RE: Kwikee customer service!!!!!!!!!
How annoying is it when you wait on the line after they tell you "all our customer representatives are waiting on other customers", when you finally realize IT'S A LIE!!!
Here are the two numbers....one is a "private" number supposedly to get through:
1-800-736-9961
1-800-334-4712
I've called now close to 50 times....left over 20 messages during this last week, with NO RETURN CALLS, and there is NO way to talk to a person! What kind of business is that!
I called PPL in Houston, and they said that Kwikee doesn't give any more support for their products. They can't supply the parts either! What kind of nonsense is that!
I have levelers by Kwikee, 3 COMPLETE SLIDE OUTS with Kwikee controls, and now a Kwikee step with a $1.50 piece thats broken on it. Thank GOD for Ebay, as I bought the compete step unit for $250! Im having a problem with my levelers now...the seals may be bad on one of the levelers....WHO IS GOING TO FIX THIS!
WHAT A DISASTER!!!!!
Try calling them!!
PS. I called RVP today (RV Products) about my basement air fan coming on all the time for no apparent reason. THE SECOND RING, the service tech there answered! I told him how much I appreciate the "service Line", and I will report good service advise from his company.
EDIT: I just called the "Main" number for Kwikee:
1-541-942-3888................quick busy signal.....
Heater freezing up
We have a 2000 Itasca Horizon with electric and gas heating. We were camping this weekend and the temps were about 40 degrees, both nights the heater stopped working. Outside there was white frost all over the intake for the heating unit. I think the unit froze up but there has to be a way to stop that. Help, is there anyone out there that has had this problem? This unit is what is call basement air and heat.
RE: Oh my, please help me decide what to do....
We have a 32 2002 Itasca Horizon with basement air
Yes, it's efficient, water doesn't drip down the side, it works as a heater in fall and spring (not YOUR winters!) but as we found out the hard way, it is located under the bed and it is NOISY inside. We don't use it at night, keeps waking us up.
That said, we live with it, and wouldn't change it. Just so you are aware. You might want to test it for noise at the dealer.
We live and travel in ours more that 5 months per year, and like the floor plan. As others have said, floor plans, appliances, fittings that work for you are MOST important in my opinion.
RE: Oh my, please help me decide what to do....
I posted some questions on the Tiffin forum at iRV2, but there is nobody on the forum.... For example, I like the sonar tank sensors on the Itasca, and worry about the sensors malfunctioning inside the tank on the Tiffin (if they are in the tank - I will have to call Tiffin to ask). I also like the basement air in the Itasca (less shore power needed to run, no roof leaks). However, the Tiffin has better basement storage. We are leaning strongly to toward the Tiffin now.
As far as the sensors go, I put the new sensors in my unit, believe the cost was under $300.00, plus my labor, which was just time.
The Itasca when you drive it off the lot will drop in price, meaning which now is the better deal. As a previous thread stated, go back to both units and pretend to live in them and see which feels more comfortable. As for everyone stating you have to go back to the factory to get warranty work done, that is NOT true. If you get approval from Tiffin before hand, you can get it serviced anywhere.
Belive in 2007 Tiffin has the air ducted, so the noise has drop alot.
Your choice now, usually the prices go up in the spring and down in the winter, but with the economy in such a bad state, who knows what will happen. Also the tiffin has heated tank area, does the Itasca?
Still your choice, which unit, or do you wait for later.
one last item, in you go with tha Phaeton, tell the dealer that 2 months is not enough, tell him at least a year or nothing, that way you can settle for less, but I would not go for less than 6 months.
It is a buyers market and extending the warrenty really doesn't cost the dealer much at all.
RE: Oh my, please help me decide what to do....
what roof does the Tiffin have? the winnie will have a fiberglass one. either are good units. with the sensors and basement air the winnie is obviously the more "modern" unit.
bumpy
RE: Oh my, please help me decide what to do....
I posted some questions on the Tiffin forum at iRV2, but there is nobody on the forum.... For example, I like the sonar tank sensors on the Itasca, and worry about the sensors malfunctioning inside the tank on the Tiffin (if they are in the tank - I will have to call Tiffin to ask). I also like the basement air in the Itasca (less shore power needed to run, no roof leaks). However, the Tiffin has better basement storage. We are leaning strongly to toward the Tiffin now.
