New to RVing and the Forum in general!

[5picker]

Thanks a bunch! It really means a lot!

One of the biggest concerns I have at the moment is that while the RV lot I'm going to purchase from DOES allow third party inspectors they cannot 'trust' them after previous mishaps with inspectors unintentionally damaging something so in order for me to pay an inspector to look at the rig, which can be anywhere from 4-8 hours apparently.. They require to have someone from service staff monitor the inspector at all times so I would have to pay flat rate for a service staff member to accompany the inspector along the rig and ensure that everything is okay with it. Meaning ontop of the 800-1400 dollar inspection I'd have another 120-180 per hour charge from the dealer just to have the inspector on the property. This comes across as a HUGE red flag to me.

With all the positivity I see about flagstaff and rockwood, is an inspection really necessary? I hardly ever see ANYTHING negative and usually it's just minor things that I've seen FR took care of pretty quickly.

If I was going to buy like, something cheaper as in a wolf creek model then yeah I'd feel more inclined for an inspection but I am feeling more and more that Flagstaff/Rockwood has their reputation for quality that makes it less necessary, but still a good idea.

Thoughts?

Well... if you know nothing about a R/V and how their systems work, along with the manufacturing processes, then whatever you'd have to pay for an inspection is worth whatever the costs. Unless you know your dealer VERY well, do not buy an R/V without a PRE-SALE inspection. Dealers are "supposed" to go over the R/V and make it ready for purchase by taking care of anything within reason that is amiss. (if it is something like a damaged outer wall, etc. it may need returned to the factory)

Dealers do not like spending time fixing things on a new unit so they often overlook items that would not suit the buyer but once the sale is completed, they desert you. They make their money on sales and sales of warranties and frills. They will promise to fix them but they won't or can't (poor service department) and it will often be months before they get you back in for repair. Again, unless the salesman is your son/daughter/god father/mother, do not believe anything they promise you. And if you do get promises, get them signed in writing.

With that said, only a minority of folks have an independent inspection. Most do it themselves. There are PDI (pre-delivery inspections) sheets in the library of this forum to guide you through the process. Do your homework. But again, if you have zero knowledge or no skills to look at and determine if something is not the way it should be, then you'll need to pay.

EVERY R/V has something. Some come better than others and some are just waiting to implode. As I mentioned, both our Flagstaffs were well built and the dealer/factory was quick to address the things that were an issue. That's not to mean you should not have a good inspection done by you or someone else.

 

[RobbieH]

My thoughts - I'm on my third RV.

I prefer to buy used and not new. Dealerships rarely go through a trailer (in the auto industry it's called make-ready). They give you the trailer, you find the problems, then you take it back to get the issues fixed that were left during manufacturing. Save the money used vs. new for repairs when needed. This way the prior owner has dealt with all of that.

I don't care about warranties, and I certainly don't care about extended warranties. As mentioned, save the money, then talk to the owner/manager of your RV park about mobile RV techs. They typically know who is good and who isn't. The money you save over an extended warranty can be used for the mobile tech when needed.

Learn to work on most things in the RV yourself. Call mobile tech when needed.

Our first RV was brand new, it spent more time in the shop under warranty than it did in our driveway or on a trip. Second RV was used, we sold it with 109,000 miles on it. One thing went wrong on that RV during all our ownership. Yes there were maintenance items, those don't count.

Now to Rockwood. We toy with the idea of getting an upgraded RV sometimes. We go straight to see what Rockwood has to offer. Not only have we been very happy with ours, but we also have other friends with Rockwoods who have also been happy. I see other brands at RV parks with problems, and owners with complaints. Will it be perfect? Of course not. But major problems like we had on our first RV (a Thor by the way) just don't seem to happen.

Looks like you figured it out, but Rockwood and Flagstaff are basically the same RV. Some even say Rockstaff and Flagwood are the same too. (that's a joke!)

Salesmen are the worst resource for information about RVs on the planet. Most of them don't own RVs, don't take trips in RVs, and don't care if you get junk.

About moving, the RV park we lived at when we were full-timing, rents went way up, they switched to 55 and older only (didn't affect us but it might you) and then later sold to a new owner and then rent went WAY up.

 

[Akustaka]

My thoughts - I'm on my third RV.

I prefer to buy used and not new. Dealerships rarely go through a trailer (in the auto industry it's called make-ready). They give you the trailer, you find the problems, then you take it back to get the issues fixed that were left during manufacturing. Save the money used vs. new for repairs when needed. This way the prior owner has dealt with all of that.

I don't care about warranties, and I certainly don't care about extended warranties. As mentioned, save the money, then talk to the owner/manager of your RV park about mobile RV techs. They typically know who is good and who isn't. The money you save over an extended warranty can be used for the mobile tech when needed.

