RV action line
In regard to the Fleetwood advertisement in the February issue [offering a free secondyear warranty on units purchased and delivered by March 31, 1996], I placed an order for a 1996 Terry 30G on February 10. I was told that the factory had been shut down and the production of those units would not happen until April. Because this caused the delivery date to be after March 31, I would not be able to take advantage of the warranty offer in the advertisement.
It seems to me that it is a Fleetwood issue that their production schedule does not permit delivery of a unit to make good on an advertised special. In my particular case, the marketing representative worked to find a returned unit that could be delivered within the time frame [that would allow me] to take advantage of the special. However, this seems to be deceptive advertising.
RICHARD DILLON CABOT, ARKANSAS
Fleetwood was quick to reply:
As explained to Mr. Dillon, the two-year warranty offer originally applied to any new Fleetwood-brand travel trailer or fifthwheel ordered by a retail customer between January 1, 1996, and February 29, 1996, on which retail delivery could be made by March 31, 1996. If an order that a retail customer placed with a dealer could not be filled from either the dealer’s inventory or our plant’s inventory, then it could be filled from our plant’s scheduled production, so long as the ordered unit was one of the models scheduled to come off-line by the last work day in March. If, for some reason, such as production slowdown, any retail-ordered units scheduled to come off-line by March 29 are delayed into April, they would qualify for the two-year warranty since the delay was caused by us and not the customer
Thank you for forwarding Mr. Dillon’s letter to us and for giving us the opportunity to clarify the mechanics of our two-year warranty program to both you and Mr. Dillon. We are in no way trying to deceive anyone about the program. As with any promotion, misunderstandings do sometimes occur, and, when they do, we will always try to handle them in a fair and equitable manner.
JOHN HICHO, DIVISION SALES MANAGER TRAVEL TRAILER DIVISION FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA
RV Action Line is a forum for resolution of conflicts between our readers and providers of goods and services. After you have exhausted all other resources without success, contact RV Action Line, by mail only at 2575 Vista Del Mar, Ventura, California 93001. Please include copies of bills and correspondence, as well as a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The RV Action Line staff now handling these cases hopes to include in this column a variety of issues, some resolved and some unresolved, of value to our readers.
Dillon wrote back to us: “Fleetwood contacted me and explained the policy more clearly than I had previously understood. I appreciate their response and attempt to deal fairly with the consumer. It reinforces the reason that I purchased an RV built by Fleetwood: a quality product with service.”
COBRA RECALL UPDATE
The January 1996 issue of TRAILER LIFE contained this recall notice for Cobra travel trailers in the RV Clinic Sz Performance column:
“Cobra Industries Incorporated is recalling 43,330 (1988-96) fifth-wheel and travel trailers built in Indiana between May 1987 and August 1995. Included are units in the Cobra Cavalier, Corsica, Lumina, Salem, Sandpiper, Scottsdale, Sierra and Sunrise lines, plus Rockwood Lumina, Prestige, Royale and Wildwood models. The brake wiring was improperly routed near the frame and axle, possibly resulting in a severed wire and complete loss of trailer braking. ”
In a letter to Cobra in January, I reported the model, the date of manufacture and the ID number of my trailer and requested instructions for corrective action. I did not receive a response to my original letter, so a second request was mailed in March. To date, I have not received a reply to either request. I would appreciate your assistance.
THOMAS E. DonE TEMPLE, TEXAS
Unfortunately for Doyle and other Cobra and Rockwood trailer owners, the RV maker declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 1995, after our January 1996 issue had gone to press. Then, in January, the company’s assets were purchased at auction by Peter J. Liegl, a former Cobra president.
Liegl launched Forest River Industries Incorporated and plans to manufacture trailers in Cobra’s former facilities in Indiana and California. The new company is not responsible for repairs under the recall. TL Technical Director Jeff Johnston recommends taking your unit to a qualified RV-service facility to have the wiring checked and rerouted or restrained to correct the problem.
UP IN ARMS
Richard W Smith of Rockport, Texas, wrote to us concerning the power seats in his 1996 Newmar motorhome. The arms on both chairs slanted downward from the back and actually rested on the seat cushion of the driver’s chair. He had corresponded with Flexsteel Industries about the problem, mentioning when he would be visiting the Newmar plant in Nappanee, Indiana, and asking if a Flexsteel dealer in that area could look at the chairs.
Flexsteel’s Joe Hudspeth responded and invited Smith to bring the coach to the main plant in Dubuque, Iowa, for adjustment. Smith wrote back that he didn’t feel that he should have to go all the way to Dubuque for such a minor repair, and again asked to be directed to a dealer in the Nappanee/Elkhart area. When he didn’t get a reply, he wrote to RV Action Line. In response to our letter to Flexsteel, we received a copy of this letter to Smith:
There is no actual armrest adjustment that can be done in the field unless the technician is very knowledgeable about how our product is structured. If you want this armrest problem solved in the right manner, I would suggest contacting Flexsteel Industries, located in New Paris, Indiana. This is very close to where you are going to be in April and May. I suggest contacting Norma Hayes at that plant to set up a time for the work to be done. The repairman at that plant is Bill Trump. I can be reached in Dubuque if further assistance is needed.
JOSEPH P HUDSPETH RV CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANT
TOO MUCH OIL
In October I went to the Winston Tire Company’s Barstow store to have an oil change done. While driving the next day, I could smell hot oil, so I drove directly back to the store. The oil level on the dipstick was nearly 4 inches above the “full” mark. It appeared to me that the crankcase had been double-filled. I noted that the whole undercarriage of my van was covered with oil, which appeared to come from the front main seal.
The store manager said that a van with that engine and nearly 100,000 miles on it would have to have a minimum of 10 quarts of oil in it to blow a front seal (which bears out my suspicion of doublefilling). He then said, “There is nothing I can do for you.”
This caused my only vehicle to become a fire hazard and unsafe to operate. I had the front timing cover gasket set replaced at Barstow Automotive Center, which cost me $388.20.
RAY W WARD BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
In response to our inquiry, we received a copy of the following letter that the tire company sent to Ward: Winston Tire Company strives to always provide the consumer with a pleasurable shopping experience via quality you can depend on and service you can trust. It appears our Barstow location failed in its obligation to provide you with such. Please accept our apologies relating to the problem you experienced.
Enclosed is our check in the amount of $388.20. This represents reimbursement for repairs you had rendered by Barstow Automotive Center Winston Tire Company appreciates your patronage and, as a gesture of good will, I have also enclosed a gift certificate in the amount of $50.
ED ALBRIGHT MANAGER
CUSTOMER SERVICES & FIELD SUPPORT WINSTON TIRE COMPANY BURBANK, CALIFORNIA TL
Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. Aug 1996
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