Hi all! We recently bought a 2016 Jay Series 1007UD, new, and ended up having a nightmare of a vacation. I?d be really grateful for any advice on what options we might have for handling it.
Sorry if this is a bit long (and I?ll try to explain the mechanical stuff as best I can ? I?m learning as I go?)
My husband picked the trailer up four days before a planned trip and went through the dealer orientation, but didn?t focus on the condition at the time as he was making sure he properly learned everything he needed to know (and had our two young kids in tow). Later that evening, we set it up and at that point realized that there were gouges in the interior panelling, stains on the speakers, burnt out bulbs inside, and outside there were several areas on the roof with cracked and peeling sealant, the Jayco decal was torn, and the water heater door didn?t close tightly. Nothing (aside from the sealant) seemed like a big deal, but odd for a brand new unit, we thought.
We contacted the dealer, and they said to send photos but to go ahead on our trip as planned and they would take care of it on our return. We were hesitant (especially about the sealant) but headed out as planned. Around 4pm on our first day on the road, one of the trailer wheels started smoking, and when we pulled over the bearing cap exploded off it like it was shot from a gun.
We spent the next four days stranded, most of our time being either on the phone with Coachnet, waiting for tows, waiting for someone to be able to do the repairs, and then ultimately being towed 200km back, and being stranded another day and a half while the repairs were being done.
It turned out to be the brake line, which they fixed, but while they were working on it they also discovered that the water tank was cracked and unusable but could not be repaired that as they would have to wait several days for parts, and there was significant water damage under the roof in the areas where the sealant was cracked.
We also learned (while waiting 4 days stranded in the rain) that the awning had been installed upside down so was unusable (as of course was the add-a-room).
We ultimately were unable to reach our destination, as we had to return home to return to work.
Buying the trailer was a very big decision for us, and we?re extremely frustrated in the outcome. We made the decision to buy a trailer after many years of tenting based on specific conveniences that the upgrade would bring, and after much deliberation chose to go with a new unit over used assuming that this would assure us a smooth experience. We?re prepared of course for all kinds of issues on a trip ? the weather can be awful, people can get ill, etc, but we never imagined that on our first day on the road in a brand new trailer there would be major issues with the functionality, causing us to not only be stranded for days and not make our destination, but also making that time frustrating and difficult.
Arranging a week off to go away as a family is next to impossible, and we spent what felt like an awful lot of money to us in order to have a much-wanted vacation at the ocean. Spending it instead stuck with two young kids and a dog in a remote area of Quebec sitting in parking lots, waiting for tows, and hours on the phone with Jayco and Coachnet (and even the time not on the phone was lost as they needed us to be constantly available to receive calls from them) was challenging beyond words. We were unable to spend much time together during the days, and evenings were even more frustrating due to the awning making us unable to cook or spend time outdoors due to the weather.
We tried our best to make the best of what time we did have, and I know I sound whiny and spoiled, but honestly the moments where we were able to be together actually vacationing were extremely minimal, and we're completely disillusioned, frustrated, and sad. There won?t be another opportunity for us to go away again like that for several years.
I know that Jayco will cover the tow, repairs, and (I believe?) some of the cancellation fees for things we had booked, but I?m not sure that we even want this trailer at this point. The dealer may be willing to replace it with another of the same unit, but I?m wondering whether we aren?t potentially entitled to something more than just not being out of pocket for the problems (though I?ve no idea what). Am I being unreasonable because I?m just so sad right now? Or would the dealer (or Jayco?) possibly have the ability to somehow make up for some of our inconvenience?
Sorry if this is a bit long (and I?ll try to explain the mechanical stuff as best I can ? I?m learning as I go?)
My husband picked the trailer up four days before a planned trip and went through the dealer orientation, but didn?t focus on the condition at the time as he was making sure he properly learned everything he needed to know (and had our two young kids in tow). Later that evening, we set it up and at that point realized that there were gouges in the interior panelling, stains on the speakers, burnt out bulbs inside, and outside there were several areas on the roof with cracked and peeling sealant, the Jayco decal was torn, and the water heater door didn?t close tightly. Nothing (aside from the sealant) seemed like a big deal, but odd for a brand new unit, we thought.
We contacted the dealer, and they said to send photos but to go ahead on our trip as planned and they would take care of it on our return. We were hesitant (especially about the sealant) but headed out as planned. Around 4pm on our first day on the road, one of the trailer wheels started smoking, and when we pulled over the bearing cap exploded off it like it was shot from a gun.
We spent the next four days stranded, most of our time being either on the phone with Coachnet, waiting for tows, waiting for someone to be able to do the repairs, and then ultimately being towed 200km back, and being stranded another day and a half while the repairs were being done.
It turned out to be the brake line, which they fixed, but while they were working on it they also discovered that the water tank was cracked and unusable but could not be repaired that as they would have to wait several days for parts, and there was significant water damage under the roof in the areas where the sealant was cracked.
We also learned (while waiting 4 days stranded in the rain) that the awning had been installed upside down so was unusable (as of course was the add-a-room).
We ultimately were unable to reach our destination, as we had to return home to return to work.
Buying the trailer was a very big decision for us, and we?re extremely frustrated in the outcome. We made the decision to buy a trailer after many years of tenting based on specific conveniences that the upgrade would bring, and after much deliberation chose to go with a new unit over used assuming that this would assure us a smooth experience. We?re prepared of course for all kinds of issues on a trip ? the weather can be awful, people can get ill, etc, but we never imagined that on our first day on the road in a brand new trailer there would be major issues with the functionality, causing us to not only be stranded for days and not make our destination, but also making that time frustrating and difficult.
Arranging a week off to go away as a family is next to impossible, and we spent what felt like an awful lot of money to us in order to have a much-wanted vacation at the ocean. Spending it instead stuck with two young kids and a dog in a remote area of Quebec sitting in parking lots, waiting for tows, and hours on the phone with Jayco and Coachnet (and even the time not on the phone was lost as they needed us to be constantly available to receive calls from them) was challenging beyond words. We were unable to spend much time together during the days, and evenings were even more frustrating due to the awning making us unable to cook or spend time outdoors due to the weather.
We tried our best to make the best of what time we did have, and I know I sound whiny and spoiled, but honestly the moments where we were able to be together actually vacationing were extremely minimal, and we're completely disillusioned, frustrated, and sad. There won?t be another opportunity for us to go away again like that for several years.
I know that Jayco will cover the tow, repairs, and (I believe?) some of the cancellation fees for things we had booked, but I?m not sure that we even want this trailer at this point. The dealer may be willing to replace it with another of the same unit, but I?m wondering whether we aren?t potentially entitled to something more than just not being out of pocket for the problems (though I?ve no idea what). Am I being unreasonable because I?m just so sad right now? Or would the dealer (or Jayco?) possibly have the ability to somehow make up for some of our inconvenience?