Final Trip Tomorrow

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Final Trip Tomorrow

May 01, 2019, 08:17:23 pm

For those of you who followed my thread regarding the tranny failure (Busted Tranny) on our 1995 36' U295...this is kind of a eulogy...as the coach makes its final trip tomorrow...behind a large wrecker truck...to the scrap heap. Freightliner (in Phoenix) threw a $16K estimate at us for the R&R of a remanufactured MD3060R transmission

She goes to the scrap yard with a 10-year-old Xtreme paint job...5-year-old Michelin tires, brand-new coach batteries (installed in March), and 6-month-old engine batteries.

She also goes with a LOT of memories.

Sad ending for an elegant lady.

Larry

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #1 – May 01, 2019, 08:19:21 pm

Quote from: U295 Owner – May 01, 2019, 08:17:23 pm

For those of you who followed my thread regarding the tranny failure (Busted Tranny) on our 1995 36' U295...this is kind of a eulogy...as the coach makes its final trip tomorrow...behind a large wrecker truck...to the scrap heap. Freightliner (in Phoenix) threw a $16K estimate at us for the R&R of a remanufactured MD3060R transmission

She goes to the scrap yard with a 10-year-old Xtreme paint job...5-year-old Michelin tires, brand-new coach batteries (installed in March), and 6-month-old engine batteries.

She also goes with a LOT of memories.

Sad ending for an elegant lady.

Larry

I am so so sorry for your loss..... must have been a terrible decision you had to make to just let the coach go and lose your investment and your effort and patience....

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #2 – May 01, 2019, 08:45:37 pm

So Sorry for You. That would have been a very difficult decision to make, to bad you couldn't have found cheap storage while you tried to recoup some of your investment.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #3 – May 01, 2019, 08:47:11 pm

That stinks. Any chance you can drag it somewhere and rent out as Air BnB?

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #4 – May 01, 2019, 08:52:06 pm

I'm not that knowledgeable about R&Ring Allison transmissions but a quick look on EBay showed prices from $895.00 used to $3500.00 rebuilt and everything in between.
Even paying $5000.00 for one leaves $11,000.00 for labor, which is 73 man hours at $150.00 per hour.
Does that sound reasonable? There must be someone cheaper.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #5 – May 01, 2019, 09:00:21 pm

I also would be looking for a second opinion.. There must be another shop, and surely it is worth the cost to have another shop give an opinion. I personally am not a fan of franchise auto transmission repair facility. It is rare the transmission is shot... most times it is a single piece failure, ie pump, clutch pack, or simply a failed o ring... My two cents worth, please get an other opinion.
Safe Travels,
Dave

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #6 – May 01, 2019, 09:05:54 pm

This guy isn't the cheapest, but $3-4k will get you a used transmission. It's probably 5-10 hours max to remove old and install it.

https://rvchassisparts.visonerv.com/cgi-bin/f/allisonautomatictransmissions.pl?

Something doesn't sound right for a 16k estimate. I don't even know if they cost that much new!

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #7 – May 01, 2019, 09:12:29 pm

NOOOOOOOOOOOO...!!!!! dont do it offer it to your fellow FT owners...$16K wow...

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #8 – May 01, 2019, 09:14:31 pm

Before you junk it put it in the for sale section. I bet someone will but it.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #9 – May 01, 2019, 09:19:18 pm

I would have the tow truck drop the FT off at a RV park and not the crusher. Living in it I would then hit the local bars, VFW's, American Legions, etc. until I located someone to perform the labor at a reasonable price.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #10 – May 01, 2019, 09:24:05 pm

I wouldn't make that big of decesion based off a blasted rob you blind Freightliner dealership or any other truck dealership. Not trying to ruff you up at a time like this but man get resourceful that's to much bus to scrap over a busted transmission. At least put it up for sale first. None of my business but dam.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #11 – May 01, 2019, 09:29:21 pm

I wonder how much the retarder adds to the cost of a remanufactured Allison

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #12 – May 01, 2019, 09:30:09 pm

Post a figure on classifieds what you will take for it.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #13 – May 01, 2019, 09:31:47 pm

Replaced my MD3060R last year with a factory reman...just under 6Ks for the transmission, just over 6K labor, $12,200 total with tax, shop supplies, and all the other add on crap. I thought 6K was a tad rough for R&R...drop driveshaft, unplug 3 electrical connections, oil lines, and remove 12 bolts...but that is the way it was.

