Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Topic: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade? (Read 973 times) previous topic - next topic

Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

May 12, 2020, 04:52:05 pm

Since I'm driving a 1996 with 125,000 I would like to take it to Texas and have it looked over and tested this year. Anyone on here done that? Do they charge by the hour? Just getting an idea going forward.
Thanks

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #1 – May 12, 2020, 05:00:44 pm

Quote from: dans96u295ft – May 12, 2020, 04:52:05 pm

Since I'm driving a 1996 with 125,000 I would like to take it to Texas and have it looked over and tested this year. Anyone on here done that? Do they charge by the hour? Just getting an idea going forward.
Thanks

I've read here that the shop rate is $120. With the exception of the Fore built frame, and of course the washer-dryer, your rig is composed of industrial truck parts. So you can use a truck garage to check the truck stuff.

Based on my personal experience you can use a truck tire dealer if you stand there, break free and torque the lug nuts yourself. You can allow the tire technician to remove the lug nuts if you stand there and scream, at the appropriate time, "Those are LEFT HAND Threads!!!"

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #2 – May 12, 2020, 05:17:21 pm

Check out the Cummins Coach Care. They have several locations around the US and will go through the entire coach.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #3 – May 12, 2020, 05:36:04 pm

Quote from: dans96u295ft – May 12, 2020, 04:52:05 pm

I would like to have it looked over and tested this year.

If you just take your coach to any shop, and tell them to "look it over and test it" you are kinda writing them a blank check. What they will test, how well they will test it, and how long it will take would be totally subject to the whims of the mechanical staff. You may or may not get your money's worth. Seems kinda risky to me.

It would be better to have a list of the specific items you want tested, so that you and the service manager can discuss in advance how long the appointment will take, and how much it will cost. Be sure the shop employees are qualified to "test" the items on the list, and that they have the equipment necessary to do a professional job.

Caveat Emptor.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #4 – May 12, 2020, 06:40:20 pm

Think you might be better coordinating with someone like Brett Wolfe to do a prebuy inspection on your coach. Than go to Cumins Coach care for the mechanical stuff. Guess it's all in what you are looking for.

Roland

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #5 – May 12, 2020, 06:47:48 pm

Good idea. A look under it front to back and specific items is good. Cummins in my town just raised their MH labor to $220 per hour. Yikes

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #6 – May 12, 2020, 07:08:28 pm

Big difference in what a coach "could use" vs what a coach really needs vs what a coach "must have".. Easily blurred depending on which side of the desk one sits.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #7 – May 12, 2020, 07:33:55 pm

There are many coaches here with lots more miles. I would say for the mechanicals, if it is running well and you are doing the normal maintenance you won't gain much by having someone go through it. For the RV stuff, if it's working, it's good.
jor

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #8 – May 12, 2020, 07:35:53 pm

MOT does a 21 point inspection.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #9 – May 12, 2020, 08:17:58 pm

220 bucks an hour, that my friends is BS.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #10 – May 12, 2020, 08:30:54 pm

You don't mean border line bs do you Bruce.. Blasted people will tear your head off..

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #11 – May 13, 2020, 12:13:35 am

Yes. Outrageous! I hope I never need them. I used them to set the Cummins idle up and it was $225. The tech did walk out and explain a few things! Ha Ha. They had a real nice waiting room and gave me a free sticker!

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #12 – May 13, 2020, 12:58:54 am

How in the world do you justify that kind of labor rate. I ran a shop for 40 years everything from cars to heavy equipment don in house. I'm well aware of Overhead. Buttttt

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #13 – May 13, 2020, 02:09:03 am

Wow! $220. A local Walla Walla heavy truck shop does all the oily bits on our coach. And when they get done. They go through and explain everything they did and the final cost. But if they are really busy and haven't completed the paperwork. They just hand me the keys and mail me the bill in a week or two.
their shop rate is $90 an hour. Man O Man am I blessed to have a truck shop like this that are even willing to work on a coach and also do good work.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #14 – May 13, 2020, 07:11:49 am

Used Cummins once which was an hour away in Cincinnati, they charged a higher labor rate for motor homes than for trucks which was $175 an hour this time last year. Got oil and grease all over the coach. Did not work on it for a week despite having made an appointment for an oil change and general check up (they did not check anything)
Discovered a super clean small truck shop two miles from home who charge $95 an hour, allow me to supply parts if I can get them cheaper, do a wonderful job, treat my coach like it's royalty.
Discuss best value alternatives and what they could do verses what they should do as far as servicing.
Look for a truck or school bus repair facility near home and build a personal relationship with them, they will want your business!

