setraveler
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Re: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
As with ANY used product, have experts (second opinion) check unit. If you buy "warranty insurance", bring large magnifying glass to read small print and probably two or three lawyers. We looked at several used that seemed just great, but check by well qualified mechanics, discovered all that shines is not gold... bud had warranty insurance and found a whole bunch of deduct able-restrictions etc that he thought did not exist. Be careful on what you think vse what is realbe RV or anything else, quite often what seems to good to be true, is.675Views0likes0CommentsRe: Services at nonselling dealer
Many decades back I was Regional Warranty Manager for major outdoor type international corporation. I was the one who approved/rejected/question the work. WE also "Certified" mechanics that impacted their labor warranty payments. My experience was way to often shops with no factory trained people, complained the most about what W cost them. The were dealers that welcomed the work as 90% of time lead to more sales and recommendations to friends to buy there. Warranty was based on all reasonable investigation of issue, trained mechanics, tools needed at job and supplies on hand, parts on site. The better shops with least complaints across the board, did warranty work with attitude it lead to future sales.All had very good service managers with full support of owners and sales. Of course their customers came first, and they explained such, but did no attempt to stiff others. That was decades ago in another similar type of industry, I wondered how it now is with RV as if we buy in SE, move to NE,reality is en-route and when finally moved, am somewhat concerned as to warranty, and further work. RV's rather complex so lots of separate areas for W, and wonder how well the "out the door and not our issues anymore dealers, or nationally franchised dealers, really operate. I had bud with $150K boat have all kinds of serious issues with W when he moved it from NE to SE..But it seems the "Mobile techs" that are certified by manufactures seems way to go unless we could find great dealer with well run shop at end of move., but about the eng/trans? I know what to look for as far as shop conditions, attitude and service, setup and such from previous time in another similar industry.. and wonder what RV is like, but suspect approach to W not bought at dealership has not changed much for some who fail to note potential follow on sales. PS. been to court on a few in previous job, interesting stuff.431Views0likes0CommentsRe: Services at nonselling dealer
What is a "mobile tech". How do they list their services, region, state etc. How do you know they do authorized warranty work? How do you know they are trained and certified on the units-accessory-etc. First time I heard of them. Note was once Warranty Manager for major outdoor products Corp, so did see both sides of w issues... but at one time RV was one of worst going, more so when you find a $100K investment treated like a 20 year old used car. We will be making perm move so this is big deal.. probably should check to see if mfg reps in area we move? But find mobile tech in interesting.. Any details of such would be great, who, how and when type stuff.234Views0likes0CommentsServices at nonselling dealer
We are moving in next year from SE to NW. We will purchase new/newer RV in SE, and plan to travel for month or so on way to new home...Selling dealer will be out of picture and while in transit and when arrive will have to use local dealers for warranty, etc. What has been the experience, to include brand names, of those whom experienced repairs, warranty, etc from other then selling dealer,7.8KViews0likes40CommentsRe: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
Be very careful when buying to consider what is use for RV, vacations, weekending, pad living on seasonal basis, perm residence, etc. Then look at where most driving will be, terrain, etc. Fuel and maintaining engines, tune ups, and how complicated is the entire unit to maintain. We sold out 32 ft that was perfect for us and not into pad or long term living, handled well in traffic or even in towns, good one highway and was gas as really no savings for diesel, more so when maintaining as generator was also gas. Regardless of what seems "Just what we need", you must first draw up a list of us4es, mileage, budgets, and new vse used as far as potential operating costs, AKA costs more to repair diesel vse most gas. Remember what sounds great, might not be needed and more operating systems of all kinds, more potential for repairs and options are money makers for dealers. HOw ling will you keep unit, what is annual routine upkeep, what is weather protections for use and storage. If used are there operation, parts etc manuals for ALL the systems. What is maintenance and failures records for ALL units. What is your operation budget? Take as much time preparing to define use as you do in looking... and try not to go "Oh I love it" around sales folks... We will replace our 32 with same size as easier to use, allowed in most Parks, and like a boat, smaller is less expensive to buy/use.469Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where did traditional oven go?
