Avoid Camping World Chicago/Island Lake/Wauconda!
In May of 2015 I purchased a brand new 2016 Thor Chateau camper from Camping World "Chicago" which is actually in Wauconda, IL. I should have heeded all the red flags and walked away from the deal, but my family really wanted the camper.
Below is a basic timeline of events and chaos that has literally ruined the entire experience for me, and so much so that I am willing to talk/type/print my experience to try and save someone else from the pain and suffering of dealing with this company/location. Since I have dealt with Camping World corporate and Thor as well, and none of them seem to care, this is much more than a "store" problem. However - it all starts there. Sorry for the book...
Camper Experience, Camping World Chicago (Island Lake/Wauconda) Todd Thorson todd@***.com 2016 Thor Chateau 31W May 2015 - Go to Camping World to look at campers, meet sales guy Jim Wheeler, walk lot. I had been unhappy driving our 1992 Coachmen 340MB and wanted a Class C. While Jim kept trying to push us into the Thor Ace Class A, I wanted to stick with the Class C. We saw a 31W Chateau model.
Nice and roomy, full slide, and a shower I can fit in. The particular one on the lot had the TV and cabinets up above the cab and we wanted the bunk for sleeping area. Jim found one at a dealer down south. Told me it would be no problem, we cut the deal, price was good, and he told me to come back in 2 weeks to pick it up because they wanted to get it up here, test everything, and clean it up.
I agreed to pay for the extra paint and fabric protection as well as the 5 year Good Sam Extended warranty. I did NOT want to have to work on my RV for at least 5 years.... Or so I thought. This was the end of our happiness.
Itโs all downhill from here. 2 weeks later, make appointment to pick up RV. I have my dad drive my wife and I up to Wauconda (its 40 miles from our house) and drop us off. He had an appointment, so he had to hurry back home.
Camping World has us go into the yard where our camper is waiting so we can see it. We walk inside - they prepped the wrong one! They prepped the one they had on the lot with the TV and cabinets over the cab. I find our stock number tag, itโs in the corner, filthy.
They apologize, call us a cab, and tell us they will test, prep, and deliver it to our home the following weekend. The following weekend, our RV is delivered to our home. I immediately notice some things. The paint doesnโt feel smooth and slick like the other one did.
It was clean, but not silky. The interior did not have the same smell as the one we saw that was prepped. At that time, I knew they didnโt put the protection stuff on, they must have used it on the other RV and didnโt reapply it to ours. Jim tells me that is all normal, and they did apply all the things I paid for.
He tells me we need to make a quick campout to "work out the bugs" before we go on a "real" campout. The wife and I reserve a campground close to our home in Marengo, IL. I proudly drive my brand new Thor into a space. I press the button for the automatic levelers and....
nothing.... just a beep and on the display "error. retract timeout". Ok, well, bug #1.
I find the reset procedure in the book and reset the levelers and they appear to be working, although they seem slow. But they did level the camper. I move outside. I hook up the electric and water.
I go to hookup the sewer and see a big problem. The hole in the bottom of the sewer cabinet doesnโt line up with the outlet. The outlet is sandwiched between to elbows and shutoff valves and doesnโt move. The factory cut the hole in the wrong spot.
If you tilt down the drain to go out the bottom as its designed to do, its 2 inches to the left. I had to set my sewer pipe to tilt upward and come out the side to the drain. Made a mess unhooking it later. Bug #2.
I head back inside and push out the slide. As the slide is moving out, I notice water on the floor under the dinette. I figure itโs from washing and start to dry it up when there is a knock at the door. Itโs my neighbor who tells me water is spraying out the side of my camper!
Bug #3. Clearly this camper was never prepped, at all.... I turn off the water and investigate. The water is spraying out of the hot water heater pressure relief valve.
I remove it to look. The pin is bent inside and wont seal. I explain to the wife that we wonโt have water on our first campout. I unhook the water and start making a list.
I turn on the TV that I had hooked up to cable. Nothing - I get static. Try to find channels - none. I look at the TV, the COAX connector is out of the TV, still attached to the cable.
Not unhooked - the plug is ripped off the back of the TV. I gently push it back in the hold, get it to make contact with the circuit board so we can watch TV. Bug #4. I then notice the green line running down the middle of the screen.
Bug #5. While sitting, Iโm reading my camper books to be familiar with the systems. My wife goes to take a nap and canโt close the privacy screen in the back bedroom. the pin doesnโt line up with the hold in the door, it was installed wrong.
Bug #5. While watching TV I look around. I decide to check the windows. 2 wonโt open, the plastic handles are already stripped and spin freely.
