Thor engine service

[Rocky]

One reason I'm considering a Class C motorhome is ease of motor service since motor can be accessed just like a truck. With a Thor Vegas, can any Ford dealer handle service/repairs? If not, are you forced to go to an RV dealer?

Thanks,
Rocky

[pstandiford]

We have a class C and the Ford dealer in our area cannot handle it. Even oil changes are an issue. We end up taking it to an RV dealer. But, it depends on the size. A friend has a smaller class C and gets it done at the Ford dealer with no issue.

[vkb]

Originally Posted by Rocky

One reason I'm considering a Class C motorhome is ease of motor service since motor can be accessed just like a truck. With a Thor Vegas, can any Ford dealer handle service/repairs? If not, are you forced to go to an RV dealer?

Thanks,
Rocky

HI .... welcome to the forum. We have an Axis (just like a Vegas, just different name) .. The motor in our Axis is an E450 ... if your local Ford dealer cannot service you for some reason, find a Ford Truck Center. I can, safely, say Ron would not take our Axis to an RV dealer with motor/transmission concerns.

k

[BrianA.C.E]

I believe the reason most ford dealers wont work on Motor Homes is due to they do not have a Maintenance bay large enough to fit it in, and dont want to work on it outside.

[airforceret]

I talked to my guy at Ford Fleet Service and he said most common is not having a bay large enough, and secondary to that is not having a lift capable of lifting larger RVs even if the bay is large enough.

[JamieGeek]

I had to call around the local dealers until I found one that had a bay that could handle our Axis. The one I found only services 1 RV a week and you had to get on the schedule.

An interesting sequence of calls since the dealers do want to help: "Do you service RVs there?" "No, but I think dealer XYZ does" call dealer XYZ: "No, ABC might, who did you hear from that we could?" "ABC!"

[Oldchief]

For just regular service like oil changes, I recommend looking for a service outlet that uses pits instead of lifts to get under vehicles. A few years ago we had a Class C Winnebago Aspect 29ft, on an E450 chassis. While we had it, I took it to several of the quickie oil change places that had pits and never had a problem getting it serviced. As to other services or repairs, I'd seek out a Ford Truck center, unless your nearby dealer can handle it.

[Laco]

We have a small 'C' on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis. The local Mercedes dealer does anything and everything related to the drive train and chassis. For me it works out great, if I need an oil change, I call for an appointment, can usually get one in a day or two, take it in, wait an hour or two at the most, all done.

[Dbadger777]

When we are near Elkhart we use a mobil service for oil changes. Total Value RV recommended them and they meet you wherever.

[99dart]

Our Ford dealer serviced our WS31, but had to do it outside.

[Bob Denman]

Question: Why not take it back to your RV Dealer? Wouldn't they have a better idea of what to watch out for, in the rest of the rig?
(Okay: two questions!)
I'd hate to have the local Ford Dealership just look past something that might need addressing...

[wredman]

I found my TRUCK and RV Service via calling an RV dealer. Wanting to get my alignment, and dealers did not do that work so I asked where they take or refer. Each told me of a place to go. Now, I have a commercial truck service shop that does a lot of RV chassis/engine repair also. Not sure if this will be my goto place for RV-house issues, but certainly anything related to the truck part of the coach.

[99dart]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Question: Why not take it back to your RV Dealer? Wouldn't they have a better idea of what to watch out for, in the rest of the rig?
(Okay: two questions!)
I'd hate to have the local Ford Dealership just look past something that might need addressing...

Some of us live in small enough towns that we don't have a local RV dealer. I wanted to have the Ford dealer in do the first oil change so that records would be in the computer. Bringing our MH from S.C. I wanted to document that the unit had been moved from/to and had been serviced. I will most likely do my own oil changes from now on.

[Bob Denman]

The local Ford Dealership for me, is only 20 minutes away...
Camping world is 45 minutes from my door.
I guess that to me: that's not a noteworthy difference.

Besides: I get to go past a Dunkin' Donuts, and a Subway Sandwich shop!

[croused]

There is a great Ford Truck service center near me in Ann Arbor MI, they have done my alignment and an engine warranty repair and can do it all, very comforting having them nearby.

[vkb]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Question: Why not take it back to your RV Dealer? Wouldn't they have a better idea of what to watch out for, in the rest of the rig?
(Okay: two questions!)
I'd hate to have the local Ford Dealership just look past something that might need addressing...

A good reason to NOT return to the RV dealer for oil change etc. is your RV might sit on lot for 4 weeks waiting in line !!

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by vkb

A good reason to NOT return to the RV dealer for oil change etc. is your RV might sit on lot for 4 weeks waiting in line !!

Thanks for reminding me of that possibility. I have to admit that I hadn't thought of it.

[airforceret]

Originally Posted by Dbadger777

When we are near Elkhart we use a mobil service for oil changes. Total Value RV recommended them and they meet you wherever.

If anyone happens to be in or near Elkhart Indiana I'd recommend the Ford Fleet Service at Jordon Ford in Mishawaka, Indiana. Talk to Jeff Miller. Great guy and great service.

[Travelin' Texans]

NO WAY would the rv dealership do ANYTHING to the drive train on a MH that I owned, they can't fix the rv stuff. I'll do my own oil changes before I'd take it to any rv dealership. I wouldn't let them install the hitch in my truck, I preferred to have it done correctly.

[Buttonguy52]

I got my Thor ace oil changed at the dealer. It was 39.95