Shishewana, IN (and surrounding areas)

Shipshewana, IN - home of the Indiana Amish

If it happens in Shipshewana, IN, try not to step in it.

We're actually in the area to get our trailer serviced plus some repairs.  That's apparently easier said than done when Lippert Components, Inc. is involved.   The subject issue hit my high blood pressure button yesterday morning at our 10:30 AM appointment when Lippert looked at my complaint, stated the offending hydraulic leg was built the way the trailer manufacturer wanted it, and there was nothing they could do about it.  OK, fine.  So go ahead and service the suspension (also manufactured by Lippert), and we'll be on our way.  The tech walks around, checks that the airbags for the air ride suspension are air'd up appropriately, notes no bolts are missing and says we're fine.  No bearing checks, no greasing of the 6 grease fittings per trailer side, no check of bolt torques, no nothing.  I'm handed a piece of paper that says all is fine.  Of course if any of that suspension maintenance stuff isn't up to snuff, you'll over heat the wheel bearings and start a fire.  Last time I check, RVs burn easily.  They're not made of kindling wood, but the glue that all the manufacturers like to use to help keep these things together has a low flash point.  Those bearings heat up enough, the glue ignites and we'll have a real neat bonfire on our hands.  We carry a fire extinguisher in the truck just for that purpose - put out wheel bearing fires on the trailer.   The fire extinguisher at the entrance door of the trailer is a back up - assuming we have enough time to get back there and get the door open.

So off we go to DRV (trailer manufacturer) to get the trailer's fall service complete, fix a few things we've broken, start the process to have the refrigerator replaced (coolant leak - coils are shot), have an unsightly stress fracture under the bedroom slide (a result of the bedroom slide being out of alignment) repaired and the bedroom slide aligned.  Oh, and complain about Lippert.  All goes well until we get to the refrigerator and bedroom alignment thingies.  DRV states they have to give the manufacturer of the refrigerator 24 hrs notice to come out and look at the refrigerator.

Me, "When did you know we'd be here on Sept 14th?"
DRV, "Two months ago."
Me, "When did you get the word we had a refrigerator issue?"
DRV looking at my emails, "10 days ago."
Me, "So we didn't call the refrigerator manufacturer yesterday so they could have a rep here today because????"
Silence from DRV.

Then we move to the bedroom slide.  Second high blood pressure point is reached.
DRV, "Your bedroom alignment is fine."
Me, "Really??"
DRV, "Yep, we'll fix the stress cracks (by creating a stress joint), we'll straighten the bent aluminum on the bedroom slide, reseal it, and replace all the finishing screws that were broken off."
Me, "So how'd we stop that bedroom slide from hitting along the bottom of the side of the trailer, bending all this metal again, and creating more stress cracks?"
DRV, "We'll put that stress joint in there."
Me, "Slide alignment?"
DRV, "Can't solve it.  See it all the time.  It's due to frame flex. You'll have to take it to Lippert and see if they can fix it." Recall that this is the same Lippert that blew us off yesterday trying to get our trailer suspension serviced.  To put this in perspective, this is like you having a problem with your automobile's engine and your car is still under the manufacturer's warranty.  The mechanic at your dealership decides it's the fuel injectors that's causing the engine problem. So the dealership's service department calls you and tells you to take you car back home, call the fuel injector manufacturer and have them fix your car.

So this is the state-of-the-art of the 21st century RV industry.  Manufacturers point fingers at other manufacturers and the customer is left (in our case literally) sitting in the rain in the manufacturer's parking lot with their second lemon 5th wheel in less than three years.  And the gov't & manufacturing just can't quite grasp why the economy just ain't coming back so quickly.  Could it be that the American consumer just can't quite swing the money to buy new pieces of crap every year?

Remember, I warned you.  Don't step in it.  David





#DRV #Lippert #RVIA