Community Forums

wildtoad · 12-29-2015, 10:39 AM

Other than those that perform their own, where do most of you get your regular maintenance and/or warranty work done? I've contacted each of the Ford dealerships in the area and none admit to being able to service them. I've heard of one performance shop that will. I could take my previous mh to the local Chevy dealer as they were a Workhorse service center. Thanks.

sbleiweiss · 12-29-2015, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildtoad

Other than those that perform their own, where do most of you get your regular maintenance and/or warranty work done? I've contacted each of the Ford dealerships in the area and none admit to being able to service them. I've heard of one performance shop that will. I could take my previous mh to the local Chevy dealer as they were a Workhorse service center. Thanks.

We use a Ford dealer for warranty work and are lucky enough to have an auto mechanic in the same complex where we garage our MH. He will do other maintenance for us and do it right in our garage. You'll find a Ford dealer equipped to work on MHs and trucks if you just look farther out.

wildtoad · 12-29-2015, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbleiweiss

We use a Ford dealer for warranty work and are lucky enough to have an auto mechanic in the same complex where we garage our MH. He will do other maintenance for us and do it right in our garage. You'll find a Ford dealer equipped to work on MHs and trucks if you just look farther out.

I hope you're right. I'd have thought that in a major area like mine one of the Ford dealerships would take them. I've asked Ford directly and so far not much help, trying more avenues. Not critical as the new mh not due for a while, just like knowing.

**NLOVNIT** · 12-29-2015, 11:43 AM

We take ours to a local truck garage. It's their specialty to work on truck chassis - only difference is I've got a home attached to ours where the ones they usually work with have a dump truck attached.

Lori-

**CLIFFTALL** · 12-29-2015, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

We take ours to a local truck garage. It's their specialty to work on truck chassis - only difference is I've got a home attached to ours where the ones they usually work with have a dump truck attached.

Lori-

I always used facilities like that. Some years I needed three oil changes in one trip ( Alaska ) . I simply purchased the motorcraft oil and filter from Walmart as these facilities didn't carry what I used and paid them to change them and grease the chassis. I gave them the chassis lube diagram to make sure they got them all. I generally paid $30-$45.

**NLOVNIT** · 12-29-2015, 12:08 PM

The only issue I had was the 1st time I had them do an oil change. They didn't follow the F53 instructions on the dipstick issue I gave them & they overfilled by 1 quart. Somehow DH managed to get most of that out without draining the whole thing. Every year since, I've made sure they pull that sheet out of our file & show me they see & will follow it.

Lori-

TeJay · 12-29-2015, 12:40 PM

For the most part annual service and maintenance is not much different than working on just about any gas vehicle or even diesel for that matter. It's all nuts and bolts, oil and grease. Yes sometimes it takes a bigger torque wrench and extra space if they have to get it inside.

Part of the issue with a MH is the care one expects protecting the interior and exterior. That can be a problem. One of my X students is now running his Dad's semi tanker truck repair facility. He does normal service/repair and engine rebuilds. His comment was this, "If we can't lift the hood and walk into the engine compartment then we don't work on it." I can't say that I blame him. He has plenty of work.

Here's another issue that most don't understand or realize. When a semi is down for repairs they are losing big money. Most owners want them back on the road ASAP and expense is not to much of an issue. WHY?? Because they pass the cost on to us the consumer.

With the trucks not a lot of time is devoted to diagnosis just remove and replace. Most RV owners want it done carefully, correctly but cheaply if possible. It's just a different situation.

TeJay

LVJ58 · 12-29-2015, 01:26 PM

You might try calling Ford Customer Assistance at 800-444-3311, and perhaps they can direct you to a service center in your area.

Good luck

wildtoad · 12-29-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVJ58

You might try calling Ford Customer Assistance at 800-444-3311, and perhaps they can direct you to a service center in your area.

Good luck

Thanks for the number and I called it. Nice lady on the phone. Basically they have the same info I got from google search. They don't seem to keep track of dealers or service centers that actually support the F53. Plenty of independent places to do lube and oil and general work. Just won't be giving that work to Ford.

**CLIFFTALL** · 12-29-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildtoad

Thanks for the number and I called it. Nice lady on the phone. Basically they have the same info I got from google search. They don't seem to keep track of dealers or service centers that actually support the F53. Plenty of independent places to do lube and oil and general work. Just won't be giving that work to Ford.

