Curtis Trailers is one we tried to deal with last spring but their prices were much higher than others and they did not want to deal. Ended up ordering from the factory using a dealer in Mesa AZ that had the lowest prices. Since we are full time, we just have to find dealers along our travels. So far only minor issues most of which should never have left the factory and we are working with Heartland to resolve those. Love living in it after a motorhome!
Nathan,
After my search for our 3670 Curtis won out!!! We never even went up there to look at it. We knew we wanted the 3670 and I was ready to go to Arkansas to get it. Long story short, I got mifted at all the games the dealers play and one end of the spectrom to the other on pricing, I found on this forum the West Coast rep for Heartland and told him if he couldn't find me a dealer that wouldn't play all these games he was loosing a sell.
I looked for and emailed as many dealers as I could find on the West Coast about buying untill my meltdown with them all and another person on here suggested to get in touch with the rep. The rest is history.
After my search for our 3670 Curtis won out!!! We never even went up there to look at it. We knew we wanted the 3670 and I was ready to go to Arkansas to get it. Long story short, I got mifted at all the games the dealers play and one end of the spectrom to the other on pricing, I found on this forum the West Coast rep for Heartland and told him if he couldn't find me a dealer that wouldn't play all these games he was loosing a sell.
I looked for and emailed as many dealers as I could find on the West Coast about buying untill my meltdown with them all and another person on here suggested to get in touch with the rep. The rest is history.
SJH
Past Washington Chapter Leaders
Hello! Not intending to hijack this thread but a little off topic...
We too are looking at purchasing a Heartland (specifically a Big Country) early next year! Our local dealers (Tacoma i.e. west coast) are $20K more than some of the internet wholesalers. 20 thousand is a lot of money! I am not sure about Oregon but here in WA the dealers seem "out-of-line" with many other states. The ones I have personally talked with have no desire to "deal" on prices. I understand the additional shipping etc,. but such large differences in price seems unreasonable at least to me!
On another note...I am still somewhat leary about the Heartland brand from what I read here and on other forums. I simply don't want to have to deal with a leaky $50K purchase. This is a lot of money for us and will be our last major purchase in this lifetime! We want to get it right!
How do you Heartland owners react to this PM sent to me from another forum (not this forum) member. Any validity to the claims/observations etc?
To be honest I have a few concerns about Heartland. One is their warranty - it is BRIEF! A one year warranty is crap - sorry but it is! SOB gives a 2 year bumper to pin warranty and a 5 year structual warranty. I believe a company is only as good as it HAS to be - how good does your product have to be built to have a 1 year warranty vs. a 2+5 year warranty?
Second - I have read people have had serious issues with frames and slide room leaks. When the dealer is unable to help Heartland has NO factory service center to support their customers. The best they can do is a service center in Indiana that isn't theirs. I would be concerned with any company that states it can take a unit back to the factory. SOB has a great factory service center that is open to all current customers, whether you are in or out of warranty! I visted the factory for a tour and had some minor warranty and an upgrade done at the service center when I stopped there.
Heartland is going through some enormous product roll-outs and opening new facilities for manufacturing. They also announced they are hiring nearly 200 new people in a month and 200 next year, how well will these people be trained? Will product quality suffer further?
I DO believe the SOB is a better unit than Heartland. They have sent several by for me to look at and I can just tear them apart.
Thanks so much for your understanding...I really like the Heartland best but am just a little concerned!
Steve
We too are looking at purchasing a Heartland (specifically a Big Country) early next year! Our local dealers (Tacoma i.e. west coast) are $20K more than some of the internet wholesalers. 20 thousand is a lot of money! I am not sure about Oregon but here in WA the dealers seem "out-of-line" with many other states. The ones I have personally talked with have no desire to "deal" on prices. I understand the additional shipping etc,. but such large differences in price seems unreasonable at least to me!
On another note...I am still somewhat leary about the Heartland brand from what I read here and on other forums. I simply don't want to have to deal with a leaky $50K purchase. This is a lot of money for us and will be our last major purchase in this lifetime! We want to get it right!
How do you Heartland owners react to this PM sent to me from another forum (not this forum) member. Any validity to the claims/observations etc?
To be honest I have a few concerns about Heartland. One is their warranty - it is BRIEF! A one year warranty is crap - sorry but it is! SOB gives a 2 year bumper to pin warranty and a 5 year structual warranty. I believe a company is only as good as it HAS to be - how good does your product have to be built to have a 1 year warranty vs. a 2+5 year warranty?
