What Do You Do When (Fulltimer Questions)

[IrishIroamed]

Looking for some opinions or knowledge from the fulltimers...

As you may know, the trailer & truck took some heavy damage from a hail storm. I'll be getting the truck fixed back in IL and will stop my RV dealer on the way to get an estimate on the trailer. Then an adjuster will come to where I'll be parked in IL while the truck is getting fixed for a month for thei TT estimate.

Granted the dealer may be looking for a sale. He said alot of people just buy another one and turn over the insurance check to them, but I actually thought if that before I even talked to him.

What do our did you do when you don't have a place to go and youre without your vehicle or camper (TT, 5er, C, or A)?

[avalen]

Thats a good question, and i cant imagine being in your shoes, but some insurance pays for loss of use and therefor pay for the motel you would need to stay in while repairs were being done. I feel the biggest damage to your trailer is the pits in the skin cause the antenna can be replaced as well as the ac shroud. Clearance light can be repaired as well. The damage is sad but i think the dealer can replace that skin. Im sure they would live to sell you a new trailer but financially would you be ahead or at a loss. Lots to think about. So so sorry you have to deal with this.

[Queen]

Not a fulltimer, but a buddy who is worked a deal with the dealership (RV) to stay in the trailer overnight while it was in for repairs. Another did the same at the mechanics place who was fixing his van.

Another thought, grab a cheap tent and your bedding from the camper and grab camping spot?

[IrishIroamed]

Alice~I'm not to sure about the hotel thing. I'll need to look at my policy again. I know rental vehicle is good for 30 days. But the 'what if' question is what if it is not usable and the RV can't be fixed for months. We know how the dealers like to stall.

Mickie~Good idea, but I've never been a tent camper. Besides, I wouldn't want to live in a tent for a long period of time.

[chalet05]

Cheryl, as far as the dings in the trailer, are they such that they compromise the rig - leaks? I have seen trailers, including one in this park, that have dings that I thought were possibly caused by hail. I really know nothing about that kind of damage. I also don't know how long it takes to repair them or what method they use.


As far as the other trailer issues, if they can't get those fixed in a day, I would wonder why. I have never run across a place that would not let a full timer stay in their rig at the dealer site.

Curious as to what all this will do to your insurance premiums.

[Bethers]

I'm surprised the insurance company isn't demanding the adjuster see the rig before you are traveling with it. My major damage an adjuster was out within 2 days. I had a quote for damages within the next 24 hours. My older car was considered a total but not dangerous to drive... I elected to do the "buy back" and keep the car and received a check quickly.

When Jean (Sparkle) had major damage she drove to her destination (Not far). The adjuster came out and declared her rig not safe and gave her three days to vacate it. The insurance company gave her the dollar amount she'd receive for it and she went out and found another rig immediately.

Depending on the damage I might not want to keep the rig... So would want to get the insurance estimate before seeing dealers anywhere, then look into trading, etc.

[IrishIroamed]

Anita~I would consider the funds in the front cap to be cosmetic, but I think there may be water damage to the roof also. Or felt soft when I was up, right behind the front cap, when I was up there yesterday. The dealer here said they usually don't fix the front caps, but instead replace them which could not be a one day fix. The other things (antenna, vent cover, etc) could be fixed in a day

[IrishIroamed]

Beth~It was the insurance companies idea to have an inspection done somewhere else because of all the damage around here. The company had to fly in inspectors to handle all of the claims. Most people with damage must have been told the same thing because once they did temp fixes to their rigs/cars, they left for home, etc. I also would usually get the insurance estimate first, but the dealer close to my Dad's already told me they are booked until August. This way, the dealer I bought it from is on the way and can get me in immediately, which will help speed the process along.

Guess it will all depend on cost and time, because if I had no where to stay, that would be the defining factor. I would NOT want to be staying in some hotel, in an known area, waiting for things to be fixed over a long period of time. I for SURE would NOT have wanted to stay in the area of Louisiana, when the trailer for hit in March.

I just happen to be luckyand have a place to stay now. In the future, I wouldn't have that luxury.

[Bethers]

Just agreeing with Anita about staying in rig at repair place. I don't do otherwise. Only once did I leave my previous rig and the two day repair got stretched and stretched... Turned into a month. Learned my lesson. If they won't let me in my rig, to sleep, I find a place that will. Guess what... They get the work done in time.

