How far is too far?

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aclass

Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2021
Posts
13
Location
Blue Ridge Mtns VA
First time buyer here, the wife and I have been studying and looking for over a year now.
We've picked out the unit we want but can never find one locally so how concerned should we be about buying from a dealer several hours away?
How do warranty items work? Is the requirement to return to the purchasing dealer for warranty items?
I'm reasonably handy so can most likely fix and maintain the small stuff. In the event of an appliance failure or something big is what I'm concerned about.

Hope this isnt a stupid question and thank in advance.
 
It depends on the brand, but for the most part warranty work can be done at the selling dealer, or sometimes at the factory. Be aware RV warranty work is not like with a car, and often takes months for even the simple stuff to get fixed. This is one reason why I would never buy a new RV, and instead would buy a used one where someone else has already gotten all the bugs shaken out.
 
Nothing says that if you buy "locally" and you have an issue arise on your new camper that you could be a couple thousand miles away from home when "it" happens. What do you do then?

I think it's all a matter of your own comfort level how far you are willing to travel for the initial purchase.

About warranty work? 90% of all your warranty work you'll want done, you can fix yourself. The other 10% will truly be items beyond your time, talent, space to do the repair, tools, or cost. That 10% happens, well .... anywhere? And always at an inconvenient time.

About warranty work? Who does the work seems to be decisions made at each dealership / repair shop location. Being from Indiana where the RV competition is on-going between the many dealerships, all located within a reasonable driving distance, those dealerships that sell the same brand, although not purchased from them, seem to honor the warranties. At least, the 2 different shops I deal with do.

Unless you get an extended warranty, after the first year, the manufacturer's warranty will be over anyway. You may have warranty on the various appliances or components (like the frame or axles) that is longer than 1 year. If that is the case, then any dealership (should) work with you.

But if your camper is out of the warranty period, you are going to pay the bill yourself. I've NEVER had any problems getting a service reservation when I was paying the bill myself or an insurance claim.

The best you can do before you purchase, is to check with your closest dealership and ask questions what you can expect from them if you purchase elsewhere.
 
aclass said:
First time buyer here, the wife and I have been studying and looking for over a year now.
We've picked out the unit we want but can never find one locally so how concerned should we be about buying from a dealer several hours away?
How do warranty items work? Is the requirement to return to the purchasing dealer for warranty items?
I'm reasonably handy so can most likely fix and maintain the small stuff. In the event of an appliance failure or something big is what I'm concerned about.

Hope this isnt a stupid question and thank in advance.
Click to expand...
If you are considering buying any type of rv from one of the rapid production brands of sticks and staples and buy one solely because you want an rv with a warranty, well you have simular odds of going to a casino and pulling a one armed bandit if you need something fixed. Thats just the nature of the business. If you are miles away from the selling business, then your odds of getting another dealer selling a simular brand to work on it under warranty is less than winning the lottery. Of course you can seek out other buyers and ask them about their experiences.
 
Five feet is too far for me to go to any dealer for an RV. I buy used from a private party and either fix it myself or hire a mobile mechanic. Much less hassle.
 
I bought from a dealer with several locations. The location closest to my house was $2000.00 higher than the next closest, which was 1 1/2 hrs away. The closer dealer has been doing the warranty work, but I don't have "preferred status " when it comes to appointments
 
I have not had good luck with getting warranty items addressed, even major ones. I'll put it that way. But it's still something to stand on, versus not, so that you don't end up footing the bill for a major defect, or owning a problem, long term. For that reason, I think a warranty is still advantageous.
 
If you are not very handy, if you don't have a very good selection of tools, if you don't like working on plumbing, electrical, mechanical systems, and everything else that makes up your RV, you might want to think long and hard as to whether or not you really want to get into RV'ing.

Problems will pop up when you're on the road. That's a given. While it's great to think that a licensed dealer for your new RV will rush to the scene, the reality is far different. If you can fix things after you've pulled over, and into a safe area, you'll be fine. If you can't, you may be in for a very long wait for help to arrive. Then, things may get worse when you find your repair job may see you becoming a short or long-term resident of a town very far away from yours.

I'm sorry to take such a negative approach, here, but most RV's are of fair to very poor construction, right off the line. I buy new, and take it as fact that I'll spend the first few months messing with various issues. Only once, when I received a new RV with a bent awning arm, did I call the dealer, who sent a guy to my place, an hour from the dealership. Even then, I worked with the guy for about two hours to fix the problem. The good guy Service Manager only lasted two years at the crappy dealer. Figures!

There are many tales of warranty work hell, out there. Search around, in here, and you'll find some.
 
Last edited:
aclass said:
Is the requirement to return to the purchasing dealer for warranty items?
Click to expand...
Your question is a valid one and I'll try and answer as accurately as possible. I have bought new from a dealer 4 times over the years. In theory, any dealer for the brand that you buy can do warranty work on your RV but if you buy out of the area when there is a local dealer you may well find that the local guy is reluctant to do work for you because he knows that you went out of the area to buy from someone else. Dealers are reimbursed by the manufacturer for warranty work but it is usually at a lower rate than what they charge to the public, which is to some degree a justification for this reluctance. Most dealers will treat an owner who is traveling better than one who lives nearby and bought elswhere.

