Damaged Camper and Landing Gear-- Repaired--

[Bob&Patty]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

Bones, if the wood flooring has buckled....that means the frame is bent under that area. The plywood floor is more than likely broken also. No amount of repairs will ever make it right now. You need to go back and look down the sides of the coach at the buckled floor area. See if the outside walls are bulging out there also. Then go inside and run your fingers along the plywood walls in that area. Are they bulging inside?? The thin aluminum square tubing in the walls are probably broken loose and the fasteners that hold the walls in place are ripped out in that area. The ONLY WAY this can be checked is by removing the outer skin (fiberglass) and inspect all the wall structure. Look at it this way. What would happen if you jacked up you S/B home on only one corner. You and your dealer have a big issue now. I have a liitle insight on this. Working at auto dealers for over 45 years and around their body shops. A car can look OK to repair....but....hidden damage once you start the repair can total a car. The later uni-body cars are the worst. If the roof is buckled...the vehicle is most likely junk. This is JMHO. Good luck...but stand firm. BTW, if your insurance co. wont help you with this....get a new one.

 

[wdk450]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I think that the quality and experience with RV/trailer repairs with insurance company adjusters can vary widely. The guy I had from Progressive seemed pretty knowledgeable about RV's, although he was working 18 hour days processing house claims from the Napa earthquake last Fall. It is worth a shot to have your adjuster evaluate the damage, and you can always decline to go forward with an insurance claim if this does not seem the right route for you. Any losses or deductibles you incur above your insurance compensation payment could be pursued in either small claims court, or by a simple letter of demand from a lawyer. The dealership has admitted it is at fault for your damages.

 

[Wharton]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

What bother me about this dealer is that didn't admit he did anything wrong until you pointed it out to him. As soon as it happened there should have been a call to you, not you pointing it out to him. I would get a lawyer, good inspector and the insurance company involved. I sure wouldn't trust this dealer to do the repairs. Your insurance company has specialists that can evaluate the trailer, that is why we all have RV insurance. You also should have a independent inspector who is on your side.

 

[OEFVET]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

My thoughts exactly. How can you trust this dealer?

 

[Bones]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I'm in a holding pattern now just waiting patiently.

 

[Jim.Allison]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

What bother me about this dealer is that didn't admit he did anything wrong until you pointed it out to him. As soon as it happened there should have been a call to you, not you pointing it out to him.

Employees try to cover stuff up.

 

[SeattleLion]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

Absolutely not! In fact, if it was me, I am not sure that I would even settle to take the same rig home, EVER.**** Demand that in-depth inspection and then a 5-year warranty on the soundness of the structure. If this was an airplane, and it was damaged in the exact same way, the FAA would not even issue an airworthiness certificate without certified inspections.

(Edit): The more I think about it, it is quite possible that the NTSB should be notified just as if it were in a collision on a highway. It is quite possible that they would even "total" it as being unsafe for operation.

I see this sort of comment on forums. You probably don't have the right to refuse to accept the trailer.

Let's take a step back. First of all, there is a time limit on filing insurance claims. You should file ASAP. Even if you decide not to have the insurance company fix the damage, having the claim on record is helpful. Also, most insurance companies offer a lifetime warranty on repairs under a claim. If additional damage is found later, chances are that they will cover those damages too under your claim. Insurance companies almost always send an adjuster. They want their own people evaluating the damage.

Also, you can talk to the adjuster about who makes the repairs. I have found adjusters are helpful in steering me to the best shops. If you work directly with the dealer, you will have a hard time later if you find inferior work was done or things missed.

 

[2psnapod2]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

What bother me about this dealer is that didn't admit he did anything wrong until you pointed it out to him. As soon as it happened there should have been a call to you, not you pointing it out to him. I would get a lawyer, good inspector and the insurance company involved. I sure wouldn't trust this dealer to do the repairs. Your insurance company has specialists that can evaluate the trailer, that is why we all have RV insurance. You also should have a independent inspector who is on your side.

I agree completely. They had your RV and tore it up and never said anything about doing it. Then they tried to just let you drive off with it tore up. This dealer is shady at the least. Get your insurance involved and if they don't help then you need to go to the state Insurance inspectors. Do not remove your RV and tell them you are now going to charge them daily for not being able to use it. They will have to pay you for it.

 

[Jim.Allison]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I see this sort of comment on forums. You probably don't have the right to refuse to accept the trailer.

If the bone of contention comes to the dealer demanding that you come get your rig and take it home, then you will definitely know what your next move will need to be. A dealer that focuses on that, is not focused on the real issues. Don't voluntarily remove the rig from his shop, use it to monitor the dealers temperature. Its not about rights, its about business, and the negotiations that go with it.

 

[Bones]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

Employees try to cover stuff up.

I agree with this. I do believe them that an employee dropped the trailer. Looked to see the landing gear that you see was not bent and just carried on their merry way. I truly believe that they didn't know about it. I am just lucky to have caught it before I left other wise this could be a different story.

