2007 Coachmen Lemon 128ST (Help)

[dhudson73]

My wife and I finally decided to enter the Popup Camper world by purchasing a 2007 Coachmen Clipper 128ST. We looked for awhile at different used models and new higher end models and the new Coachmen seemed to be the best choice. We wanted to avoid the nightmare of having a used model with problems and we weren't prepared to spend the 'big bucks' for a travel trailer. The perfect compromise, or so we thought.

July 1st, Problem #1
Our camper dilemma began on Saturday, July 1st of this year, just two weeks ago at the time of this writing. We had purchased the camper and had a scheduled meeting with the dealer to show us how to set up the camper etc... This is when we ran into problem #1. The dealer was attempting to show us how to lower the tent and all was well until about 6 inches before the unit was supposed to have shut. After some troubleshooting (30 minutes), it was determined that the FACTORY left out a screw that held the slide locked into place which allowed the tent to raise and lower without 'jamming'. 45 minutes later, the dealer had a new screw in place and we were able to get it working. This really is no big deal as I understand how things happen and I didn't give it much thought after we left.

July 6th, Problem #2
We got the camper home and of course our four children were thrilled and excited about the new adventures we were about to begin. They could not wait to get it set up and neither could my wife and I. Besides, we had to do some preparation according to the owners manual to the tent and we wanted to test everything to make sure it would work. All was well until we tested the outlets. None of the outlets in or outside of the unit worked. So, I called the dealer and he walked me through several scenarios, one of which was a bad GFI. My friend and I removed the GFI and took it to ACE and they tested it and sure enough it was bad. We purchased a new one and replaced it and the outlets now work fine. The dealer filed the GFI under warranty and I'm out nothing but my time. Again, really no big deal, things happen. One more thing. As we were preparing to remove the GFI, I couldn't help but notice that it was put in at an angle and not flush like a normal outlet is. As I looked around more and paid attention to the fine details I notice numerous screws that were sideways and not all of the way in. I couldn't help but think this thing had been thrown together. However, I had somewhat expected it thanks to my research on Popup campers and some words of wisdom that I had read on this site came to my recollection "Remember, you are buying a big tent on wheels." In other words, don't have too high of expectations.

July 7th, Problem #3
I gave up on Thursday, July 6th with the whole GFI thing and decided to test everything else on Friday. I go out on Friday and decide to attempt to lite the 3 eye gas stove. Turn on the propane tank, turn the gas knob on, light stove.. Simple enough.. (nothing) Try again (nothing). I rechecked everything and went through these simple steps dozens of times, each time leaving the stove on longer thinking there was air in the line, no such luck. I called the dealer who walked me through several trouble shooting steps which I tried over and over again, still nothing. The dealer tells me just to bring it in. I was hesitant since I live 45 miles one way from where he is but I really had no choice. I took it in on Saturday, July 8th and dropped it off. He tells me it will be a couple of days and so I was ok with it.

July 12th, The phone call (Problem #4)
It was lunch time, and I was walking to meet a friend and thought, I haven't heard anything from my dealer so I will call him. So, I called him and he proceeds to tell me that he just crawled out from underneath my camper where he found a crimped gas line. His estimation was this happened at the factory when the unit was lifted up by a fork lift. He says this is the copper gas line going to the stove and he has cut it and looking to repair it and have it ready for me to pick up possibly the next day, but it could be longer since he is going out of town for one week on vacation. The dealer has really been great through this whole ordeal and he is a friend of the family and I like him alot. But I really want my camper back before he goes out of town so I make this known and we get off of the phone. He calls me later that evening and the conversation starts out like this. Me: Hello Dealer: Well I'm mad about this but there is nothing I can do but tell you what the problem is. Me: Oook.. What is it? Dealer: The copper line that was crimped wasn't what was causing the stove not to light. The copper line goes to the water heater. The gas line going to the stove was full of saw dust. I have called the factory as this is the only place I can get this particular hose and I don't know when I will have your camper back. I am going on vacation and the part may not even be in next week.  Needless to say, I have finally arrived at the end of my rope with problems on this camper. I tell the dealer how unhappy I am with  everything that has happened up until this point and how really concerned and pissed off I am that this unit passed quality control at the dealer and his own test before I pulled it off of the lot. I asked him about the possibility of trading it out with another unit and he said there is absolutely no way he could or would eat the cost since it is a used unit now and that my complaint was with the factory. He gave me the factories phone number along with several names I should ask for. Coachem/Viking Factory, Connie, Jeff Koch, Garren Warrick.

