RV Warranty Forever

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by billb800si

I have a question that hasn't been addressed yet.

What if you're on the road and have a failure. How is the "free" repair taken care of??



Happy trails,

I have no real answer, but I would expect if repairs were performed at any RV dealer and paid for, then full reimbursement upon proof of repair(ie copy of R/O, and paid reciept). This is assuming the repair was covered in the first place.

[bsmith0404]

Good question, I would be willing to bet that repairs must be done at the dealership where the RV was purchased, or at least approved by them....unless the warranty is backed by a warranty company that is not associated with any particular dealership, but that is doubtful since it's "free".

[JRTJH]

I've done a bit of internet searching on this "RVwarrantyforever" program. The website is here: http://www.rvwarrantyforever.com/Home.aspx

The RV Daily Report, an RV manufacturer/dealer news source has some interesting information about the program. If you remember about 10 years ago, some automobile dealerships were offering a "forever warranty" if you purchased a maintenance package of oil/filter changes/tire rotations and had specific maintenance done on the vehicle as prescribed by the manufacturer/dealer/foreverwarranty instructions. Those programs rose in "fame" and died in "infamy" over the course of a couple of years. The same company that offered those "autoforeverwarranty" programs is the same company that is now offering the "RVforeverwarranty" programs.

On their website is a list of what's covered. They say in an interview with RV Daily Report that what's covered is listed and if it's not listed it's not covered. Sounds simple until you look at the "what's covered" listing on the website. Under suspension, it lists Leaf and coil springs, shackles and bushings, and rubber suspension springs. It does not list Axles, Bearings, Hubs.

Under Brake Components, it lists Wheel cylinders, calipers, electric brake magnets, and hydraulic tubing and metal fittings. It does not list shoes, hub backing plates, bearings, lugs.

It does seem to have a fairly comprehensive covered component list for appliances, air conditioners, water heater, furnace and plumbing system.

On further down the list, it lists in "Exterior and interior components" that it covers Door handles, latches and springs. It does not cover windows, window mechanisms, door hinge assemblies, steps or interior cabinets/TV's or stereo systems.

Lastly, it states that it covers Factory or dealer-installed bolt on and welded scissor jacks. it does not state that it covers hitch jack, electric jacks, fifth wheel landing gear or any of the newer sophisticated "level up" systems.

So, as I suspected, this appears to be a "limited opportunity" as only 88 dealerships nationwide will be allowed to participate, "on the road" service will likely be limited to those dealerships, the plan does not include any towing or emergency services, and with the company's history in the forever auto warranty, I question how long it will be available.

To answer the previous question of "what do you do if you breakdown on the road?

From the website:
Q: How do I make a claim in the event I experience a breakdown?

A: Take your RV to any professional repair facility and provide them with a copy of your RV Warranty Forever™ agreement. They will handle it from there. If you have any questions that you would like to ask us directly, you may call 1-800-810-8458 and speak with a claims specialist.

My answer would be to call your current "Good Sam" or other emergency roadside service and have them tow you to a repair facility. If it's one of the few items covered by the "forever warranty" then "duke it out" with them as to whether they will bill the company or if you have to pay up front and "duke it out" for yourself. Likely, it will not be one of the forever items and you'll be paying for your repairs just as if you didn't have the extra maintenance inspection to pay for every year.

If you guessed that I'm very skeptical of this whole "new and enticing program" Yup, you're right......

[bsmith0404]

Interesting, I wonder how they get paid for the warranty? Since it is "free" there has to be an agreement between them and the dealership for a percentage or set amount of the rv sale. Seems to me if a person were to decline it there would be room for an improved discount on the purchase price.

[JRTJH]

From some of the reading I did yesterday, I would speculate that the dealership and National Automotive Experts (NAE), the parent company enter into a contract where the dealership buys the warranty and after that initial outlay, the plan is that he gets the return on his investment through the annual maintenance checks. Then, who actually pays for the required repairs is anyone's guess. Whether there is a full reimbursement, a partial reimbursement or ???

National Automotive Experts is located in Strongsville, OH. Their parent website is : http://nationalautomotiveexperts.com/Home.aspx

This may be the "wave of the future" for RVing, but I just don't get how giving a "lifetime warranty" on a few components of an RV (the ones that seldom malfunction, BTW) is anything more than a marketing scheme to make the dealership's sales team more competitive to the novice purchaser.

