Visit to Jayco was successful October 29, 2008, 08:13:05 am Yahoo Message Number: 1874At this time it appears our 2 day visit was successful. The paintingwas done by their outside paint contractor in Topeka as it had donethe original painting.As to the problems we asked Randy to have fixed - it appears all weredone plus a few others.They fixed the based of the bed so that it is much stronger in thecorners. It was catching on something as the slide went out and inand they fixed that problem.New catches on the closet doors - look much better - but sure are stiff.They fixed the wiring for the roadside slide and secured it properly.They did two papering jobs in the toilet - one we asked and another.There is now a cable and phone outlet in the roadside rear compartment- which also has a power outlet.They tested the propane system - which they do to all units that comein - working fine.They not only put on a new tail pipe hanger but also another exhausthanger.The sliding door into the bedroom didn't have a proper stop and couldshift a 1/2 inch while traveling - banging freely. They put in aproper stop.Now, the one open item - the drive line wine. All three drivers (toand from the paint shop and one of the fellows working on it) feltthere was no unusual noise. We took it out for about a 10 mile testdrive and got it up to 60 mph and found that the noise we wereconcerned about was still there BUT not as loud. That could mean itwas exhaust related. It was agreed that we are covered if it turnsout to be the differential as it has been well documented.At this time, subject to everything holding together, I have to say weare very pleased with the work done. Frankly, our dealer would, basedon our past experience, have kept our MH for at least a month to dowhat these guys did in less than 2 days (one day was paint drying time).Now, other items.Denny - we went to the Four Winds plant on County Road 15. OUCH.Seems they are shut down in all areas at this time except for the vanplant. A tractor trailer had a delivery and they would not let him inas it was not for the van assembly. He was really at a loss - what doyou do when the customer says it will be at least two weeks beforethey will take a shipment?We asked if we could see the Kokiak 26K and the guard said there werenone there. I was unable to contact sales on the phone or via the net.EMBARK. Jayco said I should go to RV Connections (the local Jaycodealer). Saw it sitting there and went in and told them Jayco sentme. They said they didn't have one yet. I said "well who owns theone outside." Ah, egg still dripping down my face. It was aDynamax Grand Sport. Some fool just looked at the silhouette andfigured it was the EmbarkWe did see one that looked to simply be the box on the chassis and itappeared to be headed to the paint shop.It was darn cold last night. We've now started using the furnace andthe odor is slowly diminishing. Radio said 28 degrees this morning.Forecast was for 34. I should have put the tank heaters on.We learned that Jayco has laid off about 200. They are effectivelyjob sharing. Working a week and taking one off. RV Connections toldme Jayco has increased its market share - because its sales have notdropped as much as others (probably selling a lot at the bottom end -pop ups, etc). They cut out employee coffee and Randy now pays forservice center customer coffee out of his own pocket.Today it is on to Shepardsville KY just south of Louisville.Have a good day everyone. I've got to get moving and get the toadconnected.Don Quote Selected
Re: Visit to Jayco was successful Reply #1 – October 30, 2008, 10:03:51 am Yahoo Message Number: 1882Don wrote:QuoteAt this time it appears our 2 day visit was successful.That's great news Don, it sounds like some things at Jayco have reallychanged from the last time you were there.QuoteAs to the problems we asked Randy to have fixed - it appears all weredone plus a few others.Is it Christmas in IN? ;-)QuoteNew catches on the closet doors - look much better - but sure are stiff.I wonder if my dealer can can me some.QuoteNow, the one open item - the drive line wine. All three drivers (toand from the paint shop and one of the fellows working on it) feltthere was no unusual noise.I've given up on mine. The whine is still there although not really bad, along with my "clunk" and they always tell me they hear nothing unusual.I'm just waiting for the battle if something does actually turn out tobe wrong with it. The next long trip is to Florida for Christmas sowe'll see how it sounds then.QuoteWe learned that Jayco has laid off about 200. They are effectivelyjob sharing. Working a week and taking one off.Ouch :-(Take care, Greg Quote Selected
Re: Visit to Jayco was successful Reply #2 – October 30, 2008, 07:01:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1895Well, after using them for two days, DW says the new door catches work great. Even I can use them without breaking them. They should not be expensive. The guy putting them on aligned the doors as well (I'd fiddled with them but access to the hangers is not great for a skinny 220 pounder like me) and was planning to spend time on them in Florida - that is out of the way now).I'm waiting until good Florida weather to get my coveralls on, slide underneath and look at the tail pipe hanger and exhaust hanger.Today we concluded that the WHINE is still there and just as loud. It is not unbearable at 55 mph but at 60 and 65 (we traveled at 60 a bit today) it really is annoying - very annoying when DW even mentions it. I'm now starting to wonder about returning via Middlebury in April so that Mor/Ryde can look at it.Greg, I was told that total layoffs in the areas are now over 10,000. They are running into problems with suppliers going under and then they have to resource components and that is not always easy.We are in Calhoun GA this evening. 66 degrees at 6 pm. Going down to 36 tonight so on will go the 2 ceramic heaters. They did a great job last night just south of Louisville Poor guy next to us in his 45 ft Country Coach Intrigue was suffering with his Hydra Hot or whatever they call it. His MH (matching paint job on the toad - Honda Element). His wife looked at our levelers and asked what they were. Looks like they've had nothing but air leveling and thus she'd never seen sold levelers like ours. Clearly she has led a very sheltered life. I have to say it was a gorgeous MH - look at the April FMC mag - it is identical to the one they tested. Imagine, only 525 HP and 1600 ft pounds of torque.I've got to lower tire pressures tomorrow. They were set at a much colder ambient temperature. But nights have dropped to freezing so I didn't want to jump the gun - but then it gets hot during the day and I think we've been getting a rougher ride than usual.Tomorrow we have to stop at Camping World south of Macon and get some Sta-bil. Filled up at Flying J at Resaca this afternoon just before stopping at the KOA at Calhoun but they didn't have any. Last fill was at Southfield IN and went 448.5 miles on 57.105 gallons for 7.85 MPG. Would sure like to get 8.5 to 9 MPG but I guess this was't bad given the I-24 between Nashville and Chattanooga is exactly flat. Price today was $2.299 and yesterday at Pilot it was $2.129 - makes the pain of 7.85 less than when we were close to $4 per gallon.DW could see today that when a pusher blasted by (well, when you are going 55 everyone is blasting buy) my eyes would glaze over thinking about our last 2 pushers. No question they run much better with all the torque and the air suspension. DW (and this is the over ridding factor) MUCH prefers this unit as she finds the SUV style cab to her liking (don't ask me why) and she feels that we can manoeuver it much better as well (sure is easier at the fuel pump without that extra 8.5 feet our Ambassador had).Greg, where are you going to be visiting in Florida? Going to be anywhere near Bradenton?DonOn 30-Oct-08, at 10:03 AM, Greg Gimlick wrote: Quote Selected
Re: Visit to Jayco was successful Reply #3 – November 04, 2008, 12:24:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1941QuoteGreg, where are you going to be visiting in Florida? Going to beanywhere near Bradenton?We have reservations at the Great Outdoors in Titusville for Christmasweek if all goes well enough with DW's mother and aunt here so we canactually go. We'll spend the week there and then go over to Ocala to seesome family there. Also want to check out Top of the World communitywhile we're over that way.I fly RC airplanes and write for a couple of modeling magazines so thelure of having an RC field right in the community sounds kinda neat tome :-)Take care, Greg Quote Selected