Winterizations FAIL at dealership 🥲

KimmieGuy

I have a 2020 Tab 320 S that I have had winterized at the dealership three times now. This time upon getting it home I immediately realized I didn’t think it was done correctly as there was water still in my toilet and water still in my faucets.  Upon contacting the dealer that I honestly do love, the best they said they could do was to have me bring it back which happens to be a five hour round-trip drive, redo it, and refund me my money. I know it sounds petty but wow it’s a long drive with a lot of gas and it was done incorrectly. What would you do? What would your expectation be? I did ask him what would’ve happened if everything froze and he said that that would be a really bigger bill on their part to repair it.  I appreciate your thoughts.  Thanks!  

PNWtabber

That is a very unfortunate experience.  I would have huge concerns about having them do further work on my trailer.  I'm not a huge DIY person, but maybe that is best.  At least you know what was done and how.  Yikes.  BTW, winterizing isn't all that difficult, even I can do it (which is saying something)! 

KimmieGuy

My thoughts also, and thanks for making me feel more human.  I can see not flipping a valve correctly, but having water still in the lines and in my toilet is a huge red flag for me.  It’s almost like the job wasn’t even done at all.  As my son says, if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.  Such a different world we live in nowadays. Thanks again.  

Sharon_is_SAM

@KimmieGuy - Did they do anything?  Did they add antifreeze to the fresh tank?  Did the tech get interrupted?  What was their explanation?  I would email Customer Experience at nuCamp help@nucamprv.com.  They appreciate feedback on their dealers.

manyman297

That's hardly being petty. You paid them to do a job and they clearly didn't do it. If you can, try and see if there are any mobile RV techs in your area that do winterizations. I would get your money back regardless of if you go back to them or not. I run a business myself and I can't imagine keeping somebody's money for doing something I was supposed to do and didn't do it. 

CharlieRN

Take the refund and do the winterization yourself with the help of the instructions available on this forum. An investment in a compressor is money well spent as you can use it for a myriad of other chores as well as in winterizing your T@B. You'll wonder how you got along without one for so long . . .

manyman297

I realize a lot of people don't feel comfortable doing this sort of thing on your own but @CharlieRN is right. Winterizing has a minor learning curve and once you've done it, it's mostly rinse and repeat each season. In just a few years you'll have saved hundreds of dollars and hours and empowered yourself. And a compressor is something I feel every homeowner should own. Kill two birds. 

KimmieGuy

I appreciate your thoughts so very much.  I do feel empowered by your comments.  My mechanical engineer son and I will now be doing all my winterizations in the future.  I choose to return to the dealer tomorrow to speak my peace and watch the owner do it correctly.  I figure he owes me that much to teach me how to do it.  As far as what his reasons are for it not being done correctly, that will be interesting.  I’m a teacher and accept mistakes, but I feel like this job was completely knowingly not done.  I don’t think it was a mistaken “switch.”  I do not think any antifreeze was added into the lines AT ALL.  And the kid told me to have a nice day…. Wow…. I swear it was pure evil.  He had to know it wasn’t set to go.  I’ll find out tomorrow, and just appreciate this forum so very much.  Thanks!!!!  I will update.  Please double check work done.  If I hadn’t caught this, I can’t imagine the damage and repair time.  

dragonsdofly

@KimmieGuy good to hear you now feel more empowered to approach your dealer and to learn how to do the winterization yourself. While my husband can winterize our 2017 320 S like a pro in under ½ an hour, it takes me between 2 to 3 hrs. BUT I CAN DO IT MYSELF.

I have 8 terminal diagnosis. In the past year I've had at least 2 strokes. I tire easily and the in & out, check this, do that is slow for me, but I can and have done it. I have the knowledge that it is done correctly. I am confident that there won't be unexpected or nasty problems in the spring.

The satisfaction of accomplishing any task, especially with my circumstances, is priceless.

