A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Topic: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal (Read 863 times) previous topic - next topic

A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

January 27, 2015, 01:08:33 pm

I don't miss my house much... about the only time is when I contemplate having to take the coach someplace to get some work done because park rules say you can't do it there. I am faced with such a conundrum right now. We have a rear wheel seal leaking oil on the curbside. I discovered it from John H's pit up in B.C. and it has been gnawing at me ever since. I have an appointment on Wednesday at Redlands Truck Service in Redlands, CA where I was planning to get the wheel seal done, and finally installing the resonator which has been with me in the Joey Bed for almost year and a half now. I think I am going to nix the resonator installation after talking to Ted at the Q (Ted & Karen), the estimate that they gave him for the the work sounded outrageous to me. They were wanting to charge $450 or so just for the 5050XL resonator itself (I think I paid around $110 for it

, and $140 per hour for labor. Regarding the leaking seal, if the pads are soaked then the wheel seal turns into a brake job (if I was doing it and the rotor was undamaged and the pad cleaned up nicely, I would just put the pads back on- they had way more than 50% life left when I looked at them about 6K miles ago).
So that said, my question is does anybody know of any facility that one can rent to do mechanical work? I bring all my own tools and while it would be nice if there is shop air, I can get around that too. What I do want is simply a flat, level, and smooth surface to work on. Preferably concrete, but even asphalt will do. Of course my dream would be to find a pit! (Thanks for spoiling me John!

).
I would appreciate any suggestions!
Thanks, Don

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #1 – January 27, 2015, 02:18:04 pm

Don, heres my $5000 for my portion. ! For a secured fully functional equipped pit, somewhere in the southwest..

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #2 – January 27, 2015, 04:10:01 pm

Hey John,
A Co-Op solution would be great! I canceled my Redlands appointment... I figured maybe I can find a place where I can do the work myself before we take any more extended trips. If not, I will make an appointment at Colton Truck Terminal (where I know that you can at least stay with the coach and observe the work being done... or at least you could a year ago

) towards the end of March because we just signed up to be at the FMCA Rally in Pomona at that time. I am looking forward to meeting Brett Wolfe and attending some presentations while there.
Still looking for options!
Don

Quote from: fouroureye – January 27, 2015, 02:18:04 pm

Don, heres my $5000 for my portion. ! For a secured fully functional equipped pit, somewhere in the southwest..

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #3 – January 27, 2015, 04:18:31 pm

Don,

You would be more than welcome to use our work deck but we are in East Texas. You would most likely be closer to John's work deck. Sounds like you just need to have a road trip. On a serious note if you are a Vet. you can use the military maintenance shop. My uncle used the shop at the military base it San Diego last time we were there it was a real nice place.
Pamela & Mike

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #4 – January 27, 2015, 06:03:58 pm

@Don While at Q I talked to Twig about the slabs in California. He said there is nothing there and it's a little scary if you don't know what you are doing. He also said the one thing it has going for it is that no one will say a damn thing if you work on your coach. You could pull you engine set it on the ground rebuild it and replace it and no one would care!

You might want to get with Twig and/or Wyatt and see if that will work for you.

see ya
ken

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #5 – January 27, 2015, 07:20:17 pm

Interesting thought Ken... I may just have to try that.

Don

Quote from: kenhat – January 27, 2015, 06:03:58 pm

@Don While at Q I talked to Twig about the slabs in California. He said there is nothing there and it's a little scary if you don't know what you are doing. He also said the one thing it has going for it is that no one will say a damn thing if you work on your coach. You could pull you engine set it on the ground rebuild it and replace it and no one would care!

You might want to get with Twig and/or Wyatt and see if that will work for you.

see ya
ken

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #6 – January 27, 2015, 09:13:54 pm

Quote from: acousticart – January 27, 2015, 04:10:01 pm

I will make an appointment at Colton Truck Terminal (where I know that you can at least stay with the coach and observe the work being done... or at least you could a year ago )

Don if you talk to ED at Colton I bet he will let you work on the property if you show him you know what you are doing. He has been very helpful to me letting me work with the tech under the coach with my air leaks. Maybe you can do the same arrangement. They have plenty of work so it never seems to be a problem.

