Decent RV Repair?
I took my 2011 Arctic Fox to a local RV repair place. I had never had the bearings repacked, so I wanted them done.
The service rep sold me a hundred buck inspection package. One of the inspection items was the rear passenger side wheel bearing. If that one looked bad, then (he claimed) all the bearings should be redone.
Funny thing, the inspection revealed that the bearings needed repacking. I was okay with that because that was why I took it in to begin with.
After that, things began to escalate. One thing after another needed replacing or repairing. For instance the propane pressure regulator was leaking and had to be replaced.
The biggest thing, however, was the condition of the brakes. They farmed it out to a brake shop, and their mechanic said the drums needed turning and the magnets replaced.
I had it all done---to the tune of eight hundred bucks.
After all that, I hitched up and found that the brakes wouldn't work at all! I asked them if they didn't test brakes before they returned it to the customer. The rep admitted culpability, but no real apology. Explained that he was new. I left it with them again.
The rep called me the next day and said the problem was an out of round drum on one wheel. They would install one for an additional eighty bucks for the drum and no labor charge. I asked why the other three brakes weren't providing some braking power, but their explanation was basicall a nonsequitur.
When I picked my trailer up, they explained that I shouldn't expect the breaks to work like new because the drums had been turned so many times they were thin. I told them they had never been turned before and was told that brake scoring would have the same effect.
The final result was about the same as when I took it in. (I should perhaps say that I had been noticing a lack of braking action.)
So I am $880.00 poorer and feel that my brakes might not be very safe.
I know this has been a long post, and my intention was really not to complain; rather, it is to ask what would YOU do at this point?
I would appreciate any thoughts you might have---short of shooting the repair rep (though it does come to mind!??) or trading the trailer in for a new one!
The service rep sold me a hundred buck inspection package. One of the inspection items was the rear passenger side wheel bearing. If that one looked bad, then (he claimed) all the bearings should be redone.
Funny thing, the inspection revealed that the bearings needed repacking. I was okay with that because that was why I took it in to begin with.
After that, things began to escalate. One thing after another needed replacing or repairing. For instance the propane pressure regulator was leaking and had to be replaced.
The biggest thing, however, was the condition of the brakes. They farmed it out to a brake shop, and their mechanic said the drums needed turning and the magnets replaced.
I had it all done---to the tune of eight hundred bucks.
After all that, I hitched up and found that the brakes wouldn't work at all! I asked them if they didn't test brakes before they returned it to the customer. The rep admitted culpability, but no real apology. Explained that he was new. I left it with them again.
The rep called me the next day and said the problem was an out of round drum on one wheel. They would install one for an additional eighty bucks for the drum and no labor charge. I asked why the other three brakes weren't providing some braking power, but their explanation was basicall a nonsequitur.
When I picked my trailer up, they explained that I shouldn't expect the breaks to work like new because the drums had been turned so many times they were thin. I told them they had never been turned before and was told that brake scoring would have the same effect.
The final result was about the same as when I took it in. (I should perhaps say that I had been noticing a lack of braking action.)
So I am $880.00 poorer and feel that my brakes might not be very safe.
I know this has been a long post, and my intention was really not to complain; rather, it is to ask what would YOU do at this point?
I would appreciate any thoughts you might have---short of shooting the repair rep (though it does come to mind!??) or trading the trailer in for a new one!
