I have my coach back from Temecula Valley RV, and am happy to report they did everything very well indeed.
This shop is located in Southern California, and I was referred to them via FOT. I had a slide room problem, and FOT recommended this shop as one in my area with experience with our HWH slides. It also helps that they are an official warranty repair facility for Foretravel, along with most other brands.
They consulted with HWH, and found the problem was not the mucho expensive $$$ bladder, but a simple and relatively inexpensive "Y-adapter" to keep the vacuum pumping while moving the slide. Works great now.
They replaced the fire-damaged refrigerator with a Sea Freeze custom marine style refrigerator. It was made to the exact dimensions of the Dometic it replaces, and has two 12-volt compressor-driven refrigeration units. Temecula Valley worked with Sea Freeze and my insurance company and the results are wonderful. I will post photos on a separate thread. The refrigerator came with black plastic panels in the doors. but Temecula Vally has a complete wood shop and made walnut inserts that look OEM. By the way, this refrigerator cools down FAST.
They fixed a crack in the shower Corian wall that was caused by Foretravel wrongly screwing the grab bar into the Corian instead of the wood behind. The wall is now better than new.
The Girard awning needed adjustment and a new wind sensor. Done, and works as it should.
In addition to the needed lube and oil change (and they did follow directions and not touch the Meritor brakes), I had a 40" front TV installed. There was some woodwork involved, and I believe the results were as good as FOT or MOT, and it cost me a lot less in diesel to do it locally. I will take photos and show the TV installation on a separate thread.
Temecula Valley is working with California OHSA rules, and cannot let customers let customers hang around the work areas, but escorted trips and direct questions to the techs and mechanics are permissible.
All in all I am happy, although my wallet is a bit thinner. I had been wanting to take the coach to Nac for some of this work, but the slide and refrigerator issues moved the timetable to NOW, and I didn't have the time to drive cross country to get it done. I know the shop rate in California is higher than in Texas, but considering the savings in diesel, I am probably ahead money wise. Plus it is all, and I have my beautiful coach back.
By the way, my dealings were through a service writer and also the owner of Temecula Valley. The service writer worked at (now closed) RV manufactures in the area (Dolphin and Fleetwood), and really knows her stuff. The owner took over time consuming details, like the refrigerator and Corian. He personally selected the walnut and made the panels for the refrigerator doors.
I give them two thumbs up. b^.^d
Tom,
That sounds super and great information for us west coast folks.
Do you have a link for information on the fridge?
Harvey
ALWAYS wonderful to hear about great experience in detail. So happy that you are happy!!
It's always a blessing to be able to add to our list of "trusted places" in case the need arises in the future! Thanks!
Hi Harvey,
Here is a clipping of the contact info and pdf of the build sheet for my refrigerator. I plan to take photos and post them to a new thread later today.
Tom
David Lehmann
Sea Freeze of America Inc.
1188 Marine Dr.
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-733-8282
Email david@seafreezeinc.com
Web seafreezeinc.com
HI Tom,
Glad to hear the repairs went well.
Do you have a part# for the HWH Slide "Y" adapter?
May be something worth looking into.
Thank You--Jim
Are the Sea Freeze custom fridges self defrosting?
Tom, bet you're a happy camper now!
Richard B
No. Self defrosting freezers also partially defrost your frozen food, which I would rather do without.