Community Forums

Sri · 10-20-2021, 12:53 AM

Hi RV'ers,

We recently bought a Class C RV - 1993 Jayco Eagle m210. Its 24ft length.
Chevy G30 chassis.

Live in Vegas area. I am having problems finding out repair shop ..whom to go if there is routine maintenance required or some repair.

The RV had a issue not starting had paid $250 for tow within the city limits and paid another $800 to fix fuel pump, pump relay,pump,strainer & filter.

What i learned is that labor cost per hour was $140 per hour.

Need some guidance/advice on which shops to go for when RV service is needed. Looks not every auto shop does RV repair. And why is the RV technician rate is so high? Is it because of being abig vehicle?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sri

Argosy · 10-20-2021, 04:36 AM

They're a lot harder to work on for a lot of reasons than a newer vehicle. They take a lot more knowledge, test equipment and tools to work on than a newer vehicle. They're getting old enough so fewer mechanics have the tools or knowledge to work on them. Skill and knowledge are a commodity like any item you buy in a store. If it's in short supply, if it takes a lot of manual labor to produce, you pay more.

Boogie_ · 10-20-2021, 06:04 AM

A '93 Chevy van chassis and drive line will be a piece of cake to work on for any moderately competent shop.

When calling around for needed repair work you may want to try NOT leading off with words like "motorhome" & "RV".
Just tell them you have a 1 ton Chevy van that needs _______________ looked at.

Another idea:

We do repairs for a couple small companies that have a handful of fleet trucks & vans.
See a lot of E350 vans and a few C30s.

So look around for a small outfit with a few 1 ton van conversions, box trucks, shuttle buses, etc in their fleet and ask them where they get their maintenance work done.

Sri · 10-20-2021, 12:56 PM

Thank you for your advice.

twogypsies · 10-20-2021, 03:42 PM

This site may help but it would be a lot better if more people would submit reviews.

RV Service Reviews

cadillac_al · 10-20-2021, 04:29 PM

They are too big for most lifts so a mechanic has to lay on the ground like in the old days. I'm sure that doesn't always go over well. So they just might charge more to work on them or else they don't cut anybody a deal on labor for working on them.

Ben-Jo · 10-20-2021, 05:03 PM

We just got home today. Had a fuel pump go out at the Arizona - New Mexico state rest area. Was towed 3 hours to a supposedly good shop. Eight days later after they couldn't find a fuel pump and I had to get one they had it ready. Stopped several miles away from their shop and filled up, gas ran over top of gas tank when filled up, wasn't going back to them. Drove about 130 miles and fuel pressure started dropping, was shooting gas all over the road. Stopped in middle of nowhere at a gas station, less than 5 psi fuel pressure. Had it towed to another garage about 25 miles away. They had it fixed in less than 24 hours. Said the oring at the tank at fill hose was missing thus the run over at fill up. They said one of the pins on the connection to the fuel pump line was messed up and evidently vibarated loose while running. They pulled the gas tank like the other garage did, fixed their problem and charged a little less than half on the labor. There are great garages and then there are not.

jl.kauai · 10-27-2021, 02:01 PM

Ben, be sure and go to Rvservicereviews.com and put in the information you just quoted. It may save or help others with a problem in the area you mentioned. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Travato John

Sri · 10-28-2021, 02:59 AM

Ben, In my case after the fuel pump is replaced .. I drove to gas station and filled the gas.. at one point the fuel over spill. I thought RV’s shouldn’t be filled to fullest level.. if so it will over spill. But after reading your experience sounds like my rv fuel tank might have an issue. Thanks for sharing your experience.

IND2SLC · 10-28-2021, 11:40 PM

$140 seems high, but it's a pretty average labor rate. The tech doesn't earn $140/hr. That money goes a lot of places, and his or her pocket is last in line. RV techs are different in many ways because they have to have at least some mastery of the "house" element--the wiring, plumbing, appliances, and structure that a typical GM service tech will never or seldom see.
A '93 will be somewhat less complex (less electronics) than a contemporary model, and hopefully easier to sort out. Nothing is cheaper than learning how to turn your own wrench though, if you're able.

Ben-Jo · 10-29-2021, 05:05 AM

Hi Sri
Yes it shouldn't run over if everything is correct. I had filled mine many times and never had any gas runover. The 2nd garage said the o-ring at the tank where the filler tube comes in was left out. He said that he could see why as it was a pain to put in. Don't sound too bad at $140 an hour labor as I think I was charged $196 and they still screwed it up. LOL

biosensai · 10-29-2021, 10:10 AM

Contact Redlands Truck & RV in Redlands, California. Excellent. They even have a FHU park to stay at while you’re getting serviced.

Argosy · 10-29-2021, 10:29 AM

The fill hose clamps to the neck on the tank with a hose clamp. There is an O ring under the fuel pump cover plate. That is held in place with a lock ring that twists in. If the lock ring isn't installed correctly or the O ring isn't seated correctly in the groove it will leak. A little grease on the lock ring helps a lot.

Ben-Jo · 10-29-2021, 11:49 AM

That must have been the o ring the 2nd garage was talking about. He said it has a snap ring and was a little bit of a pain in the butt to get in. Said the o ring was completely missing, they had to get one. Anyway the 2nd place done a great job and charged 1/2 the price of the 1st. At least Pops did send us a check for what the 2nd garage bill was. Could have been worse.