Hello, Don. I’m a retired Aircraft mechanic, AF (36 years). I retired 1-1/2 years ago. I stumbled on your video and watched the whole thing. The dealer we bought our Shasta wasn’t Camping World at the time in 2015, but was recently bought out by them. We traded in the Shasta TT about a week ago but when we were shopping, I made sure we stayed clear of them. I didn’t want another Forest River POS or a Keystone POS (sorry). I have another veteran friend who bought a Grand Design in 2018 and thought to myself how well it was made while he showed it to me. I was truly impressed by the workmanship and QA. So now my Shasta was getting older and we decided to upgrade. We took delivery on a ‘23 GD Imagine and love it. GD does not void the warranty if you live in it full time. One of the very few manufacturers don’t. They are pricey but well worth it. Another manufacturer that is good is Alliance. Same quality, if not better than Grand Design. Our friends purchased one and are happy very with it. Our GD is the last RV we will ever buy and I’ll probably be dead before it’s paid off. Lol! Happy endeavors!
Thanks for taking the time to post this. I failed to mention in this video that we wanted to go with Grand Design or Alliance, but they were only sold at smaller dealership networks. Huge mistake! 😥
Here's my Camping World experience: My husband and I went to CW to purchase and have installed a new fridge. We were told that because the fridges could not fit through the door of our motorhome, they would have to put them through the driver's side window and it would cost us the installation fee plus an additional $250. A couple of days later, my husband arrived for our scheduled 8 o'clock appt and after waiting 9 hours, they were finally done! When he opened the door, he noticed that the automatic door step mechanism was broken. CW claimed that they didn't know how it happened but if my husband wanted it fixed, he'd have to make an appt and it would cost $900. They "helped" him tie the steps up as a temporary fix so he could drive home. Twenty-four hours later, we were back at CW because the new fridge never got cold. They said the problem was a bad motor that needed to be replaced (on a brand new fridge) and they didn't have anymore in stock (which we found out later to be a lie). They said CW must get a warranty approval from the manufacturer as to whether they should fix the motor or replace the fridge. Days later, CW called to say they got approval to replace the fridge and asked that we bring in the RV. Once the replacement was done, I lifted myself into the RV over the broken steps to get in, turned around to close the door and couldn't. The door was off-centered. I marched back inside and demanded something get done immediately. The service manager took a look at it and had repair guy fix it, saying that he won't charge me anything to which I replied, "as you shouldn't because your people messed up my door just like they broke my steps!" Months later, we found out that although CW charged us $250 to take our driver's side window out, it was never done. They took the entrance door off and SQUEEZED the old and new refrigerators through the doorway causing (1) minor scratches on the door frame, (2) the off-centered door problem, and (3) with the excess weight of the service men tugging and pulling to squeeze the old/new fridges through the doorway, they broke the steps. And that's when we vowed to NEVER purchase or have service work done at Camping World or Gander RV (same ownership) again.
wow!!! we need our politicians to get doing their jobs & end this frenzy of consumer fraud!!! this is too much. a car dealership 'fixed' my son's land rover & totally drained his battery, he's been trying to get them to recharge iut & they are pulling the same thing-he has to pay for it. i'm so sick of this unfettered robbery they are getting away with. is there a consumer group for rv owners? is anyone advocating for yous? i don't own one yet, but i'm looking for one. i'm sorry you went through this. if you are up. to it, you might be able to sue. that could start a movement to expose & bring out everyone else they've grossly abused. this is reprehensible.
You do know there is labor fees regardless. It may have been recommended to go through window but was a safer alternative to remove the door. Either way it takes time to remove and put back into place and that is what you pay for. I’ve seen brand new trailers have a full PDI and sold prep where everything tested is fine and all of a sudden customer does a walk through and in example an ac wouldn’t work. Turned out to be the compressor blew. Rv dealers don’t create the problems they fix them. Everything these days is a result of manufactures poor quality. It’s not fair to bad mouth any dealer that has no control of faulty or poor craftsmanship from manufactures of trailer or components inside.
Don the "Law" that you were told about does not exist. I have been fulltime traveling just over 6 years now. When I was looking for my first RV i was told Texas was the cheapest state at the time to purchase so I spend almost 4 months talking to dealers all over Texas and finally found the 5th wheel i wanted which was a 2017 Keystone Montana. I asked about warranty work and was told this exact same thing, but as you have found no one could come up with the actual law. So i contacted the Texas Attorney General and lawyer that deals with consumer vehicle complaints. Neither the lawyer or the Texas Attorney General had heard of any law. This particular issue was started by rv dealers in the state of Texas based on the fact that most rv's that require repair may not be from the area of said dealer and that dealer would not get follow on repeat service. So really long story short, there is NO law that precludes an rv dealer from servicing an rv, it really comes down to them no wanting to its as simple as that. I always suggest fellow rvers to find non dealer rv repair facilities or mobile technicians to do work. Its usually easier to get warranty work done cheaper and with a quicker turn around.
😳😠😡🤬😤 I'm just going to say that first, I believe you are right as I still can't find it. Second, I will continue searching and ask them to provide evidence of the law. Third, if it turns out that this was made up, I will be doing all I can to make sure that everyone knows about it and seek recompense.
@@gonewiththewindleys I wish more would go after them for misleading practices like this, the rv industry needs a complete overall when it comes to repair for sure. A couple of class action lawsuits would go a long way to get them to reevaluate the repair service. I did enough research early to know that dealing with a dealer repair facility was a no go. Lucky I have the skills to do the repairs needed, otherwise i would use other sources for repair items. I wish you success in this endeavor.
@Blair P241 the issue is the fact that if the dealership didn't sell the warranty to the customer they don't have to honor it that the problem .I've worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years when your car needs service you can go to any dealership and they will fix it the rv industry seams like they have no rules that is why they do what they do
My research in my quest to buy an RV, has revealed to me, don’t even buy a part from Camping World. There are many more negative than positive reviews on Camping World.
I bought a fifth wheel from CW over 3 years ago here in Mesa AZ. And I have had nothing but fantastic service. I was lucky and only have some minor warranty work done, but it was done in a timely manner and my service guy has been the best!!
Instead of saying that an RV is for "year-round use," it should say all season use. That would be a more accurate statement. When you're shopping for tents, you're either looking for 3 season or all season tents, depending upon the type of tent camping you're intending to participate in. Words do matter. As for finding out about that "law," I'd contact the Texas attorney general's office of consumer affairs. They should be the ones who can tell you the specifics about this so-called law
Bought an old ambulance to turn into a camper. I’m a single mom with two older teens now and we wanted to keep going. When I was married I had the experience of two 5th wheels. For the most part it was a good experience but I knew what we needed. So we got our ambo, retitled it as a motorhome and we’ve been on the road for a few weeks. Been through Ca, Az, NM, UT, ID, ,WA, and Or and we’ll be back to Ca in a bit. The good thing is that anyone can work on the F450. I have confide we will convert this sucker to what we want but it is solid! I have so much storage inside and out! I’m easy to see of course. We installed a sink over the weekend before we left. In the end we’ll go full off grid and install solar. But for now I brought my small solar generators and fold away panel we already had. We loaded our gear and went! I’m in about $13k right now so I’m not sad! My mechanic gave it the go!
Ambulances are built tough, so buying one to live in is a great idea, if you can find a decent one. I'd consider it. I've seen some great ambulance re-builds for living.
@@gonewiththewindleys Yes, extremely important considerations I hadn't heard raised elsewhere and I've been researching the right camper to buy extensively. I've been steered away from the Indiana based manufacturers which are all owned by the same 2 companies and I'm leaning toward fiberglass construction, though I don't think they're an option for the size and level of luxury of your RV. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!
Don, you have shared some great information! You don’t know how much this has helped me! I’ve been shopping around and was told by several people before now NOT to go to CW. But you’ve shared information that I didn’t think about before buying and NOW I see why some people trade in their bigger models… I pray you’re rewarded for your patience and effort! Tell Pegi 👋🏽! ❤
Don, thank you for giving us some things to ponder in reference to RV life. We have a simple beginner RV, nothing fancy just a long weekender RV for my husband and myself. At some point, we were thinking of upgrading because we've seen those nice fancy RVs you referenced. Now, it looks like we'll keep what we have for a while. I'm sure this ordeal has been so frustrating for you and I pray that things will work in your favor. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Don I thank you 1,000 times for this info. You have no idea how helpful it is, especially for a newbie looking to purchase an rv. Apparently wording & the definition of those words on an rv contract or warranty could have a great impact on your pocket/coins later on down the road. Thanks again for sharing.
You are so welcome, AR Woods! I was hoping to reach those looking to purchase or upgrade because a bad decision or misunderstanding can destroy your pocketbook.
I recommend a DRV Mobile or Elite Suites. Not a new one, maybe up to 2013 model year. Built for full time use, top insulation, 3.25" thick walls with a thermal break, dual pane windows. They are HEAVY. You're gonna need a diesel truck. They aren't cheap. I don't recommend a new truck either. We have a 2004 F350 Powerstroke, bulletproofed. Do your research on everything. I can't emphasize that enough. People don't spend nearly enough time researching.
Auto dealer franchise agreements require any dealer to honor warranty service. There is a movement in the works to try and get that for RV dealers, but right now RV dealers are not required to service a unit they don't sell. However, since Camping World sells so many brands across the USA under their corporate licensing, then technically they sell your rv at any Camping World store. Sounds like they are jerking you around. RV dealers are very reluctant to do warranty work right now because the manufacturers are very slow to reimburse them, so many prefer to stick to cash only customers.
I have heard too many horror stories about Camping World to ever buy an RV from them so enough said about that. I love that you are still positive after your experience with them. Extremely valuable information in this video. Thank you for that!!! And thank you for your service to this great country! Enjoy your time out on the road!
