Sales vs towing knowledge

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by jevanb

It is not the sales person responsibility to ensure the tow vehicle is adequate to tow the coach off their lot. The new owner is responsible for this action, why is this so difficult to understand??? If you want to tow anything with your vehicle it is YOU who is responsible, not anybody else.. People need to educate them self`s before they even show up and start looking, and if they do not?? O well, deal with the mistake you made...

In a perfect world, you're correct - people would do their homework before buying something. Unfortunately, the reality is that most don't. My case in point, one of my sister's good friends. Husband and wife went to their local dealer looking at used units. IMO, they bought a camper that fits their family, just not their tow vehicle. When I tried to gently broach the subject, I got a staunch- "we told the dealer what we had and they said it was fine". So far as I know, they haven't had any hairy scary moments towing and likely are taking multiple vehicles when they go (teenage drivers in the family of 6).

I'm not sure who I point my finger and wag at them. Yes, my friends are in the wrong for not learning ahead of time. IMO, the dealership should also get to know a family, their setup and suggest trailers within their ratings (or, at least help the family understand them and decide to overload if they so choose). Of course, that could likely cost them sales and angry customers.

I don't think there is a good answer in any of this.

[jwedell]

I believe the salesman should be knowledgable enough to help you make a safe and honest calculation. Then the final decision is yours.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by jwedell

I believe the salesman should be knowledgable enough to help you make a safe and honest calculation. Then the final decision is yours.

I don't disagree. It just takes a lot of questions to get there past "what kind of vehicle you got?" You need to know the vehicle, it's ratings, the occupants, the average load of extras in/on the vehicle, etc.

And then "safe" is relative - you can have an overloaded vehicle driven by an experienced tower vs. a vehicle that is significantly under specs driven by a neophyte.

IMO, I'd love to see salesmen help people get educated and then let the decision fall onto their shoulders. I'm hopeful that my Towing Planner site will become a resource for figuring those things out.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Salesman Rules:

1) You get your commission when the customer takes delivery.

2) There is no 2

He does not care if:

1) You EVER make a payment
2) Can actually tow/drive it off the lot
3) Crash half way home

EXCEPTIONS:

While I am sure there are exceptional salesmen out there, I have not found a single one in over 40 years of vehicle buying.

Make that 60 years for me Herk. I agree with you 100%.

[jwedell]

Last post on this. All I'm saying is the salesman should only explain the trailer not the tow vehicle.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Make that 60 years for me Herk. I agree with you 100%.

I also agree with this statement, but the salesman we bought out last 2 trailers from was the best and IMO he cared (god rest his sole) but I came into the dealership knowing full well I could not buy that 2200# pin toy-hauler that we loved so much. we only looked at towable 2500HD models with a certain weight on the pin loaded for camping.

[bikendan]

one thing is that these types of salespeople, are allowing uneducated customers to leave with combos that could injure others and themselves.

it's different than uneducated customers buying a home or expensive tv or other costly purchase. their mistake generally won't affect others in the community. i have no problem saying that if they didn't do their research or educate themselves, then too bad for them. i wouldn't have much sympathy for them.

but a overwhelmed tow vehicle, could cost someone their life or result in family or others being injured. these salespeople/dealers should bear some responsibility in making sure the customer is fully informed.

but that's never going to happen.

[dustman_stx]

Let's not forget that most car salesman are just as bad. They'll tell you the truck you are looking at will pull a space shuttle if it'll make a sale.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by bikendan

one thing is that these types of salespeople, are allowing uneducated customers to leave with combos that could injure others and themselves.

it's different than uneducated customers buying a home or expensive tv or other costly purchase. their mistake generally won't affect others in the community. i have no problem saying that if they didn't do their research or educate themselves, then too bad for them. i wouldn't have much sympathy for them.

but a overwhelmed tow vehicle, could cost someone their life or result in family or others being injured. these salespeople/dealers should bear some responsibility in making sure the customer is fully informed.

but that's never going to happen.

I believe in personal responsibility. That would be one unbelievable can of worms to open. Sell a teen a sports car? That's dangerous. Sell a huge camper to someone that's never even pulled a dump trailer behind his lawn mower because he's got a 1 ton dually? That's dangerous. Sell a 12,000 pound 5er to someone in a 1/2 ton? That's dangerous. Sell someone a 32' TT and don't FORCE them to buy a form of sway control? That's dangerous. Sell someone a camper that they load heavily in the front or rear? That's dangerous. Way too many variables there. Wouldn't be long until no one would sell you anything out of fear of being sued.

