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strikerdude10
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2021
Posts: 1
Location: CA
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 Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:48 am Post subject: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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This is my first time posting so apologies if this isn't the right area to do so.
I'm about to embark on a 9 month road trip around the country in my 1979 air cooled bay window riviera bus and basically wanted to get ahead of the ball on finding mechanics that I could bring it to.
I'm assuming that it will break down at least once during my travels and wanted to have a list of places I could bring it so I'm not frantically trying to find one from the middle of the mountains with no cell phone service.
I will be visiting every state west of and including Colorado, so if you live in any of those states and know a mechanic that would work on my vehicle I would very much appreciate you sharing their info in this thread.
Thank you all! |
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 33991
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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I'm not finding it now, but there used to be a website that listed helpful folks and shops by location, so if you broke down on the road, you could contact a nearby Samba or other helpful person. It started out being Bus-focused, too.
You might post a request for the site on the Bus forums, since more people travel in them than other models.
There is a Vanagon-focused phone app called VanAlert. |
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Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12466
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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| KTPhil wrote: |
I'm not finding it now, but there used to be a website that listed helpful folks and shops by location, so if you broke down on the road, you could contact a nearby Samba or other helpful person. It started out being Bus-focused, too.
You might post a request for the site on the Bus forums, since more people travel in them than other models.
There is a Vanagon-focused phone app called VanAlert. |
We looked for this about 6 months ago. It seems the website if you can find it was not being monitored. People would send email that never got answered. Too bad because it seemed like a great idea. I also heard stories about the service being abused like folks looking for a lot of free help to fix up their cars.
http://www.type2.com/rescue/ |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15143
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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roadhaus might be old information so do your diligence in investigating beforehand.
http://www.roadhaus.com/shops_all.php
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 33991
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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| Zundfolge1432 wrote: |
| KTPhil wrote: |
I'm not finding it now, but there used to be a website that listed helpful folks and shops by location, so if you broke down on the road, you could contact a nearby Samba or other helpful person. It started out being Bus-focused, too.
You might post a request for the site on the Bus forums, since more people travel in them than other models.
There is a Vanagon-focused phone app called VanAlert. |
We looked for this about 6 months ago. It seems the website if you can find it was not being monitored. People would send email that never got answered. Too bad because it seemed like a great idea. I also heard stories about the service being abused like folks looking for a lot of free help to fix up their cars.
http://www.type2.com/rescue/ |
Yep, that is it!
Too bad it's not current. I wonder if a few Samba Bus owners could get it moving again. What a fantastic resource if active!
I might try to get the Type 3 Rally and Type 3 Invasion folks to start something up like that, when I get some time.
A crude substitute might be to check the clubs and owners listed here on the Samba along your route, and have some contacts handy. Maybe plan some meet-up along the way with folks. Lots of work, but it might save the day! |
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Manfred58sc
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009
Posts: 3382
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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The rules of the road have changed on many levels. A break down may well involve parts that are hard to come by ( and expensive ). covid protocols do not allow many tow drivers to transport anyone in the cab. They require you to find other transport or the state patrol collects you and drops you off on in the next town.
What exactly would you expect amateur ACVW's owners to do with your break down? Parts can take weeks to source, there really are no ACVW's in junkyards.
Colorado has some excellent mechanics, they too must face the above stated realities and charge accordingly.
Sportcar in Colorado Springs
Scotts VW in Pueblo
KCW in Grand Junction
Painter's Grinding in Denver
Be realistic with fat stacks and good towing insurance
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Fat chick owner/operator |
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OB Bus
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003
Posts: 2535
Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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As well, AAA Plus or Premium, perhaps spring for the RV add on since some tow companies consider VW campers "motohomes".
Have you done a complete maintenance on your bus? Second the thought of contacting Robbie at Airshooled *before* you leave and maybe have him take a look.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 4:23 am Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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Tough love
There’s nothing novel about getting yourself into trouble through lack of preparation, and then getting into a deep financial hole. Don’t think blogging about it will somehow get people interested in your case, because that has been done and thrashed here many times.
The premise that there EXISTs a network of air cooled specialists available is faulty. I live in a metro area of 1 million people, and we don’t have one. There are many smaller places around the country where this is true, and when you do have one, they can be backed up six weeks.
AAA saves your evening, but now your car is in storage at $50 a day while you search for the above.
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31360
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Mechanic recommendations in western US |
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There are a few VW service places in the Phoenix AZ area. Use Google.
However, the last time I used any shop for mine was 25 years ago when I removed and took in my SB idler arm to have a new bushing pressed in.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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