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:
Mighty big coincidence
Sandra D. wrote to us about a disturbing experience at an RV shop. She said, “I had a recent experience getting work done at a large RV shop (but not a chain or franchise brand). The employees here were great and did terrific, albeit expensive, work. The owner on the other hand attempted to scare me into thinking the rig needed thousands of dollars of work that it didn’t. He claimed it was taking on major water and leaking, even though I could not see it. It’s funny how the previous three RV repair facilities and the one who worked on it after this saw no such evidence.
“Even worse, the man’s own employees took me aside when he left the room (and I am so grateful they did) and said while I needed some maintenance it was nothing immediate or serious. They diplomatically tried to explain that their boss always presents the ‘worst-case scenario’. It gets worse. Despite having no leaks before the service, which, other than a hot water heater flush, had nothing to do with plumbing, within days of leaving this shop my RV mysteriously had five, count them five, leaks. Can I prove they did something? No, but it is a mighty big coincidence.”
Good Sam not as widely accepted as advertised
John F. thought he was covered under warranty until he was not. He wrote, “The tech did 30 minutes of work for $500 of labor. Replacing the tongue jack on my Airstream Classic takes, like, 10 minutes based on YouTube videos. I would have done it myself but Good Sam will cover it so I had the RV center where we store it do the work.
They charged over $1,000. $500 for the jack and $500 for labor. But they don’t deal with Good Sam anymore because Good Sam doesn’t like their rates. So, looks like I just am out $1,000 plus the hassle that apparently Good Sam is not as widely accepted as they advertise.”
Get the manuals, how-to books, and DIY
Forbes P. has great suggestions for avoiding dealer service centers. He writes, “I have had RVs since 1967 and have done most of the repairs myself. The best suggestion is to get the manuals, how-to books, and some tools and learn to do it yourself. You normally get a good job, know what was done, and have some satisfaction. I have some friends that won’t go near a dealership without asking me first, and we usually do it together.”
Get recommendations
Cynthia B. has some good advice for finding service. She wrote, “Here in southwest Idaho, we’ve had a good experience with our RV needs. We ask around and get recommendations from family, friends, and people in the industry. By the same token, we know who to avoid. The labor rates are posted and seem to have gone up about 50 percent over the past five years. We’ve been getting quality work for a fair price, just the same, for the past 25 years.”
DIY success
Mike C. proves that sometimes DIY is the easiest and cheapest way to go. He wrote, “Needed new A/C fan, after I broke the old one cleaning out an ant nest. The dealer told me $95 for the fan and 1-hour labour at $75.
“Instead, I bought a fan on Amazon for $30, and up on the roof I went to put it on. Took a whole two minutes from start to finish. What a bunch of crooks.”
“Don’t bring it back”
Mark K. writes to us about a dealer who did the service but doesn’t want them back! He shares, “We have a 450 Ford and Forest River Sun Seeker. Took it to a Ford dealer. They grumbled about the size. We wanted a state inspection done. Waited about a month for it to be done. No repairs, or problems, just inspection and sticker. Gave us the runaround. When we went to get it, they said, ‘Don’t bring it back.’ Makes you think they are independently wealthy and don’t need our business.”
Turned down the job
Mark M. had a similar experience when the Ford dealer wouldn’t work on their RV. He said, “‘Tech doesn’t want to’ isn’t just for trailers. I have a motorhome on a Ford chassis and a Ford dealership turned me down for a job because ‘my guys don’t like to work on them.'”
Hats off to this Indiana service center
Don G. tells us about the outstanding service he received. “I bought a new Winnebago Class A diesel pusher in 2017 and, as most of us find when buying new, there were several small issues that needed fixing. The nearest authorized service center was Ben Davis RV in Auburn, Indiana. (I did not buy it from them, as they don’t deal in the larger Class A’s.) It was in to them seven times over the three years while it was under warranty. Each time they did the repairs in a timely manner (it was never in ‘the shop’ longer than two weeks), and the repairs were done right. Hats off to service manager Ron Whitman and lead tech Greg for outstanding customer service.”
LOOKING FOR GOOD SERVICE CENTERS, DEALERS AND MOBILE TECHS?
Here’s a list, updated weekly, of RVtravel.com readers’ recommendations.
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
We’ll continue to 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 Service Centers and Repairs Report:
##RVT1144
No FORD dealer in the Florida Panhandle will work on any Ford powered RV. Not even an oil change. Walmart will change your oil.
Wonder where the Ford warranty claims go?
I think those are just the challenges of an incomplete vehicle that is completed by an RV builder. The RV dealers may not be trained or approved to do warranty or maintenance on chassis or engines. And the commercial truck shops may not want to touch an RV because unlike a commercially built and completed body installed on a truck chassis, it is a whole other animal to work on and access stuff the RV builder made impossible to get at. Myself, I would see if shops that work on passenger buses could service it.
The R/F ABS Wheel Speed Sensor in my 2023 Georgetown failed in less than 6,000 miles. It is a plug and play sensor meaning no tools required for replacement or calibration. The part has been on backorder since November yet Ford is still delivering F53 chassis. That tells you where Ford prioritizes their warranty…..
From a friend who recently sold his Ford dealership and retired. RVs are very unique and the manufacturers regularly make changes in the wiring and other systems that his mechanics would not be aware of. This makes his servicing them difficult at best. He did tell me that he did not know of any RV dealers that were approved by Ford to make warranty repairs or perform recall work. That work needs to be done by a Ford authorized service provider. Most dealers do not have lifts, tooling or training to work on the F53 chassis.
Can’t say as I blame Good Sam for not paying those high rates. $500 for a tongue jack and $500 to replace it are both WAY too high. I wouldn’t have paid that much either.
I bought a new vehicle from Ben Davis Ford and use their service department for the maintenence on it. They also treat me fairly and do very good work. Looks like I need to check out their RV service department!
Thank you, Nanci! The stories don’t seem as bad lately. Are you seeing that? If so, then maybe it is a seasonal thing because fewer people may be traveling currently. Or maybe people are better at finding better service. Safe travels! 🙂
It would be helpful to the rest of us to know the names of the RV shops that do such poor work so we can avoid them! It’s not libel if it happened.
Sounds like John F didn’t follow the normal procedure with extended warranties, which would be to get pre-approval for work. Now, I’m no fan of anything “Marcus Lemonis” controlled or run, but to be fair most warranty companies require being contacted upfront. $500 labor to replace a jack sounds pretty crazy.