Bug #6. The vents in the front over the bunk area only have 1 screw each in them and hang down a bit - Bug #7. Small but potential liability issue - they never pulled the plastic out of the smoke detector to activate it - Bug #8. First trial one-night campout over.
I send my list to Camping World and they request I bring it in. Since I had our first real campout the following week, I told them I would fix the few things I could to get through the next campout since I wasnโt confident they would fix it in a few days and I couldnโt be without it. I pulled a screw from the other vents to secure the front ones. I remove the trim ring and cut away a little of the plastic so I could hookup the drain.
The service manager said he would send me the pressure relief valve. It never showed so I bought one from Home Depot. I bought a TV from Walmart as well. The following weekend was a bit better.
We had water coming out from under the fridge when taking a shower, bug #8. the levelers had to be reset again to work of course, and they still seem very slow to me and LOUD. I tried to use the "rapid camp" feature. Itโs a remote that lets you control various items.
The remote lights up, and I can unlock it, but none of the buttons work. Bug #9. New issue - truck wouldnโt start. Had to use the emergency start with the coach batteries.
Seemed odd, I checked to be sure I didnโt leave any lights on. After this weekend, nearly every time you have to use the emergency start since the chassis battery is clearly bad. Bug #10. We finish this campout (3 days for our Jeep Club outing) without any other incidents and drive home and I drop off my RV at camping world.
I explain I have 30 days until my next trip and give them my RV and list of "bugs". Ryan Pringle (I will NEVER forget that name) is my service writer, writes everything down and tells me he will call on Tuesday with an update. There were 15 items on my list, some of them I didnโt notice were missed the first time. Many I didnโt describe here because they were more minor, such as drawers that open while driving, toilet paper holder glue let go, ladder brackets for bunk installed incorrectly, etc.
Now that Camping World had my list and my RV, I learned that EVERYTIME they say they will call on a certain day, they wonโt. if you call, your service writer is either 1) attending an offsite training class, 2) with another customer, 3) has a day off, 4) at lunch, 5) no longer with the company.... 3 weeks later, Ryan calls me to tell me my camper is ready to be picked up. My wife and drive up, grab the camper and go home.
At our next trip in August things start to really get worse. I noticed that nearly NONE of the items on my list were done. the few I checked were, I learned my next lesson - go over the entire camper every time you pick it up, even systems they didnโt work on or touch (allegedly). So, our next campout, shower still leaked, levelers still loud and slow, battery still bad in chassis.
I bring it back again, and include the items from the list not fixed the first time. At that time everyone seems to know the name Ryan Pringle and they all roll their eyes when you say the name. He, of course, is no longer with the company, but the new guy assures me that a tech will look at it Monday and he will call me Tuesday. The call never comes, of course, I give it a week and call in.
They tell me the camper is ready to go and they fixed everything. When I pick it up, I check everything that I could. They tell me they just had to "charge the battery".... They "reset" the leveler system again and it tests fine.
They resealed the shower and replaced the dash applique that was crooked. They did a *** job "moving" the sewer outlet with a bad cut job and a tube of silicone... We have a campout to get to so I take it and head home. My daughter calls.
She notices the camper has a flat tire in our backyard. I come home from work and notice I have 2 flat tires and one with a "bubble" in the back. I call the police suspecting foul play. Police show up to do a report and the policeman says he thinks they are defective - he has seen lots of cut tires, but mine look like the bubble came from the inside.
I lookup online and sure enough, Michelin had a recall in 2013 for my very make, model, and size of tire for this very problem. But my tires are "newer" than the recall tires. I call my buddy at Discount tire. He informs me Michelin wonโt cover it - they might eventually - but for now, my best bet is to buy them.
So I have to buy 3 new tires @ $200ea installed to replace my 3 bad ones. Odometer on my camper shows 5100 miles.... I tried to contact Camping World, Good Sam, Michelin, and Thor to ask about this - everyone told me the same thing, and also made sure to let me know I was out of my factory warranty now. I am now out of my factory warranty...
But I purchased the "no worry" 5 year extended warranty! Next campout, June 2016, we head to Mount Rushmore, farthest campout ever. At that campout the levelers went down, but wouldnโt come back up. I know the sound - loud motor, turning slow, retract error on screen.
I tell my wife to keep resetting it while I tap the motor with a hammer to get them to retract. Clearly the motor is bad. Camper wonโt start again after sitting, plugged in, for 48 hours. The remainder of the trip Iโm crawling underneath my shiny new camper with Harbor Freight bottle jacks to level it.
