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Topic: Very Positive Experience with Old Town (Read 1492 times) previous topic - next topic

Very Positive Experience with Old Town

I recently had a fair chunk of restorative/preventive maintenance work down on my U295 and decided to give Old Town a shot at it since I knew Isaac from MOT.

 I was quite pleased with the results for several reasons.

First, they did the work they way that I wanted it done.  Since my coach has a Cat engine, I wanted to convert the coolant to Cat ELC.  They agreed to do so NOT "something equivalent" (don't want to start a debate on coolant merits, I wanted Cat -- they got the Cat product).  Then, they had no trouble doing the conversion right with several flushes, cleaning and final flush with distilled water.

Since they were getting the CAT product I commented that maybe they could pick up a new turbo drain tube gasket as mine was leaking.  They said they had an arrangement with Beau Reece for engine work like that so I asked if he could do a valve adjustment while there.  No problem.

Beau uncovered several other problems (that belied the well-maintained description of the coach when I bought it), including an exhaust manifold that was barely bolted in, a burned up manifold gasket, no gaskets anywhere on turbo and an intake preheat cable that had been draped across the exhaust manifold and burned down to about 18 gauge.  All fixed expeditiously rather than farmed out to a Cat shop.

They also replaced all the fuel lines in the coach to both engine and generator.  In this case using all new, modern lines rather than some of the old stock sitting for who knows how long at Foretravel.

Because of the timing (I was there before their new bays were finished) the work was all done alongside their building and I was able to stay with the coach for the full period of  repairs.  As a fulltimer I particularly appreciated this.  The idea of leaving the coach several days inside a shop, finding a hotel that would accept me AND pets and removing some seriously valuable belongings (my personal property insurance nearly equals the coach collision value).

I tried to put a bug in their ear that it would be beneficial for people like me (or even those that come from a fair distance and want to stay in their coach) if one of the new bays was actually more like a carport.  Something covered for work which they could still isolate from the main shop for interior security but  leave open for owners to stay in the coach overnight if mechanically disabled.  I'm not sure if that completely sunk in with them.
Regards

1997 U295 40 with CAT 3126

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #1 –
Issac and Beau are both top rate techs - they do the job right.  I have had experience with both of them- good experience.

 ^.^d  ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #2 –
Do you have an address for them and/or their complete business name?  I'm having trouble finding them.  Thanks in advance.

Found it elsewhere in this forum.  Old Town Motorcoach
'09 Lazy Daze 27 MB
Fort Worth, TX

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #3 –
Try this phone number in this reference list for Nacigdiches based serices including Old Town.

RV Service Options, Nacogdoches

Not sure why the url in that list would not work for you in the list I made?  The place was originally a sales and repair of ATVs.  Was named CJ's and think it still has that old name as part of the new.  I will try google search, see if I Find some other URL

Mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #4 –
I rechecked the url and the web site came up.  Their shop is across the highway from MOT, just a few hundred yards north of MOT. 

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #5 –
We need some routine work done our Lazy Daze to include resealing the roof.  We'd like to take it to the Lazy Daze factory, but that's a long drive and we live in Fort Worth.  So we're thinking MOT could help us since many on this Forum have given them high marks.  Old Town Motorcoach seems like it might be another option.  I'd hoped we could stay with our LD while the work is done.    I need to finish my list and give both of them a call.  At at any rate, thanks for the help.
'09 Lazy Daze 27 MB
Fort Worth, TX

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Traxless –
We need some routine work done our Lazy Daze to include resealing the roof.  We'd like to take it to the Lazy Daze factory, but that's a long drive and we live in Fort Worth.  So we're thinking MOT could help us since many on this Forum have given them high marks.  Old Town Motorcoach seems like it might be another option.  I'd hoped we could stay with our LD while the work is done.     I need to finish my list and give both of them a call.  At at any rate, thanks for the help.

I think that either MOT or Old Town would be able to accommodate your desire to stay with the coach as long as there isn't any work that won't allow moving the unit into/out of the shop each day.  Many have done that with MOT and Old Town also has the yard hook-ups to do the same.

In my case the fuel tank needed to be removed to access the fuel pick-ups (located dead center of tank top).  This could not be done, new lines installed, refueled and system bled during a single day shift.  It would have meant at least one night in hotel, which might have become a couple nights because the hose supplier didn't have quite enough fuel line in stock.

