Buyer Beware! I would rate them zero stars if I could…read more
We purchased a used trailer from Camping World in Grand Rapids, and it was a huge mistake. By the time they finished adding fees, services, and extras, the final price was substantially higher than what we expected.
If you're considering buying an RV here, I strongly recommend hiring an independent RV inspector before signing anything. Camping World claims they perform a thorough inspection on every used RV before selling it. Based on our experience, I don't believe that's true.
Our problems started almost immediately.
Issue #1: About a week before our first major camping trip, I went to extend the slide-out and discovered there was no power from the 12-volt system. The battery was completely dead. I bought and installed a new battery, which allowed me to extend the slide, but by the next day that battery was dead too. I had to manually retract the slide and tow the RV an hour back to Camping World. Their service department found loose wires in the 110-volt connection that prevented the battery from charging. This absolutely should have been caught during any legitimate pre-sale inspection.
Issue #2: Once we arrived at our campsite, we discovered the water heater didn't work. Thankfully, we had purchased the extended warranty, so it was covered--but it still took three weeks to get authorization and complete the repair.
During that same trip, the black tank dump valve became stuck open because debris had been left in the tank by the previous owner. Again, the extended warranty covered the repair, but it was another unnecessary hassle that should have been prevented before the RV was sold.
We also purchased the ceramic coating package, which I consider a complete waste of money. I previously sold ceramic coating products for years, so I know how they should perform when properly applied. Camping World either does not apply the product correctly or, based on what I observed, may not apply it at all. Our RV was dirty when we picked it up, with black streaks still on the exterior. After washing it, water did not bead or sheet off the surface as it should with a properly applied ceramic coating. That raised serious questions about whether the coating had ever been applied.
After our second camping trip, I noticed a repaired area on the camping side of the RV. There were obvious paint runs, and graphics that exist on the opposite side were missing. You could even see the outlines where the original decals had been. Camping World denied performing the repair, but it's concerning that this damage was never disclosed.
What really left a bad impression was the sales process. While we were signing the loan paperwork, several employees walked by and commented things like, "Is that RV new? It looks brand new." They all knew it wasn't new because Camping World doesn't even sell this model new. It felt like a deliberate attempt to make us feel we were getting something newer than we actually were.
I returned to the dealership to give them an opportunity to make things right. The sales manager simply told me that used units are sold "as is" and refused to address any of our concerns.
We also spent a significant amount of money on accessories and upgrades in their store. After this experience, we will never purchase another RV or any products from Camping World again. We'll also be sharing our experience with friends, family, and anyone considering buying from them.
Do your homework, have an independent inspection performed, and be extremely cautious before purchasing a used RV from Camping World.