I bought an RV from Campingworld, and bought the extended warranty which was supposed to cover everything. Well quickly found out that much is not covered. That was a waste of money. Never buy a residential refrigerator for an RV. Lots of problems with them. They are not designed to be driven around. I have fixed many things in my RV, on my own. Every time I tried to get things fixed, I was faced with months of time to get work done, contacted the manufacturer, they didn't want to deal with me, without me dropping off the RV for examination by an "authorized" dealer. Bottom line.. BEFORE YOU BUY AN RV ask yourself these questions:: do you know how to use hand tools? Do you know about basic electricity both AC and DC? Do you know how to diagnose wiring and use a volt-ohm meter? Do you know basic plumbing? Can you inspect and maintain seals, clean out AC coils? Winterize, and flush out your systems? Are you familiar with PEX tubing, fittings, valves etc? If you do not know any or all of these things... DO NOT BUY AN RV.. Learn how RV systems work, know where everything is, know how the wiring is laid out, the plumbing. Stay away from residential refrigerators, mobile refrigerators are designed to take more abuse and the bumps of the road. Also Residential refrigerators are easily damaged by power fluctuations, even with the best shore power protection systems, your Refrig can be damaged. I have had minor things go wrong with my RV, and I have been able to fix them all. Do NOT buy an extended warranty. It is a waste of money. Most things are only covered for the first year, and often it is a long process to get warranty service. If you know basic tools, you can easily replace and fix most things.
If you have a grand design warranty is good for full time. They have good customer service too. If you have warranty work and can’t get in you can get approval for a remote tech to fix it but you have to pay their service call fee. Beats waiting three months.
Camping World San Marcos, CA created many satisfying experiences because of the people - service writers, shop sales and merchandising. Unfortunately, it was closed requiring 1.5 hour drive north to a not very friendly store.
The Texas law went out with the blue laws in the 1970s if it ever existed. It may be like TX beverage alcohol laws which is dry on one side of street and very welcoming on the other.
After watching many RV related videos, I learned that it's important to get an independent pre-delivery inpsection of the RV by a third-party. They might have caught a few quality issues prior to you finalizing the purchase.
Such a great video! I bought my second USED (much smaller!) travel trailer for all the reasons and more you highlighted. My second one is a tiny, 14.5 ft 2013 jayco, most inner workings not electronic, no warranty, and I can (and have!) do (most) all of the work on it myself, including upgrades as I see fit. I watch RUclips for everything I need to do when something is broken or needs maintenance, which actually hasn't been much on this jayco. I love having my tiny house on wheels and love being able to work on it under its on carport, but absolutely have no faith in the RV service industry in general. Any time I needed to take my first one in (an Airstream!), it always felt like a racket. So sad.
Originally, RV'ing was supposed to be just as you described. But we kept wanting bigger, nicer, easier, and prettier until we ended up with these gorgeous nightmares you see today. 😪
Last 2 RV parks we've been at, we've had neighbors who were 1st time RVers who bought their rigs from Camping World. One had massive water system leak, inop furnace, bad water heater, and tons of electrical and exterior sealing issues. The other had no winter package (even though they paid extra for this model), inop A/C (in AZ summer), and a bad water heater. Both owners had to pay out of pocket for WARRANTY and PDI issues that Camping World (and the manufacturers) just wouldn't help with. BOTH had extended warranties. BOTH were still under mfg warranties. BOTH would NEVER buy from Camping World again. One was a Forest River bumper pull. The other was an Artic Fox 5th wheel. Also: make sure you're handy (and have basic mechanic's toolset). Secondly, some warranties do NOT cover repairs if you are fulltime in your RV. Same with certain lenders and insurance companies.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It will definitely impact our decision regarding what company we will purchase from in the future. The foundation of a great company is not so much the product they’re selling, but how they treat the customer when there’s a problem with said product. I wonder how many people all over the country have been told this law exists by RV companies in Texas? This practice in Texas really makes the whole RV industry and their service departments look kind of shady.
I just looked it up and you are exactly right regarding maintenance. Also, review the warranty paperwork from time of purchase. Terms should be clearly stated. If it disagrees with information they provided to you, or unclear you may have recourse.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Don. This was priceless info. Trust me, all is duly noted. Stay safe, and thanks again for sharing. Hey, Pegi❣️ Hey, DJ.!❣️
WOW! Thank you for sharing this information, Don. My husband and I are planning to get an RV. You made some really good points, like just the cost of removing a refrigerator or furniture 😮I never thought about that. We really appreciate all the great information you share! Year round vs. full time, etc etc. Thank you!!!! Decisions vs informed decisions. Important.
There is a dealer in SC that offers a lifetime warranty.The catch is that you have to get it serviced once a year by a licensed dealer and provide proof if not it voids the warranty.This service work has to be paid for by the owner.I’ll just do the repairs myself and say the heck with the warranty.
Before I bought my rv, I would go after work to look at the rv’s in CW. Since I would go right after work, I had my dirty work clothes on. Went there three times and not one single time did they asked if I needed help or I was interested. Most of the sale people were just talking. That’s what kept me away from CW and I’m glad I didn’t go that route.
Some places won't want to show you RV's until they do a credit check to see if you'd qualify for financing. I've been to a CW with a large indoor showroom. I went into lots of campers/RV's and no one said a thing to me. Fine, I was only there to look. Campers are built with such cheap materials now, but $40k for a 17' trailer.
Wow, Camping World still has customers? I thought they were great when I bought my trailer new ten years ago (not from Camping World). Then I find out membership value cost! I later found out Amazon has all the stuff too. Then I also found a family run RV store/service center near where I store my trailer where service is even better.
We just sold our 2022 Grand Design Imagine. We LOVED it. Only sold because we never used after work brought me back home. Highly recommend this company. Well built and excellent customer service. We recently bought a 2021 T@G Boondock. Husband is done with big units and this nuCamp I can pull. Going minimal. The big frig..I would completely disassemble before paying $3k. That is crazy. Thanks for the heads up on watching shop charges. Great informative video.
The only RV style I would recommend, Toy Hauler. They are the most versatile layouts, you will have to consider the size of the transitioning door from the living area to the cargo area if your ever gonna replace items such as the frig or sofa.
Most couches can be disassembled and carried out the door. Hubby just disassembled a queen size sofa bed. He removed the back, tied up the bed frame and we hauled it out the entrance door of an old class A that we are updating and repairing. Of course we hauled out the mattress and cushins first.
It’s so funny you mention that. That was all that had to be done to fix my couch and they didn’t know how to do it. Man I know so much about this and Forest River. It’s sickening.
I have used very good mobile RV Services for all my RV needs. I have a travel trailer parked in a 55 plus RV Resort (for almost 5 years at this time, 3 different resorts) in Florida, and mobile RV Services work out well. As long as you keep up the maintenance on your RV, you will have no serious RV problems.
Great video. When I was shopping for a RV I went to 6 dealers within my area. Camping World was one of the said dealers. The worst experience. I seen a unit that I was interested in there but man when they showed me the amount of fees added on I was shocked. Tried to negotiate and the manager literally laughed at me. I ended up going with a local Jayco dealer and they did a out the door price no fees. Service has been great going on over a year. We had our share of issues but it’s getting better 😅. They even helped me out over the phone while on the road. I’m so glad I was patient and keep looking. I’ll never go back to Camping World. Out of the 6 dealers I went to they made me feel uncomfortable. Once I started asking a few questions on the fees I was old news to them. Thank you for your service and god speed.
Hi Don, great topic! We have purchased 2, both Forest River because of weight. We are in Texas. Our first purchase was a Vibe 34BH and our current, a Sierra Luxury 38FKOK. We bought first from DeMontrond and the second from FuntimeRV in Conroe. I will say my experience at the Funtime was much more relaxing, less pressured from F&I part, and follow ups (there are always follow ups with RVs) have been easy. The folks at both are nice, my preference is definitely Funtime in Conroe. About that “law”, it’s not a law from my understanding, but a licensing thing. So for instance we bought the Sierra from Funtime, that gives them the right to only sell that model in a given mile range. Any dealership within that range can’t sell that model (which is why companies make the same RV under different names- mine is also a Sandpiper. What I’m getting to is it is likely with that licensing, the servicing is part of that as well. It would encroach on business. I am not an expert by no means, but just connecting my info with yours. Might be the case 🧐
That makes a lot of sense. My problem is that CW sold me the RV by saying that I "could get it serviced at any of our hundreds of locations." I feel, at the least, misled.
@gonewiththewindleys Agreed...service means service. Exceptions should be clear. I tell you...RVing has a new vocabulary for sure. Love your content and hope to see you & Peggy out camping!
Although I don’t have an RV this video was very informative. I noticed content creators don’t really get into the business side of this kind of RV lifestyle. I’m glad things worked out Mr Don. 😊
We researched for years and I ran across a RUclips video of Tiffin plant and people getting their RV repairs and they were all cheap. Replace toilet shower door a lot of other fixes all came to 789. 00 that’s when I said I’m getting a Tiffin. So far nothing have cost a lot to repair.
I had a radio in my Thor class c that had a short in it. They tried to pull out the radio to fix it, and when putting it back in, the technician put through their thumbs through the face of the radio. Before I left the parking lot, I could see the cracks! I went back inside and told them about it. They asked me if I had a picture of the radio when I brought it in!!! I had to call my son in law to turn around and come back because they have to keep it to fix their error. Got a manager to finally agree to fix it at their cost! A couple of weeks or more later, I got it back and it worked!! Only went to other camping world to look at something and they were nice and helpful. Soooo, don’t deal with Camping World because you won’t know what you’ll deal with!
I used to sell RVs in Texas at several locations and I have not heard of this law. Sometimes the manufacturers will require that their dealers do the work. I suspect a lot of what your getting is the issue of the big dealers are so backed up with service work ( including the new units going out ) One of the reasons I went with a toy hauler is just for your discovery.
All I can say is, “Wow, and Thank You!” Thank you for saving my pockets because this definitely helps in my decision on what and where to buy my RV and more importantly what to pay attention to when it comes to wording. This video was very informative!
Camping World is big on themselves and the after sale customer last. Your number one while in the sales lobby and story telling cubical. After a few years of full time living, we learned how to fix it all ourselves. Our repairs ended up way better with residential grade materials and components fitted for decades of reliability. We bought a home but have kept our 2006 Everest trailer. I can't find a new one near as fit as our old unit for reliability. We love our ocean and mountain getaways with very little to no drama camper quality fails.
