Community Forums

lp5151 · 10-13-2019, 08:53 PM

Are there other options owners have had for an end of warranty inspection other than going back to the factory? Are there "others" that can do a similar inspection and fixes as needed?

Matt D · 10-13-2019, 09:38 PM

NIRVC will perform the PDI checklist for a set fee.

IMHO, I’d also suggest a really thorough chassis inspection.

-Matt

lp5151 · 10-13-2019, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

NIRVC will perform the PDI checklist for a set fee.

IMHO, I’d also suggest a really thorough chassis inspection.

-Matt

Will nirvc do a chassis inspection?

Matt D · 10-13-2019, 10:44 PM

Likely, but I’d make certain whoever does the inspection is really well versed on the Spartan chassis, and knows where to look for somewhat common issues.

-Matt

Gary.Jones · 10-14-2019, 10:00 AM

A LOT of owners don't really like the time and expense and inconvenience of going back to Middlebury for their 2 year AIR (PDI). However, when I did it with my 15 Anthem, I felt that it was extremely helpful to bite the bullet and simply find the time and the money to do it. I will make the time for this 19 Cornerstone to go back to the factory for its PDI AIR) come spring time. I consider it well worth the expense and effort each time. It saved me a bunch of money and I would have spent as much time getting everything fixed if I had to make 3 or 4 trips while on the road or special trips while at home to get that list of things fixed.

In fact, I had to go to Middlebury after only about 6 months of ownership on my 15 Anthem due to a major water leak from the roof that soaked much of the insulation. I had a list of ~ 40 items that needed repaired while there including major caulking, pain staining (under the 3M DiamondShield on the front of the coach) and a bunch of things. They worked on all of them when we were there for the leak. We were there 3 weeks. Then when the 2 year came up, I again had maybe 40 issues on a list and they repaired all of those for me also. So, it cost me nothing to get a bunch of stuff repaired. Worth every cent of the money and time that we laid out to get the coach back to Middlebury. I strongly/highly recommend that you figure out a way to get your AIR/PDI done in Middlebury. Even then, check up on each thing on their and your list to make sure that it is really repaired to your satisfaction. JMHO, but a strong one.

The 2 year PDI / AIR and the 2 year coach warranty is 90% of the reason that I did not look at other class A options when it was time for me to think about a new coach.... I consider both things so valuable that there was virtually no choice but to buy another Entegra....

Gary

czeeb · 10-14-2019, 12:48 PM

Same here. It took 8 days to get to the factory and 12 days to get home, 2+ weeks in a motel ( I have 2 cats and I needed body and paint work at S&S after AIR)..but it was worth every penny. My dealer would have never fixed my issues..and also fix all those little things I did not notice. I will go back for checkups from time to time as well. You can trust the factory technicians to do the right thing

lowejug · 10-14-2019, 05:06 PM

I was told the nirvc full inspection was $3,000 plus the cost of the repairs they find...

For me that does not work... mine was at middleburry and worth every penny in travel money to get there and back.... and I am on the west coast .. great experience all around .. we made a little vacation out of it and knew our coach was being repaired by the same hands that built it..going into any shop with without specifying quotes is dangerously expensive.. for some this may not bother them.. just not in my code book...

schad · 10-14-2019, 06:09 PM

For those of us who still suffer through full-time employment, taking off 3+ weeks all in one go may not be possible.

Gary.Jones · 10-14-2019, 06:50 PM

True.... there are sacrifices that working people make (the need to work), and other sacrifices that retired people make (no steady work income). Everyone makes trade offs given their circumstances. However, there are ways to do it.... and the costs associated with those ways has to be weighed or factored in. A working owner can drive the coach there in a reasonable period of time, leave the coach, fly back to work, and then reverse the process later. Frankly, I dont advocate that process as my opinion is that it is optimal to be there checking up on progress and ensuring issues that made it worth your while to go through the inconvenience to get it back there, get resolved.

My experience is that my trips (including the extra water entry problem) saved me tens of thousands of dollars that I would have had to pay out of my pocket. My situation may not have been normal, but when I use the figure tens of thousands of dollars of repairs, that is not an exaggeration....

Everyone has got to decide what matters to them most and their individual level of "need" and inconvenience tolerance. If I was still working, I would try to find a way to have my cake and eat it too. Everyone figures what matters most. I'm just trying to pass along my experience, and recommendation.

Gary

DebbieMH · 10-15-2019, 06:01 AM

I just did an AIR in Middlebury - my 5th year with the coach ... so totally out of warranty. I did an AIR at 2 years and now this one. I plan on taking our coach to Middlebury every couple of years for this. Yes, it is expensive, but they found things that could be a problem in the future and got them fixed. It cost me some $$$ - but think it was worth it. I also take my coach every year to Spartan for yearly maintenance and inspection ... again, does hurt the pocketbook, but I know I have a well oiled machine traveling down the road under me for the year. Prevention is worth it, not that they will find all the problems, but for piece of mind, to me "priceless"!

But, I'm retired ...

schad · 10-15-2019, 08:32 AM

I agree with you, Gary. I think we can also all agree that going to Middlebury is the best choice, if you can figure out a way to make it happen. But what if you can't figure out a way to make it happen? What other choices are there, even recognizing that those other choices are inferior? Or are all the other choices really so bad that they literally aren't worth even attempting?

That's how I'm interpreting the OP's question, anyway.

garysfb · 10-15-2019, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DebbieMH

I just did an AIR in Middlebury - my 5th year with the coach ... so totally out of warranty. I did an AIR at 2 years and now this one. I plan on taking our coach to Middlebury every couple of years for this. Yes, it is expensive, but they found things that could be a problem in the future and got them fixed. It cost me some $$$ - but think it was worth it. I also take my coach every year to Spartan for yearly maintenance and inspection ... again, does hurt the pocketbook, but I know I have a well oiled machine traveling down the road under me for the year. Prevention is worth it, not that they will find all the problems, but for piece of mind, to me "priceless"!

But, I'm retired ...

Where do you take your coach for the Spartan M&I?

jeffnjen · 10-15-2019, 10:45 AM

I am leaving next week, to middlebury, from northern Calif, any weather or road conditions along 80, that could be a problem?

DebbieMH · 10-15-2019, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysfb

Where do you take your coach for the Spartan M&I?

To the Spartan Mothership, Charlotte, Michigan. Go every year for the chassis. Every 3 years for the house at Entegra - House things are easier fixes (for the most part) than anything that could go wrong with the chassis. We do have a small oil leak that is a Cummins part - so will get that taken care of at Cummins sometime in the next couple of months.