Enjoying Mexico…

After spending a few days getting reacquainted with Mazatlan, I called the shop that did my painting last year on the RV. Don’t remember if I’d told you guys, but while they were prep’ing the RV in March of 2012, I asked Juan 4 separate times if they were going to use plastic primer on the plastic surrounds so the paint would stick properly. Four times he answered, ‘Si, senor’. But I’d also told Juan that I was planning on selling the RV and upgrading that year. Apparently, he felt he could go ahead and skip a step in the process and NOT use any plastic primer. Damn it. Three weeks after I left Mexico last year, I spotted some paint chipping off the plastic wheel surrounds. Months later, big sections had lost their paint cover. Didn’t look toooo bad, but not what I’d asked for.

Peeling paint on the plastic wheel surround.

So, when I called their shop this year, I didn’t mention that it was a free work (they have a one year warranty), just said I had some painting and body work that needed to be done. Made an appointment, and was sure I was there the full day. They didn’t show up. Made another appointment the following week. They didn’t show for that one either. The name of their company, so you can avoid them, is Body Shop Painting, Taller Selene. Juan Jr. Salazar G.

Getting a little frustrated here. Wasn’t sure that they’d have the time to do all the work that was needed. Plus the paint repair. I had some body damage from the truck bumper I’d scratched the body and rumpled the back edge cap a few months earlier so when a different crew was in the park painting someone else’s rig, I invited them to quote mine. Tired of waiting for Juan and party. Yeah, I know, I could have pressed the issue and saved some money…but, really, I also was thinking, what the hell, it’s not that expensive anyway, and I’d be happy to help the local economy.

So, I hired those other guys. Quote wasn’t bad. They show up and start on the body work…bent aluminum surrounds for two lower compartments from a scrape to a trucks bumper, bent up rear edge, and a ripped door cover (plastic). Back in Nov., trying to park along a curb, I’d cut in front of a parked Toyota truck and didn’t leave enough room for tail swing. The painters/body workers show up a couple days later and started with a carpenters hammer and a flat blade screw driver. Wow. So I made them stop and loaned them some decent tools.

Scratches and bent surrounds.

I had them take off the metal edging on the back of the RV and they took it to a shop to straighten it (or so they said, by the look of the work when they returned it the next day, they did it at home). The work was totally unacceptable so I made them take it back off and have a metal shop make a new one. That one was perfect. And no extra charge. I took the basement door off and removed the broken plastic cover myself. The doors are kind of a complicated concoction with a front and back cover, then several pieces of aluminum channel surround and a few screws holding it all together. They had some plastic shop create a new fascia using the old one as the pattern. It was a little rough on the edges and I did the measuring, drilling, and cutting work so it looked pretty. Then, see that metal bottom edging that runs along the bottom edge? In several places, the wood underneath had rotted out so they were hanging. Or there were pieces of the metal missing. So I had them fix that all up. Then they fixed the several places where the screws holding the plastic wheel surrounds had rusted out and the wood behind wouldn’t hold new screws. Lots of minor stuff. They eventually figured out how to get all the old paint off…but even there I had to keep on top of them so they’d do a good job. Wasn’t perfect, but not to bad in the end. The painter showed me the plastic primer so I’m sure I got it this time. Didn’t even take two cans of the stuff. What the hell was wrong with Juan? Dumb ass.

Back end edging channel. Got it replaced.

You can see the damage fairly well in the above picture. Thankful that was all that was beat up. Not that difficult a job to repair. I would have had my insurance take care of it up in the US but my deductible is $1,000 and down here in Mexico the quote was only $450. So I was saving over $500. And I had a bunch of other little niggling things done included in that price that the insurance wouldn’t have covered. Pretty cool.

New door face ready for paint.

After I’d arrived in Mazatlan, one of the things I checked were the running lights. It was about dusk so I also turned on my headlights and checked the brake lights in the backup camera. Well, that’s strange, I’ve got no brake lights! Tried to remember when I had checked them the last time, must have been over 1,000 miles ago. I only can check them in or near dark since I travel alone and there isn’t always someone handy to look at them for me. The next day, I start working on the circuit. Checking fuses and bulbs and such. Couldn’t find a problem until I opened the hood. There is a 12V distribution stud right under there in the front of the RV and while searching around I found a wire hanging loose. Checking closer, I find the relay where the terminal had rotted off. Off to the auto parts place and back in an hour riding the bus. I’d gotten on the wrong bus and when it reached the end of the line, somewhere, the driver pointed to another bus I could catch to get back to the park. Fun. Installed new relay, and I’ve got brake lights. Funny no one pointed out the lack of brakes in all those miles. Of course I don’t know exactly when they went out either.

Then there was the matter of the receiver hitch lock. I’d lost the keys somewhere along the line. Just would have taken a good whack with a sledge hammer to get it out of there. I had bought a new lock ($9) but I didn’t like the style much. I liked this one. However, since I was in Mexico, and there was a locksmith right across the street, I asked if they could pick the lock for me. The guy came to my RV, picked the lock, took it to his shop and made two new keys for just under $15USD. Ha!

Trailer hitch showing bike rack lock.

Front bumper looks good too.

Can’t even tell there was some damage unless you really look closely.

Back edge looks brand new.

Just after the new paint to the scratched mirror case.

I’d also gotten close and personal with a sturdy bush and the back of the mirror was scraped up so I had them paint the mirror cases too.

So that’s it for the new paint job. Months later, instead of weeks in the case of the first paint job last year (’12) and it still looks good.

See you guys next time!