Handy or Handsome...

[rgeese]

I'm cheap, frugal, and handy. I've built and flown two airplanes, one fiberglass and one aluminum. But my best story is not a TT story, but one that exemplifies why you should just do it yourself, if you can. One of the lift springs on my garage door broke, and I didn't feel like I had the expertise or ability to replace it, so I called a garage door company. When the spring broke, the weight of the door stripped the large nylon gear in the opener. I found it on eBay for $20, but while the mechanic was there, I asked him if he had a gear with him, and he did, for an additional $140. Rather than wait for a few more days to get the gear, I told him to go ahead and replace it to get the door back in service.

A week later, it stripped again. When the mechanic came back, he took a look and said the worm gear shaft on the motor that drives the large gear was bent, and the whole unit would need replaced. The worm gear was not bent. My temper flared, and I "politely" ordered him off my property, followed by ordering a complete rebuild kit, including the large gear for $30. I installed it 2 years ago and it is still going strong. Doing a youtube research, several people emphasized that if you don't put the grease that is included with the gear on the gear when it is installed, the large gear will strip out in 7-10 days! That is where he made his mistake. A complaint to the door company got my $140 returned, and I learned a valuable lesson--do it yourself!!

[TXJACO]

Agreed! Do it myself. I’ll tackle almost anything. Built barns, replaced engines, built a house once. I can’t even imagine how many $1,000’s I’ve saved over the years. About the only thing that till this day I stay away from is electrical. Simple fixes like installing lights, ceiling fans no problem. I can run wire anywhere. Just hooking things up or diagnosing electrical problems...big problem for me. The DW, bless her soul, wants me to have “experts” do things. I always change my oil. So, a week ago I took the car in for an oil change. Got home and I’ll be danged if they didn’t tighten the drain bolt! Don’t care how old I get, if i can crawl under the car/TV, I’m changing it myself!

Paul

[Dave A]

If you couldn't work on these yourself....they would be in the shop most of the time instead of out being enjoyed.

[Larry2C]

I feel I'm pretty handy and the DW thinks I'm handsome (as long as I keep her wine glass full!)

I worked as a carpenter for a year or so and as a machinist and manufacturing specialist for 40+ years so I got a lot of experience fixing things. Once we started buying trailers (on our 4th now) I found that some things need fixing but even more could use a bit of customization to make them more like we wanted. Unfortunately, as we progressed through our trailers (the last 2 were bought new) the requirement to fix stuff has surpassed the need to customize - quality just ain't what it used to be We've only taken our trailers in for service twice - once to replace the canvas on our hybrid (under warranty) and the last time was to get the slide out repaired (turned out to be a pinched/broken cable to one of the drive motors.

I'm cheap, handy and very critical of the work that gets done so I get better results from myself than from the repair guys!

[Superseneca]

I'm handy. I can fix just about anything. I do all my own maintenance. It's a challenge that I enjoy. Put a new radiator in the moho this summer. Took 4 hours. But I know the job was done Wright and I saved a ton of money. Anyway,thanks to the forums and YouTube. Great places to learn.

[schrederman]

I had no idea this thread would be this much fun when I started it... Not RV related but I had a contacter and capacitor go bad on my AC unit when Dee and I lived down by Conroe, Texas. I was out of town but cut my trip short... because it was down by Conroe, Texas, and Dee was HOT... ... A little testing and I knew what was wrong. So I called a company and explained the situation. They said they don't accept customer diagnostics. Their guy got "politely" asked, (as someone else said) to leave my property after telling me my entire outside unit had to be replaced. I ended up spending about $40- on parts and... miraculously... that outside unit lasted another 10 years...
Oh... and I'm a pilot, too. But my annual inspections are considerably cheaper than most.

[Florida Ranger]

If you are not handy or mechanical I do not know how you can own a RV of any kind. Yes ,, that includes a 45 Ft. Prevost, now I own a Class “C and could not be any happier just me and my wife...and a 25 Ft ATV trailer...

[Jaycophil]

Wow. That’s scary. Must have had something delicious in there or maybe a dirty tasty bbq grill.

[Chet & Marie]

At 71 I still do most small repairs at home and on the TT. I used to tackle almost any repair but now with arthritis and artificial joints I mostly concentrate on being handsome.

[ctd]

Most ever time I've contacted a RV repair facility I'm told the equipment I have is junk. Usually they are booked out for weeks & months, some suggest I contact the the suppler directly such Lippert. Many times no return phone call & generally just excuses. I'm handy enough to sort it out.

Then their is no interest such small solar systems, correct size wiring & correct charge controllers. Then maybe adding a small inverter :-) Or how to start the AC unit with 2000w Honda......no interest so I do it myself.

I have no issue with paying for expertise, unfortunately it seems that I'm paying for some backyard hill billy that is playing around.

What I have found generally & fixed myself was not installed correctly to begin with. The supplier of the component takes heat for those reasons, when if it would have been installed correctly & setup properly it may have never been a problem.

We have only owned one fifth wheel, Jayco Eagle 34'. It has been an education & I certainly will have a different approach to the next purchase.

[fdeaners]

Whether you are handy or not, you should get to know you TT in detail. For example, Dexter or Lippert axles, B and B plastic ports, LM TV mounts, etc. , etc. you can also learn a lot from talking directly with the respective manufacturer.

Although I consider myself relatively handy, electrical is my Achilles’ heel. That being said, I believe it’s prudent to have a major repair insurance policy. One electrical issue cost me over $700 end it was apparent they didn’t know How to properly analyze the situation.

Aside from the above situation, with the two travel trailers I have or had gone I have never had to take them into a dealer. That being said, We wash and wax our trailer every three months, wash and UV protect the roof every three months, and repack our bearings every six months ( whether they need it or not ).

Happy camper!