Camping World locations are loaded with crooks. Some are good and some absolutely suck. We have a mobile repair guy that will come out and repair anything we need. It's not cheap, but it beats taking it into a dealership. Most manufacturers warranties are for one year. Yep. You have to make sure your camper has allowances for "full-time" RVing. I highly recommend that people watch Josh The RV Nerd videos. He does very thorough walk throughs of a lot of different brands and points out good and bad features
Thank you for your service you seem like a great man and I’m going to subscribe for sure. One thing is I actually think you need to know is rvs are like an ice cream cone if your careful you can enjoy it but make no mistake the moment you buy them they begin to melt. Unfortunately the craftsmanship of almost all of them are just crap because there’s no regulation on them like there would be with your vehicle.
Don, thank you for your service to our country. Thank you also for sharing your experience with your RV. Who knew that year round didn’t mean full time.
Question, what state did you buy the Keystone trailer? Did you call that dealership who sold you the second trailer and tell them about your experience in Texas? Camping World is a national company, and they should have told you that hey, this can't be serviced in all locations.... they must have known that, right? I think you've done a remarkable job of highlighting this issue and making me appreciate consumer protection laws in California. The problem is.... trailers, 5th wheels, Class A and Class C motorhomes are NOT BUILT to automotive standards...... In the case of a Class B motorhome, they take a factory built cargo van and modify the inside of the vehicle without changing the outside frame or construction of the vehicle.... Plus, Class B motorhomes have airbags....all other motorhomes to the best of my knowledge do not. You're absolutely correct...no motorhome is designed for a permanent residence full time.... even the RVIA says these are for temporary living....SO, the RV industry, in my opinion, has not done a very good job of educating people on this point..... That doesn't mean people don't do it and choose to live in them full time... they certainly do... I don't think it's a good idea and I wouldn't do that because of the wear and tear of the vehicle.... plus, anything that has wheels has problems... it's like an earthquake going down the road. People have told me and I believe that they are right when they say it's either broken, about to break or you just fixed it..... Congratulations 🎉 on retiring early..... that's fantastic...I did too. But, with our little Class B motorhome it's just too small for living full time.... Oh, nothing shocks me with the cost of RV repairs and if you thought it was expensive for the items you mentioned, realize that on a Class B motorhome everything is so tightly installed it's like working on a swiss watch to get repairs done... additional costs are incurred for the time it takes just to remove and reinstall parts. So, yeah, I definitely think that RVs are expensive depreciating assets. As far as Camping World is concerned, I purchased accessories from them, but, I have never heard of anyone who is satisfied with their service before, during or after the sale. My advice is not to purchase another trailer or anything else from them....fool me once shame on you...fool me twice shame on me...... I have to say that the promise of the huge network of "there's a camping world in every state" is a powerful argument..... Unfortunately, they lured you into a false assumption that this would be true.....I can easily see how attractive this was....I'm sorry you got caught up in this situation.... If anything, if there really is a law like they claim, you can just blame Texas and Gregg Abbott.... I don't like Texas, it's not doing you any favors.
Don, Ran into the same with General RV. After years of research I bought my class A from them. They were only a few hours from our home and had 40 service bays. Bought new in Sept. took our first long trip in May and found a bunch of issues. Called General and they could not get us in until Oct. 13 months after the purchase. Yup one month out of warranty. I called and called to try and get it in and they could only get us in to look at it. Suspicious? I had to contact REV myself (General told me it was my problem to call REV even though it was a new rig and everything was covered by 12/12 warranty) and they agreed to cover the warranty issues and extended me until I could get it done. Then the issues started. Would drop it off because they had all the parts then would get a call to pick it up or face storage. Guess what. All the repairs weren’t done. Oh sorry some parts were not in. But they told me they were. Took a friend down looking to buy while I was picking mine up and learned service and sales were not allowed to talk to one another because buyers would call their sales guys to complain. I asked for management and multiple times and they refused to let me talk to anyone but the service writer. Like you I am remote so it is hard to drop buy. Called General RV Corporate no call backs. Use NIRV exclusively now. They always treat me well. Answer calls or call back and get me in fast. On one service call I got in for large repairs in less than a week. I feel your pain! 😊Thanks for your service and see you on the road.
We bought a new class b from CW as it was on sale and the best price we could find. It's been working out fine so far and I haven't had to bring the coach back for any warranty reasons. A couple minor repairs were done on the phone consulting with the tech service on the phone. I would try to fix minor problems myself before going there and having a bad experience.
I appreciate you sharing your experience with camping world. I've only had one experience and it was great. I was in Wichita, KS, and called them after lunch. My inverter was acting up, and I wasnt gonna be able to make it back to Louisiana. I told them my situation, and they squeezed me in and had me rolling before they closed. Only charged me $165. They even cleaned my house batteries.
these corp's exploited the pandemic. they cranked out low quality beautiful products. & a lot of corp's have merged. & that kills competition & the ability to force a quality product & service, & this was against the anti-trust law that expired & not one politician has stepped up to extend it & make it a permanent law. we need to raise a ruckus & demand our representatives to get back on the ball & protect us from these criminal companies that care nothing about their customers anymore. i am so tired of fighting for my money back from different corp's in my own life. having money taken out of my account without my consent or being tricked into consenting. they are ripping us off in a million ways in every service & retail category.
Do remember that fifth wheel and pull behind are made to camp not travel every few weeks. Things rattle and slide causing breakage. To truly go from place to place you need a motor home. It is built on a solid frame that is made to be driven. Things might move in a motor home but your floors, sides ceilings are all made to be fixed to the frame without causing the damage from being driven. Camper vans, truck toppers and small and large motor homes can usually be driven thousands of miles and has a tag like a vehicle. Camper and fifth wheels are not considered motor vehicles. That should be a huge flag when you think about traveling frequently. Anyone who buys an RV needs to know everything is expensive when you are out of warranty if it needs repair, especially if they have to remove doors, windows or even slides in order to replace items.
Thank you for your service! The first dealership we went to was Camping World, we got very annoyed with the salesperson ignoring our requests and questions. We felt really uncomfortable with the dealership in general. But, Camping World is 100% better than General RV which is ABSOLUTELY the worse. I would suggest Bish's RV if you're going with a nationwide dealership. RV Wholesalers, I've heard good things about as well. New RVers should go and see a bunch of RVs so you're informed before going.
I bought my Jayco from Ron Hoover in Laredo. I have it serviced at the Ron Hoover in Donna with no problem. Donna Ron Hoover does not sell Jayco, but they have never given me any problem.
Not a CW fan, but if they aren’t a dealer for a particular manufacturer then, yes, they can’t do warranty work. Sorta like buying a Yamaha generator and taking it to a Honda dealer. They can’t do warranty work. Can they work on it? Yes. Warranty? No.
I bought the RV from a Camping World who told me that I can take it to ANY Camping World nationwide and get it serviced. So either they were lying when they sold it to me or they are lying now.
@@gonewiththewindleys there is a difference between servicing it and being able to do warranty work. If they don’t sell that brand at that exact dealership, they usually can’t do warranty. I still wouldn’t take it to CW
Don't get discouraged. It's a house on wheels things break. Back on the road and have fun. Once out of warranty shop around. Need fridge repaired. Camping world they wanted to replace. Almost 3000. Getting repaired next week. Worst case 1500
Don, we bought our trailer from camping world as well. They had the exact model and size we. Had been searching for and at a good price. I have loved shopping at their store for RV supplies for years. We bought the trailer in 2020 and like a lot of stuff built around the pandemic it had some issues show up. The hot water heater wasn't installed right so it broke off the water inlet, being under warranty I took it to their service told them what was wrong and where and that I really needed it back in 2 1/2 months they said they were busy but should have it done in a month. Almost 4 months later I had to call the head of the company to get them to finish and give me back my trailer, love there store and the sales department. But after the heater stopped working I tried another camping world service center but they told me it works fine, which it didn't I had to figure out on my own what was wrong and replace the circuit board my self. So not a fan of Camping world service centers.
Camping world and holiday world is the same company. I bought my RV used from the Holiday World that you went to. I will never walk back into that store. I did my walk through and the tanks were still full from the PO. They have hazardly cleaned the unit. I found DVD the PO left in the unit. The person giving the walk through had no idea how the systems on the unit worked.
Camping World will rip you off and then leave you hanging. You end up paying for so many other things that will leave way upside-down as soon as you sign the contract. Put quality first over the bells and whistles.
Don have to say I did my homework and early on discovered CV was the place to stay away from as far as financing and now warranty work thanks your experiences. We have a Winnebago and are very satisfied to this day. We all live and learn. Enjoy the day!!
I plan on traveling extensively in the future but simplicity is key I think. I small high quality truck campers with no slideouts. Hallmark Milner comes to mind. I heard once RV= Ruined Vacation
My local dealer group with 17 stores will do warranty work on any Forest River product at any of their stores that sell at least 1 Forest River brand. As a retired auto tech, I can tell you why dealers hate warranty work. Customer paying jobs simply make the shop more money. If you look at the back of the sales literature for most RV's, it even says ( In small print ) " Shop local. Dealers give service priority to their customers" ( Ones that bought there) RV repairs under warranty almost always require pre authorization and photos of the issue before they can order parts and start repairs. ( In my case, 4 months in the shop to replace a window ) Yes... Camping World So, I don't think it's a law. It's dollars and cents.
We have an older 41 ft diesel pusher. We wouldn't trade her for a new rig or even a rig built in the last 10 yes.. why? Well it's is built when they were built to last. Our cabinets are solid oak.. not pressed partical crap they put in them now. It's a single solid aluminum roof.. no rubber crappy roofs.. ohh did I say we live in Southeastern Indiana. Elkhart, Indiana which is the rv capital builders of the country.. and still won't buy a new rv..
I'm a full-time RVer I bought an AirStream travel trailer to remodel I've done most of this work myself So I don't worry about warranties cuz I will fix it if I ever need to
My bathtub cost me over $3,000 to put in I put a full size refrigerator in mine found one that fit through my door At Lowe's I think it cost me around $300 to have it delivered and take my old one I've had this refrigerator for 8 years
Thank you for sharing this information! We bought our travel trailer at Holiday World in Katy. As a matter of fact, we’re going to turn it in tomorrow for some warranty work.
