Happily ever after

Jim Corey · April 10, 2015

I am making this rather long post in hopes that it will show other RVers, particular newbies, that all is not lost when problems arise.

We arrived at our reserved park in San Diego after a horrible drive on I-405 and I-5 in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic from northern Los Angeles, surrounded by drivers only SoCal can produce. I returned from the office after registering, to find a pool of greenish liquid (coolant) dripping from the front of our small (30’) class A on a 2006 Ford Chassis. The leak had just started judging from the flow and volume. The horror of this happening on the freeway immediately struck. We got to our space, and I crawled under. The leak seemed to be from the lower radiator tank. An internet search determined that the radiator shops couldn't handle a motorhome (pull the radiator and bring it in!). Right. Not any luck with RV repair places for a quick service, and my experience with Ford dealers is they don’t really like working on motorhomes. Another Internet search on truck repair shops, and I found one with good reviews. Called them and asked if they could get me in, and could they handle a 30 foot class A, and they said “sure.” I said I’d have the rig towed in next the morning.

Getting late in the afternoon, and I called Coach Net. After a wait to talk to a rep (listening to a recorded apology for the delay), the rep came on and took all the information. He put me through to a tech, who immediately recognized that a tow was needed. I requested an 8:30 am tow to the shop. He said he’d do his best, and called the repair place to verify. Next morning, around 8 I received a call, with an apology that the tow truck wouldn’t arrive till 9:30. That sounded fair (in fact pretty good). At 9:33 another call from Coach Net asking if the tow had arrived. I said not yet, and she put me on hold and called the driver. Turns out he was at the end of the street. Took him an hour to hook up and drop the drive line. We confirmed the destination, and left in our Toad to meet him at the shop. Got the the garage and was greeted by a crowded service desk. I thought, “no way is this going to happen.” But the service guy said they’d get right on it, when the coach arrived. I asked if we could stay in the rig overnight (which I had sort of asked when I phoned the day before). He said they’d work it out, but he expected the repair to be completed the same day. No way, I thought. I verified his shop hourly rate (lower than expected!) and we took off for some shopping, lunch and other activities. Kept in touch by phone. We arrived back at the shop at 6:00, and 3 mechanics were working on installing the new radiator, and reinstalling the AC and tranny cooler. The shop guy said they’d work until it was done and tested. And they did. The new radiator was priced appropriately (a bit more than I could get it online) and the labor reflected the time spent. About 7:15 we drove back to the RV Park, backed into our spot, and poured a well-earned glass of wine.

The purpose of this post is to show that RVing can have problems, but they can be dealt with, with happy endings. Gotta love the Internet.

dennisvr · April 10, 2015

Sounds like all turned out OK. I agree with your statement "gotta love the internet" Yesterday I took my truck to the shop to have a Check Air Bag light diagnosed. It had to be done at shop with GM software, so I couldn't pull the code myself. Lucky for me I was able to talk to the mechanic when he walked by the service bay door and after he pulled the codes he said it was the right front impact sensor. So I got on my smartphone and searched for sensors and found the price and also seen a Youtube video and found out that after it was replaced that it didn't need to be cleared, that the light would go off. Well the service writer found me told me that it would be $550 for the repair. I asked him what he had into and he said $150 so I paid him and went home and ordered the part online for $70 and saved almost $350. I've been a mechanic all my life, but I tell everyone they can be a mechanic if they have the internet. LOL

By the way the shop wanted $350 to remove 1 bolt and unplug and replug the wire harness to the sensor, sound excessive? You be the judge.

Chris-n-Dennis · April 10, 2015

Jim Corey, please do pass on the name of the place that did the work. Spread that one far and wide as service like you received deserves recognition.

TxCowboy · April 10, 2015

^^^ This. Also, post to Yelp and other sites that let you refer good service providers.

Jim Corey · April 12, 2015

Sorry I'm tardy in responding. The place is The Truck Shop, on Miramar Rd., San Diego. It was a general repair facility, and did a lot of off-road pick-ups. My work needed "wrench-turners", not RV specialists. Radiator replacement isn't rocket or computer science, just straight-forward mechanics, and they did it well. The location was a bit strange, down a driveway in an industrial-automotive area. But the driveway shared with a "gentlemen's club!" Probably not a waiting room for the garage. :rolleyes: And I will post on Yelp/Google reviews also.

JetRichard · April 13, 2015

Sorry I'm tardy in responding. The place is The Truck Shop, on Miramar Rd., San Diego. It was a general repair facility, and did a lot of off-road pick-ups. My work needed "wrench-turners", not RV specialists. Radiator replacement isn't rocket or computer science, just straight-forward mechanics, and they did it well. The location was a bit strange, down a driveway in an industrial-automotive area. But the driveway shared with a "gentlemen's club!" Probably not a waiting room for the garage. And I will post on Yelp/Google reviews also.

Sounds like a great place to get some work done