog
Explorer III
Explorer III
Guess you have not seen a new rig being delivered to the south during a winter snow storm...white salt spray all the way up to the windows. Good Luck getting anyone to take responsibility as it’s a delivery issue...it left the factory in good shape and the dealer cleaned it up the best they could.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Sold 04 Dynasty to our son after 14 great years.
Upgraded with a 08 HR Navigator 45’...

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
You went to Georgia 2 years ago. You then waited and took delivery just over a year ago, on a 2017. So, was this unit ordered? Was it in stock? Did you take delivery of the unit in DFW Texas? The reason I ask is, there must be more to the history of your unit. HOW many miles were on it at delivery? MORE than 1200 miles? 1100 miles is the delivery miles from Newmar to DFW. IF more miles, was this unit in Georgia and then transferred to Texas? ALL OEM's send out notifications in the early fall to make sure dealers remember to thoroughly wash and clean the undercarriages/chassis of units that are shipped in the winter months. THAT IS A DEALER RESPONSIBILITY! Even Towables have the same guidelines unless they are shipped on a trailer. DEALERS are responsible, per the OEM, for failure to do this. IF they take pics BEFORE retail delivery or even when the unit arrives from the factory showing rust, they MUST take this up with the OEM immediately, NOT WAIT until it is sold. I will bet your unit set on the lot OR it was a Dealer transfer from a ocean area dealer. IF the dealer had pics prior to your sale, he just shot himself in the foot. The dealer is now responsible for the problem. Doug

jfkmk
Explorer
Explorer
I agree with Soren, and I love the description of "texting twits in SUVs", really made me laugh.

Although there is a lot of rust, it looks very cosmetic. Yeah, I'd be pissed too, but it's nothing that can't be treated.

I would clean it good and try Fluid Film. How did you get the pictures?

bgum
Explorer
Explorer
Tom/Barb has the solution. Do it now rather than complain. In the end it is your coach and you will have to live with it so do yourself a favor and treat it now.

roam1
Explorer
Explorer
I think Texas had lots of floods in that time, maybe the dealer knew of flood and took pics for insurance?.......but somehow forgot to mention it to you?

Ductape
Explorer
Explorer
I concur Newmar has an issue. Our coach purchased new last winter we had a similar experience, only less severe because I was under the coach soon after purchase. Clearly it had a sequence of shortcomings.
1- unpainted steel below decks. Newmar did these reinforcements, not FL.
2-undercoat did not cover all the metal below.
3-driven to dealer on salted roads and insufficiently cleaned at the dealer.

Like you, this was not our first Newmar, and a big departure from prior experience. I have read other accounts which seem to indicate that recent ramp up in volumes have challenged their ability to maintain quality.

Unfortunate for them, as they are motivating loyal customers to reconsider other brands.
49 States, 6 Provinces, 2 Territories...