Shops in Laughlin area

[Jay Are]

Hey everyone newbie here,

So I have a 2001 International 7.3 short bus that I purchased a few months back(my first bus).

I'm looking for a shop in the Laughlin area and having a real rough go of it. Every shop ive gone to or called says "oh yeah we dont work on buses but I know someone that does" so I did this with 4 different contacts and have exhausted all my leads. This even happened at the biggest RV shop they have here...at least to my knowledge.

I dont know if I'm going about it wrong, or if it's always this difficult to find a shop?

Any info on a mechanic or shop in Laughlin NV area would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time

[JackE]

My advice is when you call, don't tell them it's a bus. Just tell them you have an RV with a 7.3 and need some work on it. Any good RV shop or regular auto shop should have the capability to work on the 7.3 since it has been used in so many different applications.

[Jay Are]

Thanks...yeah the only thing with that is I don't have the resources to drive it all over the place if they won't do it because its to big or whatever. I need to know they will work on it.

[Jay Are]

Oh right yeah its not the engine I'm taking it in for I forgot to mention. I think it's got a bad kingpin on the left side. It wants to nose dive hard left when I tap the brakes at speed.

[JackE]

That sounds more like brake problems. If it goes left when applying the brakes, that indicates the right caliper isn't doing it's job, or possibly the left caliper is working way too hard, no balance between the two sides.

[Jay Are]

Yeah it could be just a brake issue and I would welcome that. I dont have the tools to get to it so I'm just guessing kingpin from what ive seen so far, but it could be any number of things.

[Jay Are]

Good news I found a shop that'll have me lol. ARS Truck & Equipment Repair in Fort Mohave. Can't get me in for a couple weeks yet, but its better than sod off so I'll take it. If anyone has experience with them id be all ears.

[Jay Are]

Well I got my answer lol. Bit of a heart breaker but I'm going to try to save and get my bus road worthy (kinda don't have a choice now as I've got too much in it to turn back)
The folks at the shop were great here's my estimate. The labor side of things comes to $1200. They did tell me the quote was assuming worst case on the labor. Just happy they didn't turn me away as the bus is in much worse condition than I had imagined.

Safe travels!!

[Jay Are]

Finally remembered to take a couple pictures of the work ARS did for me. In all it was about $3300 (to replace everything on the list above) and I'm very happy with the shop. The bus drives and stops like a dream compared to how it was before.I've since taken the bus back to them and had a new radiator installed.

If your in the Bullhead city area and need some work done I give ARS a solid recommendation.

Safe travels skoolie folks!