RV REPAIRS

It is an unfortunate part of RV life—nearly every long trip is interrupted by some mechanical problem that must be repaired. RVs are not like Model T’s, easily fixed by their owners. We live in California, and seem to have a problem having repairs made near home, which adds to the difficulty.

With a little bit of luck, the repair can be accomplished before the warranty expires. Soon after buying our Winnebago View, we started having trouble with the entertainment system. In the middle of an interesting TV program or DVD, we would see “no signal” on the screen. If the picture returned, it was usually too late. We took it many places for repair under the warranty, but no one else had the same problem, and they obviously thought we were hallucinating. Finally we had had enough, and stopped at the Winnebago factory on our way through Iowa. Forest City turned out to be a nice midwestern town where we hung out for a few days, took the factory tour, and looked through the museum. Though the problem was never diagnosed, our entire entertainment system was replaced.

On another trip, we were in Canada when the drive shaft needed repair. This was bad. The chassis is a Dodge Sprinter, which can be repaired in only a few places. We would have to return to the U.S. and take the View to a Dodge dealer in Minot, North Dakota. We had never heard of Minot at that time, but that would soon change. (Someone in the Air Force later told us that when Air Force pilots misbehave, they are reassigned to the Minot base.) We went to Minot, where it turned out that the drive shaft has three sections, only two of which could be ordered. That took several days, and though the rig could be safely driven, we still needed to replace the third section. As we needed to go on, we left without getting it. To have it replaced under the warranty, we had to return to Minot the following year. Both times we stayed at a Corps of Engineers campground near Garrison Dam, a delightful and inexpensive place. When we had to be at the Dodge dealer’s, we spent time at the nearby excellent public library. The Dodge employees were all professional and helpful, and after two years they began to feel like old friends.

One of our best repair adventures was in Avon, New York. The frightening “check engine” light had come on, and we didn’t dare proceed without having it checked. The Dodge dealer found a very minor problem and corrected it quickly, but the day was getting late, and we had no idea where to spend the night. Another customer who heard us asking about campgrounds suggested that we try the Letchworth State Park a few miles away. He said it was a pleasant campground. What an understatement! Letchworth turned out to be magnificent. Often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” it has lovely waterfalls, a historic wooden railroad bridge that is still used, and other attractions. If we had not stopped in Avon for repairs, we would never have known about Letchworth.

So, the bottom line is serendipitous. Repair work can be expensive, annoying, and time-consuming, casting a dark cloud over a trip, but we have always found a silver lining.