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Topic: Tom's Mobile RV and Camping World Post (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
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Tom's Mobile RV and Camping World Post
Yahoo Message Number: 141757
I was afraid of the answers... a national chain with reliable service would have been too good to be true.
 For anyone who uses "Tom's Mobile RV" Service - here is my experience which I described in my earlier post seeking Camping World feedback as "a mixed bag".
 Last Fall, after returning from L.A. with my '99 RB, I found him on the web and he came out as promised to install a bypass kit, solve an annoying leak coming from the toilet fresh water plumbing and a few other odds and ends. The total charge was $337. I had clearly explained to him that I was preparing to head out on a trip to Georgia and wanted the bypass kit in place so when I returned to MN, I could winterize the unit. I went inside and waited for him to complete his work and summon me. When I got out to the MH, he was done and seemed like he was in a big hurry to go, had completed the job, and had winterized the unit!! Not wanting to make a fuss, I paid him and proceeded to de-winterize the unit. On the top of the bathroom sink, was a small clear plastic "ring" with a screen in it. I thought maybe it had been "displaced" as a result of the bypass installation. During the "dewinterizing process" everything went well until I started up the hot water heater. As a newbie, I didn't know to wait in between ignition attempts to avoid a buildup of gas inside the chamber. There was a frightening flash that I happened to catch a glimpse of during this whole ordeal. I called Tom, got his VM, and no return call. At the same time, I was on here pleading for help, and got it! Got the water heating going again and everything was fine.
Went out to Georgia, no major problems, and also very grateful that he fixed the plumbing leak. And the winterizing process went easy without a hitch thanks to his installation of the bypass kit. So far so good.
 Roll forward to Spring 2013 - took the RV out of storage, and de-winterized it with no problem and started taking short trips. On trip #2 , the water pump failed. Decided that despite the experience (a mixed bag) of last fall, I would call Tom out again. He admitted that the plastic ring (with a screen in it) should not have been left out but that it didn't cause the pump failure and installed a new Shur Flo 2.8 for a total charge of $460 including the installation of a 120v outlet under my dinette. (I also paid him $325 for a 30 AMP Surge Guard) Ouch - total charge $785.
 Tom services the Naperville area in the winters and then comes back to Minnesota for the summers so perhaps some of you LD'ers down in Florida know Tom. He has kind of a rough style, but knows a lot about RVS. He has been in the business a long time, and by his own admission is a bit burned out.
 My other comment on the mobile RV experience is that without proper planning, they may not have the parts to fulfill various requests. In this case, I also wanted the Winnegard bat wing replaced and he didn't have any new antennas with him, so told me to do it myself.
 This leads me to my search for a new service provider and after doing some research on the internet and making a few phone calls, am finding a shortage of providers with good reputations in the Twin Cities market. I guess I am stuck with Tom! He's not perfect but seems to know his stuff. I am fairly confident that if something major fails, he will know how to fix it.

Thanks for listening!

Todd '99 RB and '02 Honda CRV
Todd (and Steve)
'17 Winnebago Minnie Winnie and '13 Honda CRV
(Former '99 RB owners from 2012-2016)