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Service Department Suggestions

I live in Austin, TX so not that far from NAC.  Upon purchasing my RV, my plan was to change ALL the fluids and filters regardless of their condition.  I just want a baseline to start from so I know when they were last changed.  I'm thinking I may want to have a service department do this initially as I come up to speed on all that needs to take place.  I'm looking for suggestions on service departments in and around Austin or Nacogdoches.  Any good/bad experiences with FOT, MOT, or any others that you would trust your FOT with?

OR, if you live in the area, have some experience doing this yourself, and are willing to provide a newbie instructions while I do the work, I will be happy to repay you in whatever way you desire.
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Benjie Zeller –
... Any good/bad experiences with FOT, MOT, or any others that you would trust your FOT with? ...

We live in Bellville, TX. We bought our 1997 U295 in April 2010. With your proximity to NAC, I recommend that you take your coach to a service center there.

Immediately after we bought our Foretravel, we took the coach to MOT in NAC for tires, alignment, filters, and fluids. We left the coach with them for three weeks. MOT was having some difficulty with illness, turnover, family issues, etc., among their service people at the time. We left the coach with few specific instructions. We were not pleased with the work or timing.

In January, 2011, we took the coach to FOT for alignment. new shock absorbers, and service. We spent about four days on site and stayed with the coach. We consulted with service folk several times.  We were very pleased with the experience.

Based on our experience and advice from other owners, I recommend that you stay with your coach at any service center. Keep a conversation with your service writer, and with the guys who work on your coach. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn. I expect the difference between staying with the coach and leaving the coach was the biggest factor in the difference between our good experience at FOT and our bad experience at MOT. Customers of both shops have reported mostly good results. I would expect you to get good service from any of the service facilities in NAC, that specialize in Foretravel coaches.

Contact me by private message if you want more information about our experiences as relatively new Foretravel owners.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Benjie Zeller –
I live in Austin, TX so not that far from NAC. 

I'm looking for suggestions on service departments in and around Austin or Nacogdoches.  Any good/bad experiences with FOT, MOT, or any others that you would trust your FOT with?

There's nothing quite like a pilgrimage to "Meccadoches"  at least once ;) 

We've used both FOT and MOT.  Only had one bad (really bad) experience and that tech no longer works at FOT.  One of the experts on servicing older coaches, Keith Risch, is at MOT.

Another option for service (which we found competitive) in Texas is http://rvmobilelube.com/index.php . 

Should you be interested in or needing an alignment, the only guy we would trust with our coach is Wayne Musser at FOT. 

The only warning about using other than MOT or FOT is that the brakes on our coaches (although I'm not sure about your '89) require a special clay-based lubricant and can only be lubed a couple of times in their lifetime.  I'd be careful using a non-FT-familiar shop that reason.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #3 –
We've be at MOT 3 or 4 times.  I think you get the best service when you stay on the premises.  Talk to the techs.  Don't get in their way, but they like to tell you what is going on with your coach.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #4 –
We have used the service departments at both FOT and MOT ... mostly based on who was more familiar with the vehicle (based on previous service records) AND who had time available to take us in.  As long as you are not annoying and constantly interrupting them, the techs at both places will help you educate yourself about what the vehicle needs. We have had wonderful help at both places.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #5 –
Shoot me now!  MOT just quoted $1500 to change every fluid/filter on this thing!  Ouch!  Is that what I should expect?  I guess that's motivation for doing it myself!
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #6 –
Benjie,

You will hear this often...You don't have a budget, you have a motor home..  Lot of information on the forum on how to do all the oil and filter changes. Many members will give you cell phone number if you have a question.

I don't do many repairs, although that is changing quickly as I have the time and budget has been taking a hit.
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #7 –
On the U320s the oil and trans fluids exceed 10 gallons each. Adds up fast.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #8 –
Thirteen(count 'em) filters, over 16 gallons of engine oil, coolant for engine and genny, 10 gallons of tranny oil, 5 gallons of differential fluid.  Am I there yet?  About 5 hours of labor.  Sounds about right.  Have you joined the Motorcade Club yet for your 10% discount?
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Benjie Zeller –
Shoot me now!  MOT just quoted $1500 to change every fluid/filter on this thing!  Ouch!  Is that what I should expect?  I guess that's motivation for doing it myself!

That sounds a little steep to me. I just purchased all of the filters and fluids for the engine, transmission and cooling system. My total for the fluids and filters was $459 for Oriellys. My guess would be about 6 hours flat rate labor which would be around another $600, so your are porbably looking at over a grand. If you were not clear on what you wanted done and told them you wanted everything updated you could be looking at an additional $250 for the air dryer, $200 for the hydraulic system etc. I'm not really familiar with the Cat 3208 or the ORED chassis so I may be off on some of this but you can easily spend $1500 if you update and change everything on my coach. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback
 

Re: Service Department Suggestions

Reply #10 –
If you have changed fluids in some other vehicle, you can probably do it on your Foretravel.  The thing to be careful about is that the fluids you put in are approved for use in the engine, transmission, etc.  For example a quality antifreeze for a car, may not be suitable for a diesel engine.  As you are finding out there is much more of everything.  Like 4 gallons of oil instead of 4 quarts.  You need a big container to catch whatever you are removing.  Many of us buy filters from Filter Barn, free shipping on a $100 order.  At least it used to be, I haven't ordered recently.  Sometimes they may not have everything you want. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt