Grillmeister
Iconoclast
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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Quote:If all fails you can probaly buy a whole new toilet for just about the same money an RV dealer would have charged to fix the pedal. X2
Show me the GRILL and STAND BACK!!!! 
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troll3193
SouthWest, MI USA
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Joined: 07/07/2004
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I fix almost everything myself... combination of being stubborn and also all the horror stories I read about bad repair shop experiences....
Doing so has really helped me understand how it all works and how to keep it in good shape...
everything from replacing a set of axles and other suspension parts to re-caulking...
Now will I still do it at 70??? might be a different story...
Bryan
2006 RAM 3500 MegaCab w/Cummins Turbo Diesel
Mopar Exhaust Brake
2004 Dutchemen 31BK
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BarbaraOK
On The Road
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Joined: 10/27/2003
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Since we're fulltimers, we don't have the luxury of a shop, place to take things apart, etc. Simple things, we do ourselves, but sometimes it is a problem. Limited mobility is part of the thing that gets to all of us sooner or later. There are some things that it is easier to use a mobile RV repair technician to do the job than to spend time trying and hurting yourself.
And for big things, we use RV Repair facilities.
Barb
Barb & Dave - full-timing
Traveling catpanion Shadow (age 14)
Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS) 
Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) 
FMCA - F337834, SKP #90761
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Techie
Pahrump, NV, USA
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Joined: 01/30/2004
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Small items we do ourselves. More complex/larger/tougher to reach items we have a mobile tech handle. Anything larger than a mobile tech and we go to an independant RV repair shop or a Cummins Coach Care/Allison dealer for drive train related stuff.
2011 Airstream Classic Limited 34'
2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax/Allison SRW
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garry1p
Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/12/2004
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Never had my TT or MH in a shop, have done all repairs myself.
With the labor rates at $90 to $110 per hour it pays to be able to due your own work. However; Some folks are just not mechanically inclined and have to have others do the repair.
We have 2 sons one can't even swap out a battery while the other can fix darn near anything.
Having said all that I will be 72 on my next birthday and it gets harder to get into some of the positions required to do the work. Not sure how much longer I can keep it up and need to swap out all the engine belts before its to late.
Garry1p
1990 Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite XL
454 on P-30 Chassis
1999 Jeep Cherokee sport
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RoadXYZ
OR-WA-ID-CA
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Joined: 08/09/2003
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Thanx for your comments .. yes, we like mobile techs also .. when we go monthly sites, we will do that .. our daughters say Daddy should start "letting others help" since he is in his mid 70s. He has fixed the slide which wouldn't come in, and other things around the RV, we all would like him to start relaxing a bit.
Travelers 3 - Granpa (N7SJN), Granma Marji & Petunia (9 lb Chi)
"Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer."
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horizon451
Henderson, NV
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Joined: 02/19/2006
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We are going FT in about a week. I am taking a full set of tools with me and should be able to fix many things. I am very handy and can usually figure things out. The type of things I won't tackle are adjusting the slide out rooms, engine or trans work and so on.
Live Long and Prosper.
Home is where we park it.
FT since August 2010
'02 Itasca Horizon 36LD
'02 Jeep GC toad
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PattieAM
Maryland
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Joined: 08/03/2005
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The timing of this post is great. I had a leak on my toilet's water line - just a dribble or so I thought. First time it happened, I was able to hand tighten the hose to the toilet and all was good. Second time that was not the solution, so went to the dealership and asked about the part. The water valve was priced at $41.00, but as the dealership was closing, everything was 1/2 price or better. Just yesterday (yes it's been leaking over a year), my boyfriend disassembled the foot petal to install the new water valve. He managed to get it done and no leaks, so we are both very pleased. Sitting in the shower pan (I have a pop up camper) was agony on his back, and reaching at that awkward angle wasn't fun....but he got er done!
I'm semi-handicapped, so much of what I could do a few years back I can't do now. I can tell him what needs to be done and how to do it (that rankles) if he is willing, otherwise I have to find an rv service shop and be prepared to pay $160/hr.
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lj_cox
USA
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Joined: 07/14/2006
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We fix what we can ourselves. Often we can look up how to do it online, either through helpful forums like this one or via the manufacturer's website.
If we can't fix it ourselves, I second the recommendation of calling the mobile repair guy. The ones we've used have been cheaper per hour than the RV shops and much less hassle. For major repairs we try to return to the factory; we think it's a better, faster fix than an RV dealer would be.
We're full-timing now, loving our cabin (fifthwheel) on the lake/at the beach/in the mountains/close to the city.
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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Joined: 03/19/2004
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If we can fix it, we do. If we need a tech, mobiles are great, otherwise...off to a shop.
We have worked on them so much, we could probably build one!
Dianne (and Terry) (Fulltimed for 9 years)
Donnelly, ID
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2010 Ford F350, 4x4 SRW, xcab, longbed
2009 Lance 971 Truck Camper, loaded
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Camping...nature's way to feed the mosquitoes...
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