RE: Basement AC
Mine is quiet and easy to service if necessary. My basemrnt air is just behind the driver side front wheel. Apparently somw Winnie basement ac is under the bed area (gasser??) and the rig owner unhappy. Others claim the basement air is noisy for adjacent parked rigs. Again, mine is quiet and only detected by air movement. I'm happy.
RE: Basement AC
You will find many opinions on this subject both pro and con. After using basement air for six years I find the one big difference is that I can use the full capability of the unit on 30 amps.
RE: Basement AC
We have an Itasca Suncruiser 35A (sister to Adventurer) with basement air and have been very satisified with it.
Cools well in 100+ heat, rig has cleaner lines, no condensate dripping fown sides.
You do lose an area that could be used for a small comaprtment of storage, but the 35A gives us (just 2 of us) as much storage we need for all of our needs. )(Weekend trips, with several 1 -3 week duration vacactions a season).
Some will condemn it for noise, but we find it is less noisy then roof units. The noise is just in a different place. After the first night, I didn't notice it. It must not be that big of a deal because I don't remember the wife or I sitting up all night on a camping trip. Besides, as an old sargent onece told me, "If you can't sleep you must mot be tired enough" This was usually followed by more running and PT.
I can't speak to the service issue as our unit is performing fine after 4 seasons. As it is a residnetial type unit, I expect it to be more robust then a rooftop unit.
Others, I am sure, will have conterpoiunts. Do a search on "basement air" and you will find several threads that debate this issue. It pops up very couple of weeks.
On top of that, the Winnebago line offers many other things that will male you glad that the basement air issue wasn't a deal breaker.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
After 6 RVs with roof air, I was a skeptic that I'd like basement air. But, after having one a while, I prefer it much, much more. I think a lot of the complaints are brand-specific. I have a Winnebago product, which has been putting the air in the basement for a long time. Mine isn't under the bed, it's under the washer/dryer closet, with easy access to a household-type filter. We can buy a good hepa-filter at Wal-Mart which is a big advantage. It isn't any more noisy, in fact when the compressor cycles it's less noisy than a roof air. It seems to be more powerful; with four slides it will cool the coach down quickly on a hot day. No water running down the side, do dripping from the ceiling mount, and what I think is a more powerful heat pump. The key, I think, is who is manufacturing the coach. But I do miss the storage.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
I currently have basement air and will never have it again because (in order of importance):
1. Outside noise for you and your neighbor if sitting outside;
2. Not nearly as efficient;
3. Cost of repair. I have spent in excess of $700.00 keeping mine working;
4. If the primary unit goes out, both units are out;
5. No one wants to work no them.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
This discussion has been on this forum many times and many opinion's.My advice would be to park back to back with one that has basement air on a cold evening as most motorhomes have rear bedrooms and draw your own conclusion about the noise. Been there done that i moved the next day to another site!
Were you hearing a DP engine? My basement AC only runs in hot days and if so, the quiet unit is nearer the front of the rig. I guess different manufacturers produce different types of basement AC resulting in different sound levels. Mine is quiet.
To answer the original OP having never experienced a roof unit--- I can only offer any possible disadvantage a neighbor could object to my basement AC would be its blowing the outside air into his patio space. In this case I would be packed in a campground where I would be the one moving.
I'm happy with my basement unit and unaware of its limitations.
Sorry, but EVERY Winny we have been next to with basement AC has been so loud we could not sit outside! And yes we have also moved to another site. With ducted outflow and return there is virtually no noise with roof AC and with ducted drain no water running off.
From your profile and wonderful pics with your 4 wheelers around I can just imagine the neighbors deafening basement AC was just awful. Sorry
No need to apologize, however we spend more time outdoors then in-last night we watched a black bear, two owls and a cayote from out site here in hog valley(could not have done with noisey ACs around). Many nights are spent in filled RV parks where we sometimes watch TV or radio outside(at a reasonable volume level) and find MANY times our neighbors basement AC running when they are not even home(I know they are keeping their pets cool)making it impossible to even hear the TV/radio.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
This discussion has been on this forum many times and many opinion's.My advice would be to park back to back with one that has basement air on a cold evening as most motorhomes have rear bedrooms and draw your own conclusion about the noise. Been there done that i moved the next day to another site!
