August 2-8, 2019 - Waiting until Closing on our new lot in Star Valley Ranch

We didn't do much that last week at Lucerne Campground as we had a sudden windstorm come up (one of those that Wyoming is well known for). It had wind speed of around 30mph with wind gusts up to around 50mph. It took us by surprise and made us scramble to lower the satellite and pull in the full wall slide (driver's side). Unfortunately, we forgot that we had 'noodles' on that slide as well as on the passenger side and when the slide closed it pressured the 'traveling locks' (clamps) and broke one. However, all we knew at the time was that for some unknown reason the slide was not working as it should have.

Luckily, however, the slide was in the closed position so we did not have to worry about how to close the slide manually. Yet, since the clamp locks were not operating we were worried that without the travel locks (clamps) securing the slide in the closed position, the slide may seek to tip out at its topside, if we turned right too inclined. So we spent that week preparing the RV for traveling back to Star Valley Ranch, by going to Ace Hardware in Manila to get a 2"x4"x8' piece of wood and then having to cut 4 pieces to use as braces on the inside top of the slide, front, center and rear, lengthwise.

JUMPING AHEAD TO AUG 10th ... while at Star Valley Ranch RV Park Resort, after closing and settling down, we found a mobile Master Certified RV Technician, as a referral from David at the Check-In office, which was a God send.

Dr. RV Mobile Repair LLC (Robert Zilka) was not only very knowledgeable in RV technology, but he is a true professional in his operation, as well. We called him on August 10th (a Saturday) at around 11:07am, not expecting a reply at least until Monday or perhaps even a few days later, as is usually the case with such people. However, he called me back at 11:47am. I told him the problem and that it was not an emergency because we were already hooked up at our lot, but that it was a bit cramped inside with a GSD, he said he was already on another job but would try to come by that same evening (even if it was late) to see what might be the problem and do what he could.

At 5:38pm he texted that he was on his way arriving around 6:00pm. By 7:30 he had found the problem with the sensor and other lights not lighting... 2 blown 3A fuses in a fuse box so hidden that even Fleetwood couldn't tell me where it was. He also found that the rear travel lock (clamp) had broken when the slide tried to close with the noodle where it shouldn't have been and it would need a new travel lock (right hand) motor assembly. However, he managed to 'trick' the mechanism to operate the slide (while holding the lock together a if it wasn't broken) and opened our slide before he left. THAT is what we call professional service. At a dealer the cost would have easily been $225 - $250 or more. He only charges $100/hour and charges from the time he gets to the job place, with no charge for his travel time, which in Wyoming can be 30 minutes to an hour or longer. Our cost... $150. that's it!

We ordered the part from REV Group Parts and got it in on August 20th. I texted him at 4:27pm. and he immediately replied saying he could be here at 8:00am the next morning to make the repair. He showed up at 8:01 on the dot. and though the removal of the old part and installation of the new one proved to be more difficult than it should have been due to a faulty original installation at the factory, he was  still able to make the full repair in just over 1-1/2 hours, but only charged for 1-1/2 hours... $150.00. We could not be more pleased with his work.

So we asked him to also change our 1/4" plastic refrigerator water line to a stainless steel braided line, as the plastic one has always found a way to splinter and leak about every 2-3 weeks and we were sick and tired of it. So he told us what we needed to order and when it arrived 3 days later he again came by at 8:00am the day after I told him it had arrived... and fixed it for just $100 even though it took him about 1-1/4 hours.

He is so professional and knowledgeable and yet does not even have a website. We took about 30 of his business cards and posted them all over this RV community and will be building him a website to promote himself on. With all the RVers in Star Valley RV Park (over 900 resident lots) he will find himself with more jobs than time, but that's OK... he can always turn down jobs, or find himself some help to expand his business. And if he ever goes to Arizona for the winters, we'll hope he goes near us so we'll have an RV Tech contact there.

NEXT POST: Closing on our new RV Lot in Star Valley Ranch RV Park.