Extended Warranties Options

[kenandlinda]

Any recommendations as to which extended warranty we should purchase.
We have a 2007 Fleetwood Providence, 39 ft on a Freightliner chassy and a Cat 350 hp engine.

Thanks,
Ken & Linda

[Barry Homer]

Warranty discussion are all over the place.

Warranty companies are in business to turn down, however they can, covering broken items, with lots of rules and exclusions.

But they have a place to give one peace & cost containment if the company is reputable and their fine print is followed.

[/size]
Often warranty companies require engine oil change every 3 months or something like that, which is a fair request.
What are you going to do if you park in one place for 3 months or more. The above 'requirement' may have to be met or they do not have to repair your microwave, etc.
They rightfully say "We have obligations to you and you have obligations to us. If you don't follow yours, we don't have to follow ours."



We know of someone who did his own oil changes, which are allowed, and innocently noted that he changed oil several days after the warranty requirement period, which prevented recovery for loss.
Others with transmission problems, required coach owner to pay for tear down of tranny to see what problem is. It was not covered and all costs were on owner.
Prior-permission is needed for ALL repairs, something that can be problematic.



Just understand what you are buying. If you would have bought the same RVif it cost $3,000 more, go ahead if cost is not critical.
And if you finance, do you want to pay 10-20 years for a warranty that runs out in 3-years? No advantage to including warranty cost in a loan.



Also know that warranty plans give the seller a large share of the premium, so it is a profit source.
Big print giveth, fine print takeithaway.



[size="3"]FYI, nine years ago when we bought our first diesel motorhome with tranny retarder, air brakes, etc, we figured we would be better off spending $3,000 for the warranty Foretravel offered.
After 5-months of ownership, we learned more about our motorhome and started to do our own maintenance.
We found ourselves having to keep track of warranty required maintenance with proof of completion.
With our new confidence, we canceled contract which required 'permission' from our RV seller as they had to rebate most of their commission.
We received an actual pro-rata rebate based upon the number of months passed. We had no warranty claims, which also would have been deducted from our rebate.

Over the last nine years, we have never wished we had the contract. We did not have to deal with a 3^rd party when we had repairs. Self insuring has its advantages.

By the way, these contracts are not insurance policies and are not under a state's insurance regulations. Anything goes.

This post has been edited by Barry Homer: Nov 3 2009, 12:06 PM

[George Stoltz]

You have a great chassis and engine, but I'd buy the warranty for everything else in the Foretravel.

[JoeZ]

Even though I am about to report a favorable experience with an extended warranty, I am not totally certain even now that they are a wise purchase. That said, we recently collected on a claim with absolutely no hassle. Repaired a defective convertor/charger, replaced a 50 amp power cord and some replacements of failed AC electric components - claim amount was about $1300. Warranty company is National Warranty Company of Florida bought through Lazy Days.

[Kirk]

Taking the advice of one who says that you should always buy an extended warranty, or one who says that you should never buy one is rather like getting marriage advice from a divorce lawyer. The best choice is a very personal thing and depends upon your individual situation. Let me suggest that before you choose, read this article about the subject, then make up your mind.

[kenandlinda]

We purchased the MH in one state and had it delivered in our home state at the state line. I boarded the MH and drove it about 50 miles to our residence and noted that the oil pressure was at 30 lbs which did not seem right.
I checked the oil in the CAT the next morning and found very little oil in the engine. Our dealer had not checked the fluids before driving it 200 miles to our state. I immediately added 6 quarts of oil and drove it to Camping World for a complete oil change and at the same time had the generator serviced.
I have not idea how well the previous owner maintained the MH, hence my questions regarding extended warranties.
Thanks

[RayIN]

Actually it is NOT an extended warranty, it is a service contract. This contract has many stipulations, as pointed out by Barry Homer. The Good Sam magazine has at least one request for assistance with a service contract each publication. Do your homework, and when you make your decision don't look back.

[Kirk]

An extended warranty is not a warranty nor is it a service contract. I sold those as a part of my job for years. A service contract is there to pay for normal repairs and routine maintenance. An extended warranty is a health plan for your RV or other product. Like any health plan, the amount that they pay will vary by the price paid for them and the cost will also vary based upon the size of deductible and all of the other variations found in human health plans.

[richfaa]

We have one (RV Shield) on our 06 Montana 3400 5th wheel. We figured the odds of NOT having a major failure in 7 years of ownership were astronomical. we have used it twice in three years. Total billed cost of repairs 1115.00. Cost to me 100.00. Cost of 7 year service contract....1047.00. No problem with company as we read and understood the terms of the contract and followed proper procedures. ... We just discovered a holding tank leak. That will be @800.00 claim..If it needs to be replaced..less if it can be repaired.... But covered with 50.00 deductible. It is stated on the contract as a service contract.Rv shield is a Exclusionary service contract. It is a crapshoot.

