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06-16-2022, 05:25 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Tennessee
Posts: 7
THOR #24649
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Front end inspection
I have a 2017 Thor 25.2 Vegas that needs a front end inspection after an unscheduled visit with a guardrail in the interstate. I'm near knoxville and have struck out trying to find a local shop that will even touch it. It's stunning that there doesn't seem to be anybody who does alignments etc here. Camping World in Alcoa repaired the body damage, but they blew off even referring me to a place locally that does this sort of work. Am I just not looking hard enough or is this a common issue? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Chris
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06-16-2022, 05:50 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,774
THOR #1469
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06-16-2022, 07:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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If you can find a Ford Commercial Truck Center (not cars and pickups) near you, they can do it. It's a Ford commercial truck chassis. The biggest challenge you may have is finding a commercial truck dealer that will work on motorhomes...they hate them.
Try Premier Truck Group in Knoxville,
Premier Truck Group of Knoxville
1413 Everett Road
Knoxville, TN 37932
(800) 443-2324
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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06-16-2022, 07:45 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Tennessee
Posts: 7
THOR #24649
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Yay! Central alignment can look at it. I must have called 6 places today and struck out each time. I really appreciate the help!
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06-16-2022, 07:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Miramar
State: California
Posts: 894
THOR #22927
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Try a larger place that sells tires for semi,s, that works on large trucks.
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06-17-2022, 08:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 24F
State: Ohio
Posts: 4,175
THOR #16721
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A semi truck mechanic once told me the main reason commercial truck shops hate working on RVs is because RVs are not "service friendly" vehicles. The large semi trucks are designed from inception for service... they are "easy" to work on with common tools/procedures designed for that industry.
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Be creative, and have a fun life...
...and don't be an @**hole! -Ken Block
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06-18-2022, 01:27 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad
A semi truck mechanic once told me the main reason commercial truck shops hate working on RVs is because RVs are not "service friendly" vehicles. The large semi trucks are designed from inception for service... they are "easy" to work on with common tools/procedures designed for that industry.
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That's part of it...the entire coach is build so tightly around everything that you have to disassemble beds/bedrooms and other "permanent" structures just go get to anything. You can't even see the engines in the front powered units, much less work on them. Once you find a suspect problem, you have to fight with the chassis, coach and 50 other component suppliers over who's fault it is. Another issue is the owners wanting to stay in them while they work on them, or camp in them in the parking lot while they wait. Once you get them out, they browse everywhere in the dealership with their dogs wanting to talk to anyone that will listen (or didn't see the coming and run) about life's adventures...etc., etc., etc. It's not a pretty picture. Check the labor rates for motorhomes. Dealerships are a workplace...not a campground or rally event. How do I know...I sold commercial trucks for a few years. When we saw a motorhome drive in we scattered like ants on a disturbed bed.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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06-18-2022, 01:49 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,774
THOR #1469
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad
A semi truck mechanic once told me the main reason commercial truck shops hate working on RVs is because RVs are not "service friendly" vehicles. The large semi trucks are designed from inception for service... they are "easy" to work on with common tools/procedures designed for that industry.
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That’s why many shops charge a Motorhome labor premium of 25 to 40 dollars per hour. Very real at Freightliner shops and many of them will only work on DPs one or two days a week.
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06-23-2022, 01:16 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32N
State: Tennessee
Posts: 104
THOR #18316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRFTN
Yay! Central alignment can look at it. I must have called 6 places today and struck out each time. I really appreciate the help!
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Hey, I’m not far from Knoxville. Could you let us know how the appointment went and what you learned? Thanks
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2016 Hurricane 32N
2008 Jeep Wrangler 2D toad
Ready Brute Elite II tow equipment
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06-23-2022, 09:55 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Tennessee
Posts: 7
THOR #24649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reminckv
Hey, I’m not far from Knoxville. Could you let us know how the appointment went and what you learned? Thanks
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I'll let you know when I get it looked at. My ride wasn't able to help me drop it off this week, but I hope to get it looked at next week sometime. I'll let you know the results.
Chris
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07-05-2022, 07:46 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Tennessee
Posts: 7
THOR #24649
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Hi folks, and thanks for the help finding an alignment shop. I took my coach to Central Alignment in north knoxville and they had it done quickly. The guy said the alignment was only slightly out. He also asked where the tires came from and , according to him, they're the crappiest brand and the worst tread pattern for a motor home. He said the front tires will last 5,000 miles and start cupping and therefore becoming really noisy. I won't say where I bought the coach from (Camping World), but they're on there for now. Thanks again for the help!
Chris
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07-05-2022, 08:46 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,347
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRFTN
Hi folks, and thanks for the help finding an alignment shop. I took my coach to Central Alignment in north knoxville and they had it done quickly. The guy said the alignment was only slightly out. He also asked where the tires came from and , according to him, they're the crappiest brand and the worst tread pattern for a motor home. He said the front tires will last 5,000 miles and start cupping and therefore becoming really noisy. I won't say where I bought the coach from (Camping World), but they're on there for now. Thanks again for the help!
Chris
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Just FYI: cupping on tires is most commonly caused by bad shocks.
In some cases it can be caused by worn suspension joints.
Tires don't cup themselves.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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07-05-2022, 09:18 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: A.C.E. 27.2
State: Indiana
Posts: 1,882
THOR #14698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRFTN
Hi folks, and thanks for the help finding an alignment shop. I took my coach to Central Alignment in north knoxville and they had it done quickly. The guy said the alignment was only slightly out. He also asked where the tires came from and , according to him, they're the crappiest brand and the worst tread pattern for a motor home. He said the front tires will last 5,000 miles and start cupping and therefore becoming really noisy. I won't say where I bought the coach from (Camping World), but they're on there for now. Thanks again for the help!
Chris
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Did the tech say you had the wrong load range tires for your coach?
I agree with the ACE most tire wear is caused by over or under inflation, out of align front end or worn suspension parts.
Ford's are better than Chevy's which are better than _____. I take arbitrary statements with a grain of salt
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2018 ACE 27.2
Toad 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain Towbar
Roadmaster Invisibrake
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07-12-2022, 02:13 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Tennessee
Posts: 7
THOR #24649
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He just said the tread is too aggressive and will wear prematurely and will be noisy in no time. I'll see how they wear and replace them if necessary.
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07-12-2022, 01:28 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRFTN
He just said the tread is too aggressive and will wear prematurely and will be noisy in no time. I'll see how they wear and replace them if necessary.
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You can qualify his comments based on how many red rags were hanging from his pockets and how many days it looked like he had been wearing the same jumpsuit.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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