| Author | Message | ||
| jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60) Rating: N/A |
what would you pay (per clock hour) for a mechanics' services... someone that was capable of repairing your rv??? engine work, chassis work, brakes, etc??? what would you pay for appliance repair??? heat and a/c, plumbing, slideout????... what would you expect the mechanic to furnish???... Would you be willing to allow someone to work on your rv without liability insurance???? | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
Personally Jim, I wouldn't let anyone touch mine: A: I like doing it myself B: I don't trust many folks to do it (especially those I don't know from Adam) C: If something quits and I've done the work there's noone to blame but me. | ||
| jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60) Rating: N/A |
i guess you get to work on your shifter by yourself, huh.... | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A |
By my self yes but input is always invited. I like dirty hands  | ||
| gary Stadler (68.7.217.217) Rating: N/A |
Some may not like this, but my personal theory is that men capable of being GOOD mechanics are smart enough to be doing something else. Ok, I've said it. There are exceptions to this rule but in my 55 years I havn'e seen too many. I do my own work and wouldn't ever allow anyone else to touch my rig unless it was the only way out of an emergency. | ||
| Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.2)
Rating: N/A |
Jim-- A fully qualified mechanic without liability insurance can ask for 40-50% of a big shop's rate. If he is in business for himself and using a business name he should be able to get 75-80%. The problem we have is unqualified people going around asking more than they are worth, doing lousy work and giving a bad name to the independents. As far as rates go, take my wild percentages against what the local shops charge for the work you asked about. The worse thing you can do is get tied in with an independent that doesn't know what is a fair price to charge, regardless of how good his work is. You will have better luck with people who have been independent for a long time. --Geoff (self-employed for the past 20 years) | ||
| jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60) Rating: N/A |
ive worked for myself before... and the reason i went to a dealership was for the benfits with a company.. but due to recent changes, our insurance is nearly gone... and benefits are really down... according to the bottom line, our division made more money after expenses than it ever has, but i realy think our privately held dealership is on the open market for a buy-out....so i'm really considering working for myself again.....i've got a couple people for investors...and another guy ive worked with for 20 yrs as a potential partner......and sunny south texas and warm water appeals to me.... | ||
| H3Jim (68.105.103.139) Rating: N/A |
The high value wouldbePrevost shop in Mira Loma (Riverside - Sothern Ca). They charge $84 an hour. I usually hire someone when they have tools or proven expertise or time I don't have. Suspension work, or anything underneath on my bus, since I don't currently have a good way to get under it safely. I have generally found over the years that I can figure it out, do a better job than most repairmen. I will be doing all my own plumbing, wiring etc. Liability insurance, depends on the job. Appliance repair, its more like a fun challenge than work, but I wouldn't pay much. Mechanic should furnish his own tools. If I have the tools, I might as well just do it myself anyway. I will pay for all the parts because if I have him estimate those, he will only pad the bid and I'll end up paying more. As a general rule I figure the labor is worth what the parts cost - surprisieng how often it works out that way. As far as who actually purchases the parts, depends on the parts and who can get a better deal. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A |
Jim, I suspect that a few members of this board are able to do most of the work themselves, but they are in the vast minority of people owning busses. I have met many, many bus owners who do not have a clue as to how to repair it and do not have the tools to do it if they did know how, or do not have the time to do it if they had the skills and tools. I can use myself as a perfect example. I do have some of the skills to do some repairs and I do have tools to do some of the repairs, but I never had the time to do them due to the demands of my job. Neither did I have the tools or skills to do all the repairs. I found out that I was money ahead to farm the majority of the more complex work out, with me working at what I did best to pay for the repairs. If you review this board, you find a few who post and can do all their own repairs, but there are hundreds of readers who generally do not have all the skills and tools to do so. Also there are a large number who think they have the necessary skills, but get in over their heads very quickly and many who do not have the time to do it. . Since you are single, have a bus, have the tools and apparently have the skills, I think you could have a very profitable business travelling around the country doing repairs and seeing the country at the same time. In fact I believe Geoff is planning on doing just that. Richard | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.154.171) Rating: N/A |