Dude I was on the verge of buying a new RV a while back and a friend of mine that had bought one told me "don't do it" for the very reason you speak of on this video. The RV dealerships are expected to do all the quality control of the RV manufacturer and repair the stuff that got missed at the factory. He told me that out of the first 3 years he had his RV he was able to use it for a grand total of 6 months, the rest of the time it was in for warranty repairs.
Is Camping World not doing the warranty work because they don’t sell/service that specific make/model at that location? In much the same way you can’t take a Genesis to a Hyundai dealer for Genesis warranty work? Or how some GM service departments can’t work on big dually diesels despite being a GM service department. Warranty work needs to be done by a service department familiar with the make and model as far as I know per the manufacturers warranty requirements. I think Texas enforces that.
This may be true, but I have to reiterate; the Camping World sales team that sold me the RV said that I would be able to take it to ANY of their various locations to get warranty and/or services done.
Very valid points. Seems like a play on words as far as what year round means. I have never considered replacement of large items in a motor home. This was an eye opener. Now I wonder if that’s why people sell them after a certain period of time because they know what’s coming down the road? Big repairs? Thank you for sharing.
Ive lived in my RV fulltime for 2 years not a single thing has broken so far. But id never tell them I lived in it full time. Solves that problem. Forest River doing well so far. And now that the RV craze is over prices coming way down.
I almost forgot what Uncle Don looked like without a hat. However, this whole situation is crazy and give us prospective RVers some things to consider. I previously worked in service for Mercedes Benz and there were tons of "rules" that weren't actually "rules" but more so ways to avoid situations as a business. The hourly rate then was about $175 and there was always diagnostic fees in addition the cost of the repair which included parts and labor. The service industry is crazy and I can only imagine the costs as it pertains to RVs specifically. Either way, I'm glad you guys have someone that will take care of the work. In the meantime, Just KEEP SMILING.
My Husband is a Master RV Tech at the exact Camping World that you showed in the video. We're sitting here watching this video and he's literally talking back to you through the screen, I might ask him to make a response video, lol. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us! He says Holiday World charges higher rates than surrounding - and he also says you did NOT have to remove a slide to take the fridge out...and SOOOO many other things, lol. "The year round thing!" OMG. Someone definitely should have explained these things better to you :( HIT US UP!!
Most dealers will take care of the people that bought their rv from them first. Flagstaff/Rockwood even states that on their website information. But, a dealer definitely can do warranty work on RV' s not purchased from them. Just like any business, they take care of their customers first.
@@gonewiththewindleys camping world is noted for that. They are also noted for saying they have filed the warranty paperwork for approval when they haven’t done it. There is a Camping World almost in my back door, but when I decided to buy a Travel Trailer I went to a family owned dealership 30 miles away because of reviews and talking to people with personal experience doing business with them. I also visited the dealership to check out the service department and meet the manager. It is my honest opinion that researching dealers is as important or possibly more important than researching RVs. I have only had one issue with my little trailer and it was to replace the refrigerator under warranty. It took 3 weeks to get it replaced, and I did not miss one camping trip. I just used a cooler in the meantime. They called me when the refrigerator came in, let me set the appointment time and I waited in the lobby while they did the swap which took 2 hours. Researching dealers was the best thing I could have done. You know, if you have any other issues and you are traveling, it might be good to check with your manufacturer’s customer service to see if they have a list of mobile tech in your area that perform warranty work. Sometimes you have to pay the tech up front and get reimbursed, but some techs will just get the check from the manufacturer. It just depends on the RV tech.
Camping world is horrible. They delivered a Keystone 290BHS 2023 RV to me that was broken at delivery in September 2022. I had it delivered because I lived 4 plus hours from the location, working as a nurse on the naval base in key west, FL. I’m now in Miami, FL my permanent home for now thankfully I have a house to live in in Miami while working on base, there’s still no camping world locations less than 4 plus hours away. I’ve been trying to get it fixed 10 months & keep getting the run around. The tongue jack was broken at delivery & it cannot be attached to a truck to bring it to them or anywhere to fix. Front door lock broken at delivery. Sofa bed collapsed when we sat on it. Moldings, cabinets, doors broken inside at delivery! I Purchased all the insurance options & have warranty that’s about to run out. I did a 12 hour trip to the location of this one was being sold at in Florida in one day just to do the walk-through and make sure nothing was broken to PREVENT this. This has been the biggest mistake of my life. I don’t know what to do. Even at this moment they won’t help. They keep saying they will get back to me. The most they did was send a local technician, husband and wife team in Key West when I was there to fix the molding with nails and fix the screws in the cabinets but nothing else, they mostly fixed superficial items. There was a hurricane in Key West during the time, and I had no way to move my RV , luckily, nothing happened to it. Im assuming I’ll have to find a way to get it fixed using my person insurance I have it under? I’ve seen someone who got it fixed through Geico too since they were getting no help. Any help would be appreciated Im so lost at what to do, I can’t live in it or use it or even sell it or trade it in broken either.
I’m three years in. I’m still fighting for original warranty repairs. Everything is paid for but it still cost too much. I don’t suggest it. Winter sucks..
What a sad story. We bought ours from a dealer up here in the PNW and I will say they have been very good. Apache RV to give them a few stars. As far as their hourly rate, that’s pretty ridiculous. My Porsche mechanic is less and they are certified by Porsche AG. I’ve found from my simple conversations with RV dealers and mechanics that their industry is hurting for qualified people. I believe pay has some to do with it. I am going to guess that none of the service people or few actually go through a real certification process yet there are a few good schools out there for rv specific work. Since I’m fairly new to it I won’t say just do everything yourself but, as far as most maintenance and much of the repairs, it can be done with minimal training. There is also a tremendous community out there that is willing to help each other.
We did some research prior to purchasing our 2010 Winnebago Tour. I found so many complaints about Camping World, there was no way I would buy from them. Months later, while going through paperwork left to us from the prior owners, we found out that they had purchased our RV From Camping World. They also had to have tons of work done on it prior to selling it to us. That's because its age was starting to show. So far, because it's an older model Winnebago and they had many of the fixes done, it hasn't been too bad. Of course next time I'll make sure the product didn't come from Camping world.
If your RV is out of warranty, you can get a mobile tech to help you. My guy charges 150 dollars an hour, is very fair with his time, and is way more experienced than your average camping world tech.
Wow wow wow! They always find loop holes to nickel and dime you. You just saved a bunch of people a lot of money and time. Thanks for sharing . Knowledge is most definitely power. I would have never even thought of those things. Can you share what a person should look for as far as quality when purchasing one? Thanks.
Never buy from Camping World. I bought a new fifth wheel back in January and still have not been able to take delivery of it. All I get is excuses every time I call about the RV. And I have to call them, they never called me to let me know how things are going. I asked for some compensation, and all I get is crickets. And as soon as they get your money, you don’t no longer important to them is the warning never buy from Camping World. They are the worst.
When i bought my camper from CW, they charge $700 to OPEN it and have it all ready to go. To me, that should just be part of the purchase. Why should you need to pay for that? Then, after we went to use the water, we had no hot water. Not know crap about camper water systems, i dug into it and found that the bypasses were still in winterized mode. Also found the fireplace to not be working, it was unplugged back behind it. What the heck did i pay 700 bucks for?
We're on our 13th RV we are full-time started out in some cheap ones and had some what I consider a $500,000+ country Coach and then we went back to some cheaper ones now we're in a Mobile Suites fifth wheel cheap good or bad everyone of them have problems some are just more $$$$ but all-in-all you had good information.
Hello, Don. I’m a retired Aircraft mechanic, AF (36 years). I retired 1-1/2 years ago. I stumbled on your video and watched the whole thing. The dealer we bought our Shasta wasn’t Camping World at the time in 2015, but was recently bought out by them. We traded in the Shasta TT about a week ago but when we were shopping, I made sure we stayed clear of them. I didn’t want another Forest River POS or a Keystone POS (sorry). I have another veteran friend who bought a Grand Design in 2018 and thought to myself how well it was made while he showed it to me. I was truly impressed by the workmanship and QA. So now my Shasta was getting older and we decided to upgrade. We took delivery on a ‘23 GD Imagine and love it. GD does not void the warranty if you live in it full time. One of the very few manufacturers don’t. They are pricey but well worth it. Another manufacturer that is good is Alliance. Same quality, if not better than Grand Design. Our friends purchased one and are happy very with it. Our GD is the last RV we will ever buy and I’ll probably be dead before it’s paid off. Lol! Happy endeavors!
Thanks for taking the time to post this. I failed to mention in this video that we wanted to go with Grand Design or Alliance, but they were only sold at smaller dealership networks. Huge mistake! 😥
Prior Navy Aircraft mechanic Myself, working AF and navy programs now. Spot on roger.
You sure it's not just "US"?
Here's my Camping World experience: My husband and I went to CW to purchase and have installed a new fridge. We were told that because the fridges could not fit through the door of our motorhome, they would have to put them through the driver's side window and it would cost us the installation fee plus an additional $250.
A couple of days later, my husband arrived for our scheduled 8 o'clock appt and after waiting 9 hours, they were finally done! When he opened the door, he noticed that the automatic door step mechanism was broken. CW claimed that they didn't know how it happened but if my husband wanted it fixed, he'd have to make an appt and it would cost $900. They "helped" him tie the steps up as a temporary fix so he could drive home.
Twenty-four hours later, we were back at CW because the new fridge never got cold. They said the problem was a bad motor that needed to be replaced (on a brand new fridge) and they didn't have anymore in stock (which we found out later to be a lie). They said CW must get a warranty approval from the manufacturer as to whether they should fix the motor or replace the fridge.
Days later, CW called to say they got approval to replace the fridge and asked that we bring in the RV. Once the replacement was done, I lifted myself into the RV over the broken steps to get in, turned around to close the door and couldn't. The door was off-centered. I marched back inside and demanded something get done immediately. The service manager took a look at it and had repair guy fix it, saying that he won't charge me anything to which I replied, "as you shouldn't because your people messed up my door just like they broke my steps!"
