M3 chassis maintenance report

[John_Canfield]

Apologies to those of you already are familiar with my post on the Winnie forum. I'll add more details about the chassis service here.

A few weeks ago I asked for opinions about Freightliner Oasis San Antonio and Tolleson (Phoenix.) Everybody who replied thought highly about Tolleson and I must completely agree. We had a wonderful service experience there and I would have no hesitation about recommending them as well.

A couple of minor gripes - the 30 amp hookup we had was very, very marginal. We dropped to 104 volts with the AC running. I switched the EMS to 20 amp and that helped a bunch. Kirk, the Oasis service manager, must have assumed we knew about the operation there because he didn't volunteer information about the time the coach is taken in and what time they are finished. We had to ask about where the lounge was. They had a bunch of fire trucks taking up almost the entire parking row with the electrical hookups but Kirk said he will move them to make room - not to worry.

These are very minor nit-picks and we are extremely happy overall.

We also got away with a little less money than I was prepared for. We had the following done that was out of our pocket:

- M3 chassis maintenance
- Cummins ISL service (oil/filter)
- gen service (oil/filter)
- new serpentine belt for the Cummins

Total cost: $1,665.89

Warranty and recall work:

- Our hydraulic reservoir had a weepy leak ever since new. Changed out for a new one

- Recall SF340A. Replaced the hydraulic oil cooler

- the filler neck on our coolant surge tank broke when they removed the metal cap. They replaced it with a tank adapted from a Freightliner Century Class truck

- the filter minder (plastic thingy that tells you how packed up your air filter is) fell apart when they went to reset it. Got a new one of those!

- our hydraulic pump and fan motor will be replaced on 10/30. It's a 12 hour job and we are going back after the Datastorm rally. When we go back, they will replace the Dexron with 15W40 oil per the SF340A recall after this work is completed.

[John_Canfield]

Apologies to those of you already are familiar with my post on the Winnie forum. I'll add more details about the chassis service here.

A few weeks ago I asked for opinions about Freightliner Oasis San Antonio and Tolleson (Phoenix.) Everybody who replied thought highly about Tolleson and I must completely agree. We had a wonderful service experience there and I would have no hesitation about recommending them as well.

A couple of minor gripes - the 30 amp hookup we had was very, very marginal. We dropped to 104 volts with the AC running. I switched the EMS to 20 amp and that helped a bunch. Kirk, the Oasis service manager, must have assumed we knew about the operation there because he didn't volunteer information about the time the coach is taken in and what time they are finished. We had to ask about where the lounge was. They had a bunch of fire trucks taking up almost the entire parking row with the electrical hookups but Kirk said he will move them to make room - not to worry.

These are very minor nit-picks and we are extremely happy overall.

We also got away with a little less money than I was prepared for. We had the following done that was out of our pocket:

- M3 chassis maintenance
- Cummins ISL service (oil/filter)
- gen service (oil/filter)
- new serpentine belt for the Cummins

Total cost: $1,665.89

Warranty and recall work:

- Our hydraulic reservoir had a weepy leak ever since new. Changed out for a new one

- Recall SF340A. Replaced the hydraulic oil cooler

- the filler neck on our coolant surge tank broke when they removed the metal cap. They replaced it with a tank adapted from a Freightliner Century Class truck

- the filter minder (plastic thingy that tells you how packed up your air filter is) fell apart when they went to reset it. Got a new one of those!

- our hydraulic pump and fan motor will be replaced on 10/30. It's a 12 hour job and we are going back after the Datastorm rally. When we go back, they will replace the Dexron with 15W40 oil per the SF340A recall after this work is completed.

[Joe-K]

John,

Thanks for posting the information our service. It's good to see the detail as well as you thoughts on the service facility.

Happy Travels

Joe

[Savannah]

John, what is their shop rate? Thanks.

[Harry B]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">- our hydraulic pump and fan motor will be replaced on 10/30. It's a 12 hour job and we are going back after the Datastorm rally. When we go back, they will replace the Dexron with 15W40 oil per the SF340A recall after this work is completed. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

John,

I had this done concurrent with cooler changeout and it really ssemed to improve the cooling ability. After this change I did not see temps over 208 degrees even though with did some good climbs in Sierra's last year going back south.

Sounds like you had a good service experience. I think the only place I am going to get good service here in FL may be by going to Tampa to Sterling Trucks. Heard good things about them. I am going to try to have that low engine brake shudder problem fixed. They supposingly have a fix now.

[John_Canfield]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Savannah:
John, what is their shop rate? Thanks. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Pretty sure it is $115 an hour which is +- five bucks for every place we have been except Winnebago in Forest City. They were 75/85 an hour last year (forgot which.) Winnie in Forest City is the bargain!

Harry - Freightliner in Ocala wasn't a great experience when we were there in 2005. The waiting lounge chairs were so absolutely grungy there were plastic bags over them. It was bad news.

Hi Joe - very glad to share

[DeanLinAZ]

John:

Glad you were pleased with your visit to Freightliner Oasis in Tolleson. I live nearby so I have never experienced an overnight there. Kirk is very knowledgeable, helpful and a nice guy to boot. Their shop rate last February was $110. per hour, but may be more now.

I will use them for all my service work from now on.

Be safe.