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #15 – May 13, 2020, 08:11:39 am

Keith Risch at MOT will do an unbiased inspection of your coach and tell you what issues he finds. What you do with that is up to you. Both MOT and FOT have good remodel shops if that is what is needed. I use Cummins CoachCare in St Paul, MN for mechanical stuff. I don't think their labor rate is as high as other places but it is right up there. They are efficient and on time. I took our coach to a nearby truck stop for an oil change. Maybe saved a few bucks but I spent quite a bit of time cleaning up greasy hand prints inside and out. Not going back there. We have had lots of work done at MOT and have had very good results.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #16 – May 13, 2020, 10:52:37 am

Most of the items you will have "tested",will be done so by driving it to get tested,first place to look for what to and procedures is right here.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #17 – May 13, 2020, 11:05:23 am

Quote from: John44 – May 13, 2020, 10:52:37 am

Most of the items you will have "tested",will be done so by driving it to get tested,first place to look for what to and procedures is right here.

To a degree, I agree.

BUT (yes, large BUT) concentrating on what is working correctly right now without focusing on needed PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE can be very costly in the long run.

Example: Air system may be working OK. But if the desiccant in the air dryer (run way past its recommended life) can clog many, many valves in the suspension and brake system and cost many thousands of dollars to repair.

Most truck shops are used to fixing what is "wrong right now". But, those same components that are now 25 years old in your motorhome could be expected to hit the junk yard in 5-7 years in an OTR truck. Care and feeding of a motorhome IS different.

As any machine ages, preventive maintenance becomes more important to keep it functioning properly.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #18 – May 14, 2020, 02:38:06 pm

Just got an email from Cummins Coach Care

$329.00 21-Point Chassis Inspection Checklist
$1,250.00 Premium Road Ready Package

Now if I could only figure out how to add the picture.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #19 – May 14, 2020, 02:42:30 pm

Here is email.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #20 – May 14, 2020, 04:42:55 pm

Quote from: turbojack – May 14, 2020, 02:42:30 pm

Here is email.

Looks to me like with the $1200+ package you be paying $900 for an oil and filter change on the engine and generator. Seems a bit high. Unless I'm missing something.

Roland

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #21 – May 15, 2020, 01:18:31 am

Ouch, like he said a bit high. Of course I have no idea how much oil you coach holds.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #22 – May 15, 2020, 07:02:56 am

Engine is approx. 5 gallons,give or take some.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #23 – May 15, 2020, 07:35:23 am

That is such bad value, one very expensive oil change, things like the 31 point chassis inspection are very dubious and are often just a quick visual which is highly profitable for the dealer giving the coach owner a very false sense of security!
They evidently have a marketing genius on their staff!! Cummins must be hurting for work because last year when their facility was full of trucks they gave the impression that they had no time for an RV, and I got an email looking for business earlier this week.
I would not show that advert to the truck shop I use for service, it would give them ideas that they should be charging a whole lot more.

Re: Does FT do a coach overall check-upgrade?

Reply #24 – May 16, 2020, 12:01:12 pm

Just remember that you can get into a "while I'm working on this I might as well do that, and then there is this other thing, etc." Sometimes it makes sense to do two things at the same time (replacing air bags and shocks at the same time, for example, really makes sense).

We've done a lot on this coach, and there is still more to do, but at this point I think most of it is more in the area of upgrades rather than taking care of delayed maintenance or major repairs. Whenever we replace this coach we'll take that replacement to the factory or other highly-rated service place and pay them to go through it from one end to the other and make a list of what needs work, either immediately or down the road a bit, and then work out a plan to address those points.

I mentioned doing the air bags and shocks together. We did the air bags one year, and the shocks the next year. If both were done at the same time it would be easier to do the shocks, as the air bags wouldn't be in the way. I didn't think about that when we did the air bags, and watching the mechanics struggle to get to a couple of the shocks was enlightening. I suppose they probably could have removed an air bag or two and made life a bit easier on themselves, but they didn't.

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