Months later, we found out that although CW charged us $250 to take our driver's side window out, it was never done. They took the entrance door off and SQUEEZED the old and new refrigerators through the doorway causing (1) minor scratches on the door frame, (2) the off-centered door problem, and (3) with the excess weight of the service men tugging and pulling to squeeze the old/new fridges through the doorway, they broke the steps. And that's when we vowed to NEVER purchase or have service work done at Camping World or Gander RV (same ownership) again.
Thanks for sharing, this helped me so much!
They doing people DIRTY. 😡
@@donpee5204the stories will break you.
wow!!! we need our politicians to get doing their jobs & end this frenzy of consumer fraud!!! this is too much. a car dealership 'fixed' my son's land rover & totally drained his battery, he's been trying to get them to recharge iut & they are pulling the same thing-he has to pay for it. i'm so sick of this unfettered robbery they are getting away with. is there a consumer group for rv owners? is anyone advocating for yous? i don't own one yet, but i'm looking for one. i'm sorry you went through this. if you are up. to it, you might be able to sue. that could start a movement to expose & bring out everyone else they've grossly abused. this is reprehensible.
You do know there is labor fees regardless. It may have been recommended to go through window but was a safer alternative to remove the door. Either way it takes time to remove and put back into place and that is what you pay for. I’ve seen brand new trailers have a full PDI and sold prep where everything tested is fine and all of a sudden customer does a walk through and in example an ac wouldn’t work. Turned out to be the compressor blew. Rv dealers don’t create the problems they fix them. Everything these days is a result of manufactures poor quality. It’s not fair to bad mouth any dealer that has no control of faulty or poor craftsmanship from manufactures of trailer or components inside.
Don the "Law" that you were told about does not exist. I have been fulltime traveling just over 6 years now. When I was looking for my first RV i was told Texas was the cheapest state at the time to purchase so I spend almost 4 months talking to dealers all over Texas and finally found the 5th wheel i wanted which was a 2017 Keystone Montana. I asked about warranty work and was told this exact same thing, but as you have found no one could come up with the actual law. So i contacted the Texas Attorney General and lawyer that deals with consumer vehicle complaints. Neither the lawyer or the Texas Attorney General had heard of any law. This particular issue was started by rv dealers in the state of Texas based on the fact that most rv's that require repair may not be from the area of said dealer and that dealer would not get follow on repeat service. So really long story short, there is NO law that precludes an rv dealer from servicing an rv, it really comes down to them no wanting to its as simple as that. I always suggest fellow rvers to find non dealer rv repair facilities or mobile technicians to do work. Its usually easier to get warranty work done cheaper and with a quicker turn around.
😳😠😡🤬😤 I'm just going to say that first, I believe you are right as I still can't find it. Second, I will continue searching and ask them to provide evidence of the law. Third, if it turns out that this was made up, I will be doing all I can to make sure that everyone knows about it and seek recompense.
@@gonewiththewindleys I wish more would go after them for misleading practices like this, the rv industry needs a complete overall when it comes to repair for sure. A couple of class action lawsuits would go a long way to get them to reevaluate the repair service. I did enough research early to know that dealing with a dealer repair facility was a no go. Lucky I have the skills to do the repairs needed, otherwise i would use other sources for repair items. I wish you success in this endeavor.
Crazy part is the dealer has a right to refuse service so technically how can you claim a lawsuit
@Lewis Akins Jr Surely it is against the law for them to sell you a service warranty and refuse to service their own warranty.
@Blair P241 the issue is the fact that if the dealership didn't sell the warranty to the customer they don't have to honor it that the problem .I've worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years when your car needs service you can go to any dealership and they will fix it the rv industry seams like they have no rules that is why they do what they do
My research in my quest to buy an RV, has revealed to me, don’t even buy a part from Camping World. There are many more negative than positive reviews on Camping World.
That's very informative something I may have not even thought of when I bought a camper
Don, I truly admire your patience and control...the rest of us mere humans would have went off!!
I agree 💯
I bought a fifth wheel from CW over 3 years ago here in Mesa AZ. And I have had nothing but fantastic service. I was lucky and only have some minor warranty work done, but it was done in a timely manner and my service guy has been the best!!
That is Great to hear.
Instead of saying that an RV is for "year-round use," it should say all season use. That would be a more accurate statement. When you're shopping for tents, you're either looking for 3 season or all season tents, depending upon the type of tent camping you're intending to participate in. Words do matter. As for finding out about that "law," I'd contact the Texas attorney general's office of consumer affairs. They should be the ones who can tell you the specifics about this so-called law
I heard camping world is the worse to deal with for service.
Bought an old ambulance to turn into a camper. I’m a single mom with two older teens now and we wanted to keep going. When I was married I had the experience of two 5th wheels. For the most part it was a good experience but I knew what we needed. So we got our ambo, retitled it as a motorhome and we’ve been on the road for a few weeks. Been through Ca, Az, NM, UT, ID, ,WA, and Or and we’ll be back to Ca in a bit. The good thing is that anyone can work on the F450. I have confide we will convert this sucker to what we want but it is solid! I have so much storage inside and out! I’m easy to see of course. We installed a sink over the weekend before we left. In the end we’ll go full off grid and install solar. But for now I brought my small solar generators and fold away panel we already had. We loaded our gear and went! I’m in about $13k right now so I’m not sad! My mechanic gave it the go!
Ambulances are built tough, so buying one to live in is a great idea, if you can find a decent one. I'd consider it. I've seen some great ambulance re-builds for living.
People with your attitude give me hope for this country. Hello from Van Alstyne, Texas. Former U.S. Navy vet. Thank you for your service.
Dear, Pegi and Don…
Thank you for helping others and I pray things work out in your favor!♥️
Thank you so much!
@@gonewiththewindleys Yes, extremely important considerations I hadn't heard raised elsewhere and I've been researching the right camper to buy extensively.
I've been steered away from the Indiana based manufacturers which are all owned by the same 2 companies and I'm leaning toward fiberglass construction, though I don't think they're an option for the size and level of luxury of your RV.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!
Don, you have shared some great information! You don’t know how much this has helped me! I’ve been shopping around and was told by several people before now NOT to go to CW. But you’ve shared information that I didn’t think about before buying and NOW I see why some people trade in their bigger models… I pray you’re rewarded for your patience and effort! Tell Pegi 👋🏽! ❤
The best place to purchase an RV is up north (Indiana, Ohio). They are cheaper, and you save on a lot of fees.
@@user-dj8uu6ii6l thanks for the info, I will check them out!
Don, thank you for giving us some things to ponder in reference to RV life. We have a simple beginner RV, nothing fancy just a long weekender RV for my husband and myself. At some point, we were thinking of upgrading because we've seen those nice fancy RVs you referenced. Now, it looks like we'll keep what we have for a while. I'm sure this ordeal has been so frustrating for you and I pray that things will work in your favor. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you and you're welcome!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But if you do decide to upgrade, at some point, do a lot of research first and get it professionally inspected.
Don I thank you 1,000 times for this info. You have no idea how helpful it is, especially for a newbie looking to purchase an rv. Apparently wording & the definition of those words on an rv contract or warranty could have a great impact on your pocket/coins later on down the road. Thanks again for sharing.
You are so welcome, AR Woods! I was hoping to reach those looking to purchase or upgrade because a bad decision or misunderstanding can destroy your pocketbook.
I recommend a DRV Mobile or Elite Suites. Not a new one, maybe up to 2013 model year. Built for full time use, top insulation, 3.25" thick walls with a thermal break, dual pane windows. They are HEAVY. You're gonna need a diesel truck. They aren't cheap. I don't recommend a new truck either. We have a 2004 F350 Powerstroke, bulletproofed. Do your research on everything. I can't emphasize that enough. People don't spend nearly enough time researching.
Auto dealer franchise agreements require any dealer to honor warranty service. There is a movement in the works to try and get that for RV dealers, but right now RV dealers are not required to service a unit they don't sell. However, since Camping World sells so many brands across the USA under their corporate licensing, then technically they sell your rv at any Camping World store. Sounds like they are jerking you around. RV dealers are very reluctant to do warranty work right now because the manufacturers are very slow to reimburse them, so many prefer to stick to cash only customers.
I'm getting more and more convinced that we've been taken. 😡
I have heard too many horror stories about Camping World to ever buy an RV from them so enough said about that. I love that you are still positive after your experience with them.
Extremely valuable information in this video. Thank you for that!!! And thank you for your service to this great country! Enjoy your time out on the road!
I bought an RV from Campingworld, and bought the extended warranty which was supposed to cover everything. Well quickly found out that much is not covered. That was a waste of money. Never buy a residential refrigerator for an RV. Lots of problems with them. They are not designed to be driven around. I have fixed many things in my RV, on my own. Every time I tried to get things fixed, I was faced with months of time to get work done, contacted the manufacturer, they didn't want to deal with me, without me dropping off the RV for examination by an "authorized" dealer. Bottom line.. BEFORE YOU BUY AN RV ask yourself these questions:: do you know how to use hand tools? Do you know about basic electricity both AC and DC? Do you know how to diagnose wiring and use a volt-ohm meter? Do you know basic plumbing? Can you inspect and maintain seals, clean out AC coils? Winterize, and flush out your systems? Are you familiar with PEX tubing, fittings, valves etc? If you do not know any or all of these things... DO NOT BUY AN RV.. Learn how RV systems work, know where everything is, know how the wiring is laid out, the plumbing. Stay away from residential refrigerators, mobile refrigerators are designed to take more abuse and the bumps of the road. Also Residential refrigerators are easily damaged by power fluctuations, even with the best shore power protection systems, your Refrig can be damaged. I have had minor things go wrong with my RV, and I have been able to fix them all. Do NOT buy an extended warranty. It is a waste of money. Most things are only covered for the first year, and often it is a long process to get warranty service. If you know basic tools, you can easily replace and fix most things.
