Freightliner parts

[New RV Guy]

Have a 2000 Triple E Empress Motorhome built on a Freightliner chassis that needs a new rear radiator. The charge air cooler is behind the rad so we ordered it as well. There was a rad available but the charge air cooler had to be built as there were non available anywhere in the world.

I am doing preventitive maintenence so the month that it is taking to get the charge air cooler is not a problem. However, if I was on the road, I would not be happy.

Has anyone else had a problem getting OEM parts for there Freightliner chassis that is less than ten years old?

[historyljc]

Who did you order your parts through? It sometimes makes a difference if it is a local Freightliner shop or the Service Center in Gaffney.

[J Walker]

It could be your dealer was talking with Freightliner, Gaffney, but I would call Freightliner parts at Gaffney directly at 864 206 8584. The typically they charge significantly less than local dealers for parts even including shipping. I have ordered from them and will do so in the future.

[New RV Guy]

Thanks for the info. I live in western Canada and they will not ship to us. I think the big problem now is the economy,as the Freightliner distribution centre no longer stocks parts that that do not sell on a regular basis. I also think that the cost of running our motorhomes is going up significantly. This repair will cost 1440.00 for the Rad plus 1136.37 (Plus 200.00 in freight charges) for the charge air cooler and then about 8/hrs at 135.00 for the labour at the Freightliner dealer in Red Deer, Alberta,Canada. Total bill should be around 4200.00 cnd or 4500.00 usd. I never thought that access to parts would be so difficult on a freightliner RV chassis. Oh well, we will have it done and then I will look after it. I will only have to do it once.

[Pigman]

Sorry to hear about your parts problems. One bright point, however, is that you're having the work done at Red Deer. We had some dash gage and warning light problems on our previous rig that we nursed all the way down from Dawson City. Red Deer got us right in and had the problem located and fixed in less than 2 hours. I've seen other rigs with similar problems in the shops for weeks just to troubleshoot.

Knowledgeable, professional, hard working, courteous people working in a clean and efficient facility. They have my highest recommendation. Good luck with your repairs.

John

[New RV Guy]

Hi John
Thank you very much for that recommendation. Red Deer freightliner was recommended as well by several trucking companies in our area. I feel good in going there. They are not the lowest estimate that I have, but money is not my only concern in repairing my coach. I am always willing to spend a little more for a shop that I think can do a good job and stand behind there work. I think Red Deer freightliner is such a shop.

[New RV Guy]

For thoughs interested , Red Deer Freightliner did an excellent job on the R&R of both my Rad and the Charge air cooler. Job was completed on time. Total cost was 5400.00 which was a little higher than expected. I would recommend thisshop for RV repair.

P.S. Calgary Freightliner would not qoute on this job. They advised me that they do not work on RV's.

[wagonmaster2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigman Sorry to hear about your parts problems. One bright point, however, is that you're having the work done at Red Deer. We had some dash gage and warning light problems on our previous rig that we nursed all the way down from Dawson City. Red Deer got us right in and had the problem located and fixed in less than 2 hours. I've seen other rigs with similar problems in the shops for weeks just to troubleshoot. Knowledgeable, professional, hard working, courteous people working in a clean and efficient facility. They have my highest recommendation. Good luck with your repairs. John

Maybe I need to drive up to Red Deer from Oklahoma and get my Freightliner dash gauges worked on. All the dash gauges go dead for a day or two several times a year and the FL shop in Wichita, Kansas worked on it all afternoon, charged me $330 and never found the problem. That was 2 years ago and I've still got the problem. Haven't gotten up the nerve again to let another FL shop fiddle around with it, get a big bill, and still have the problem. Gaffney "thinks" they may have a suggestion as to where to look but they are a 3-day drive from me.

Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

[Triker56]

Was the charge air cooler leaking or damaged for your reason of changing it?

That's a lot of money for preventive maintenance for a item that may never need replaced.

[New RV Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triker56 Was the charge air cooler leaking or damaged for your reason of changing it? That's a lot of money for preventive maintenance for a item that may never need replaced.

The Charge air was leaking and the radiator was damaged by road salt. It was only a matter of time before the radiator would leave us on the side of the road so we had it changed. Yes, it is alot of money, but I see the cost of running a motorhome as only going up. There will be less competition in the market place and alot of repair shops just are not interested in repairing motorhomes. (Calgary Freightliner turned me down for this work).
Triple E (The only Canadian class A manufacture) is having trouble getting parts for their 2009 coaches they just built. They are now into retrofitting to repair coached that are on warranty.
I think that there are to many differences in all our coaches. I always thought that owning a Freightliner chassis would give me access to a competitive parts supply and labour rates. I now believe that Freightliner has used so many different parts that it is not competitive for them or anyone else to stock such a large inventory.