The list of difficulties people have reported to us through surveys, phone calls, and letters includes:

1) Poor customer service - no response to letters and phone calls, unkept promises, inconsistent information, lots of talk but no action, passing the buck, and even outright lies;

2) Dealers who refuse to order parts (much less service) for any RV not purchased from them;

3) Long delays caused by disputes over who will fix what;

4) Lengthy waits for delivery of parts and/or appliances;

5) Protracted waiting periods for repair appointments;

6) Extensive travel to and from manufacturer and/or dealership;

7) Long waits for repairs;

8) Partially or poorly-done repairs.

While RVers who have been around the block a few times expect to have "a few bugs to iron out" with a new vehicle, the knotty problems that often arise when they encounter them has forced many to alter and, in extreme cases, to relinquish cherished travel plans. Often, it's cost them thousands of dollars out of pocket for living expenses in places they didn't want to be stuck in.

We also hear from people who have had entirely positive experiences with their dealers and manufacturers and who wouldn't buy from anyone else. However, in the unregulated and sometimes unpredictable RV industry, it is wise to be cautious when entering into any kind of purchase.

A few tips to help you avoid warranty woes:

1) Buy from a manufacturer with a good reputation for quality control and workmanship, or at least a reputation for being cooperative in doing warranty work.

2) Be sure to click "Customer Comments" on your RV Ratings CD and select your particular manufacturer from the dropdown list to see whether people have had warranty-related problems and how they were resolved. Whether your vehicle is a trailer or a motor home, you'll get an overview of other RVers' opinions of the manufacturer.

3) Work with dealers and manufacturers who have excellent reputations for customer service. RV forums and chat rooms, the Customer Comments on your RV Ratings CD, the Better Business Bureau, and direct recommendations from other RVers can provide guidance. Remember: No dealer will repair an RV if the manufaturer does not authorize it. The responsibility always falls on the manufacturer.

4) Is that washer and dryer combo worth the trouble for the few times you'll need it? Stick with the basics and don't add to or buy an RV with any more optional appliances than you really need. The more you have, the more that can go wrong; and the more appliance manufacturers you'll have to hassle with for repairs and replacements.

5) Know your warranty contract backwards and forwards, making sure that "who is responsible for what repair and under what terms" is spelled out.

6) Read pages 342, 364, and 391 of How to Select, Inspect, and Buy an RV for more on warranties.

7) Always perform a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before driving away with your new RV. Don't let the salesman discourage you from doing this. Even if you have to return the next day or the next week to pick up your RV, don't get carried away by emotion and allow anyone to talk you into driving off the lot without properly inspecting every function of the RV - whether new or used.

8) Make certain all appliances are in working order and, if not, insist that anything that needs fixing be fixed before you take delivery.

9) Utilize the inspection techniques outlined in the book How to Select, Inspect, and Buy an RV and the RV WalkAbout CD-ROM to check for quality control problems inside and outside.

10) Do a test drive if it's a motor home - as you'd do with any automobile.

11) If it's a trailer, be certain your trailer, tow vehicle and hitching system are well matched. Research first; don't depend on the dealer to give you accurate advice - they often don't know. If things go wrong when you're traveling with your rig, it could be difficult to discern whether the trailer, truck, or hitch manufacturer (or dealer) should do the warranty work.

12) Leave travel plans open until you're sure the RV meets your standards and it's safe to take on the road.

Even if you follow all these suggestions, it's no guarantee that defects won't show up once you've been bouncing and jostling down the road awhile. However, by following a set of good rules, you will reduce the risk of having warranty blues.

But before you choose your RV, be sure to check the ratings in our RV Ratings Guide CD.

RVCG Staff