Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-07-2005, 06:06 AM   #1
Winnebago Owner
 
RRT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IN summer/ TX winter
Posts: 81
Got our 04 35U June 04. It sat in our driveway for our 'shakedown' cruise (except one 2-day outing and a visit to brother in Alabama AND 2 trips back to the dealer 10 miles away for seat belt recall and oil change) -- until we left for the winter in January.

In mid-November, hubby installed ULTRAGUARD. I crawled in underneath the unit to help. (I can almost stand up in there!) Whoa...what's this? A couple areas along the bottom of the bumper (where it turns under) were much thinner. And cracked. One of the areas is where it rounded from the back to the side of the coach. It looks like it has been 'folded' which may have caused the crack. Plus there is a 6 - 8 inch hairline crack going up the back -- but it folds into the design and is hard to see.

Bodyman at dealer checked..."looks like owner damaged". (No sir, not on our watch!) We made an appt for mid-March after our return home. (Needed another oil change etc. anyway.) By then, we had the 'grocery list' of items to be checked out/fixed. PLUS body work.

Grocery list of items was taken care of rather quickly (now that we have a copy of the bill!). But the coach sat there while dealer emailed (probably once or twice) pictures to manufacturer. Guess what? "Impact damage, not covered under warranty." (Of course any manufacturer would say that.) We DROPPED by the dealer this past WEEK (month of May, mind you) asking about if coach was done. "Let me call." Talked to someone else. More pictures needed. Dealer service rep took 2-3 more digital pictures. End result? "Impact damage, not covered under warranty."

Ok..so now I'm getting a bit 'charged'...and ask for phone number to call. Talked to a fellow in Service Adm., explained what it looked like; he pulled up file and said "There's been impact damage." (Pull a chain, listen to the repeat!) Yes, I expect any manufacturer is going to say that again and again.

However, we had decided to take measurements of the thickness along the entire bumper. WHOA! You'll never guess what was found. Oh...you did guess!! Since we do not know the specs, we do not how much of a variance in thickness is allowed. We are sending an email with 3 Meg of pics showing the measurements. In exactly the thin spots are the cracks.

1) Has anyone else ever had this experience?

2) Would someone take measurements (using calipers -- measuring tape won't work so well) and let me know what was found? An 04 35u preferably.

3) We feel in our case, there was/is a defective area in the making of this end cap and would like to have it fixed -- under warranty. (Pull the chain and hear me repeat!)

Any help is appreciated!

Rose
(Now planning to appear in Forrest City)

PS We DID enjoy our Texas trip, we are enjoying the coach (now that it's back home again!), and we are going to take a trip shortly! (As soon as I get bed changed and coach cleaned!)
__________________
'15 Navion 24G, '13 H Civic Hybrid //
Corky & Rescue Lizzy--backseat drivers (aka Shelties)
RRT2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2005, 06:06 AM   #2
Winnebago Owner
 
RRT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IN summer/ TX winter
Posts: 81
Got our 04 35U June 04. It sat in our driveway for our 'shakedown' cruise (except one 2-day outing and a visit to brother in Alabama AND 2 trips back to the dealer 10 miles away for seat belt recall and oil change) -- until we left for the winter in January.

In mid-November, hubby installed ULTRAGUARD. I crawled in underneath the unit to help. (I can almost stand up in there!) Whoa...what's this? A couple areas along the bottom of the bumper (where it turns under) were much thinner. And cracked. One of the areas is where it rounded from the back to the side of the coach. It looks like it has been 'folded' which may have caused the crack. Plus there is a 6 - 8 inch hairline crack going up the back -- but it folds into the design and is hard to see.

Bodyman at dealer checked..."looks like owner damaged". (No sir, not on our watch!) We made an appt for mid-March after our return home. (Needed another oil change etc. anyway.) By then, we had the 'grocery list' of items to be checked out/fixed. PLUS body work.

Grocery list of items was taken care of rather quickly (now that we have a copy of the bill!). But the coach sat there while dealer emailed (probably once or twice) pictures to manufacturer. Guess what? "Impact damage, not covered under warranty." (Of course any manufacturer would say that.) We DROPPED by the dealer this past WEEK (month of May, mind you) asking about if coach was done. "Let me call." Talked to someone else. More pictures needed. Dealer service rep took 2-3 more digital pictures. End result? "Impact damage, not covered under warranty."

