Freightliner Oasis File

[JamesOne]

The Freightliner website says, "The Freightliner Oasis network is made up of more than 60 select dealerships and is growing. Each service location has a dedicated motorhome facility with trained motorhome service technicians, a motorhome service area, secure parking for motorhome customers and additional amenities specifically for motorhome owners."

I have a file containing the location and phone numbers of all of the Freightliner Oasis companies. I use it with MS Streets & Trips. If/when I have a Freightliner related problem I can bring up MS S&T and it shows me the closest Oasis location. I don't need an internet connection.

If anyone would like a copy, send me an email at jamesh8257@aol.com Let me know if you want the Excel or tab delimited version.

[JamesOne]

The Freightliner website says, "The Freightliner Oasis network is made up of more than 60 select dealerships and is growing. Each service location has a dedicated motorhome facility with trained motorhome service technicians, a motorhome service area, secure parking for motorhome customers and additional amenities specifically for motorhome owners."

I have a file containing the location and phone numbers of all of the Freightliner Oasis companies. I use it with MS Streets & Trips. If/when I have a Freightliner related problem I can bring up MS S&T and it shows me the closest Oasis location. I don't need an internet connection.

If anyone would like a copy, send me an email at jamesh8257@aol.com Let me know if you want the Excel or tab delimited version.

[chasfm11]

James, I hate to be negative but we have two of those Oasis dealers in the Dallas area and I wouldn't consider either of them to be RV friendly or to have techs familiar with RV related issues. Based on my conversations with with Freightliner Custom Chassis techs, I don't believe that my opinion is an isolated one.

I'd think long and hard about the type of problem that I had and look at all of the options available for that type of problem before considering taking it to Freightliner. Personally, I'd only do that as a last resort and I'd expect to pay a lot of money and have a better than even chance that my problem wasn't going to get resolved. JMHO based on my personal experiences.

[JamesOne]

Thanks for the info. You said:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I'd think long and hard about the type of problem that I had and look at all of the options available for that type of problem before considering taking it to Freightliner. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Suppose I am in Dallas and suddenly have no power steering. My coach is still under warrenty. Where would you suggest I go?

[MrTransistor]

Hi James,
Unfortunately I have to agree with chasfm11. Out of the four Freightliner dealers that we have been to, only one seemed to have their act together. The dealer in Eau Claire, WI. was without a doubt the cleanest shop I have ever seen. They got us in immediately, ordered the part, and replaced it as soon as FedEx arrived the next morning.

The one here in Albuquerque didn't even know they were an Oasis Center until I pointed it out to them two years ago. I think any Freightliner service center will do you right, just don't expect a clean shop or the RV'ers amenities that are advertised for the Oasis Centers.

Our experience with Freightliner as a company has been very good. They reimbursed the entire bill ($500.00+) for a loose power steering pump and missing gasket on this coach that was fixed at a CAT dealer in Riverside, CA. They do their best to cover everything up to keep it clean but you know how that goes. Whenever we have any work done on our coach that will require access to the engine compartment, we remove all the covers before we go and replace them after the work is done.

[chasfm11]

James, I agree that there are some repairs that, under warranty, are better done by Freightliner. I'd contact FCC and ask them about alternatives.

I've used a place called Industrial Power in Ft. Worth who happens to also be an authorized Allison location. They understand motor home mechanics a lot better than the Ft. Worth Freightliner does. I'd trust them at IP to do the repairs but agree that it might be an issue with Freightliner warranty support.

At Ft. Worth Freightliner, you get into line and they take you when they get to you - and that can be several days. When you couple that with the fact that they haven't fixed 50% of what I've taken to them, I just don't like the odds. My situation is different than yours in that our MH was out of Freightliner warranty before we bought it.

[Doc Mark]

Tom Nehl Freightliner in Jacksonville, FL is another of those - we'll get to you when we get to you. I had an appointment (chassis lube, oil change etc)for a certain day. Arrived at 8:00 AM as told to. went into the "lounge " where there were 3 recliners and a TV. One chair had an 18 wheeler driver asleep in it, who, it turns out had been there 3 days and still no repairs on his rig! I finally left with the service completed at 5:45 PM. Got into the coch and saw 3 large black grease spots on the rug.

Not what I would call a great experience. I will definately NEVER go back to them again. But - what are my options? Go to another truck center? A Caterpillar dealer? Drive 3 hours to the nearest "Oasis" dealer? From what has been said here that really isn't an option either. I am really in a quandry as to where to ge next time it is time for service.

[BugSlayer]

"Suppose I am in Dallas and suddenly have no power steering. My coach is still under warrenty. Where would you suggest I go?"

