Camp Freightliner - Gaffney, SC

Back on the Road

Weds morning I headed out of Dodge...

My destination about 380 miles southwest in Gaffney SC just a tad

southwest of Charlotte on I-85.

It is here in Gaffney that the Chassis for the Motorhome is made by

Freightliner Custom Coach in a 200,000 sq ft manufacturing plant.

Near the factory Freightliner has set up a school and service center

devoted exclusively to the custom coach line.

Coming here you are assured of getting the cream of the crop in mechanics

who understand your chassis inside and out.

Since I wanted to go to the Tiffin Factory in Red Bay, Al for some repairs,

and FCCC is pretty much on the way - I was on the wait list to obtain a seat in the

factory class taught to Chassis Owners.

When FCCC emailed me that a seat became available I jumped on the opportunity.

Entering Gaffney it becomes evident what is grown around here.

The School & Service Center is located next to the Community College in a very nice area.

The class covers numerous areas of the chassis including operation and maintenance.

It is geared for the owner and taught by a long time factory mechanic who

really knows these chassis's inside and out.

The course included a ton a material including a 400 page binder with a lot of the information

tailored specifically to my unit.

I had heard that the first day starts off a bit slow but by the second day you are

being force fed  information by a fire hose and I have to agree.

I personally wish that the pace would have started off quicker and then

the second days info could have been covered a bit more in detail

but overall I still have to say that it was very worthwhile I was able to learn quite a bit.

The waiting list for service is currently about 6 weeks out, so when I arrived I asked

to be put on the "work-in" list.    If they have some extra time they will "work you in"

The second day I was able to get the Bus in for its 3-year service so all is set

for the part of the motorhome that actually takes us down the road...  the Chassis.

It got professionally serviced by some of the best in the business and at a very

reasonable price to boot!

Two of my classmates. 

Patricia & Sarah.

The tuition included lunch both days and dinner on Thursday.

Tonight (Friday) I went for some takeout and tried some of the local barbecue.

The Service center has about 20 spaces with 50 amp service and a dump station on site.

The price is free so that can't be beat.   

All sites are first come and, of course, are for people who are scheduled, or "work-ins" like me.

Tomorrow - Saturday - I will make the 450 mile trip west to Red Bay

and just like last year - take my place in line waiting for my turn to get

some factory Maintenance on the other part of the Motorhome - The Coach...

The part that we live in.

The picture below illustrates the two parts of the motorhome.

I have some modifications to be made, some painting of an access panel that I lost last

winter in California, and some minor maintenance.

While at the factory this time I plan to visit the paint shop that I did not have time to

visit last year.

See you in Red Bay.