Bring it back in October 2016 to Camping World. Now, Iโm dealing with Steve. Steve apologizes for all my issues, and promises he will fix it. He tells me I am out of factory warranty but because it has been there before for the same things he will work it out.
We go over the camper. Levelers not working, battery bad, a few more fit and finish things such as the mud flaps that fell off. Steve climbs up top and asks about the roof. he says it doesnโt look right.
Like it wasnโt installed right. At each time I dropped it off, Camping World does a "courtesy inspection" and one of those things is to check the roof. No one ever said anything, I figured the wrinkles and bubbling was normal. Steve says he will call later that week.
I wait 2 weeks and call Steve. He says he has worked out warranty with Thor for the roof to be fixed, the level motor replaced, and the other little things. Doesnโt mention the battery, I forget to ask. Asks me when I need it.
I tell him I donโt need it until next spring, take your time and do it right. I agree to pay for winterizing as well. 5 months later in late February I call Steve to ask how we are doing. He says its done and I am all set.
FINALLY, (or so we thought) happy, my wife and I drive up to Camping World. They pull the camper out for me and its running. Tech says - sorry it took so long, I had to jump start it, someone must have left a light on. Steve isnโt available so another guy comes out.
I want to test everything. At this point I figure Iโll just buy a chassis battery and eat the cost on the that. We try the levelers - "error - retract timeout" again. He does the reset procedure and they work....
I check the mud flaps; they appear to be replaced. I check the roof, looks smooth, no wrinkles or bubbles. Tech says they peeled it all back and glued it back down where the factory missed. They also replaced some weather-strip on the slide out where it was leaking behind the cab.
I ask about the battery. he gets a tester, hooks it up and says "it tests fine". I say - OK, turn it off and restart. Note, the camper has been running for over 30 minutes at this point.
He turns the key - one click. Hmm. He says, must be a bad battery - but of course, I am out of warranty, so it would be $240 to replace. No thanks.....
I drive my jeep up behind the camper to hook up my tow bar for the drive home. Backup camera doesnโt work. Now - that is ONE system that has never given me an issue, until now. I go back in to get the tech.
He asks if I want to leave it. Heck yea - I canโt even get out of the parking lot now with everything working, let alone a campout. I assume they unplugged something working on the roof, or fixing the soffit at the rear of the camper that was falling down as that was on the list. I get in the jeep and drive home.
They tell me they will look at it Monday and give me a call. On Wednesday I call to ask whatโs up. They tell me the "cable" has gone bad. It will be $1200 to fix it.
Its not covered by the factory warranty, and not covered by my Good Sam Assurant extended warranty either. I tell Steve that while I appreciated the work he did on the roof, the battery and levelers still arenโt right - and now the backup camera is broken. I tell him I just want my camper back, Ill cancel that useless warranty and we will just part ways and they wonโt ever have to see me again. I tell him Iโll be there Saturday morning to get it.
He apologizes and we hang up. Saturday I go there to pick up my camper, Steve isnโt there, but another guy calls to the yard to dig it out. Service writer tells me I owe $129 for diagnostic fees. I think the look on my face and tone of my voice caused him to immediately void the charge and let me go on my way.
I see my camper come up the aisle, go past the gate to a service bay. Kid jumps out and runs inside, 2 guys come out with tools. Service writer explains the dash is still apart since they โdidnโt know I was coming today to pick it up.โ After a few minutes, my RV drives up. I get in and immediately hear the error beep of the auto leveling system, which will beep my entire ride home showing โerror โ retract timeoutโ.
Now, I notice that radio doesnโt work at all. The pushed the dash back together and the radio is loose and crooked in the dashโฆ My RV and my money will NEVER go back to Camping World Chicago (Wauconda) EVER again. And, I will make it my mission to be sure to tell everyone I can about my experience so that hopefully I can save a few people from my nightmare. After reading online, I realize many people are worse off than me.
They have had similar experiences with Camping World, but their RV was 2-3x more expensive than mine, and for some, their RV is their home. I cannot imagine having to stay in hotels all the time because my RV was in the shop โnotโ getting fixedโฆ.
I wish you all my best, and Iโm happy to relay my experience or ask any more questions. If I should find by some odd chance that they didnโt break my backup camera I will certainly update this post, but I suspect someone put a staple through it when they re-secured the rear soffit in the bedroom โ the camera is right behind there.
Reason of review: Poor customer service.
Monetary Loss: $5000.
Preferred solution: Full refund.
Camping World Pros: First 2 hours when we cut the deal.