Through the years, I've purchased cars and trucks, boats and other equipment where NAE plans were a part of the sales pitch to increase dealer profits. The fabric and paint sealant plan, the free or prepaid maintenance plan, the free windshield replacement plan, and the theft protection plan (where they etch the VIN on all the windows and windshield).

If you go to their website, the thrust of all their advertising is directed at dealerships and the goals are: (copied directly from the forever warranty website)"
Is the best service retention program in the industry.
Increases sales and gross profit from day one!
Gives your dealership a marketing advantage.
Increases customer loyalty.
Offers personalized communication with your customers.

Pretty much, what I think they are saying is, "Give your customer this free product and the contract will insure they come back to your business for regular maintenance so you'll be able to certify the maintenance to keep the freebie in force.

[jsmith948]

Originally Posted by berg

I believe we purchased from the same place - TacomaRV? Your whole story about the buying experience is like a deja vu.

I wasn't aware that they will do the annual inspection for $100 - never came up or I glossed over it. That may make it worth the drive back up there for me if they can do it in just a few hours and get me back on the road.

They've treated us amazingly on everything else, I don't know why I'd think this would be any different!

Our DS purchased his Springdale TT from this dealer. He likes his trailer and was treated relatively well on a warranty claim (lost a wheel bearing in Billings, MT).
He has told me he would never buy there again due to the intense, high pressure sales tactics employed by their VERY aggressive finance department. They weren't offering this warranty program when he purchased his TT. I agree with many of the previous posts - just another gimmick. JMHO

[GunDoc]

Jsmith948,

I found just the opposite to be true…There was literally NO pressure when I purchased my TT. The sales staff does not work on commissions and I never dealt with the finance department until I had negotiated the final terms directly with the owner (which took about 10 minutes!). The finance department did attempt to sell me an additional extended warranty. I declined and that was that.

Many of the dealerships I visited in the local area made me feel like I was dealing with the stereotypical “used car salesman.” Lots of pressure and would sell you anything. Most talked down their competition, both the dealers and their products.

This dealer was different. The sales staff was knowledgeable about what they were selling, gave you the information you needed and let YOU make the choice. I never heard them say a bad word about any other dealer or product…Even though they knew I had been looking elsewhere. My dealings with the parts department were excellent and my PDI was thorough (over 3 hours), performed by a senior tech who seemed to really care.

I went to this dealer on recommendations from a couple of my friends that purchased trailers there, one TT and one fifth wheel toy Hauler. They both reported that they had great sales experience and service after the sale. So far I have to agree with them. They get 4.5 stars on Yelp and 3.8 on Google. Most are really good, a few really bad…I don’t see any average reviews – Guess those folks wouldn’t write one, seeing how it was just average.

Of course everyone’s sales experience is different. I have recommended car dealers with whom I have had great experiences and my friend’s have had anything but. I am sorry your son had such a bad experience. At least they honored the warranty.

[NWSkier]

Originally Posted by berg

I believe we purchased from the same place - TacomaRV? Your whole story about the buying experience is like a deja vu.

I wasn't aware that they will do the annual inspection for $100 - never came up or I glossed over it. That may make it worth the drive back up there for me if they can do it in just a few hours and get me back on the road.

They've treated us amazingly on everything else, I don't know why I'd think this would be any different!

I suspect we (Gun Doc, you, and I) all have something in common, as we purchased our new Cougar from Tacoma RV this spring as well. I concur that we were treated very well (no sales push, no pressure) throughout the buying/sales process. I asked about the "Forever Warranty" when they said it was "free"... and they came off the catch that there was an annual service requirement that had to be done at a "qualified professional repair center". I never asked what they would charge for this service, as we already knew we would be moving within six months (across the country) and will have to try and negotiate that with a different dealership (who we didn't purchase the RV from).

They briefly tried to sell us an additional extended warranty and protection package, but I stopped them before the first sentence was spoken and told them we were not interested. There was no further push on anything extra from that point on... to include the parts department when I pulled out a list of prices from Amazon/CW/Walmart to compare to their prices on accessories to spend the "extra" credit we "won" in the little card game they play with you.

I will more than likely be doing my own annual maintenance, and the "Forever" warranty can be voided. As already stated, it doesn't cover the most common items to fail... just like most any warranty. C'est la vie!

