Pricey repairs

[Scott]

Good morning Winston, I must "throw" my .02 in here as well. A couple
of the guys have given great answers to your question but let me
relate another personal experience if you will. I DO believe that
when you pull into a place for service and they see the BEAUTIFUL BB
many also see $$$. I needed to replaced the exhaust for my old genny
and pulled into a muffler shop that "specialized in RV" repairs. The
owner went into great detail about the "special" muffler, noise
reduction and some other BS and bottom line told me that
the "special" muffler was going to cost me about 350.00-400.00 to
replace...I kindly asked him to hold a rusty piece of exhaust pipe
until I returned from lunch and they could start...I went two blocks
and bought the same parts from the same place he would have for less
than 50.00 and paid another shop 50.00 to weld it all together. I
hope the first guy is STILL holding that pipe!!!
I think that with any older,vintage, car, boat RV the owner should
have "some" idea of what is going on. (Many of my friends here can
attest I have only "some" idea..LOL) BUT that is where we start to
differentiate ..Most of the BB community is willing to offer
information, help and opinions that in many cases can be accomplished
in a few minutes with the help of a computer. The BB corporation
STILL offers customer support 24/7 for my coach which is a 1986..20
yrs old...MOST other RV's aren't even on the road let alone still
supported.
ONE more lil storey, on my recent return from FLA I was in a Pilot
truck stop and three brand new BB pulled in and parked. They were
being delivered to a dealer..but two of the drivers looked at my 86
and smiled that sure is nice..I thanked them and asked how many they
see..the really smiled and informed me that they actually helped
BUILD MY COACH!!! I bought them a soda and thanked them for building
such a product that still turns heads 20 yrs after she rolled off the
assembly line...THAT SIR IS PART OF THE BLUE BIRD EXERIENCE..So don't
be concerned..do your home work..and you will see..Heck you might
just own one!!

Scott
86FC35 "RUBY"
Murrells Inlet SC (hoping that storm stays outta here)



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> Winston,
> I don't have the start of this thread. I'll send you my work-items
and
> cost-ledger spread sheets (SS) if you like. We purchased the 1987
PT38
> in February of the year. The spread sheets will give you a good
idea
> about work-items and cost. You will need to keep in mind that I'm
> spending more dollars than the average person would spend...that's
just
> me...everything gets attention even though some items could wait or
> never receive attention. Our Bird is getting everything it needs to
come
> back to original, and better. Send me your email address and I'll
send
> the spread sheets to you. Good luck in your search.
>
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
>
> Ralph L. Fullenwider wrote:
>
> > 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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