Western Campers Reviews (%countItem)
Western Campers Rating
Address: 8383 Camp Bowie West Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas, United States, 76116-6331
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It's unfortunate that I was only allowed to choose one "Primary Nature of your Complaint" answer. Nearly all of them apply in this case. My husband and I bought our Flagstaff Shamrock camper from Western Camper on Feb. 16, 2017. We paid cash for the camper and our experience with the sales dept and walk through was very pleasant. We also bought an extended warranty for an additional $1,500 (estimate) or so.
Our trouble began on our second camping trip when heavy rain caused the roof to leak. There was a considerable amount of damage to the interior and framework of the camper. The mattress over the leaking area was ruined, wood rotted and mold and mildew formed. Our insurance paid for the damage as it was assumed that the leak was caused by a small indention in the metal frame about the size of a pencil eraser. Western Camper said it was caused by some outside force and claimed no responsibility. I was doubtful at the time that a tiny hole, that could not be seen, could have caused that much damage.
It sat at Western Camper's shop for several months while we waited for parts to arrive from the manufacturer. We were finally able to pick it up on Feb. 2, 2018. During the first year we owned the camper it was in the shop for at least 4 months.
We used it a couple of times with no rain issues, but on Oct. 15, 2018, we took it out and it rained and leaked again. We took it back to Western Camper and once again, we waited for several months for parts to arrive. At this time, due to the lack of production from Western Camper I bypassed them and directly sent emails to *** at Forest River, the manufacturer of our brand of camper. I had hoped that someone would be willing to work with us on replacing the camper or refunding the money we spent. I somehow was able to get the manufacturer to replace the bed and framework again, but was offered no other options.
We picked it up after a few months in early 2019 but had not been able to use it until a few weeks ago (June 1st weekend) due to my husband’s illness. We took it out a couple of weeks ago. Please keep in mind that this was the first time we've used the camper since it was repaired by Western Camper and was supposed to be like new. They took down a list of every problem in the camper later last year and promised to get everything remedied so we'd be ok with keeping the camper. Upon arriving at the park, we plugged the water in and turned it on. When we went inside the camper there was water all over the floor. We looked under the sink and Western Camper hadn't even bothered to hook the two hose connectors together under the sink. Water was everywhere. Here are a few additional details from our trip a couple weeks ago. The vent roof was left wide open, the bathroom vent doesn't work (again, supposed to be like brand new...we did pay for the warranty and the camper has lived at Western Camper's lot nearly as much as it's been at our house), leak in the ceiling by the air conditioner, and plug by king size bed for light/fan combo doesn't work. Additionally, it rained again on this trip and the two beds that we used (we left one bed up during our trip) both leaked and allowed water to come through the seals, yes the same seals that have been replaced twice in the last 18 months) onto our mattresses.
This camper has been used 7 or 8 times in the 2 ½ years that we have had it. Every time we have taken it out there have been issues. This is either a lemon that Western Camper should have allowed us to exchange two years ago when the issues arose, immediately upon using, or Western Camper is selling lemons to unsuspecting customers.
I appreciate you letting us know of your displeasure with your Shamrock travel trailer. I am aware ofmost of the matters you mentioned because these were not normal issues concerning your Shamrock.The first was when you brought it in July 2017. The outside panel appeared to have a hole in it madefrom the exterior of the trailer. This hole had allowed water to seep in and damage the interior of theunit over time. I understand that we patched the hole so you could use the camper until your insurancecould be filed and the parts ordered to replace and then repair the panel.The second incident was when the wrong color panel was shipped. Unfortunately, we had to wait andcould not do repairs. As annoying as that is, this was completely out of our control. I frequently wish Icould manufacture replacement parts for our customers so this would not happen and cause anyinconvenience.The third reason your unit was on our lot for longer than normal, was another customer was driving inour lot where he should not have been, and backed into your unit. This caused an additional 2-3 monthdelay from that incident waiting on his insurance to approve the repairs. Once we got his insuranceapproval, we had to take your unit to a paint and body shop to have the repairs done on the fiberglass.We did not intentionally mean to blame the manufacturer, Forest River. However, the warranty on yourtrailer is issued by them, so we have wait on and obtain authorization on any warranty repairs to befiled before we can begin repairs.The last time you picked up your unit from Western Campers on January 9, 2019 was approximately 51/2 months ago. When you picked up your trailer, I believe you remember, there were no charges toyou. However, we did mention that if you had any additional problems with the items we worked on,that you let us know within 30 days. This allows us to promptly respond to any additional repairs toyour satisfaction and in a timely manner.In your recent camping trip, you mentioned water lines unfastened under the kitchen sink. This couldhave occurred because a clamp vibrated off, however this issue was not related to any work performedby Western Campers in December. Since trailers are really homes on wheels, there are alwayspossibilities of things vibrating loose as they bounce down highways. Periodic inspections by theowner are a must, not unlike inspections of an aircraft made by a pilot before takeoff.Also, ***, you mentioned having a problem with a bath roof vent being open. We have foundin our Texas heat, the plastic roof vents can warp, and particularly in our spring weather get hit by windand hail. In examining our shop ticket for your repairs made in December, it does not show usperforming any work on the bath roof vent. However, we will be happy to check your roof vents foryou upon your request the next time you bring your unit in for service.I have checked your warranty and the canvas has a 5 year warranty. We would be happy to inspect itand order new canvas if warranted. In December, we were not able to get the canvas to leak when wewater tested it, but it has been 5 to 6 months since you picked up your unit so please let us look at itagain so we can turn this into a good summer of camping experiences for you.Please give me a call at your earliest convenience so we can discuss this matter further and correct anyissues that you may be having in a timely manner.
