Need to get some crap off my chest

[Aerovette]

My folks sold their house and decided to be full time RVrs albeit frugal and low budget ones.

It is not going well. Just a 6 months out and they are stranded for the second time. The rear axle broke about 5 months ago and now the engine has cratered. They are stuck in Abilene and looking at a bill of about $21k for a replacement engine. That does not include the money spent on AC repair, generator repair, or tires, and incidental things that had to be fixed along the way.

My mom is wrecked and they are stressed to the point that I am concerned for their health. I'm able to help get them home once it is repaired, but I can't even put a dent in that bill and it will just about tap them out.

I am only posting this because I think they could use some well wishes and prayers to kind of give them a push in the right direction. I feel so helpless and I can't begin to imagine how helpless they feel. I think the mechanic is raking them over the coals, but their options are about zero. This is their home so it has to be repaired. The mechanic knows this and he can basically charge almost anything he wants and they have to pay.

Can you all please say a little prayer for them? I am not an especially religious person, but I strongly believe in God. My folks are good people and I just need God to get a little nudge from the Barn so he'll keep an eye on them and help get them through this mess.

Thank you in advance.

Jeff

[Sea Six]

Sorry to hear. I do remember the thread you posted a while back when they had decided to do this.

Hopefully some other options will crop up.

Have you tried posting on an rv forum like Woodall's? Someone may know of some repair people in the area that aren't ripoff artists like most RV repair shops that charge $120 per hour of shop time.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Sorry to hear. I do remember the thread you posted a while back when they had decided to do this.

Hopefully some other options will crop up.

Have you tried posting on an rv forum like Woodall's? Someone may know of some repair people in the area that aren't ripoff artists like most RV repair shops that charge $120 per hour of shop time.

The engine is out and disassembled so any alternate exit plan is complicated.

[DukeAllen]

Prayers sent...but as for the cost of that engine...dayummm

I hope they decide to settle down. Maybe a separate talk with dad to explain that mom isn't handling it well?

[Strats-N-Vettes]

I'll pray for them....and you too.

You'll need the strength to be in their corner and support their decisions whether you agree or not.
Offer good unbiased advice to them, the kind that will relieve their stress.
Let them know you love them, and support them and their golden years adventures.
Make them happy.
Make them smile.

[Barn Babe]

[Grey Ghost]

Done

[Rob]

Prayers on their way

[wwomanC6]

Prayers and positive thoughts sent! Hope things work out for them!

[justind]

Drop in a used motor. I dont see how a new motor could cost 21k unless it is a lambo rv.

[Broken Wind]

If it's a diesel engine, $20K is an expected figure for a major overhaul. I'm sorry your folks are having a tough time. Positive thoughts are headed their way.

[sanchez]

Sorry for your folks situation. Hang in there.

[Chuck A]

sorry to hear, wishing your parents well wishes

[LATB]

Bad circumstances.

Sometimes the game plan just doesn't work out. Time to punt and put your defense on the field. And make adjustments.

Prayers for the folks.

[RedLS1GTO]

My dad is a paraplegic from a car wreck in 1990 and retired just last year. He has enough to get by but is FAR from wealthy. A good friend of his who is also retired ...and is a multi-gazillionaire... went out and bought a 100% handicap accessible big diesel pusher RV, said he was paying all of the RV expenses, and it was not optional that my dad come along. They have been cruising around all over the place from Key West to Canada over the last few months...

Some of the repair/upkeep costs they have had along the way are absolutely insane. By the time you count fuel, insurance, upkeep, etc I'm pretty certain that if somebody GAVE me a big RV, I couldn't afford the thing.

Best wishes to your parents... and YOU! Hopefully they get things taken care of as reasonably as possible and start enjoying retirement!!

[VITE1]

[Bill]

I hope they get the situation resolved. Any chance they might decide to cut their losses and become homeowners again? I couldn't even imagine my mom taking to the open road. She needs lots of help with her house, as it is. Thankfully, I'm local and can handle some of her issues.

[mrvette]

Sorry for the OP's folks....

Wife was just lamenting over her fishing tackle box in the garage just now, how she will never get to use it......between her book keep business/what's left of it, and the Home Line Svc LLC doing houses for homeowners and investors to help her 45 y/o son out because his window washing business used to be booming, but over the last 7 years like her book keeping, it's gone to hell....

SO she also has her mother to take care of at age 84 and should be in a nursing home really.....and the aunt every other weekend, it's just stupid the pressure she is under......the whole fandamily revolves around HER.....

Then the story of a buddy's girl friend's folks....decades ago sold their house in the DC region, and bought a Holiday Rambler motor home, huge thing, it was such a huge disASSter it was amazing, at one point the rear bumper even fell off, causing the TAG, Tire, and some other gear to be gone forever.....lost on some highway.....

so about 1/3 of the way across country, they sold the POS, and had to move in with their daughter.....my buddy's g/f he broke up with her not long after that disASSter......

Some of you may know, my wife wanted a MH so bad, she finally picked one up for only 200 bux, a guy lost his job, so the family was moving back to Tennessee about 6 years ago.....so I wound up fixing it from ground up....4000 bux later it's done....used it 3x but for reasons above, we can't get away....we did not take it on the Key West trip last April because of the fuel 'economy'.....8 mpg ......Sold it to her second son who has a good job in the HVAC business, so parked for a hunting cabin on some land out western Florida.....can't win......

[dwjz06]

Sorry Jeff I hope things get better for your folks. The RV thing seems to never really pay off as a choice. My dad has lost money on his as well. Easy to buy hard to unload.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Off Topic

I think it depends on who does it and the hourly rate. I wonder that the charge for R&R is because I doubt it's rebuilt in-house any many RV repair stealerships.

$9,000.00 for installation.