Dealer "won't touch" a converted Promaster

6295 Views 29 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Uvan, 10 mo ago

shenandoah_rambler

Discussion Starter · Sep 1, 2021

I just had a rather jarring conversation with a service advisor at a Ram service center in the San Francisco bay area. I need a minor brake line repair, and as soon as I mentioned "camper" this guy cut me off with a blunt (rude, honestly) "we don't work on RVs, we won't touch them".

I explained that this was a 2020 Promaster and while this would not be a warrantee repair, I expected the dealerships / service centers to be able to do work on the vehicle. He cut me off and said "we won't work on them". I asked him if that meant I had a 40k pile of scrap metal since a dealer won't work on it, and he said "I don't know but we won't touch an RV or camper".

Has anyone else had this experience? Did I just happen to get someone having a bad day or is this really Ram's policy?

Reactions: 1

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h1k3rb

· #2 · Sep 1, 2021 (Edited)

It's not RAM, just the dealer. Often the conversion is 'in the way' and greatly complicates things, especially any kind of electrical problem. I'm surprised at the refusal to work on brakes but who knows what some RV builders mess with and tap into. The dealer has likely had a number of instances where a conversion tied up a mechanic waaaay too long (causing service delays for regular customers, etc) so just made a blanket policy of banning all campers to avoid the frustration.

Also, but maybe not the case there, not all RAM dealers can service Promasters due to size restrictions.

Reactions: 1

CarKeys

· #3 · Sep 1, 2021

Dealership can not guarantee work provided by them if the vehicle has been altered .
It's a common practice , which I fully agree with . Only the builder of the van knows ............ " what lies beneath " ........

shenandoah_rambler

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 1, 2021

h1k3rb said:
It's not RAM, just the dealer. Often the conversion is 'in the way' and greatly complicates things, especially any kind of electrical problem. I'm surprised at the refusal to work on brakes but who knows what some RV builders mess with and tap into. The dealer has likely had a number of instances where a conversion tied up a mechanic waaaay too long (causing service delays for regular customers, etc) so just made a blanket policy of banning all campers to avoid the frustration.

Also, but maybe not the case there, not all RAM dealers can service Promasters due to size restrictions.

Great info, thank you.

shenandoah_rambler

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 1, 2021

CarKeys said:
Dealership can not guarantee work provided by them if the vehicle has been altered .
It's a common practice , which I fully agree with . Only the builder of the van knows ............ " what lies beneath " ........

It sounds like you're in the same boat, but agree with dealers refusal. So where do you have your 2019 Promaster repaired if not the dealer?

keeponvaning

· #6 · Sep 1, 2021

Just find a new dealer! don’t waste a second more on them. Actually unless it’s warranty work you want to avoid all dealers at any cost. If the conversion work had nothing to do with the warranty work tell them to * ** and complain to ram about them

Reactions: 2

CarKeys

· #7 · Sep 1, 2021

shenandoah_rambler said:
It sounds like you're in the same boat, but agree with dealers refusal. So where do you have your 2019 Promaster repaired if not the dealer?

To clarify my conversion is office/ workshop , less evasive on stock van than a RV build .

Because I value my time, my sanity and being lied to , I would rather pay out of pocket than have warranty work completed by the dealership . ( My past experiences with Transit's and Ford dealers speaks volumes ).

I have independent shop work on my van , who actually will diagnosed first .

When you have appointment with indi shop , chances are it will be worked on and repaired in the amount of time labor guide Recommends.

Dealerships ( not all ) hire parts replacers not mechanics .

jracca

· #8 · Sep 1, 2021

What's next, we won't work on one with racks of plumbing gear, or that has been modified for an electrician?

What about all the package racks that amazon has in theirs? This is an absurd position for a vehicle that is almost always modified in some way. Install a partition, no service? put down non slip carpet, no service?

One option they sell with the vehicle is the upfitter kit! They also sell a kit to install rear air and rear heat, but if you use it they won't service the vehicle? Preposterous.

Find a different dealer for warranty work.
Find someone even better if its out of warranty, the dealer is almost always more expensive than an independent shop.

Reactions: 1

diytech

· #9 · Sep 1, 2021 (Edited)

Another thing to consider is that if/when it comes time to sell your DIY converted van, the value can depend on providing usable documentation of what has been added, especially if those things require regular maintenance or repair, or prevent easy access to vehicle maintenance areas. This is really important with electrical wiring and modifications to vehicle wiring. I have a buddy who actually found a business niche in un-doing badly done van conversions to enable the owners to move forward.

Reactions: 1

DewaltDisney

· #10 · Sep 2, 2021

Are you positive that it was the conversion that made them say, "No way"? Not every Ram dealer is able to work on vans (converted or stock). And btw, if you're looking for an absolutely terrible dealer that "works" on vans, Stevens Creek Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram is your go-to choice. Long story, but 5 weeks of downtime on a warranty transmission fix, with headaches just about every step of the way.

