Advice wanted for Jackson Center repairs

[ayresdream]

I couldn't do it... the floor of our '71 Ambassador, Boop, has rotted out due to a previous rear end separation issue... I was thinking I'd tackle the repair myself... but I chickened out... Now we're booked to take her down to Jackson Center for repairs in early November.

One of the reasons for the floor rotting out was when I had the rear end separation fixed the repair place was really busy, so they only fixeds separation, and that was it... meanwhile four years later I'm stuck with a floor repair.

Will the Jackson Center fold be more vigilent and if the find an issue will let me know and fix it?

I'm also wondering if anyone has anyone has any advice on taking a vintage trailer back home... how will the factory treat the old girl... do they mind working on old vintage trailers, or do they prefer newer ones? Will they only fix the floor, or will they do other repairs if they find them? If I give them a wish list of other things I'd like dealt with, will they balk because they're so busy, or will they cheerfully look at them.

We're fultiming in the trailer, but have made arrangements to leave it with the factory for two weeks while we stay with relatives... do we need to remove everything from the trailer?

Are there things we can do to make the job go faster and easier for them... such as pulling up the pergo flooring to expose the bottom... etc?

That said... and before I do up a wish list, what are their shop rate and parts prices like?

All these questions... I feel like a worried parent about to drop a child off for a tonsellectomy. :-)

[2airishuman]

yes remove all personal stuff, this will make it easier (less time charged) for them to gut it for floor replacement.

sure they work on older units, they will work on ANY unit that is $green$

generally the best floor replacement involves a 'frame off stage' so this unit could be very deconstructed...

if they take that approach.

yes make a wish list and also make an 'absolutely must repair/replace' list...

the factory will give you an estimate on the work YOU want, the work THEY think it needs,

and the WISH list.

most folks cannot afford this type of work unless they do it themselves...

hiring professionals to do extensive repairs, renovations and upgrades is very very costly.

whether it's the j/c folks or one of the many vintage rehab'rs....

70s units are so plentiful and still relatively inexpensive,

so it may be easier/cheaper to just find another unit in better shape, to start from.

your repairs (without even knowing them) could easily be 15k$ or more...

ad axles, brakes a few panels...add 5k$ more....

the factory doesn't polish but there is a shop close by that does...

another 5-7k$ for yours.

cheers
2air'

btw the factory does offer a winter discount of 10 or 20% or labor rates...

and i'd expect the unit to be there 4 weeks or more, not 2.

[ayresdream]

My wife put the kaibosh on 90 percent of the items on my wish list (awnings on all the windows, new TV antenna, etc). She's making me stay focused and have only done what needs to be done, which is replace the rear portion of the floor directly under the bathroom, have the running gear inspected (which we have done every year). I think we'll also get a new dump valve put on the holding tank, as well as a system installed to rinse it.

I was able to talk to Jackson Center and they mentioned that if I lifted up the floor it would be a big help and save time. They also said that I would be able to stay in the trailer the night before at the factory.

I'm looking forward to the factory tour.

Thanks for the advice.

[HowieE]

I would consider any option other than the factory.

Do a search on floor repairs here to get a better idea of what is involved.

I had the factory realine my axles when I first got my AS and before I had access to Good Information. They took the money and did nothing.

When I got home and remeasured things I called them and asked where to have the work done correctly. They sent me to gommer's in Chambersburg Pa 3 hours from home not the 10 hours I had driven to JC.

[thecatsandi]

There were several vintage trailers in for repair each time I have been by the factory. Some of the folks who will be working on your trailer may have built it. There is one place in CA that is highly thought of.

[crestonrv]

tonsilectomy is minor, rear floor is more like getting a new lung

[allenhughes]

Good luck The JC crew is $$$ But they usually do it right!!!

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

There were several vintage trailers in for repair each time I have been by the factory. Some of the folks who will be working on your trailer may have built it. There is one place in CA that is highly thought of.

Hi, make that two; C&G and Inland.

[ayresdream]

We got the repair done, and it went great. We arrived in JC the night before, stayed the night in the terraport, then went back to Canada and left it with them for a week. We got back and they had the trailer in the terraport and waiting for us. We even had time for a factory tour, and there's a supermarket with a diner in town that has a great supper special.

It was expensive, but the repair seems to have been done right.

[bonnisd]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

There is one place in CA that is highly thought of.

Which is.....?

[bonnisd]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, make that two; C&G and Inland.

Ooops! Didn't see this reply before posting. I/'ve heard of C&G - my parents had their AS motorhome in there for repair after a traffic accident. Took forever - about 4 mos. - for front end damage repair & Mom didn't like the job they did. Someone ran a red light into front driver side.

Where's Inland?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bonnisd

Ooops! Didn't see this reply before posting. I/'ve heard of C&G - my parents had their AS motorhome in there for repair after a traffic accident. Took forever - about 4 mos. - for front end damage repair & Mom didn't like the job they did. Someone ran a red light into front driver side.

Where's Inland?

We are in Corona, California.

1-800-8777311.

Andy

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by bonnisd

Which is.....?

I was at C&G in Bellflower last week.... (LA Basin) They did ok by me.

[LLB21]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I was at C&G in Bellflower last week.... (LA Basin) They did ok by me.

Me too. C&G has a enviable reputation. They have been around for decades. We are lucky to have them here on the West Coast.