[John Brandon]

You betcha!!! Good Neighbor Sam's warranty is the best and is reasonable. Be careful (experience) with all warranties that places offer. Good Neighbor Sam is like AARP. You can trust them. John Brandon

[Kirk]

John,

I hardly agree that AARP is trustworthy but do see some common ground between them. They do both have the goal of separation of their members from as much of their money as possible. AARP takes great advantage of the very elderly with advertising that is designed to mislead those who are not as mentally agile as they once were and are too trusting. Having cared for very elderly parents and dealing with a few of their misleading activities taught me that it isn't a flattering thing to be considered to operate as they do.

This post has been edited by Kirk: Nov 6 2009, 10:15 AM

[onemoreday]

You betcha!!! Good Neighbor Sam's warranty is the best and is reasonable. Be careful (experience) with all warranties that places offer. Good Neighbor Sam is like AARP. You can trust them. John Brandon

AARP is nothing but a front for a insurance company, they do nothing but prey on older people who have dimminished mental capacity.

Insurance companies are nothing but middlemen who provide no services, your dollars bought their big buildings.

If you can live with yourselves peacefully I would skip any non manditory insurance.

Last time I dealt with an insurance company I was rearended at a stoplight and found to be 50% at fault,, when I asked why I was told because I was there.

[Bob Fitzgerald]

Yes, you must be careful about the terms and conditions of Extended Service Plans. I have Good Sam's Continued Service Plan. Today had work done at a Camping World service center. Needed a new leveling jack. Store had received approval to install the jack, less my deductable. Once installed the technician found that the job also needed a main solenoid. Store did not ask for additional approval from CSP for this part, which was need to make the jack work, so the Continued Service Plan people refused to pay for this additional part.

I plan to challenge the determination not to pay but don't really expect a positive response. This issue seems to fall into the gray area that will allow the CSP people to deny a claim.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories but both Camping World and Good Sam CSP are part of the Affinity Group.

[Jack Mayer]

All the extended warantees that I know of work the same way. If you do not get it preapproved, they will not pay. I would take it up with Camping World....they are the ones at fault. They should cover the solenoid.

[Sober Joe]

Everything seems to be going under now days. I would be worried about the company you use going under.

[RayIN]

Yes, you must be careful about the terms and conditions of Extended Service Plans. I have Good Sam's Continued Service Plan. Today had work done at a Camping World service center. Needed a new leveling jack. Store had received approval to install the jack, less my deductable. Once installed the technician found that the job also needed a main solenoid. Store did not ask for additional approval from CSP for this part, which was need to make the jack work, so the Continued Service Plan people refused to pay for this additional part.

I plan to challenge the determination not to pay but don't really expect a positive response. This issue seems to fall into the gray area that will allow the CSP people to deny a claim.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories but both Camping World and Good Sam CSP are part of the Affinity Group.

If you plan to pursue this with CW, The President of CW is Marcus Lemonis mlemonis@campingworldrv.com

This post has been edited by RayIN: Nov 7 2009, 07:36 PM

[richfaa]

It is extremely important to read and completely understand the terms of ANY insurance policy/service contract/etc. According to BBB the majority of complaints are because the consumer did not understand the terms of the contract. I know folks who purchased a RV service contract and never saw the contract let alone read it. For example I understand that my "service contract" has a 50.00 deductible. Requires prior approval for repairer, does NOT pay sales tax and is a exclusionary contract .that is it clearly states what it does not pay...if it is not stated..it IS covered. We Had a copy of the contract sent to us BEFORE we purchased. We took it to our Insurance agent who provided clearification...... We have NOT had a problem.

[Barbaraok]

AARP is nothing but a front for a insurance company, they do nothing but prey on older people who have dimminished mental capacity.

Insurance companies are nothing but middlemen who provide no services, your dollars bought their big buildings.

If you can live with yourselves peacefully I would skip any non manditory insurance.

Last time I dealt with an insurance company I was rearended at a stoplight and found to be 50% at fault,, when I asked why I was told because I was there.

And you accepted that? Just because an insurance company says something that doesn't make it so. That is what civil court is all about. Yes, it is a pain to do, but that doesn't mean that you should let the insurance company win - - especially if you were obeying the law any competent lawyer should be able to get a good settlement or win a court case.

Barb