Motorhome Chassis/Engine Maintenance & Towbar Install?

[rsmithtesiusa]

Where does everyone get routine maintenance done on their Motorhome Chassis and Engine? People have recommended the local RV Dealers, but based on my experience I have ZERO confidence in them. They seen barely able to do basic repairs to travel trailers much less Engine maintenance. Also need to get a towbar, light kit, and maybe supplemental brake system for a Jeep Wrangler toad.

We have a Class C on the E450 Chassis with the V-10 engine. Need basic maintenance - oil changes, Chassis Lube, Transmission and diff fluid changes etc. If you have recommendations in the Houston, TX area that would be great.

Suggestions appreciated.
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[elcheapo]

Try this Click [url=] Put in your city and state, choose which dealer you want and then select more information and the dealer will list class A or C Motor Homes if they service them.

[IA_boy]

Locally we have an excellent independent shop that specializes in trailer hitch work. They also do tow bar install and wiring. Most Ford car dealers won't do much on the E450. Independent truck shops may be your best bet. If you need front end alignment (most E450's will especially if new) go to a shop that understands the peculiarities of the E450 with motor home body.

[pnichols]

This is a detail that ron.dittmer brought up some time ago: Those of you with a certain year(?) E350/E450 chassis RV make sure that - if it has it - you change the EXTERNAL transmission fluid filter per schedule.

My 2005 E450 has this filter and I wasn't aware of it's existence until Ron mentioned it. The first time any service shop mentioned changing it for me was after we had owned the RV after, maybe, 11-12 years!

I wonder if my external transmission filter wasn't perhaps nearly clogged and hence maybe the cause of the early failure of our E450's 5-speed TorgShift transmission at around only 60K miles?

This filter looks like it's IN SERIES with the transmission fluid flow to/from the cooler up front in the radiator - so a blockage of this filter means no, or little, cooling of the transmission's fluid. This was an expensive over-sight - if it was the cause in my case (over $5.5K for a remanufactured tranny - they aren't available new anymore).

[Johno02]

We live in a very small rural town, and use a local Mechanic that has a garage large enough to put our rig inside. In a small rural town, every good mechanic has to be able to work on about any type or brand truck, and that is the prevailing type of vehicle. So no problem with the v-10 engine or chassis, brakes, and such. We have a local, trained, RV repair that takes care of anything on the coach part. In cities, mechanics that know about trucks and truck systems are hard to find, and can be be very expensive. If you have a DP instead of a gasser, double or triple the maintenance costs, and wish you luck finding someone. Check out the bigger truck stops, they can handle routine maintenance, and a few will if the price is right.

[klutchdust]

I do all my own service however I have had a mobile mechanic come to my home for something I could not do myself and no one was here to help.
On the road I had a mobile RV mechanic help with my refrigerator issue. Look in your area.
RV repair shops, dealers, yikes.

Anyone use a truck stop that services big rigs? Curious if they would do lube/oil services.

[ron_dittmer]

DrewE wrote:
For the most part, I do maintenance things myself. The E series chassis is not really difficult to work on; there's reasonable access to most things you need to get at on a regular basis, and it's not so heavy duty that you need unusual tools.

Chassis lube is four steering tie rod ends and the ball joints if they have grease fittings. Check the manual, but there's a good chance the differential has synthetic lubricant that does not have a scheduled periodic replacement (changing only required if you drive through water deep enough to submerge the differential).

DrewE,

I could not have said it any better.

And doing it yourself, you know it was done and done right. I find it remarkable how many times people pay for vehicle service that doesn't get done, or even damages the vehicle. I volunteer as an auto mechanic for a charity and have seen the simplest maintenance done hastily resulting in damage to a vehicle. I've seen many stripped oil drain pans with doubles gaskets on the plug. I've seen catastrophic loss of oil due to improper installation of the oil filter. Nobody will be as thorough and as careful as you the owner. It's not hard work, it saves you big money, your vehicle is better protected, and you are better educated if you become stranded or need more serious work done, a 3x win to doing as much as possible for yourself.

Ron Dittmer

[rsmithtesiusa]

Thank you all for the info! Keep it coming....

[1995brave]

Doesn't PPL Motorhomes offer service? If not, maybe they can recommend a shop close to you.

[Tom_Barb]

Our coach has a Spartan Chassis It is basically a fire truck, so we take it to a well respected truck shop.

Your coach is basically a 2 ton Ford truck, I'd take it to the Ford shop or a well trusted independent truck shop.

Towing your jeep,,,,, really depends upon what equipment you buy.
your jeep will not require heavy weight equipment, we tow with Falcon II bar and home made attachment points, the best and easiest is a after market front bumper and attach towing equipment directly to it.
Electrical ( lights ) We've been towing our jeep since 2010, I got real aggravated with after market harnesses, at least once every year we would have lights out, blown Diods, and back feeding the jeep battery.
This year we bought two LED extra lights and placed them on the back of the jeep and wired then with a 4 wire boat trailer kit. Now we no longer have problems. (so far)

[akrv]

I have my oil changed at Walmart . Have always had good service.

[DrewE]

For the most part, I do maintenance things myself. The E series chassis is not really difficult to work on; there's reasonable access to most things you need to get at on a regular basis, and it's not so heavy duty that you need unusual tools.

Chassis lube is four steering tie rod ends and the ball joints if they have grease fittings. Check the manual, but there's a good chance the differential has synthetic lubricant that does not have a scheduled periodic replacement (changing only required if you drive through water deep enough to submerge the differential).

When it's something more than I am able to or care to tackle myself, I take it to a local independent truck shop. I'm pretty sure Bailey Spring and Chassis doesn't have branch near Houston.

[STBRetired]

The towbar, light kit, and supplemental braking are all purchased from an RV dealer or online source. The engine maintenance can be done at a dealer or at any shop that does medium duty trucks.

I have heard that installing a towbar on a Jeep wrangler is pretty straightforward and can be done DIY if you are comfortable with your abilities. Installing the towbar on our edge was a 10 hour job so I let the RV dealer do it. But we trust their service department as we have dealt with them for a while with no issues. Sorry I can't help you with a dealer referral in Texas.

[rsmithtesiusa]

We are in West Houston/Katy, TX area if anyone has any local suggestions.

[enblethen]

I use independent shops to do maintenance. I keep a log for oil changes, transmission service and any repairs.
Oil changes have been done at quicky style locales and have even used Walmarts.
I do not trust dealers whether rv or automotive.
I would suggest posting where you are located in Texas as some posters may have specific locations to do tow bar and light installs.