| Author | Message | ||
| WA David (Wacoastmci)
Rating: N/A |
Have any of you run into bus service facilities that won't work on your bus because it is a "motorhome conversion"? I did, in Spokane, WA a couple of years ago. Place had a pit and a mechanic on duty who seemed to know what was going on, but when I pulled into the garage, the owner or manager came out to tell me that they don't work on "motorhomes". I pointed out that our MCI 102D was the same as about 20 buses in his lot and a couple in his shop, that it was a Greyhound with a nice paint job, and so forth, but he refused to allow his mechanic to work on my bus. We had to drive off without service. Anyone else ever run into this? I was reminded of this by the post about the bus garage directory posted earlier. The directory won't help much if the garages won't work on "conversions". | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
When so many "conversions" have been modified with changes to the originally engineered bus design, including mechanical, electronic, and construction.... do you really blame the guy? Egads man.... Make a comment here regarding your opinion on how something should've be done, and someone that's done it differently will tell you where to stuff your lug wrench.. And that's here among friends. Imagine the wrath that mechanic would fall to? | ||
| jimmci9 #2 Rating: N/A |
ive seen several places that refuse to work on rv's... mainly because of past experiences....rude rv'ers... complaning of how they are being gouged on pricing...... and griping about how fast their rigs wee serviced....as bus owners, we have big rigs, and need to expect to pay big rig prices....(that oughta start a flame war....)... but its true....it takes more time to work on an rv.... like put paper down on the floor.... move the matress off the bed for access to the engine..etc...when i worked for the DD dealer in shreveport, i had to fix an oil leak on the air compressor on the back on an engine on an older (1981) prevost with a 8v71....i had to paper the floor, remove the bed, unscrew the engine acess hole, dig out a broken pipe fitting, replace the pipe fitting, clean all the oil off the engine, replace the engine acess cover, replace all the bedding... and remove all the paper cover-precautions i had put on the floor and walls to keep it clean... time spent??? over 4 hrs....on the actual repair??? about 30 minutes... was the rv'er happy??? nope....he griped about how long it took....and complained about having to tear up his bedframe.....if he had designed an acess hole, it would have been the 30 minute job.... | ||
| Dale L. Waller (Happycampersrus)
Rating: N/A |
That's the main reason you have to learn how to, at the very least service your bus and learn to do alot of the basic maintenance and repairs. Here in Southwest Va. every truck stop and garage I've asked will not touch em, I have found that the garage at White's truck stop will at least service mine as long as they don't have to go inside. They will inspect the underside and fix some small stuff. My best advice is try to get someone that will moonlight that knows something about heavy equipment if you are not able to do your own work. Dale | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A |
You know...I hate to say this, but the "truck conversion" people are singing a different tune. With their powertrains up front under a hood just like any other Kenworth/Peterbilt/Ford/whatever, these issues aren't cropping up. The box in the back is a different story of course but any RV repair shop/bodywork place can cope with that. My truck conversion first spent a week at a place that deals with commercial trucks getting lube/brake/engine stuff done, then straight over to an RV bodyshop for alterations/upgrades. The engine/chassis stuff worked out just fine at a fair price, the body/electrical mods are 98% done and I may be rolling by this coming Friday. | ||
| Dale L. Waller (Happycampersrus)
Rating: N/A |
Jim, The garage's I think are intimidated about going into someone's living quarters to get to a leaky ole detroit. I would bet you guys (truck converters) are having better results than us bus folks. Life just ain't fair LOL. Thats great you may be able to enjoy your creation soon. AHH, I remember that new coversion smell. Dale | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Yeah...well.... At least we don't have a roll up door and a ladder to get in and out... | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A |
Most of my truck conversion is 1988, but in great shape. The garage is brand new though (converted from a flatbed racecar hauler deck, it was a weird rig to start with). The guys at the shop converting it were arguing over who gets the old winch used to haul racecars up - I said I didn't need it, they all kinda went ape  . I'll be able to drive my Harley right up the ramp. no winch needed . | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Rating: N/A |
I take my bus to a mechanic who likes working on buses, but I don't think he has ever been further than the driver's seat inside since I converted my bus. He's worried about getting it dirty. Same way, when I had my bus aligned by a truck, shop, they had me drive it on the rack. FWIW DaveD | ||
| Timnvt (Timnvt)
Rating: N/A |
I took my MCI5 to a big rig repair facility just below Burington VT that worked on everything. They had a big sign hanging from the wall that posted their rates. They had one labor price for trucks and another higher rate for RV's. I think it was $15.00 more to work on RV's. They didn't get my business as I figured with that attitude they didn't want it. Tim. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
In the Brattleboro, Vt area, look up K.T. Service and Repair. Karl will go to where you are, or you can bring it to his shop. His rates are reasonable and his work excellent. |