De-lamination problems with my factory TT

[mikeschn]

I love your finned design , but would be artistically tempted to turn it into one of those old Flash Gordon looking spaceships .....

Humor me. I'd love to see your rendition of it!!!

Mike...

[kennyrayandersen]

It’s really unfortunate people are like this. I don’t understand it because in the long run it’s certainly counterproductive. You might have another option here which is just to do a re-skin in aluminum. Yeah, it might be some work, but if you sell it you’d probably be lucky to just loose the money you got into it and you’d have to start all over again. All the appliances and gear is already in place and installed – it would certainly be easier than building one from scratch. And as previously stated, the aluminum would last a lifetime.

I’m glad you posted and shared this with everybody and you should post it on every forum and review site out there. The quicker they’re out of business the fewer people that will get burned.

[Micro469]

If you still owe 7K on it, it might be worth your while to stop payments..and let them repossess it...... it might be completely rotten by the time you've paid it off....

[kennyrayandersen]

If you still owe 7K on it, it might be worth your while to stop payments..and let them repossess it...... it might be completely rotten by the time you've paid it off....

There could be some serious legal and financial ramifications to that -- no need to get rash.

[GPW]

Too much invested to walk away... If I were a Lottery winner , I'd hire a team of lawyers and start a class action suit ...
But after a long explanation to the wife , it was decided to proceed with Big Mike's recommendation and re-cover the roof in Aluminum , like a giant cap with rolled edges that overlap the top and upper sides to form a waterproof edge .... something that SHOULD have been done by the factory...
It's as if they wanted the top to be a problem , and the dealer is certainly no prince either ... In the repair , he and the factory (in cahoots) stated the expense in replacing the roof was the special parts that would have to be ordered and shipped ... turns out the special parts was a sheet of plywood that was hastily applied OVER the old damaged roof (not replaced) and a new "special membrane" (vinyl tablecloth) over that... and a messy caulking job .... all for only 5000USD... I offered the Insurance company a plan to fix it myself for 200USD but they refused , saying the dealer or factory were the only ones authorized to fix it ... silly bas***ds , their loss...
The delam on the front is still there ... may have to drill some holes and inject glue and clamp/screw some boards to make it solid again ...
Now for the life of me , I can't imagine why a company would make such a really poor design like this , obviously made disposable to only last a few years, and then be replaced ... and they brag of being in Amish country ... One would think the Amish would do everything they could to distance themselves from these crooks ...

Not only that , the basic design has some flaws that don't make any sense ... like the hot water heater and electrical system under the bed.. Hard to sleep on that ...
And their kitchen sink cabinet is an ugly useless waste of space with little storage capability ...

OK, I'm screwed... but nothing new in this area with Katrina , and now the oil spill ... Just have to make the best of it ... I take all this to be Test of moral character, and creativity ....

Now anybody who has rolled through middle Mississippi and who has seen the many thousands and thousands of unused (poison) FEMA trailers sitting rotting for miles on the hills will realize why the RV industry is in trouble ... They made much money making these substandard trailers , and perhaps lost their way in pursuit of profits ... quality products a thing of the past ... another blow to the American economy ... Hope they don't ask for a bail out ...

[48Rob]

...Seems to me that before anyone decides anything, that the actual cause of the damage should be determined.

Is it because of the repair?
Is it because the manufacturer/trailer has a flaw?
Is it because annual maintenance was overlooked?

I feel badly for the owner, that this large purchase has gone bad, but the above questions really must be answered before the jury reads the verdict...

I would personally be very afraid to leave any trailer, commercially manufactured, or home built, outside in the weather for 4 years without looking it over at least once a year to make sure all was well.

An independent RV. repair shop, one that doesn't have ties to the manufacturer, can easily determine why the damage occurred, and if it is traceable to any party.

Rob

[GPW]

Rob , I clean and inspect the trailer every couple months ... It does get washed , and waxed, babied when needed ... always get a ladder and check the roof , AC , vents ,and antenna carefully ... It just appears that the design allows water to pool on the top , the repair caulking forming a dam that even further prevents draining ... and June 1 every year (the beginning of Hurricane season ) I give it a thorough critical examination, checking EVERYTHING according to the book and beyond ... The last time I brought to the dealer for a post warranty inspection , he let it sit there 3 days and it appeared that nothing had been done .... certainly nothing inside was disturbed.. Hadn't even been moved , indicated by a mark I put on the tire...

The dealer informed us ,before the sale, that it would be very happy living outside , and with a big grin pointed to all the other trailers on his lot sitting in the open ...

Finding fault will not solve the problem since the manufacturer and dealer keep passing the buck , and saying any fault in the trailer lies with me ... Warranty expired so there is no way they will deal with it , except at great expense to me ... and they've always reassured me that being one of the oldest manufacturers in the country , their designs are sound and proven ... Right !!!

[GPW]

Called around RV dealers , explained the situation ... inspections are $275 + "parts"... That's almost 3 months of trainer notes per inspection , done twice a year ... plus parts ... What a Racket !!!


I wish I had my TD back ...


roof pic showing limb damage and lack of drainage ... sides all around ,like a swimming pool

[GPW]

Mike , something like this ????

[GPW]

Found an interesting article on RV roof repair ... http://www.rvforsaleguide.com/trailer-r ... r-roof.htm

or the alternative ... strip off the thin vinyl and apply to plywood ... http://www.buyliquidroof.com/rv_roof_repair.html

[mikeschn]

Mike , something like this ????

Oh sure! I'll bet somebody builds it too. I don't think I'm quite ready to build an airplane trailer!

Mike...

[GPW]

Just a paint job really !!! Maybe the fin could be rotated or removed to make a sun shade , or picnic table ... Maybe add some plastic streamers to the back so when it's going down the Hwy. would look like a rocket exhaust ... OK, I'm getting Silly now ...

[48Rob]

GPW,

Thanks for the detailed reply.
More info is always good!

Is the dealer that repaired the storm damage the dealer that sold you the trailer?

I'm reading a lot on the net about Jayco honoring roof repairs even after the warranty is up.

I have to wonder if Jayco paid the dealer to replace the roof while doing the storm damage repair, to cover known roof issues, and the dealer just patched it without telling you that it was a recall item?

With what a short search showed on the Internet, maybe another hour or two of research could find a company rep that would help...
One story was that an out of warranty owner got the factory to send him all the roof replacement materials for free.

Rob

[GPW]

Thanks Rob ... apparently this guy is a SLEEZE !!!! Looks like he was double dipping !!! I'll have to research this some more...

Some RV dealers seem to have a bad reputation , according to some friends of mine all over the country .... I still can't see what justifies 90USD/ hr for these greedy B******S... Plus whatever they can Hustle ...

[GPW]

Just found out the dealer is moving 80 miles away ....

One reason Jayco may not be as "responsive" as their reputation is that they are in Trouble ... Closing plants , losing jobs... and statements like this offer no comfort that I'll be able to resolve these issues ...

QUOTE: "The decision has been taken with deep regret because we know that it will place hardship on many of our employees and their families," stated Derald Bontrager, president and chief operating officer of Jayco. "Business conditions dictate that we take steps to reduce operating costs and maintain production capacity that reflects marketplace realities."

Looks like they're just trying to stay alive ...
Can't depend on a drowning man to offer you any rescue!!!