Rant - getting someone to work on a Class C motorhome

[wenglish]

I automatically rejected motorhomes built on the Sprinter because of limited availability of MB dealerships that will service them. Buy Ford or Chevy, everyone said, dealers are everywhere. Umm, yeah, right ...

Well, last week our catalytic converter was stolen. No problem, thought I, I'll call the selling dealer (Poulsbo RV in Sumner WA). Their response - "we don't do chassis work". Fair enough, I suspected that would be the case, but out of a mis-placed sense of loyalty figured I'd give them first dibs. "Who would you recommend?" "A Ford dealer". "I have a Chevy". "OK, then a Chevy dealer". Not "oh yeah, we send work like that to xxx down the road", just "can't help you". I don't think I'll be going to Poulsbo for even the kind of servicing that they are able to do, based on that.

Multiple Chevy dealers (including those that sell and service the exact same vehicle this motorhome is built on) say they don't have a lift that can handle it. None can suggest who might be able to do it (well, a couple referred me to local independent shops, but all were a hard "no" as soon as they heard motorhome).

I did find a local independent muffler shop who says he can handle it, and will probably go with him if I can persuade him to provide an estimate without me having to tow the motorhome to him (insurance will pay for the tow to repair it, but not a tow to get an estimate).

This whole thing makes me wonder what's going to happen when something goes wrong with the Chevy it is built on.

This is a 24'4" motorhome built on a Chevy Express 3500 van. Not some monster RV.

[wildtoad]

Welcome to motorhome nightmares. When I first got our Newmar Class A gasser on a Ford chassis I started looking for a Ford dealer to service it. None of the dealers within 50 miles would offer to service it beyond simple oil changes / lubes and basic inspections and that was only one of the 15 or so dealers. Even called the Ford hotline and every dealer they stated would service it, would not. Ended up going to an independent truck service center.

I asked the local CW and they were no help. I asked who to you send your customers to for service. Got blank stares.

Basically you are on your own.

[PartyOf_Five]

When you find that shop(s), wherever it is - stick with it. We first try local independents, and then think of the chains & dealers if that doesn't work - for the same reason (too many excuses why they can't take our rig).

Morry at West Coast did great work for us near you... in Florence, OR (6 hrs away). I'd encourage all of you to also write your reviews at http://www.rvservicereviews.com/Index.asp

[winnietrey]

Highline frame and wheel 148th in Burien, honest folks. And not gonna hurt anything to drive it with no cat, as far as I know

[KD4UPL]

I have the same problem getting my Chevy dually pick-up worked on. For instance, many alignment shops don't have lifts / equipment big enough to do an alignment on a dual wheel vehicle. Many independent shops don't have a lift big enough to lift the truck. I usually go to heavy truck shops to get this kind of work done.
As for a dealer, you need to find a different dealer that sells Chevy commercial vehicles. Our local Chevy dealer sells work trucks up to the Chevy Silverado 6500 size. These medium duty trucks all have dual rear wheels and can be ordered with really long wheelbases. You must be dealing with a Chevy dealer who is not a commercial dealer.

[Dutch_12078]

Back when I had a Class C as well as now with a Class A, I've always had good luck getting service from truck shops that handle medium and heavy duty trucks. You may have to call a few, but there's a good chance someone will be happy to take your money. I used a truck shop in Tennessee some years back when our previous motorhome dumped the transmission. They sourced a Ford remanned one from a dealer in Pennsylvania and even though they didn't have any bays available, they did the tranny swap in one day in their parking lot. While waiting a few days for the new tranny to arrive, they towed our coach to a nearby campground so we could comfortably stay in it.

[LadyRVer]

When I purchased a new Class A on a Chevy chassis, I called the customer service #. They gave me some dealer names who worked on motorhomes. I was fortunate.

[Y-Guy]

wenglish I ran into a very similar situation with our Winnebago Class A when I had my catalytic converter stolen too. Two RV dealers the current Winnebago dealer and Camping World both declined. Told me to go to Ford. Local Ford dealer said they won't work on the F53 Chassis. The one they recommended never called me back.

Back when I bought my Winnebago the RV and Ford side were both under the same ownership so it was never an issue... until they split.

Finally, found a muffler shop that did the work and saved me about $1,000 in the process. But made me very concerned about what I would do if I actually had to get into a shop. Thankfully my local tire shop does repairs and they've done my Oil Changes and A/C work.

[BurbMan]

Man that's some shifty service from the RV dealer, it's not like they have never needed chassis service, they should have at least been able to tell you where to go (and not in the way that they did....). Hope you're able to get it done at the muffler place, but that opens up a range of questions about ball joints, hub bearings, tie rods and other normal service issues that you will encounter with the Chevy (or any other) chassis....

[toedtoes]

I have a longtime shop I have always taken my vehicles to. They always worked on my clipper (21ft), but they only had one lift big enough for it, so timing was a big concern. They also worked on a fleet of commuter vans and often got fulltimers needing work done. I'd give them the dates of my next planned trip and say "as long as I get it back a few days before that, I'm good". That worked well as they could prioritize and get that fulltimer back on the road as quick as possible or get the van back in service before tying up the lift with my rig.

Several years ago, the owner sold the business to another local shop. After about 2-3 years, they stopped working on motorhomes altogether. Their reason was "their insurance won't let them do motorhomes". I suspect the new owner just doesn't like dealing with them.

My last trip out in the motorhome, I had to have it towed home due to ignition issues. Tow companies will no longer reattach the drive train on vehicles - they claim it's due to torque specs. So I needed to find a mechanic to reattach it so I could deal with the ignition.

I called about 10 mobile mechanics. Most refused to take the job because it's "too old". One, stated,they won't do drive train work at all. Finally found one willing to do it. 10 minute job.

I now have a neighborhood guy who does work on old vehicles. He is always happy to work on it. I don't know what I will do when he can't do the work anymore.

It is definitely getting more difficult to find shops able or willing to work on motorhomes. And if yours is an older model, it's even more difficult than that.

[routeforty]

I have a chevy C also. Wanted to change from SAE oil to full synthetic and stopped at the local Chevy dealer to ask about doing that. Got the same answer you did, they don't have a lift that could handle it. Asked where I could have any work done if needed and he pointed down the street to a truck repair shop. Gary