[JudyJB]

Ditto with what the others said. I ALWAYS make sure they can repair something in one day when I set up an appointment. I also tell them I am a full-timer and will not play the "drop-it-off-at-7-am-and we'll-call-you-when-it-is-done. That is code for, " We like to have all our rigs lined up early in the morning, so we can choose which to start right away and which we might be able to get to just before closing."

I tell them I have no other place to go and will bring it in ONLY when they can start to work on it!! And I will be waiting in their lobby during the repair. (They hate that, so it speeds them up.) If not, I will find something else to go, as Beth does.

Also, and this is really, really important--Make them confirm that they have all the parts they need before you bring it in. (First, don't let them take something apart that they can't put back together in workable condition until they have parts!) If they say to bring it in next Monday, and they will have the parts by then, tell you will check before you bring it in.

Then, on the day before you are scheduled to go in, make sure they really and truly have the parts in their hands!! Make them confirm that have actually looked at the part. I have gone as far as having parts shipped directly to me, like the roller that was broken. They said they could not order it until they looked at it. and then it would take at least a week to get it. Not acceptable. So, I called Fleetwood parts, they took my VIN and sent the right roller to my son's house. Walking in with a part makes things a lot faster!! (You should have seen their faces when I handed them the part as they started to tell me about the week or more I would have to wait!)

Places like factory service for Fleetwood in Decatur, IN, and in the REV (owners of Fleetwood) factory service place in Eugene have parking spots with electric and water. They also have a dump site. They allow you to park there with electric from the day before to the day after you have service done. Unfortunately, some people sit there for a couple of weeks waiting for parts, but it is better than a hotel and there is a lot of comradery among the people waiting. Sometimes the regular dozen or so spots are full, so people have to dry camp in the dirt lot next door, but they still can use the dump station and fill with water. During the day, people chat in the lobby or go out exploring. It gets to be like a club--how long are you here for???

Most Camping World's also have such camping spots, as does the Cummins factory service place in Eugene. I was there and saw a lady returning from the grocery store. She said she had been parked there for two weeks waiting for parts. When they have to look at you when they come in to work each morning, they work harder to get you out of there!!!

[JudyJB]

Irishroamer, I would NOT let the dealer think you can stay in a hotel or with a friend/relative for an unlimited amount of time. This only encourages them to put your repair on the back burner and not bother with it until they have to. Dealers are TERRIBLE about this because they are used to people who use their rigs for only a couple of weeks in the year and leave them in storage the rest of the time.

I would insist on an estimate that includes how long it would take to do the repair. I would also question why it is taking an entire month to repair your truck.

I did have to be without my motorhome once for 10 days. It was still under warranty, and there was a soft spot in the floor in front of my couch. It turned out to be a broken weld in the chassis, so they had to pull out the entire slide on that side, which involved unhooking all the kitchen utility connections and removing my couch. Then they had to tear out the flooring, remove one large section of plywood under the flooring, and get down to the chassis to re-weld it!! This was done at the factory in Decatur, IN, and was a major repair, so I just rented a car for 10 days, loaded up my clothing and electronics, and drove to my son's house in Ohio. They kept my rig indoors and plugged in so the stuff in the refrigerator and freezer stayed cold. And I got new vinyl flooring! I think they would have paid for a hotel, but I had planned to drive to my son's house anyway.

[Bethers]

I agree with everything Judy has said. And I definitely don't understand the month they need for the truck.

[SoCalGalcas]

So sorry this is happening to you Cheryl. When I had major repairs, I was always close to San Diego, so stayed with the kids.
Judy, you said REV has bought Fleetwood? They also bought Lance! Are they anticipating being the only RV on the road!?
Lyn

[gypsyrose1126]

Cheryl, I won't be much help to you about repairs etc. Just wanted to say that all Homeowners polices have a Loss of Use clause, which says that if f your home is unlivable, they will pay for lodging for a reasonable amount of time to get you back into your home. However, I do not know how your trailer policy reads. This is something you need to speak to your insurance co. about or check your policy, if you have it. Sorry to hear about all of the damage.

[JudyJB]

But if it does have a loss if use clause, don’t tell that to the dealer or they will delay.