"Some may not like this, but my personal theory is that men capable of being GOOD mechanics are smart enough to be doing something else." Well, gary! Thank you for your ignorant, narrow- minded and ill conceived view of mechanics. I personally have worked with a number of excellent and intelligent mechanics over the years, several of whom, dare I say, are smarter than you. You seem to feel that no one of any intelligence would ever be attracted to being a mechanic, and that there are few if any good mechanics. The truth is mechanics are like doctors, you may need to look a little to find an exceptional one, but there are plenty of good ones out there. I don't quite understand your attitude, but what ever has given you this view of the mechanic's trade, I do hope you get well from it soon. Brian | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.37.136)
Rating: N/A |
Jim: I am more than willing to pay along the lines that Geoff suggest to get a job done that requires the 'particular' or special skill and knowledge that I don't have or who does not have the physical limitations that I do have and I have no qualms with hiring some guy (or gal for that matter) to do it providing they know what they are doing and present themselves as conscientous enough to do a good job. I do not appreciate hiring someone who hangs out his shingle only to find out that he is still on the up-side or down-side of the learning curve. In keeping with that, I make the presumption that u have the tools to do the job since you are purporting to be experienced. If u work from a shop, I expect it to be reasonably clean and presentable without a bunch of junk piled in heaps and without a dozen or so old relics cluttering the yard. I also expect to be able to communicate with you and some semblance of regular hours. Don't take me wrong, I don't expect or need a customer lounge with coffee and 52" tv and I don't expect that you should perform miracles, but I do expect an honest and conscientous effort in exchange for my payment. It's regretable that some here are of the opinion that they pretty much know everything and can do it better than anyone else. My experience was always "you're only as good as your last mistake" and just around the corner is someone who can beat you hands down. I tried to keep that in mind back in my working days. Just the opinion of a retired mechanic (refrigeration and heavy equipment). | ||
| TomNPat (68.137.169.122)
Rating: N/A |
Jim, We pay our mechanic, Mike Peppers of Napa California (707.258.9430) $50 per hour for the things we need done. He has all his own tools, has been a bus mechanic for thirty years (All West, Evans, & Frontier) and knows our MCI, GMs, etc. He can get done in one hour what it takes me three to do, and my rate is above his $50. We've worked with him for two years, can call and get answers at no charge, and probably get more time than he charges us for, BUT he is Quick. He's a professional and Gary should take the time to learn from him, not make derisive statements about a large group of people by his experience with much less than 1%! I've known many more good mechanics than KIA's. If I had the time and desire, I certainly could have installed our new shocks. But the confidence level wouldn't have been any higher. And we would have had a much less enjoyable and restful holiday season. Had a friend in the paving business whose motto was "We're not the Cheapest, but Everybody knows what they're Worth". Visit eBay frequently for an education on how owners perform as the cheapest mechanics they can find. TomNPat | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.28)
Rating: N/A |
I keep telling Jim it is a highly regional thing. Down here in the lower Rio Grande Valley, his skills would be in great demand all winter long, and he would have to hire some help to get it done. I never hear any problems about the prices charged, only about the non availability of ANYBODY to do it even! Imagine the huge numbers of RV types, with their diesel pushers and such, all too old and decrepit to do any work on them, all wanting them maintained to perfection, and of the age and financial means that price don't even seem to matter! Couple that with the lack of mechanics, and you got a paradise, not only weatherwise, but pocket money too. Problem is, it only lasts 6 months, then he would have to take a long vacation. You listening Geoff? | ||
| Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.24)
Rating: N/A |
A while back we had a thread on one of the boards about how the skilled members of the bus nuts group should become mobile and go around the country doing specialized work. Roof raising, insulating, wiring, cabinetry, body and mechanical work-- you get the picture-- the team soes from bus to bus and helps the owners whip out their conversion. I'm almost ready!-- another year and a half and my son will be graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in the maritime industry. That is when we hit the road and become working fulltimers. --Geoff | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A |
Jim, I have had many offers, since I retired, to travel to various locations around the country to design and then help or actually install electrical systems. I had planned to try this for a few months to see how it went. I was going to go to Texas, after Bussin 2004, to help one bus nut, was going to then go to Quartzsite to help another and then on to California to help another. Although I never posted any intention to do this, I received several emails asking for this service. I feel certain that I could have had as much work as I desired if I had actually indicated that I was available. Would have been a nice supplement to my Social Security and would have allowed me to visit any area of the country I wished to visit as well as allowing me to meet and get acquainted with other busnuts. Unfortunately the fire in DML cancelled all those plans. Richard | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905) (206.148.124.201)
