Warranty - Don't wait until the last minute!!!

[HornedToad]

I bought my trailer last March in Dallas and next month my Dutchman one year warranty will end. (After reading all the dire post on the forum I did purchase an extended warranty.)

I had a few warranty items and contacted a dealer closer to home to make arrangements. They said that they would be glad to put me on their schedule but there was over a one month wait and suggested I contact Dutchman since they couldn't schedule me in by the anniversary date.

I emailed Dutchman customer service and received a reply from Keystone that basically said I must have a dealer at least inspect the unit prior to the end of the year and then if they had to order parts and/or have me bring it back in after the warranty period that was OK.

I called the dealer in Dallas and they could get me in right away for an inspection, but they also had over a month wait before they could get any work done and I would have to leave it there or bring it back.

Because these warranty issues are minor items which I could fix myself, with less than $100 of parts, I decided to forgo the 700 mile round-trip to Dallas and a wait that would knock me off a planned outing (unless I brought it back... 700 miles X 2 / 9 MPG X $2.59 per gallon = $400.00) and will take care of the repairs at home.

 

[DC8Captain]

Thanks for your post on this issue. I bought my TT in the middle of last summer and was worried about the long wait to get any warranty work done through local dealers. I too bought my TT from a dealer a days drive away. The local dealers told me they wouldn't do any warranty work for me during the summer since I did not buy from them. Glad to know an inspection to validate a problem is acceptable.

 

[Nana & Poppy]

Thanks for your post on this issue. I bought my TT in the middle of last summer and was worried about the long wait to get any warranty work done through local dealers. I too bought my TT from a dealer a days drive away. The local dealers told me they wouldn't do any warranty work for me during the summer since I did not buy from them. Glad to know an inspection to validate a problem is acceptable.

I would make sure that it is documented with Dutchmen before I rely on it being covered under warranty!!!!

 

[HornedToad]

I would make sure that it is documented with Dutchmen before I rely on it being covered under warranty!!!!

To document what I thought might be an issue of going past the anniversary I sent an email to the customer service link on the Dutchman site...

ownerrelations@keystonerv.com

and received a reply from Doug...

huffd@keystonerv.com

 

[Nana & Poppy]

just getting a link to an email address - were you trying to show us something? If so - please try again

 

[HornedToad]

Just the email addresses I used to contact Dutchman about the warranty...

 

[Nana & Poppy]

OK did not know if you where trying to attach the email.....


When I had a warranty issue that was going to be covered AFTER warranty expires - it was put in writing with the specific issue.....I don't trust Dutchmen/Keystone:-ang....I want it in writing!!!

 

[HornedToad]

I wound up taking my trailer to the dealer in Dallas for warranty and they agreed to try and have it ready by month end so I didn't have to make two trips.

I followed a thread on another forum with great interest about the maintenance/repair/replacement of the waste gate cable. My front grey tank handle was very difficult to pull. Not long after I read the post about the replacement, I broke the handle off. Since this was the only real issue that I was considering submitting under warranty, the detailed instructions in the post gave me the confidence to tackle the job myself and save the 700 mile round-trip for service. I ordered new waste valves with cables and four "Trap Flap" zippered access panels recommend in the thread to access all the valves because the riveted underbelly is hard to remove.

This past weekend I was all set to repair the cable myself. Just as described the cable was wrapped in tight circles around the plumbing behind the UDC wall causing the tension. When I crawled up under the trailer to figure out how to install the "trap flaps" I noticed the rear off door level up jack was leaking hydraulic fluid.

I stopped right there because I didn't want to consider messing with the hydraulics, even if it just meant tightening up a line. I figured if I was going to take it back for the leak, then I would let the dealer also fix the broken cable.

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.
Peter Drucker