In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories here). We’ll tell you all: the best, the good, the bad and the ugly. At the end of this article, you’ll find a place to submit your own comments. I encourage you to do so.
Keep in mind, we typically only present one side of the story in most of these. Also, any remarks about service centers and mobile techs mentioned are the opinions of our readers and not necessarily RVtravel.com.
Here’s what you had to say:
“If I could afford it, I would give it away”
Gary H. rues the day he bought his 5th wheel. He writes, “Regret the day that we purchased our Big Country 5th wheel. It’s a 2018 40’ coach that we have spent over $10,000 in repairs so far and are currently camping with a broken refrigerator.
“If I could afford it, I would just give it away. Camping World blessed us with this piece of crap that broke on our very first trip. Had to threaten to take them to court before they would fix the problem that was covered under warranty. Their repair didn’t last a month. It has turned us off on camping and we have been camping for 54 years. I have found a very good road tech so I don’t have to go back to Camping World, but it continues to cost us a fortune.”
Went to RV show, quality of RVs was embarrassing
Dan C. went to an RV show and was embarrassed by the lack of quality. “Bought a new Jayco in 2006. It was built well. Sold about four years ago. About two months ago went to an RV show. The quality of all RVs at the show was embarrassing. Don’t buy a new RV, they’re all junk.”
Service was very good and speedy
Don W. had great service at West RV in Texas. He wrote, “I recently took my motorhome to West RV in Livingston, Texas, for annual service. They are a service-only shop. While the first appointment available was a couple of weeks out, that wasn’t too bad. I arrived at 6:30 a.m., since the crew is working this summer from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several of their technicians got on it right away. They needed one part from the auto store, so I had to wait a bit until the store opened. Everything was done and I was on my way by 10:30.
“While I was there, someone brought in a fairly new motorhome that the floor in four of the basement bays were breaking. The tech got right on it and told me that he would be done replacing and reinforcing them that afternoon. Their service was great! I will go to them again next time.”
Another 5-star service center
Anthony M. wrote to us about BackWoods RV Service Center. “I’ve found a small locally owned RV service center that is absolutely amazing. Called Backwoods RV Repair. They are on top of customer service and the work they perform. 5-star rating from me.”
It’s not the manufacturer, it’s the dealer
Stephen W. has a good dealer that fixes the issues but notes that other dealerships aren’t as good. He writes, “I have found, having owned four RVs, that it is not so much the manufacturer, (I currently own a ’16 Reflections Grand Design 313 RLTS), as it is the dealer. I try to always bring my RV back to Palm Beach RV, where I purchased it. With few exceptions, the service has always been great.
“It’s when I take it to OTHER dealers for service the issues begin. Despite having a ‘lifetime warranty’, some dealers just are not equipped with knowledgeable technicians. Add this to the fact of manufacturers are churning out units as fast as they can and living with the motto, ‘Let the dealers fix the issues,’ which escalates the problems.”
Fingers crossed
Morrison F. has his fingers crossed! Has everything fixed right now and commented, “Bought a new 2023 Bushmaster. Before we signed the papers we did a walk-through punch list. Covered every inch. Probably 30 items. Some small, some not so small. They fixed everything and we bought it. When we returned from our first trip we had three issues. Not big… they fixed them in two weeks. Out again for three months and only have one small problem. It’s our third RV. So far doing great. Fingers crossed.”
Beat it up the first year
Don T. has a good dealer and service rep. He has some advice for first-year owners. He says, “I feel very lucky that I got a GOOD dealer and a VERY GOOD service rep that takes care of me and my RV. But, I still feel the best way to ‘break in’ a new RV is to beat it up and break everything you can in the first year you own it. Everything that breaks should be repaired under warranty.
“Hopefully, with all the warranty work, the dealer will make some money and the manufacturer should start losing money on each unit. That is the only thing that will make manufacturers start implementing some quality control measures on their RVs. If enough people start taking this approach, the manufacturers might start taking notice. But again, that could be a pipe dream on my part…”
Reader’s strategy avoids lengthy delays at dealer
Neal D. shares his strategy to avoid his RV languishing in the dealer’s service center. “Our RV purchasing strategy is to purchase from larger dealers who will significantly discount the purchase price, regardless of location.