I am rejecting this response because:It is not often that I complain about a product that I have
purchased or even let it be known that I am dissatisfied. I have never filed anything with the Revdex.com or
filed a complaint with anyone regarding a past purchase. However, in this case, I feel that letting my
concerns be known is the proper thing to do so future customers of Western
Camper aren’t duped like we were. The
fact that this camper is and has been practically unusable for most of the two
years we have owned it is unacceptable.
I have no issues with Western Camper, per se, but as a representative of
Forest River/Shamrock, they have a responsibility to their customers to assure
a reliable product. This camper is not
and never has been a reliable product and they should have remedied this issue
in the first 6 months rather than string us along to this point.
We bought the camper, brand new from the factory, from
Western Camper on February 16, 2017. We
took the camper back 5 months later, in July, 2017 with water damage after
using it for two small trips. At the
time it was assumed that it was from a tiny hole on the exterior of the
trailer. Assumed is the key word here,
because no one really knew what could have caused such extensive water damage
to the interior. We never felt comfortable with the assumption that the hole,
as small as it was, could have possibly done that much damage. But, our insurance covered the cost of
replacement and several months later we were supposedly back in business. We
would have loved to have gone camping during this time period but we couldn’t.
Western Camper brings up another event that I failed to
mention in my first letter. This whole
debacle has gone on for so long that I had forgotten that while our camper was
living in their lot, another customer backed into our trailer causing even more
damage. Once again, it was several more
months before it was repaired and we could use it. We
would have loved to have gone camping during this time period but we couldn’t.
On September 1, 2018, we took it out and as we were driving,
we noticed weather stripping flapping on the top of the camper. This was the same weather stripping that had
been replaced only a few months before by Western Camper. In order to continue our camping trip we
pulled over and duct taped it. Again it rained and we took a video of water
dripping through the canvas, onto the bed and floor. Again, we took it to Western Camper to be
repaired. These were the same repairs
that were previously done, because of the supposed hole. Exact same bed, same canvas, same spot. Once again, the repairs took several
months. We would have loved to have gone camping during this time period but we
couldn’t.
We expressed our frustration with Western Camper and let
them know that this was unacceptable.
They wanted to fix everything for us so that we’d be happy. We took the camper in and walked through
EVERYTHING. We picked it up on January
9, 2019 after 4 months. We would have loved to have gone camping
during this time period but we couldn’t.
My husband became ill during Christmas of 2018 and was forced to
have surgery, so we were unable to go anywhere and had not taken the camper out
until May 30, 2019. Upon arrival, we got
the water hooked up and turned on and it was not even connected under the
sink. Western Camper’s assertion that
this could have “vibrated” lose is absurd.
We spent 20 minutes trying to screw the thing back into place so that we
could use water that weekend. It was
impossible. This isn’t a part that can
vibrate lose if it’s installed correctly.
When we plugged the fan/light into the hole on the bed (same bed that’s
been “fixed” 4 times) it didn’t work and when I pulled the plug out sawdust
fell all over the ground. How did this
happen? And one final time, it rained,
and surprise, it leaked in both beds that we had open.
I am not asking that any more repairs be done to this
camper. Not only do we believe this is
an incredibly poorly built trailer, we have no faith that Western Camper can
get it back to a usable condition we’d be satisfied with. That was what was supposed to happen last
time it was in their shop for several months.
Again, we are tired of being held hostage by what is an
issue between Western Camper and Forest River.
Western Camper needs to refund our money or provide us with a trade-in
value for what we spent so we can get a different camper. We have been extremely understanding and
patient for the last two years, but we are no longer willing to watch our
investment rot away with continued water damage due to poor construction. We have remained in contact with our lawyer
and if we do not get a suitable reimbursement, we will proceed with a lawsuit
in the very near term.
As you and I have discussed on the phone, you know that I have forwarded your complaints to Forest River, the manufacturer of your camper. Forest River has responded to me stating there are multiple departments involved researching your issues. I am waiting on the manufacturer to respond to me so I can keep you updated with the progress. You and I discussed this on the phone two days ago.
I apologize for the delay, but as soon as I hear something, I will be sure to contact you.