If you have a grand design warranty is good for full time. They have good customer service too. If you have warranty work and can’t get in you can get approval for a remote tech to fix it but you have to pay their service call fee. Beats waiting three months.
I have heard a lot of great things about Grand Design, Riverstone, and Alliance. I don't think Camping World sells any of them. 😕
Camping World San Marcos, CA created many satisfying experiences because of the people - service writers, shop sales and merchandising. Unfortunately, it was closed requiring 1.5 hour drive north to a not very friendly store.
I am with you on the marketing rhetoric sleight of hand.
The Texas law went out with the blue laws in the 1970s if it ever existed. It may be like TX beverage alcohol laws which is dry on one side of street and very welcoming on the other.
So the Camping World that WASN'T robbing people closed? 🤔 I'm guessing profits were low.
After watching many RV related videos, I learned that it's important to get an independent pre-delivery inpsection of the RV by a third-party. They might have caught a few quality issues prior to you finalizing the purchase.
Such a great video! I bought my second USED (much smaller!) travel trailer for all the reasons and more you highlighted. My second one is a tiny, 14.5 ft 2013 jayco, most inner workings not electronic, no warranty, and I can (and have!) do (most) all of the work on it myself, including upgrades as I see fit. I watch RUclips for everything I need to do when something is broken or needs maintenance, which actually hasn't been much on this jayco. I love having my tiny house on wheels and love being able to work on it under its on carport, but absolutely have no faith in the RV service industry in general. Any time I needed to take my first one in (an Airstream!), it always felt like a racket. So sad.
Originally, RV'ing was supposed to be just as you described. But we kept wanting bigger, nicer, easier, and prettier until we ended up with these gorgeous nightmares you see today. 😪
Last 2 RV parks we've been at, we've had neighbors who were 1st time RVers who bought their rigs from Camping World.
One had massive water system leak, inop furnace, bad water heater, and tons of electrical and exterior sealing issues.
The other had no winter package (even though they paid extra for this model), inop A/C (in AZ summer), and a bad water heater.
Both owners had to pay out of pocket for WARRANTY and PDI issues that Camping World (and the manufacturers) just wouldn't help with.
BOTH had extended warranties.
BOTH were still under mfg warranties.
BOTH would NEVER buy from Camping World again.
One was a Forest River bumper pull. The other was an Artic Fox 5th wheel.
Also: make sure you're handy (and have basic mechanic's toolset). Secondly, some warranties do NOT cover repairs if you are fulltime in your RV. Same with certain lenders and insurance companies.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It will definitely impact our decision regarding what company we will purchase from in the future. The foundation of a great company is not so much the product they’re selling, but how they treat the customer when there’s a problem with said product. I wonder how many people all over the country have been told this law exists by RV companies in Texas? This practice in Texas really makes the whole RV industry and their service departments look kind of shady.
I just looked it up and you are exactly right regarding maintenance. Also, review the warranty paperwork from time of purchase. Terms should be clearly stated. If it disagrees with information they provided to you, or unclear you may have recourse.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Don. This was priceless info. Trust me, all is duly noted. Stay safe, and thanks again for sharing. Hey, Pegi❣️ Hey, DJ.!❣️
WOW! Thank you for sharing this information, Don. My husband and I are planning to get an RV. You made some really good points, like just the cost of removing a refrigerator or furniture 😮I never thought about that. We really appreciate all the great information you share! Year round vs. full time, etc etc. Thank you!!!! Decisions vs informed decisions. Important.
I am SO happy that you found it useful! Not the fun content we usually try to create, but I think it's important.
If they can’t show you the law than it doesn’t exist. I wonder if they made this up because someone sued them.
There is a dealer in SC that offers a lifetime warranty.The catch is that you have to get it serviced once a year by a licensed dealer and provide proof if not it voids the warranty.This service work has to be paid for by the owner.I’ll just do the repairs myself and say the heck with the warranty.
Before I bought my rv, I would go after work to look at the rv’s in CW. Since I would go right after work, I had my dirty work clothes on. Went there three times and not one single time did they asked if I needed help or I was interested. Most of the sale people were just talking. That’s what kept me away from CW and I’m glad I didn’t go that route.
Some places won't want to show you RV's until they do a credit check to see if you'd qualify for financing. I've been to a CW with a large indoor showroom. I went into lots of campers/RV's and no one said a thing to me. Fine, I was only there to look. Campers are built with such cheap materials now, but $40k for a 17' trailer.
This is 100% true. Some dealerships don’t have an agreement to service others brands.
There are independent RV repair services. Ask your camp host or other rver’s in area and bypass camping world. They are a lot cheaper labor rate 😊
Wow, Camping World still has customers? I thought they were great when I bought my trailer new ten years ago (not from Camping World). Then I find out membership value cost! I later found out Amazon has all the stuff too. Then I also found a family run RV store/service center near where I store my trailer where service is even better.
We just sold our 2022 Grand Design Imagine. We LOVED it. Only sold because we never used after work brought me back home. Highly recommend this company. Well built and excellent customer service. We recently bought a 2021 T@G Boondock. Husband is done with big units and this nuCamp I can pull. Going minimal.
The big frig..I would completely disassemble before paying $3k. That is crazy. Thanks for the heads up on watching shop charges. Great informative video.
The only RV style I would recommend, Toy Hauler. They are the most versatile layouts, you will have to consider the size of the transitioning door from the living area to the cargo area if your ever gonna replace items such as the frig or sofa.
Most couches can be disassembled and carried out the door. Hubby just disassembled a queen size sofa bed. He removed the back, tied up the bed frame and we hauled it out the entrance door of an old class A that we are updating and repairing. Of course we hauled out the mattress and cushins first.
Awesome! I will likely be doing things similarly once our warranties expire.
It’s so funny you mention that. That was all that had to be done to fix my couch and they didn’t know how to do it. Man I know so much about this and Forest River. It’s sickening.
I have used very good mobile RV Services for all my RV needs. I have a travel trailer parked in a 55 plus RV Resort (for almost 5 years at this time, 3 different resorts) in Florida, and mobile RV Services work out well. As long as you keep up the maintenance on your RV, you will have no serious RV problems.
Great video. When I was shopping for a RV I went to 6 dealers within my area. Camping World was one of the said dealers. The worst experience. I seen a unit that I was interested in there but man when they showed me the amount of fees added on I was shocked. Tried to negotiate and the manager literally laughed at me. I ended up going with a local Jayco dealer and they did a out the door price no fees. Service has been great going on over a year. We had our share of issues but it’s getting better 😅. They even helped me out over the phone while on the road. I’m so glad I was patient and keep looking. I’ll never go back to Camping World. Out of the 6 dealers I went to they made me feel uncomfortable. Once I started asking a few questions on the fees I was old news to them. Thank you for your service and god speed.
Hi Don, great topic! We have purchased 2, both Forest River because of weight. We are in Texas. Our first purchase was a Vibe 34BH and our current, a Sierra Luxury 38FKOK. We bought first from DeMontrond and the second from FuntimeRV in Conroe. I will say my experience at the Funtime was much more relaxing, less pressured from F&I part, and follow ups (there are always follow ups with RVs) have been easy. The folks at both are nice, my preference is definitely Funtime in Conroe. About that “law”, it’s not a law from my understanding, but a licensing thing. So for instance we bought the Sierra from Funtime, that gives them the right to only sell that model in a given mile range. Any dealership within that range can’t sell that model (which is why companies make the same RV under different names- mine is also a Sandpiper. What I’m getting to is it is likely with that licensing, the servicing is part of that as well. It would encroach on business. I am not an expert by no means, but just connecting my info with yours. Might be the case 🧐
That makes a lot of sense. My problem is that CW sold me the RV by saying that I "could get it serviced at any of our hundreds of locations." I feel, at the least, misled.
@gonewiththewindleys Agreed...service means service. Exceptions should be clear. I tell you...RVing has a new vocabulary for sure. Love your content and hope to see you & Peggy out camping!
You have the most patience i've ever seen. I would never go to camper world for anything.
The lesson learned here is Keep your $$$ in your pocket and stop enriching companies that don’t value you!!!
Amen!
Although I don’t have an RV this video was very informative. I noticed content creators don’t really get into the business side of this kind of RV lifestyle. I’m glad things worked out Mr Don. 😊
Thank you for sharing that information. People need to be aware and not let the excitement of RVing make them blind to THE WHAT IF.
We researched for years and I ran across a RUclips video of Tiffin plant and people getting their RV repairs and they were all cheap. Replace toilet shower door a lot of other fixes all came to 789. 00 that’s when I said I’m getting a Tiffin. So far nothing have cost a lot to repair.
I had a radio in my Thor class c that had a short in it. They tried to pull out the radio to fix it, and when putting it back in, the technician put through their thumbs through the face of the radio. Before I left the parking lot, I could see the cracks! I went back inside and told them about it. They asked me if I had a picture of the radio when I brought it in!!! I had to call my son in law to turn around and come back because they have to keep it to fix their error. Got a manager to finally agree to fix it at their cost! A couple of weeks or more later, I got it back and it worked!! Only went to other camping world to look at something and they were nice and helpful. Soooo, don’t deal with Camping World because you won’t know what you’ll deal with!
I used to sell RVs in Texas at several locations and I have not heard of this law. Sometimes the manufacturers will require that their dealers do the work. I suspect a lot of what your getting is the issue of the big dealers are so backed up with service work ( including the new units going out )
One of the reasons I went with a toy hauler is just for your discovery.
All I can say is, “Wow, and Thank You!” Thank you for saving my pockets because this definitely helps in my decision on what and where to buy my RV and more importantly what to pay attention to when it comes to wording. This video was very informative!
Camping World is big on themselves and the after sale customer last. Your number one while in the sales lobby and story telling cubical.
After a few years of full time living, we learned how to fix it all ourselves. Our repairs ended up way better with residential grade materials and components fitted for decades of reliability. We bought a home but have kept our 2006 Everest trailer. I can't find a new one near as fit as our old unit for reliability. We love our ocean and mountain getaways with very little to no drama camper quality fails.
Camping world under warranty replaced my microwave with a regular one and the one I had was a confection microwave.
Dang! That's crooked!
