Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Farmerbob1, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Well, dry rot on three air bags. One currently leaking. Broken springs on two air chambers, and I am being told the new air chamber I had installed a couple months back is not the correct one for my truck.

    Having them write me up a quote for all air bags and all brake chambers, rather than doing 3 of each and having 1 old unit left to fail later.
     
    Midwest Trucker and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Tropsnart

    Tropsnart Road Train Member

    1,130
    2,384
    Jun 8, 2015
    Pavilion New York
    0
    Gotta love owning trucks. The headaches never end.
     
  4. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Update. The oddball brake chamber is a different size, but will work fine for the truck. They can match it with three new ones.

    The one new-ish air bag I will still have replaced though. It is slightly different from the ones they have. Since air bags directly support loads, I want a matching set to avoid potential uneven wear.

    So, the shop will be replacing 3 brake chambers and all four air bags.

    Looking at around 2k, including tax and shop fees.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  5. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Also note. Today is officially a diet cheat day.
     
    Rideandrepair, JonJon78 and 062 Thank this.
  6. 062

    062 Road Train Member

    6,207
    33,437
    Oct 20, 2013
    0
    I thought that was any day that ends with a Y
     
    Rideandrepair and Farmerbob1 Thank this.
  7. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Nah. Any day that starts with a $2000 repair bill is a cheat day.
     
    Coragran, zep1218, 062 and 5 others Thank this.
  8. sealevel

    sealevel Road Train Member

    2,664
    10,282
    May 31, 2012
    U.S. 41
    0
    I understand you are a man who wants his equipment correct. I respect that. But you woke up to a air leak and now 2 thousand dollars later a shop is replacing 3 brake chambers and all your air bags. Not knocking you. Your maintenance on your truck is impeccable, but you let some of these shops poke around too much and they will try and take you for everything. I would have found the right air bag to put on it and rolled, but I'm half ### that way. Lots of these shops work on commission of what they can sell. Makes my stomach queasy just thinking about it.
     
    Tug Toy, loudtom, Eldiablo and 5 others Thank this.
  9. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,629
    45,515
    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
    0
    I have one about once a month or so. Had pizza the last time. I actually think these cheat days help my diet. Maybe trick my body into thinking I'm going to start feeding it again. Always seems to kick start the weight loss when I get to a plateau.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  10. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Aye. I had them show me the dry rot on the air bags, and two of the three brake chambers being replaced actually rattled when the tech punched them. The other two didn't. The only reason one of those brake chambers is being replaced is because the other three originals have already failed.

    I could have gotten a lot less work done, perhaps, but I have been working with my hands and fixing stuff my whole life. I can't stand leaving things half fixed.
     
  11. JonJon78

    JonJon78 Road Train Member

    7,151
    38,907
    Jul 1, 2018
    0
    Those airbags are simple to change out yourself. Probably would take an hour or so.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.