looking for input on bad situation

[tdehoff]

I purchased a used 2009 Shamrock M233 in November from a local dealer. In the process of the purchase it was noted by the dealer's tech that the floor in the front of the unit was soft. I immediately suspected water damage. The dealer said it was just poor support and said that they would build a support system underneath the soft spot to shore it up. I wanted to open them to open the floor to prove it wasn't water damage but they said that they would cut open the fabric that is protecting the bottom of the unit and show me pictures to see if there was any water damage. They did this and the pictures did not show any evidence of water at all. So they closed the fabric liner up and built the support system. I purchased the unit and towed it home and it sat all winter outside.

this spring when we opened it up the vinyl flooring had split. We hired a great local flooring installer to install a new/better floor covering and when he pulled off the old vinyl, he uncovered that spot that was soft and it was rotten and full of mold. It was water damage just as I originally thought. Upon further inspection we have determined that the source of the water is the front bunk opening. We can see signs of water streaks on the front wall just below the hinge. The dealer did replace all of the bunk seals. The front bunk is delaminating and the hinge has been sprung. So the source of the water is a leaking front bunk door.

So the question is does anyone know the if I would have a cause of action against the dealer. They contented that there was no water damage and that it was just poor support. They would not pull back the vinyl in the soft spot. They showed me the underside of the flooring knowing full well that the flooring is not made out of plywood/particle/osb board. (I thought that if it was made out of wood then any water damage would be visible on the bottom as water flows to the lowest point). But its actually made with Styrofoam with wood glued on both sides of it and the Styrofoam had soaked up all of the water so there was not water evidence on the bottom but the top just under the vinyl is completely rotten. I believe I was defrauded as I would not had purchased the unit if I knew of the water damage and they mislead me into believing it was just poor support which it was not.

Any input/advice is welcomed.

[Naio]

Executive wrote:
Advice from someone on the internet is worth exactly what you paid for it...:S:S..JMHO....Dennis

Oh, come on, why are we all here, then?

I think crowdsourcing approaches to this problem is a great idea. People may step in with referrals to good lawyers, life experience working at RV dealerships (maybe your specific dealer), stories of how they mishandled things when faced with the same sit (what not to do), and so on.

[Executive45]

Advice from someone on the internet is worth exactly what you paid for it...:S:S..JMHO....Dennis

[WyoTraveler]

JMHO you need an attorney not a guess on the forum. My best guess is you knew there was a problem and should have ran out the door. However, salesmen are slick and sometimes we fall in love with these RVs even before the purchase. Just when I think I've learned all the sales tricks a new one pops up and I get stung.