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #7 – January 27, 2015, 11:22:12 pm

Just drive to a Wal-Mart pull it apart and fix it. Anybody asks just tell them you have tire problem,and am waiting on the tire truck to get back! They won't know any different

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #8 – January 27, 2015, 11:37:21 pm

We found a place in Grand Junction CO, You-Fix-It, which has a bay large enough for an RV, and it's heated!

They had a 40' coach in there when we visited. No lift that will handle a big coach, but that's what jacks are for!

U Fix It Garage - Grand Junction, CO | Yelp

Fully loaded DIY garage opens | GJSentinel.com

Looked like a great place, and we'll use it if we're near there (but not so near California...)

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #9 – January 27, 2015, 11:47:13 pm

Don, there is a U FIX IT garage in Oceanside but don't know if they can take our size rigs.

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #10 – January 28, 2015, 01:32:49 am

Good suggestions! From the limited info on the web site, it doesn't lookalike they have the space for rigs our size, but it won't hurt to give them a call. Dave, I wish the one in Colorado was a wee bit closer!
Don

Quote from: rbark – January 27, 2015, 11:47:13 pm

Don, there is a U FIX IT garage in Oceanside but don't know if they can take our size rigs.

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #11 – January 28, 2015, 08:14:46 am

Don,

Maybe I can help. I park my coach in the driveway next to my house in Temple City, on asphalt. I have an appointment to take it to Temecula Valler RV on Feb. 18 to repair minor damage from a close encounter with a chain link fence. My space should be free for a week or two. It should give you room to work, with 20A electric, water, and access to a sewer cleanout I occasinally use for dumping.

Tom

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #12 – January 28, 2015, 10:11:19 am

That is a mighty nice offer Tom, thanks! I am not sure how that time frame would work for us, but I will definitely keep it in mind! We do have base privileges, so another option may be a local base hobby shop. I just don't know if any of the local sites have the space for a motorhome and I am not sure what the implications would be if I can't finish something in the course of one day...
Don

Quote from: Tom Lang – January 28, 2015, 08:14:46 am

Don,

Maybe I can help. I park my coach in the driveway next to my house in Temple City, on asphalt. I have an appointment to take it to Temecula Valler RV on Feb. 18 to repair minor damage from a close encounter with a chain link fence. My space should be free for a week or two. It should give you room to work, with 20A electric, water, and access to a sewer cleanout I occasinally use for dumping.

Tom

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #13 – January 28, 2015, 09:59:26 pm

Don,

I've talked to our local Wright-Patterson AFB auto hobby shop. Can't get the coach inside but they will let me park outside to work. I was looking because they have the drain pans and disposal options for used fluids.

Rich

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #14 – January 31, 2015, 01:09:33 pm

I wish for the same type of thing in Florida. I've posted about it before but nobody ever bit

I may have my own land shortly and if I do I'll see about putting in a pit.

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #15 – January 31, 2015, 04:27:30 pm

There is a large rental garage facility in Kennewick, WA called "Garage Town". They have some pretty big units. Not sure what is in SoCal but there is one listedn in AZ.

GarageTown | Storage Ownership. Private Storage Condominiums. Storage for...

If you can make it to my place you're welcome to work here but then you'd only be about 150 miles south of John's place.

Craig

Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 20, 2025 ...

A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

January 27, 2015, 01:08:33 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #1 – January 27, 2015, 02:18:04 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #2 – January 27, 2015, 04:10:01 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #3 – January 27, 2015, 04:18:31 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #4 – January 27, 2015, 06:03:58 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #5 – January 27, 2015, 07:20:17 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #6 – January 27, 2015, 09:13:54 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #7 – January 27, 2015, 11:22:12 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #8 – January 27, 2015, 11:37:21 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #9 – January 27, 2015, 11:47:13 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #10 – January 28, 2015, 01:32:49 am

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #11 – January 28, 2015, 08:14:46 am

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #12 – January 28, 2015, 10:11:19 am

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #13 – January 28, 2015, 09:59:26 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #14 – January 31, 2015, 01:09:33 pm

Re: A place for do-it-yourself mechanical work in So Cal

Reply #15 – January 31, 2015, 04:27:30 pm

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