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RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Yahoo Message Number: 102641
So far this summer we have had to replace the flush switch on the toilet (took 2 weeks to catch up to parts), had the awning replaced when it filled with water and ripped off one arm (probably my fault for having the awning out in the rain but took 2 weeks to get parts), had the propane burner on the fridge replaced but the fridge still will not cool while driving (have an appointment in Shipshewana on Sept 8 to have the cooling unit reinstalled), and today we broke a front sway bar bracket (second time since we bought the coach new 10 years ago (parts ordered from Kevin and paying for express postage so we can fix the sway bar and still make our appointment in Shipshewana).  Before we left we had to have the track bar on the drive axle replaced for the second time.  I also have to add in the two inside light switches that went belly up, the screen door latch that broke, and the closet door latch that broke (all fixed with spare parts I keep on hand).  What is really frustrating is the new cooling unit for the fridge was installed by one of the seasoned CC techs we all know and love but something is obviously wrong. It seems like we need to add a month to every summer trip just to get things fixed!  It is getting a little frustrating.

Thank you for listening I think I'll have another glass of wine,

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102642
We have kept ours mostly so the dogs could travel with us but more and more motels and hotels are accepting pets now, and I'll tell you my station wagon is looking better all the time.I am so tired of high priced camp grounds and incompetent  repair people that I could absolutely puke.!! Then if you can't afford to keep a newer motor home, forget tech support. Boy, it would be so great to just get in the car and go. Not to mention that if I took what money this thing was costing me, I could spend a vacation in Europe every year so if you see a 1994 Prevost CC for sale in the near future, you will know I have stood all I can stand!!!

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102645
have you been reading and watching the news about what is happening to our hotel chains in the US.  The prices to stay at what was a decent hotel has increased much more than our RV spaces.  Health and sanitary conditions in modern hotels is terrible at best.  It doesn't matter if its a Super 8,  or  the Palmer House in Chicago or Durango.  At least in your motor home you know the sheets our clean, there are no bed bugs,  and previous tenants  haven't  spread filth all over the surfaces.  You toilet has been sanitized and t he floors our clean in your motorhome.  You don't have to worry about the waiter or chef  having  a contagious bug  or washing their hands the last time they touched a dirty door handle.  With the spread of diseases because foods are not prepared correctly or brought to temp or stored properly previously isn't an issue in my kitchen and not your either.  Issues  of sanitation are becoming really serious.  Then there is the matter of our ages and how age effects our digestive  system.  I find the same rich foods I ate years ago I can't stomach anymore.  Spanish food have become hotter and hotter,  meats are increasingly spiced.  Fruits and vegetables aren't as fresh as in the past.  Sea food in all but restaurants on the coasts or gulf are either ill prepared or have been transported improperly making the food  sub standard at best.    So As much as I agree with you that coaches are expensive to maintain and costs rise each year, the alternative is a poor second.    I've traveled all over the western US and central America for my career and hotels and restaurants don't appeal to me any more.    I'll stick with  my CC until I can't anymore.    TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102646
Amen to both of you ... I couldn't agree with your comments more.  I coming to realize I could do everything I am doing now in a nice Class B or B+ RV.  I plan to sell my motorhome in a couple of years (and my RV lots) and buy myself a nice small home some where away from all the madness of city life.  I would also buy a Class B or B+ so I can take off anytime I want to without a lot of hassle and just stay out for a few weeks at a time.

My two cents ...

Rick Barnette,
2004 Allure, 31018

Lot 135 at the Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort.

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102647
One I noticed several years back land is expensive here in CA especially along the coast and in many other states near hot spots.

We were staying in Buellton CA near Solvang and thought the almost  $70 a night was a bit pricey but we like the park and convenient to everythin.  Mind you we had me wife, son his friend and the dog and everything that goes with  a Campground.
I was walking the dog and could see the Motel 6 sign with the price for 1 person $99 a night! Didn't feel so bad anymore about what I was paying.
RV'S have never been nor ever will the cheapest way to travel but....
When our First granddaughter what as born in Portland we were able to spend 5 weeks there with her and our daughters family. Couldn't have done that if paying for hotel and food.

Ray O 
---

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102648
We are all veterans of "advanced patience" at some point Bob, and feel your pain. It's what makes a chat with other RV'ers so sincere and entertaining. Safe travels.

Jeff Thurston

04 Intrigue 42 Ovation
16870

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102649
YES, we feel your pain.. Our CC was in a Very reputable shop for 6 weeks 'waiting' for a part and when it finally came we found out that was NOT the real part we needed replaced.. It was a complete nite mare and we missed out on 2 trips with friends just 'waiting'..

