Extended warranty or not

[Gbart]

We are scheduled to pick up our new XLR fifth wheel in two weeks, the dealer is pushing for a five year extended warranty program (route 66) does anybody know if it's really worth it, has anybody have any experience with it. The last two toy hauler's we've owned I have not come across a problem I haven't been able to fix myself. Love to hear some feedback.

[northstar1960]

I've always found extended warranty a waste of money , one they want way to much and 2nd if something goes bad it's normally right away . you also need to make sure it's a full warranty and not just service type contract . forest river does offer the2nd yr warranty for the hyperlites for 250 .

[snapper]

When I purchased my trailer last year I waited until the warranty was close to expiring, I then started to shop for a new warranty and man they are expensive. 5_ year from good sams club and the price was around 1800 dollars. The small print shows that they will use used parts or refurbished parts. If they can not find them used . then you pay the difference for new. I past one the warranty and will fix it myself if needed. Good luck shopping.

[taken]

Absolutely not. I would never gamble against myself. If the odds were I was going to need it, they could never make money selling it to me.

[breezyhillfarm]

I did take advantage of extending the FR one-year warrantee to two years for a very reasonable price. I've only needed three LED lights replaced in a year.

[Cypressloser]

Be aware that many extended warranty plans have exclusions for structural damages (axles, suspension, frame, sidewall, roof etc.) which are the most expensive and devastating ones to repair.

[StoneyG]

I've only looked at three and none cover frame or sidewall. Do any?

I'd like to see a policy that covers everything with a catastrophic loss preventing deductible. I'm told there is nothing like that in the market place.

[breezyhillfarm]

Probably because it would be $20,000 a year!

[StoneyG]

I really don't think it would be that high with say, a $2,000 deductible. Again, the idea would be to protect against catastrophic loss. And to me that would include frame of sidewall loss which to my observation doesn't occur that often.

[Silverback Iowan]

The warranty from FR is plenty and much cheaper. You should have all the bugs out by then. Get the extra year for like 250.

[lynn brownlee]

I never buy warranties, however, I broke my life long rule and bought a 7 year
full coverage warranty for $2,000.00

I have three slides and pull 6 to 8 thousand miles of rough roads a year.

It stand to reason, something major will have to be repaired out on the road somewhere.

Lynn

[EdnKat]

I've found trouble with finding anyone/dealer to work with xtnded warranties, outside of the dealer who sells them. But, if you pull/travel extensively, you'll need it.

[StoneyG]

Originally Posted by Silverback Iowan

The warranty from FR is plenty and much cheaper. You should have all the bugs out by then. Get the extra year for like 250.

Dynamax is apparently a Black Sheep in the family and doesn't qualify.

[Rivnut]

They make too much money on them, Fr is plenty good enough, especially if you handle most of it your self.
Who will enforce them to honor the warranty,,,,,no one.

[Alexha]

Regarding catastrophic loss, I assume you are talking about something like a tree falling on your rig, or an accident on the highway, tornado, or flood or some such other accidental loss. Check with your auto insurer - I have USAA and they cover such losses (less deductible, of course) on my 40' Salem for about $100/year.

[StoneyG]

Actually I'm talking about a frame cracking or like happened to some friends, a wall coming lose. We have the USAA coverage also, but its through Progressive.

[Alexha]

Thanks for the clarification. Since such structural failures are specifically excluded from coverage in FR warrantees, one might suspect they have extended familiarity with the "problem". They would likely blame harsh road condition usage for extended periods far beyond normal - and I expect they have a well experienced team of lawyers and experts that would be very difficult to overcome in court. Perhaps our best approach is to do exactly as you are doing here - publicly identify the brands that seem to have unwarranted structural problems, get the word out and hope the message gets back to the manufacturer through reduced sales to better informed buyers.