How common are issues with awnings, slides or fridges? Extended service debate...

[PrairieOcean]

Hi All - apologies for any overlap in extended service / 'warranty' threads that have been helpful, but we are hoping to get an impression of how common issues are specifically around power awnings, 12v DC fridges or slides.

We are leaning towards cancelling the extended service we purchased and getting the $$ back to put aside, but these 3 items are stuck in the back of our mind for potential higher $$ repairs. Unit is a 2021 Transcend that we are picking up later April.

If you've had an issue with any it'd be great to know if it was post warranty period and ballpark cost to repair. We'd need to exceed ~2100 USD in 7 years to make it worth our while.

Cheers All

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Hi All - apologies for any overlap in extended service / 'warranty' threads that have been helpful, but we are hoping to get an impression of how common issues are specifically around power awnings, 12v DC fridges or slides.

We are leaning towards cancelling and getting the $$ back to put aside, but these 3 items are stuck in the back of our mind for potential higher $$ repairs. Unit is a 2021 Transcend that we are picking up later April.

If you've had an issue with any it'd be great to know if it was post warranty period and ballpark cost to repair. We'd need to exceed ~2100 USD in 7 years to make it worth our while.

Cheers All

If you are paying someone else to do the maintenance (brakes, resealing roof, resealing side penetrations, winterizing, sanitizing, axle bearings, etc.) you will definitely exceed $2,100 in 7 years. As for "major" problems, it is akin to any home or auto you own. Most appliances in the camper, oven, stove top, refer, TV, recliners, etc. will have an issue within that time frame, the question becomes how handy are you to repair them yourself? For the slides, I would guesstimate $400-1K and several weeks at a dealer, unless you go with a mobile tech. Most of the time, the issue with slides are, out of alignment, and with Schwintech slides the motor. Both of these have plenty of YouTube videos on how to fix them. Total cost, less than $200.00.

For my previous campers, I've had to replace the 6.5 cf refer since the ammonia crystallized and it was too new to have a condenser available separately for it, I had to replace the thermocouple in an oven, and reseal the outside of the camper. That was it. The refer was the most expensive item at $1500 installed. It was out of warranty by 1 month. Dometic offered me a discount on a 4 year extended warranty for the refer, which we bought, just in case.

Of all the items in the coach, besides someone running into it, it me running it into something, the refer is going to be the most expensive piece for us to replace. That is fine with us, we chose not to get the dealer extended warranty.

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[Second Chance]

RV/absorption fridges can be problematic (and we have had issues with them). The other things we have not had any issues with. Here's our take on extended service plans: My wife found a very good description of extended service plans a while back (they are not warranties, but rather insurance policies with lots of fine print). They are another form of legalized gambling. The company is betting that nothing breaks that would cause them to pay out more than you paid for the policy; you're betting it will. As in all forms of legalized gambling, the house usually wins. Otherwise, these companies wouldn't be in business or make a profit. We prefer to set money aside regularly (earning interest) and pay for repairs as they come up.

Rob

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

I didn't address the awning. The last camper we owned, the awning was just starting to tear. I got a couple of quotes from a few service departments near me, and was quoted around $1000 from them. The awning fabric was about $300 and it took my wife and I about 3 hours to replace it. Now that we know how it'll probably take us an hour next time.

Like Rob, we put money aside for repairs.

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[Steven@147]

I would agree with Rob and Mark, its the same as all those car extended warranty (ie insurance) commercials. If they fail as often as they lead you to believe, they would go broke fast. Of course if you're the one with a clunker and it seems to break down all the time, well then you're ahead of the game.

I'm thinking for RVs I would separate it into two categories, ongoing maintenance of the RV, bearings, seals, roof maintenance and such, cleaning, greasing.
Or repair replacement insurance of failed components/ appliances after the initial warranty expires.

We don't have either one, we just fix as we go with funds set aside for that. The only interior appliance we have had to replace so far in a little over two years is the converter IIRC $250.
There are things you can do to limit your vulnerability by using a good power monitor system. This will keep your electrical components from being damage/failure by bad AC power. Same with your fresh water system, using and installing a good pressure regulator will save your water lines from damage and leaks from too high campground pressure. Something that could be blamed on bad product but actually was caused by external forces.

Under the maintenance category I had to replace one brake assembly and brake drum, again IIRC $230. I did all the work but I'm pretty handy.

 

[Wicked ace]

I too agree with Rob & Mark, I like the legalized gambling analogy.
Out of curiosity I went to one of the more popular RV warranty companies for a quote. The salesman told he could give a " price at a good discount" for five year coverage at $3200, not explaining deductibles or restrictions. Now keep in mind this crap they outfit RVs with has been around for years, very little is new or even current technology. I just found a print for Venture Engineering 5th wheel landing gear that was printed 30 years ago that is the sold now by Lippert, Stromberg-Carlson and Open Road.
When I told him I could get a 7 year- 100000 mile warranty on my much more complex and modern F150 with $100 deductible and car rental for $1200 he hung up.

 

[EsquireRV]

...
When I told him I could get a 7 year- 100000 mile warranty on my much more complex and modern F150 with $100 deductible and car rental for $1200 he hung up.

I too, passed on the extended DEALER warranty (it's not a Mfg Warranty). Create an RV Repair slush fund - you'll likely come out ahead vs. paying up front for a warranty you may not even be able to use (check the fine print).

 

[Heavysledz]

I too, passed on the extended DEALER warranty (it's not a Mfg Warranty). Create an RV Repair slush fund - you'll likely come out ahead vs. paying up front for a warranty you may not even be able to use (check the fine print).

Ditto....been there done that and will never buy a warranty again. If you can back out now, do so and set that money aside in case you need it for repairs. You will likely come out ahead.

 

[mnrover]

Hi All - apologies for any overlap in extended service / 'warranty' threads that have been helpful, but we are hoping to get an impression of how common issues are specifically around power awnings, 12v DC fridges or slides.

We are leaning towards cancelling the extended service we purchased and getting the $$ back to put aside, but these 3 items are stuck in the back of our mind for potential higher $$ repairs. Unit is a 2021 Transcend that we are picking up later April.

If you've had an issue with any it'd be great to know if it was post warranty period and ballpark cost to repair. We'd need to exceed ~2100 USD in 7 years to make it worth our while.

Cheers All

I bought an extended warranty and as others here have noted it is better to just put the money aside so I cancelled the extended warranty. I am handy so I will fix things myself if possible and dip into the rainy day fund if needed. The other bonus of fixing things myself is that I will not be at the mercy of the dealerships repair schedules which are now in the months and not weeks in some cases. You mentioned things that could break but what if nothing breaks?