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102651
Well said, Jeff.  Thank goodness for each person on this CC blog for the help sometimes almost immediately and the faith that help will appear here.  I was talking to a new coach owner, not quite one year, yesterday in northern MI, and his coach has given them  trouble since driving out of the showroom,  with slides primarily.  Two different apparently highly thought of repair shops out west worked on the problem making it worse each time.  So this fellow drove 1700 miles in two days to get to wherever Newmar is  made in Indiana.  There everything was repaired correctly.  But he said he and his wife both cringe every time they open or close a slide now.  Then we laughed.  Shared pain?  I don't know, but it sure does help to chat with other Rvers.  Thanks, Jeff.

Mike and Mary Frederick
06 Inspire 51784

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102653
Spot on Thomas ..... I'll spend the time and money for my health, convenience and sanity any day. Plus if you maintain your coach properly you'll get most of your investment back.

Jerry & Brenda

'99 Intrigue Chefs Choice
#11702

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102654
Hi, we know the rv cost more to travel in. Our bed rm is always clean and the bed is always made up in morning, looking good, bath room is clean, kitchen the same food is far better then most restrunt. Plus we take all the clothes we want and you dont have to lug them to your hotel rm. Always a bath rm near, and clean. Only way to go for know.2000 magna 5886 charles

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102656
Owning a Motorhome has to be a hobby.....almost an obsession. There is always something that needs attention or something to worry about.
 Right now, we have a mystery leak under a bedroom slide window that apparently is not coming from the window but the top of the slide out somehow.
 Still, we will keep our CC as long as we can still safely drive it....maintenance costs and all.
 We run from the cold weather every year. This year, we will spend 5 months in SW Florida. The more time you spend in your coach, the better you will know it.
 Usually whatever you are worried about, someone on this forum can point you in the right direction to get it fixed.

Just a comment.....
D Jean
CC 81072

Bowling Green, KY

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102657
We agree the assistance received from other CC owners via this forum is unmatched but the information shared at local and national rallies of CC owners is also very valuable.
Charles

00 Allure 30555

(Currently in Mystic, CT destined for the CCI rally in Watkins Glen, NY on 9/21)

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102658
You keep it because it NEEDS you. :D

Jerry & Brenda

'99 Intrigue Chefs Choice
#10702

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102659
There are lots of ways to travel and they all have their ups and downs.  This year we have had very few problems with our now 13 year old coach.  But last year was much worse.  And last year 40% of the problems we had were incompetent work done by RV technicians.  The genius at the Cat dealer in Bakersfield CA who overfilled our crankcase 8 qts over after changing the oil.  Or the other genius at the CC factory who did not tighten a couple of bolts when he did generator preventative maintenance and also ignored a leaking oil line on the main motor.  That stranded us at the Cat dealer in Klamath Falls for two nights.  But on the other hand the CC factory solved the slide leak and finally fixed the Fantastic gearbox problem that kept eating gearboxes.  Then there was my goof up /lazy issue of not putting on a pressure regulator at one RV park and blew a persistent fresh water leak that took several stops at CC to get fixed.  Oh and the oil line leak on main motor was caused by the num num repair guy in Cortez CO who did not put back on a 5 dollar bracket when he replaced the turbo 4 years ago.  That caused the leak CC mysteriously did not see.  And so it goes.

But this year other than needing new house batteries again (caused by the idiots where I used to store the coach who could never remember to turn off everything and kept running the batteries down to zilch) our Ritz Carlton on wheels has been doing well.

I have traveled a lot by air/hotel/rent car and RV.  They do not replace each other.  If you can afford it do both.  Air travel these days is terrible.  Actually it is worse than terrible, it is awful.  More than awful it is miserable.  Keep that in mind if you decide you will give up RV travel.  Also, do not compare Motel 6 rates with Country Coach travel.  More like Westin or Ritz Carlton travel.  Last time I looked most Ritz Carlton rooms were $300 a night and up.  And then rent a cars.  The basic rate for the car is $52 a day.  But then there are 12 add on fees and taxes that bring it up to $93.50 at day.  Oh and the room at the Ritz, add 20% TOT tax.  Some places are only 13% TOT tax.  And if you are over 6' tall or have a little extra weight, can you afford first class air?  $8,000 bucks to Europe please.

Auto travel is OK, but not for long periods of time.  A month in a car with a dog and staying in hotels will likely be a challenge.  And if you want to stay around Yellowstone be sure to make those reservations a year in advance.

I like machines and have always loved RVing.  We have been on the road for almost 5 weeks.  The first week we have my wife and I + Airedale Terrier + daughter, son in law, two grand daughters in the bus in the eastern Sierras.  We had a wonderful time.  Since then we have gone to Oregon, WA, stayed in front of my Son's house in the woods, and so on.  Since I do way more on these trips my mobility, joints, and aches and pains are about 100% better than farting around at home.  For the last few days we have been on the beautiful Oregon Coast.  The beach is a quick walk away.  We have no plans to sell our coach any time soon.

