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Post by hihosilver on Jan 18, 2019 18:56:13 GMT -5
Heads up! Vent Covers failing. Took the 2018, 241RLK, in for it's annual check on Jan 9th. Dealer called to say tech found the front vent cover was broken. They had a replacement in stock. I told him to replace it. When picking up the trailer, the parts guy, said the cover was obliterated. They charged me $19.99 for the cover and 60.00 labor to replace it.
It had been raining for a few days prior to the appointment and I drove through some heavy rain on the way to the dealer. There was no evidence of water entering the trailer as the bed directly below the broken cover was dry. Picked up the trailer without inspecting the replaced cover and brought it home. Upon inspecting the cover from inside the trailer I noticed the plastic surround inside was deformed on the corners. It appeared the screws were tightened too much and caused the plastic to warp. Not sure that piece would even have to be removed to replace the cover, so maybe I just did not notice the warping in the nine months. I removed the inside piece and tried to straighten out corners. Noticed 2 small cracks in the plastic where the screws penetrated the housing, further indicating the screws were too tight. Reinstalled the piece, better but not really straight as it souled be. Jan 14th went to do some maintenance, noticed that the cover over the powered vent in the bathroom had a hole in it! Upon inspection from on top of the roof there was no indication of anything striking the cover but when I ran my finger over the surface of the cover the smoke colored plastic turned a powdery white. One 1X2 inch piece and several small pieces of the cover laying on the screen inside the vent. It appears the cover is crystalizing? I put some duct tape over the hole as it was calling for rain. Upon returning the next day I discovered that duct tape is not water proof!! While there was no water dripping from the cover I could see beads of water forming on the underside of the tape. I used a plastic trash bag to recover the vent and secured it with more duct tape. It is still raining 2 days later.
Questions: Is it common for the covers to fail this quickly? Should the cover have been covered under warranty? The second cover appears to be self destructing just from driving down the road! I have been very fortunate so far in that there has been now water intrusion into the trailer.
Lessons learned. Always inspect repair work before leaving dealer. Duct tape is not water proof!!
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Post by Chuck on Jan 19, 2019 11:49:49 GMT -5
hihosilver I'm see that Kz connects are warranted for two years so your vent should have been covered... But saying this if your trailer is still under warranty which it should be if it's only a year old, I would call an ask
the dealer why you were charged for the repair an the workmanship was not up to par ... I would also tell them
that your other vent is failing as well an need to be replaced ...
If they say your warranty dozen't cover vents I would call Kz customer service an ask the same question an if they say your vents are covered under warranty which I believe they are I would tell them that you
were charged for such an would they notify your selling dealer to refund your money ...
The last thing is the dealer may play dum an say a tree branch had hit it or some object other than a defect in the product thus not covered under warranty ... If in fact this is true then you are on the hook for the vent cover, but if not true then I would let them know in no why did anything hit the vent an you want your money back an the vent fixed correctly along with the other vent ... The other vent being the way it is may be your saving grace since it is going bad an thus proving there may have been a bad run on the plastic vents when yours was made ...
From what I have seen in the past most vents last a number of years, on our last trailer I replaced all of ours after 9 years, some needed it other not ....
Good Luck 
Chuck
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Post by hihosilver on Jan 19, 2019 16:57:39 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, I am checking with the dealer, I will report on how this turns out.
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Post by Chuck on Jan 20, 2019 12:28:12 GMT -5
hihosilver Per their web page Kz states that connects are warranted for two years, thus I made the statement... But I'd bet that they assumed you hit a branch or something to break your vent an that's why they charged you... As stated with the other vent going bad this may prove there is a problem ... Look forward to what the dealer has to say Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by laknox on Jan 21, 2019 10:05:59 GMT -5
I noticed that the screen on my bedroom vent was sagging down on one corner and, when I tried putting it back up, several of the small tabs that hold it in place broke off. The entire cove insert is starting to degrade. Going to have to take it in, I guess. Since it's something I can easily replace, how easy is KZ to work with on a DIY warranty part?
Lyle
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caveman521
Newbie RV’er
Currently in Houston, TX
Posts: 19
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Post by caveman521 on Jan 21, 2019 13:53:30 GMT -5
hihosilver,
I cannot comment on the dealer charging for the repairs or warranties and such, but the vent covers do degrade quicker than you would suspect.
I have had to replace the covers on several 5th wheels and also my tool trailers ever few years or so, the UV rays when parked in the sun make them super brittle and prone to failure at anytime.
For what its worth they only cost 15-25 depending on the style and color and can be changed in about 10-20 minutes depending how hands on you are.
Cave
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Post by Edd505 on Jan 25, 2019 21:57:55 GMT -5
Was the crack from driving with it open?
