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Old 08-23-2022, 10:43 AM   #1
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Winnebago Service

Planning on taking the MH to Forest City for some much needed repair.
For those who have gone through this experience, just looking for advise as to what to expect.
Not only about Winnebago service, but what to do while one waits for service to be done.
A factory tour is on the list, if available. And we see there is a State park near by where we could do some hiking. But after that, we are seeking your input. Thanks
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Old 08-23-2022, 04:15 PM   #2
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You can make an appointment or walk in. If you walk in, be in line at 7AM when they open up. They allow a max of 7 items to be worked on. Bring things to do in the waiting area as there isn't much to do in the area. Mason City isn't too far away and might be a nice town to visit and kill some time. The state park has a tower you can climb. Another option is to "drop off" your unit and come North to the Twin Cities (2 hours) ...there is lots to do up here. There is overnight parking with hookup for electric and I think water (not sure). We've been there too many times. :(
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Old 08-23-2022, 05:28 PM   #3
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TJ covered most of it. Except that Appointment or not line up at the front door of the Service center BEFORE 7am. First in line gets processed first. You'll see everyone else lining up so the first day it's best to be at the head of that line. Probably around 6:30.

Then you'll come in and talk to a Service Rep at the desk and go over your items. Up to 7. If you have an appointment for that day you will have a Tech come and meet you at your RV a little bit later. You'll go over the list, show them anything they need to see and give them the keys to your rig.

Assuming there is another day in Service they will park your rig out front of the service area between 4 and 4:30. Then they'll just come to your rig on day two to pick it up for the 2nd day of service. You won't have to wait at the Service door.

There are electric connections in the lot - 5 or so on the paved parking lot at the service center and another 7 or 8 in the dirt lot immediately north of the paved parking. Folks with reservations get a parking pass to download before arrival for your windshield. Walk-ins used to park across the street at the Museum/Club parking lot. But during covid that was closed. Now??? I don't know. No guarantees for accommodations. Especially if you don't have an appointment. You may be on your own to find a spot in an RV park nearby.

The waiting room is nice and fairly large. They can accommodate pets, but you are severely cautioned to control them at all times. There are a few snacks in there. It is - or was - attached to a fairly extensive parts store. I don't know if that went away when they stopped selling parts directly.

We arrived the day before our appointment and parked in the dirt lot with power. We got in line at 6:30am and they took our RV in by about 7:20am. We got it back at 4 pm with 3 of the 5 items on our list completed. The second day they picked up the RV around 7:15 and at 1pm returned it to the parking lot "done." One thing they refused to do and another they said was fixed but it really wasn't. We were ready to get on the road and left directly after that.

They has scheduled us there for 3-days. When we left after 1 1/2 days they gave our other days to someone waiting without an appointment.

During that first day we waited in the waiting room a little bit in the morning, then drove over to Mason City to look at the 2 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in town and have lunch at a little sandwich shop. We returned to the waiting room and at the end of the day various techs came in to tell us what they did and such.

All in all it was a good experience and I'd go back if need be - but touch wood that won't happen.
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Old 08-23-2022, 06:03 PM   #4
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Creativepart,
Tried to get message in thank you, but apparently to many words.
I said we plan on arriving on a Sunday evening. So how easy it to find the area to park? Well marked?
Thanks for info about being early & being near front of line. Like you we are driving up from Texas, 1 to 2. Day service would be considered a blessing.
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Old 08-23-2022, 06:54 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RLCASC View Post
Creativepart,
Tried to get message in thank you, but apparently to many words.
I said we plan on arriving on a Sunday evening. So how easy it to find the area to park?
Just talk to the other people there. They'll point you in the right direction.

PS. My info is from 2018. Things change. So, just roll with it.
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Old 08-23-2022, 07:13 PM   #6
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Nice thumbnail pic - yes, across the street at the museum / visitor center parking with electric is now open - and the Fairgrounds across the highway is open with a few electric sites. There are some dumps / fresh water on the Fairgrounds that are intermittently available. The city maintains a dump behind the Fire Station on the main highway through town.

