What about those warranty disclaimers for full-timing? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Howard · Host

What about those warranty disclaimers for full-timing?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Plus, if you are a fulltimer, you are going to be going back to many different dealers for warranty work. How in the world would they ever know how the unit is being used. You could just be on an extended vacation. I doubt you would ever be asked. Plus most warranties are only for a year - I would not sweat it.

dreamjosie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Any manufacturer putting a disclaimer against fulltiming in their warranty is giving you a message. It is that they don't think the quality of their unit will stand up to fulltime use. I would think long and hard before I bought their units to use fulltiming.

sfischer · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am of the same opinion as DreamJosie on this one.

Would you trust what the manufacturer's rep. "told" you over what is written in their own literature? Not me.

Sorry, but if they don't feel strongly enough about their product to put it in writing, them I'm going to infer that the rig is not suited to fulltime use and should a problem occur in the future that they will fall back on their written warranty. (Maybe not true in the interest of "goodwill", but it certainly gives them an out.)

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

It might just be my lengthy legal background, but whatever is put in writing is, pretty much, to the manufacturer's advantage. This allows them to honor "warranty" work only if it is absolutely covered by the warranty (no question), or if they are feeling generous on any given day. If you have (or get) a very good dealer and can make it back from your "extended" vacation for repairs/warranty work, things could go your way. If, however, you have a crotchety rep at a questionable dealership, you may not fair as well. I (and, I believe, Carol) have recently looked at the Columbus by Palomino. I absolutely LOVE the layout, decor, etc., but the underbelly/walls/roof, etc. are of utmost importance for full-timing. Now I am reconsidering. Terry and Jo have a DRV Mobile Suites and Terry suggested I take a look at those. Well, I have absolutely fallen in love with so many things about DRV, not to mention the manufacturer will even work with you on customizing, among other things. The purpose of this post is to make known what Forest River has to say about their warranty when it comes to full-timing, for those who are still researching.

USE YOUR NEW RECREATIONAL VEHICLE RESPONSIBLY. YOUR CAMPER WAS NOT
DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A PERMANENT DWELLING, BUT FOR SHORT TERM AND
RECREATIONAL USE. IF YOU INTEND TO USE YOUR RV AS PERMANENT HOUSING, BE
ADVISED THAT IT COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR ON YOUR APPLIANCES, FURNACE,
WATER SYSTEMS, CARPET, DRAPES, UPHOLSTERY, BEDDING AND INTERIOR SURFACES.
THIS PREMATURE WEAR CAUSED BY PERMANENT RESIDENCY MAY BE CONSIDERED
ABNORMAL OR ABUSIVE USE, AND COULD REDUCE OR IN SOME CASES, VOID YOUR
WARRANTY COVERAGE.

Even if one chooses not to reveal the fact that they full-time, this information makes me wonder if the Columbus is for me. Further, I do not want to make such a major investment just to find out later the unit may not hold up. I want something solid! So, Terry, I know you have posted much on DRV warranties, but can you expound on how DRV feels about full-timing and, again, what their warranty covers? So far, it seems their warranty is above and beyond the rest. I know DRV touts full-timing in their brochures, but more specific information might be helpful to those of us who are researching like crazy.

Many thanks!

-- Edited by Mary Sunshine on Sunday 29th of July 2012 01:24:53 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo,

DRV Suites also has a good reputation with regards to owners concerns, even after the warranty has run out. I know of some cases where they even covered some repairs even after the owner's warranty ran out. I won't say that will do that with everyone, but they do have a good reputation with the owners of their products.

I suggest that if a brand interests anyone that one should check to see if there are any owner's associations with forums. We did that with a lot of the brands that attracted our interest. Keep in mind that forums will naturally attract people who are looking for the solution to a problem with their RV. Also keep in mind that for all the numbers of complaints, there are probably a lot more woners that aren't having the same problems. I have no evidence of this, but I'd bet that happy owners far outweigh unhappy ones.

As for DRV Suites forum sources, there are two. The first is Suites Owners International Travel Club which is an association made up of owners but anyone can register for and participate with the SOITC forums. Membership within the association does require being an owner of a DRV Suites product, but that is not relevant to the forums. We were on their forums for 2 years with questions and comments prior to us buying out Mobile Suites.

Suites Owners International Travel Club

The second one is 5th Wheel Forums, which is just a forum and not an owner's association. However, like all forums, one does have to register to make comments or ask questions. Reading is free and informative.

5th Wheel Forums

Terry

RunsWithScissors · RV-Dreams Family Member

DH found this release just yesterday announcing Heartland RV's push to gain market share with full-timers. www.rvbusiness.com/2012/07/heartland-rv%e2%80%99s-bighorn-captures-market-share/

I agree with those who've said that if a warranty states it will be invalid under certain conditions, you can't be sure it will stand, regardless of any oral assurances provided by the company's agents. I've submitted a question as follow-up to the above release asking whether the Bighorn warranty includes a disclaimer for full-timing and will post a response if/when I get one.

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sally, not only is the Bighorn line warranted for full time use, the Big Country as well as the Landmark are also covered for full timers. The Landmark line now has a 2 year warranty.

RunsWithScissors · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jay, this is really good to know. We'll be adding Heartland to our "short list" of manufacturers to check out at the Florida RV show this coming January.

Sally

Rob_Fla · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our Jayco Pinnacle has a 2 year warranty on it.
I also did some research into the "Full Time" exclusion.
I have talked to a lot of RVers and I have not found anybody that Jayco has been denied warranty due to fulltime living in their RV.

I agree the furniture in many RVs is not the greatest (we gave our Recliners to our Daughter and went to the furniture store and bought a very nice Lane Seating unit that we use daily)

We think our Jayco has soild construction, no OSB in the floor construction, all solid cherry hardwood in the cabinets and stiles.
The appliances in our Jayco (Stove, Refigerator, A/C Units, Water Heater, TV's, Toilet, Fireplace, Slide Systems, etc) are the same units used is RVs that have the "Full Time" listing.

Our Pinnacle is built by a 40 year old company that we think will be there if we need them.

Bottom line, it works for us!!!

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sally, see if you can get a factory tour at Heartland before you buy. Actually, it is a good idea to get a factory tour of any brand before you buy it.

I really wish that we could spend a few weeks up in that neck of the woods, going on tour after tour, before we commit to buying our full-time coach. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen, so we'll just have to settle for what we already know.

FWIW, the Bighorn is what got us talking about full-timing in the first place. Nice coaches.