New camper - rough times!

[GeorgiaBoy]

Well, I picked up my brand new 2005 Resolute on Friday.  Late Saturday afternoon the little inside door handle broke - the cheap little spring inside popped right out all bent up - so the latch didn't work at all.

If I paid $100 and bought this thing at WalMart, I could understand.  But dropping $9000 ... the freaken door handle should AT LEAST make it through the first day!!

Of course, matters were made worse with it being late Saturday and my trusty dealership (Peco Campers - Tucker, GA) was closed and wouldn't re-open until Tuesday.  :swear:

I was so mad I considered hauling the camper back to them and cancelling my check.

So I called Peco this morning and, as my luck would have it, my sales guy is off.  So I spoke with another guy who passed me to Parts who passed me to Service who wanted to pass me back to Parts.  :eyecrazy:  I was initially told during this game of pass-the-customer I would have to bring in the broken door handle, but my camper is already off in storage ... so they said I could just mail it to them when i swap it out.  Then I was told they couldn't mail me the part - I would have to come in and get it.  Great way (sarcasm) to spend my next Saturday - driving three hours to get this cheap thing replaced.

First weekend with my new PU and i have a splitting headache!!  :banghead:

[Campers3]

Well, I picked up my brand new 2005 Resolute on Friday.  Late Saturday afternoon the little inside door handle broke - the cheap little spring inside popped right out all bent up - so the latch didn't work at all.

If I paid $100 and bought this thing at WalMart, I could understand.  But dropping $9000 ... the freaken door handle should AT LEAST make it through the first day!!

Of course, matters were made worse with it being late Saturday and my trusty dealership (Peco Campers - Tucker, GA) was closed and wouldn't re-open until Tuesday.  :swear:

I was so mad I considered hauling the camper back to them and cancelling my check.

So I called Peco this morning and, as my luck would have it, my sales guy is off.  So I spoke with another guy who passed me to Parts who passed me to Service who wanted to pass me back to Parts.  :eyecrazy:  I was initially told during this game of pass-the-customer I would have to bring in the broken door handle, but my camper is already off in storage ... so they said I could just mail it to them when i swap it out.  Then I was told they couldn't mail me the part - I would have to come in and get it.  Great way (sarcasm) to spend my next Saturday - driving three hours to get this cheap thing replaced.

First weekend with my new PU and i have a splitting headache!!  :banghead:

Sorry to hear about your problems, and especially when the unit is new.  Hopefully it will get better.

It is nice to see another camping family where the parents are 40 something and the little one is 4.  My wife and I are 40 something (past mid 40's), and our son just turned 4 this month.  We tried for 15 years before we finally had our baby.  

For the past year, my wife has been battling cancer.  The treatment has made sure that she will not have kids again.  It looks like our David will be an only child.

Take care and I hope your future camping trips are much nicer.

Steve-Dad
Char-Mom
David-Son

[tlhdoc]

I would call the dealer back and speak to the manager or owner, before I drove all the way back to the dealership.

[slowpez]

Georgiaboy, why do you want to replace one cheap part with another that will most likely be just as cheap?  Door handles seem to be the one thing that just don't last long.  We replaced ours twice (spring continued to break) until we got wise and went to WallyWorld and bought a Stanley door handle for screen doors.  Cost half as much and lasted two years and was still working when we sold the PU.  You do have to make sure that whatever you replace your current handle with will clear the roof when you pop down.

Don't get discouraged.  Things will go wrong but enough will go right that you won't remember the things that went wrong.  When all else fails, go camping.
 
Susan

[maromeo]

Sorry to hear about your camper problems. It is no fun when things go wrong on the maiden voyage. Once fixed thing will go better but it is very frustrating.

Camper3, You are not alone. I was 40 when I had my daughter and DH was 39. We will look like the grandparents at the HS graduation. But at least we were able to have her and she is a joy.( But we haven't hit the teenage years yet!! LOL) Our dilema is do we save more towards retirement or the college education.......

Our prayers are with you and your wife for a speedy recovery.
Take care.
Mary Romeo

[Seguinrv]

Sorry to hear about your problems, and especially when the unit is new.  Hopefully it will get better.

It is nice to see another camping family where the parents are 40 something and the little one is 4.  My wife and I are 40 something (past mid 40's), and our son just turned 4 this month.  We tried for 15 years before we finally had our baby.  

For the past year, my wife has been battling cancer.  The treatment has made sure that she will not have kids again.  It looks like our David will be an only child.

Take care and I hope your future camping trips are much nicer.

Steve-Dad
Char-Mom
David-Son

Glad to meet more families our age group.  Wife is 31, I am in my 40s and our little princess just turned five in January.  

One Princess, One Queen, One Me and One Boss Big Chihuahua thirteen years old.
http://www.bigchihuahua.com

[Tim5055]

Well, I picked up my brand new 2005 Resolute on Friday.  Late Saturday afternoon the little inside door handle broke - the cheap little spring inside popped right out all bent up - so the latch didn't work at all.