Ralph
96 U270

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #14 – May 01, 2019, 09:52:03 pm

crusher

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #15 – May 01, 2019, 10:00:02 pm

Quote from: Ralph – May 01, 2019, 09:31:47 pm

Replaced my MD3060R last year with a factory reman...just under 6Ks for the transmission, just over 6K labor, $12,200 total with tax, shop supplies, and all the other add on crap. I thought 6K was a tad rough for R&R...drop driveshaft, unplug 3 electrical connections, oil lines, and remove 12 bolts...but that is the way it was.

Ralph
96 U270

The Costs are all probably warranty related, the actual R&R shop costs X2. I would go to Goodwill get a set of bib overalls to wear and hit up the local mom and pops for a price. Or post in classifieds. But that's just me.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #16 – May 01, 2019, 10:04:07 pm

Quote from: U295 Owner – May 01, 2019, 08:17:23 pm

For those of you who followed my thread regarding the tranny failure (Busted Tranny) on our 1995 36' U295...this is kind of a eulogy...as the coach makes its final trip tomorrow...behind a large wrecker truck...to the scrap heap. Freightliner (in Phoenix) threw a $16K estimate at us for the R&R of a remanufactured MD3060R transmission

She goes to the scrap yard with a 10-year-old Xtreme paint job...5-year-old Michelin tires, brand-new coach batteries (installed in March), and 6-month-old engine batteries.

She also goes with a LOT of memories.

Sad ending for an elegant lady.

Larry

Bummer.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #17 – May 01, 2019, 10:17:23 pm

Total overhaul by Allison shop; Warranty. Out the door $7100.00 Parts readily available from various Alllison shops. Shop it around another day. Please.

jk

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #18 – May 01, 2019, 10:19:21 pm

Sell it as-is.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #19 – May 01, 2019, 11:01:03 pm

At a mom and pop business, cash money for labor can significantly lower the labor and misc costs.

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #20 – May 02, 2019, 12:54:02 am

Sorry to hear about your coach. Hopefully, you'll find a more reasonable repair and won't have to scrap her.

But if you do, I understand there is an RV salvage yard in Phoenix (Arizona RV Salvage - Rv Parts, Rv Salvage). Is that where it is going? I checked with them a while back to see if they had any Foretravels because I was looking for a used fan motor. They didn't have any Foretravels at that time.

George

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #21 – May 02, 2019, 01:01:46 am

Is the coach worth more than 16k fixed? You are throwing away money. Unless $16k is hard to raise right now

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #22 – May 02, 2019, 02:21:03 am

Heck no, don't do that! Contact me before you think about doing that!, send me a Personal Message and certainly never a Foretravel to Arizona RV Salvage, that place is for cheapo Elkhart made RV's that are refrigerator fire victims, not a coach like this. I'd hate to see you do that

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #23 – May 02, 2019, 04:53:02 am

Quote from: Caflashbob – May 02, 2019, 01:01:46 am

Is the coach worth more than 16k fixed? You are throwing away money. Unless $16k is hard to raise right now

Thats my thought. You cannot buy a used canvas side pop up for 16k. Fix it enjoy it. Remember buying a coach is not an investment it is an expense. It is a price you pay to have fun!

Re: Final Trip Tomorrow

Reply #24 – May 02, 2019, 06:51:50 am

You have 2 better choices,shop around more for repair options and estimates,or sell to a forum member,selling to a member will
get you more then a junkyard for sure.

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