When it comes to appliances, those can be reparied under warranty by pretty much any RV dealer or by a service only or mobil RV tech. Just be sure to let them know when you call that it is a warranty issue as there will be a few cases where they aren't factory authorized and can't do warranty. We bought a class A from a dealer that was 120 miles away from our home and did return it to the selling dealer for warranty work on 2 occasions, after discovering that the local dealer was very slow to help us. You will hear a lot of stories about how bad new RV are and how it is better to buy used, but haveing bought both ways I still prefer to buy new, in most cases, but that is another discussion.

I would advice you to consider the amount you will save or the problems of what you want buy traveling versus buying locally. In our case, traveling 120 miles allowed us to save more than $6k over the best price offered by the local dealer and for us it was well worth the travel for warranty work. If you are traveling because there is no local dealer for the RV that you want, then consider the amount that you want to chosen RV versus what you could by locally. For me, as long as the travel isn't excessive, I would make the trip to get what I want. Only you can make that choice but you probably will need to go back to the selling dealer at least one of two times in the first year. I also suggest that you bring that issue up to the salesperson that you are working with and if they make any promices, be sure that said promices are written into the sales contract if you buy.
 
Unlike a car warranty, RV dealers are only required to do warranty work on what they sell. They can do warranty work on others if they want, but many do not do so, or do it only grudgingly. If you are traveling and have a breakdown, many dealers will help out, but if you buy out of town and then ask the local dealer to service it (warranty or not), don't be surprised if he defers it or outright refuses. Many of them are strictly in the sales business and do service only when unavoidable.

You should give serious consideration to buying used, but if there is only one model you are interested in your options are limited regardless.
 
It seems based on reports here and on other forums, service at even the selling dealer is mixed. Not sure how much value a warranty has when it could be months before they can "get you in".

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
 
aclass said:
First time buyer here, the wife and I have been studying and looking for over a year now.
We've picked out the unit we want but can never find one locally so how concerned should we be about buying from a dealer several hours away?
How do warranty items work? Is the requirement to return to the purchasing dealer for warranty items?
I'm reasonably handy so can most likely fix and maintain the small stuff. In the event of an appliance failure or something big is what I'm concerned about.

Hope this isnt a stupid question and thank in advance.
Click to expand...
If you are buying new and from a chain and have studied so long, is it possible to order one in nearby and wait?

Kirk has the most complete response on warranty. I never really consider the warranty too much. If I was buying new I probably would want then to be able to fix anything beyond my capabilities near by.

With the RV, I buy used and it's a non-factor. I fix everything myself.

I just bought a manufactured home. I have found a litany of things wrong. I have 60 days to present the defect list for basically anything I deem an issue even cosmetic. They will relevel the home in 6 months and the warranty on the assembly, workmanship and appliances is 1 year. Foundation, roof & HVAC have separate 10 year warranties.

I am an impatient guy and the minor stuff I am just fixing as I go. Toilet supply pipe (completely) missing, toilet valves not adjusted properly, a couple of lighting issues, some moldings coming loose. Some cabinet drawer slides not closing right.

I am listing it all but I am also ticking off what I am doing so the seller can see the whole picture.
 
One additional thing to consider is what dealers like to call and extended warranty. Those are not actually a warranty at all but an isurnace policy on the RV for possible future repairs. I suggest that you read this article from Escapees Magazine before you make that decision. If you do buy one, make sure to get one that covers everything that is not specifically listed as not covered, rather than one that covers only the listed items.
 
aclass said:
How do warranty items work?
Click to expand...
Very poorly. I am still waiting for some parts to come in that were missing on my new RV--Since September of 2021! But all small stuff that I can live without. And the COVID shutdowns probably had a lot to do with these delays. Small stuff such as several missing lug nut caps for the wheels.

Even during a warranty period, I will often fix stuff myself instead of dealing with the dealers. An example is when two of my levelling pads fell off on my first long trip. I replaced them myself at my own cost, instead of dealing with the dealer's warranty BS.

-Don- Auburn, CA
 
DonTom said:
Very poorly. I am still waiting for some parts to come in that were missing on my new RV--Since September of 2021! But all small stuff that I can live without. And the COVID shutdowns probably had a lot to do with these delays. Small stuff such as several missing lug nut caps for the wheels.

Even during a warranty period, I will often fix stuff myself instead of dealing with the dealers. An example is when two of my levelling pads fell off on my first long trip. I replaced them myself at my own cost, instead of dealing with the dealer's warranty BS.

-Don- Auburn, CA
Click to expand...
I bet you could find those lug nut covers at a big truck stop somewhere. The really big stops usually have all those gee-gaws that appeal to the truckers who like to dress up their rigs. Heck, get you a set of those spear-point ones that seem to be the rage lately. :cool:
 
Isaac-1 said:
It depends on the brand, but for the most part warranty work can be done at the selling dealer, or sometimes at the factory. Be aware RV warranty work is not like with a car, and often takes months for even the simple stuff to get fixed. This is one reason why I would never buy a new RV, and instead would buy a used one where someone else has already gotten all the bugs shaken out.
Click to expand...
Just be careful not to buy a used one from someone like my grandfather. It might be 'fixed', but it's probably far from ideal...
 
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