Location: 27794 North Darrell Road, Wauconda, Illinois 60084, United States
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Comments
Please avoid publishing any personal information and promotional content
They don't honor their warranty.
I sure like the looks of this smaller coach but will not be buying one. Thanks for posting this "buyer beware" notice. I haven't read any good reviews about this Vegas coach.
STAY AWAY FROM CAMPING WORLD.
Why
We are looking at a 2019 Motor home from Camping World but after reading some reviews I think we will forget this idea. We are to old to have problems while traveling and to old to pay for service and fight for it to. Sorry Camping World.
Please donโt Worse business ever. Best thing to remedy is that no one go there. Problem disappears
I used to go to camping world but the owners of Camping World should be ashamed and the CEO Marquis should kick a few butts but he doesnโt care about his business as long as people keep buying there products maybe he should go under cover and see really whatโs going on in his business but wont
There should be a lemon law covering this kind of trash being put out by RV manufacturers. It's not right that someone can spend this kind of money and time on something that was supposed to be new.
Sorry you had to go through all that garbage.
I won't go to Camping World anywhere anymore. All my experiences with them have been a hassle.
This post drained me and hard to read
Really!!!! Well if this was your situation I bet you would not be saying that!
Similar issues with three other CW, 2 in NH 1 in AZ. The AZ manager said he would never own a Thor Product due to non existent quality control.
So sorry you had to go through all of this. Camping World of Saukville, WI isn't much better.
Not only did the not fix what they said they fixed but the caused physical damage to our travel trailer every time they had it. They have done NOTHING to make it right.
YES, CAMPING WORLD HIRES MEXICAN MEN WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN RV REPAIRS. THE ANAHEIM CAMPING WORLD STORE WANTED SELL ME A NEW DOMETIC ROOF AIR CONDITIONER FOR MY CAMPER VAN, BUT, WOULD NOT INSTALL IT FOR 3 WEEKS!
I BOUGHT A NEW DOMETIC ROOF AIR CONDITIONER FOR MY CAMPER VAN IN LAS VEGAS/HENDERSON CAMPING WORLD, PLUS INSTALLATION. INSTALLED THE SAME DAY.
THE SERVICE DEPT. MEXICAN GUY LEFT A NICE LONG SCRATCH IN MY FIBERGLASS ROOF DRAGGING THE AIR CONDITIONER ACROSS THE ROOF.
Marcus Lemonis,
Maybe you should be spending more time on your Camping World properties rather than running around the country buying out failing businesses on a reality show.
This is a good example of a failing business and the dismal customer service that your stores are providing.
I guess your black matter has a foul odor after all doesn't it?
When dealing with any RV dealer or RV salesman, you have to deal with them like they are the biggest crooks, and worse then used car salesmen.
Thank you for sharing your horrible experience. You just persuaded me not to buy this brand of camper or RV.
Here's one potential customer you saved headaches from. Thank you very much.
"But I purchased the "no worry" 5 year extended warranty!"
LOL, I just shot coffee everywhere. Camping World/Bad Evil Sam warranties are a joke.
I truly feel sorry for you,
you bought one of the worst motorhomes from the worst dealership and got with it the worst of warranties.
STOP GOING TO CAMPING WORLD!
Glad I could give you a laugh. So - I have an update.
I cancelled the extended warranty with CW - they are sending that check to Ally, who holds the title. Also, apparently, my little social media posts got noticed. I received a call the next day from Thor themselves. They said they read my story and felt bad that their product didn't live up to their expectations and apologized for my bad experience at CW.
They had me bring my coach to the next nearest dealer, General RV in Huntley IL. Their directions to General RV were to fix the remaining issues on my coach, check the other things that had been previously repaired by CW, and make sure my coach was fully functioning. They were clear that once we got everything working that my warranty would "officially" be over and Ill be responsible for anything that goes wrong in the future, which I totally understand.
I'm glad to report that after only a week at General RV, I picked up my coach and everything works! I went over every system in their parking lot and all seems good.
There were some glaring things. The malfunctioning backup camera was not the $1200 cable - it was a bad RCA cable/module in the dash. The bigger one was my chassis battery always going dead and my beeping auto leveling system. They traced that to a wire that was incorrectly installed that caused the chassis to not charge the coach batteries when running, and it was wired backwards causing the chassis battery to be drained when the coach was off.
Not sure if that was from the factory or CW messing with it.
But all is good now.... Just waiting for the weather to get warm now.
Steve
Has anyone taken Camping world to court? We had very bad problems with Camping Worldโ in Charleston, SC. We should all get together and file a class action suit.