Question:
My wife and I purchased a 2000 model Montana Mountaineer 28ft travel trailer
back in March of this year, here in the Tulsa, Okla. area...
Since that time we have had it back to the dealer more than it has been in
our driveway for various problems, but the major one being the slide-out.
When first purchased, the slide did not align with the outside trim, and was
higher by about 4 inches, which made the trailer appear lopsided. We took
it back, the slide was adjusted, and then began to cut the interior carpet
when opened and closed. We took it back a third time, and they adjusted it
again, but it became tilted "inward" when the slide was in the "out"
position. For the fourth time, it was returned, adjusted, and was
proclaimed to be fixed, but the carpet was still damaged. We pointed this
out to the dealer, and new carpet was installed, but now they are claiming
that they have no idea how to fix the slide. They can either adjust it to
not affect the carpet, which means the slide will NOT seal, or they can
adjust it to where the slide will seal, and it scrapes the carpet...
Yesterday, they called and said that Keystone RV in IN (the Montana factory)
has requested that the trailer be brought back to their site to fix the
problem, if indeed it can be fixed at all.
Is there a lemon law regarding RV's/Travel trailers?
The dealer here in Tulsa has told me that he sees no method of fixing this
problem, short of a major reconstruction of the trailer.......and he further
says that he has been swamped with this type of problem with Keystone travel
trailers recently.
Has anyone ever had to return their trailer to the manufacturer because the
dealer couldn't fix a problem?
What are my options here? Should I ask for my $$ back, or go for another
trailer?
Answer:
I would go after getting my money back before the crowd has the same idea.
Regardless of lemon laws you have a contractual agreement with the dealer
that the trailer is fit for the intended purpose. From what you say it
appears that it is not therefore they have not lived up to the contract.
Take a look at your warranty to see if they have any clauses there limiting
your right to a refund, and if they have then call your States consumer
affairs office and see what they have to say. Either the dealer doesn't know
what he is doing or the trailer has a fundamental design fault. Incidently
slide outs have given a lot of trouble in some brands because of inept
design, so you should investiagte the track record of the company if you go
for another unit. The best type do not use the jacks as beams to support the
slide out when it is extended. The support beams should be rolling beams and
the mechanism should have no bending load on it. Take a look at the Newmar
line, they have been making slide out trailers for the past 12 years or more
and are very good design. Other brands also use rolling beams but Newmars
has a patent on it. I think they have given a license to some other brands.
