Note: RV Service Center column will be moving to every other week to allow more room for other great articles.
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:
People complain about Camping World, but this one saved his vacation
Tom Y. wrote to tell us about his good experience at Camping World. “I had a trip planned for over a year to go to Oshkosh for the air show. The week before I was scheduled to leave, the hydraulic lines developed a massive leak. I called Camping World of Garner, NC, on July 4th and explained my problem and vacation plans. They directed me to bring the MH in the following Monday, July 8th. Late Monday afternoon they called and said my MH would be ready the following morning. I know a lot of people complain about Camping World, but Camping World of Garner and Mike Reyes’s quick action ensured I was able to continue with my vacation plans. Outstanding job!!”
Experience at Rocklin, CA, Camping World is good, too
D G. writes to us about his experience with Camping World, too. “Well, it is interesting reading some of the comments. My experience with Camping World in Rocklin, CA (before they closed shop) was good. I had them install a complete Banks exhaust system on my previous 454ci Class A RV, new airbag suspension, and a few other minor things. No issues. Then, they started the downward spiral leading to the eventual closing of doors. I’ve also purchased a bunch of stuff from them over the years … no issues again. I especially liked the peach ring candy they sold there! Ha!”
Wouldn’t go to Camping World if he broke down in front of it!
Roger G. is not a fan of Camping World and he writes, “I would never go in a Camping World for service even if I broke down in front of one. Traded a 6-month-old Forest River at a $30k loss for a Tiffin so I can drive 800 miles for factory service. This is because of past experiences with Camping World.”
Reader asks for help
Jeff A. was told his r-pod needs a new circuit board but none are available. He writes, “Forest River r-pod 178 Dometic RM 8501 [refrigerator] stopped working, blowing fuses. I was told it needs a new circuit board, special order, costing $1,200 USD—says my Canadian service center. Nothing in stock, doesn’t make a board for this model. Forest River has no solutions. Help?!”
New tires and wheel bearing repack was nice experience at this RV service center
Paul S. recommends his RV dealer. He wrote, “Recently got four new tires and wheel bearing repack at our local Quietwoods RV dealer in Sturgeon Bay, WI. It was a nice experience. Appointment made, dropped it off on time, great follow-up text info as to when, how much, and time ready. ALL GOOD.”
One bad thing after another
Leah R. writes with a long, long list of issues with her 2022 Forest River XLT camper. This one makes me appreciate the small issues with our RV!
She writes, “The manufacturer and dealership have both denied the existence of recalls associated with the 2022 FOREST RIVER XLT camper series or its components: Lippert Recall 22E-055, Lippert/Forest River Safety Chain Replacement 21V-059, LP System Quick Disconnects 22V-243 (part 573), etc.
“Week one: major electrical fire within the walls—requiring removal of appliances by FD/ use of chemical powder extinguisher throughout the unit. Black mold is present. Indications of flood damage. Major damage is/was present prior to the sale requiring repairs. The dealership “fixed” the unit by making multiple claims to the manufacturer’s warranty. These claims were paid to the dealership by the manufacturer.
“The unit has faulty tank sensors, hot water system malfunctions, propane leak (with alarms), LP connection cracks. Non-factory A/C unit is damaged and inoperable. Unable to use appliances/stove/elect. The upgraded entertainment system has never worked. The roof is compromised: rotted, and visible inside unit walls and ceiling (multiple, prior repairs). It is missing ventilation. The slide out is ripping away from the structure and there are large gaps in the side allowing for a bug infestation.
“The shower booth has not been bolted properly and components are improperly installed. Seals are dry-rotted, missing, and broken throughout. Skylights are cracked and attempted repairs are evident. Mold and evidence of wood rotting is dripping from the ceiling. Rust, rot and rain inside the unit due to skylights and seal failure. The unit is mechanically unsound due to axles, connections, floor support straps: rusting through and broken. Visible holes where expanding foam was used and has fallen out. The awning arms are unstable and cannot be properly secured. The rear arm snapped off causing the entire system to lock in the extended position. The awning material was not attached properly to the rollers. It arrived with dry rot, holes and extensive fraying. The front entry door cannot be secured properly due to unit framing warping.
“Have had to pay a mobile technician to make adjustments so the door could be closed/secured. Doors were reinstalled, incorrectly, prior to purchase. Multiple, upgraded, components were removed completely, or replaced with substandard components. CIRV-JAX [Campers Inn RV, Jacksonville, FL] has been continuously updated with details, images, videos. The on-site service technician completed the work order, but the dealership took no further action.
