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Visit to Jayco was successful

Yahoo Message Number: 1874
At this time it appears our 2 day visit was successful. The painting
was done by their outside paint contractor in Topeka as it had done
the original painting.

As to the problems we asked Randy to have fixed - it appears all were
done plus a few others.

They fixed the based of the bed so that it is much stronger in the
corners. It was catching on something as the slide went out and in
and 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 come
in - working fine.

They not only put on a new tail pipe hanger but also another exhaust
hanger.

The sliding door into the bedroom didn't have a proper stop and could
shift a 1/2 inch while traveling - banging freely. They put in a
proper stop.

Now, the one open item - the drive line wine. All three drivers (to
and from the paint shop and one of the fellows working on it) felt
there was no unusual noise. We took it out for about a 10 mile test
drive and got it up to 60 mph and found that the noise we were
concerned about was still there BUT not as loud. That could mean it
was exhaust related. It was agreed that we are covered if it turns
out to be the differential as it has been well documented.

At this time, subject to everything holding together, I have to say we
are very pleased with the work done. Frankly, our dealer would, based
on our past experience, have kept our MH for at least a month to do
what 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 van
plant. A tractor trailer had a delivery and they would not let him in
as it was not for the van assembly. He was really at a loss - what do
you do when the customer says it will be at least two weeks before
they will take a shipment?

We asked if we could see the Kokiak 26K and the guard said there were
none 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 Jayco
dealer). Saw it sitting there and went in and told them Jayco sent
me. They said they didn't have one yet. I said "well who owns the
one outside." Ah, egg still dripping down my face. It was a
Dynamax Grand Sport. Some fool just looked at the silhouette and
figured it was the Embark

We did see one that looked to simply be the box on the chassis and it
appeared to be headed to the paint shop.

It was darn cold last night. We've now started using the furnace and
the 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 effectively
job sharing. Working a week and taking one off. RV Connections told
me Jayco has increased its market share - because its sales have not
dropped as much as others (probably selling a lot at the bottom end -
pop ups, etc). They cut out employee coffee and Randy now pays for
service 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 toad
connected.

Don

Re: Visit to Jayco was successful

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1882
Don wrote:

Quote
At this time it appears our 2 day visit was successful.

That's great news Don, it sounds like some things at Jayco have really
changed from the last time you were there.

Quote
As to the problems we asked Randy to have fixed - it appears all were
done plus a few others.

Is it Christmas in IN? ;-)

Quote
New catches on the closet doors - look much better - but sure are stiff.

I wonder if my dealer can can me some.

Quote
Now, the one open item - the drive line wine. All three drivers (to
and from the paint shop and one of the fellows working on it) felt
there 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 to
be wrong with it. The next long trip is to Florida for Christmas so
we'll see how it sounds then.

Quote
We learned that Jayco has laid off about 200. They are effectively
job sharing. Working a week and taking one off.

Ouch :-(

Take care,
Greg

Re: Visit to Jayco was successful

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1895
Well, 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?

Don


On 30-Oct-08, at 10:03 AM, Greg Gimlick wrote:

 

Re: Visit to Jayco was successful

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1941


Quote
Greg, where are you going to be visiting in Florida? Going to be
anywhere near Bradenton?

We have reservations at the Great Outdoors in Titusville for Christmas
week if all goes well enough with DW's mother and aunt here so we can
actually go. We'll spend the week there and then go over to Ocala to see
some family there. Also want to check out Top of the World community
while we're over that way.

I fly RC airplanes and write for a couple of modeling magazines so the
lure of having an RC field right in the community sounds kinda neat to
me :-)

Take care,
Greg