 

[Bones]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I see this sort of comment on forums. You probably don't have the right to refuse to accept the trailer.

Let's take a step back. First of all, there is a time limit on filing insurance claims. You should file ASAP. Even if you decide not to have the insurance company fix the damage, having the claim on record is helpful. Also, most insurance companies offer a lifetime warranty on repairs under a claim. If additional damage is found later, chances are that they will cover those damages too under your claim. Insurance companies almost always send an adjuster. They want their own people evaluating the damage.

Also, you can talk to the adjuster about who makes the repairs. I have found adjusters are helpful in steering me to the best shops. If you work directly with the dealer, you will have a hard time later if you find inferior work was done or things missed.

I did create a claim file with the insurance company However they do not have my back. They already told me point blank they do not send an adjuster for an RV. I told them to hold off other wise it would cost me a boat load. The company has agreed to fix the RV.

 

[JohnD]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I did create a claim file with the insurance company However they do not have my back. They already told me point blank they do not send an adjuster for an RV. I told them to hold off other wise it would cost me a boat load. The company has agreed to fix the RV.

I wonder if there is any way that your trailer could be taken back to the factory for repair?

I think they would be much more trustworthy to fix the damages you now have . . .

 

[Bones]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I wonder if there is any way that your trailer could be taken back to the factory for repair?

I think they would be much more trustworthy to fix the damages you now have . . .

I talked to them and they are aware of the situation.

 

[Wharton]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

How can the insurance company say that to you. These companies solicit our business and should support us. They are specialty companies for Rvers. We have had two claims through 2 companies: Foremost and Allied, both had our backs.

 

[NWILSON]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

You mentioned that you sent a letter to Lippert which is a good start but I would make a call to Customer Service and see if you can get them to let you talk to Engineering. They will be able to tell you what kind of damage is repairable and what isn't as well as places to look that you may not have checked yet.
Did you finanace your rig through the dealer? There is a chance that the lender may be able to help you apply pressure to get 3rd party assistance in determining the extent of damage and feasability of repairing.
If there is an affiliation between the lender and the dealer, a lawyer may recommend an escrow account for your payments until a satisfactory settlement is made.
I would contact a "lemon law" or "vehicle accident" attorney not because they could specifically help but they would certainly be familiar with attorneys who work with vehicle/repair claims. They will be familiar with the insurance process for your situation too.
I can't guarantee that any of these ideas will solve your problem but at least they give you additional avenues to pursue!
Good luck and please keep us posted til the conclusion. The process and outcome will, no doubt, be helpful to another reader one day

 

[DocFather]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

You mentioned that you sent a letter to Lippert which is a good start but I would make a call to Customer Service and see if you can get them to let you talk to Engineering. They will be able to tell you what kind of damage is repairable and what isn't as well as places to look that you may not have checked yet.
Did you finanace your rig through the dealer? There is a chance that the lender may be able to help you apply pressure to get 3rd party assistance in determining the extent of damage and feasability of repairing.
If there is an affiliation between the lender and the dealer, a lawyer may recommend an escrow account for your payments until a satisfactory settlement is made.
I would contact a "lemon law" or "vehicle accident" attorney not because they could specifically help but they would certainly be familiar with attorneys who work with vehicle/repair claims. They will be familiar with the insurance process for your situation too.
I can't guarantee that any of these ideas will solve your problem but at least they give you additional avenues to pursue!
Good luck and please keep us posted til the conclusion. The process and outcome will, no doubt, be helpful to another reader one day

Best post yet. Awesome advice.

 

[wdk450]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

I wonder if there is any way that your trailer could be taken back to the factory for repair?

I think they would be much more trustworthy to fix the damages you now have . . .

The Heartland factory does NOT have a factory repair department set up. They have done some pinbox frame flex repairs under warranty, but are not set up to do general repairs.

I have heard that Lippert in Goshen has a warranty service department for frame repairs, but I don't know if this is just for warranty repairs, or is available to billable customers.

 

[Bones]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

Sounds like a few good post here. I have not heard anything yet and that is what I am waiting for. Everything is speculation until I hear word. Everything is repairable. It just depends on how much money you want to spend to fix it and to the extent of a tear down. I will definitely let everyone know how things progress and as I get info. I hope this would move in a timely fashion though. At this point my Rig will have spent it's whole life in the shop.

 

[sengli]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

Actually Heartland does have a building around the corner from the factory, up and running to do customer service. We went by there two weeks ago and the building is there, and the sign was up on the side of the building.... stating it was customer service facility. I had about 10 bays for coaches to be pulled into. Now whether or not its staffed and taking customers yet, not sure.

 

[Bones]

Re: Damaged Camper and Landing Gear

Actually Heartland does have a building around the corner from the factory, up and running to do customer service. We went by there two weeks ago and the building is there, and the sign was up on the side of the building.... stating it was customer service facility. I had about 10 bays for coaches to be pulled into. Now whether or not its staffed and taking customers yet, not sure.

That sounds pretty cool. Too bad I'm no where near there.