I hope you find the same to be true. Good luck and much success to you! -Denise

PNWtabber

@dragonsdofly -- so sorry to read of your medical situation, but inspired by your perseverance! 

dragonsdofly

@PNWtabber thanks for the sentiment but, no worries. I offered the info simply as encouragement to @KimmieGuy. I know it is possible to accomplish everything you may personally choose. I also know there is always a reason to dance.

I am in month 100 of what was supposed to be a 18-20 month ride (not that I'm counting). So far, there is no medical explanation, but every day is a blessing and more than 1 kind of adventure.

Every trip is that much sweeter. Every sight is so much more awesome and every person or meeting is just so much more precious than it might have been otherwise. What a joy!

Today the DH and me winterized our t@b and cleaned it up after 4 cats, a parrot, husband and me spent several weeks residing in it while our full-time trailer was rebuilt and repaired. The simplicity and the technology are to be appreciated. I love my t@b. I wish we could full-time in it because of the ease of travel it provides but in our present circumstances that is not possible.

Thanks again, and I hope to meet all of you someday out there adventuring! Happy t@bbing!

Basil48192

A few suggestions for winterizing that I've found helpful:
-Don't skimp on the anti-freeze.  I know that many people get the job done with a single gallon.  However, I've found that by the time all of the valves run 'pink', I'm pretty close to the bottom of a gallon jug...then I start sucking air and have to re-prime.  This year, I bought 2 gallons and put them both into a single bucket so I didn't have to stop the process once I started.
-Use a hose just long enough to reach the bottom of the bucket...no loops.
-If you do get air in the line, open up the cold water low-point drain...this will bleed the air and get the pump going again very quickly.  

KimmieGuy

So…. Part two…. You all are AMAZING!  Thank you! I returned to the dealer.  He refunded me the bill, and winterized the camper himself.  I hopped in and told him I needed to learn how to do this process, and therefore I was videotaping him. I did let him know I would never post anything like that online and do not mean any harm or negativity to his dealership. I just need to be able to take care of this myself obviously. The young tech who totally screwed it up attempted to apologize, but I shut him down and let him know very calmly in my big girl voice that I wasn’t interested in his excuses to the damage that he could have done to my camper and to my entire season of summer. When the dealer attempted to also insisted that his technician met no malice, I told him we would have to agree to disagree on that fact. I feel very proud of myself that I was able to face such an uncomfortable situation, and happy with my demeanor.  I feel very confident with all of your suggestions and support, and my video taping of the entire process, I will be easily able to do this for myself. It’s been a great learning experience and everything happens for a reason.

manyman297

Glad they took care of it. And in all honesty, there’s really no magic or smoke and mirrors when it comes to winterizing. And once you do it you’ll wonder why you ever paid somebody to do it. If you have the time and motivation doing it yourself is the best option. 

Denny16

Glad it all got sorted satisfactorily 
Cheers

Dame_plume

@KimmieGuy So glad it worked out for you!  Same thing happened to me with over 1000$ damage on my trailer. The difference in my case was that there was pink antifreeze in sink and toilet but my valves were positioned wrong and I believe they used too much pressure and blew my faucet pipes.  Found out only at spring.  Not fun.

GigHarborTom

Holding my breath. Takeing the trailer in for winterising, bearing check and lub, plus the infamess frame rivet issue. I did all repairs, maint, and restoration in the past. 82 here, wife says, I am getting drifty, docs say memory lose for unknown reason. Love camping and travel. Just drive very little and "don't get around much anymore"  Seems I do not spell very well either.    But we are still having the good life.

AnOldUR

Almost 70 but feeling the same as you @GigHarborTom. Still managing to do some things in retirement, they just take five times longer because of moving slow and fixing mistakes. Even so, taking on these tasks can be both rewarding and the only way to be sure they're done right. Never stop checking your work (it seem to be a lost art these days). Whether it's a forum post or changing your Alde fluid, time and persistence are your best tools.

Example, I just spent ten minutes down the rabbit hole of the correct spelling and use of the word "whether" and almost a half hour writing this simple post. But as you said, it's still a good life.

Edit to add that knowing your limits is the same if you're young or old. There are still many things best left to the pros.