ESC Service...Done..paid the bill

Thursday ESC did the Norcold recall and we got on our way to the Fairgrounds in Goshen, IN.

The bill came to $1400.00. But we did get 3 nights of camping without a charge. The air problems seem to be fixed. We had a couple of service places tell us that nothing was wrong, but these guys know what they are doing.

ESC found a bad dump valve, broke linkage, lenking fittings, leaking (chauf) air lines, and more. The front now will drop when using the dump valve, on the air system. Now the Condo looks level going down the road, instead of looking like it wants to sit down, in the rear.

They worked on the gutter over the big windshield, replace the door seal, service 2 A/C's, fixed the generater slide door, replaced parts on the big awning, checked the jacks for leaks, installed new electric ground from gauges to chassis, adjusted air bags to level, removed broke off antenna, and more.


We left for the HRRVC Ramblin Pushers 2011 Maintenance Session by following our neighbors. Three Condo's rolling down the road. A 3rd world country could run for several years on the costs of these RV's and cars rolling down the road.

This was fun. We where hoping to meet up with poeple that we could caravan with.

My internet connection is just toooooo slow to try and load my pictures. Going to bed!!! Need to rest my mind for the classes tomorrow. We are learning a lot. If you have a diesel coach this place is worth attending. They do this once a year. Check it out.

ESC...Elkhart, IN....2nd day of service

These guys have worked steady and hard for 2 and 1/2 days.

When Craig listed the items he wanted fixed or look at, the service manager came out to talk to us, he carried a 3 ring binder with his notes.

I wanted to run and stick my head in the sand, somewhere.

We are parked in the back lot, with lots of company (new friends, I hope). The bill was not prepared at closing, so tomorrow we will see how much this all costs. Craig is in a dreamland about the bill, he is not worried and my stomach is eating away at my backbone.

Tomorrow, if the Condo is fixed, we will move to the Elkhart 4 H Fairgrounds, for the 8 days of the HR Diesel Maintenance Rally. With any luck we will find a parking place that is dry enough that we will not get stuck.

Lunch was red beans and rice. Craig found this anduoille sausage in a Wal Mart in OK, added left over KFC chicken. This band of cajun mixes is my favorite. Check it out on the Internet. The et tou fey is the best. They are sooooo easy and you can just add whatever you have on hand.

Elkhart, IN....Condo in shop..again

More work on the Condo. Hoping to get all of the issues behind us....at least for this trip.

You know, this retirement/RV lifestyle is tiring. Just not enough time in the day. All is good. We are not alone at this repair shop.

New Air Dryer/Oil Change/Misc things

This was Friday.

We are back in action. Arrived at the service building about 10:30 and in the bays by 11:10. Left about 2:00, only $700 lighter in the wallet.

This is the view in the building. Glad we don't look like this truck. It's missing the entire motor. These people work tell midnight every night/7 days a week.

The old air dryer looks very dirty. It is gone and the new one is in. Nike said a lot of the truckers are changing these things almost every year. Just because they go out.

The filters are about $115 and the new dryer with filter was $227. Of course, with the labor and misc parts, the dryer cost us $400. Craig said this part changing is something he could have done. That's good to know. We are sooooooo glad that Craig was able to bypass the dryer and get us to the service shop without having the Condo towed.

Did a oil change, that was $189 and need fluid in that 'yoke' thing at the back axle. Not sure what it is called. He said he added 3 quarts. We need to keep a closer eye on this.

We drove about 100 miles and ran into a very very heavy rain storm. Stopped in Utica, Il at Hickory Hills campground. We are on a concrete pad. The earth here is very wet, everywhere. The Illinois river is high and overflowing. Cost of the campground is $35 a night for FHU. More than my budget allows but we are safe and high and dry.

New Air Dryer...lighter wallet

Don’t put off toady, what will bit you in the behind tomorrow!!!

The Condo has taken longer and longer to air up. The maintenance rally in Goshen should explain why and what we should do. But we did not make that date.

Of course, with no air pressure we have no air brakes. That means we could not move. Then Sparta, WI endured a late snow storm. Got 6 inches. Checked on the Internet and found a few numbers to call, but they where not sending tech’s out in the storm. Marsha in West Salem said that because the air gauge was not coming off of 0 that the air dryer or more was out and they needed the unit in the shop. They wanted us to have it towed. Night mare for me. Marsha was right it was the air dryer.

Craig called Holiday Rambler (several times). Tech support has answer all our questions over the last 2 ½ years. Very Very helpful. Josh told Craig to break the connections to the air dryer and bypass the unit. If the Condo aired up then it is the air dryer. They gave us part numbers and names of places to call for service.

Called Nick at DeBauche Truck and Diesel, he went thru how to bypass the dryer and we could drive the 25 miles BACK to have service.

After the snow slowed down Craig went into town and purchased the right fittings and it worked. The Condo air up and stopped at 120 pounds just like it is suppose to. We drove to LaCrosse (in the Honda) and talked to them, ordered the part and set up service.

All done with that, got hungry and found a Red Lobster. Lunch was $38.00. Oh well.

We have never changed the 3 filters that are in the dryer. We have to do better with maintance items.

This post is long enough, will post the bill and how DeBauche treated us, later.

Sitting at a rest stop at the WI and IL border.

Yes, the sun did appear today.

Needed the sun....got 6 inchs of snow

Yesterday we planned to head south and then east to Elkhart 4H Fairgrounds. Craig did his prep work outside and I started inside. The snow storm had not arrived yet. All was looking good.......then it happened.

Started the engine and our air pressure gauge did not bulge. No air means no air brakes. We are not going anywhere.

Then it started to snow. Called a couple of truck repair places and they would not send their people out in the bad storm.

We had to calm down and think. Called Holiday Rambler, aka Monaco, aka Navistar....or whatever. They have always been very responsive and helpful. They where today (well yesterday). Can't do anything because of the snow storm, so tomorrow (Wednesday) we will get this figured out.

I'm having nightmares of the Condo being toured off this hill.

If only the sun would appear

maybe my mood will improve.

We are in Sparta, WI headed for Goshen, IN tomorrow.

We toured Matthew s Bows today. Craig was thrilled. He owns one of these bows and used it on his safara trip to South Africa.