Ok..so now I'm getting a bit 'charged'...and ask for phone number to call. Talked to a fellow in Service Adm., explained what it looked like; he pulled up file and said "There's been impact damage." (Pull a chain, listen to the repeat!) Yes, I expect any manufacturer is going to say that again and again.

However, we had decided to take measurements of the thickness along the entire bumper. WHOA! You'll never guess what was found. Oh...you did guess!! Since we do not know the specs, we do not how much of a variance in thickness is allowed. We are sending an email with 3 Meg of pics showing the measurements. In exactly the thin spots are the cracks.

1) Has anyone else ever had this experience?

2) Would someone take measurements (using calipers -- measuring tape won't work so well) and let me know what was found? An 04 35u preferably.

3) We feel in our case, there was/is a defective area in the making of this end cap and would like to have it fixed -- under warranty. (Pull the chain and hear me repeat!)

Any help is appreciated!

Rose
(Now planning to appear in Forrest City)

PS We DID enjoy our Texas trip, we are enjoying the coach (now that it's back home again!), and we are going to take a trip shortly! (As soon as I get bed changed and coach cleaned!)
__________________
'15 Navion 24G, '13 H Civic Hybrid //
Corky & Rescue Lizzy--backseat drivers (aka Shelties)
RRT2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2005, 05:14 PM   #3
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Since Winnebago makes their own fiberglas end caps. Denying there's a problem; well you've heard that before! Now if it was an outside vendor, you could see the fingers pointing real fast.

What ever you do, don't expect these end caps to give you any protection in a crash, their basically there for looks, as are any end caps.

Tomcat F15
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2005, 07:19 PM   #4
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
....hand layed up fiberglass is the traditional way of making everything to specs[thickness].......of course they now use "chopper guns" with no quality control-anotherwords no one gives a sh**......production is the bottom line and the guy on the other end of the gun speaks no english......turn it over to your insurance company and let them fight it.....that's what you are paying for......geofkaye
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2005, 05:05 AM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
RRT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IN summer/ TX winter
Posts: 81
Actually, RVs are no protection in a crash!
__________________
'15 Navion 24G, '13 H Civic Hybrid //
Corky & Rescue Lizzy--backseat drivers (aka Shelties)
RRT2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2005, 07:16 AM   #6
Winnie-Wise
 
Thudman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Destin, FL
Posts: 494
I agree w/geofkaye. Let your insurance co (and their lawyers) handle it.

Thudman
__________________
03 Adventurer 38G, W22, 22.5 Whls

Koni FSD's, TracBar rear, SteerSafe, 50A SurgeGuard, Eternabond; 2012 Honda CRV EXL w/Nav & AWD
Thudman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2005, 01:08 PM   #7
Winnie-Wise
 
Cruzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 306
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RRT2:
Actually, RVs are no protection in a crash! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree that RVs aren't built like a Sherman tank, but they do offer some pretty good protection, depending upon the accident. Click This Link to see pictures of a Phaeton that was involved in a head-on with an SUV. The Phaeton held up amazingly well. Unfortunately, the two occupants in the SUV didn't make it. There was more than pure weight working here too. The design of the RV allowed absorbtion of energy and the RV family only had a few bumps and bruises. Had this been two SUVs involved in a head-on I'd hate to see the results.
__________________
Mark & Leann Quasius
2016 Cornerstone 45A
2007 Allegro Bus 42QRP (Sold)
2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Rubicon
Cruzer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
DIY: Winnebago Bumper End Cap Repair CouchPotato General Maintenance and Repair 16 10-01-2018 12:22 PM
Fiberglass Roof Damage kscouple52 General Maintenance and Repair 62 03-02-2010 06:23 AM
2005 Horizon Roof Damage Pic kscouple52 General Maintenance and Repair 25 01-08-2009 10:01 AM
Roof Damage - Please Help GaDawgFan General Maintenance and Repair 12 06-03-2007 01:39 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.