[bikendan]

dustman, i also believe in personal responsibility, which has decreased dramatically in the past few decades.
too many people anymore, want to lay the blame on others, rather than see that they are the ones responsible.

but i still feel that the salespeople/dealers also should bear some responsibility. if they inform the customer that what they want is too much for their tow vehicle, then the blame lies solely on the customer.

[davel1971]

you are very right bikendan. If people want to take the responsibility of hauling their family down the road in a heavily loaded vehicle, they need to take the responsibility to make sure they have the right vehicle for the job.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by davel1971

you are very right bikendan. If people want to take the responsibility of hauling their family down the road in a heavily loaded vehicle, they need to take the responsibility to make sure they have the right vehicle for the job.

X2
also for the safety of other motorist on the roads!

[Filthy Beast]

Just curious, do we have any RV sales people that are members of the Forum? I know there are some Reps from factories here.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by davel1971

you are very right bikendan. If people want to take the responsibility of hauling their family down the road in a heavily loaded vehicle, they need to take the responsibility to make sure they have the right vehicle for the job.

They need to make sure THEY are up to the job also. The vehicle is NOT the primary factor here, IMHO. A gentleman that had worked as a police officer, accident investigator, and insurance accident consultant that I spoke with in depth while camping over New Years told me that EVERY accident involving towing he had EVER seen was caused by driver error- NOT because of having a TV insufficient for the trailer. Also, IMHO, most here on the forums focus MUCH too heavily on the TV while ignoring the driver. I firmly believe we are doing a great disservice to those new to RVing if we encourage them to exceed THEIR ability just because the sticker on the door says they are good. The first thing a salesman should ask to a guy looking at a massive camper is "Have you ever pulled a camper or large trailer before?" Next question should be "What are you towing with?" This is just my .02.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Filthy Beast

Just curious, do we have any RV sales people that are members of the Forum? I know there are some Reps from factories here.

Yes, there are a handful.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

They need to make sure THEY are up to the job also. The vehicle is NOT the primary factor here, IMHO. A gentleman that had worked as a police officer, accident investigator, and insurance accident consultant that I spoke with in depth while camping over New Years told me that EVERY accident involving towing he had EVER seen was caused by driver error- NOT because of having a TV insufficient for the trailer. Also, IMHO, most here on the forums focus MUCH too heavily on the TV while ignoring the driver. I firmly believe we are doing a great disservice to those new to RVing if we encourage them to exceed THEIR ability just because the sticker on the door says they are good. The first thing a salesman should ask to a guy looking at a massive camper is "Have you ever pulled a camper or large trailer before?" Next question should be "What are you towing with?" This is just my .02.

the salesperson doesn't care because he only gets paid if he sells you one. They match up empty weight to what they think your vehicle can handle. Don't take into account the load in the vehicle or trailer

[Herk7769]

The movie from Driver Ed Anatomy of an Accident"

ALWAYS shown right before lunch period!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mT6zo7sOmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daJzJ9CdK9Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDonq-3LVO8

(remember when we actually TRAINED kids to drive! Now we just give em a test and kick them out on the road.)

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by herk7769

The movie from Driver Ed Anatomy of an Accident"

ALWAYS shown right before lunch period!

(remember when we actually TRAINED kids to drive! Now we just give em a test and kick them out on the road.)

I advocate that in order to get a drivers license, 90% of your teachers you've had in High School must sign a form testifying that you were a responsible, intelligent student. We'd have better behaved, better educated kids, and less traffic!!!!!

[jwedell]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

I believe in personal responsibility. That would be one unbelievable can of worms to open. Sell a teen a sports car? That's dangerous. Sell a huge camper to someone that's never even pulled a dump trailer behind his lawn mower because he's got a 1 ton dually? That's dangerous. Sell a 12,000 pound 5er to someone in a 1/2 ton? That's dangerous. Sell someone a 32' TT and don't FORCE them to buy a form of sway control? That's dangerous. Sell someone a camper that they load heavily in the front or rear? That's dangerous. Way too many variables there. Wouldn't be long until no one would sell you anything out of fear of being sued.

My point exactly, if the guy wants to buy it no matter what fine, but salesman shouldn't insist he can tow it safely.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by jwedell

My point exactly, if the guy wants to buy it no matter what fine, but salesman shouldn't insist he can tow it safely.

I'm with you now!! When the salesman either doesn't know or LIES about what you can safely tow, he or she has crossed the line.