Second - I have read people have had serious issues with frames and slide room leaks. When the dealer is unable to help Heartland has NO factory service center to support their customers. The best they can do is a service center in Indiana that isn't theirs. I would be concerned with any company that states it can take a unit back to the factory. SOB has a great factory service center that is open to all current customers, whether you are in or out of warranty! I visted the factory for a tour and had some minor warranty and an upgrade done at the service center when I stopped there.
Heartland is going through some enormous product roll-outs and opening new facilities for manufacturing. They also announced they are hiring nearly 200 new people in a month and 200 next year, how well will these people be trained? Will product quality suffer further?
I DO believe the SOB is a better unit than Heartland. They have sent several by for me to look at and I can just tear them apart.
Thanks so much for your understanding...I really like the Heartland best but am just a little concerned!
Steve
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Thanks for the input everyone.
Yes, I will be full timing, BUT living in it locally. In other words, it will be my house and rarely move (unless I move to another job somewhere). So, buying local *could* pay off (that is, if they are a good service dealer in the first place).
But there's no way I'm paying $20,000 more to buy locally. 20Gs is a lot of money to flush on the off-chance they might treat me nicer after the sale.
What happens if I buy at one of the larger dealers online? Will I be able to take it in locally for warranty work? Is it likely they be jerks or not treat me as well?
SJH, I understand your concerns. After all, this is a major purchase. I am very happy with our Big Horn. Have you bothered to read SOB forums? I have and still do. Seems like they all have the similar problems. Leaks, rust, difficulties with warranty repairs and so on. 2+5 year warranty? Do you think that is free? I don't know, but I doubt it. It's most likely factored into the price. You have concerns of problems you have read here on the forum, have you also read about all the good things? I am not trying to sway you to buy a Heartland product, but would like you to make a decision not based on one persons opinion. Most people with something bad or good to say, will say it openly on the forum.
These are just my thoughts and opinions.
Peace
Dave
These are just my thoughts and opinions.
Peace
Dave
Ray LeTourneau
Senior Member - Past Moderator
Steve, I think you will find a very large majority of folks, me included, that are very happy with Heartlands Customer Service. There have been a few owners posting their horror stories and they are the exception to the norm and for the most part I feel they get their problems resolved in the long run. There are others that don't want to take the time and effort to resolve their problems and move on to other brands. We have to remember, there are usually two sides to some of these horror stories and we never know which side to believe. We have been full timing and are in our 4th year. I have work camped the last 2 winters and I hear of just as many issues with SOB's, if not more, than Heartland and I talk with many RV owners that come in to the park. Springs, slide leaks, tires, reefers, furnaces and much more. A Hitchhiker came in a couple days ago with a very bad stress crack in the fiberglass at the corner of the bedroom overhang. Definite frame flex going on there. Spend the time and really browse the forum. You'll find much more good than bad.
jayc
Legendary Member
I agree with Ray. We have been living in a Bighorn for over a year. Has it been perfect? No, but everything has or will be taken care of for us.
Look at it another way. How many of each model does Heartland produce? They are the fourth largest builder of fifth wheels so based upon the relatively small number of complaints here, it is a very low percentage. It is troubling to see the complaints but in the end, I believe that Heartland will make every effort to make things right.
The same thing goes for Lippert and the frames that they produce. They make the majority of frames for all manufacturers. Again, look at the numbers and you will see that there is a very low percentage of complaints.
Look at it another way. How many of each model does Heartland produce? They are the fourth largest builder of fifth wheels so based upon the relatively small number of complaints here, it is a very low percentage. It is troubling to see the complaints but in the end, I believe that Heartland will make every effort to make things right.
The same thing goes for Lippert and the frames that they produce. They make the majority of frames for all manufacturers. Again, look at the numbers and you will see that there is a very low percentage of complaints.
randy blackwell
Member
What ever you do, don't buy Heartland.
htneighbors
Unbelievably Blessed!
I disagree with randy blackwell.
SJH
Past Washington Chapter Leaders
Not sure if I should run away or laugh hysterically!
So far Mr. Blackwell is in the minority! I keep a pretty open mind...care to qualify your statement or elaborate a little 
jmgratz
Original Owners Club Member
Just wanted to add when we owned our Alfa Gold it had a 5 year warranty. How did that work...the first year was from the manufacturer and the other 4 years were an extended warranty through an insurance company. Their warranty was just built into the price of the rig. Remember there is no free ride no matter what the salesman says. BTW Alfa is out of business now... Go figure.. We love our Heartland Landmark.
While shopping at Fleet Farm today I met a man who was the owner of SOB (Challenger) 5er. He was not a happy owner. He had a number of the same issues you can find on this forum, but he was missing the key to making him a happy owner. A manufacturer that supports and helps its owners with concerns and issues. He has already looked at the Big Horn on display at Wagners RV Sales, Suamico, WI.
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