Community Forums

GraciesMom · 12-23-2008, 12:08 PM

For those of you who have been to Quartzite during the RV show, what all can you have done to your rig while you are there? Or is it all just merchandise to buy?

LindaH · 12-23-2008, 12:25 PM

It depends on what you want done.

The actual "RV Show" is a big tent with vendors selling their wares. There are some things that you can buy to be installed on your RV...we bought JT's Strong Arm Jack Stabilizers at the RV Show in 2007 which we then had them install on our fifth wheel.

If you actually want repairs done on your RV, there's RV Lifestyles on the western side of town...on the frontage road west of Love's...that I'd highly recommend for any work.

La Mesa on the southeast corner of Main St. and Central/95 does have a service center, but it may just be for people who buy rigs from them to use...you'd need to contact them to find out.

It would help to find out exactly what you want done to your rig...it would be easier to advise you where to take your rig.

John Wayne · 12-23-2008, 05:30 PM

You can have solar panels installed, Blu ox will rebuild your tow bar free,Several other place have install tents there to install.

LVJ58 · 12-23-2008, 06:02 PM

Lots of options, one year we had a Davis tru-trac installed on front. Another year bought 6ea 6v batteries from the RV Gambler RV parts store. Carefree of Colorado will install awnings. You can get solar screens for all your windows custom made by J&S solar screens. I believe Brazels will be set up to reprogram the ECM on gas powered coaches. Just naming a few things available there.

Clay L · 12-24-2008, 07:39 AM

As Jim said, Brazels RV Performance, one of the forum sponsors will have a tent set up out back and can do a lot of things.
Blue Ox and as I recall Roadmaster, had tents set up also.
Last year Blue Ox started charging - I think $20 - to service their tow bars. Still a heck of a deal. I don't know if they will charge this year or not.

Last year I had Gamblers replace my A&E vinyl awning with an acrylic fabric. A couple of years ago I bought four acrylic window awnings from them for about $80 each and installed them myself.

Bushman512003 · 12-25-2008, 06:48 AM

Keep a eye on Your gear as there are thieves there waiting for a chance to remove things as well...I was there twice and have been told of the thieves by more than one person.I also seen a very upset man at the big tent parking who had 2 30lb propane tanks that were chained up to His 5er hitch in the back of His pick up removed along with the hitch...People also were after good old Honda gennies in the BLM that was at night or early evening...Bushman

becks · 12-25-2008, 07:22 AM

I've been told of the thefts at Q also. As stated the Honda gennys being the number one target. Hope its not worse this year in bad times. Be safe and have fun.

GraciesMom · 12-25-2008, 07:26 AM

I need to have my captain's chairs reupholstered as well as my sofa, I need to have the carpet replaced in the "cockpit" . . . I put down vinyl "wood" in the living area but want to keep carpet in the driving area. Lots of cutting and gluing. Also hoping to get some window coverings, would love to get my awning converted to power, would also like to get window awnings over the bedroom windows and the living room windows . . . .need tires . . . another solar panel . . . two more batteries for the solar system . . . . I think that's it!!

LindaH · 12-25-2008, 07:32 AM

There used to be a vendor in Rice Ranch who did reupholstery...don't know if he's still there. You might check with The Gambler when you get here...they may be able to do a lot of the work, or will know who to contact. I hope you have some idea as to how much all this stuff is supposed to cost, because Quartzsite is not necessarily the best place to get a deal.

As for solar, I'd recommend Discount Solar on the corner of Main and Plymouth across the street from Bealls.

GraciesMom · 12-25-2008, 04:15 PM

Linda - I'm in Yuma now - was going to try to have some work done over the border. Everyone keeps telling me to go to Quartzite FIRST, compare prices, then come back to Yuma if the prices in Q aren't comparable. I can't imagine anyone in Q beating Mexican labor costs though. I hate to use Mexican labor, but I cannot afford the professional labor/materials costs, unless I want to put more into this rig than it's worth and wait 5 years to do one thing a month until I can get everything done!! I'm sitting here typing this and feeling guilty for taking labor away from American businesses! Aargh!!

But being a former business owner, I know how high the markup is on this type of thing. I learned that this industry is no different when I started shopping for decals/stripes for my RV. Winnebago wanted $1200 just for the stripe kit, PER SIDE, a private graphics company wanted a minimum of $2000 to do simple decals and stripes and to order them from an online company, it's going to be $48 to $100 PER DECAL. I found a guy here that works out of a flea market, has the same materials, same equipment, and is going to do them for me at a fraction of the cost and he will still make a nice profit. I know from landscaping, interior design, furniture costs, apparel, etc. how high things are marked up. I know that's necessary if there are lots of middle men and lots of employees . . . but if it's just one person cutting out the vinyl decals, they shouldn't cost that much. I'm all for making a profit but not raking people over the coals. When I was in business for myself, I estimated my hourly cost to do business plus materials and a small markup. I did just fine without ripping anyone off. So I guess what I'm saying is, with all the companies that are wanting to rip me off by charging outrageous prices, they have left me no recourse other than to use the cheapest labor I can find.

LindaH · 12-26-2008, 07:08 AM

Hey, I hear ya!

That's why I cautioned you on having some idea as to what the cost was for the stuff you want done instead of just assuming that Quartzsite will have the best prices. I would imagine you're correct...you'll be able to get stuff done for less money in Mexico, but if you want to take a trip up to Q and check it out, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Who knows, you may run into a fabulous deal!

When we got our current rig, we knew we wanted 2 Honda 2000 generators, so we waited for the big RV show to see if we could get a good deal on them. We couldn't. We were able to order them online for a lot less than we could have bought them in Q. And remember...the sales tax in Quartzsite is over 9%, so take that into account when you're pricing products and services.

MtManLee · 12-27-2008, 11:42 AM

Gracies Mom, should you not get it done in Mexico, you can get all you seek done in Quartzite. As for prices, I couldnt tell you. I know that I was in and around the big Q yesterday and saw signs and or ads for all the work you seek in one place or another.
I know from what I have seen and purchased so far you can find both good and bad prices here. Some are too high some things are priced affordable or a little less than usual. All depends upon what you seek.
Give some small examples, I found a tow bar and plate for my toad yesterday, unfortunately was for a 4 cyl not at 6 but anyway it was about 4 or 500 less than buying it from anywhere else I have checked. Also bought socks for 5o cents a pair. Was going to pay 1.25 a pair at walmart until I found these prices. Diamond drill bits and a hole punch for leather and other such for less than five dollars total for all of them, to me a good price. I bought used paper back for 2.50 each to me not a good price but cheaper than buying new. Have got some rv repairs done here that were done at 25 dollars an hour pretty good considering most places charge 65 to 125 an hour.

GraciesMom · 01-19-2009, 09:00 PM

Wow - I am LOVING Quartzsite!!!

MonacoMama · 01-19-2009, 10:58 PM

QUARTZSITE and it's name ...
Apparently when it became necessary to re-open the post office because of renewed mining activity, a new name had to be found since the post office did not permit offices to re-open the post office under formerly used names. Therefore, George Ingersoll suggested the name Quartzsite, since quartzsite is actually found in the vicinity, but quartz is not. However, the post office in error apparently added an "s" to the name...
and NOW you know where the name and spelling came from..

Photo of Las Posas South 1-19-09