Why people have negative views of Dealers

[fivergeezer]

I have been camping since the 60's in every type of RV made including many yrs in tents. I've had travel trailers, pick-up campers, pop-ups, class A motorhomes & for the past 10 yrs, several different 5th wheels. I agree, newer models are technically challenging. A 2-hour dealer walk through will never be enough for most folks, especially newbies. My main gripe is that with all the available technology & so called Amish craftsmanship, the quality of new units is, IMHO, no better than it was back in the 60's. If you doubt me, you haven't been reading this Forum or any other. I currently get 4 other RV Forums since I have had 4 different brands of 5th wheels. You needn't ask why I keep buying different brands, well, it's because I keep hoping to find a better quality rig. At 76 I'm pretty sure that ain't gonna happen. My new Flagstaff is no different than my Montana I traded for it, which was no different than my previous Keystone product. The only thing I will say is that all things considered, everything I've ever owned, including the tents, was better than the 2001 Winnabago Journey DL I had. It was my first & last Winnabago product.

[tomkatb]

Your information from them was suspect.

Discharging a battery to zero damages it. 12.1 volts max.about 50%

With a residential fridge you need lots of battery power. Doing the math, some fridges discharge a marine battery every 3-4 hours depending on conditions. 90 degree outside temps are tough. You said down 70%, not sure what 5hat means.

I would install the maximum number of six volt batteries possible. Also a good battery monitor. Those little lights do not do much. Without a good meter you are flying blind!

Batteries are the weak link.

A dealer PDI should take two hours for experienced folks. Longer for beginners. Lots to learn. First trip should be a shakedown near a big rv parts outlet. .be prepared to lean on your neighbors. They will help. This site is good. Liquor and good grub helps. And patience.

I hope your dealer helps you out.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

The information is still out there. There are books and magazines with info. Or simply talking to a friend, family member, neighbor, fellow camper in a CG that may know a few things. Or find a friend or family member that IS computer savvy and let them navigate the WWW for the plethora of information available.

If someone spends 1000's of dollars on something with as many moving parts as an RV, there really is no excuse to at least do some basic research.

It'd would be like me trying to jump into the cockpit of a 747 and fly it around by just hoping to figure it out once I get there.

Well said.

Back in my automotive service rep positions I often said folks will buy a $15.99 clock radio and read the operating manual from cover to cover. They will then buy a $75k vehicle with all the bells and whistles and the owners manual never leaves the glove box.

A certain onus is on the owner to figure out and understand what they have BEFORE ever heading to their first campsite.

Yes, the dealers 'should' do a better job and shame on them when they don't but we really can't control that when making a purchase unless you really do your homework beforehand. And face it... doing your homework beforehand IS controlling our own actions. And what ever happened to marching back to the dealer and saying... "Hey... you are going to have to explain this to me because I don't have a clue?" Nope... jump in and go and hope for the best????

Going around uninformed and 'hoping' for a favorable outcome is not something I'm interested in. Shame on me if I ever do!

Great job Mike for being helpful to a fellow camper.

[sunnman]

Glad you helped him. I’m a firm believer that you need to shop for a dealer before you shop for the rv. Prefer small dealer, nearby, and highly recommended by people I know. Our dealer , Schreck RV in Apollo Pa is fantastic.

[sunnman]

Originally Posted by W5CI

Thank you for helping out a New RVer, but Sham on him for not asking any questions before accepting delivery oh a new to him rv. I guess he was in to big of a hurry to get to camping or didn't have time to schedule his PDI. don't blame the Dealer blame the Customer in this case. Just ask how does this thing work before laying down your cash

If he’s a new rv’er, how would he even know what questions to ask? I’m on this forum and another on Facebook just for Vibes, that’s where I had a lot of questions answered as I was on the road and between trips. Even with a good PDI, there were a lot of things I forgot that were explained.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Well said.



Yes, the dealers 'should' do a better job and shame on them when they don't but we really can't control that when making a purchase unless you really do your homework beforehand. And face it... doing your homework beforehand IS controlling our own actions. And what ever happened to marching back to the dealer and saying... "Hey... you are going to have to explain this to me because I don't have a clue?" Nope... jump in and go and hope for the best????

Going around uninformed and 'hoping' for a favorable outcome is not something I'm interested in. Shame on me if I ever do!

Great job Mike for being helpful to a fellow camper.

I agree totally with your assessment of a purchasers need to research but in this case even with research one would expect the dealer to install drain plugs and flush antifreeze from lines. Especially for a delivery at the beginning of August.

As for helping my fellow campers, If someone were to ask me to help them go through a new trailer at the Dealership before signing the papers I'd do it for free. I can't count the number of times others have helped me and it's a good thing I haven't kept a list. I'd be embarrassed at "how far behind" I'd be in "passing the favors along".

I was taught as a kid on the farm "If I know how to help I will. If I have a tool you need, here it is and get it back to me when you can. If I have a part you need, it's yours. We'll work out the details later."

Never regretted living by those guidelines.


Like I said earlier, I kind of lucked out and bought from a "good" dealer. Their "Delivery Specialist" took me through every item in the trailer and even though I said "I know" a few times he just told me "he tells everyone just to make sure they see any changes that might have been made since my old one". Maybe that's why they've been in business for 46 years and grown to 4 locations in the region while others have come and gone.

