We have a 2018 cougar 310RLS. In hindsight, it should not have been taken home. We do not have buyers remorse. We have a trailer and dealer that have not lived up to reasonable expectations. It could be a long rant! During our initial walk around on our delivery day, there were issues we had noted during the time we had looked at the new trailer. None of these were corrected during the PDI process. Service manager appeared to be shocked that the items we had seen were not repaired before delivery! Large chunk out of the solid surface counter top, on one of the lower edges, quite sharp. A large scratch on one of the fridge doors also not repaired! Minor things in the big scheme of things. Now back to the walk around demo. There were no propane tanks, only a test tank installed. Scrambling around again to find two new filled tanks, then the tank straps had to be replaced because they were not long enough to go around the tanks. Still happy to be getting our new trailer. Demo time is completed and we are now going to hook up to our truck. It seems that the auto level system is not working properly, has fault code for a rear left jack. Nobody knows how to correct the issue while we are there. They called in a tech to have a look at this problem. An hour later the tech shows up and looks at the system. Says to me, just put it into manual mode and forget about the auto level feature," they never work right anyway". Should have left the unit at the dealer! Tech gets the system cleared up and we are hooked up and heading home, still reasonably happy, we have a new trailer! On the way home the trailer tows like a dream, first fifth wheel we have ever had. Always watching the mirrors as i'm driving, i see every now and then something that appears to be flapping every now and then. Still feels ok towing, no noises or anything else. Park the trailer in our driveway and get things ready to disconnect from the truck, block the wheels and found the left side fender had a few missing screws, this is what i had seen flapping every now and then. No big issue, screws fall out all the time. Replaced the missing screws, because i am a pack rat and have lots of rv stuff, just in case. All set to unhook, level system only worked manually. When all the proper steps were followed to disconnect and level, system started to work then stops, over limit error. I level it manually. Still not dissatisfied with our purchase. Start the transfer of our camping gear to the new trailer, lots of storage. Filled all the cabinets and closets with all our normal gear. Now im testing all the features and systems operations. Hot water not working on electric, checked the system and found that the power switch mounted on the tank was not in the on position. The factory foil seal was still in place, this indicates to me that the electric side was not tested. Another PDI item. Walking around the trailer i was finding small pins on the floor below the cabinet doors, the lower half of the hinge pins were falling out! Reinstall pins and recrimp the hinge area so they stay. Should have left this trailer at the dealer. Sitting on the couch at the rear of the unit and i noticed the scratch on the fridge door was worse after the tow home. So being a person that looks at things in a logical manner, i closed the kitchen slide and checked for clearance between the island and the fridge. The island is too close to the right side of the trailer and the cabinet door handle is contacting the fridge door panel. So being me, i moved the island to the left 3/4 of an inch. But before doing so i have documented all things and have numerous pictures. Emailed the dealer all photos and what we have found and corrected. Asked about their PDI process, the tech has 7.5 hours to go over the unit completely. Well , I said, I think he missed this trailer all together. Note we have not gone on our first camping trip as of yet.
First weekend out with the trailer, almost a great weekend, except for the auto level system. Back home and finding more hinge pins on the floor, small thing, so I fix them.
Next weekend out with the trailer, unseasonably hot, for this area. A/C system would not bring the temperature down to a comfortable level. Great if you would stand under the unit with the quick cool door open. Close the door and the lethargic amount of air coming out of the vents is much less than what is needed to bring the temperature to a reasonable level. Checked in take temperature and discharge temperature at the unit and we have at least a 20 degree difference in temperature. Not so for the ceiling vents.
Checked for air leaks and improper sealing, well the a/c unit was leaking air from intake to discharge side, really poor tape and foam tape work. Sealed all leaks, sealed the leaks between the discharge side and the lovely racetrack duct system. Slightly more air flow as a result of all the taping.
Now we are questioning our purchase! Off to the dealer we go. Sat with the general manager and explained our concerns in a reasonable and calm manner. We were assured all our issues would be taken seriously and corrective measures would be taken to prevent this from happening again.
Trailer was picked up by the dealer and was gone completely over. So we were told. Counter top replaced, fridge door replaced, very poor nail setting and putty jobs were corrected. Oh and the mattress was replaced with a residential model due to the poor quality of the mattress. After two nights sleeping the mattress was compacted in the areas where we would sleep. A/C was inspected and all leaks were corrected. Delivered back to our campground and all set up. Assured us all things were corrected.
Its an unseasonably warm evening again, turned on the A/C and it ran for hours, temperature at the start was 34 deg celsius after two hours of running on high the interior temperature had come down to 32 deg celsius. After four hours it had dropped to 30 deg celsius. When i had gone outside after several hours i found the outside temperature was quite a bit cooler than in our trailer with the a/c on. So back and forth with the dealer, in the end we are told the a/c unit is functioning within the manufacturers specifications. Not a warranty issue, no longer pursuing a warranty issue for the a/c. Told we will need a second a/c unit if we want the trailer to be any cooler. Quote " they are pricey". (Note this is not our first trailer. If we could have our traded in trailer back we would be very content, at least the Riverside Travel trailer we traded in had an awesome a/c unit that would function perfectly on auto. Set the temperature at 20 deg C and leave it. Didn't matter how hot it was outside.)
So we have a trailer that will not cool properly and makes for an uncomfortable sleep.
Now we are going on vacation, i go to the campground to hook up to the trailer to bring it home so it will be all ready for our short trip. Open up the trailer to make sure nothing is going to move around and break. I noticed the fridge display is not illuminated. Open the freezer and found all our frozen meats are thawed out, and the perishables in the fridge are as warm as the inside of the trailer. Opened the pantry door and saw the led on indicating a circuit problem, pulled out the fridge fuse and found one side was burned black. Fuse was not inserted into both terminals, in one and sitting on the other, high resistance, fuse burns and no fridge. Note fuse is not blown, just burnt externally. Last straw! Called the dealer and spoke to the general manager, oh bring it right in and we will have a look at it.....
At the dealer, general manager locates a tech and they start to look at the fridge. I gently direct them to the fuse box and show them the issue.
Oh is a burnt fuse! Stick in a new fuse and all things are working, fridge wise.
So i'm told to have a good vacation and be on my way. Still have a fridge full of food that has to be tossed out, and an a/c that is lethargic at best. Very poor service from a dealer and we are now regretting ever buying a new trailer.
We have no confidence in the product, absolutely no confidence in the dealer. And are always wondering what is going to stop working next. I know i have not included bunch of dealer interactions in this rant. I have read all the a/c sections on here and elsewhere. Should have left this unit at the dealer!!!
Fridge inop/A/C lethargic at best
Linear Mode
