We had used Old Town Motor Coach in Feb 2017 for coach service. Now that they are out of business, we need to pick a new service center for Monday Aug 10th (if we can get an appointment that week). We will arrive on 8 Aug Saturday prior. We have Motorcade membership.
What we need done is:
2003 U320 40' Tag coach service:
- Cummins Oil change, plus fuel, oil, and coolant filters
- Lube chassis (and brake lube - clay based)
- Generator and AquaHot fuel filters replacement (only fuel filters, rest is current)
- ABS light is on - check
- Check fuel lines
And other service interested in - can be elsewhere:
- Wash and detail coach exterior – buff out minor scratches from branch rubbing
- Fuel polish
I appreciate any advice on were you recommend, plus a private message if any are not recommended.
Dan and Sandy
I would highly recommend Motorhomes of Texas ... they are across the street from old Old Town location.
With the exception of the ABS I would consider Beau Reece. He did my service last time right in the campground. I stayed at the Forest Country CG next to DPS on 59 north of the big guys. Beau came out with drain pans, etc. and did the servicing right there.
I can't comment on his experience with ABS.
There is another shop over on University that others here have commented about for body cleaning and polishing work.
No knowledge on fuel polishing.
That is a one day job at MOT. They may have a service special going on, ask. Your Motorcade membership is worth 10% discount. Precision Detail on University will do a great job on the fluff and buff. They will do as much as you want. Stay in your coach if it takes more than a day. Call ahead.
I have used Beau Reece too. He knows his stuff. Prices were OK.
We have used both. MOT several times.
Not sure where to get the fuel polished. Do you need this done?
Roger
Just preventive maintenance. I heard the service is available in the area. Rudy Legette gave me one source (Keith Risch) who I will be contacting.
Fuel polish threads via search:
Now This is Algae! (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=33293.msg301574#msg301574)
Having diesel fuel cleaned (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=32746.msg294480#msg294480)
Check with Mike for his source. Dave Metzger had a pretty steady business polishing fuel in tanks for his standby generators.
It sounds like something worth doing at the age of our coaches.
Keith polished mine, and I intend to do it annually . You can see the results with your own eyes. Quick, relatively inexpensive as maintenance issues go, and a Keith knows what he's doing.
#4879 is at MOT right now for annual service, LOF. Eric Barnes and Keith Risch are awesome in my book!
Keith Risch bought polishing equipment and is able to offer that service in NAC. Beau has a very good reputation. MOT built their business on Foretravel service. Hard to beat MOT
Sadly, no longer Roger.
FOT objected and forced the removal of the benefit from MOT offerings.
As I understand it, MOT sold coaches get a discount (10%, I think).
Neal
Thought about the "fuel polishing" probably is good if you actually have bad/dirty fuel,in my opinion if you don't know for sure
how this happened then it most likely started in the tank.So unless you clean the tank of whatever caused the bad fuel the
polishing will not fix the problem.As for the "bad fuel from the pump" theory,this happens in very few cases and people from
miles around would have the same problem and it would probably make the news.Once you use up the polished fuel then what?
Don't forget,the older coaches have filters different from the newer ones,bigger micron ratings.
I don't think that the age of the coach has much bearing on fuel polishing. It's much more applicable to letting fuel sit -- especially in heat-- and developing crap (microbes, etc.). Since we don't run a tank a day the fuel is much more susceptible to picking up or growing things as we sit.
Another thought,if the polishing costs more then the fuel that is polished why not just get rid of the fuel and clean the tank?
"Sadly, no longer Roger.
FOT objected and forced the removal of the benefit from MOT offerings.
As I understand it, MOT sold coaches get a discount (10%, I think).
Neal"
When did this happen? We were there in January of this year and got the MC discount at MOT. It is too bad if it is gone but even without it it would still be my choice of service stops in NAC.
How can FOT tell the owners of MOT how to run their business? I always assumed they were totally separate enterprises.