If I paid $100 and bought this thing at WalMart, I could understand.  But dropping $9000 ... the freaken door handle should AT LEAST make it through the first day!!

Of course, matters were made worse with it being late Saturday and my trusty dealership (Peco Campers - Tucker, GA) was closed and wouldn't re-open until Tuesday.  :swear:

I was so mad I considered hauling the camper back to them and cancelling my check.

So I called Peco this morning and, as my luck would have it, my sales guy is off.  So I spoke with another guy who passed me to Parts who passed me to Service who wanted to pass me back to Parts.  :eyecrazy:  I was initially told during this game of pass-the-customer I would have to bring in the broken door handle, but my camper is already off in storage ... so they said I could just mail it to them when i swap it out.  Then I was told they couldn't mail me the part - I would have to come in and get it.  Great way (sarcasm) to spend my next Saturday - driving three hours to get this cheap thing replaced.

I am actually very surprised with your comments.  In all my years participating on message boards this is the first negative comment I have heard about Peco.  While living in Maryland I read posts with envy which described the great services provided by them.

When we moved to GA one of the first things I did was visit them.  They have always been customer service oriented in my opinion and have gone out of their way to help on several occasions.

As an example after we had the Niagara for several months I noticed a small tear on one of the tenting panels where it attaches to the box.  I took it by and no questions asked not only did they replace the panel, they took one off of one of their in stock units rather than make me wait for FFT to ship one.

Peco is a family run business, so almost everyone you speek to there is "the owner".  I'm sure they will take care of your issues.

[hoppy]

I have to agree with Tim5055 regarding my dealings in the past with Peco. It is a familly run operation dating back to the early 60's, and just about everyone's last name that works there is named Adams.

 But I totally understand how you feel after popping down 9K on a PU, only to have the door lock come apart in your hand a day later. It's got to be frustrating, especially once you feel like you are being "blown-off" by the dealer. Trust me one this one, Peco will make it "right" what ever it takes. They have always gone to bat for their customers in the past when dealing with the Fleetwood factory issues.

 As for the "quality" of their door locks, I had one come apart on my 2001 Mesa last winter while I was out camping. Keep in mind that Fleetwood does not actually manufacture their own door locks, and that this style lock is used on many other brands besided Fleetwood. My replacement lock is every bit as chincey as the original, but hopefully my $ 14.95 replacement will go for five years as the original did. The next time it fails, I'm off to Home Depot. (where I'll purchase another style door lock probably manufactured in China)

 By the way, the cam door locks used on the outside of the PU are not that great also. The one on my side access door on the front storage decided to give out during a very rainny trip to the lake, and just about everything in the storage area got soaked.

 Don't get disheartened.  I'm sure everything will be handled to your satisfaction.

  Sorry again to hear of your problem.

[The Tree Top Inn II]

Well, I picked up my brand new 2005 Resolute on Friday. Late Saturday afternoon the little inside door handle broke - the cheap little spring inside popped right out all bent up - so the latch didn't work at all.
 
If I paid $100 and bought this thing at WalMart, I could understand. But dropping $9000 ... the freaken door handle should AT LEAST make it through the first day!!
 
Of course, matters were made worse with it being late Saturday and my trusty dealership (Peco Campers - Tucker, GA) was closed and wouldn't re-open until Tuesday. :swear:
 
I was so mad I considered hauling the camper back to them and cancelling my check.
 
So I called Peco this morning and, as my luck would have it, my sales guy is off. So I spoke with another guy who passed me to Parts who passed me to Service who wanted to pass me back to Parts. :eyecrazy: I was initially told during this game of pass-the-customer I would have to bring in the broken door handle, but my camper is already off in storage ... so they said I could just mail it to them when i swap it out. Then I was told they couldn't mail me the part - I would have to come in and get it. Great way (sarcasm) to spend my next Saturday - driving three hours to get this cheap thing replaced.
 
First weekend with my new PU and i have a splitting headache!! :banghead:

Power Equipment Company, Inc., a.k.a., PECO Campers, is one of the finest companies with whom I've done business.  I've been their happy customer for three years now.  If I ever have the rare problem, they send me the part via UPS, etc., (often at no charge nor any shipping either) and ask me to send back the "offensive" part whenever I get a chance.  They are such a pleasure with whom to do business.  The Adams and Henkle family members always treat me especially well.  Please give them another chance.  Best of luck and congrats on a new rig.

[GeorgiaBoy]

Just a follow-up to the intial frustrations I had:  PECO had no problems just handing over the replacement parts and told me not to worry about shipping in the broken parts after I replace them.

I remain a little concerned with Fleetwood seeing as their big marketing claim is how their quality and sturdiness is superior to other manufacturers and I have door handles breaking in 24 hours, but I cannot (and will not) blame PECO for this.

