Warranty Work

 

Because our Metris Getaway is a bit of a hybrid vehicle, we have found getting warranty work done to be a bit of a challenge. Our local Mercedes-Benz dealership will do the very basic stuff like oil change, maintenance, etc. For vehicle or body work, we have to go to Springfield to the Mercedes dealership there because our local dealership does not do vans. Then for the up-fit components we have to drive to a Chicago suburb.

We just had some warranty work done on the pop-top of our 2020 Driverge Getaway.  Had to road trip 2.5 hours to a Chicago suburb to a Driverge “sister shop” called Mobility Works.  Normally they do wheelchair vans, and had never seen a Metris Getaway.  It’s kinda fun to see people’s reactions when they realize what a cool vehicle it is!  

They replaced the seal around the bottom edge of the pop-top because it had split and was hanging down when the top was popped. They also fixed the issue we were having with the pop-top buckles not staying buckled.  We started the process in December 2024, trying to find out who could fix them, and after many delayed replies from both Driverge and Mobility Works along with delays in getting the parts, the repairs are finally done.  It should never have taken this long. 

The top section of the buckles were only rivited with two of the four rivits, and those had pulled away from the flat surface.  Driverge supplied replacement buckles, but they really weren’t damaged.  It was all about the fact that they were not securely attached in the first place.  

To be able to drive the van on the highway, we had been stretching a strap from the driver’s door, over the pop-top to the passenger side door. The strap was held in place with these strap loops.  We shut the plastic tube part inside each door, with a tie down strap stretched between each loop outside on top. It worked, but because it put stress on the door seal, we got water inside if it rained. We had to make sure to hold on to the plastic tube part each time we got in or out of the van.  We had the straps and T-loops in the van already, because we use them when we carry our canoe. 

Because the buckles seem to be such a common point of failure, I wanted to share our solution. Maybe these items are something others might consider keeping in their vehicles, because it was scary not knowing if the top would try to pop open while driving down the highway! 

Next up on our list of warranty work will be trying to get the black vinyl wrap on top of the pop-top removed or replaced.  It is cracking and peeling. 

We have yet to venture out on our first camping adventure of 2025.  But the garden is almost in, and now that these repairs are done, hopefully we will be heading out soon. We just have to decide where to go! Stay tuned. 🌲🌞🏕️🚐🛶🎣🌿