Just bought this RV, is this bad?

[JohnRR]

Typical looking brake after lots of miles on salty roads, they do sell slacks with that bend in the arm, and for sure the one pictured is way out of adjustment and if it were on a over the road truck and inspected by DOT it would be a component failure.

[big willie]

Originally Posted by Dad

Wanted to update. Dealer is pretty much ignoring a BBB report and has stated in the report this is my fault for not bringing it back so they could fix it among many other items that needed fixed. Not sure how I can bring it back with only three breaks, plus the staff told me I could not bring it back since it was used.

I have the items all fixed now but it chaps me a bit that the dealer is allowed to sale units and say it all works and we inspected it. then find out later none of that was true. People say hire a lawyer, just the brake not being hooked up is enough reason to hire one people say but man that get's expensive. Anyone on here have experience with this kind of thing?

I had this happen on a car purchase. Dealer dodged me for 2 weeks. I sit across the street and waited for him to come out on the lot and confronted him. { im a big boy} When we finished talking I gave him a business card for a glass company. The next night his all glass dealership was an all plywood dealer ship. I waited 3 days and confronted him again at his surprise on the lot. This time when we finished talking I gave him a business card for a reconstructive surgeon. He sent someone that afternoon to buy the car back with cash.

[anotherone]

Originally Posted by big willie

I had this happen on a car purchase. Dealer dodged me for 2 weeks. I sit across the street and waited for him to come out on the lot and confronted him. { im a big boy} When we finished talking I gave him a business card for a glass company. The next night his all glass dealership was an all plywood dealer ship. I waited 3 days and confronted him again at his surprise on the lot. This time when we finished talking I gave him a business card for a reconstructive surgeon. He sent someone that afternoon to buy the car back with cash.

I love you

[big willie]

Originally Posted by anotherone

I love you

Im disabled and all crippled now, if I ran into him I would have to cry like a baby because I cant run.

[anotherone]

Originally Posted by big willie

Im disabled and all crippled now, if I ran into him I would have to cry like a baby because I cant run.

most of us are in the once upon a time bracket ; your saga sure made my day , especially the outcome.

[John USA]

Originally Posted by Dad

Wanted to update. Dealer is pretty much ignoring a BBB report and has stated in the report this is my fault for not bringing it back so they could fix it among many other items that needed fixed. Not sure how I can bring it back with only three breaks, plus the staff told me I could not bring it back since it was used.

I have the items all fixed now but it chaps me a bit that the dealer is allowed to sale units and say it all works and we inspected it. then find out later none of that was true. People say hire a lawyer, just the brake not being hooked up is enough reason to hire one people say but man that get's expensive. Anyone on here have experience with this kind of thing?

Suing in civil court can be risky. Unless your case is rock solid, you may face costs for the other side if you lose. Another strategy is to use a lawyer for a consult only, to help you find the appropriate law or state statute that the dealer violated. Then, use small claims court. I've used small claims court a couple times, always came out in my favor. If there is any gray area, the judge may award partial damages, based on your responsibility to mitigate. Meaning, did you do your due diligence prior to the sale to mitigate the situation?
Here's what I would do...

1) Send a registered letter to the dealer, give him opportunity to settle prior to court. Not a wordy letter. State your damages, demand compensation, give timeline to respond, advise that you will escalate to small claims if your demands are not met. If he ignores you, see steps 2, 3, 4.
2) Talk to the mechanics you used, see if they would be willing to testify in support of whatever statute/regulation/law was violated. They will also testify to the work they performed, and costs.
3) Unless you're well versed digging into statutes, consult an attorney to help you cut to the chase. Probably a couple hundred bucks out of pocket.
4) Go to court.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by big willie

I had this happen on a car purchase. Dealer dodged me for 2 weeks. I sit across the street and waited for him to come out on the lot and confronted him. { im a big boy} When we finished talking I gave him a business card for a glass company. The next night his all glass dealership was an all plywood dealer ship. I waited 3 days and confronted him again at his surprise on the lot. This time when we finished talking I gave him a business card for a reconstructive surgeon. He sent someone that afternoon to buy the car back with cash.

Now that's funny😂

[AlanTerry]

Okay went through all 3 pages of post and could not find who the dealer was. Dad could you please post the name of the dealership? I take it you did not take it somewhere to do an inspection why not? Hope you get resolution to your problem.


