jgavin65
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2010
- Posts
- 59
My wife and I spent last Sunday through Wednesday in the Elkhart & Goshen area. We took our 5th wheel up and had some upgrades installed which will make our traveling much safer and camping experiences a lot more enjoyable!
Gary Wheeler of Mor-Ryde suggested that we stay at the Elkhart Campground for 3 nights (although we could have stayed at the Mor-Ryde factory lot (w/electric) across the street on Tuedsay night). The Elkhart campground appears to have been a KOA at one point based on the architecture of the building. The campground layout was very good and easy to navigate our Montana (3665) around their facility. Water pressure was very good although the water did seem to have a strong iron content. We had no issues with the campground at all, very nice people run it and were very accommodating to our request for a quiet workspace with electric so I could work from the road since we didn’t have access to our trailer while it was “in the shop”. The campground Wifi coverage was excellent with an 802.11n connection speed. We certainly would stay at Elkhart Campground again without hesitation.
On Monday morning 7am we arrived at the Lippert factory for a 6 point auto-leveling system installation. Since they made the frame, it seemed like a good idea to have them install their Level-Up system. We picked up the trailer at 4pm and went back to the campground. We would suggest driving the route before though. Our Garmin gave us less than great directions, Google maps did a better job of getting us from the campground to the factory and back.
On Tuesday afternoon we were at Bud’s Body shop for an alignment and what they refer as an axle re-arcing. Bottom line, the tires are now tracking properly. They pointed out the cracking in the suspension block pieces to us. They were great to work with and did a very good job for us. Again, Bud’s Body Shop is a recommended shop to do business with if you are up in Elkhart. (Of course, with perfect clarity 20/20 hind sight, yes we could have had the alignment done at the Lippert plant, I just didn’t think of it at the time I was planning this out).
On Wednesday morning 7am we arrived at the Mor-Ryde factory for X-Factor and wet-bolt installation. Initially, I had spec’d for 2 braces but since I was there, I changed my mind and added the 3rd one. The Mor-Ryde facility is top-notch! Their customer waiting are is simply stated “the best”! They made sure I had a good work area, Wifi access, free drinks and snacks and even provided lunch for Penny and I. During the parts inspection of the rubberized suspension block pieces the technician noticed some significant cracking that probably should not have occurred since the unit is a 201 and stated they would have probably failed in less than 2 years; so in a sense we were in-trouble and just didn’t know it yet. The Mor-Ryde Service Manager immediately said that they would provide new replacements at no charge, but I was thinking longer term and asked about the next level upgrade. For $128 (parts cost each side) they installed a much denser suspension block that will last longer than the stock version of what the factory installed. Then the technician showed me the old shackles that came off the trailer. With the suspension block cracking the way it was, the shackles were taking a lot more hammering which caused the normally round bolt holes to become oblong shaped. Bad juju! The new suspension blocks, new shackles and X-factor braces that were installed are certainly a significant upgrade in strength and we know that the trailer is in much better shape for the longer haul.
So with the frame & suspension fixed and a really nice Auto leveling system, our C.O.W. (Condo-On-Wheels) is now set for many more years of camping pleasure. Granted these were major expenses, but we feel overall, well worth it! We were happy with all of the suppliers!
Safe Travels to all,
Joe& Pen
Gary Wheeler of Mor-Ryde suggested that we stay at the Elkhart Campground for 3 nights (although we could have stayed at the Mor-Ryde factory lot (w/electric) across the street on Tuedsay night). The Elkhart campground appears to have been a KOA at one point based on the architecture of the building. The campground layout was very good and easy to navigate our Montana (3665) around their facility. Water pressure was very good although the water did seem to have a strong iron content. We had no issues with the campground at all, very nice people run it and were very accommodating to our request for a quiet workspace with electric so I could work from the road since we didn’t have access to our trailer while it was “in the shop”. The campground Wifi coverage was excellent with an 802.11n connection speed. We certainly would stay at Elkhart Campground again without hesitation.
On Monday morning 7am we arrived at the Lippert factory for a 6 point auto-leveling system installation. Since they made the frame, it seemed like a good idea to have them install their Level-Up system. We picked up the trailer at 4pm and went back to the campground. We would suggest driving the route before though. Our Garmin gave us less than great directions, Google maps did a better job of getting us from the campground to the factory and back.
On Tuesday afternoon we were at Bud’s Body shop for an alignment and what they refer as an axle re-arcing. Bottom line, the tires are now tracking properly. They pointed out the cracking in the suspension block pieces to us. They were great to work with and did a very good job for us. Again, Bud’s Body Shop is a recommended shop to do business with if you are up in Elkhart. (Of course, with perfect clarity 20/20 hind sight, yes we could have had the alignment done at the Lippert plant, I just didn’t think of it at the time I was planning this out).
On Wednesday morning 7am we arrived at the Mor-Ryde factory for X-Factor and wet-bolt installation. Initially, I had spec’d for 2 braces but since I was there, I changed my mind and added the 3rd one. The Mor-Ryde facility is top-notch! Their customer waiting are is simply stated “the best”! They made sure I had a good work area, Wifi access, free drinks and snacks and even provided lunch for Penny and I. During the parts inspection of the rubberized suspension block pieces the technician noticed some significant cracking that probably should not have occurred since the unit is a 201 and stated they would have probably failed in less than 2 years; so in a sense we were in-trouble and just didn’t know it yet. The Mor-Ryde Service Manager immediately said that they would provide new replacements at no charge, but I was thinking longer term and asked about the next level upgrade. For $128 (parts cost each side) they installed a much denser suspension block that will last longer than the stock version of what the factory installed. Then the technician showed me the old shackles that came off the trailer. With the suspension block cracking the way it was, the shackles were taking a lot more hammering which caused the normally round bolt holes to become oblong shaped. Bad juju! The new suspension blocks, new shackles and X-factor braces that were installed are certainly a significant upgrade in strength and we know that the trailer is in much better shape for the longer haul.
So with the frame & suspension fixed and a really nice Auto leveling system, our C.O.W. (Condo-On-Wheels) is now set for many more years of camping pleasure. Granted these were major expenses, but we feel overall, well worth it! We were happy with all of the suppliers!
Safe Travels to all,
Joe& Pen
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