Community Forums

Joe11 · 06-19-2018, 03:13 PM

I bought my first fifth wheel and as I’ve since learned, some manufacturers push the unit out the door on a set timeline to meet production goals meaning warranty or shop time for the buyer. I’d heard people say when they took their rig in for work, not all of the issues had been taken care of. Same thing happened to me twice. Mine is in the shop now for the third time to get the rest of the work done. This time I gave the shop my original list of issues with the outstanding issues highlighted and stapled photos to the list. I also left a copy in my rig for the guys that actually work on the thing. Additionally, I bought some bright plastic ribbon and tied a piece of ribbon on to each part that needed work (or near if not practical). I used a sharpie and wrote something like “1 of 1, #12 - slide out needs adjustment/repair” and tied it to the adjusting mechanism.

Will see if this works. When I’m called to pick up my rig from the shop I’ll see if they left the ribbons on it, took them off when they completed the work or just took them off.

Off Road · 06-19-2018, 04:19 PM

Good plan, no drama, no getting in anyone's face, just clear communication and an expectation that the job will be done right this time. Let me know how that works out for you. Sorry that you have had to go through this.

LJowdy · 06-19-2018, 04:22 PM

The last 3 motor home's I've purchased all had problems that I discovered prior to actually paying for the coach. I had the dealer put it writing that all the things I discovered would be replaced or repaired prior to deliver or the deal was off. I just ticks me off that the end consumer has to be the Quality Control engineer. When the rig is returned to the dealer for warranty work, you have to wait an eternity to get it back. Once they have your money, you're 'nothing' in their eyes.

ThePowells · 06-19-2018, 05:50 PM

I did something similar to ours during the service trip back to Thor. I used blue masking tape to mark everything and wrote on the tape, then for two external issues I attached neon colored contractors marking tape to the masking tape so it wouldn't get missed.

MSHappyCampers · 06-20-2018, 10:01 AM

I think you nailed it about the way they push them out the door, depending on the dealers to fix the bugs!

trisharog · 06-20-2018, 12:24 PM

Do we know what u mean. Bought a 2018 Thor aria march 20, 2018. Have had in our possession 10 days. Took it back again May 7 for about 27 items including a shower that leaks everywhere. Still don't have it back . Both Thor and Camping World just point the finger at each other. Quality control seems to be a joke.

hohenwald48 · 06-20-2018, 01:41 PM

I do all my own repairs. I've never taken an RV back to an RV dealer for any kind of work. I've never had a problem getting warranty repair parts from any component supplier. I'm sure glad I don't have to deal with the kind of incompetence I often see described in these threads.

Fiesta48 · 06-22-2018, 10:34 AM

I also do all fixes and improvements myself. I refused a $9 grand service contract. Gee whiz why?
Have not lost a day using rig. No trips to dealers hundreds miles away. No wasted trips. Job done right. Learned how rig works. No wasted fuel. Batteries not dead sitting.

Joe11 · 06-22-2018, 05:05 PM

It’s been in the shop this time for almost 2 months so far. When I get it back, I’ll let you know how the ribbon thing worked out and I’ll start a new thread on our experience in the purchase of this $100,000+ PITA.

If I had to do it over again, I would have just purchased an Airstream.

Joe11 · 07-12-2018, 03:36 PM

So...just had to cancel reservations for our trip because they won’t be done after 2 1/2+ months. If I’d known what I know now, I’d have bought a vacation home instead.

ThePowells · 07-12-2018, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trisharog

Do we know what u mean. Bought a 2018 Thor aria march 20, 2018. Have had in our possession 10 days. Took it back again May 7 for about 27 items including a shower that leaks everywhere. Still don't have it back . Both Thor and Camping World just point the finger at each other. Quality control seems to be a joke.

Schedule a trip to Wakarusa to the factory service center and be sure to outline and document your issues and the lack of response locally to your issues.

mobilemike · 07-12-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe11

So...just had to cancel reservations for our trip because they won’t be done after 2 1/2+ months. If I’d known what I know now, I’d have bought a vacation home instead.

That sucks.

Being in the boat industry for 30+ years make me as this question to anyone looking for service in a seasonal activity.

Could any of this repair have been done in the dead of winter? December, January, February?

I have potential customers I have told. "This work needs to be done in the off season. It is long and extensive and I am far too busy to dedicated the appropriate amount of time to it now."

They agree and then call me back in June the next year 2 weeks before a vacation.

Joe11 · 07-12-2018, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilemike

That sucks.

Being in the boat industry for 30+ years make me as this question to anyone looking for service in a seasonal activity.

Could any of this repair have been done in the dead of winter? December, January, February?

I have potential customers I have told. "This work needs to be done in the off season. It is long and extensive and I am far too busy to dedicated the appropriate amount of time to it now."

They agree and then call me back in June the next year 2 weeks before a vacation.

I discovered the bulk of the issues in July/August 2017. Soonest available date to get rig in for warranty work was October 2017. I think shop was overwhelmed with the amount of work needed on my rig and when they got to the roof in December, they gave up on everything else because they didn’t want to open the roof in the rain season. They had me pick it up and bring it back April 30 2018 after rain season. I don’t think they actually started doing anything with it until a couple weeks ago. So really, I’ve been waiting for 11/12 months to get this work done.