[JRTJH]

OK, I couldn't just sit and wonder any longer, so I just called Tacoma RV, talked to the service department and was referred to Rob in the "forever warranty department" when I asked how much the annual forever warranty service costs.

I was told this: The inspection is $100 and after we do the inspection we will call you and tell you what it needs.

I then said that I know, according to page 19 of the 20 page warranty booklet (the page titled ANNUAL MAINTENANCE RCORD COUPON, that the furnace needs to be cleaned, hot water heater flushed and wheel bearings inspected and repacked. Rob agreed these things do need to be done annually. I asked how much that costs and he said he wasn't sure. We discussed about 4 hours of labor plus parts as being "ballpark close". He did say that the wheel bearing service is $290. Adding the others will be "a couple hundred more" according to him.

He also stated that "winterizing and dewinterizing" must be done at the dealership because they are required maintenance that has to be documented to maintain the warranty.

So, my skepticism seems appropriate: So far, this "FREE WARRANTY" will cost at least $100 for the inspection, about $490 for the work plus the cost of winterizing and dewinterizing annually, probably $150 for that work. So the annual cost for this "FREE" thing is up to $740 and that's before anything "out of the ordinary" is found on the annual inspection.

GEESH, I didn't know that "free" was "so expensive"

Just my thoughts and I do agree with NWSkier, I think I'd be doing my own work and let the "forever warranty" be voided. Especially since it only covers a very limited list of components.

Give the service department a call and discuss with them, maybe I missed something in the translation? Hmmmmmm

[chuckster57]

Makes me glad we aren't part of that...

[GunDoc]

I agree, for that kind of money, I'll also opt to perform my own maintenance and void the free warranty. I really don't lose anything, since I didn't pay for it in the first place. I was told during the PDI that I could perform my own winterization without affecting the warranty.

My earlier thoughts are still valid; however, there are folks that simply can’t, for a variety of reasons, perform their own maintenance. In their case I think this warranty is a good value. For the rest of us, we are better off saving the money every year on the service and if something like the fridge goes out that money can be applied towards the replacement costs.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by GunDoc

I agree, for that kind of money, I'll also opt to perform my own maintenance and void the free warranty. I really don't lose anything, since I didn't pay for it in the first place. I was told during the PDI that I could perform my own winterization without affecting the warranty.

My earlier thoughts are still valid; however, there are folks that simply can’t, for a variety of reasons, perform their own maintenance. In their case I think this warranty is a good value. For the rest of us, we are better off saving the money every year on the service and if something like the fridge goes out that money can be applied towards the replacement costs.

To a certain extent I agree with your assessment about people who can't do their own maintenance. But, they still would have to pay the $100 up front to have their RV "inspected" so they can be told they need to clean the furnace, flush the hot water heater and repack the wheel bearings. They already know those things need to be done (it's a requirement on page 19). As for the roof inspection, that is done "free" at any Camping World service facility and is included in the 45 point Complimentary RV assessment. CW makes no "hidden agenda" with that "free inspection", they clearly say that repair and maintenance services are available at the time of the inspection.

You might want to clear up the winterization requirements with the "forever warranty department" at Tacoma RV before you buy your own antifreeze. The phone call I made today was very clear in the requirement that the dealership has to winterize and dewinterize the RV as a part of the warranty requirement.

It's sounding more and more like a "freebie" to draw in the novice RV'er who thinks he is getting something for nothing... From the RV Daily Report, the dealership must buy the package from NAE, and I'm sure that cost is passed on to the purchaser as a "hidden cost" either in the dealer established MSRP or as an "un-negotiated cost" that's included in the bottom line but not listed as a line item on the bill of sale.

I'm thinking the dealership is expecting to keep the customer coming back to spend money in the service department. It's a "win win" for the dealership and a "spend spend" for the consumer.

Back in another life, I sold water softeners as a part time job. We threw in a year's supply of soap products if we couldn't close the sale without it. That "$500 value" cost me $30 out of my commission. Even "giving away that valuable extra" I still made $270 on every $650 sale.

The dealerships "giving away" this forever warranty are expecting to make much more than their initial cost, probably during the first "service inspection"

[SAD]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

...It's sounding more and more like a "freebie" to draw in the novice RV'er who thinks he is getting something for nothing......

