Bought a New Class A RV today

[Hugh R]

Fing, nice to hear from you. Yeah, SoCal water sucks. Glad Alabama is working for you. The warranty stuff is a scam.

While there I had them change the oil and filter on the engine and the generator. OK, $429 out the door. They also said they'd lube the Zerk fittings on the front end (12 of them according to the owner's manual). Got home yesterday from their shop and looked underneath. No way that they lubed those Zerk fittings. And they came well recommended. It does look like clean oil and new filters on the engine and generator.

[herr_oberst]

Hugh, will you be having a talk with the service manager tomorrow?

[Hugh R]

You bet, and they came well recommended. Its not the $0.25 of grease, the RV is high enough I can do it in five minutes with my pneumatic grease gun without jacking it up. But they charged me for a lube and oil changes and filters on the engine and generator. I can see where lots of RV owner's get short changed and their service life of their RV going to crap because of this kind of stuff. I'd have done the oil and lube myself if it weren't for the A/C warranty work that i thought I would get. Could have done the A/C work and oil and lube for less than $100 but I doubt that I would have found the missing "O"ring on my own.

[fingpilot]

The longer I am around this RV business, the more I do myself.

[Hugh R]

Six weeks later I finally got the new access door. It looks like it will fit the opening. I'm going RVing in the AM to Carpenteria State Beach, so I'm not taking out the old one tonight. I'll deal with it when I get home on Sunday and see if it actually fits. I also have to get it painted. Turns out my painter is a High School friend of Joe Bob.

It came with a thumb lock and a keyed lock but no keys. I tried my old key and it fit. Turns out Coachmen has ONE key for the under carriage access panels. WTF? looking at the key there is no code. While I mostly store firewood, cheap lights, etc. I have a few semi-valuable things stored underneath as well, like tools and a battery jump starter/air compressor unit that is worth around $100. I may, or may not change out the locks, they aren't very secure anyway. But I was surprised.

40 years ago I worked at a Motorcycle shop that sold BMW bikes, I remember that they had one round insert key that fit all Bimmer bikes.

[stomachmonkey]

What came of your conversation with the shop re: the lack of service performed?

[Hugh R]

They claimed that they had one of their car guys do the work and he didn't know about zerk fittings on RVs. They offered to have me come in an have them grease the 12 fittings. I ended up doing it myself.

[DByers]

Hugh, you coming up for the avocado festival?
If you have time for lunch on Friday let me know and I can make the short drive down to carp. I'll buy.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by fingpilot

The longer I am around this RV business, the more I do myself.

Thats how you make sure that its done correctly. Just brought home a 28" RV myself recently and doing all the work here at home...

[Hugh R]

Taking the six month old and 2-1/2 year old grandsons to Carpenteria State Beach this coming weekend. I was concerned about them crawling around the RV and falling into the stairwell, so I did this. $40 for the wood and stain and soft bumpers on the edge.

Stuffing a few blankets/comforters into the space didn't sit well with me with a 6 month old crawling around. He could fall into the space, so I eliminated the possibility. Yeah, we'll watch him like a hawk, but schit happens.







I also get about 6 sq. ft. of additional floor space for when we RV with our 8 friends, enough space for an extra camping chair when it rains and we eat dinner inside.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I also get about 6 sq. ft. of additional floor space for when we RV with our 8 friends, enough space for an extra camping chair when it rains and we eat dinner inside.

I can't think of 8 friends I would want to camp with. We usually go with 1 or 2 other couples, and have plenty of room in our 30' camper with the front kitchen/dinette, and mid couch.

Nice plan for the small one, they can find new ways to get hurt. 20 years ago, my 2 year old daughter tripped on a root, and hit her head on the extended camper step. We spent the next 4 hours in the ER getting her stitched up, before we could finish setting up the camper.

[Hugh R]

My friends bring their own trailer/RV. I wouldn't want that many people in my RV overnight.

[Hugh R]

Gas about 8 mpg

[MBAtarga]

yibnu spammer reported

[dlockhart]

Originally Posted by fingpilot

The longer I am around this RV business, the more I do myself.

Amen. My brother and I bought a old toterhome for hauling us and our racing gear to the track in semi comfort. We are learning lots about RV systems as we go.

Youtube has some really good content. We were able to fix our RV fridge.







Our local dealer told us to try tipping the unit upside down LOL.

[Hugh R]

Just rented it to Noah930 for the next five days at a very favorable rate to him. First time that I've done this, and not going to rent it out to any yahoo, He's driven them before. He provided me with a full value declaration from his insurance company. Spent about an hour with him going over the specifics of the rig.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Just rented it to Noah930 for the next five days at a very favorable rate to him. First time that I've done this, and not going to rent it out to any yahoo, He's driven them before. He provided me with a full value declaration from his insurance company. Spent about an hour with him going over the specifics of the rig.

Good luck. It's coming back with spilled beer stains everywhere and I'm sure Kai will spread some Nutella in some hard to find places!

[Hugh R]

He has little kids, we had a talk about sandwiches, and other food waste, and such NOT being left in crevices.

[Hugh R]

Noah 930 rented it for six days, gave him an excellent price he returned it undamaged and clean as a whistle. Told him he's welcome to use it anytime. I gave it to him with a 1/2 tank of gas and said, return it with a 1/2 tank. He filled it. A true gentleman.

[rusnak]

Nice floor solution! I'd have put a rubber walkaway child leash on the little tyke.