And then there is the $2.48 I paid for diesel the other day.  I like the new price for fuel.

Anyone wanting to sell a good condition CC will find lots of willing buyers.

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102660
We kind of look at each situation as it comes up. First when something goes wrong, we assess if it is a dangerous situation, or a nuisance situation or a PITA! (Like when the fridge would not keep the DW's Chardonnay properly chilled:)!).

And when things really seem to stack up in a roll, I do the Apollo 13 reminder. At least here, I can call a Kevin Waite and have parts delivered to make repairs. Now, we all know how resourceful Kevin is, but I still doubt he could have got replacement parts to Apollo 13:)!

The post about 'being a hobby' in how you approach things is spot on...

Now I will admit that we do get frustrated at times (This trip, we've had leaking coolant. A cracked exhaust manifold. And two pothole damaged tires. A Hydro Hot repaired that would not constantly fire off under diesel. - All of those have been addressed and fixed. - I have a passenger side OTR AC that only has one of it's four registers kicking on with fan air flow. That I have not yet repaired, after spending several hours trying to spot the problem:)!) But, frustrated while on the road and traveling, is better then the phone calls I get from my Daughter (Rents the upstairs unit of our house next door.), who has had to have the AC repaired twice, and the dishwasher repaired twice, in the last 4-5 months. At least on the road, you can be looking at a lake, river, trees, dunes, red rocks, snow (well, not yet on the snow), rolling hills, mountains, etc., etc.. I call our front windshield our 'Big Screen TV of Living!!!

So, we'll keep on enjoying ourselves. And yeah, stop and repair as needed:)! OP - After 10 years with your Intrigue, I suspect the good times have more then compensated for the PITA ones!

Best to you, and all. Be safe, have fun,

Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102663
Agreed even our Dolphin is far above a Motel 6. I was pointing out even at the very bottom of the motel/hotel systems the cost was a lot more than many may suspect. If you move up several levels to get to a moderate gasser the rates get into the hundreds per night and still don't compare for me at least.
 Also as you pointed short trips car and hotels may be a godd choice but extended trips, we love pack once bathroom always with us and if we wnat to stop we can and everything is with us.

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102668
Thanks for all the posts.  I agree that this has to be a hobby because you can't justify the expense.  I agree with Tom that this is not a camping unit but a nice hotel room on wheels with cold beer in the fridge and wine in the cabinet and I don't have to pay every time I open the mini-bar.

I have spent more nights than I can count in hotel rooms on business.  I have been on a first name basis with many hotel clerks in Seattle, San Jose, Austin, Dallas, White Plains, New York, and Winchester, Hampshire, UK.  I have very rarely had a decent conversation with a sober person in a hotel but have had many pleasant conversations in RV parks.

I maintain the coach religiously.  As others have said it is really frustrating when someone you have trusted to service your coach screws up.  When we came back from our annual this year, the tech had not screwed down the oil filler and there was oil all over the inside of the engine compartment.  The service owner cleaned it up but it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  Getting something fixed that someone screwed up really rags me.

This year's frustration is because we are trying to visit the Canada Maritimes and New England before we head back to Tucson and it seems like the coach doesn't want to go.  On top of that, the smoke was thick from Seattle until we arrived in Fargo, ND so we skipped some of the stuff we were going to do along the way.

Every now and then I feel like a boat owner and can't wait for the second happiest day of owning a coach - the day I sell it.  I usually get over it when we are staying at a nice park like we are now.  It's peaceful here at Whispering Pines RV Resort in Mancelona, MI. I am getting ready to open the 2nd bottle of wine, and I am calming down.

Thanks for your support, 
Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

PS Whispering Pines is a great RV park.  The site we have is level, huge, and separated from the other sites by blue spruce trees.  If I lived closer I would have kept it a secret like my favorite fishing holes.

Re: RANT: Do you ever get tired of fixing your coach?

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102674
Hey Bob,

Yes you are right.  It is expensive and yes it never ends.  But is anything easy worth doing?  Not really.        Look at it like this.  It is a house that goes down the road.    Is there not always something to do on your home?  Does it ever end?  Yes, at your funeral.  LoL.
We do it for 2 reason, Luxury, and the convenient to go places where there is no rooms available.  If it was easy and cheap, everyone would be in first class.  Consider it a challenge, to make each trip better then the last.  Less to go wrong, better organization skills.  An art as you would, that never gets mastered.
We all feel that way from time to time.  It is only as bad as you make.
Good Luck, don't give up, take it day by day.  If your coach didn't aggravate your life, something els will.  Thats kinda how it works. LoL..

Bob

03 Allure 370 ILS 3 slide / Tag  #30814