“GM stated unit is new and that they legally ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE DAMAGE/REPAIRS made prior to purchase. Campers Inn, initially, was unavailable. Calls were placed on eternal hold, dropped, and my messages were ignored. Informed that the entire staff was unavailable due to training or personal commitments for multiple months. GM (Ken) stated that the warranty denied repairs and I would be responsible. He now claims we refused repairs (*at our expense) due to damages claimed on the warranty prior to the purchase.
“Unit is unsafe to transport: awning arm snapped off/locked in down position, tow lip/axles/flooring—structurally compromised. Camper’s Inn RV refuses future assistance. Forest River has stated: All damages are responsibility of the dealership.
“Camper’s Inn made untrue and slanderous claims against us in their response to the BBB. They refuse to respond to any agency contact. Unit is paid in full and [we] carry an insurance policy for a camper that has been certified as unsafe and unrepairable. Unit has flooded due to faulty/missing plumbing connections repaired from flooding. The unit has, again, caught on fire. Electric tongue jack has seized. Shower stall/plumbing improperly installed—sewer fly infestation under shower pan!
“Fun fact: Apparently our camper is a 2022, manufactured in 2021, using a 2020 floor plan… This is the explanation given for our floor plan not being 2022 and there being parts from 2017–2020 installed in it!”
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:
##RVT1173
I’ve had numerous folks, including my late brother who was an RV tech, say “NEVER buy a Forest River product.”
Grumpy, we RV in a 2023 Georgetown and although it’s had a generous complement of problems, they’ve all been relatively trivial and within my ability to field repair.
We looked at hundreds of rigs and selected the aforementioned not because of great quality but because it had the fewest visible problems on the lot. The first three months of ownership was a crap shoot but the 4 month trip we just completed was practically fault free.
To be candid, most of my failures have resulted from faulty Lippert products, not how they were attached….
I would agree 150%.
I’ve owned 4 trailers all from different manufacturers. My Forest River Rockwood Mini-Lite was far and above the worst of the bunch. It was brand new, but something happened on EVERY single trip because a component or part was installed incorrectly at the factory. We spent so many hours of our camping trips repairing something just so we could use the camper. When you do your own repairs, you find out how something is built, and we were shocked at the crappy workmanship. A lot of people rave about their Rockwoods, but boy did we get a lemon.
sorry to hear that about your unit. We have a flagstaff 21 FBRS 2019 and it has been a peach. There have been a few things, minor and quickly correctable. Plan on keeping this unit for a while
Leah’s experience sounds like the ultimate nightmare.
It also sounds like she bought it cash up front, as-is/where-is, sight unseen and with a promise to keep regardless. If the damage was preexisting and she bought it anyway…..
We have a 2022 Gulf Stream TT from Camper’s Inn RV (this is a large dealership chain). What we bought and paid in full for was a same model 2021 unit, including a fee to have the unit moved from one dealership to another for final delivery. It was winter, no rush as we also had an agreement for early spring delivery. Rather than use a commercial shipper which we paid for, they decided to tow it themselves. They choose the day after an ice storm and totalled our 2021 unit. It got really close to a lawsuit when C.I. caved and supplied a 2022.
Thank you, Nanci! 🙂 I advise Jeff A to address his plea to all the relevant groups on iRV2. There are many experienced and knowledgable people who frequent the various boards and he is likely to get help there. Leah’s lengthy tale of problems certainly highlights the value of hiring a good RV inspector. I do not know how easily those are found, but a few have YouTube channels. I just don’t know if being on YouTube is a point in their favor or against them. 🤔 Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I found one in Dec by going on the internet and search for a certified RV inspector near the dealership. There were four, but none of them had a good resume or information on their web page. The one I hired did a good job, but I found a couple things an inspector wouldn’t have found.
Note to Jeff A: Try Ebay with part numbers and also Rv salvage yards for unavailable factory parts from dealers etc..
Leah R’s situation is apparently the result of a great deal of understandable frustration turning into hostility. When that happens things usually deteriorate to what appears to be the current state with communication no longer possible. Interestingly she has had two fire events and the unit hasn’t been destroyed!?
“Wouldn’t go to Camping World if he broke down in front of it!” Join the club