Pricey repairs

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Hello Winston:

Mike B gave you some pretty good answers to your question. And yes, some
repairs can be costly, no question there. Blow a 12R 22.5 tire and wheel
wells along with various other damage can occur.

As to the pricey alternator job, I agree it was pricey but necessary? Even
removing the bumper the un install and re install is maybe 4 hours. Perhaps
something else happened, like a broken bolt that had to be drilled out.
More than likely they 2 tech's on the job and charged for each tech.? That
is not right either, in my book. It would be interesting to have seen that
bill and what the write up was. No I am not defending that shop, in fact I
would be dubious of it.

Part of what this and other Forums were started for was to help one another
as we can and also to list the "known" good shops around the Country to
take the birds to and then on the other hand, to know what shops not to
take them to. This Forum is intended to be a clearing house of seeking
answers to problems and so forth. Even if your not doing the repair work <
which, as Mike pointed out, will save one some money> one can come to the
forum's to try to get a better idea of what to expect when taking a Coach
to a shop. Information among us, is a powerful tool, and one that can help
you recognize if that shop or repair facility is running high on costs.

Repairs on Birds, Prevost, Newell or any high line Coach will usually run
higher in some respects as they are far advanced machines with more
amenities than most others. With that advancement, comes the fact that a
tech has spent many an hour just learning the how the systems work and
those systems change almost daily at times. So yes, shops do ask for a
higher wage and get it because we are way past bailing wire and stickum.

In my shop, I charge the $75.00 per hour plus parts rate and I work on
Birds. Though, as Mike told you, I have worked on Vectra's and bounders and
Fleetwood products at the same price. I am also one tech that prefers the
customer to be with me, if he/she so chooses as I am working on their coach.

Bottom line is, information, data, questions and answers on the forum gives
anyone a powerful tool, and most of us have learned to use it along with
learning to do some things by our on hand. And in truth, most of those that
do some of the work, learns the systems in them, end up having a greater
sense of Ownership and the resultant pride that goes with. There is nothing
wrong with Birds and you won't find a better coach for not only fun but
safety out on the road.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma
http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm



At 06:50 PM 10/18/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>I was going to look at a '91 Bluebird Wanderlodge until a gentleman
>told me a series of horror stories about repair bills on his. Like if
>you need to change the alternator you have to remove the bumper
>and all the belts on the engine. He got a $1500 labor bill for that.
>Question: are all Wanderlodges so expensive to repair? -winston
>
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