Learn to work on most things in the RV yourself. Call mobile tech when needed.

Our first RV was brand new, it spent more time in the shop under warranty than it did in our driveway or on a trip. Second RV was used, we sold it with 109,000 miles on it. One thing went wrong on that RV during all our ownership. Yes there were maintenance items, those don't count.

Now to Rockwood. We toy with the idea of getting an upgraded RV sometimes. We go straight to see what Rockwood has to offer. Not only have we been very happy with ours, but we also have other friends with Rockwoods who have also been happy. I see other brands at RV parks with problems, and owners with complaints. Will it be perfect? Of course not. But major problems like we had on our first RV (a Thor by the way) just don't seem to happen.

Looks like you figured it out, but Rockwood and Flagstaff are basically the same RV. Some even say Rockstaff and Flagwood are the same too. (that's a joke!)

Salesmen are the worst resource for information about RVs on the planet. Most of them don't own RVs, don't take trips in RVs, and don't care if you get junk.

About moving, the RV park we lived at when we were full-timing, rents went way up, they switched to 55 and older only (didn't affect us but it might you) and then later sold to a new owner and then rent went WAY up.

Great information! The main reason I'm looking for new vs used is I cannot find anything used that is remotely close to what I am trying to get. I want to get a rockwood/flagstaff trailer, I was originally looking at GD Imagine since I loved the overhead strip lights and they have good floorplans too but comparing rockwood to imagine, it appears that rockwood wins nearly every spec except price depending on where you are shopping. I fully get the used notion, all my cars have been used, same with my motorcycles and dirtbikes. But I just cannot find a floor plan that will work and can't figure out how I'd go about getting a loan for a purchase like that from facebook marketplace for example.

I was asking the sales rep if for example the fridge went out, could I just contact the company about the warranty on the fridge itself or would I need to contact FR and he said if I did anything myself it would void the warranty, but I'm confused because I thought the Magnusson warranty act protected users from repairing their own devices and equipment AS LONG AS you can prove the repair did not damage anything else in the process, I'm assuming dealers and manufacturers will ghost you about this kinda stuff?

I'm VERY handy, I've rebuild dirtbike motors from the ground up, I can work on electronics as I'm currently an IT professional by trade, I've installed washers/dryers/dishwashers, done minimal plumbing, ect. So I'm not afraid of doing maintenance myself, I'm just not sure of everything that you should be maintaining and what would be considered excessive, because I like to be excessive.

For example on my car whenever I work on an oil change I go around and spray all the pivoting points with white lithium grease, and have some AT205 reseal in a spray bottle mixed 50/50 with water and spray anything rubber to keep the rubber plyable. I always clean my wiper blades with a paper towel and some washer fluid whenever I stop for gas (Havn't changed my blades in 5 years because of this), I love to go above and beyond.

Any further replies or information would be highly appreciated, thankyou very much for your time!

 

[tomkatb]

Speaking frankly.

$675 with utilities is low. Depending on electric costs in your area it sounds cheap. Double check.

I believe $675 without electricity.

With the new green energy a 100% increase will arrive soon.

 

[Akustaka]

Speaking frankly.

$675 with utilities is low. Depending on electric costs in your area it sounds cheap. Double check.

I believe $675 without electricity.

With the new green energy a 100% increase will arrive soon.

Just spoke to the guy on the phone for the group and he said it is 650 + 100 for electricity. So even if they have a clause that you pay over whatever the electricity use is then even if it went to 850 a month that is still way cheaper than renting an apartment.

 

[RobbieH]

Although my mobile RV tech likes GD Imagine trailers, if you research them you'll find all sorts of problems, some are very severe such as the frame flex issues on their 5ers. A quick search for "grand design frame flex" will tell you all you need to know. If I wanted the very best I'd shop Brinkley, but go look at those prices!!

 

[Akustaka]

Guy on the phone says they have a company too that works on site that can install a carport overtop of your camper for 5kish. He was telling me it works out really good for long term stayers and it's just a bolt together unit that you can tear down and take with you when you leave. My mother lives close by and I could just give it to her to have after I move out west.

Thoughts?

 

[RobbieH]

Having shade is a big deal in hot weather, but if it is worth it or not is totally up to you.

 

[bikendan]

Apologies for long response times, I spoke to 3 different sales reps and they all pretty much told me the same thing. And the extended warranty would fall under an airstream umbrella, does it not sound worth it to consider? It would appear to cover all RV technician repairs for callouts. Does the FR reimbursement cover the mobile technician as well?

