No Batteries???

[Dennawayne]

Hi, I’m buying a 2022 Caravel and after tax we are in the 90k range. The dealership states the unit will arrive with no batteries unless it was ordered with solar. I’m not ordering solar. Is it really possible to buy such an expensive rig and not get a pair of batteries?? I called Jackson Center and they say all rigs come with batteries. The dealership is emphatic…No Batteries!

Does anyone no for sure?

Thanks Dennis

[GetawA-S]

1- You are the customers.
2- This policy arises from so many customers getting compromised batteries due to the dealer not keeping the trailer plugged in. Background draw and all that...
3- You NEED a battery to operate the brakes if your breakaway switch it activated. Have one before your drive off the lot!!
4- These trailers sell with a 20% profit margin. Your dealer is testing your reasoning skills.
5- There are plenty of A-S dealers out there. Your current one is clearly not one of the best. Are you locked into this deal?
Happy travels!

[GMFL]

Batteries are not included from Airstreams Inc. dealers are about to install batteries at an extra cost.
The back story……
Airstream dealers were notorious for not maintaining batteries while units (back in the old days) sat on the lot. Airstreams would be sold new with batteries that had already been discharged well below there “safe discharge” limit of 50% and left the marinate until they were charged up an sent on their way in the newly purchased trailer. These batteries would live a very short life and would need to be replaced under warranty.
Airstream Inc grew tired of this battery replacement game and made the decision to stop sending batteries from the factory with batteries. Dealers are now the source for batteries, therefore removing the burden from Airstream Inc.

Side note. You will need a battery in the trailer if you are going to pull it off the lot…. Reason. The emergency brake away system. (Trailer brakes if you have a disconnect) operate off the “ house battery”.
My thoughts ( for what it’s worth ). Take batteries with you to the dealer and install them yourself. Cheaper and better choice than getting them from the dealer.

[SuperTrouper]

Hi Dennawayne, All the responders are making sense. If you demand batteries from the dealer, the dealer will plop in the cheapest they can obtain, or, some that have been in the back of the shop for a while discharging into sulfate hell. You might want to take the time before delivery reading up on AGM and lithium batteries in these forums and choose / purchase batteries that will provide what you anticipate you'll need. If you'd rather "wait and see", get a nice set of regular group 24's fresh off the rack at Costco or Autozone and have the dealer pop them in for you. - Brad

[2012FB]

Look Jackson Center states they are delivered with batteries. This is your starting and ending point. Find a new dealer. I have bought one new one from Seattle then Boise and the newest one from Dallas. I live in Denver.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by SuperTrouper

Hi Dennawayne, All the responders are making sense. If you demand batteries from the dealer, the dealer will plop in the cheapest they can obtain, or, some that have been in the back of the shop for a while discharging into sulfate hell. You might want to take the time before delivery reading up on AGM and lithium batteries in these forums and choose / purchase batteries that will provide what you anticipate you'll need. If you'd rather "wait and see", get a nice set of regular group 24's fresh off the rack at Costco or Autozone and have the dealer pop them in for you. - Brad

If you accept buying your own batteries, it will become the norm, extra dealer profit. You already paid for batteries.
My trailer came off a dealer's lot. I'm still using the original Interstate batteries that came with it in 2017. (Interstate Batteries has been sold to a Canadian company, so the Interstate Battery stores are gone.)

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Dennawayne

Hi, I’m buying a 2022 Caravel and after tax we are in the 90k range. The dealership states the unit will arrive with no batteries unless it was ordered with solar. I’m not ordering solar. Is it really possible to buy such an expensive rig and not get a pair of batteries?? I called Jackson Center and they say all rigs come with batteries. The dealership is emphatic…No Batteries!

Does anyone no for sure?

Thanks Dennis

You called JC and they proffered incorrect information...well that's never happened before.

Buy what you determine is best for your requirements and insist they install them as part of the PDI.

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

[Wazbro]

The dealer is lying to you. Batteries are included in the purchase price. It is just that if the trailer doesn't have solar most dealers are too incompetent, lazy and/or cheap to keep the batteries charged until the trailer is sold/picked up by customer. So Jackson Center now requires that putting the batteries in is now part of the "dealer prep" that the dealer charges you for.

Also that "back in the old days" is less then 3 years ago and this practice really isn't necessary on ordered trailers since they wont be on lots that long. So that is some laziness on the part of Jackson Center.

Jackson Center could have also put in a true battery disconnect and informed the dealers to make sure it was off before parking the trailer on their lot.

[Silvr_Bullet]

Following the dealers logic, you should get a battery because you have a DC system.

[Dennawayne]

Well, looks like in Airstream product description for 2020-2021 they actually state that they will no longer supply batteries unless they are being ordered with the solar option. Their thinking is if they send it with the unit then it might not get to the end user fresh. The dealership can’t do the required maintenance to deliver them fresh. Makes sense. What does not make sense is how they get away with it. When you buy new you are spending a lot of money, so you would think it could come with batteries. When was the last time you bought a new car where you had to buy batteries for it to get it off the lot? NEVER.

Anyway, the dealership calls and says, we will need to buy a set of AGMs for $485 so they can perform their delivery checks. Wow! I said no because I’m bringing my own batteries. They said fine, but you’ll still have to buy the batteries for the delivery. They quoted something to the affect that for liability reasons I couldn’t do anything to the trailer on their property. I said, “good, we have just entered deal breaking territory.” Long story short, they will supply us with one AGM to get off the lot. Why do dealerships do this? Why are they so content to shoot themselves in the foot? I can’t answer that but a certain dealership in Oregon City, Oregon seems perfectly comfortable doing such.

Bottom line I’ll get my Caravel on the 21st drop a set of Lithium batteries in and never see the dealership again. Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread.

[reginac]

Originally Posted by Dennawayne

Well, looks like in Airstream product description for 2020-2021 they actually state that they will no longer supply batteries unless they are being ordered with the solar option. Their thinking is if they send it with the unit then it might not get to the end user fresh. The dealership can’t do the required maintenance to deliver them fresh. Makes sense. What does not make sense is how they get away with it. When you buy new you are spending a lot of money, so you would think it could come with batteries. When was the last time you bought a new car where you had to buy batteries for it to get it off the lot? NEVER.



Anyway, the dealership calls and says, we will need to buy a set of AGMs for $485 so they can perform their delivery checks. Wow! I said no because I’m bringing my own batteries. They said fine, but you’ll still have to buy the batteries for the delivery. They quoted something to the affect that for liability reasons I couldn’t do anything to the trailer on their property. I said, “good, we have just entered deal breaking territory.” Long story short, they will supply us with one AGM to get off the lot. Why do dealerships do this? Why are they so content to shoot themselves in the foot? I can’t answer that but a certain dealership in Oregon City, Oregon seems perfectly comfortable doing such.



Bottom line I’ll get my Caravel on the 21st drop a set of Lithium batteries in and never see the dealership again. Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread.

Make sure your converter can handle lithium batteries. I would ask in advance. I believe the converter it comes with can only handle basic and agm.

[Dennis C]

Wow, that sounds like horrible customer service! Good luck and I hope enjoy your Airstream once you get it out of the dealership and on the road.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

Wow, that sounds like horrible customer service! Good luck and I hope enjoy your Airstream once you get it out of the dealership and on the road.

Maybe, maybe not...is it worse than getting a battery that's been fried on the dealers lot with no maintenance or supervision!!!

I think I'd opt for choosing my own battery when I eventually took delivery of that eagerly awaited Airstream.

Do your research, do not let the dealer option you into things you could better do yourself.

Example, the option of dealer installed or factory equipped solar, which, with a little research you would do better on your own, choosing your own installer and get a much better system at a much better price.

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Dennawayne

Well, looks like in Airstream product description for 2020-2021 they actually state that they will no longer supply batteries unless they are being ordered with the solar option. Their thinking is if they send it with the unit then it might not get to the end user fresh.

Airstream doesn't include the batteries, but they paid the dealer to supply them. That's like saying Airstream doesn't supply tires because of date codes, so the dealer delivers your RV on the rims.
"We got a bunch of Marathons we'll sell you for $200 each."