Rating: N/A |
Jim I have found veery good people all over the country. I have just enough no-how to get in trouble but enough to see a badmechanic or a good one. The best I have found anywhere is Luke & Company at U.S Coach in Berlin, N.J.. Mike | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A |
A couple of years ago I paid the mechanic $28.00 per hour to put on a new, rebuilt power steering pump and hoses on the Crown Super Coach. Could have normally done the work easily by myself, but at the time was recouping from some surgery, sooos had no real other choice, This guy was semi-retired and very qualified. Guess it makes a big difference where you live and how hungry the mechanic is. Things are generally cheaper up here in SW Oregon. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.208.238)
Rating: N/A |
Re: Gary and Brian Today, there are four heavy truck/coach mechanics retiring or otherwise leaving the trade for every one coming in the bottom. This is quickly bringing our entire transportation industry into trouble. For at least the last 40 years, where have our high schools streamed the "less than academically clever" students? Which of the trades requires the highest personal investment in tools, has the lowest relative payscale, daily exposure to various cancer causing substances, physically demanding and the inability to get ones' finger nails clean? Be thankful if you have a good mechanic, refer him or her to everyone who will listen, and pay them well. But, if you need to be an electronics whiz to work on a vehicle, you get paid more to use that skill in the computer/electrician end of things. And never mind simple supply and demand fixing the wages of mechanics. The manufacturers will compensate by reducing the need for a mechanic to think much, rather than pay more. Witness what your computer software can do for itself now, and how many run of the mill IT types are out of work or being paid much lower wages than they had hoped for when they took their training versus only a few years ago. So, I guess I'm siding with Gary, but lamenting that the folks who turn wrenches are getting pooched. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (69.34.169.42) Rating: N/A |
Well, buswarrior, I'd say those are pretty distressing statistics, if they are true the trucking industry really is in dire straits... But I wonder where did you get the stats from? While I might agree that as a technically proficient group mechanics get the short shrift... having gone from the youngest in our shop 18 years ago, to the third oldest out of 22 guys, I see younger mechanics coming into the profession all the time. Brian | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb) (12.8.192.60)
Rating: N/A |
Buswarrior I agree with some of what you have to say but being in the IT industry the reason so many are out of work is not because the software is so stable but because companies can send their work offshore to places like India where people will work for $15 hour. The next time you call for tech support or even call your credit card company ask the person you are talking to where they are based and I think you will be very surprised. This is becoming more and more prevalent in other industries as well. For instance if you get an Xray done in a US hospital they don't actually devlop it on film and read it there. They send a picture via email to a doctor in Indai to analyze and report back his findings at roughly half the cost they are used to paying. Same thing for medical transcription. | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (67.136.107.194)
Rating: N/A |
$15 an hour is far more than the average wage in rural America. Excluding the waitress and waiters who rely on tips, a good hourly rate where I am is $8.50 which is above the Government minimum of around $5.15, if I remember correctly Arizona has no minimum State hourly rate. Peter. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb) (12.8.192.60)
Rating: N/A |
True but remember we are talking IT jobs, like guys who write the programs that print checks for ADP or control assembly line robots for example. Typical going rate for that type of work in the US is around $50 hour. My father is a programmer and was displaced by a company that sent their work offshore...he ended up taking a job in Saudi Arabia for 6 months because the rates there are still good ~$100 hour U.S. plus living expenses. It seems odd that we in the US sometimes complain about the economy and all the jobs lost but overlook situations like this where jobs are not eliminated but just sent outside the country to increase profits | ||
| madbrit (67.136.107.194) Rating: N/A |
Sorry, I thought you were refering to the service industry which has moved its call centers to India, etc. Peter. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb) (12.8.192.60)
Rating: N/A |
No problem Peter but yes the service industry like credit card phone people have been moved there as well but they work for a LOT less than $15 an hour. If companies are willing to send the work there then the rates are imposible to compete with. Oh well I have strayed too far off the topic of this thread. It just hits close to home because I manage a tech support call center here in the states......I'm done ranting |