The phone call to the factory
On July 13th, at 9:19am, I placed my call to the factory. Before the call, I had written down every problem I had with the camper and all of the information I thought I would need. The receptionist answered the phone and I asked for Jeff Koch only to be put on hold because he was on the other line. She came back 3-4 times to ask me if I still wanted to hold and I did. Around 9:23, Someone  picked up the line and hung up on me. I called back and was put on hold again. She came back on to ask me if I wanted to leave a message and I told her I was holding until I could talk to someone. She asked the nature of the problem and I told her and she referred me to Connie. So I asked to be transferred to Connie. Connie answers the phone and I go into my spill which includes all of the information above. Connie at Coachmen/Viking proceeds to tell me that she had an employee who worked on the line who is no longer with the company. This particular employee "played games" and did not do his job and that is how sawdust got into the gas lines. It passed inspection because they only give a basic flow test using air at the end of the line. First, I am SHOCKED that she is telling me this. I perceived her comments to be that this employee sabatoged the equipment and she indirectly said that. She said "there was no way to prove he was putting saw dust in the gas lines". At no time was she sincere about being sorry for the problems I had and then she got to the bottom line. We are sorry you are having these problems but these things are built by people and with people there are always problems. We will not trade your unit for another unit but will back up the warranty. Let me say, I really didn't expect anything more than this response. However, I am floored at the defensive position taken by Connie and the lack of customer service. I am sincerely concerned about the safety of this unit and I feel I have in a sense gotten a lemon from Coachmen. I then asked for her boss, Jeff Koch. She says, he is at the other end of the building and it will be a minute. I agree to wait. Mr. Jeff Koch comes on the line and I explain again everything that has happened. I told him about the comment regarding the rouge employee Connie referred to and I said she implied he sabatoged the equipment. Jeff Koch then tells me that he does not believe what I am saying about the employee and that he had a conversation with Connie prior to talking to me and that Connie did not say that. I heard someone make a sarcastic sound during Jeff's comments and I asked if Connie was in the room. Connie speaks up. I said Connie, I don't want to be argumentative but are you saying that I am lying? She denies saying the employee was playing games and then implies I am reading too much into her comments. I recognize that this conversation is going nowhere and then get to the bottom line with Jeff. I asked him if his official response was that Coachmen / Viking stands behind the sabatoged unit and that they will not trade it out. He said yes. We stand behind the unit and we will cover all warranty cost but we will not replace the unit. We said our goodbyes.

Dilemma
I have very serious concerns based on the comments from Connie and my observations of this unit. I can't help but think of taking this thing camping without testing it and encountering all of the problems regarding the gas lines. I mean how did the sawdust get there for one? Was it a danger in gas building up and causing bigger problems? Are my expectations unrealistic regarding the unit? What would you do in this situation? What do you think?

You can e-mail me at dhudson73@comcast.net as well as reply to this thread.

[genre]

Hey there,
Sorry to hear about the bad experience you have had so far.
I have had a 2005 Clipper 106 for a year, and other than a squeaky leaf spring I have thoroughly enjoyed this product.
As for fit and finish, I did completely check out the other makes and models. All in all it boiled down to price. Price doesn't ensure quality. As you mentioned, they are but tents on wheels.
You must remember that you also had a responsability as the purchaser to ensure that your purchase was top-notch before signing off.
Hope all gets fixed soon and that your first impression of Coachmen proves to be wrong.
Another little note, I had visited many many used models prior to purchasing and the units age according to the care taken, not the price originally paid.
Enjoy your camper!

[howlinowl]

Unfortunatly, you probably will just have to wait until you get your camper back and hope that there are no more problems.  These things are put together on an assembly line, with probably the cheapest labor they can hire.  The missing screw was probably missed by someone on the line, the GFI was probably defective from the supplier that Coachman purchased it from.  The sawdust in the gas line??  Maybe a rougue employee, maybe the line got dust in it from sitting around a less than clean shop without any caps on the ends.  At least the factory will stand by the warranty, but I usually find that warranties are not worth much.  9 times out of 10, if something works, it works for the life of the warranty.  And if something does go wrong, its usually something simple that I'd rather repair myself and be done with it than take to the dealer, wait until they get it repaired, ect.  I hope you have no more problems with your new camper.

Allan

[kimrb266]

I can feel your pain about getting a lemon.  We purchased a 2005 Fleetwood Niagara highwall and from the get go we had problems.  The oven didn't work, the shower hose broke free and couldn't get it back together, the screw holding the slide-out bar in dinette area came off so we couldn't use the dinette the whole trip, the door wouldn't open easily and the handle was replaced then the next trip it broke off in our hands, you can't fill the water holding tank because the filler is on the bottom of the tank so if you're filling without a hose, it can only be filled 1/4 the way. Must I go on and there's more..  Our dealer has been great in repairing everything but almost every trip there's something else that happens and dh is tired of taking it back to the dealer.  DH absolutely HATES our trailer so we are selling it after our camping season to purchase a hybrid.

[bmbkamp]

D,

Lemon laws differ from state to state.  It might be worth it to see what your state's laws are.
 
Also, you may want to check with a lawyer to see what kind of recourse you have.  Sometimes, just a phone call from the lawyer on your behalf is enough to get some people moving.
 
Good luck.

[Shawsee]

Contact the "Better Business Bureau" and file a compliant! My buddy had a similar situation when he bought his Viking, nothing but problems one right after the other. The manufacurer customer service rep gave him the "run around" and one BS story after the other. He finally got PO'd and filed a complaint and within two weeks Viking made a call to him apologizing for the many shoddy workmaniship faults and they offered him a new replacement or his money back. He took his money back and went out and bought a new Fleetwood instead. Don't take this "laying down" file a complaint and watch what happens!

[chasd60]

As  much as you like your dealer, I think they lacked in the pre-sale inspection. They obviously do no more than receive and sell. I would think they would check the systems prior to sale.

When I picked up my Viking, the dealer went through each and all of the appliances and fixtures and he showed me how each one worked and demonstrated it.

[dhudson73]

Contact the "Better Business Bureau" and file a compliant! My buddy had a similar situation when he bought his Viking, nothing but problems one right after the other. The manufacurer customer service rep gave him the "run around" and one BS story after the other. He finally got PO'd and filed a complaint and within two weeks Viking made a call to him apologizing for the many shoddy workmaniship faults and they offered him a new replacement or his money back. He took his money back and went out and bought a new Fleetwood instead. Don't take this "laying down" file a complaint and watch what happens!

Thanks, I filed a complaint with the BBB and am waiting to hear back from them.