I am long time overdue in writing our review for Ray's Old Town Auto & Muffler in Eureka. We feel so blessed to have found Ray when our truck broke down just a short distance north of Eureka, CA this past September (2024). We HIGHLY recommend Ray's shop to anyone looking for a really, really great Auto Repair shop!!!
Here's our wordy 'Back story': We had just started out on our much planned and highly anticipated several week vacation to Oregon & Washington, making the trip basically staying on 101 for most of our trip. However, we had to make some adjustments to our carefully planned trip when on the morning of Day 3, just 341 miles from our home, our 2008 Chevy 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4WD Crew Cab broke down about 24 miles north of Eureka. After calling AAA and then getting several numbers for auto repair places around the Eureka area, I started calling around. Most all the shops were fully booked but a couple did tell me that they could 'POSSIBLY look at it' the following week. (This was on a Thursday.) Luckily, I then realized that I had accidently drawn through my notation of Ray's Old Town Auto when I was crossing off one of the other shops. It was the last number I had to call. I called there and Ray was the one who answered and he said he could look at it the next day and he was pretty certain of the tow company AAA would send out (and he was right, it was "Buddy's) and that by the time they got to us, his shop would be closed, but that the tow guys would lock our truck in their yard and then drop it at Ray's the next day.
The next morning, Ray called us to let us know what he found the problem was ... the brand-new Napa Steering Box that had just been replaced a few weeks before we left on our trip (by our now former auto repair shop in Grass Valley) had totally failed. (We weren't surprised as by then it literally was pouring out steering fluid as quickly as my husband put it in.) Ray was awesome!!! He told us the issue and said he could replace it with another Napa Steering Box if we wanted, BUT, while they were fine for the 1500 trucks, he had come to realized that they often do not last in the 2500's and above. He recommended a different one but it would have to be ordered from Portland, so if we opted for that one, it likely wouldn't be installed in our truck until Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week at the earliest. Since the Napa one that had just been installed a few weeks prior had failed with less than 500 miles on it, and the prior Napa one installed by the same shop in Grass Valley had only lasted 7,136 miles, we opted for the one Ray recommended even though it would delay us getting back on the road a few days.
Thankfully, the part came in quickly from Portland and Ray was able to get it installed and the truck fully checked out and ready for us to pick up by Tuesday afternoon and we were able to get back on the road to continue on our trip the following morning. Granted, I did have to cancel a few of our reservations and find new campground bookings to speed our trip along a bit in order to make our reservation for the Port Townsend Ferry to get us to Whidbey Island in Washington, but Ray's immediate willingness to work our truck into his schedule to get us back on the road as quickly as possible sure helped to keep our planned trip a reality.
We HIGHLY recommend his shop as Ray went out of his way to help us and he truly knows his stuff! (By reviews on Google, it looks like he has assisted many a stranded traveler!) He is very knowledgeable, tells you like it is and is a truly honest and trustworthy business owner. Turns out he is the Duramax Pro in his shop and has worked on them for many, many years. (He has similar quality guys who specialize with the Dodges, Fords and such that come into his shops.) Ray even went way and beyond when he offered his assistance with getting our trailer moved out of the Holiday Inn parking lot (where we were parked
for 2 nights) and moved up to the Emerald Forest Cabins & RV park in Trinidad. Thank you Ray!!
We only wish we lived closer to him as we would love to have him as our new GO-TO guy to keep our awesome truck in great shape! Actually, If we have things we want or need done on our truck that we can plan ahead for, we may just decide to tow our trailer over there to camp again and leave our truck in Ray's very capable and honest hands!
NOTE: If you need a tow while in the area, we also highly recommend Buddy's Auto Care (AAA sent them out to us). They sent a flatbed for our truck and a second truck to take our trailer, our dog, and the two of us to the Holiday Inn in Eureka, who had graciously agreed to let us have it parked in their parking lot. read more