Window Defogging In Florida
Dear Editor:
After twice going through a “repair” and still having fogged windows return in our motorhome, we finally found Darren Thomas Glass Co. in Sebring, Florida. They replaced our three-panel driver’s-side windows and two-panel copilot’s-side windows with their two-piece bonded-glass panels, which are guaranteed not to fog.
Owners Darren and Meri Thomas had provided an estimate for us at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa this past January. They do the work at their Sebring site, but you can ship your old windows to them if you can’t go to their shop. Since we are full-timers, we did go to their facility in Sebring for the repair. We came in on Sunday evening, plugged in to their electrical hookup (water is also available), and were provided with a list of area restaurants and things to see and do. First thing Monday morning, they removed our windows and made replacements. The work was completed by Monday afternoon.
We were very pleased with the professional attitude, good humor, and friendliness of the entire staff, from Darren and Meri to Jessy in the office, and installers Terry and Tim. If you want to be rid of your foggy windows for good, we highly recommend Darren Thomas Glass Co. (FMCA commercial members, C12715) at 251 Commercial Court, Sebring, FL 33876; (863) 655-9500; www.neverfogrvwindow.com.
Dan Davis and Carolyn Banks, F114477
Livingston, Texas
Small Shop, Big Help In Oregon
Dear Editor:
This past May found us taking a wonderful trip down the Oregon coast from our home in Bend, Oregon. We have a 2009 Holiday Rambler Neptune and two BIG dogs that travel with us. We spent a wonderful five days at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon. We enjoyed walks on the beach and wonderful drives to overlooks. We even saw some baby whales playing in the ocean with their moms.
We had just left the park when the motorhome’s alternator failed. We quickly pulled into a repair shop, which couldn’t help us; we were stuck there. We have AAA RV Plus service. They came out and with a lot of work and two trucks to jump us, one for each coach battery, they were able to start the coach. Thank goodness we got it started, as the unit weighs 33,000 pounds, and we would have had to wait for a tow truck to come from Crescent City, about 35 miles south.
We found a small repair shop called KLB Enterprises. We made it there and were given a plug-in for the coach, plus the owner put up with our dogs and dropped everything to get us fixed in one day! If you are ever in this area, don’t hesitate to contact him. He really knows his stuff. The company is KLB Enterprises, 97960 Lively Lane, Brookings, OR 97415; (541) 469-8096.
John and Shoshana Doermer, F434740
Bend, Oregon
Kerrville Recommendation
Dear Editor:
If your motorhome breaks down close to Kerrville, Texas, call LeMeilleur’s RV Truck & Equipment Repair Co. (500 Yorktown Blvd., Kerrville, TX 78028; 830-895-2888). The techs all are ASE certified. Their shop is beautiful and very clean. Owners David and Denise were more than helpful and so very caring.
My motorhome broke down around 2:30 p.m. I waited for the big wrecker truck, but by 5:00 p.m. I still had not been towed. I called the shop, because they close at 5:30. David gave me his cell phone number and told me to call when the tow truck got to a certain mile marker. He met us at the shop and put my motorhome inside the fenced area where it would be safe. It was 9:15 at night before I called. He hooked up the coach to electricity and let me get stuff I needed for the night, and I stayed at a hotel Denise had found for me.
The next morning by 9:00 a.m., David knew what was wrong and gave me a choice of a used or new part. I chose a new one, which had to be ordered and would take three days.
I went on home to Colorado, because I needed to be in Denver for a grandson’s graduation. When I returned for the motorhome, David and Denise waited on me until I got hooked up, and they even got me an RV site at a campground for that night. I think it was about 6:00 p.m. when I left their shop. They were very reasonable and kept my motorhome hooked to electricity the whole time.
It was the first time in 22 years that my RV ever broke down, and they made the situation so very easy.
Margie E. Vidmar, F164805
Aurora, Colorado
Another Positive Michelin Advantage Experience
Dear Editor:
Our coach tires were aging out, and we looked into the Michelin Advantage Program offered by FMCA. We had them replaced at the Snider Fleet Solutions location in Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Truck Tire Center, 1010 Idlewild Blvd., Columbia, SC 29201; 800-528-2840, 803-799-0106; www.sniderfleet.com).
I made the appointment with Terry Ficher, and he ordered the tires. Chris Harley kept me up-to-date on the order process. When I arrived to get the tires put on, John Benenhaley greeted me outside the shop. He was very complimentary of the coach and made me feel welcome. John carefully removed and installed all eight tires. John is a very personable individual and was very careful not to mar the highly polished aluminum wheels. I was in and out in record time and appreciate everyone’s efforts.
The ride home was unbelievably smooth, and I know I made a great decision with Michelin.
If you are in need of RV tires or road service, Snider Fleet Solutions has service trucks ready and covers five states in the Southeast and also Texas, Ohio, and Indiana.
I recommend the Michelin Advantage Program offered by FMCA.
Clark and Jo Howle, F322426
Hopkins, South Carolina
Ride Height Fright
Dear Editor:
My husband and I have owned a 1993 Prevost XL2 for the past six years and thoroughly enjoy it. We were planning an extensive trip and decided to have our coach serviced by Risco RV (137 Allaire Road, Farmingdale, NJ 07727). They are very knowledgeable about Prevosts and all kinds of RVs and are FMCA commercial members (C7338).
After the repairs, we headed south. Near Baltimore, the right side of our coach bottomed out. We stopped at various places for assistance, but nobody could help. Finally we called Mark Barry, the owner and founder of Risco RV, and sent him photos my husband took under the coach.
Mr. Barry and Sal, one of his mechanics, came to our rescue by driving three hours (150 miles) from New Jersey to Joppatowne, near Baltimore, arriving at 7:00 on a Friday evening.
The problem involved the ride height control valve. They fixed it within 20 minutes, and we were on the road again.
We are lucky to have found Risco RV, because they take a personal interest in all RVs and certainly stand behind their work. If any other FMCA members are in the eastern part of New Jersey and need mechanical assistance, they should not hesitate to contact Risco RV at (732) 872-7722; www.riscorv.com.