[Dennis C]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Maybe, maybe not...is it worse than getting a battery that's been fried on the dealers lot with no maintenance or supervision!!!

I think I'd opt for choosing my own battery when I eventually took delivery of that eagerly awaited Airstream.

Do your research, do not let the dealer option you into things you could better do yourself.

Example, the option of dealer installed or factory equipped solar, which, with a little research you would do better on your own, choosing your own installer and get a much better system at a much better price.

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

I get it, but it seems in this case that the dealership dropped this information on the buyer after the sale was complete. I’d expect this to be disclosed and discussed prior to the sale, allowing the customer to consider options.

When I bought my Airstream, I had the dealership install an aftermarket Zamp solar system with AGM batteries, so issue never came up. If they had told me when I came to the dealership to pick up the Airstream that there was an extra charge for two batteries that hadn’t been disclosed, then I would have been mad.

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Airstream doesn't include the batteries, but they paid the dealer to supply them. That's like saying Airstream doesn't supply tires because of date codes, so the dealer delivers your RV on the rims.
"We got a bunch of Marathons we'll sell you for $200 each."

This is a GOOD ONE! Thanks for the laugh of the day. You can't argue with the logic.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

I get it, but it seems in this case that the dealership dropped this information on the buyer after the sale was complete. I’d expect this to be disclosed and discussed prior to the sale, allowing the customer to consider options.

When I bought my Airstream, I had the dealership install an aftermarket Zamp solar system with AGM batteries, so issue never came up. If they had told me when I came to the dealership to pick up the Airstream that there was an extra charge for two batteries that hadn’t been disclosed, then I would have been mad.

YES, it's a two way street, that fact should have explained during sales negotiations.
But the buyer IS responsible for asking some pertinent questions...

'How is the trailer powered when it's not plugged in?'

'By the batteries that are not included.'

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

[Dennis C]

Agreed, it is a two way street. However, as a new buyer I’d expect batteries to be present. I wouldn’t even think to ask this question because my assumption would be that I’m purchasing a fully functional trailer, ready to go camping. Apparently that assumption can get you in trouble!

I was thinking about Airstreams on a dealer lot recently when my Airstream was in the shop for 2-1/2 months for service. I have solar panels so my batteries did fine. I’m guessing there were a few Airstreams on the lot that didn’t have solar. Based on what I saw of the lot, I don’t think they were plugged in to a power source. Does the dealer disconnect the batteries in this case? Is it up to the customer? Just curious.

[jeffb831]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

Batteries are included in the purchase price

That is not true since late 2020 (the 2021 model year).

According to https://www.airstream.com/blog/the-u...am-power-plus/ :

To ensure all batteries are fresh and ready to go upon pickup at the dealership, travel trailer batteries will not be included as standard equipment but will instead be installed upon arrival. If the optional solar package is chosen on select models and installed at the factory, the travel trailer will ship with 2 AGM batteries.

Also, in the Feature section of the brochures, there is no mention of batteries being a standard feature. The only mention of batteries is with the optional Solar packages.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

Agreed, it is a two way street. However, as a new buyer I’d expect batteries to be present. I wouldn’t even think to ask this question because my assumption would be that I’m purchasing a fully functional trailer, ready to go camping. Apparently that assumption can get you in trouble!

I was thinking about Airstreams on a dealer lot recently when my Airstream was in the shop for 2-1/2 months for service. I have solar panels so my batteries did fine. I’m guessing there were a few Airstreams on the lot that didn’t have solar. Based on what I saw of the lot, I don’t think they were plugged in to a power source. Does the dealer disconnect the batteries in this case? Is it up to the customer? Just curious.

As Dad used to remind me...Ass-u-me
An <blank> between you and me.
Let me guess...I'd venture to say, no.

In our case the delivered batteries were pooped after sitting at home for three day after delivery.
When we first spotted it on the dealer lot it and gave it a walk-around it was plugged in, odd because that was a Sunday. When we went back the following tuesday it was still plugged in. The cheap P-lax converter had fried 'em.

The Converter was our first 'upgrade' 6 months later when the replacements were also fried.

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