RV Replacement Parts

Finding RV Parts Shouldn’t Be This Difficult

If you own an RV long enough, you’ll eventually need replacement parts.

Things wear out.

Things break.

And while some parts may look simple, today’s RVs are surprisingly complex machines. As manufacturers add more technology and features, finding replacement parts should become easier—not harder.

Recently, I lost one of the plastic bearing caps on our 2020 Keystone Cougar.

It’s nothing more than a small plastic disc. It probably costs less than a dollar to manufacture and takes only seconds to install.

Finding one turned out to be the difficult part.

Strike One

My first stop was the dealership where we purchased our RV.

I gave them the VIN, assuming they could look up the exact part and order a replacement.

No luck.

They searched their parts catalogs and online resources but couldn’t identify the part.

While I was waiting, I noticed that several new Keystone trailers on the showroom floor had the exact same bearing cap.

I pointed this out and asked if I could simply purchase one from a display unit.

The answer was no.

The reason?

They didn’t know how to replace it if they removed it from the new trailer.

Strike Two

Since another Keystone dealer was only a few miles away, I stopped there hoping for better luck.

Unfortunately, I got the same answer.

They couldn’t identify the part, and they also declined to remove one from a new trailer because they had no way to order another one.

Strike Three

My next call was to Keystone.

Over the years, I’ve had good experiences contacting them with technical questions, so I wasn’t expecting them to sell me the part directly.

I simply hoped they could identify it and tell me where I could buy one.

Instead, I received a link to an online parts supplier, but no part number, no description, and no information that would help locate the piece I needed.

Needless to say, I was disappointed.

The Bigger Issue

This isn’t really about a plastic bearing cap.

It’s about customer support after the sale.

RVs are subjected to constant vibration, weather, road debris, and thousands of miles of travel.

Parts are going to wear out.

Owners should be able to identify every component on their RV and purchase a replacement without turning it into a scavenger hunt.

Dealerships should have access to complete parts information from the manufacturer.

If they can’t identify a simple plastic cap using the VIN, something is wrong with the support system.

Compare It to Other Industries

I do much of the maintenance on my Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.

With the factory parts manual, I can identify virtually every nut, bolt, clip, and bracket on the motorcycle.

Each part has a number.

Each part can be ordered.

It isn’t complicated.

I don’t expect RV manufacturers to stock every replacement part forever, but I do expect them to provide accurate parts information to their dealers and customers.

That seems like a reasonable expectation when you’re spending tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on an RV.

One Last Thought

Buying an RV shouldn’t end when you drive it off the dealer’s lot.

Good customer support continues throughout the life of the RV.

Finding a replacement part—especially something as simple as a plastic bearing cap—shouldn’t require visits to multiple dealerships, phone calls to the manufacturer, and hours of searching.

The RV industry builds some wonderful products.

Now it’s time for more manufacturers to provide the parts support their customers deserve.