Further, without the arrangement with Beau Reece, I would have likely been referred to a Cat shop for the engine work.  The last time I tried that with another Cat-powered coach it was "bring it in and leave it until we get to it" kind of schedule.  A very hard prospect to deal with when you're a fulltimer  :o .
Regards

1997 U295 40 with CAT 3126

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #7 –
Billo is correct, often you can stay with your coach.  I hsve seen MOT allow people to stay in and in the shop too depending the tasks.  My understandung though is that due to fire dangers, they like to move the ciiaches out at night when no work.  I saw one couple sit insude while the slide was removed and bladder replaced.

Not long ago, MOT helped one couple due to health needs to get all the work in one day, putting many techs on the coach all at one time...some major tasks

A Lot may depend on workload at the time, so it a good plan you have to call with some details of work you need and explain your needs, such as must stay with coach as have a pet or whatever.

Happy 4th!

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #8 –
                         Seeing as we all have a choice as where we take our coaches for service , I will go next to Old Town  for my  routine service on my way to Arizona right after Christmas . I see this upstart  started with    " scruples "  at the top of their list as a way to do business .  That is a breath of fresh air .  And too boot , that top notch diesel mechanic will come there and do his thing---All this looks good to me .  The location is real good and handy . Sure hope they succeed since we need a choice  when in NAC.          Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #9 –
Beau will go anywhere to do the work...wherever you are parked, etc.  but he does not have a place at his house last I knew.  He even goes down to Houston for Rudy! 

Mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #10 –
Beau has bailed me out twice down here in the Houston area.  Once when he was at Bernd's and more recently for himself plus some work when I was in Nac.  Great job each time.

His trip charge here is the same as a mobile diesel mech that is 30 minutes from me.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #11 –
Excellent service ( refrigerator, tow system and electrical) that was done well, on-time and at a reasonable price.  All key staff at Old Town Motorhomes know RV's but have extensive Foretravel knowledge and experience. Isaac and Joey were my primary service providers and both are first class professionals. This was our maiden voyage in a new to us Foretravel ( 2002 U320) and Joey and Isaac went beyond the call of duty to provide an intensive review of systems entailing several hours over two days with a "NC" on the invoice. OTM is a valuable new RV service option in Nacodoches for Foretravel Owners. Michael Brooks(alpapadoc).
alpapadoc

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #12 –
Always nice to hear of positive reports of good service work. Just in case someone considering have FOT replace their fuel lines might worry that Foretravel would be using old stock that has been sitting around, I want to point out the FOT uses the same stuff that they use to build new coaches (Parker HTFL fuel tubing). This is a high temperature plastic (Reinforced Polyamide, Nylon) diesel fuel line that is purported to be a very long lasting product.
Diesel Fuel Tubing - HTFL & PFT Series | Parker NA
Don
Quote from: BillO –
They also replaced all the fuel lines in the coach to both engine and generator.  In this case using all new, modern lines rather than some of the old stock sitting for who knows how long at Foretravel.
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Very Positive Experience with Old Town

Reply #13 –
We just left OTM yesterday,
Had Isaac straighten out our air leak and leveling system...
1st broke a windshield while in the FOT parking lot getting the Motorcade stuff done while waiting for the appointment at OTM.
Got to OTM and had it replaced while they were waiting on  the SeaLevel & Progressive Surge protector stuff& assorted checkvalves and reglators to show up, and chased all sorts of air leaks.including replacing nearly all the stuff with the air step)
Next morning guess what! .....the other windshield broke so they looked and everything looked like it should after replacing the 2nd windshield.
Headed south to Rudyville and stopped at a rest area on US-59... right side will not level and all the right side air bags are flat....WTF????
Called OTM and let them know there was still an issue.
Got to Rudyville and HE IS AWSUM! and learned a lot about the system.
Returned to OTM next day and Isaac really got into investigating as to why drive axle and the tag wern't doing what they should..
SURPRISE! the wires to the plunger solenoids on the rear 6 packs (drive and tag) had been crossed up so it really put the coach into a twist.. which caused the broken glass.. Why HWH did not find this when we had them do their thing is anyone's guess....
Yes they are a bit slow but one man can only do so much in a day..
I give them two thumbs up! and will use them again...
btw... coach is a dream to drive now..... no dodging or ducking , and levels quick and smooth.
'02 40' U320t  4010WTFS Build 6036 1 slide
Motorcade # 17841
SKP 151920
Retired truck driver
 5 million miler
Still have itchy feet for travel