PLEASE do not use RV salespersons opinions! Most RV salespersons have never owned a RV of any kind. Nor do most have any knowledge of post-sales issues.
Please post the name of this "Airstream umbrella extended warranty". I seriously doubt that it's a warranty from Airstream, which is a division of Thor Industries, Forest River's biggest competitor. Sounds like a lot of smoke is being blown.
FR's factory warranty is only for one year. As I said, you can use an independent RV shop or mobile RV technician.

 

[Akustaka]

PLEASE do not use RV salespersons opinions! Most RV salespersons have never owned a RV of any kind. Nor do most have any knowledge of post-sales issues.
Please post the name of this "Airstream umbrella extended warranty". I seriously doubt that it's a warranty from Airstream, which is a division of Thor Industries, Forest River's biggest competitor. Sounds like a lot of smoke is being blown.
FR's factory warranty is only for one year. As I said, you can use an independent RV shop or mobile RV technician.

Thankyou very much, I've just got off the phone with the sales rep and he informed me that because they are an airstream dealer they have the ability to sell warranties for items that are not airstreams under that same umbrella. The warranty is through airstream fulfilled by AGWS for coverage.

 

[Akustaka]

PLEASE do not use RV salespersons opinions! Most RV salespersons have never owned a RV of any kind. Nor do most have any knowledge of post-sales issues.
Please post the name of this "Airstream umbrella extended warranty". I seriously doubt that it's a warranty from Airstream, which is a division of Thor Industries, Forest River's biggest competitor. Sounds like a lot of smoke is being blown.
FR's factory warranty is only for one year. As I said, you can use an independent RV shop or mobile RV technician.

I know, I'm taking absolutely every last thing he says with a grain of salt, but it does line up a bit with what I have been reading online. He actually does own the same brand here, A flagstaff, and has shown me pictures on his phone of his camping trips and what they've done with their unit. I know this can just be another sales tactic but he does seem like a general user as well, just to let ya know.

But again I know his job is to sell me something, I started at an out the door price request of around 50k, but have since bumped that up to around 55 since MSRP for this unit is around 68k and their already slicing that off pretty well at 55k, I'll see what he comes back with though. Thanks!

 

[Akustaka]

Having shade is a big deal in hot weather, but if it is worth it or not is totally up to you.

A lot of what I'm reading online is that is severely saves the roof of your camper from UV, lowers utility bills, puts less strain on your AC system, and protects from falling limbs, hail, very hard rain.. I think I'll look into it a bit more, thanks!

 

[bikendan]

Thankyou very much, I've just got off the phone with the sales rep and he informed me that because they are an airstream dealer they have the ability to sell warranties for items that are not airstreams under that same umbrella. The warranty is through airstream fulfilled by AGWS for coverage.

That is a 3rd party extended warranty and I bet it has no direct connection to Airstream. Never seen a 3rd party extended warranty directly associated with any RV manufacturer.

Recreational Vehicles

Extended Warrantys motorhome and towable, including: diesel RVs, sprinter chassis, Monaco Coach, travel trailers, pop-up, and slide-in campers.

www.agws.com

 

[Akustaka]

That is a 3rd party extended warranty and I bet it has no direct connection to Airstream. Never seen a 3rd party extended warranty directly associated with any RV manufacturer.

Recreational Vehicles

Extended Warrantys motorhome and towable, including: diesel RVs, sprinter chassis, Monaco Coach, travel trailers, pop-up, and slide-in campers.

www.agws.com

So think I should just skip it and put the saved money towards actual repairs instead if needed?

 

[bikendan]

So think I should just skip it and put the saved money towards actual repairs instead if needed?

I've never bought a 3rd party extended warranty for my RVs. From what I've read on various RV forums, over the past 20+ years, only 2 or 3 companies are worth buying from. The vast majority don't cover the expensive problems, like sidewall delamination or rotten Roofs. Be sure to read the fine print, where those expensive repairs are often excluded from coverage.
The only extended warranty I would buy, would have to be offered by the RV manufacturer. Years ago, FR had an optional 2nd year factory warranty for only $100. That was a no-brainer.

 

[sherman12]

I believe $675 without electricity.

Most long-term campgrounds will have metered electricity just like a sticks and bricks home where you pay for what you use. The electric utility bills the campground, and then the campground will bill you. If the OP was told $675 + $100 per month for electricity that was probably a guess on the average monthly electrical bill. My guess is that during the summer months and the AC on constantly in a less than suitable insulated RV, the amount could double.

As has been posted already, why in the world would Forest River's biggest competitor to dominate the RV world, Thor, warranty a Forest River Product? This should be the "flashing red light' to the B.S. the salesman is telling you. He's trying to use a well-known respected name like Airstream to sell you a bag of rocks. Run!!!