Anyone who thinks they are getting "something for nothing" (on any sale of any type), gets precisely what they deserve.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by SAD

Anyone who thinks they are getting "something for nothing" (on any sale of any type), gets precisely what they deserve.

I completely agree. When I read that a buyer walked away from a dealership because the dealership stopped giving the "free" $25 gift coupon with every RV purchase, I chuckle and shake my head. It brings back memories from grammar school when we were taught about how the early explorers traded shiny trinkets for supplies when they landed on unknown and uncharted islands.

[Tbos]

Originally Posted by GunDoc

I just purchased a new Cougar and received the “RV Warranty For Life” policy as a part of the purchase. It was no cost and WAS a line item entry on my purchase agreement. Did I have a choice whether this was included or not? I guess I could have declined the policy, but I had negotiated the price of the TT and had, BY FAR, the best deal of many major dealers in our area…Best price (by thousands), best financing, free WD hitch (which I upgraded to an Equal I Zer 4 point for $200.00), no PDI costs, numerous other free goodies all at a dealership that has been around for over 29 years, is family owned and you deal directly with the owner when it’s time to buy. BTW they are the largest single-point Keystone dealer in the US.

Do I think my dealer is underhanded, or corrupt? Is this some sort of scheme? I don’t think so. What my agreement states is I have to have the roof inspected, the axle and hubs lubed, the furnace inspected and cleaned, the water heater holding tank flushed, manual temp valve operated and burner cleaned on an annual basis by a professional shop (any shop). My dealer offers this annual “check-up” for $100.00. Could I do this work myself? Of course I could. Is it worth it for me to pay my dealer $100.00 per year to insure my major systems are in top working condition? YES! If for some reason my furnace stops working, or my water heater burns out, they will replace them for free. Parts and labor included. Of course it is still my choice…Don’t get the annual service done, extended warranty is void. In no way does this affect the manufacturers’ warranties.

I was also offered a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty when I purchased my TT. This one would have cost me and like all other extended warranties I have been “offered” (read purchase) I declined.

So you see, some dealers may, in fact, offer this as an incentive to buy the TT at their dealership. Do they hope to make money for their service department? Sure they do – That’s why they are in business! If they do a good job at a fair price they will remain in business and gain repeat customers. I guess that’s why my dealer is still going strong after 29 years!

Who and where is your dealer?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[mazboy123]

this thread started back in early 2014...I figure by now all of those RVers who have purchased a 'lifetime' warranty need to respond.

For what it is worth, if you are going to have a 'lifetime' warranty included it is costing you for the warranty. YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING FOR FREE!

In my opinion, an consumers report extended warranties are a waste of money.

[Tbos]

Thought it was interesting he was able to get the annual maintenance done for $100. Seems pretty good considering they want about $300 in our area.

[dcg9381]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

So, my skepticism seems appropriate: So far, this "FREE WARRANTY" will cost at least $100 for the inspection, about $490 for the work plus the cost of winterizing and dewinterizing annually, probably $150 for that work. So the annual cost for this "FREE" thing is up to $740 and that's before anything "out of the ordinary" is found on the annual inspection.

Wow.. I also looked at what's covered (listed prior) - and it's largely components. They seem to require that you have work done at the dealer - at the quoted rates above, $740 in maintenance would buy an awful lot of components... Stuff that I'd want covered - walls, roof, major stuff, is not covered.

I can eat a $650 air conditioner or a $50 spring... Probably the most expensive covered component would be the fridge.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by dcg9381

Wow.. I also looked at what's covered (listed prior) - and it's largely components. They seem to require that you have work done at the dealer - at the quoted rates above, $740 in maintenance would buy an awful lot of components... Stuff that I'd want covered - walls, roof, major stuff, is not covered.

I can eat a $650 air conditioner or a $50 spring... Probably the most expensive covered component would be the fridge.

I would guess that your Carbon has an 8 CUFT refrigerator. The normally retail for about $1300. Add $150 for installation. At $740 a year in "forever maintenance charges" you could buy a new refrigerator every other year and "break even".... Assuming most refrigerators "live" for 5-10 years before needing repair/replacement, it's still an "expensive proposition" to maintain that "free warranty".....

For some people, it may seem "beneficial" but for anyone with some "basic handyman skills" it likely would cost more for that "freebie" than you'll ever get in return.

[LittleJoe]

JRTJH

Well done and agree 100%