Community Forums

Modelo · 01-22-2016, 09:59 PM

My wife and I are excited about out Bighorn 3875FB arriving next week. I know that the dealership takes about 5-7 days to prep the trailer before the PDI. Of course our dealership would like us to "close" the deal by the end of January. They stated we could do the walk through at any time and pick it later at our convenience. Personally, I am thinking this is not a good idea. I hate being rushed, especially when this is such a large purchase. We want it to be right before we take ownership. The clock on the warranty starts when you sign the finances right? Thanks for letting us pick your brains! Will post pics soon!!

marcham · 01-22-2016, 10:07 PM

Definitely not a good idea... Would you close on a house without getting the keys?

Modelo · 01-22-2016, 10:11 PM

That's what we are thinking but should I ask for them to give us any incentives or leverage?

PJStough · 01-22-2016, 10:19 PM

Once they get your money they could care less about providing service.

Old-Biscuit · 01-22-2016, 10:21 PM

My experiences have been dealer doesn't do ANYTHING prior to your PDI.

When we purchased our current 5th wheel we made an appointment for our PDI.
Told them we wanted ac power connected, batteries full charged, water hooked up and propane cylinders filled prior to our PDI

Then we spent 4 hours checking systems, inspecting rig and making a 'hit list' of items that needed fixed. Which we had a video camera at that time but we did take pictures.

We then handed over a copy of hit list and made arrangements to reinspect, do the paper work and pick it up.

Other than the original $500 deposit no monies or finalized paperwork until AFTER PDI and repairs made.

Otherwise they could keep the rig.

My money.......my way
I have no bones about walking out. Way too many dealers, way too many RVs.

Modelo · 01-22-2016, 10:22 PM

Our thought exactly!

Modelo · 01-22-2016, 10:23 PM

For sure!

scout4eagles · 01-22-2016, 10:31 PM

Do your PDI only after the unit is ready. Go online and search for a PDI sheet to take with you. You want to kske sure you know where things are and how the y work before you sign on the dotted line. A dealer will fix things quicker to help close the deal. If you do jot live near tge dealer plans on a 2-3 day adventure picking up yhe new rig. Some dealers avtual yave spots for overnight camping gor purchasers or service customers. Again do not pay until you are comfortable and not when the dealership thinks you should be comfortable.

JeepLuvr · 01-22-2016, 10:34 PM

No way no how! You should also ask to stay in the RV at least one night, two is better. Lots of RV dealers have a space for this. Once we had ours out on the 1st trip 2 weeks after delivery we found many, many problems. When I called the dealer it was 8 weeks out before they could even look at it, and after we handed over $215k. The dealers don't give a hoot about you after you sign on the dotted line.

vsheetz · 01-22-2016, 11:09 PM

Deposit
PDI
Dealer fixes stuff
Re-inspect to assure stuff fixed (and other stuff did not get broken during fixing)
Dealer fixes stuff (I am assuming they will have overlooked or not fixed something)
Re-inspect
Then paperwork and final money.

Modelo · 01-23-2016, 08:18 AM

These comments just verify what our gut was telling us! Thanks to all for the input.

ralphie · 01-23-2016, 05:51 PM

You're correct to be concerned. Once you have accepted the RV you sign the paperwork and take delivery, not before.

sflabrkr · 01-23-2016, 06:05 PM

The reason they want you to pay for it before the end of the month is so they don't have to pay their finance charge on that unit. After you give them the money they will not be desperate enough to want to help you

Superslif · 01-23-2016, 06:33 PM

Make sure you can make a time earlier in the day, so you don't feel rushed to get your walk-thru completed. There may be small items that one of their repair tech's can fix on the spot, others might require unit to be serviced in the shop bay.
On my last tt (26' hybrid) maybe 3 small items the service guy took care of like: section of lower exterior trim missing screws that held it to a bracket, caulk missing along the upper seam of the shower surround, frig would not light on gas (took 20-30 minutes to figure out there was a secondary gas valve located on the frig itself).

You will also have "issues" after you get the unit home or shortly after. That is a given...

Mine included: Showerhead leaked much more than it should have at the shut-off lever (factory sent another one). Notice shower pan was dis-colored from the factory using a banned chemical on the cabinet wall dure factory clean up process where the over-spray reacted with the plastic in the shower pan. At the end of the first camping season it was replaced. One of the kitchen drawer slides failed, factory sent me a new one (self-install)

In the history of man-kind, there has never been a RV ($5,000 to $,500,000) that has not had any issues found during the PDI.