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scottandanna · 08-22-2015, 07:50 AM

Our awning arm keeps jamming while folding up, and eventually bent. Took it in for a warranty arm replacement. It has been gone for three weeks.

Approximately how long should a job like this take?

I could have ordered the part and done it in my driveway in about 15 minutes, but Rockwood told me if I fixed it myself it would void my warranty, and told me to take it to a local repair shop.

Now we have a hurricane possibly coming our way and our escape pod is sitting in a repair shop's yard...

MikeandClaudia · 08-22-2015, 07:56 AM

"Warranty Work" is what the dealers tend to do when they have "Spare" time. When you approach the dealership concerning the work, try to insist that they order the parts, then when the parts are in to call you and then you will bring it in. Attempt to get a time frame when you do bring it in.

That said, getting warranty work done at the typical dealership is kinda like herding cats.

Consider calling them and 1. seeing if they have the part, 2. give them a couple of days, or less, then tell them you are going to pick up your unit.

If that doesn't work, --- Do it.

Ray,IN · 08-22-2015, 08:36 AM

I had an awning arm sticking, sprayed everything with copious amounts of silicone lube and slowly worked it until everything began sliding properly. That is now on my monthly "to-do" list. It's been 2 years now without it breaking. (wipe off excess silicone, it's a dirt magnet)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeandClaudia

"Warranty Work" is what the dealers tend to do when they have "Spare" time. When you approach the dealership concerning the work, try to insist that they order the parts, then when the parts are in to call you and then you will bring it in. Attempt to get a time frame when you do bring it in.

That said, getting warranty work done at the typical dealership is kinda like herding cats.

Consider calling them and 1. seeing if they have the part, 2. give them a couple of days, or less, then tell them you are going to pick up your unit.

If that doesn't work, --- Do it.

Now Camping World tells repair customers "If you need your RV come get it, bring it back when you can and we'll complete repairs".
Sounds like if you time it right, you can work it to get some free storage in cold weather.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-22-2015, 09:55 AM

The length of the actual work has almost nothing to do with the time needed to get it through the shop work schedule. Warranty or not, they have their own priorities, starting with new deliveries (work needed to complete a sale), followed by whatever "squeaky wheel" has made enough noise to get some grease. So start squeaking!

scottandanna · 08-22-2015, 10:28 AM

My initial intent was to drive it there, let them inspect it, and drive it home until the work was ready. They insisted that they keep it for further inspection.

I will give them a call monday.

As for the silicone lube, that will be part of the routine from now on. That aluminum-to-aluminum sliding is just a recipe for galling and catching. Which it did.

scottandanna · 08-28-2015, 04:35 PM

Well, got it back. Finally. Timing was good, because I had an apointment to get the brake controller hooked up on my truck today, and they called saying the awning job was finished yesterday. So all the stars aligned for me this afternoon.

No issues on the warranty job, other than they called me a couple days after I dropped it off and were going to give me the cost of the job, when I interrupted and told them that if I was going to pay for it, I would have ordered the parts and done it myself. Once they realized it was a warranty job, no problems afterward.