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Post by hihosilver on Jan 26, 2019 23:23:03 GMT -5
No the white front vent was never open while driving. I have an appointment scheduled. I went to take pics for the parts guy. While taking pictures of the bathroom vent lid, which is smoke colored, I noticed there were broken pieces from the front, white vent, on the screen and the broken piece of the smoke colored vent??? The Bathroom, smoke colored vent, was not broken when it was at the dealer. How did the pieces from the white vent get inside? The smoke colored vent is clearly deteriorating. It is rough and if I run my finger over it, it turns white. Heng Industries is the manufacturer. My appointment is Feb 4th.
The parts guy said I could replace the vent myself. If the part is not covered by warranty then I will purchase and replace on my own.
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Post by mrcamper on Jan 31, 2019 15:21:00 GMT -5
Both vents simultaneous ! It looks like a bad product from the vendor, whoever KZ gets them from. Really, two of them doing the same thing and it looks like the same time. I'd be asking some questions !
mr camper
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Post by hihosilver on Feb 13, 2019 18:15:29 GMT -5
Well, According to my dealer, vent covers are only covered for 90 days. I asked for and received a copy of the 2yr Limited Warranty. The Exclusions from Warranty lists 14 exclusion areas including "(5) the effects of alteration, tampering, mishandling, neglect, abuse, misuse, weather, acts of nature, acts of God, or corrosive atmospheres that promote rusting. oxidation, or pitting;" Interestingly "(14) components that are warranted by another manufacturer [the warranty provided by a component manufacturer is the sole responsibility of that manufacturer, and KZRV does not warrant those components. Please refer to the warranties issued by the component manufacturers for the terms and conditions of such Warranties]." is inn direct conflict with a printed document on the www.KZ-RV.com website. TR2ue Year Limited Warranty " Take a closer look at K_Z's hitch to bumper 24-month limiter Warranty. If the component manufacturer's warranty terminates prior to the K-Z coverage period, K-Z's umbrella of protection covers it. When K-Z says 24 months, we mean it!" The dealer did repair a sticking up/down switch for the tongue jack, repaired a leaking strainer gasket on the rear side of the sink, corrected a cracked inside housing on the bedroom vent, (reinstalled incorrectly when front vent was replaced). They replaced the bathroom vent lid and did remove the plastic pieces from the bathroom vent and the front vent that were on the screen. They had no ideas on how pieces from the front vent got inside the bathroom vent. I noticed some of the sealant along the front roof seam was coming loose. They inspected and recommended a washing and reseal at the cost of 222.06. Apparently sealant is only covered for 90 days also. Time to contact K-Z customer service and see what they say. |
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Post by Chuck on Feb 14, 2019 11:57:27 GMT -5
hihosilver I seen the Kz techs now two years in a row at the rally's seal or inspect every roof, they even handed us an tube or two of sealant at no charge, I will say that our dealer charged us $80 to seal our front an rear cap the 1st year we had our trailer ... This past year I complained about such an they stated that they would reseal our roof at no charge if needed, so I believe it's up to the dealer ... On the washing of your trailer, the cheapest I have seen is $2.00 a foot without waxing your trailer ... I have also see locally $450.00 for a wash and wax on motor homes an 5th wheels so I think again it's all in where you get things done ... Sealing your roof is not hard, clear off the old sealant an replace it with new, there are two types of sealant, leveling an non leveling, you use leveling on the flat parts of the roof an non leveling on the corners ... You can find sealant just about any RV dealer or on the internet if you want to do it yourself ... Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by jagnpackfan on Feb 21, 2019 9:39:39 GMT -5
Inspected and washed the entire trailer (20018 241RLK) the other day. Paid extra attention to the vent covers and ours look fine. Getting ready to wax it today.
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Post by lynnmor on Feb 21, 2019 10:15:50 GMT -5
Inspected and washed the entire trailer (20018 241RLK) the other day. Paid extra attention to the vent covers and ours look fine. Getting ready to wax it today. What color is you vent? Perhaps the problem is mostly with the smoke colored vents. If anyone had very early failures with a white vent, please chime in. Yes, they all fail eventually, so using a vent cover, whole trailer cover or indoor storage should greatly increase life. |
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Post by jagnpackfan on Feb 21, 2019 17:32:02 GMT -5
Inspected and washed the entire trailer (20018 241RLK) the other day. Paid extra attention to the vent covers and ours look fine. Getting ready to wax it today. What color is you vent? Perhaps the problem is mostly with the smoke colored vents. If anyone had very early failures with a white vent, please chime in. Yes, they all fail eventually, so using a vent cover, whole trailer cover or indoor storage should greatly increase life. Ours are white. We live in Florida and the whole trailer is kept under a metal building.
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 21, 2019 22:32:03 GMT -5
What color is you vent? Perhaps the problem is mostly with the smoke colored vents. If anyone had very early failures with a white vent, please chime in. Yes, they all fail eventually, so using a vent cover, whole trailer cover or indoor storage should greatly increase life. Traveling with a buddy and all 3 of his white have gotten brittle on a 7 year old class A. He full times so is rarely in the shade. |
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