Newbie - could use advice

[LindaLyles1]

Hello, I am buying a Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s and wonder about the extended warranty. Sales "says" that if anything goes wrong bumper to bumper in 7 years they will come to me to fix. I have never heard of anything like this and all the reviews I read show dissatisfaction with warranty service. Would someone let me know their experience with this?

[LindaLyles1]

Could use spelling lesson also!

[spock123]

I would run away from the extended warranty. I brought one from Camping World that's not worth the paper it's written on, $2500 bucks.

[spock123]

All dealer profits,

[RV_Fan44]

I suppose it depends on what the actual warranty is...I assume they vary from place to place?

[NMWildcat]

We had an extended warranty from XtraRide. Platinum level, 5 years. It covered everything except regular maintenance items. We used it all over the western US. Never had a problem with it, and we definitely got our moneys worth. We used it at dealers, Camping World, and certified independents. I would do it again if I ever buy another new rig.

Just ensure you can use it anywhere, not just the selling dealer.

[rockfordroo]

As reported in some of these FRF threads, some of these extended warranties make you come in every year for "service," for which they charge you. So you pay for the warranty and then you pay for the service. They get you twice!

I know that Consumer Reports and other similar groups do NOT recommend extended warranties. As spock said: "All dealer profits."

[Flybob]

You need to read it very carefully. Most of these have lots of disclaimers and when the time comes to use them, they deny the claim for some fine print. In most cases they are only dealer profit and a way to reassure you during the buying process. In addition if you do get warranty work covered, they pay way below going rates so your unit will sit and sit until all the full price work is done. Unless you are someone who is not capable of simple repairs, I would stay away. You can replace most of the major appliances for the cost. Some require you take unit to an authorized service facility once a year for annual maintenance. This usually runs $300-$400 a year once they add in the "things we noticed that needed to be fixed". All of the appliances are covered under the OEM manufacturers warranty ( some more than 1 yr) and you can go to any authorized service facility. Do not sign it at purchase, take it home and read it and ask questions here.

[SailorSam20500]

I agree with all the above on most extended warranties. With that said, Rockwood and Flagstaff used to offer a second year warranty. I've read that it may have been discontinued but if it is still available, many have said that it was a good deal.

[helferdm]

We've had nothing but good experience with the 7-year warranty we bought with our Berkshire (coach only, does not cover chassis). It has more than paid for itself with the few, but always expensive, repairs we've required. As others have noted, pay particular attention to exclusions. Our bumper-to-bumper chassis extended warranty excludes the emission system, for example, which was a $6,200 hit. On the other hand, the coach warranty paid all but $100 for a slide and electrical repair which would have cost us $5,500 and another $100 paid for a $1,500 furnace fix. I won't be w/o one. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[spock123]

Forest River stopped the second year warranty

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by spock123

Forest River stopped the second year warranty

With the apparent reduction in quality control, the 2nd yr warranty must have started costing them money instead of making them money!

[spock123]

You are probably right. All the RV manufacturers are selling a ton of campers, Forest River too. Quality is bound to drop. Cedar Creek had only been working four days a week and now they work five. But they are selling campers now, there is a backlog.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by RV_Fan44

I suppose it depends on what the actual warranty is...I assume they vary from place to place?

We took the second year FR warranty for $200. Our concern was maybe a major structural problem that didn't show up in out first year with 26 days use. Good peace of mind that I would pay for again. So far all the problems came up in the first 12 month cost FR about $1000.00 if my snooping at the paperwork was accurate. This year, third month of second year past with no issues, but still peace of mind.

[Svtyone]

The warrenty we got usually runs for 5 years. But being a factory order the dealer extended it for 6 years that way we get our full 5 years after the factory runs out also we got the superior package which covers everything except accidental damage. Even cosmetic features. And since we got the superior plan we don't have to have annual inspections done. Read a lot of fine print and it reads exactly as the dealer sold it to us and it was only 1850. Includes roadside, trip reimbursement up to 2800. And towing up to 250 miles and can e used at any service garage not just rv or dealer repair shops.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by spock123

Forest River stopped the second year warranty

Bummer. I missed that post first reading. Well so far year two has not cost them a dime. BUT, in my $1000.00 estimate above I forgot to add the new tongue jack the factory installed the day after we took delivery and the slightly defective stereo/DVD that the stereo manufacturer replaced at no cost.

Most important thing is LEARN TO DO THE SMALL STUFF YOURSELF. If you take it back for every crappy little problem your coach will spend half of the now one year warranty sitting on the dealers lot.

I have handled so much small stuff that I couldn't tell you. It would take a camp fire and half a case of beer. Good luck.

[DrLewie]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

As reported in some of these FRF threads, some of these extended warranties make you come in every year for "service," for which they charge you. So you pay for the warranty and then you pay for the service. They get you twice!

I know that Consumer Reports and other similar groups do NOT recommend extended warranties. As spock said: "All dealer profits."

I've had good experience with the 5 year extended warrantee from the dealer all over the country. Expensive, but it paid for itself+.

On all other purchases, including cars and trucks, I abide by the Consumer Reports recommendation to not get the extended plan. However, an RV is a house on wheels bouncing down the road at 65 mph. Appliances & other components, even those designed for RVs, aren't really built for that kind of earthquake-like shaking, and things will break. A fridge replacement will cost well over $1k without the service plan. Other covered parts are similarly expensive. Every experienced RVer knows things will break. None of the plans cover annual maintenance, and regular maintenance is a must.

Research the proposed plan carefully. A promise that repair services will come to you wherever you are sounds bogus to me. The decision to purchase a plan is yours, and only you know your financial situation. But do the kind of research you have hopefully done prior to your RV purchase decision and whatever you decide, enjoy your RV experience.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by LindaLyles1

Hello, I am buying a Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s and wonder about the extended warranty. Sales "says" that if anything goes wrong bumper to bumper in 7 years they will come to me to fix. I have never heard of anything like this and all the reviews I read show dissatisfaction with warranty service. Would someone let me know their experience with this?

Sounds too good to be true ???

[rlocicero]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

Sounds too good to be true ???

See iff they can give you the loss ratio on that policy. Most extended policys have a significant loss ratio associated with them. That's how they work. We have had tt's for 45 years and had no major components go bad. Most of our issues were less than the deductible, damage and water leaks.