Heartland Big Country Shakedown completed

[norcalgundog]

We finally had the chance to get our new Big Country out for its shakedown and some Thanksgiving fun with the family. There is no doubt that we put the new rig to the test cooking and hosting thanksgiving for eight adults and five children under the age of eight...it was 45 degrees in sunny Santa Cruz, so we piled into our rig for the evening festivities...boy was it cozy.

Shakedown issues...

-Realized we are missing the residential fridge door shelves.
-No way to lock the fridge while trailering...we got to learn the hard way
-Outdoor flood lights on door side and off door side were stuck on for four days as the switch was not installed.

-living room carpet has odd stain that could be from some type of spray/coating they talked us into before we took delivery, but did not see during PDI.

-Exterior front hatch will not lock
-Bathroom door handle loose
-Recliner back ripped.

Some questions

1. My FIL went to three other Big Country owners at the park and asked where the flood light switch was and they all said in the control panel. How could this pass QC at Heartland and the Dealer? When I asked the guy giving me the PDI about the missing buttons, he said I didn't have that option and I assumed the switch was elsewhere for the light outside or it was called something else.

2. All the locks seem cheap, any recommendations on what to replace the cheap locks with for the exterior doors/hatches?

3. We wanted a generator installed, but the dealer wanted way too much, so I requested that the rig we bought needed to be prepped for a generator. Me being pretty green at this fifth wheel thing, I really thought Gen prep was some wiring/transfer switch and when I bought the Onan, the person installing would drop a switch into the control panel...wishful thinking. I'm now fighting with the dealer that knew a gen was one of the things I wanted for ease of cross country full time living and a back-up for our AC while our dogs are in the rig alone. Sales told me this rig was setup and I believed it without seeing it in the paperwork...how do I fight this? It is on the deal sheet with the dealer, but not in the specs of the rig.

Continuation of the shakedown continues next weekend in Napa...lets hope that list is small and doesn't need to get in line for some shop time at the dealer...unless it is to get my gen prep installed

Cheers







2015 Big Country 3596 RE
2011 F350 CC Lariat DRW

[JayC]

Check for the flood light switch on your remote control.

Which front hatch won't lock? The underbelly or another?

Bathroom door handle loose but this should be n easy fix, as well as your other observations should have been caught by the dealer on PDI.

[norcalgundog]

I will check the remote control when I work on the camper this weekend, but still seems odd that there is no switch where it is labeled.

Thanks!

[wingnut60]

Gen prep usually includes all the wiring + transfer switch + sealed compartment for the gen, AND the remote switch on the electronics panel. You got ripped off, but missing it in the PDI--I don't know where that leaves you.
If the flood lights work, but no switch, shouldn't be too hard to get the rockers from Heartland and put them in, as the wiring will be behind the paneling--if you can figure out which wires are the lights...
Sounds to me like you need some help from Heartland, because the dealer sure got to you--especially on the 'carpet treatment', which is nothing more than spraying something like Scotchgard on it. Kind of like the add-ons by a car dealer for 'upholstery protection' and 'clearcoat protection' and such--waste of money.
Good luck with your getting satisfaction.
Joe

[schrod]

Dealer should still have to honor sales putting it in writing that it would be Gen Prepped. Dealer will have to install this or refund similar amount. He is stuck with putting it in since it was in writing and signed by both parties.