Camping World locations are loaded with crooks. Some are good and some absolutely suck.
We have a mobile repair guy that will come out and repair anything we need. It's not cheap, but it beats taking it into a dealership. Most manufacturers warranties are for one year.
Yep. You have to make sure your camper has allowances for "full-time" RVing.
I highly recommend that people watch Josh The RV Nerd videos. He does very thorough walk throughs of a lot of different brands and points out good and bad features
Thank you for your service you seem like a great man and I’m going to subscribe for sure. One thing is I actually think you need to know is rvs are like an ice cream cone if your careful you can enjoy it but make no mistake the moment you buy them they begin to melt. Unfortunately the craftsmanship of almost all of them are just crap because there’s no regulation on them like there would be with your vehicle.
Brilliant analogy 👏🏾
Don, thank you for your service to our country. Thank you also for sharing your experience with your RV. Who knew that year round didn’t mean full time.
Thanks, Larry! I expected some people to say that I should have known the difference, but it seems that many people would have thought the same thing.
Question, what state did you buy the Keystone trailer? Did you call that dealership who sold you the second trailer and tell them about your experience in Texas?
Camping World is a national company, and they should have told you that hey, this can't be serviced in all locations.... they must have known that, right?
I think you've done a remarkable job of highlighting this issue and making me appreciate consumer protection laws in California.
The problem is.... trailers, 5th wheels, Class A and Class C motorhomes are NOT BUILT to automotive standards......
In the case of a Class B motorhome, they take a factory built cargo van and modify the inside of the vehicle without changing the outside frame or construction of the vehicle.... Plus, Class B motorhomes have airbags....all other motorhomes to the best of my knowledge do not.
You're absolutely correct...no motorhome is designed for a permanent residence full time.... even the RVIA says these are for temporary living....SO, the RV industry, in my opinion, has not done a very good job of educating people on this point.....
That doesn't mean people don't do it and choose to live in them full time... they certainly do...
I don't think it's a good idea and I wouldn't do that because of the wear and tear of the vehicle.... plus, anything that has wheels has problems... it's like an earthquake going down the road.
People have told me and I believe that they are right when they say it's either broken, about to break or you just fixed it.....
Congratulations 🎉 on retiring early..... that's fantastic...I did too. But, with our little Class B motorhome it's just too small for living full time....
Oh, nothing shocks me with the cost of RV repairs and if you thought it was expensive for the items you mentioned, realize that on a Class B motorhome everything is so tightly installed it's like working on a swiss watch to get repairs done... additional costs are incurred for the time it takes just to remove and reinstall parts. So, yeah, I definitely think that RVs are expensive depreciating assets.
As far as Camping World is concerned, I purchased accessories from them, but, I have never heard of anyone who is satisfied with their service before, during or after the sale.
My advice is not to purchase another trailer or anything else from them....fool me once shame on you...fool me twice shame on me......
I have to say that the promise of the huge network of "there's a camping world in every state" is a powerful argument..... Unfortunately, they lured you into a false assumption that this would be true.....I can easily see how attractive this was....I'm sorry you got caught up in this situation....
If anything, if there really is a law like they claim, you can just blame Texas and Gregg Abbott....
I don't like Texas, it's not doing you any favors.
Don,
Ran into the same with General RV. After years of research I bought my class A from them. They were only a few hours from our home and had 40 service bays. Bought new in Sept. took our first long trip in May and found a bunch of issues. Called General and they could not get us in until Oct. 13 months after the purchase. Yup one month out of warranty. I called and called to try and get it in and they could only get us in to look at it. Suspicious?
I had to contact REV myself (General told me it was my problem to call REV even though it was a new rig and everything was covered by 12/12 warranty) and they agreed to cover the warranty issues and extended me until I could get it done. Then the issues started. Would drop it off because they had all the parts then would get a call to pick it up or face storage. Guess what. All the repairs weren’t done. Oh sorry some parts were not in. But they told me they were. Took a friend down looking to buy while I was picking mine up and learned service and sales were not allowed to talk to one another because buyers would call their sales guys to complain. I asked for management and multiple times and they refused to let me talk to anyone but the service writer. Like you I am remote so it is hard to drop buy. Called General RV Corporate no call backs. Use NIRV exclusively now. They always treat me well. Answer calls or call back and get me in fast. On one service call I got in for large repairs in less than a week. I feel your pain!
😊Thanks for your service and see you on the road.
We bought a new class b from CW as it was on sale and the best price we could find. It's been working out fine so far and I haven't had to bring the coach back for any warranty reasons. A couple minor repairs were done on the phone consulting with the tech service on the phone. I would try to fix minor problems myself before going there and having a bad experience.
Excellent sharing cost saving information. Truly eye opening regarding the fine print and technical terms. Thanks.
I appreciate you sharing your experience with camping world. I've only had one experience and it was great. I was in Wichita, KS, and called them after lunch. My inverter was acting up, and I wasnt gonna be able to make it back to Louisiana. I told them my situation, and they squeezed me in and had me rolling before they closed. Only charged me $165. They even cleaned my house batteries.
We purchased our fifth wheel from CW! It’s all about how much money they can take from you! I swear the department share all the over charges!
these corp's exploited the pandemic. they cranked out low quality beautiful products. & a lot of corp's have merged. & that kills competition & the ability to force a quality product & service, & this was against the anti-trust law that expired & not one politician has stepped up to extend it & make it a permanent law. we need to raise a ruckus & demand our representatives to get back on the ball & protect us from these criminal companies that care nothing about their customers anymore. i am so tired of fighting for my money back from different corp's in my own life. having money taken out of my account without my consent or being tricked into consenting. they are ripping us off in a million ways in every service & retail category.
Do remember that fifth wheel and pull behind are made to camp not travel every few weeks. Things rattle and slide causing breakage. To truly go from place to place you need a motor home. It is built on a solid frame that is made to be driven. Things might move in a motor home but your floors, sides ceilings are all made to be fixed to the frame without causing the damage from being driven. Camper vans, truck toppers and small and large motor homes can usually be driven thousands of miles and has a tag like a vehicle. Camper and fifth wheels are not considered motor vehicles. That should be a huge flag when you think about traveling frequently. Anyone who buys an RV needs to know everything is expensive when you are out of warranty if it needs repair, especially if they have to remove doors, windows or even slides in order to replace items.
Thank you for your service! The first dealership we went to was Camping World, we got very annoyed with the salesperson ignoring our requests and questions. We felt really uncomfortable with the dealership in general. But, Camping World is 100% better than General RV which is ABSOLUTELY the worse. I would suggest Bish's RV if you're going with a nationwide dealership. RV Wholesalers, I've heard good things about as well.
New RVers should go and see a bunch of RVs so you're informed before going.
Wow! Thank you so much for posting. Very informative! You have saved us from making the worst decision of our lives.
I bought my Jayco from Ron Hoover in Laredo. I have it serviced at the Ron Hoover in Donna with no problem. Donna Ron Hoover does not sell Jayco, but they have never given me any problem.
Not a CW fan, but if they aren’t a dealer for a particular manufacturer then, yes, they can’t do warranty work. Sorta like buying a Yamaha generator and taking it to a Honda dealer. They can’t do warranty work. Can they work on it? Yes. Warranty? No.
I bought the RV from a Camping World who told me that I can take it to ANY Camping World nationwide and get it serviced. So either they were lying when they sold it to me or they are lying now.
Serviced Or..Warranty work?
@@gonewiththewindleys there is a difference between servicing it and being able to do warranty work. If they don’t sell that brand at that exact dealership, they usually can’t do warranty. I still wouldn’t take it to CW
Thanks for your honesty, I’m sure it has helped someone. Each one teach one!!!
Boy you really explained it well! Simplified it for me
Thank you for letting me know about that full time RVing past the 6 months I was not aware nor did I know
Don't get discouraged. It's a house on wheels things break. Back on the road and have fun. Once out of warranty shop around. Need fridge repaired. Camping world they wanted to replace. Almost 3000. Getting repaired next week. Worst case 1500
Don, we bought our trailer from camping world as well. They had the exact model and size we. Had been searching for and at a good price. I have loved shopping at their store for RV supplies for years. We bought the trailer in 2020 and like a lot of stuff built around the pandemic it had some issues show up. The hot water heater wasn't installed right so it broke off the water inlet, being under warranty I took it to their service told them what was wrong and where and that I really needed it back in 2 1/2 months they said they were busy but should have it done in a month. Almost 4 months later I had to call the head of the company to get them to finish and give me back my trailer, love there store and the sales department. But after the heater stopped working I tried another camping world service center but they told me it works fine, which it didn't I had to figure out on my own what was wrong and replace the circuit board my self. So not a fan of Camping world service centers.
Camping world and holiday world is the same company. I bought my RV used from the Holiday World that you went to. I will never walk back into that store. I did my walk through and the tanks were still full from the PO. They have hazardly cleaned the unit. I found DVD the PO left in the unit. The person giving the walk through had no idea how the systems on the unit worked.
Camping World will rip you off and then leave you hanging. You end up paying for so many other things that will leave way upside-down as soon as you sign the contract. Put quality first over the bells and whistles.
Don have to say I did my homework and early on discovered CV was the place to stay away from as far as financing and now warranty work thanks your experiences. We have a Winnebago and are very satisfied to this day. We all live and learn. Enjoy the day!!
I plan on traveling extensively in the future but simplicity is key I think. I small high quality truck campers with no slideouts. Hallmark Milner comes to mind. I heard once RV= Ruined Vacation
I had no idea, about year round an full time use. 😮
I'm glad that I wasn't the only one. 😌 "Year round" should be "All Season".
My local dealer group with 17 stores will do warranty work on any Forest River product at any of their stores that sell at least 1 Forest River brand. As a retired auto tech, I can tell you why dealers hate warranty work. Customer paying jobs simply make the shop more money. If you look at the back of the sales literature for most RV's, it even says ( In small print ) " Shop local. Dealers give service priority to their customers" ( Ones that bought there) RV repairs under warranty almost always require pre authorization and photos of the issue before they can order parts and start repairs. ( In my case, 4 months in the shop to replace a window ) Yes... Camping World So, I don't think it's a law. It's dollars and cents.
