What Do You Do When Your Home Is In The Shop?

When your home is in the shop, you are officially "HOMELESS"

#1 - Make yourself a sign

#2 - Borrow a dog

#3 - Get a Banjo or Harmonica

#4 - Put a patch over one eye

#5 - Don't wear any shoes

#6 - Strategically place a stroller nearby.

#7 - And, make enough money to pay for the MH repairs

We full-timed for 16 years and was never stranded because of breakdowns.

When we needed servicing we made an appointment, showed up on the afternoon before. In the meantime, they had ordered any parts which they thought were needed. They picked up the motorhome early morning and took it into the bay. Most of the time it was finished that day or definitely the next. We were always asked to give them a call or they'd call us to let us know the progress. They always let us spend the night in it - most of the time with electric. If they know you're a full-timer they'll get it done - motorhome or trailer. We never spent more that two days at a shop.

During the day while they worked on it we'd pack a cooler, goodies, lawn chairs, lawn blanket, computer, any stray cash or important papers, and head out for a day of exploring the new area. We'd drive the towed vehicle to scenic areas or just the local park under a shade tree and read.

Sometimes we go to a museum, movie, shopping, etc. It's easy to kill a day.

There should be no worries with repairs - unless it's a major engine overall, etc.

Also, don't think by buying a new or couple year old RV will get you off the hook for repairs. Buying an older one usually has the kinks worked out. :) Before you buy have it checked out thoroughly. Every motorhome needs oil changes, etc. so expect that.

Dakota98 wrote:
Biscuit ,

You FT'd for 7 hours ???

That was a short adventure !!! :B

Went around the block....took me hours to repark it. That was all I could handle :B

Not going to edit post cause then this post would make sense.

Biscuit ,

You FT'd for 7 hours ???

That was a short adventure !!! :B

Those are some good tips, and it eases my mind a bit. Dennis MM: I looked at your blog. Why do you have a heavy truck to pull your fifth wheel instead of something like a full-ton pickup? Do you also work as a trucker? Just curious.

We FT for 7 hrs. truck & 5vr. Moved every week or so (never bought into that MH moving a lot vs 5vr if parking a lot concept).

We went with truck/5vr vs MH because I don't fold up in smaller vehicles.

We had a few occasions when trailer needed repairs........
*Blowout on faulty tire ripped up side of 5vr. Checked into repairs vs shop.....2-3 weeks to get parts 1 week to do repairs. Called factory.....3 days for repairs. Made appointment with factory.
Day of appointment dropped off 5vr....got motel room for 2 days with option to extend if needed. Picked up 5vr noon of 3rd day.

*Major water damage due to line blowing off
Contacted RV Repair Shop. Guy came out to RV Park and gave estimate----2 days after material received from factory (replacement of large slideout floor)
Contacted flooring company (linoleum/carpet replacement)...came out for measurements/estimates
Insurance OKd repairs.
RV shop ordered material.......Linoleum/carpet ordered.
Week later took 5vr in for slideout repairs....motel for 2 days.
Then Flooring was installed on site at RV Park

Truck transmission failed......dealer ordered new. Truck freighted overnight. Took truck in AM picked up that PM (Factory Warranty.......previous dealership did tranny routine/required maint. and screwed up!)

Is it a hassle..........can be. But you do what you have to do. Such is life.

In all our repairs, we have used a mobile repair to come to us instead of bringing our home to a shop. It has worked out well.

In nine years of full timing, our trailer had to go into the shop only once, for three days. We rented a Class C. It was interesting as it taught us that a Class C was not of us.

With the fiver we have settled in for several days while mobile RV techs wait for parts; a number of years ago we spent a night in the parking lot of Louisville Truck Center while our truck was being worked on. Their parts driver took us to the store since we did to have food on board and we plugged into their electric.

One of my considerations while weighing the options, too. Ultimately chose a MH because of the hassle of towing (back up? hahahahaha!), especially since I'll be moving relatively often compared to how often I'd be in a shop.

I've read in blog posts that repair places for the larger engines, like a DP, sometimes even have hook-ups so you can live in your home over night. Well, I only have a Ford. I figure if it comes down to it, I'll just make it REALLY CLEAR that THIS IS MY **ONLY** HOME, I have nowhere else to go, and I can't just "leave it 'till we fix it."

I'm a girl. I'll cry if I have to. :D And keep my fingers crossed that nothing ever happens which requires some odd part that takes 2 weeks to get.

No big deal at all.

I full timed for 3 years, and never needed to have the motorhome in the shop.

You can always rent a motel room, and act like normal tourists for a few days. Mechanically, there is not to many problems with modern RV's. The gas engines must pass a emissions test at 100,000 miles, and they are pretty good for the first 75,000 miles. Buying something that is less than 10 years old is no problem at all. I would not worry about changing out the engine until at least 100,000 - 150,000 miles. Transmission might be another story, but you can still live in the RV at night while the transmission is out.

Most transmissions will last 75,000 - 140,000 miles.

Keep the radiator clean. This is little checked item for most RV's. It can cause overheating, the #1 cause of engine failures. Of course oil changes every 5,000 - 7,500 miles on a gas engine or 10,000 - 15,000 miles on a DP engine will help it last longer.

Good luck,

Fred.