$200.00 thrown away.
I've noticed that my motor home was not even with the airbags inflated. I did a little research and found out that the ride height needed to be adjusted, even found some good instructions on how to do it. Called Freightliner and got the proper measurements. My back has been giving me problems, so elected to call a mobile mechanic since I'm in a park and away from home. He said he was very familiar and had done several adjustments.
When he showed up, he measured from the top of the wheel wells, I politely said, that was not an accurate place to measure, because the differences of the well heights from left side to right side was different when bags were deflated, and probably the left and right molds used at the factory were probably not exact. He then measured from the ground to bottom of the frame and within a few minutes said he was done, that it was level now. Since I had read the Freightliner instructions, I asked him, even though it's level, how do you know it's at the proper height, told him that the specs called for 10.25 inches on the rear and 10 inches on the front. He hadn't even checked the front at this point. I informed him that the measurements were from the bottom of the frame to the center of the lower strut bolt. He'd never heard that before. He checked that measurement and said it was fine. So I paid him $200.00 which he told me would be the cost when I initially called him. So for about 15 minutes work I paid him $200 and he was on his way. After he left, I crawled under and checked the measurements, they were off. Came in and familiarized myself again with the instructions on how to adjust the valves.......and after about 45 minutes or so, had them all adjusted front and rear well within the +/- 1/4 inch that Freightliner allows.
The mechanic up front said it would be $200, but what gripes me is, he didn't know the proper specs, where to take the measurements, and then had them at the wrong height. Yes, he showed up at my site, so that's worth something I suppose, but taking only 15 minutes, and still charging $200 I thought was a little much. I even asked him if it was "still $200" yes was the answer. Makes me mad when you have someone that is suppose to be knowledgeable (this was a diesel mechanic for RV's) and yet I had to inform him of almost everything on how to do the job, and then still have it done wrong. Oh well, live and learn I guess.
When he showed up, he measured from the top of the wheel wells, I politely said, that was not an accurate place to measure, because the differences of the well heights from left side to right side was different when bags were deflated, and probably the left and right molds used at the factory were probably not exact. He then measured from the ground to bottom of the frame and within a few minutes said he was done, that it was level now. Since I had read the Freightliner instructions, I asked him, even though it's level, how do you know it's at the proper height, told him that the specs called for 10.25 inches on the rear and 10 inches on the front. He hadn't even checked the front at this point. I informed him that the measurements were from the bottom of the frame to the center of the lower strut bolt. He'd never heard that before. He checked that measurement and said it was fine. So I paid him $200.00 which he told me would be the cost when I initially called him. So for about 15 minutes work I paid him $200 and he was on his way. After he left, I crawled under and checked the measurements, they were off. Came in and familiarized myself again with the instructions on how to adjust the valves.......and after about 45 minutes or so, had them all adjusted front and rear well within the +/- 1/4 inch that Freightliner allows.
The mechanic up front said it would be $200, but what gripes me is, he didn't know the proper specs, where to take the measurements, and then had them at the wrong height. Yes, he showed up at my site, so that's worth something I suppose, but taking only 15 minutes, and still charging $200 I thought was a little much. I even asked him if it was "still $200" yes was the answer. Makes me mad when you have someone that is suppose to be knowledgeable (this was a diesel mechanic for RV's) and yet I had to inform him of almost everything on how to do the job, and then still have it done wrong. Oh well, live and learn I guess.
