| Author |
Message |
Nick
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 9:10 pm: | |
I know a lot of folks here have praised Luke Bonagura at US Coach in Berlin, NJ, and after spending several days at his shop this last week and having some work done on our MCI 8, I just wanted to add our impressions.
We have been having problems with our bus running hot, especially when climbing even moderate hills, and needed to have our squirrel cage fans serviced and new rubbers put in. Luke's crew did an excellent job, and never have I done business with a man who impressed me more than Luke. He is not the cheapest around, but you get what you pay for.
Since we live fulltime in our bus, Luke let us park at his place, with electric, water and even a dump station! He even gave us a set of keys to his shop and yard so we could come and go after hours!
Luke also had his mechanics give the bus a complete safety inspection, tended to a frayed brake line that needed imemdiate attention, and pointed out some other items that need to be addressed. We will be returning to him later on for more work, when the budget allows.
We left Berlin Friday and arrived in Elkhart, Indiana today. The bus ran great and never got hot, even when climbing the mountains on I-80 in Pennsylvania. We feel much better about our trip to Arizona this winter.
I recommend Luke and US Coach to anyone needing expert bus repairs. He also has a huge inventory of parts on hand and ships out to bus owners all over the country. |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 9:54 pm: | |
Nick,
We will be in Philly area the week of Thanksgiving.
Is Luke in East Berlin, NJ or West Berlin, NJ. I wanted to meet him and order some parts.
Thanks,
Chuck Newman
Oroville, CA
PS: All you guys and gals on the East coast, what is the typical weather in Philly and Newark areas during that time of year? |
dougtheboneifiedbusnut
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
Hey Chuck,
Used to be you could depend on it being cold (40's) but the last five years or so it has been much milder.It's got to go back to the colder trend soon,so I would suggest you back some warm clothes. |
Nick
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 11:45 pm: | |
Chuck,
His business card just says Berlin, New Jersey. He is at 127 Berlin-Cross Keys Road. A mile or two off US Highway 30.
Nick Russell |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 11:46 pm: | |
Make sure you got heat, man! |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 12:00 am: | |
You mean heat as in heavy iron. They won't let me
bring it on the plane. Is Cross Keys road a bad area?
Chuck Newman
Oroville, CA |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 12:19 am: | |
HAR de HAR HAR |
Nick
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 10:50 am: | |
No, Chuck, it's not a bad area. Mixed light industrial/commercial - some restaurants, gas stations, a junk yard, offices, etc. Not a problem at all. While they were working on the bus we did some wandering around, shopping, etc. It's a good area. |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 11:37 am: | |
Thanks Nick. I'll look it up on MapQuest.
Chuck |
WEC4104
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 9:06 am: | |
A day time high in the low 50's, with a good chance of frost at night might be typical. But it could swing either way. Could hit 75 that day, and one year we had snow. How's that for being no help? From your comment, it sounds like you are flying in, not bringing a bus. Check the forecast before you come, they shouldn't be too far off. |
Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 8:22 pm: | |
Chuck Luke is located on Cross Keys Road. If you leave the Philly area and follow the signs to Atlanti City. You will go south east on the Atlantic City Expressway. Get off on the first exit. Toll for all vechicles is 25 cents. Turn left and go straight. U.S.Coach will on the left over the tracks. I have a 4905 with a lot of problems. Luke keeps me up and running. Bill is great and knows almost all of it. The whole crew have become friends. I sometimes think I miss being in there. Mike |