Trouble scheduling a PDI - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trouble scheduling a PDI

jrzygrl64 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace,

I would 100% INSIST on a PDI and have them demonstate how everything works! I just asked (aparently at the exact same time you posted) if anyone has any specific advice b/c Bill and I are going Saturday for ours. There is a blog/website "Changing Gears" that has a very comprehensive list of things to check off as you make sure they work and you know how to work it.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Kelly

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

I saw your post too funny. Well I hope you don't have any issues with them trying to rush you. Could luck let us know what you found so well be prepared

RVKevi · RV-Dreams Family Member

Definitely hold firm to do the PDI. Hopefully, they have a service tech doing it. When we got our Big Horn two years ago, the dealer had someone go through the rig with us, but it wasn't actually what I would now call a PDI and he wasn't a service tech. I had developed a list of things to look at from things I found here and on other sites online, but still missed a lot. This week, even though we've now been living in our rig for a year and a half, we hired a local RV service tech to go through our rig with us. There were just too many things we had questions about and needed some peace of mind about. Kev, especially, wanted to know some things about various parts and processes. If we'd known then what we know now, we would have insisted on something like this when we bought the rig, but we'd never even spent a night in an RV, let alone owned one, so we had no idea what to look at! They spent about two and a half hours with us, which cost us over $200, but we count it money well spent! We even came across a couple of things that needed corrected, which he took care of for us. A good PDI should have found those things and helped us understand more about our new home.

Anyway, stick to your guns! And I hope you enjoy your new home as much as we're enjoying ours!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace,

Was this a unit you ordered, or is it one that was on their lot?

Have you paid for it? If you haven't, inform the dealer that without a PDI, you won't purchase the unit. I'd almost guarantee that they will find the time to assign a tech to do a PDI with you.

Be firm and considering what you've said in your post, I would inform them that the PDI will now take longer because you intend to look at every square inch of that trailer. You might also see if you can contact a mobile tech to see if they would accompany you on the PDI to advise you on what problems that they see.

The fact that they discourage a need for a PDI would concern me a whole lot. It is almost like they are hiding something or just don't want anything but your money.

Terry

manycats · RV-Dreams Family Member

Reluctance to do a thorough PDI raises my hackles immediately. Maybe the dealer is not trying to hide anything, maybe he just doesn't want to pay for his employee's time but you're probably paying a lot of money for your unit and he's making a hefty profit. Stick your to your guns and do your inspection, better be sure than sorry. That attitude also makes me believe you will not get much support if something goes wrong. Remember the old saying: buyer beware..

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

We did custom order it, put a deposit down, and have a approved loan and yes we aren't signing anything so you would ink that would motivate them but maybe they think since they have our deposit we won't back out. Lee talks to the service manager today so we will see where this goes. It seems more that it is out of the norm than anything nefarious but who the heck knows. Lees read waaaay to many horror stories to let this pass don't worry ... Not interested in being one more cautionary tale lol

mylittledogs · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't be forced to get in a hurry. When we did ours they really tried to rush an talk fast. I keep slowing the guy down an asking questions. I open all the doors an draws on everything. Made him show me how the remotes worked on tv's an dvd players. Sounds like a overkill. But we found 2 draws where the slides would not lock. An the out side tv didn't have surround sound. When two people were talking on the outside tv on a dvd, you could only hear one of them. The sound cable was plugged into the tv wrong. So take your time an ask question over an over. Made them hook up water hose to unit. An found a out side water leak to filter system. It is your money they want not your friendship.
Kenny

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Kenny...the PDI is scheduled for March 29th!!! And we are not signing the loan until we finish our PDI..

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

What does PDI stand for (I know the "I" is for inspection) pre delivery?

If one buys from a private seller, are these all the things that a certified RV tech would look for and teach us?

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Pre-Delivery Inspection. It is when an employee shows you the unit, how to operate everything, quirks, etc. It is also when things that need to be fixed are found and noted.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks, Bill. Glad I guessed correctly. What about the 2nd part of my question? Thanks! smile

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you want to pay the private inspector more they can do that. Often they go look at the RV without you and send you are report. This is especially true if the RV is a long distance from you.