Now My Feet Don't Match (HWH Facility - Moscow, Iowa)

A few days ago we had one of those "Uh - oh!" moments with the Roadrunner.
We tried to park in Tom and Cathy's driveway and maneuver so we were across the driveway and on the turn-around area.

It was going OK until I started backing into it and hear a lot of commotion.  I stopped the engine and went out to take a quick look.  Too late -- the back wheels were on the very edge of the tarmac and were sinking.  If I was quick thinking I would have jumped back into the driver's seat and fired it up again to see if I could get it out.

Now we had the back half of our 33,000 pound Roadrunner in a couple of holes.  We put some boards down, jacked it up and put more boards and blocks under the tires in the hole, set the jacks down again, raised them, put more boards down and finally got the RV out of the hole.

We checked for damage, didn't see any and repositioned the Roadrunner on the driveway right in front of Tom and Cathy's.  It wasn't real level so we got put some boards under the tires and drove up on them to level the coach.  That worked pretty well. 

When we deployed the jacks, the right rear (PS) jack looked crooked and would not set down flat with all the weight on it.  We raised them again and found that the foot and extending rod of the jack was damaged.  So we raised the jacks and did not use them.  (Note to self:  just because the area is paved, it does not mean that there is crushed rock and/or base core underneath the asphalt.)

That seemed to work fine.  In fact we drove the Roadrunner down to Milwaukee for a few days and stayed at the State Fairgrounds.  We found a level site and did not use the jacks.

After three days there we returned again to the cottage, parked in driveway and had no issues.

We again did not extend the jacks. (From this angle, you can see the turnaround area.)

After our time at Redstone Lake, we drove 160 miles to the HWH plant and service center in Moscow, Iowa.

We got the rod repaired, the jack foot replaced and it all checked out fine.

I was very impressed with the folks at HWH.  The first person we talked to was Ashley - the Service Writer (and office manager as far as I was concerned).  We notified her when we would like to get in and got an appointment.  Then our plans changed and we decided we wanted to be there a week early. No problem.  When we got there she worked with us and was very professional and pleasant even though there was a lot going on.  She does all the scheduling, answers all the emails, does billing and basically was running the show.  And did it all very well.

We got there in the middle of the afternoon and stayed at the facility over night.  We met the supervisor, Bill, and he got into a Service Bay right after lunch.  Josh and Larry, the service techs, got right on it.

They did some minor work on the shaft and beveled out an edge.  Then they replaced the jack foot on the damaged jack.  These guys were steady and thorough.  They took care but were motivated.

Pam commented "It seems as if these folks like their job and like working here."  I agreed - we have been to some service centers and that is not always the case.  I think the supervisor sets the tone and creates the atmosphere.  That would be Bill - he was very good with us and with his people.  And it showed.

They checked for leaks, looked at our slide out sync motor and a bolt I had sheared and replaced and it all checked out fine.  They moved the coach from one bay to another one and set the jacks down and raised them a few times to make sure it was all working fine.

We were out by 3:30.  And to beat it all it cost only $249!  I wasn't sure if they could replace some damaged parts or would have to replace the entire jack assembly.  So I was glad for that.

And now we have a new foot.

 Doesn't quite match the old one.

But that is fine.  I wonder if anyone will ever notice?

Thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles today!