Many parts can be purchased in person at WBGO, otherwise Lichtsinn RV (< 2 miles) has a good parts department and can access WBGO for parts - will ship also.
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Old 08-24-2022, 10:22 AM   #7
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Thanks again for all the replies, especially the pics with ID. I had been looking at satellite views, but only the visitor center was identified. This will help greatly.
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Old 08-28-2022, 04:16 PM   #8
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Someone mentioned there might be water hookups, too, but last December when we were there, the hookups were power only. Just didn't want you to go without water in your fresh tank if you need it.
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Old 08-28-2022, 06:59 PM   #9
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Winnebago Service Info

We just returned from Factory service & it is pretty much like Lv2R said. We were there for 4 days and stayed all the time in the Grand National Rally area across the street. There was reliable power almost everywhere. Water was from a limited number of water points. Several dump stations in the area of GNR grounds were available. We enjoyed having a hundred acres at our disposal and the views were good too. Police patrols were in and out leading to a secure feeling. We would rather be at the GNR grounds that the closer ones at the factory.
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Old 08-29-2022, 10:21 AM   #10
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Reply to Winnebago service

We were there May 2, 2022. Made the appointment in Dec & anticipated
it all winter. From the start, all went very well, as most of you described
in your posts. Had made a list of some minor things & also problems with
the leveling jacks. Also, even though no problems we asked them to check,
adjust & lube the 2 slides.

Dropped it off on Monday & got a call Thurs it was ready. Arrived early on
Friday to pick up at a time they set. Met with the same person that we met
initially to go over the repair. All was "fixed" except the jacks, which we were told couldn't be repaired, but they could install a new system for $8300. Bit
steep, but very much an option. Problem is they couldn't get the system for
up to 6 months, meaning the entire season was shot. Ended up proving they could be repaired & had them going by mid June with the help of Ziegler-Cat.
They specialize in heavy equipment & hydraulics. I found the parts & where
to rebuild the jacks & they did all the labor, as it was beyond my ability or
tools. Strike one for Winnebago.

As I stated, the slides were actually fine, but thought hey, they're the experts, have them service them. First time we headed out the slides
started acting up. Second time out, the front stopped working & had to
push it in & brace it to get home. Local friend was able to repair it & got
us back on the road. They, as I said, were fine when they "checked" them out for us. Strike two.

While at Winnebago had them do some work on the sound system so the
new TV would go through the house speakers as the original one did. Seemed to work well. Went over all the repairs & seemed all was great &
headed home. About 3 miles out discovered we had no cruise control &
no brake lights. Was fine when we dropped it off ??

A year before had the brake light switch on the brake pedal go out & a simple
repair part. Turned around & showed them the problem, thinking it might have something to do with the new wiring they did, but they could find nothing & were unwilling to investigate further or deal with it. Having no
choice, we headed back to Sioux City. Towing a Jeep Wrangler & no brake
lights with 30-40 mph cross winds the entire drive took nearly 6 hours & fortunately no one stopped us about the brake lights.

At home took it to the local Chevy truck dealer who does the chassis maintenance for us. It's a Chevy Workhorse chassis. I have all the schematics printed out & keep in the RV, as anything prior to 2009 is no
longer on the Winnebago web site. Using those it took them about 5 minutes to solve & no problems since. The problem was A 20A fuse under the hood that we had no idea was there. Gave me a bag of fuses of all kinds to keep
on hand for future. No charge for any of this.

Strike 3......You're out........
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Old 08-29-2022, 01:45 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie View Post
It's a Chevy Workhorse chassis. I have all the schematics printed out & keep in the RV, as anything prior to 2009 is no longer on the Winnebago web site.
Correction: https://www.winnebago.com/Files/File...ram/Wiring.htm Their online schematics go back to 1990..
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Old 08-29-2022, 04:06 PM   #12
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Buddy Holly crash site. Bring water. Surf Ballroom and Museum, Clear Lake. Mitchell Bar & Grill, Leland, ask about Thursday all you can eat ribs and chicken, show up early.
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Old 08-30-2022, 01:21 PM   #13
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Ray,
We have those links & manuals but many of their manuals are no longer available. Have everyone ever issued on our model & also printed all that were not in the set we got with the RV. The chassis is Chevy & was able to get those we didn't have from our Chevy truck dealer when we 1st bought it & they service it twice a year. At this point we have everything up & running & maintain it religiously. No reason to go back to Winnebago for anything at this point except occasional parts. It's a good machine and we will continue to take the best of care.
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Old 09-15-2022, 08:35 AM   #14
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Thanks for all the advise on Winnebago Service. It sure gave us a heads up on what to expect. Only additional advise is; if you are going to be a walk-in, be here on a Monday. All Monday’s start a new schedule, with appointments first, then first come first serve for walk-ins. With no guarantees you will get service that week. We have been fortunate, it’s Thursday and this should be last day in service bay. Everyone here in Service Center are friendly and very helpfull. Coffee is great in waiting area also��
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