How long in the repair shop?

[Jayco-noslide]

When you take your RV(in our case a 2003 Class C MH) to a repair shop
how long will you tolerate it being there? We took it to this trailer repair shop(mainly they repair RV's) almost 3 weeks ago to have a water system repair (check valve in water heater), to buy a replacement for our damaged tow bar and to have an awning installed over a bedroom window. They claim that the awning material just came in and admitted that deer hunting may have delayed a little. Now, since its been there much longer than I anticipated, had to have them go ahead and "winterize" to prevent a freeze-up which I could have easily done myself. It's not that I plan to use it soon but I want to get it home before icy roads, etc. Now, they say it "may be done this week". I'm wondering if this should be my last trip there.

[2gypsies1]

Oops..wrong post.

[bigred1cav]

take it in winter let them store it i dont care how long it takes during winter

[GaryWT]

I have had trailers in 2 times for repairs. The first time we had a list of things and dropped it off after a trip and told them that our next trip was in 3 weeks so they needed to have it done and it was.
The second time, they ordered parts ahead of time and I made an appointment and waited for the repair to be done, about 4 hours.

[rhagfo]

To the OP. Did you state when you needed it back, or was it at their convenience on the repairs. If you bring in a camper in the late fall, maybe they assume that you don't need it soon.
Next time make an appointment and set an expected completion date.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

The few repairs we needed - we took the MH in, it was assessed; we took it home. They called when the replacement parts were in (about a week later) - we made an appointment to bring the MH back, and the repair took about 4 hours. I think there was one time when we brought the MH the evening before the repair appointment, simply because that's what was convenient for US.

[temccarthy1]

I had a tree limb fall and pierce my slideout roof in early October on my almost new 2014 Bullet TT. insurance claim with Geico. They bumbled around and passed the buck to different agents that took 10 days before they came out and assessed it. Then the estimate was very low at only $495. I was suspicious since there was a 6 " hole clear through the roof and then realized they left out the wood part of the roof, only had the rubber cover! Called my selling dealer to make an appt and brought it there. They did an estimate that was $2000... 4 times higher! Geico sent another agent to the dealer, that took another 5 days since 70 miles away and he concurred that dealer estimate was correct.They approved the $2000... Then parts were ordered and even though dealer said "it will take 3 days to fix" here I sit SIX weeks later and not finished!.. Lots of excuses like other damage claims and "busier than normal" at this normally slow time. Long story short---- it will be 2 MONTHS from when I had the damage when I finally get it back.( Keystone dealer in Turnersville, NJ) Will never take it there again and not happy with Geico either. Apparently from what I read on these forums, not many dealers in the RV business are worth their salt with problem being extremely slow service.. Much different than the big 3 car companies who have a much higher level of service! No one would ever wait 8 weeks to have car damage repaired from a collision. I have had several ( deer, fender bender) and had it back in 1 week with far more than $2000 damage!

[fj12ryder]

I think, regardless of the outcome, I would be looking for another shop. Making an appointment, taking it in at the appointed time/date, and then waiting 4 weeks is absurd. No good excuse for something like that.

[Jayco-noslide]

No, not in Lebanon. Forgot to mention that I did call for an appointment and it was scheduled about 10 days from the call and it's been after I took it in for the scheduled appointment now actually closer to 4 weeks I think. I did have them go ahead and have them winterize because didn't feel I had a choice. The dealer is about 50 miles away. I think I will ask them to only charge me for the anti-freeze. If they will do that and everything else goes well I may go back and next time be more specific about my expectations. Or, may look for another shop (none available less than 40 miles and they don't do much with motor homes.

[2gypsies1]

As full-timers we made an appt. for servicing as we traveled, then pulled in the previous night, stayed on their lot and the work was finished the next day. They always let us stay again that night and we left in the morning.

Probably when you just leave a RV at a service place they will take their time with it. Try having them get the parts in and make an appt. for service and stay there while it's being done.

[tatest]

Mine has not been in the shop more than a day because I don't drop it off until they are ready to work on it. When you drop it off with the timing of the work being indefinite, the amount of time waiting at the shop can be indefinite.

You've made yourself a low-priority customer. If the shop is busy, three weeks is not unusual for taking care of the "work on it when we can get around to it" customer.

I've made the same mistake with auto service. For 30 minutes work, on a drop off, they'll say "bring it in first thing in the morning." When I call after work, they'll say "we'll have it finished in an hour" which means now is the time to schedule it to a technician to have the work done.

