Visiting The Mothership!

[Jim]

I am currently camped out at the Newmar service center for what they're calling "minor services", which, as any seasoned RV owner knows, is code for brace yourself. I’m a little late kicking this off, but I’ll try to log this as it unfolds. EDIT: If you've never been to the Newmar Service Center, here's what to expect: A technician shows up at your coach around 6:00 AM each morning, picks it up, and drives it to the service bay where the day’s work is done. Around 3:00 PM, they bring it back to you. Rinse and repeat each day until the job's done.

Day One:
Set the alarm for 4:30 AM, because Tech arrives at 6:00am, and apparently that’s a normal time to exist. Cleaned the coach like the Queen of England might inspect it. Towels? Folded like a hotel brochure. Dishes? Washed, dried, and in the cupboard. Kurig under the sink. Even staged the pillows like I was auditioning for a London Aire catalog. Aired up, slides in, unplugged, I was squared away and standing proud when my tech arrived. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell… he felt my excellence.

 

[Boat Bum]

Exactly! My boats, cars, bikes, RV all get cleaned before service, my feeling is when they see a well maintained vehicle in for service they tend to treat it that way.

 

[Holdmybeer]

"Broken Windows" theory.

 

[purring along]

I am following, because we are heading that way also for a few days worth of repairs. The last time we just dropped the coach off for four months. Good luck.

 

[FLSteve]

Cleaned the coach like the Queen of England might inspect it. Towels? Folded like a hotel brochure. Dishes? Washed, dried, and in the cupboard. Kurig under the sink. Even staged the pillows like I was auditioning for a London Aire catalog. Aired up, slides in, unplugged, I was squared away and standing proud when my tech arrived. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell… he felt my excellence.

WOW ... isn't that that same routine you go through when someone rents the coach at Deer Springs RV Park. It's become a habit.

FLSteve

 

[Jim]

Day Two:
Same 4:30 AM alarm, but the regal discipline from Day One was fading. The towels still made it to the shower door, but more like they were tossed during a hostage negotiation than prepared for inspection. The dishes? They're in the sink, under a cover, so technically invisible.

The Keurig, which yesterday had been stowed beneath the sink, has now claimed a spot on the counter. Bold move, bean boy! And my clothes were thrown into the closet like I was settling a grudge. But I was ready. Slides were in, I was all aired up, and lifelines were off.

My Tech arrived, smiling proudly at me. I could tell though . . . he senses some unraveling beginning.

 

[lostinfla]

Spent a week there way back in 17 for them to rebuild the super structure on the FWS. (ours was one of the first gen FWS) That was in the old stone parking lot. By the end of the week, the coach was matte gray from all the dust there. The new "campground" is MUCH better!

 

[Boat Bum]

@Jim I enjoy your prose.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

We will be in Shipshewana this afternoon. I'm trying to schedule a plant tour for Thursday, but so far I haven't had any luck with anyone answering the phone.

 

[Holdmybeer]

Day Two:
Same 4:30 AM alarm, but the regal discipline from Day One was fading. The towels still made it to the shower door, but more like they were tossed during a hostage negotiation than prepared for inspection. The dishes? They're in the sink, under a cover, so technically invisible.

The Keurig, which yesterday had been stowed beneath the sink, has now claimed a spot on the counter. Bold move, bean boy! And my clothes were thrown into the closet like I was settling a grudge. But I was ready. Slides were in, I was all aired up, and lifelines were off.

My Tech arrived, smiling proudly at me. I could tell though . . . he senses some unraveling beginning.

He's probably only thinking, another slippery slope loser to the 2nd. law of thermodynamics who'll soon be at WalMart in pajama bottoms and house shoes.

 

[Jim]

We will be in Shipshewana this afternoon. I'm trying to schedule a plant tour for Thursday, but so far I haven't had any luck with anyone answering the phone.

I've got a spot at 8:15 on Thursday. Not sure what the rest of the schedule looks like. 574‑773‑7791

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

They are full today and tomorrow so we booked Monday.

 

[Jim]

He's probably only thinking, another slippery slope loser to the 2nd. law of thermodynamics who'll soon be at WalMart in pajama bottoms and house shoes.

He’s probably more right than wrong. I mean, I’m rolling around in a motorized singlewide, one warm beer away from stepping out in a flannel bathrobe, house shoes dragging across the asphalt, and a cigarette dangling from my lip like it’s the last thread holding my dignity together. The Second Law of Thermodynamics isn’t just knocking, it’s kicked back at the dinette, wearing my socks and polishing off my last Dr Pepper.

 

[lostinfla]

 

[Boat Bum]

Sweet Continental in the background.

 

[Jim]

Day Three:

I had moved the wake-up window to a leisurely 5:00-ish. The sink has become a science experiment, so I pivoted to paper plates. Showered, tossed the towel in the bathroom corner, and closed the door like it never happened. I’m out of K-cups, but lobby coffee is just fine.

As expected, my tech dutifully arrived at 6:05, so I wandered off to let him do his thing. He’s a pro, and I’m at the “just happy to be here” phase. Starting to feel like a local!

 

[Chargerman]

Posting at 1:15AM and you have a 5AM alarm. Somebody alert the staff to be on the lookout for a homeless looking man wandering the lot looking for an empty chaise to nap on.

 

[Headhunter]

What the heck is taking them three + days to repair? I think a 6:00 AM pickup is crazy. What would you do if you didn't have a hotel room to go to? Or is that not an option?

HH

 

[Jim]

What the heck is taking them three + days to repair? I think a 6:00 AM pickup is crazy. What would you do if you didn't have a hotel room to go to? Or is that not an option?

HH

• Heated floors, or lack thereof.
• Cameras that change the view when you turn on lane change signal were not working.
• There was a Freightliner recall on the headlight wiring.
• Generator access slide was intermittently working, or not working, however you wish to look at it.
• Leak coming from somewhere that allowed water to drip out of the puck lite above the passenger seat. Trish just loved that!
• Adjust FWS, which turned out not to need adjusting. Well, according to the tech anyway. Still doesn't seem right to me, but he's the expert.

So here's how it works Jim. Each morning around 6:00, they come by to pick up the coach and haul it off to the shop, where they pretend to work on it. Then at exactly 2:00, like clockwork, the coaches come shooting out of the service bays and head back to the Newmar campground, like kids running out of school into their parents’ arms.

Newmar does have a really nice lobby with workstations and such. You can try setting up your office off the tailgate of your truck, been there, done that, too much glare. So now I’m in one of their private work cubicles with my laptop and accessories. Much easier on the eyes, and the illusion of productivity is much stronger.

I asked why the tech's hours are so strange and was told that many/most are Amish, and have farms to attend to so they leave the Newmar plant just after 2:00 and go work their farms.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

We're finding that most things close at 4 PM, which presents a problem since cocktail hour doesn't start until 5.