“We then exclusively go to the manufacturer’s service center while under the manufacturer’s warranty. Once that expires, then we use a service center (no sales, only service/repairs) near us for repairs/service.
“Similarly, we go to a diesel shop near us that employs a tech that has considerable experience working on RVs. He does all our service/repairs on the engine, chassis, and generator. If he needs parts that are not on hand, then he orders them and we return after they arrive.
“We never have had transmission trouble, but if our diesel tech can’t address it, then we’ll go to the nearby Allison transmission shop. Thereby, we avoid lengthy delays at dealer service departments because we bought our RV elsewhere.”
Editor’s note
Note from RVtravel.com: If hiring a mobile tech, a small or mega service center, make sure that they are experienced in the issue and have insurance in case something goes wrong. Also, check their warranty policy on the work they perform. Check reviews too and read between the lines—if the review sounds way too good to be true it might be. Compare with several reviews and not just the ones on their website.
Questions for you about RV service
Over the next few weeks, we’ll share stories of your RV service experiences. We want to know:
- Have you had good luck with great service or not so much?
- Did you get good service from knowledgeable technicians?
- Are you waiting to get into a service center or have a mobile tech come out?
- What has been the average time to get an appointment?
- Has your RV been in a service center for a while?
- Are you able to get any mobile techs to come out?
- Are the service centers able to get parts?
- When you do get the repairs done, is the price reasonable?
Please fill out the form below and tell us what your experiences have been like. It can be a horror story, an opinion about what’s going on, a positive experience, or anything else related to the topic. We want to know the great, the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Check back next week for more on RV service centers. See you then.
Last week’s RV Service Centers and Repairs Report:
##RVT1117b
Still waiting for replacement slide out awning, it’s been 2 months.
On the RV Tech side of the house, most learned their skill on your coach. Seems to be no formal training on the house side of RVs. I went to an excellent 2 year technical college and it would be perfect for the industry to develop and promote a formal education program. Automotive side is well covered, now how about the rest of the systems?
There is such a place. The National RV Training Academy has a 5 week school to Certify a Technician and 3 Weeks for training inspectors. We had a mobile tech in Abilene, TX fix our generator and he told me about the school. He said it is very hands on for different systems on the RV but not on the engine or transmission. So now we look for a mobile tech with their certification. NO I have no affiliation with the school.
PS they list their techs that have been certified on their website https://info.nrvta.com/,
In the first case Gary H says he’s been camping 54 years, if that’s true he should’ve know stay away from CW. In some of the others, Don T, dealers don’t make nearly as much money as you think on warranty work. That is heavily discounted in the contract with the manufacturer, so dealers don’t like warranty work. That is also why dealers that you buy from are the only ones you’ll find to do warranty work. Unlike the auto industry where any dealer selling that brand is required to provide warranty coverage, RVs don’t come under that law. Being non-essential vehicles they don’t meet the laws about warranty work. Talk to you congressman.
Thanks for the reports Nanci!
On Don W’s comment about West RV in Livingston, TX., I have never used West RV, but Livingston is the home of the Escapees RV Club. We are 22 year members and of course have parked at the Escapees RV Park. West is definetly the “go to place for the members while in Livingston or have fulltime lots there.
While many owners have had lousy service from some dealers, I believe the vast percentage of owners receive adequate or excellent service. I always considered the service capability of a dealer my #1 factor as to where to buy an RV. Lastly, I only wish owners would stop making these “once over the world” comments. I.e. “…..went to RV show and….all RVs there were junk…”. Owner should have qualified the “junk” with words like “RVs that I could afford were junk.” Because not all RVs are junk. iMO
Morrison F. are you talking about a Braxton Creek Bushwhacker? Never heard of a Bushmaster…
Thank you, Nanci. Update on Northgate Parts. We had a leak during a trip last week. It caused a couple of small puddles on the dash. We looked at roof, marker lights, etc, and washed the RV without finding source or the leak returning. Took the RV to Northgate Parts and they found two areas without caulk and caulked them. Service Manager Harvey said took 5 minutes to find & fix, so no charge, but please come back; and we WILl! We barely had time to eat breakfast before the RV was done. Left home at 7, appt @8, and home before 10. 🙂