I to, do most of my own wrench turning at home and on the road. When you blow a tire however, and the next place you see is a CW then that is where you go when the trip has 750 more miles to go. Like any service industry, including the many lousy RV dealers, you take your chances. I have been lucky I guess.
05 Dodge 2500 CTD 48RE 4x4 LWB, Air Lift, Level-Air, Rotochok, 09 Bristol Bay 3450TS, Dual Honda Eu2000i, 1 wife, 1 dog, 6-daughters (all moved out). Col USAF Ret.Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!
As far as we are concerned, we wouldn't ever let any Camping World employee even put air in our tires. We have been RV'er's for the last 40+ years now. And I have done all of our own repairs. There isn't anything in or on an RV that is that hard to do the repairs yourself. For those people who are not very skilled, I would most likely tell them to spend the money, and buy the RV Repair Manual, the 5th Edition, by Bob Livingston. It can and will guide you through most any RV Repairs, no matter what kind of RV you have. Its all in very simple to understand language, and also has a lot of pictures to help you out. It also tells you how to even test most electrail isues with an RV. With a few simple tools, and a Multi-Meter, and if you can read, then you to can make your own RV Repairs also. This RV Repair Manual is worth its weight in gold, and can and will save you a lot of money, and time. This RV Repair Manual, covers just about anything that one could think of, from Bumper to Bumper coverage, and covers all systems in an RV. This RV Reapair Manual is good for Newbie RV'er to the most well seasoned RV'ers. It will also make you, your own RV Tech. I haven't seen anything yet, in the 40+ years of repairing our own RV's, that I haven't been able to repair, or to replace myself.. Most Camping Worlds are lucky enought to only maybe have one real RV Tech on hand. All the rest of the shop workers, are not skilled in any type of repairs, let alone a RV or TV. And are not worth taking the chance of ruining your RV, do to lack of knowledge, and simple care, and just plain lazyness I'll put my 40+ years of RV Repairs up against any RV Tech in any RV Repair place. One thing is for sure, when I do my own repairs, I know that it is done correctly the first time, and never have to worry about it ever again. How many RV'er's have had to take their RV's back several times, to have the same problem fixed, becuasse it wasn't fix at all, or wasn't fixed right the first time. Reguardless of your RV being under warranty or not. Good Luck. Happy Camping. Dan & Jill
TRIPLE YIKES!!
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paragraphs,
paragraphs!
It might shock you - but there *ARE* folks out there who, for
whatever reason, are physically unable to do their own repairs!
RV techs are like any other "occupation".
Good, bad, ugly.
Stuff happens.
I bent a Reese snap-up bracket, and went to the CW near Clarksboro NJ. They sold me a new one for $88, but I "saved" 10% when I paid them an additional $20 for membership in their Presidents Club. When I got home I checked our local RV supplier and found the same Reese product for $66 .... of course, I didn't get a 10% discount on that price. I noticed also their ROOF SERVICE (wash and protectorant) "starting at $299" for a job I did myself in about 1 1/2 hours and $20 materials. I wouldn't buy anything at CW unless I was in a desperate situation. Camp on
The one south of here drove me to learn more about how to do the repairs myself. They wanted to charge me $119, the hourly rate, to air up 4 tires. I had warranty work done and had to fight them every step of they way to get it covered. They stink here also. I haven't been back in a year and hopefully never again.
Even the products they sell are available elsewhere for less, including the "Presidents Club" hoopla. My very last trip there I picked up a few camping supplies and handed over my card to get the discount. The bubble-gum-popping cashier took my card, scanned it and gave it back. I paid and grabbed my receipt. It wasn't until I got the 25 miles home that I realized the card expired the week before and I had paid full price. The bubble-gum popper ditz couldn't be bothered, well neither can I now. Never again.
We have had nothing but good luck with CW. Back when we drove a Class A, we got a new toad and had them install the hidden brackets on it, in CA. Months later, in Alaska, something came loose, and we lost part of one mounting for a bracket. Had a replacement made locally, them when we got back in the lower 48 with internet access, I sent them an e-mail about the incident. Several e-mails later, and after mailing them a copy of my receipt from AK, I had a brand new bracket (the whole thing, not just the missing parts) installed, and a check in hand for our cost in AK. You can't beat service like that, as far as we are concerned (other than the original bracket loss problem I guess)...
Had a bad experience with CW of Tucson ... sloppy and incomplete installation of a satellite dish. I followed the chain-of-command ... supervisor, manager, corporate headquarters, etc. A total waste of time invested in telephone calls and letters. The cost of doing business with CW is not cost effective. The DTY plan, if possible, and doing business with reputable Internet businesses have proven to be more rewarding and satisfying.
'05 Ford F350 Supercab V10 SRW 430 Rearend
33.5' '05 Discover America CKQG LS NuWa Hitchhiker
Reese Signature Series 18K Hitch
The lesson here is IF you find a trustworthy repair facility stick with them, they are like gold now, and a so rare it isn't funny. Not every repair is within my ability but I'm sure trying.
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