Dealer RV Americare Extended Warranty thoughts

[tjwoods1]

Our dealer is offering a 7 year RV American Platinum package for $3,299 and / or a 5 year Americare Microbe and Exterior Paint and Fabric package for $1,899. Has anyone had experience with these or thoughts as to whether it is worth it? Our other Airstreams (that we had sold) had none of these and we didn't have any major problems ... at least nothing in the $3,000 or $1,000 range. We are purchasing a new 2025 20FB and there is newer technology (Lithium Batteries, 12v Fridge, 200w solar) and wonder if it is worth it. Sounds expensive but I thought I'd ask.

[BGClassic]

At first glance, I think it's a ripoff. You will get a three year warranty, not on everything, of course, but it covers enough. We made two trips to Jackson Center for free warranty repairs.

What exterior paint and fabric? The awnings? I'd have to go through the contract with a fine-tooth comb. I just don't like these warranties.

We have the Coach-Net three year roadside coverage provided by Airstream, now expiring, and we never got anything out of it. I would just put the money in the bank.

I hope others chime in here. Good luck.

[Ginophiles]

Check with Good Sam and other RV sites. On our previous trailer, the dealer offered a warranty for around $3k. Just off the top of my head I thought Good Sam had quoted us $1200 while doing research, so I threw that number out. The dealer immediately said, " I can do that". From $3k to $1200 just on what I thought I remembered. So, then we looked up the saved quote, it was $850. When we showed the dealer that, he said "OK".

There appears to be huge mark up on extended warranties. I would assume that includes the ones from Good Sam, but hey we went from $3k to $850 in a matter of minutes.

That trailer was a Heartland with several slideouts, the seals of which needed replacing, so it was a wash on the $850 warranty.

[jcl]

Whether or not it is worth it is your call, but you should be clear on what you mean by “worth it”

You should never expect to get more problems paid for than what you paid for the insurance. It is like any other insurance policy in that if payouts were more than premiums then the insurer would go out of business. They have to make a profit, when they average it out over the policies sold.

What you are purchasing is a potential reduction in the risk of cash outlays. If you can afford to do repairs when they are required then you should skip it. If you don’t have the cash flow for random expenses then it may be useful, but you pay for that risk mitigation.

For any dealer, extended warranties are a high margin product. We won’t buy them, on any product.

[sfranklin]

Most ext warranties for Airstream trailers are a total joke. You get a 3 year warranty (which also has a LOT more limitations that it used to), but I voted with my wallet. Airstream dealer tried real hard to get me to sign up for the extended warranty and I said no. He lowered the price, I still said no. He wasn't happy with me at all.

[Wazbro]

Check the fine print on the warranty, some of the dealer offered ones require expensive annual maintenance checkups, just those may cost more then anything you get them to cover.

[SlowPokePete]

I would put the money in the bank and rely on the regular "comes with" Airstream warranty.

When something breaks or you need to have work done, take if from the money saved on the warranty. Understanding that the amount you use your Airstream will likely impact the potential for things to break, wear out, need attention. But that savings seems like it could go a long way to paying for that stuff.

We use our Airstream less than I think many, 2-3 trips per year of a week or two each. So far in an approximate 500 mile radius, partially because we like being here where we live, but also relying on an 18 year old truck not best suited in my opinion for pushing limits on mountainous routes. It is also in covered storage.

But, in our 4 years of ownership, bought used a year old from Colonial, we have not incurred that level of expense.

SPP

[jeffb831]

Hard pass on that. Put the $5000 in an account and self-fund any repairs. Add $100 or so every month and it'll grow while still allowing you to pay for items such as tires, axle maintenance, etc...

[kb0zke]

I agree with Jeff. We bought a similar policy when we bought the previous SOB. Never needed it. Fortunately we were able to cancel it when we traded that trailer in on the Airstream. The dealer who sold us the Airstream offered a policy, but didn't work very hard at selling it to us. He also reminded us that we could cancel the policy on the SOB and get some of our money back.


FWIW, we traded trailers in December, and I started the process of getting the refund in January. The check just came this week. Most of that delay was because Holiday World of Las Cruces, the dealer who sold us the SOB, lost the paperwork. They told us it would take 12 weeks for the refund, so I waited 12 weeks and then called them. We had to start over again, and this time got the refund is about three weeks.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Car, truck, boat, house, RV, whatever ....

Aftermarket ( = not from the folks who made the item ....) warranties are pretty much worthless to you and 100% profit to the floks selling it to you.

Bob

[3OnOurWay]

Agreed. Why else would sales push them so hard if they were a benefit to you.
Warranty Company has to collect payments on 60+% of policies and pay out repairs on only 30+% of policies for this to make sense as a profitable business.

Don’t get me wrong we almost signed up for GSE this past month… but when they began calling / emailing twice a day I realized this was pure income profit to Good Sam.

[camping101]

Most are 5 year extended periods for that price so at 7 years it makes it a little more reasonable. The airstream warranty has many limitations, including all the appliances and AC(s) only covered for one year. As others have commented it is a personal choice based on risk tolerance. I would certainly try to negotiate the price down some if you’d like to have the peace of mind that comes with the extension. My thoughts on the exterior protection and fabric protection is those are a waste of money and not needed.

[mythbuster88]

Rip off.

Brand new trailer.

Use your factory warranty for the first year.

[akarakos]

RV One, now called Blue Compass, offered something similar on my 3rd Airstream. It's a 2028, 28ft International, RBT. I consider the Microbe and Exterior Paint on an Aluminum Airstream to be ridiculous. Buy the way, the fabric package is also sprayed on like Scotchgard. If you want... you can purchase the name brand and do it yourself. This warranty stuff is a money maker for the dealer pedaled by the Finance person you sit down with. You are not likely to ever see it used. Save your money and check out the Custom curtain options you can buy online via the Airstream Supply Company at Jackson Center, OH.

[ROBERT CROSS]

We used the cost of the extended warranty we didn't buy as the down payment for "Cloudsplitter".
Werked pretty good I tink.

Bob
🇺🇸

[KK4YZ]

We had a service plan “included “ when we bought our trailer. Completely worthless. They will look for very creative ways to deny coverage.

Run away and save your money.

Just for entertainment purposes I’ll give you an example:

In the contract there’s an exclusion for “latches, knobs & handles” which I think would mean cabinet hardware. One of the items they refused to pay for was the fresh water drain valve because it had a “handle “. That wasn’t the only thing. That warranty wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on.

[kingcharles]

Save your money. Most dealer extended warranty policies are just another way dealers get in your wallet and are usually very limited on coverage.