Have I got a tale or two for you and they are all straight from the workshop floor. I will be regularly writing posts over the next few months about motorhome and caravan repairs, modifications and accessories that I come across as I work on the workshop floor of a caravan repair business.
Following What I Love To Do
As I wrote in a previous post titled “Tradie not a Trader” as much as I wanted to become a Trader to finance our new life on the road, mentally I am still a Tradie and not yet ready for life as a Trader. So soon after arriving on the Sunshine Coast I set out to look for some temporary employment to help pay for the repairs to our motorhome.
I tried most of the labour hire companies thinking that would be the best place to find some temp work. With the wide range of skills that I have I figured that I would be working in a day or two. How wrong was I? (It actually took me a whole week. I must have been enjoying the beach too much.) All I kept hearing from these labour hire specialists was “times are tough and there is not much work around at the moment. It will take you a long time to get some work” Thankfully when I get told that I can’t do something it makes me all the more determined to do it.
A week after I had started looking for work, I was out revisiting the agencies that I had signed up with and came across Suncoast Caravan Service as I was doing the rounds. As I drove past I decided to drop in. They looked busy and luckily for me they were. They also had a vacancy that needed filling which I had the skills and experience to fill. After a chat and an interview I was offered the position which I started in the next morning.
Workshop Floor
Working at Suncoast Caravan Service I am seeing and dealing with many of the issues that caravan and motorhome owners face with their rigs on a daily basis. In the workshop we do everything from roadworthy certificates to major refurbishments. On a daily basis I can find myself doing anything from simple jobs such as replacing a cupboard catch to larger jobs such as major repairs to an accident damaged van.
There is also a sales area with a comprehensive stock of spare parts and accessories that can supply everything from steps to a full solar system.
With being so totally immersed in caravan and motorhome repairs I am constantly coming across issues that I am sure affect a lot caravan and motorhome owners. Some of these issues might be obvious such as external damage or faulty lights. Others might not be so obvious such as hidden water leaks. So over the next few months I will be telling a few tales from the workshop floor so that you the reader will know what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation.
If you have any products that you would like to see reviewed or technical issues that you would like discussed then either leave a comment below or email me at dave@newlifeontheroad.com . In my next article I will be talking about seals and I don’t mean the one on your fridge.
Cheers,
Dave
New Life On The Road
Great post Dave, looking forward to the next one. You have a very clear write style that is easy on the ear. I’ll see if I can find some curly problems for you to solve, with our old girl. lol.
Hi Geoff,
If you can find one let me know. I will try to cover it in one of my posts.
With older rigs like yours and mine there is always some curly problem that needs solving. It’s part of what gives them so much character. 🙂
What a design!!! Where have You take it? Made youself?
Hi Victor,
The design was a design that we choose for our family.
Cheers
Lisa
What a perfect workshop for you to work in. I think the labour hire companies are the same everywhere, they are getting paid a lot of money to find people work but they don’t seem to do the job. Shane had the same problem here in the height of everyone screaming out for fitters and they couldn’t find him a job, he also ended up finding one himself.
Jackie Stenhouse recently posted..Leapfrog Explorer Console
Hi Jackie,
My personal belief is that the labour hire industry is a hindrance to industry and the Australian economy. Because most of them have zero experience in the industries that they are trying to place people they will not look at anyone who is not a perfect fit to the criteria that they have been given. There are over 700 jobs unfilled in the mining industry alone. I am sure that without all of the middle people they would be filled in no time.
That is exactly right Dave, if you have just one small thing different to their checklist they put you in the no good basket. It definitely is a case of who you talk to and not what you know.
Jackie Stenhouse recently posted..Can You Really Make Money Out Of Blogging?
Hi Dave, I’m wondering… if you had the choice between setting up a solar system or buying a generator, which would you choose and what is the price difference between the two? Thanks, Sharon
Hi Sharon,
The debate about solar vs generator is one that stirs as much emotion as politics. many prefer generators for their convenience, whilst others hate them with a passion because of there noise and fumes. Mind you there are some very quite generators available. The Honda and Yamaha ones are particularly good.
I already have a cheeper generator. Mostly because I got it at a price that was hard to say no to. I do intend to install solar as soon as possible though and only use the generator as a backup when there is not enough sun to charge the batteries. Doing it this way I can reduce the number of batteries that I have to carry.
Price wise it is hard to compare as the individual system requirments vary as do the quality and price of equipment available.
I will do a some more research into system design and pricing over the next week and cover it in a post in more detail.
Cheers,
Dave
Adding good accessories to your RV also helps in keeping it secure and safe for everyone using it. Accessories also helps in the life span of the vehicle.