Now retired, I'll usually go with "while I wait." That gets shop priority, they don't like you hanging around. The work you wanted done could be done in probably less than two hours, once they start. If you brought it in on a "while I wait" basis after the parts arrived, it would be out in less than a half day.

[jwmII]

lj2654 wrote:

mgirardo wrote:

Jayco-noslide wrote:
When you take your RV(in our case a 2003 Class C MH) to a repair shop
how long will you tolerate it being there?

Three weeks for your list of repairs seems a little excessive. Hunting season delaying RV repairs, never heard that one before.

-Michael

Well, My DP has been in the CAT shop since the end of August! I told them to take their time(BIG MISTAKE) Now it is December 1st. I did tell them I had a trip planned for Thanksgiving and needed it done November 1st! Had to cancel that one.






Addressing the hot running DP. I have to wonder whether you really have a heating problem. Many engines today run in that temperature range when working moderately hard. I would also check the accuracy of the temperature gauge. Get an infrared temp checker like at Radio Shack and get the engine heated up and check the engine and radiator with the infrared inst. for comparison. Again, I am skeptical about you having a problem.

Now after they finished the work, an overheating issue(225) I never had. Pulled radiator loose, found some insulation from engine compartment in front of radiator, 95% sure this is it! Reinstalled and drove (200 Degrees)...this was the day before Thanksgiving. Wanted to hold coach till Monday 30th to drive again, which he did. Now hot again(217) this time. Now after a call wants to remove radiator and send to shop! Ok, but it will be the 7th because Radiator shop closed till then(hunting timeOk, but it will be the 7th because Radiator shop closed till then(hunting time).....Now we wait more...may have to cancel Christmas trip the 19th-29th.....

Wife not happy, I am beyond aggravated with the whole issue. I have had the coach 4 years and have never seen temp above 210 ever.....oops!

[jwmII]

It's been there long enough to build several just like it. Ridiculous. Most parts are available overnight and definitely the 2nd day from out of town and even from some out of state RV parts wholesalers. Go in and hook it up and get it out of there.

[ewarnerusa]

I would say it depends entirely on the type of work being done, the season, and if they have to order parts. But up to a month doesn't sound uncommon at all. I've had my TT into the local RV dealer where I bought it a couple times. Once for an axle flip and another to have the awning replaced. Always by appointment and each of those instances was very reasonable with time. I think less than a week from drop off and it was done.

But in June 2015 I made a dumb mistake and really damaged the exterior, interior, and axles of the TT. I have insurance on it so I went ahead and made a claim. After getting insurance claim they made me an appointment a few weeks out and I dropped it off in early July. Despite the lead time for them to order parts, they still had my TT all summer and into fall. It was early November before I got it back. But to be honest, this is what I was expecting. I know that they had to order the exterior aluminum for repairing it and also the matching paneling for repairing the interior. This stuff is apparently carried by hand and at a walking pace via a perilous journey from a faraway land, so there was never a clear estimate on when the parts would get here. The axle work was done within a week of drop off. Turns out the last month of waiting was for new decals and then scheduling the "professional application" by an auto detailing place.

I also feared damage from fast approaching fall so I went in and winterized it myself. I got it done during my work lunch break. We didn't get any camping done this summer, but I knew there was a small amount of stuff in the waste tanks that I had no means of dumping while it sat in their lot. So for piece of mind I dumped a couple gallons of RV antifreeze in both the blank and gray water tanks. Fresh water tanked was already completely drained.

[lj2654]

mgirardo wrote:

Jayco-noslide wrote:
When you take your RV(in our case a 2003 Class C MH) to a repair shop
how long will you tolerate it being there?

Three weeks for your list of repairs seems a little excessive. Hunting season delaying RV repairs, never heard that one before.

-Michael

Well, My DP has been in the CAT shop since the end of August! I told them to take their time(BIG MISTAKE) Now it is December 1st. I did tell them I had a trip planned for Thanksgiving and needed it done November 1st! Had to cancel that one.

Now after they finished the work, an overheating issue(225) I never had. Pulled radiator loose, found some insulation from engine compartment in front of radiator, 95% sure this is it! Reinstalled and drove (200 Degrees)...this was the day before Thanksgiving. Wanted to hold coach till Monday 30th to drive again, which he did. Now hot again(217) this time. Now after a call wants to remove radiator and send to shop! Ok, but it will be the 7th because Radiator shop closed till then(hunting timeOk, but it will be the 7th because Radiator shop closed till then(hunting time).....Now we wait more...may have to cancel Christmas trip the 19th-29th.....

Wife not happy, I am beyond aggravated with the whole issue. I have had the coach 4 years and have never seen temp above 210 ever.....oops!