Purchasing the wrong RV parts can have serious consequences. While bad parts sometimes only cause minor performance issues or wear out too quickly, there’s also the potential for serious compatibility issues, resulting in long-term damage to your camper or even accidents. If you need help finding the right parts for your RV, this guide from Pete’s RV – PA has more details.
The Risks of Buying Non-OEM Parts
A difference in the specifications of a non-OEM (aftermarket) part and the component it is meant to replace isn’t always obvious. This can be a problem since even minor differences can potentially cause compatibility issues. Compatibility issues range in severity from minor performance hiccups to potentially causing a serious accident, so that’s why it’s sometimes best to purchase OEM parts and reduce your chances of experiencing them to near zero.
Check Your RV’s Warranty Coverage
Check to see if the RV part you’re trying to replace is under warranty. What is and isn’t covered under warranty can vary by a lot, so be sure to look closely at the terms. If said part is under warranty, you might be able to save a lot of money on your repair.
Difficulties Finding Parts
One reason why RV owners sometimes settle for non-OEM or lower-quality parts is a lack of availability. Parts availability is usually determined by the brand popularity. That is to say, larger and more popular RV brands usually have more production facilities and are associated with more dealerships. That means they both produce more parts and ship out those parts to more people. If your RV was manufactured by a smaller brand, finding parts can sometimes be a challenge. It can also be difficult to find parts for older models. RV manufacturers typically stop producing parts for a model a few years after they stop producing the model itself. As the existing supply of parts gets used up, it becomes harder and harder to find OEM parts. This is especially true if the manufacturer in question has become defunct.
Shop RV parts at Pete’s RV in Mountville, Pennsylvania. We’re proud to serve communities like Hershey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We also offer new and pre-owned RVs, along with RV financing and servicing.