A full two hours from start to finish which even included how to hook up (even though I'd done it hundreds, if not thousands, of times before).

A Dealer that merely hooks up a trailer to a "newbies" truck and waves goodbye as he leaves is not only a bad dealer, he's stupid. Bad publicity aside, he may get served with a lawsuit someday due to his failure to provide basic safety instruction to his customer. Every year Law Schools turn fresh, hungry, and deeply in debt, young lawyers loose on society and it only takes one good lawsuit to pay off all their student loans and other debt.

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I agree totally with your assessment of a purchasers need to research but in this case even with research one would expect the dealer to install drain plugs and flush antifreeze from lines. Especially for a delivery at the beginning of August.

As for helping my fellow campers, If someone were to ask me to help them go through a new trailer at the Dealership before signing the papers I'd do it for free. I can't count the number of times others have helped me and it's a good thing I haven't kept a list. I'd be embarrassed at "how far behind" I'd be in "passing the favors along".

I was taught as a kid on the farm "If I know how to help I will. If I have a tool you need, here it is and get it back to me when you can. If I have a part you need, it's yours. We'll work out the details later."

Never regretted living by those guidelines.


Like I said earlier, I kind of lucked out and bought from a "good" dealer. Their "Delivery Specialist" took me through every item in the trailer and even though I said "I know" a few times he just told me "he tells everyone just to make sure they see any changes that might have been made since my old one". Maybe that's why they've been in business for 46 years and grown to 4 locations in the region while others have come and gone.

A full two hours from start to finish which even included how to hook up (even though I'd done it hundreds, if not thousands, of times before).

A Dealer that merely hooks up a trailer to a "newbies" truck and waves goodbye as he leaves is not only a bad dealer, he's stupid. Bad publicity aside, he may get served with a lawsuit someday due to his failure to provide basic safety instruction to his customer. Every year Law Schools turn fresh, hungry, and deeply in debt, young lawyers loose on society and it only takes one good lawsuit to pay off all their student loans and other debt.

More folks should have your pay-it-forward philosophy. Very admirable. I'd feel honored to camp beside you anytime. Keep up the good work.

[Jakieboy]

#Onelizzyjane...The best advice I ever got about backing a trailer is as follows: Place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and begin backing. If you want the trailer to go to your left, turn the bottom of the wheel to the left, and vice versa. It works, even with big fifth-wheels. I would recommend towing your rig to a large, unoccupied parking lot and practicing until it becomes kind of "second nature". It also helps to have a partner, like my long-suffering wife, who can stand alongside the tow vehicle and direct your efforts when the trailer begins to enter those "blind spots" out of range of your rear-view mirrors.

[The Boys]

Great job Mike...…… Thanks

[Boborc]

My first RV trip was purposely to a campground 25 miles from home. I never did this knew I was going to forget thing and just in case I had to run home for tools or stuff. Which I did run home 1 hour after I arrived. But better to do a 1 hour round trip rather than a 5 hour trip. I think something like this should be done with any new RV you get. Give it a run through close to home just in case before you go 300 miles.

[upflying]

My RV dealer didn't meet my expectations because I mistakenly expected a car dealership level experience.
RV sales/service/warranty is what car dealers were like in the 1950's.
Time for the RV industry to post Monroney stickers on new RV's.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroney_sticker

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by mjones12

More folks should have your pay-it-forward philosophy. Very admirable. I'd feel honored to camp beside you anytime. Keep up the good work.

Just a warning, I snore LOUDLY and camp with windows open.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Boborc

My first RV trip was purposely to a campground 25 miles from home. I never did this knew I was going to forget thing and just in case I had to run home for tools or stuff. Which I did run home 1 hour after I arrived. But better to do a 1 hour round trip rather than a 5 hour trip. I think something like this should be done with any new RV you get. Give it a run through close to home just in case before you go 300 miles.

If you ever do need a tool when far away from home, head to the nearest big box store and just buy it. Chances are the cost of the tool will be less than a tank of fuel.


Over the years I've accumulated a box of cheap tools. My kids are going to have one heck of a garage sale when I depart on my final camping trip in the sky.

[TerryM]

Currently working on units #4, #6, and #7. Only #6 was purchased new and it and #3 (used) were the only dealer purchases - all others were private sales. For clarity, #3 and #4 were purchased for permanent placement at my 'home' campground, selling #3 when I bought #4. Unit #7 was a bargain purchase motor home (first motor home of the group) that I only bought because I could almost steal it.


PDI on #3 was a long time ago, at the campground where the dealer delivered it. As I recall, it was fairly basic, but covered the stuff that needed covering for a unit that was never going to travel.


PDI on #6, the only new unit I've ever had, was excellent. The guy had been camping for decades and knew his stuff. He knew we knew some things, but went through all systems completely anyway. PDI started while the shop boys were setting up the hitch on my tow vehicle, and by the time we finished with everything else, was done and we were ready for the road. The guy got behind the wheel, had us get in, and we went for a ride with him driving to demonstrate a few driving tips etc while he made sure everything 'felt right' with the hookup. After a bit, he pulled over and we switched places and I drove back to the dealership. Looking back, the only thing I think he missed in the PDI walk-through was rubber roof maintenance. The dealership? Bill Thomas Camper Sales, Wentzville, MO.