Factory Warranty and Full Timiing - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Factory Warranty and Full Timiing

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't know about other manufacturers, but Carriages are warranted for full timing, and have been for many years. I think there are many others also.

You can't hardly believe anything a salesman says, they are such s**m bags.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey, Fred. You can say "scum" bags. I don't think that one is so bad.

Jerry,

We have looked into this as well. I've not had anyone tell us the DRV was the ONLY one, but EVERY one needs to be checked out. We went to the Ft. Worth RV Show in February of 2010 and while talking to one of the salesmen at one brand, I asked that question. The salesman's remark was, "I don't know anyone who is full-timing." What he meant was that if he didn't know, it didn't matter. BUT, what would the service department say?

Moments later, to get an answer to yet another question we posed, the salesman took us out to talk to their factory rep. I asked the rep about the warranty. His comment was, "Just don't tell us you're full-timing." So, it didn't take us long to move clear out of that area and over to other brands. The main thing is to be careful to hear all that they have to say, because as the example above describes, if the service department found out, one might be denied.

I will say that the DRV Suites company was started by some of the owners of Sunnybrook at the time, and DRV Suites was started specifically to address the needs of full-timers.

If you haven't checked them out, there are two places to go on DRV products. I'll provide you some links to forums dealing primarily with DRV's. Keep in mind, forums tend to attract people who have problems and are looking for answers to their problems. Thus, forums tend to make it look like a product "must not be good for all the problems brought up." But, if you ask those forum participants if they would buy that "brand" again, you may be surprised with the answers.

First, this is a link to SOITC (Suites Owners International Travel Club) and non owners are encouraged to participate with comments and questions. I had a lot.

http://www.suitesowners.com/

Second, this group is for all kinds of 5th wheels, but DRV makes up almost all of the activity on this forum. I'll probably get in trouble for this, but according to SOME of the participants on this forum, those on SOITC are "cheerleaders" about DRV. If that is the case, I might have to say that SOME of the participants on 5th Wheel Forums are the "whiners." That is because some tend to be really critical of DRV.

http://www.5thwheelforums.com/

Good luck with the research. Jo and I are looking forward to a week in our DRV this month at a state park here in Oklahoma.

Terry

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

New Horizons, Excel and Nu Wa (Hitchhikers) are also good for full timers no warrenty void there.

Frankly the DRV guy was using FUD to make a sale I wouldn't want to buy from him. Some units that talk a good game for full timers do have clauses that void the warrenty if your in the unit more then X number of months. So you do want to watch for it but it's not a matter of only one fiver builder is OK with full timers.

Mallo

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Waggin Tails wrote:
I was told today by a DRV rep that DRV is the only RV sold today that honors factor warranty on 5th wheels used by fulltimers. Also stated that living in the fifth wheel full time will void manufacturer's warranty from all other manufacturers.
Really?

No, DRV trailers are no better than Carriage,New Horizons and Excel and are warrantied accordingly.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jerry,

Another thought here. When talking to folks about the RV's always ask to see the warranty in writing. Don't trust anyone, including those you know on the forums to be exactly factual.

The reason I said that is because IF I REMEMBER RIGHT our DRV's warranty is in three parts. Part is warrantied for 3 years, part is warrantied for 2 years, and part is warrantied for 1 year. I don't have my manuals right handy, so I'll have to look them up for sure in the next few days, and then I'll let you know for sure what is covered for how long.

Keep in mind that manufacturers can change their warranties at about any time, so even what I find is warrantied on our 2010, it might be different for later years.

Terry

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is sad to see that some sales people and manufacturer's reps will say almost anything to get a sale and then lose it. Normally on dealer lots, the most expensive unit is closest to the sales office. We stepped into a beautiful 38' DRV. A salesman appeared and asked how he could help. I told him we were planning on full-timing and were looking to make a purchase within the year. He said OK, then walked out. Later the DRV rep showed up. She backpeddle a bit when I challenged her statement. A few sales people know the importance of establishing a relationship with customers but most do not.

I know the importance of checking everything as we have been burned before on other purchases. It is just sad to know that a lot of purchase from dishonest sales people.

Thanks guys, we are still shopping.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I can tell you that an unfortunate fact about sales is that lies sell more units! People want to be told what they want to hear and if you say "Yes" a lot you will sell more units whether that answer is true or not. Buyers tend to be so uninformed it's scary. Additionally, since it was never in writing, it was never said should you try to argue it later. I was a car salesman (in another life) and I always gave the customer the accurate information about the product and the pricing. I was out sold month after month after month by the guys who lied and it just made me sick.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill Adams wrote:
I was a car salesman (in another life) and I always gave the customer the accurate information about the product and the pricing. I was out sold month after month after month by the guys who lied and it just made me sick.

Yeah, but you could sleep at night.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

From my 2011 Heartland Owners' Manual: "Any product used for a commercial or business purpose, including, not limited to, rental, charter, or for other fees for service, or as a residence is excluded from this Limited Warranty. (This residential limitation shall not apply to Land Mark, Big Horn and Big Country brands.) (emphasis added).

I take the above statement to mean that any of those three Heartland brands are warranted for full-time use.

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

David, you are correct. Those three lines of Heartland products are warranted for fulltime, residential use. We have been living in our Bighorn for over two years and had another one that we lived in before that.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

My apologies for being late on this. I'm glad this thread came back to the top to remind me. I've now got the DRV owner's manual in front of me, and it does speak of 1 year/2 year/3 year warranties.

1 Year: defects in workmanship and materials used in the workmanship and manufacture of the finished products.

2 Year: appliances, satellite, generator, transfer switch, holding tanks, and water pump.

3 Year: Air conditional (parts only), hydraulics, roof mat, pin box, windows (excluding glass), axles, frame, brakes (other than pads), roof, floor, bearings, springs, structure, walls, Trailair, Equaflex, front and rear caps, Dometic appliances, and wheel structure.

Not covered: Unit used for business, commercial use, or rental; latches; brake pads; replacement of fuses and light bulbs; fading or normal deterioration due to use or sun exposure on fabrics, wood, carpet and shades; injury, loss or damage beyond wrranty repairs due to mold; damage caused by lack of care, negligence, overloading, vandalism, collision, rock chips, paint chips, road hazards, alterations to design, improper repairs, lack of or poor maintenance, failure to promptly handle water damage, awning damage due to improper operation, storage or wind damage, or water pooling.

Monetary loss or damages; transportation for service, towing, lodging, loss of use of tow vehicle, trailer, or other property; damage of tow vehicle or other property; loss of income; loaners or rental vehicles; fuel expense; and environmental damage such as sand, hail, wind, water, lightning, chemicals, or acid rain.

I've not looked at others, but I've also not heard of any with three year warranties. I'm not saying there aren't some others that do; just that I haven't run across them yet.

The "not included" list is much more extensive, but that is normal.

Terry