Everyone at PECO is extremely friendly and I would not hesitate to recommend them to others looking for campers.

Looking forward to my maiden voyage Father's Day weekend!!  :-()

[hoppy]

Yikes!!!!

 What happened to the reply format..... everything got centered.

[Tim5055]

I remain a little concerned with Fleetwood seeing as their big marketing claim is how their quality and sturdiness is superior to other manufacturers and I have door handles breaking in 24 hours, but I cannot (and will not) blame PECO for this.

Just remember, Fleetwood didn't build the door handle - a supplier did.  There are very few "parts suppliers" and most RV companies use them.  I really think this could have happened on any brand.

[GeorgiaBoy]

Just remember, Fleetwood didn't build the door handle - a supplier did.  There are very few "parts suppliers" and most RV companies use them.  I really think this could have happened on any brand.

Valid point that Fleetwood didn't manufacture the door handle - a supplier did.  But Fleetwood uses that part - Fleetwood has made a consious decision to use that part.  If it's a cheap, flimsy part and I'm marketing my product as having an edge over the competition with regards to a solid build, then I would take a serious look at other options.  If I didn't like what the few RV parts suppliers are offering, then I would look elsewhere or design/manufacture my own.  Research manufacturers of home screendoor handles - they are built well.  The screendoor handles at my parents' house are 15 years old and going strong.

When a final product has your name stamped on it, you cannot pass the buck with a "sorry, but that's not our part".  Do something about it.  Fix it.  Take the feedback from your customers and better your product.

The feedback I have seen here shows almost everyone has had issues with the door handle on almost every make and model camper.  Heck, they should start using one that's sturdy, even if it costs a few dollars more, and brag about that in their marketing.  Why splurge on box framing and steel skeleton, but settle for a cheap plastic door handle?  Why should a customer have to drive back and forth to a dealer to replace it?  Why should a customer have to make a trip to Home Depot and buy/install a good, reliable handle?  :confused:

It's a Fleetwood camper ... I will blame Fleetwood.

[hoppy]

georgiaboy,

 Allow me to take this a step further.

 Honda probably makes one of the most dependable automobiles in the market, but I have had to replace the temperature control knob on my Accord four times since I have owned it. Would I claim that my Accord is a piece of junk because of this?  Not likely, since the car has over  200,000 miles on it. Each time I went to pick up the replacement knob, the parts supply department had a handful of them right under the service counter for easy access. They would typically say that they replace a ton of these. Some service part employees actually called it the "Achillies Heel" of Honda. So in every market, even the best of the manufacturers are limited to number of choices from the sub-contractor  supply base.

  I'm willing to bet that Fleetwood door handle is the same one used throughout the PU door industry. It would prove to be too costly for Fleetwood to set-up their own door handle division just to control the quality of this particular item.

   But you can rest assured, that you purchased a PU from one of the leading manufacturers of RV 's in regards to quality.

   I realize this may be a big issue with you regarding the door latch breaking the second day you purchased it,  but this is a rather minor issue when weighed against the other horror stories I have read over the past six years regarding things that went wrong with new PU purchases. (water faucets leaking and destroying the cabinets, appliances not working, stabilizers snapping, bed railings bindind/breaking, just to name a few items)

   I know this will not ease your feelings about the door latch situation, but it's nice to know that you have a good dealer to stand behind you when things go "south"...... and they will.

   Good luck on your first trip.... and I'll see ya' around the campground.

[copcarguy]

This story of the handle breaking on the first trip brought back memories of my past two brand new Fleetwood campers...  My first was a 2001 Taos, which had so many little things breaking like this I hated the camper after a year.  I felt the exact same way, I spent all this money and had little door handles breaking, the faucet literally popped out of the counter top, a BUNCH of little things that taken separately would be nothing like everyone said, but add literally 15 "little things" and the camper is a s**tbox IMO.  I thought we had a lemon camper, and since it was the base model Taos, we traded it in in 2003 and got an every option possible, brand new, Grand Tour Carmel.  As the dealer was doing the walk through, he sat on the seat cushion and it split at the seams.  I got so mad, I sat on another seat and that one exploded too.  Keep in mind I had not even hitched up yet for the first time.  The next year or so of camping was one little thing breaking after another.  I too hated this camper for the same reasons as my first Fleetwood POS.  I would joke with people I camped with as to "what do you think is going to break during this camping trip??"  I take above average care and love my vehicles (my camping friends here can let you know how anal I am with vehicle care and cleanliness) and maybe that's why the "little things" bothered me so much.  I sold the Carmel in April and will probably NEVER buy another Fleetwood product based upon how shabbily Fleetwood handled all the problems these two campers had.  Thank God the dealer I bought both campers from usually took care of things...

My advice is to make sure you like the dealer, because in the end, it is they that will make you happy.  Welcome to the world of Fleetwood.