Hi Ok_Cowboy1,
Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum.
A lot of times, hearing about a company is more a case of what nearby dealers sell than anything else. Heartland's been around for about 13 years, which in the RV industry is quite a long time. There's a large and vibrant owner community as you can see by browsing this forum. Here are some stats from the Forum Home Page.
Number of Members: 37,291
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Heartland is very good about fulfilling warranty. In fact, unlike some manufacturers, with prior approval, Heartland will authorize service at a non-Heartland dealer or independent service shop. Heartland has a responsive Customer Service organization that stands ready to help when you have a problem.
I would suggest you re-think the approach of paying before taking delivery. While it's not common, there can be problems, including things that can happen during transport or on a dealer lot. Before you sign over payment and sign the acceptance letter, the dealer will be very motivated to quickly correct any problems. After you sign, that can sometimes be a different story.
Also, consider that 2017 models have been in production for almost a year. If you're buying a new 2016, it could have been on the dealer lot for well over a year. You should carefully check the caulking around seams, slides, lights, and windows as dealers rarely do so. And if the dealer used the trailer at shows and to show on their lot, it may have had quite a bit of traffic. You'll definitely want to go through the trailer and check that everything is in good condition, before paying.
If you're not the original owner, be aware that manufacturer warranties don't transfer to a second owner.