Reactions: 1

Bromaster5

· #11 · Sep 2, 2021

shenandoah_rambler said:
I just had a rather jarring conversation with a service advisor at a Ram service center in the San Francisco bay area. I need a minor brake line repair, and as soon as I mentioned "camper" this guy cut me off with a blunt (rude, honestly) "we don't work on RVs, we won't touch them".

I explained that this was a 2020 Promaster and while this would not be a warrantee repair, I expected the dealerships / service centers to be able to do work on the vehicle. He cut me off and said "we won't work on them". I asked him if that meant I had a 40k pile of scrap metal since a dealer won't work on it, and he said "I don't know but we won't touch an RV or camper".

Has anyone else had this experience? Did I just happen to get someone having a bad day or is this really Ram's policy?

Cant touch this,, don't touch this.

bcblues

· #12 · Sep 2, 2021

It was probably just that dealer. Many dealers pay their mechanics "Book Rate" and not hourly. So if a mechanic got stuck removing and replacing a bunch of "RV/camper stuff", he probably just said: "Not again!"

Keep looking. And don't mention camper/rv, unless it was built by a camper/rv maker.

jbourne48

· #13 · Sep 2, 2021

I recently had my partially built van in for for a couple items under warranty and they had no issues with the build. At the time I had spray foam insulation, flooring, some wall paneling, two windows, roof fan, and solar panels with wires coming through the ceiling. I had a check engine light for radiator fans (they replaced the motor and the wire harness) and a glitchy backup camera (they replaced the camera unit). I kept insulation out of any cavities that might potentially need access for wiring/drainage for this reason.

Reactions: 1

supermoocow

· #14 · Sep 2, 2021

Find a different dealer, the Ram dealer in Boulder almost always has several converted PMs in their work bays.

stevegoldfield

· #15 · Sep 8, 2021

shenandoah_rambler said:
I just had a rather jarring conversation with a service advisor at a Ram service center in the San Francisco bay area. I need a minor brake line repair, and as soon as I mentioned "camper" this guy cut me off with a blunt (rude, honestly) "we don't work on RVs, we won't touch them".

I explained that this was a 2020 Promaster and while this would not be a warrantee repair, I expected the dealerships / service centers to be able to do work on the vehicle. He cut me off and said "we won't work on them". I asked him if that meant I had a 40k pile of scrap metal since a dealer won't work on it, and he said "I don't know but we won't touch an RV or camper".

Has anyone else had this experience? Did I just happen to get someone having a bad day or is this really Ram's policy?

Take it to San Leandro Dodge, RAM, etc. I have taken my RV built on a Promaster there a few times. They don't blink an eye. And they are very experienced. They service Amazon, UPS, and other large fleets that use Promasters. It's right next to I-880 at the Marina exit. They did two recalls and a couple of oil changes for me.

eaklander

· #16 · Sep 9, 2021

And I have been using Hilltop Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram at 3291 Auto Plaza Drive in Richmond. Maybe this location is closer to you than the San Leandro dealership. I've gotten great service there. And yes, it's more expensive than an independent shop, but I've haven't had any luck finding an independent in the area that can handle larger vehicles like vans.

I'll check out Don's Tire Shop at 820 Gilman St in Berkeley in November when I'll need an oil change and new brake fluid. Has anyone else participating in this discussion used or looked into Don's for service?

ThomD

· #17 · Sep 9, 2021 (Edited)

eaklander said:
And I have been using Hilltop Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram at 3291 Auto Plaza Drive in Richmond. Maybe this location is closer to you than the San Leandro dealership. I've gotten great service there. And yes, it's more expensive than an independent shop, but I've haven't had any luck finding an independent in the area that can handle larger vehicles like vans.

I'll check out Don's Tire Shop at 820 Gilman St in Berkeley in November when I'll need an oil change and new brake fluid. Has anyone else participating in this discussion used or looked into Don's for service?

Hilltop did my recall work but said they would NOT put any van on a lift if it had tanks mounted below. I don't, so it didn't make a difference to me.

eaklander

· #18 · Sep 9, 2021

ThomD said:
Hilltop did my recall work but said they would put any van on a lift if it had tanks mounted below. I don't, so it didn't make a difference to me.

ThomD, I assume you meant to say, "but said they would NOT put any van on a lift..."

Yeah, my DIY conversion is pretty simple. Definitely no tanks underneath.

Reactions: 1

HippieGypsy

· #19 · Sep 9, 2021

eaklander said:
Has anyone else participating in this discussion used or looked into Don's for service?

I used to take my father-in-law's Toyota to Don's for general service. They are honest and reliable, a bit spendy but what isn't in Berkeley? I also used them for the installation of a set of tires for the PM, their price for that was very reasonable and they got the work done fast. So all told I think they are a good shop but I can't speak to any in depth PM expertise. If you go there walk over to Picante half a block away on 6th for great Mexican food.

Reactions: 1

ThomD

· #20 · Sep 9, 2021

eaklander said:
ThomD, I assume you meant to say, "but said they would NOT put any van on a lift..."

Yeah, my DIY conversion is pretty simple. Definitely no tanks underneath.

Thanks. fixed.

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