Probably because FOT owns Motorcade and MOT was giving Motorcade members the discount, not everybody.
Still don't get it...as a independent business, MOT should be able to give a discount to any RV "club" members that they choose, without having to ask the permission of the "club" honchos.
Just my uneducated opinion, by the way. I know nothing about running a business...was a wage slave all my working life.
We were there in March and got the discount. Even with that, it was still 11CBs, but well worth it in friendly AND professional support, making us feel like part of the family!
Trent
I emailed MOT and were told they do give the 10% discount. Not sure if it applies to having bought a coach there or being a motorcade member.
Maybe they just give you a discount if you ask. Another owner told me today that they got 10% off in May. I have gotten this discount on parts, service and labor just for asking several times. No one ever asks for an ID card.
Roger, All,
David put out a fairly detailed explanation in the MOT routine sales flyer, that we receive, explaining why MOT could no longer offer the motorcade discount. It was some time ago (well before Jan of this year, I think) but I can't recall the specific time or wording. I do recall that the 10% discount would continue for coaches sold by or through MOT.
We just had extensive service done at MOT (May 31 through June 3) and I asked both the service and (on a separate invoice, because I wondered if maybe parts could still be discounted) parts departments for a Foretravel Motorcade discount and both asked if I bought the coach from MOT. Since we didn't, no discount.
I have a call in to Service (Eric) to find out what went down/when/and what is going on now with the inconsistencies. I will let you all know what I find out.
Neal
I have asked for the discount and was told no, both times. MOT "may" give a discount to older regular customers, (Sssssh Roger) but they do not call it a Motorcade Discount. First time I inquired was March 2015.
My experience has been MOT will work with you, and they encourage (the owner) purchasing parts from FOT with the discount.
Official or unofficial discount or none, MOT is still a great place to go for service. A discount is not why I go there. It is like extra frosting on an already great cake. It just never hurts to ask if there is a discount available. They have normal service deals from time to time as well that can save you more than 10%.
I get 10% discount at MOT. The last time I had service I ask them since I have bought 3 coaches from them would they give me 30%. HAAAA!
What did they say ?!
Well Bill,
We have been moving from Zion (St. George, actually) to Lake Mead today, so I've been busy darting from one scarce spot of shade to another.
"What they said" in a telecomm, on the road, this afternoon, refreshed my memory a little bit. But, as we all know, MOT is very cautious about saying anything disparaging to anybody about anything, soooooo, I'm sure I only have a small part of the story:
- The MOT decision to stop offering the 10% discount on service and parts to Foretravel Motorcade Club members occurred 4 to 5 years ago now (My, time flies when you're having fun)!
- This bullet is from my own recollection (not from MOT, today); I remember now that FOT removed MOT from its "Owner Recommended" and "Authorized Service Centers" list (see attached). When that was appealed and denied, MOT changed standing policy of honoring the FOT Motorcade Club 10% discount. But MOT felt that prior Foretravel Motorcade Club customers (who had a documented record with MOT) deserved to be treated better.
- So "Good Customers" with a prior history of MOT service and parts purchases were "Grandfathered" and continue to be treated like those MOT customers that have purchased MOT inventory (or commissioned) coaches. Thus, they continue to receive the 10% "FOT MCC" (In reality, the MOT) discount rate on service and parts.
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Pretty simple and straightforward actually, other than the initial petty act and the obvious sham that the FOT list, posted on their website, is supposed to be an "Owner Referred and Recommended" list of Reputable/Good Service providers.
Removing MOT from "Authorized Service Center" status (appears to me) is even more egregious.
HTH clarify the confusion. On a quick glance it appears to be inconsistent, but it really isn't at all.
Neal
If you are near a coast or a boating center, you can find mobile fuel treatment francises and operators. When we got laid up from last July I had mine polished and treated. No algae and little dirt. Not sure if it had ever been done before but peace of mind and all that. Ours was $250 plus a dollar a gallon. Pretty simple and mobile process.