James, I see you are just down the road so I should warn you that the Baltimore OASIS Center is in a neighborhood where I had a difficult time with just my chevy pickup. I would never take my MH there and I would advise you to recon carefully before you try. In answer to your question, do not overlook alternatives. You may be able to get a level 2 or 3 CAT center to do the work as well and, if you are in a pinch, call FL. Also, there are other FL authorized truck shops that are not Oasis but will perform warrenty repairs on your chassis.

[JamesOne]

I am sorry all of you have had such bad experiences with FL. I have only had my coach for nine months and have been to my local FL dealer, American Bus here in Annapolis, twice. Both times were for oil changes with the first including the initial maintenance. On both occasions I came away very happy with their work.

My black bag included a list of 400 recommended FL dealers and my file now includes all of them. Strange as it may seem, the Fort Worth Oasis dealer was not on that list.

I appreciate all of your input but if I have a chassis problem I still feel I must find a FL location to correct it.

[Nomad Al]

Anyone have a list/directory of FL shops KNOWN to be RV friendly? My recent experience with a large FL shop just outside Little Rock leads me to believe that listing in the FL Oasis directory can be misleading.

In anticipation of delivery of a new Allegro Bus on a FL IFS Cummins 400 chassis, I dropped by my nearest FL shop and had a long conversation with the service manager. He confessed that their Oasis designation was "only in compliance with our Freightliner contract . . . we're really a truck shop." They had one designated RV service bay, out of 24, which operates 9-5 Mon-Fri while the rest of the facility operated 24/7. They charge $65/hr when working on 18 wheelers, $95/hr on motorhomes. The RV service bay was a red-painted area on the floor jokingly called "the Red Roof Inn." The service manager said they had two RV techs but little service equipment for the FL/RV chassis. For example, they had no tools/knowledge/experience to service IFS since FL truck chassis do not offer the option.

When asked how an owner could find out about FL shops equipped and interested in servicing FL motorhome chassis, the only suggestion the service manager could offer was, "Word of mouth."

[chasfm11]

I'd like to make one last point. I believe that, in a total breakdown situation where the cause of the failure was clear, an Oasis FL shop could probably resolve a MH problem. Drive train, brakes, and other more or less "standard" items should be within the reach of the truck trained techs to diagnose and repair.

For just about anything else, however, the increased access difficulties that the MH presents plus the very limited information that Gaffney provides about the differences in the MH environment will make resolution of the problem difficult, expensive and potentially impossible for the truck oriented shop. The lack of proper documentation (Access Freightliner, the dealer's computer application view of parts, wiring, etc. is a joke), the tech's inexperience with MHs in general and the pressure on the tech to move onto the next job work against a satisfactory repair experience in the majority of cases. We can all fault the Oasis dealers themselves but Gaffney has unfulfilled responsibilities to make their products serviceable in the truck repair environment. JMHO.

[JamesOne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Anyone have a list/directory of FL shops KNOWN to be RV friendly? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here is my plan if I need some work on my FL chassis. Contact the closest Winnebago dealer and ask him who he recommends. So far that has worked well for me. Actually only once, when I asked my local dealer and he recommended the FL dealer here in Annapolis.

[Jeff C /WA]

My experiences with FL Oasis Service:

1. Las Vegas GREAT
2. Oklahoma City OK
3. Mt Vernon WA OK
4. Albuquerque BAD!!!

[SargeW]

I just have to pass this one on........

When I first picked up my rig it has a definite pull to the right. I also noticed a slight hydrolic fluid drip coming from the right front corner of the MH.

I took it to FL Los Angeles, a MH friendly shop. I made the appointment to be there early Monday morning, and asked if I could wait for the service to be completed. I was told "no Problem". I waited in the waiting room for 3 hours before someone came and told me "we just remembered, the guy that does alignments is off today!" So I left it with the direction to fix the alignment and check the hydrolic leak.

I was called and told that the leak was not part of the chassis and could not be looked at under warranty. I figured how bad can it be, I'll just have them look at it while it's there. The service manager called me back and said that the tech had discovered a loose fitting and tightened it. I had authorized the extra work, and expected it to be minimal.

When I picked it up the alignment was fixed, and still drives great. When I got the paper work I almost had a heart attack! $790.00 for the alignment and a loose fitting!! The alignment alone was $400!

When I looked at the explanation on the bill regarding the leak, the tech had wrote "locacted loose fitting on hydrolic step. Tightend fitting and fixed leak".

I picked up the coach after 5:00 PM and the service manager was gone already. I paid the bill and drove the MH home. I called the service manager back the first thing in the morning about the cost for tightening a fitting. To his credit, he was shocked as well, and I wound up getting a refund of $194.

The kicker is that the leak is still there, and when I took the MH to the dealer to look at it I learned that the step is electric, not hydrolic!!

Moral of the story, ask about EXACT costs before you authorize any work to be done. And just because a shop is "motorhome friendly" dosen't mean they know squat about your vehicle. Will I go back? I doubt it. Unless there is a problem that is strictly FL related and can only be covered by warranty.

Live and learn......