Brand New TM16 With Repeated Warranty and Electrical Problems

[grizzly.6]

Not sure about this thing. Brand new and haven’t even got to use it yet. Nothing but problems so far.

 

[Dan3023]

What issues are you having?

 

[Kidkraz]

Didn’t the seller go over the unit with you? As Dan asked, what is the issue? Even an issue specific to that specific unit, we can help some.

 

[grizzly.6]

Long list of problems, some of them have been fixed by TM but I had to tow it over 3K miles round trip to get it done.
Day one at the dealer in Utah the water heater wouldn’t work, cabinet was about to fall off the wall, kept blowing fuses in panel. Was told by TM I could get these issues fixed at my local certified rv repair shop. Got it home and discovered the brake shoes were non existent, literally worn completely to the steel. Turns out the brake away was partially pulled and had engaged the brakes at some point before I took possession of the trailer. TM sent me new brakes and I installed them.
First tain we had flooded the cross through storage compartment.
Awnings were mounted crooked and pinched wires shorting out.
Converter wouldn’t not charge the battery, lights flickered and dimmed like it was possessed.
With all these issues TM wanted the trailer back and wouldn’t let my local shop fix it. On the trip there the cabin flooded with water from all the rain and road spay, nearly 1/2” of water on the floor. So between travel time and fuel for the trip and lost time from work to bring it there and back I’m into this thing about $7 and nearly 4K miles on it and haven’t even used it yet. Still fixing things that were supposed to be repaired along with new issues to this day. At least TM got me a hotel room for the week I was there. To their credit they did completely re- wire it, re- plumb it, swapped out the converter/charger, replaced/repaired the awnings and hopefully sealed the entire trailer, I hope. Also fixed a lot of the trim-work that had fallen off on the trip home from the dealer and fixed the fold down bunk that was falling apart. I could go on for some time about the issues Ive had with it but I think you get the point. I’m wishing I had just left this thing the the dealer and drove away at this point. But I’m also hoping it will change my mind the first time I actually get to use it after all this work.

 

[grizzly.6]

Didn’t the seller go over the unit with you? As Dan asked, what is the issue? Even an issue specific to that specific unit, we can help some.

Yes sir, they did. But the very first one they were going to go over with me had a cabinet hanging (literally swinging) from the ceiling. This was after the PDI. I left with the upgraded one with the only issue being the water heater not working with the idea of my local shop fixing it on warranty when I got home. All other issues weren’t discovered till after I got it home.

 

[grizzly.6]

I guess one of the reasons I posted this is to see if any other TM16 owners had had any of these issues or if I was just lucky. Problem is, I can’t find any other TM16 owners yet. Not in any online forums or even on youtube. Lots of reviews on new trailers but no owners that have used one yet. It’s strange as they’re not that new, they’ve been making this for a couple of years now, would have thought I’d find another owner by now.

 

[wbmiller3]

Wow, that's horrific.

 

[grizzly.6]

It seems to be ok now, not sure what happened to this trailer or where it’s been. Guess I was just the lucky guy to get the one that should have never got out of the factory, should never have passed a QA inspection. As long as it doesn’t leak anymore I think I’m going to like it.

 

[larsdennert]

Sounds like you bought it used from a non TM dealer. It's tough when you're new to RVs trying to get oriented to what things to check on and test when buying. However TM will make it right if it's under warranty and you'll enjoy it for years to come. Ours is over 20 years old.

 

[grizzly.6]

Sounds like you bought it used from a non TM dealer. It's tough when you're new to RVs trying to get oriented to what things to check on and test when buying. However TM will make it right if it's under warranty and you'll enjoy it for years to come. Ours is over 20 years old.

That’s the part that irritates me so much, this is a brand new trailer off of an authorized dealers lot. I’m far from being new to rv’s, I’ve just never purchased a brand new rv before. I’ve purchased used rv in better operating condition than this was in.
Just saying, even on a brand new trailer you need to look it over as if it is a used unit. I didn’t. Didn’t think Id have to on a new one.
All that being said, I still like the trailer and now that Ive got the kinks about worked out of it. Looking forward to getting it out in the woods.

 

[grizzly.6]

Don’t get ne wrong, I like the trailer, and TM did a LOT of repairs under warranty. Even got a motel for me for the week they worked on it. Good friendly people. I just wish it didn’t cost me $5000 in lost wages due to missed work, another $1000+ in fuel and over three thousand miles on my truck and NEW trailer.

 

[Shane826]

Not to be contrary but if you’re out $6k wouldn’t it have been more cost effective to ship the trailer? I bet there are a lot of RV haulers who deadhead back towards Indiana who would have gladly detoured through South Dakota to make some money hauling your trailer.

 

[grizzly.6]

Not to be contrary but if you’re out $6k wouldn’t it have been more cost effective to ship the trailer? I bet there are a lot of RV haulers who deadhead back towards Indiana who would have gladly detoured through South Dakota to make some money hauling your trailer.

Your probably right, I could have found someone to tow it out there. But I kinda think I needed to be there to show and explain what was wrong. There was so much wrong that a list wasn’t going to cut it. That and some of the issues weren’t on the list as they were discovered on the way there. I had no idea it was leaking that bad till I stopped for the first night of rest, opened the door to a flooded trailer. Standing water 1/4”-1/2” deep in the cabin.

 

[grizzly.6]

Might get to use this thing yet. Just about finished installing my solar system. Waiting on a new solar charge controller. The one it came with had the positive and negative from the battery wire backwards as well as the polarity for the solar panels. Damaged the unit as soon as I connected the panels to it.

 

[grizzly.6]

Thought I mihht just get to use this thing. Finished solar, switched to lithium battery so I can keep this dam fridge running more then a day. Even added a dc-dc charger so I can charge from my tow rig. Was working fine up to a couple of days ago. Thought I was going to get it out for the holiday weekend, even started loading things up in it. Now there’s no lights, water pump, water heater or awnings. It’s back to blowing the main fuse again, furnace, jack, and fridge still work but I cant keep a fuse in the main again. Wondering if it’s the go power control panel again. Think I’m about fed up with this thing. I have been having to fix things since the day I bought it and Im done with it, wish I had never seen this thing, worst experience with a new trailer ever.

 

[grizzly.6]

Thought I might just get to use this thing. Finished solar, switched to lithium battery so I can keep this dam fridge running more then a day. Even added a dc-dc charger so I can charge from my tow rig. Was working fine up to a couple of days ago. Thought I was going to get it out for the holiday weekend, even started loading things up in it. Now there’s no lights, water pump, water heater or awningsIt’s back to blowing the main fuse again, furnace, jack, and fridge still work but I cant keep a fuse in the main again. Wondering if it’s the go power control panel again. Think I’m about fed up with this thing. I have been having to fix things since the day I bought it and Im done with it, wish I had never seen this thing, worst experience with a new trailer ever.