Just thought we would drop in and say hello. We have sold our business of 15 years and a few properties and now are setting from Wodonga Vic to see our great country.
If I have a question do I ask it here now or start a new thread ?
Welcome from us as well Chris and Michelle.I am sure you will enjoy the forum and all it has to offer. As Dougwe said ask any question as there is always someone on here that will give you the info you require.Alan
Welcome from here as well - read all the forums, some good information is posted - and there is no need to just stick to the one forum, if the information is relevant - check it out - you will find your way around - good luck with your travelling, it is a wonderful life!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Hi Chris and Michelle, We hope you are enjoying your travels so far. What model Avida did you end up purchasing and what are your thoughts to date. A lot of people are reluctant to discuss issues they have had with their purchase hoping to get a reasonable price for it when it is sold. To be fair to prospective purchasers we believe people need to know when a manufacturer fails to build a product that is fit for purpose or provides unacceptable after sales service. We purchased a 2014 Avida Longreach and unfortunately we have found that they have had serious suspension, steering and slideout issues with the Longreach for the past 8 years. We have had to address all of these issues at our own expense. After sales service on expensive items is non-existent . They totally ignore any requests knowing that owners will eventually have new suspension etc... installed to stop the motorhome they have paid so much for, self destructing. My recommendation is that if you are seriously thinking of buying an Avida product, pay the $50.00 to join the WRV club (Winnebago RV Club). It is basically a closed forum, hidden from the general public. There are so many examples of poor service and frustrated owners here that you will have a better understanding of the way purchasers are treated. Then make your decision.....
We bought an Esperance and had problems all the way around Australia. Could they fix them past Perth ? No. Wait till Darwin they said. Could they fix them in Darwin ? No wait till Townsville they said. I got my issues finally sorted out in Cairns as I was selling it and needed them all fixed.
Below is some of the issues.
Needed a wheel alignment in Port Headland after only 12000klms, couldn't do it there and had to have in done in Broome. Scrubbed out the 2 front tyres so put on the spare and scrubbed it out. Fixed the issue again in Cairns and got 3 new tyres out of them.
Board lights keep showing grey water problem.
Toilet leaking
BBQ lock adjustment
Key Barrel outside
Bathroom door: Put screws back in frame
Awning ajar: The barrel mounts are above robe track causing barrel to sit too high.
Slide out noise at the back: when believe it is when the box slides out over centre it drops a little and this causing the clunk.
There was plenty more and my advice is DONT buy brand new, buy something 12 months old with all the ISSUES ironed out as to not interfere with the time of your life you should be having !
We bought an Esperance and had problems all the way around Australia. Could they fix them past Perth ? No. Wait till Darwin they said. Could they fix them in Darwin ? No wait till Townsville they said. I got my issues finally sorted out in Cairns as I was selling it and needed them all fixed.
Below is some of the issues.
Needed a wheel alignment in Port Headland after only 12000klms, couldn't do it there and had to have in done in Broome. Scrubbed out the 2 front tyres so put on the spare and scrubbed it out. Fixed the issue again in Cairns and got 3 new tyres out of them.
Board lights keep showing grey water problem.
Toilet leaking
BBQ lock adjustment
Key Barrel outside
Bathroom door: Put screws back in frame
Awning ajar: The barrel mounts are above robe track causing barrel to sit too high.
Slide out noise at the back: when believe it is when the box slides out over centre it drops a little and this causing the clunk.
There was plenty more and my advice is DONT buy brand new, buy something 12 months old with all the ISSUES ironed out as to not interfere with the time of your life you should be having !
Hi Chris and Michelle,
Your story is so common. I am not exaggerating when I say that in all of my travels I have not met an Avida or Winnabago owner that has not totally agreed that after sales service is appalling. The vehicles when they leave the factory have many faults, some minor some major. The company addresses some of the minor ones but leaves the major ones up to the purchaser. They just ignore you until you pay for it yourself.
We bought ours from an owner who had used it for 13 nights. We bought it near Darwin and same story as yours. There was never an agent that could attend to the problems. We had serious suspension and steering issues and the large slideout was about to collapse. We wanted to go home via Qld but were told no agents were trained to work on the slideout. We suggested Victoria. Same story. Had to go back to Emu Plains.
Long long long story short, our motorhome has spent over 40 days at Avida over 4 occasions. They have destroyed the floor of my motorhome while fitting a new slideout roller. They attended to some issues including replacement of air conditioner, and electric hatch and bedroom roof fan. They damaged both doors on 2 separate occasions and my good awning had to be replaced. Still do not know why.
They totally ignored the suspension and steering issues even though lots of people state the same. The suspension is atrocious. You can hear and feel everything being destroyed in the house section with every bump. They refuse to take advise from one of Australia's best known truck suspension companies and continue to supply a truck that is a risk to both drivers and the public.
We decided that we had to do something about it before the motorhome fell apart or we hit a tree or something worse.
The vehicle is now a pleasure to drive no thanks to its manufacturer. We still have major problems with our floor and slideout issues but just like you said we are just now starting to enjoy life in our motorhome. We love life on the road and hoped to have a long relationship with Avida / Winnebago. Like so many others we have met, this will be our first and last purchase for this outfit.
I am absolutely disgusted in Avida/Winnebago's after sales service mainly because there was little to none and me constantly calling them.
I went with them being the Australian built mob and even though they cost more we were sold.
How wrong we were, we too spoke to many an Avida/Winnebago owner who was not at all happy and found that most owners went out of there way to seek out other owners to talk of problems.
We sold ours thankfully in January and have resettled in Port Douglas and will look at traveling again later on in life.
One thing for sure it will not be a new model and it definitely wont be an Avida/Winnebago !
