I too have experienced water leaks from my 2013 Bighorn. Heartland advertised the plumbing system to be produced by Pex Plumbing and "assured" me of leak free plumbing in their marketing pieces. Heartland also stated that the unit is tested and retested and even gave specifics about the amount of pressure used to test the plumbing system. So why so many water leaks in their units? Are they really being tested? Is there a recall on these fittings or any other plumbing parts. Does Heartland have a central location for us to give them plumbing issue complaints to see if a recall needs to take place? Isn't Heartland RVIA certified as the sticker outside my coach states? Is the RVIA the place we are supposed to contact?
My unit had undisclosed exterior damage to the body prior to my delivery. I had to pay a week in advance before picking up from Explore USA in Texas. When I arrived for the delivery and my walk-thru, I discovered that the unit had been painted with sub par paint work (orange peel, crackling, pit marks, gray fog, discoloration, tape marks and paint overspray on my window and back cap). When I complained I ws told that I owned it. You people might want to check on your units to see if you too have damage to your exterior paint. I have an email from Explore's service manager that they had another one damaged like mine sent from the factory and I learned they sold it too! I was forced to take the unit home since it was paid. I have been trying to get things settled since day one of delivery.
My unit has over 37 line items of damage! This includes a roof with a soft spot. You might want to walk your roofs and look at the top of your slide outs. I didn't until I had to move it.
My unit had water leaks and plumbing back up since day one. I reported leaks daily and a mobile tech was sent to my unit 3 times unable to resolve the problem. He did like the rest of you and tightened up plumbing. Then 3 weeks later, I was awaken to the smell of something getting hot at 3:30 in the morning. This was followed by something hitting my unit sounding like a hard rain or a high pressure hose spraying my unit. My husband and I soon learned that I had water flooding my kitchen from the basement area. I ran down my furnace vents. I immediately got my cell phone and recorded everything as it happened. My unit was flooded. My RV concrete pad was flooded. The RV park street was flooded. One neighbor heading out to work even asked if it rained the night before because of all the water in the street.
I again contacted Jim Fenner and Sean Andrews at Heartland and told them I had undisclosed damage, excessive damage, safety issues and my unit never had a completed PDI from the technician all prior to me ever taking physical possession of it and it being paid for a week ahead of time. I was told it was under warranty and I would have to let the repair it the way they wanted.
By the way, have any of you had problems with your "marine grade" OSB coming apart. I have. I soon learned that the advertised marine grade OSB doesn't exist. Don't take my word for it. Send in a letter to the posted manufacturers provided by Heartland originally. Ainsworth and Weyerhauser to be exact. Also check with the American Plywood Association and ask them about the existence of marine grade OSB. It doesn't exist.
My propane tanks were completely empty of propane in 3 weeks! I was told by Explore USA to not refill my tanks because it was a safety issue.
We had purchase the unit for us to live in fulltime while my husband got job training 16 hours from our home in Florida. I told Heartland and Explore USA that if the matter did not get resolved, I would be on the street. I then had to go and lock into a years lease to rent a home and go back to Florida to get my furniture to go in the rental.
My unit was such a beautiful unit and I loved all the promises that were made to me in the beginning. I actually thought I would like to sell the units in the beginning. I am now sorry I have ever bought the unit. It has set me back between the move, unit and rental, etc. over $118,000.00 and the costs still grow daily.
I will try and start my own website so I can post my videos and photos online for others to see. Thank you all for posting your comments because it means a lot to others who are suffering as well.
Thanks,
Libby