Note, previous unit was 32 ft. We used it on weekends and some longer vacations. I often used it on hunting and fishing trips and doing so,k ended up on roads that were not first rate, a few not even paved. There was also the issue of turnaround points, often far apart. We found smaller unit OK for most state parks with 32' rules. We never used it for semi perm parks for week or more. I would note that on many roads, when rig parked it was NOT level and did not attempt to use leveler as ground conditions did not favor getting them buried. Had generator, and well stocked on batteries as sometimes a bit in boonies.Had system wired so one battery was charged but never used. So yes the unit was tilted and when parked. Please no horror about "cooking when moving" as we often did it and when parked often not level, so things could slide and rails very handy, moving or not. Saftey was prime issue when on less then main roads. As said my wife has shoulder/arm issues and she cannot reach up or wants stand to look into cooking status. She does not use convection at home as feels it dries out food, meat more so to much. Just two of us and two dogs, and we regret selling the 32, easy to maneuver in bush or town, easy to park and drive. Often carried extra foods in "basement", Pared down the inside drawers to what we actually needed, and made extensive use of solid trip planning. We started looking at new units a year of so back, then 32ft+/- popular but noted prices migrated into what was 40ft range not far back. Really did not want 40 as simply no real need for such. Put about 45K on old rig, but when we search for 32 now, not to much there to meet our needs since gas prices down. Plan to move back to PAC NW in year of so, would like to derive RV but with many dealers we feel treated as consumer, not customer. When mention oven and perhaps convection they really jacked us on prices and "Well this is way it comes blah blah", referring to floor models, since seem to push them rather then order as we want. So will look about, not a must have, but we will either get rig that suits our needs or none at all. Kind of fed up on big price hikes, due to "standard hardware" in nearly cookie cutter choices. what is in fact more "options" then before, priced accordingly. We are pretty well informed buyers, not full timers. Noe we rarely "cooked outdoors as either swarms of bugs or to cold, nor watch TV and simply cannot understand why a electric fireplace in RV? But then that is just us and I remain less then thrilled about heavy hot food being so high up as in most models now days.543Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where did traditional oven go?
Note and missed it in previous post. We could settle for Convection/micro if big enough, BUT THE LOCATION is a horror in most units. Simply do not want a over way up high, and when we mentioned that to dealers, they look horrified. We heard but it saved drawer space etc. and when we mentione4 it is to high to use safely for us, hot food up high and no way to use flattop stove to heat/warm up when under way, as it can slide off, even will if stopped briefly on slight angle, they told us well use leveler etc. And not safety rails from marine world are nice if moving and using burners. But the location of units way up there is our main gripe, will NOT use stand etc to reach hot items and drawer space not that demanding vse safety of hot stuff handling. We would use only for weekends and maybe one to two week trips max. Or previous unit had oven at normal level and used it alot, and burners where they are handy and safe to use. I suspect this is a cost cutting item, more so on location.544Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where did traditional oven go?
Noted none mention flat top burners nor the fact the mew installs of oven is high and requires reaching up to get HOT food out of oven, rather a safety issue and to have to stand on something to do this, even worse. As said wife has bad arm/shoulder issue and would want her or I to try and remove hot items when going down road (motor home, not towed). It would seem that if paying $100-200K for home would not have to go to option. Simply not going to buy unit with this rig the way it is and to me, having looked at units, limply impossibl4 to see status of items cooking. We have both type ovens at home and convection WAS mounted high as in units, we cook in oven and found it not the greatest for comfort, safety, We are not fans of processed "instant warm up" type food, So oven at usable level, easy to inspect food and burners where we can install, when needed, rails to hold cooking times, as used on my sailboat galley, are also safety issue. Seems this is just another way to cut costs and have seen units with electric ovens, burners like we want Sorry but as far as "new up to date state of art etc, at the price for new units I call the shots, and did find real oven/burners cost more. To me cooking on flat top burners if moving, to warm up something, is very dangerous.. Same with high up convection/micro if moving as CG a few feet higher can impact stuff in side it. I and wife do NOT want to reach up to retrieve hot items, parked or under way. I am referring to Class A units, not towed.542Views0likes0CommentsWhere did traditional oven go?
We were looking at new RV's and somewhat shocked to find the tradition oven with cooktop burners seems to have vanished. Replacement is micro convection overs mounted high up at cabinet levels, and surface type burners that have no method of rails of such, slippery if not flat. We inquired via major dealer in TX and advised "you can install oven after you buy unit (new). Now not my idea of paying large dollars then invest in major lay out one more time. Reason for oven. wifes shoulders not the best, not thrilled about heavy hot objects high up when removing from over. I am not thrilled with that prospect myself. Surface burner units verse oven top burners are oven burners win every time, can even install safety rails to hold items if we want, same as on pleasure boats. So seems this is a cost cutting item as yet to find many folks who want to try to warm something while moving, not cook, just warm up. Know not usually done but simply not thrilled with overhead overs and removing or even trying to see how cooking going. Any others bothered by this?7.7KViews0likes50Comments
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