On my RV tour around the United States, I found myself in Missoula Montana, 42k miles on the…read morecurrent transmission fluid ony class C RV. I also had some play in my front end and needed to get it checked out since I was about 2k miles from home and only halfway done with the trip. I called the local RV dealer and asked them where they take their gas class C RV for chassis work and was told that Transport Equipment was the place they use.
It is tough to get service on a gas class C and that is the reason I called the big RV dealer and asked them for a recommendation..
I called Transport Equipment and sure enough, they service gas class C rv's. I made an appointment and met with the service writer in the morning. Handed themy key and went to their very nice "Drivers Lounge".
The staff are friendly, but no one gives you updates as to what is going on, or an estimate on when it'll be complete. Pretty standard for auto service places, so not a big deal, until you are there for 8 hours.
Here is the reason the the two stars. First of all, I needed bushings for the front end sway bar. The mechanic went to the parts house three times. Two times he got the wrong part, and the third time was a charm. I WAS CHARGED FOR HIS TIME, ON HIS SCREW UP. $200 an hour, I was charged 2.5 hours, I'm sure 1.5 hours was because he screwed up.
The second reason for two stars is, the mechanic was in such a hurry (he was supposed to be off work at 1630hrs, so he did what anyone would do, rushed the job and did it poorly.
I drove up the hill towards Kalispell, and the smoke from the rear of my motorhome looked like I was getting shotndown over the English Channel in WW2. The motorhome began to shake violently. I pulled over and looked under the coach. Transmission oil was spewing out of the pan area.
I drove it back to Transport Equipment and spoke to "a guy". He told me that all of the techs "mechanics" have left for the day and I'd have to wait till tomorrow. I was stuck, I had to cancel reservations that I had at a cost to me, but I was able to park on the side of their building. (That god for generators). I was told they open at 0700hrs, and they'd get me in right away.
0700hrs arrived, I was at their service desk, they took it back in. Oh...the mechanic got in at 0800hrs, so back to the nice "Drivers Lounge" I went. UNTIL 1300HRS! Two days of travel lost, two reservations had to be cancelled at my cost, and starting RV travel so late in the day isn't a good thing.
Come to find out, we waited for the mechanic to get the transmission fluid which had spewed out of the transmission due to it not being sealed right the first time.
It was fixed, I went on the test drive with the service writer, and so far, so good.
I asked for a brake inspection also (when I left it the first time). I was told the mechanic said the brakes were good. I asked how many 32nds were left on the pads. The mechanic did not note that, leaving me to believe that he didn't inspect them, yet, I was charged the time for the inspection. Brakes are not measured in percentages, it's 32nds. Any mechanic should give.you the 32nds of pad left.
Bottom line is, if you use this place, get your own parts, get your own fluids, and prepare to have to stay two days either in their lot, or somewhere close.
Did they offer me anything for their mechanic screwing up? Not a chance.
Beware of this business. An emergency is an emergency. But if you find somewhere else a little more ethical, find it and go.