That's why most of us use truck repair facilities. I've had a few Ford dealers do maintenance . One in Sefner Fl. ( Gator Ford ) . They had lifts . They're directly across the street from Lazy Days. Another one in the Midwest actually did it in the parking lot. That was ok . Otherwise I just call ahead to make an appointment as mentioned .

rk911 · 12-29-2015, 03:30 PM

we go back to our dealer for coach issues as he is nearby. for engine/tranny maintenance we have a trusted service shop where we store our MH. if we're on the road we hunt for a dealer that can get us in.

LeRoi2 · 12-29-2015, 03:42 PM

A possible source of dealers is the Ford Truck Fleet site. They dutifully list all of the different Ford dealers by geography, what size and weight their lifts can handle, and whether they work on RV's or not.

I found the info useful as a starting point. I then called the closest dealers to confirm info and set up an appointment. Guess what? 90% WILL NOT work on F53 chassis motor homes. Just don't want to be bothered. They don't care what the Ford website says.

My entire front end failed on my 2 month old THOR Windsport. This was pointed out to me by the independent truck tire dealer I took it to for alignment. Your RV will come from the factory badly in need of an alignment. You should get this done ASAP after purchasing it. Both Ford and THOR will deny payment for alignments unless you complain, loudly. LThey suggested call Ford, as it should be warranty repair. Their estimate, informal, $2K, 2 days of labor plus parts and alignment.

Spent hours on the phone trying to find a Ford dealer that would even look at it. Finally found one, many miles away. Drive there, leave RV, with promise of 3-4 days.

2 weeks later they say it's ready. Pick it up, steering wheel points at 3 as I am driving straight. They didn't bother centering the wheel, which means it has to go back!

Then I get to the freeway, and it drives MUCH worse, much much worse!

Thanks a lot for nothing, Sunset Ford of North Hollywood! Called them. They sent out all of the work! Couldn't tell me why the front end failed at 4K, much less why it wouldn't be expected to fail again. This after telling me they worked on F 53's all the time. Bring it back and we will try to figure out what is wrong, that's the best they can do.

Called Ford customer service back and asked them what now? Best they could come up with was to recommend an RV service center that is Ford approved for a second opinion, but they can't get it in for 3 weeks! But it is Ford approved.

Called the Service Manager at the RV service center, and he says Ford called him and asked him to look at my chassis, but no explanation. When we talked, he said he had no front end shop, did not do alignments, and did not feel he was going to be much help, if any at all. He had no idea why Ford was sending the coach to him.

This has been my experience with Ford chassis service so far. THOR warranty service has been even less helpful. I am jumping through all of these hoops only to facilitate the Lemon Lawsuit that I can see is going to be the final resolution of all of the problems we have had with this motor home. We bought it in October, and are still trying to get all of the deficiencies it was delivered with, fixed. The list grows faster than the repairs seem to be able to get done.

Had I not bought a new coach, with a worthless warranty, I could have paid to have the independent truck tire dealer fix my RV in 2 days, correctly.

Instead, I am dealing with THOR and Ford, whose only solutions involve pointing the finger at each other. I give the finger to both of them.

ga traveler · 12-29-2015, 05:05 PM

I have my hat off to Freightliner. I took a customers coach to Freightliner about 10 years ago. I said something to them about always taking care of the motorhome owners.
he said Freightliner came to them a couple years before and said "Freightliner is going after the motorhome market. If you don't want to work on motorhomes, you better find a new place to work." We always had a problem with Ford. We called the helpline and asked where to go for service. They just read off the Ford dealers in our area. None would work on a motorhome. We finally found a Ford truck dealer on the other side of Atlanta that would work on them. It was over 75 miles round trip, but at least they would work on them. I believe Ford should do like Freightliner and require the dealers to service the F53 chassis.

_nelsonc · 12-30-2015, 06:44 AM

I must say that my experience is completely the opposite of yours. Last year I had an axle u-bolt snap off on my 2013 Coachmen Mirada 35DL right as we were leaving for a 5 day trip. I could not get the unit into the dealer where I bought it for a week or more. I then thought, what the heck, let me call Ford. The owners hotline lined me up with a local Ford Fleet dealer who had the u-bolt in stock and got me in the next morning. They replaced both u-bolts on that side and verified that there was nothing wrong with the other side. I was on the road again by noon the next day. I have since went to that dealer (Ganley Ford Trucks in Akron. OH) to have all my servicing done, including yesterday when they got me in with just a couple hours notice for an oil change and lube before we headed to Alabama for New Years.