As promised, the owner of the dealership in Ohio got a mobile repair person out to the campground this morning.
Steve was hopeful it would be a quick fix. Maybe just a connector or something. I was much less optimistic, which is quite the role reversal for us.
Turns out I was right.
The mobile guy said the rupture is up high. To repair it properly will involve taking off and replacing the entire underbelly. His company can probably do it on-sight, but we would have to wait a couple days to get all the trucks here, and I imagine we'd need permission from the RV park.
Camping World is an authorized repair center, but to even transport it to Camping World, we would have to access the manual overdrive (Steve was unsuccessful last night), and apparently that means taking the bed apart.
All in all, the repairs will take between five days and a month. And it's possible that we will have to pay upfront and hope to get reimbursed by Forest River, the manufacturer.
The dealership owner has a call in to the Forest River rep to try to help us out, but it's lunchtime in Indiana, so it will probably be another half hour before we're even able to talk to someone.
We can't stay in the trailer right now because there's not room to move in there with the slide-outs in. (As mentioned, they're out a bit--not enough to make it livable, but enough that it can't be driven. Plus the jacks are frozen.) And even if we could stay in it tonight or tomorrow, we obviously won't be able to once they start working on it.
So that means even more nights in a hotel. The money we saved by buying from this dealer is slowly being lost on hotels and meals while we're here.
I toyed with the idea of flying back home with the kids, but I'm not sure what good that would do, other than cost us three airfares. Steve would still need somewhere to stay, and I'd be back to trying to keep the house presentable in case someone wants to buy it.
So, we're trapped. For how long, I don't know. I'm secretly hoping the manufacturer will just buy back the trailer, we can go home, and forget this whole thing.
Lmbo, Your stories sound just like something that would happen to my family. Just remember anything that's worth doing will never be done with-out battles being fought, this may be a blessing in disguise! My family will be praying!
ReplyDeleteFirst you let the dealer and the manufacture know that you are posting all this on a blog..a blog that is read by many..it is so sad to you that you are having to blog negative..when you wanted to talk about the positive. I have found that this always gets their attention!!
ReplyDeleteI know you don't know me from adam..I do know some families in the Houston area I could send out an SOS for you and your family. Just let me know. all of this should of been covered under warranty..or maybe they crimped it when the fork lift messed up!!
Good luck..hang in there!!
Cindy and Walker
Jennie, I'm in the Katy area if you need anything today or tomorrow. We're leaving for vacation Thursday. I am so sorry you're going through this, I just can't imagine how frustrated you are. Hopefully, the repairs take only days versus a month. ~hsjwmom from car-seat.org
ReplyDeleteOh my holy heck. Since they damaged your trailer I think they should be paying for your extended hotel stay.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offers of help, guys! I think we'll be ok, but it's very kind of you to offer assistance.
ReplyDeleteWe did get in touch with the manufacturer, and so far they have been very helpful. I'll be sure to blog about the process and their responsiveness one way or the other!