TractorByNet.com - View Single Post - The ROPS Police

Farmwithjunk · 12-20-2005, 10:32 AM

I'm not taking sides on this one!

BUT----

Some manufacturers look for any reason, good or bad, to dispute warrenty claims. They know that it's cost-prohibitive for most people to fight them. Any old excuse in a pinch.

I know of TWO cases where Dodge truck owners drilled frame rails when installing gooseneck hitch's. One had a front suspention problem, the other a brake problem. Dodge denied their warrenty claims because of tampering with the trucks frame. Absolutely NOTHING to do with front springs or brakes, but they still denied the claim. In BOTH cases, the truck owners were forced to repair their trucks at their own expense. (I used Dodge as an example because of personal knowledge. I'm quite sure other trauck makers, tractor manufacturers, and producers of most any item will use simular excuses)

But I can't rationalize denying a warrenty claim on an engine issue because of drilling a ROPS structure. I would however, EXPECT a fight from the manufacturer should the ROPS structure fail in a roll-over, with the finding of an "non-stock hole" drilled in their product.

I'd also EXPECT my dealer to go to bat for me on an "engine failure/warrenty denial/ROPS structure with hole drilled" dispute

I have the distinct impression this aruement is all about a hypothetical situation. Who actually has "real world experience" with a warrenty denial caused by a hole drilled in a ROPS?

12-20-2005, 10:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Farmwithjunk Super Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mt Washington, Kentucky Posts: 5,549	Re: The ROPS Police - fact or fiction? I'm not taking sides on this one! BUT---- Some manufacturers look for any reason, good or bad, to dispute warrenty claims. They know that it's cost-prohibitive for most people to fight them. Any old excuse in a pinch. I know of TWO cases where Dodge truck owners drilled frame rails when installing gooseneck hitch's. One had a front suspention problem, the other a brake problem. Dodge denied their warrenty claims because of tampering with the trucks frame. Absolutely NOTHING to do with front springs or brakes, but they still denied the claim. In BOTH cases, the truck owners were forced to repair their trucks at their own expense. (I used Dodge as an example because of personal knowledge. I'm quite sure other trauck makers, tractor manufacturers, and producers of most any item will use simular excuses) But I can't rationalize denying a warrenty claim on an engine issue because of drilling a ROPS structure. I would however, EXPECT a fight from the manufacturer should the ROPS structure fail in a roll-over, with the finding of an "non-stock hole" drilled in their product. I'd also EXPECT my dealer to go to bat for me on an "engine failure/warrenty denial/ROPS structure with hole drilled" dispute I have the distinct impression this aruement is all about a hypothetical situation. Who actually has "real world experience" with a warrenty denial caused by a hole drilled in a ROPS?