We have an older 41 ft diesel pusher. We wouldn't trade her for a new rig or even a rig built in the last 10 yes.. why? Well it's is built when they were built to last. Our cabinets are solid oak.. not pressed partical crap they put in them now. It's a single solid aluminum roof.. no rubber crappy roofs.. ohh did I say we live in Southeastern Indiana.
Elkhart, Indiana which is the rv capital builders of the country.. and still won't buy a new rv..
A solid aluminum roof!? 😳 I can only dream.
@@gonewiththewindleys .. I guess I should have said 1 piece aluminum roof. I don't think they even make them anymore..
I'm a full-time RVer
I bought an AirStream travel trailer to remodel
I've done most of this work myself
So I don't worry about warranties cuz I will fix it if I ever need to
My bathtub cost me over $3,000 to put in
I put a full size refrigerator in mine
found one that fit through my door At Lowe's I think it cost me around $300 to have it delivered and take my old one
I've had this refrigerator for 8 years
Thank you for sharing this information! We bought our travel trailer at Holiday World in Katy. As a matter of fact, we’re going to turn it in tomorrow for some warranty work.
Dude I was on the verge of buying a new RV a while back and a friend of mine that had bought one told me "don't do it" for the very reason you speak of on this video. The RV dealerships are expected to do all the quality control of the RV manufacturer and repair the stuff that got missed at the factory. He told me that out of the first 3 years he had his RV he was able to use it for a grand total of 6 months, the rest of the time it was in for warranty repairs.
Is Camping World not doing the warranty work because they don’t sell/service that specific make/model at that location? In much the same way you can’t take a Genesis to a Hyundai dealer for Genesis warranty work? Or how some GM service departments can’t work on big dually diesels despite being a GM service department. Warranty work needs to be done by a service department familiar with the make and model as far as I know per the manufacturers warranty requirements. I think Texas enforces that.
This may be true, but I have to reiterate; the Camping World sales team that sold me the RV said that I would be able to take it to ANY of their various locations to get warranty and/or services done.
I'd like to chop that fridge up and replace it with two RV fridges side by side and it's all good. That slide is staying right where it is.
Very valid points. Seems like a play on words as far as what year round means. I have never considered replacement of large items in a motor home. This was an eye opener. Now I wonder if that’s why people sell them after a certain period of time because they know what’s coming down the road? Big repairs? Thank you for sharing.
With insurance, NEVER say long time… weekends or a few weeks.
I don’t have an RV, but I’m subscribing to this guy just because he is pleasant and knowledgeable on what he is talking about.
Ive lived in my RV fulltime for 2 years not a single thing has broken so far. But id never tell them I lived in it full time. Solves that problem. Forest River doing well so far. And now that the RV craze is over prices coming way down.
I almost forgot what Uncle Don looked like without a hat. However, this whole situation is crazy and give us prospective RVers some things to consider. I previously worked in service for Mercedes Benz and there were tons of "rules" that weren't actually "rules" but more so ways to avoid situations as a business. The hourly rate then was about $175 and there was always diagnostic fees in addition the cost of the repair which included parts and labor. The service industry is crazy and I can only imagine the costs as it pertains to RVs specifically. Either way, I'm glad you guys have someone that will take care of the work. In the meantime, Just KEEP SMILING.
My Husband is a Master RV Tech at the exact Camping World that you showed in the video. We're sitting here watching this video and he's literally talking back to you through the screen, I might ask him to make a response video, lol. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us! He says Holiday World charges higher rates than surrounding - and he also says you did NOT have to remove a slide to take the fridge out...and SOOOO many other things, lol. "The year round thing!" OMG. Someone definitely should have explained these things better to you :( HIT US UP!!
It might be easier to send them an email.
I have questions too! Great informative video by the Don which has opened up a hornet’s nest of questions.
I was hoping for some answers
Does Hubby Master Tech know about the "law"?
Most dealers will take care of the people that bought their rv from them first. Flagstaff/Rockwood even states that on their website information. But, a dealer definitely can do warranty work on RV' s not purchased from them. Just like any business, they take care of their customers first.
I would have LOVED that! I purchased from Camping World, and they sent me to another dealer to get it serviced.
@@gonewiththewindleys camping world is noted for that. They are also noted for saying they have filed the warranty paperwork for approval when they haven’t done it. There is a Camping World almost in my back door, but when I decided to buy a Travel Trailer I went to a family owned dealership 30 miles away because of reviews and talking to people with personal experience doing business with them. I also visited the dealership to check out the service department and meet the manager. It is my honest opinion that researching dealers is as important or possibly more important than researching RVs. I have only had one issue with my little trailer and it was to replace the refrigerator under warranty. It took 3 weeks to get it replaced, and I did not miss one camping trip. I just used a cooler in the meantime. They called me when the refrigerator came in, let me set the appointment time and I waited in the lobby while they did the swap which took 2 hours. Researching dealers was the best thing I could have done. You know, if you have any other issues and you are traveling, it might be good to check with your manufacturer’s customer service to see if they have a list of mobile tech in your area that perform warranty work. Sometimes you have to pay the tech up front and get reimbursed, but some techs will just get the check from the manufacturer. It just depends on the RV tech.
Camping world is horrible. They delivered a Keystone 290BHS 2023 RV to me that was broken at delivery in September 2022. I had it delivered because I lived 4 plus hours from the location, working as a nurse on the naval base in key west, FL. I’m now in Miami, FL my permanent home for now thankfully I have a house to live in in Miami while working on base, there’s still no camping world locations less than 4 plus hours away. I’ve been trying to get it fixed 10 months & keep getting the run around. The tongue jack was broken at delivery & it cannot be attached to a truck to bring it to them or anywhere to fix. Front door lock broken at delivery. Sofa bed collapsed when we sat on it. Moldings, cabinets, doors broken inside at delivery! I Purchased all the insurance options & have warranty that’s about to run out. I did a 12 hour trip to the location of this one was being sold at in Florida in one day just to do the walk-through and make sure nothing was broken to PREVENT this. This has been the biggest mistake of my life. I don’t know what to do. Even at this moment they won’t help. They keep saying they will get back to me. The most they did was send a local technician, husband and wife team in Key West when I was there to fix the molding with nails and fix the screws in the cabinets but nothing else, they mostly fixed superficial items. There was a hurricane in Key West during the time, and I had no way to move my RV , luckily, nothing happened to it. Im assuming I’ll have to find a way to get it fixed using my person insurance I have it under? I’ve seen someone who got it fixed through Geico too since they were getting no help. Any help would be appreciated Im so lost at what to do, I can’t live in it or use it or even sell it or trade it in broken either.
Wow, that's crazy! I'm with you. "Year 'round" should equal all year round! Thanks for the info!!!
Don,
Our Riverstone 39 RKFB has a wider door and our double fridge will fit right through it. We are in Las Vegas now and getting ready to head North!
That's that Riverstone Life! Well made, and they stand behind what they make.
We're having our fridge replaced now 😢 camping is not for the weary. That's my biggest fear of going full time
I hope it's a smaller fridge. 🤞
I’m three years in. I’m still fighting for original warranty repairs. Everything is paid for but it still cost too much. I don’t suggest it. Winter sucks..
@Gone With The Windleys yes just a 12v hopefully soon they still haven't looked at it
What a sad story. We bought ours from a dealer up here in the PNW and I will say they have been very good. Apache RV to give them a few stars. As far as their hourly rate, that’s pretty ridiculous. My Porsche mechanic is less and they are certified by Porsche AG. I’ve found from my simple conversations with RV dealers and mechanics that their industry is hurting for qualified people. I believe pay has some to do with it. I am going to guess that none of the service people or few actually go through a real certification process yet there are a few good schools out there for rv specific work. Since I’m fairly new to it I won’t say just do everything yourself but, as far as most maintenance and much of the repairs, it can be done with minimal training. There is also a tremendous community out there that is willing to help each other.
We did some research prior to purchasing our 2010 Winnebago Tour. I found so many complaints about Camping World, there was no way I would buy from them. Months later, while going through paperwork left to us from the prior owners, we found out that they had purchased our RV From Camping World. They also had to have tons of work done on it prior to selling it to us. That's because its age was starting to show. So far, because it's an older model Winnebago and they had many of the fixes done, it hasn't been too bad. Of course next time I'll make sure the product didn't come from Camping world.
If your RV is out of warranty, you can get a mobile tech to help you. My guy charges 150 dollars an hour, is very fair with his time, and is way more experienced than your average camping world tech.
Does your guy have a website we can share?
Wow wow wow! They always find loop holes to nickel and dime you. You just saved a bunch of people a lot of money and time. Thanks for sharing . Knowledge is most definitely power. I would have never even thought of those things. Can you share what a person should look for as far as quality when purchasing one? Thanks.
Never buy from Camping World. I bought a new fifth wheel back in January and still have not been able to take delivery of it. All I get is excuses every time I call about the RV. And I have to call them, they never called me to let me know how things are going. I asked for some compensation, and all I get is crickets. And as soon as they get your money, you don’t no longer important to them is the warning never buy from Camping World. They are the worst.
When i bought my camper from CW, they charge $700 to OPEN it and have it all ready to go. To me, that should just be part of the purchase. Why should you need to pay for that? Then, after we went to use the water, we had no hot water. Not know crap about camper water systems, i dug into it and found that the bypasses were still in winterized mode. Also found the fireplace to not be working, it was unplugged back behind it. What the heck did i pay 700 bucks for?
What gets me is how long they need to fix it. They should call ya when they ready to work on it and be done in a reasonable amount of time
Just found your channel. I am considering purchasing a travel trailer for the first time. I appreciate you sharing your wisdom. Thank you very much
We're on our 13th RV we are full-time started out in some cheap ones and had some what I consider a $500,000+ country Coach and then we went back to some cheaper ones now we're in a Mobile Suites fifth wheel cheap good or bad everyone of them have problems some are just more $$$$ but all-in-all you had good information.
Wow! 13 RVs?! The most we'd heard about before was 7! Do you have a base? What do you do when it needs repair?