Were you hearing a DP engine? My basement AC only runs in hot days and if so, the quiet unit is nearer the front of the rig. I guess different manufacturers produce different types of basement AC resulting in different sound levels. Mine is quiet.
To answer the original OP having never experienced a roof unit--- I can only offer any possible disadvantage a neighbor could object to my basement AC would be its blowing the outside air into his patio space. In this case I would be packed in a campground where I would be the one moving.
I'm happy with my basement unit and unaware of its limitations.
Sorry, but EVERY Winny we have been next to with basement AC has been so loud we could not sit outside! And yes we have also moved to another site. With ducted outflow and return there is virtually no noise with roof AC and with ducted drain no water running off.
From your profile and wonderful pics with your 4 wheelers around I can just imagine the neighbors deafening basement AC was just awful. Sorry
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
Our Newmar has three roof units but we can shut down the rear and middle unit at night by throwing the breaker and the coach stays cool easily. During the day, with all three running, the noise is barely perceptible, much like a house central system. The ducting is very well designed and insulated.
I think a majority of roof air noise complaints may be from not enough sound insulation in the roof, or non-ducted design. Basement air is ok too, but for me, I'd rather have the "plug and play" easily replaced roof units than take up the storage space in the basement. Our satellite dome is several inches taller than the roof A/C's, so there is no height advantage of roof vs. basement, unless you skip the dome.
If we're running heat pump, then the heat comes from the roof obviously, but I always prefer running the Aqua-hot on electric during those nights when a heat pump would be adequate. It's quieter, comes from the floor and is nicer because it heats the floor tiles too.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
This discussion has been on this forum many times and many opinion's.My advice would be to park back to back with one that has basement air on a cold evening as most motorhomes have rear bedrooms and draw your own conclusion about the noise. Been there done that i moved the next day to another site!
Were you hearing a DP engine? My basement AC only runs in hot days and if so, the quiet unit is nearer the front of the rig. I guess different manufacturers produce different types of basement AC resulting in different sound levels. Mine is quiet.
To answer the original OP having never experienced a roof unit--- I can only offer any possible disadvantage a neighbor could object to my basement AC would be its blowing the outside air into his patio space. In this case I would be packed in a campground where I would be the one moving.
I'm happy with my basement unit and unaware of its limitations.
Sorry, but EVERY Winny we have been next to with basement AC has been so loud we could not sit outside! And yes we have also moved to another site. With ducted outflow and return there is virtually no noise with roof AC and with ducted drain no water running off.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
This discussion has been on this forum many times and many opinion's.My advice would be to park back to back with one that has basement air on a cold evening as most motorhomes have rear bedrooms and draw your own conclusion about the noise. Been there done that i moved the next day to another site!
Were you hearing a DP engine? My basement AC only runs in hot days and if so, the quiet unit is nearer the front of the rig. I guess different manufacturers produce different types of basement AC resulting in different sound levels. Mine is quiet.
To answer the original OP having never experienced a roof unit--- I can only offer any possible disadvantage a neighbor could object to my basement AC would be its blowing the outside air into his patio space. In this case I would be packed in a campground where I would be the one moving.
I'm happy with my basement unit and unaware of its limitations.
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
This discussion has been on this forum many times and many opinion's.My advice would be to park back to back with one that has basement air on a cold evening as most motorhomes have rear bedrooms and draw your own conclusion about the noise. Been there done that i moved the next day to another site!
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
We have basement air in our Journey which I prefer. One it takes a lot of stress off the roof and there is less holes in the roof to worry about the seals leaking. We still have lots of storage and the unit is a lot easier to work on as you do not have to get up on the roof to service it. Our unit is very quiet and cools very well. But its a matter of personal choice in the long run its what makes you happy as they both cool. IMHO
RE: Basement/Ducted AC
Having personally owned both I much prefer the basement air. Even though my roof ac's were ducted they were much louder and less effective. The extra head room in the Alfa is a great trade off for the loss of one rear storage panel. As for those who talk about the unit not cooling as well, all I can saw is my personal experience doesn't agree. I do know Alfa owners who have installed additional units, due to the severe temps of south Texas in the mid summer months, and believe me two units on the roof of my Monaco didn't keep up with that either.