Alan & Terry

[Notlad]

I hate the issues the buyer is having but this thread once again reinforced the most important thing I have learned on this forum - get a independent inspection done of the motorhome before buying!!!!

[Dad]

Originally Posted by John USA

Suing in civil court can be risky. Unless your case is rock solid, you may face costs for the other side if you lose. Another strategy is to use a lawyer for a consult only, to help you find the appropriate law or state statute that the dealer violated. Then, use small claims court. I've used small claims court a couple times, always came out in my favor. If there is any gray area, the judge may award partial damages, based on your responsibility to mitigate. Meaning, did you do your due diligence prior to the sale to mitigate the situation?
Here's what I would do...

1) Send a registered letter to the dealer, give him opportunity to settle prior to court. Not a wordy letter. State your damages, demand compensation, give timeline to respond, advise that you will escalate to small claims if your demands are not met. If he ignores you, see steps 2, 3, 4.
2) Talk to the mechanics you used, see if they would be willing to testify in support of whatever statute/regulation/law was violated. They will also testify to the work they performed, and costs.
3) Unless you're well versed digging into statutes, consult an attorney to help you cut to the chase. Probably a couple hundred bucks out of pocket.
4) Go to court.

First I called and the staff was very sorry and wanted to help me solve my issue saying my unit did not get inspected like it should have. Then once I started talking with the Owner everything is my fault. So after emails and calls I sent the registered letter which was ignored then we did the BBB report which was responded too 3 times and we got to an amount to help me cover cost then the owner just stopped responding. So the BBB wants to close it.

I did not think of small claims, a lawyer did say I have a case based on mercantile laws in Indiana. You can't say it all works when it does not even on an as is sale.

Originally Posted by AlanTerry

Okay went through all 3 pages of post and could not find who the dealer was. Dad could you please post the name of the dealership? I take it you did not take it somewhere to do an inspection why not? Hope you get resolution to your problem.


Alan & Terry

I read on this site rules they did not want this board used to bad mouth dealers. So that is why I have not listed the name.

Originally Posted by Notlad

I hate the issues the buyer is having but this thread once again reinforced the most important thing I have learned on this forum - get a independent inspection done of the motorhome before buying!!!!

Yep, they told me and advertise they inspect all their RV's and I fell for it. So yes people, it you are going to buy used and they don't allow a inspector to come in and look at it don't buy it. Did I learn the hard way.

[djbmsu]

Sad that you didn't have the coach "Inspected" by an independent firm. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of what you may find.

[RV-Writer]

I am curious - where do you find independent firms? Or do you take it to another dealership or ?

Thanks in advance.
Jim Jones

[mackwrench]

The type of brake slack adjuster in the OP pic uses a fixed bracket that once the adjuster reaches the point of needing adjustment, makes contact with the end of the slot in the bracket as the s-cam rotates.

More than likely the self adjuster feature is frozen, and the brake hung. Someone bent the bracket up and away from the slack to free it up. It should still function as a slack adjuster, but is no longer self adjusting.

That year coach, It's not a DOT requirement that air brakes be self adjusting, only that they are adjusted properly.

I see a lot of brake and chassis horror stories on this site, most are because seller didn't do or was not able to fully do a complete FDOT chassis / suspension / air brake inspection.

While a RV chassis is exempt from federal DOT regulations during resale, it's to the buyers advantage to have a FDOT certified brake technician inspect the chassis. I for one would feel better knowing that every motor coach that passes my family on the highway has a safe DOT compliant braking system.

I'm glad the OP got his coach safe. Good luck with the legal side....

[mackwrench]

Originally Posted by RV-Writer

I am curious - where do you find independent firms? Or do you take it to another dealership or ?

Thanks in advance.
Jim Jones

Use a local OEM truck dealer, Mack, Freightliner, Peterbilt, International etc......the brake is almost same, techs will be doing FDOT inspections and will be certified/qualified in air brakes,

Most truck dealers have a flat rate price for doing a DOT inspection, some I've seen as cheap as $85. Is that too much for a piece of mind?
If the selling dealer has issue with you getting it DOT inspected on your dime, walk away.