Any experience with this shop in Tualatin, Oregon

[Sagefemme]

I have a repair that needs to be done on my FB Hawk that has proven beyond me. A rather gentle impact of the bottom of one of the jacks when we had just gotten the camper and hadn't removed the jacks yet, caused the bracket to bend and be pushed toward the back of the camper. I can't even get the bracket off because the bottom-most screw (facing the headache bar) is blocked by the solid "wing" of aluminum coming off the headache bar.

Anyway I was thinking of taking it to Mule Expedition Outfitters in Tualatin. They are a Four Wheel Camper dealer and have a service department. I have emailed them about this but haven't heard back yet. Wondering if anyone knows anything about these folks. I posted this picture previously on this forum, but my main question now is whether anyone knows about this shop and whether they do good work. I think I could probably get the bent bracket off, and I probably can get a new bracket from FWC, but I'd like someone to assess whether there is any damage to the frame of the camper. Also I think maybe the new bracket might need to be mounted a little higher than the old one, to avoid re-using the screw holes which are now sheared.

 

[AWG_Pics]

I have a repair that needs to be done on my FB Hawk that has proven beyond me. A rather gentle impact of the bottom of one of the jacks when we had just gotten the camper and hadn't removed the jacks yet, caused the bracket to bend and be pushed toward the back of the camper. I can't even get the bracket off because the bottom-most screw (facing the headache bar) is blocked by the solid "wing" of aluminum coming off the headache bar.

Anyway I was thinking of taking it to Mule Expedition Outfitters in Tualatin. They are a Four Wheel Camper dealer and have a service department. I have emailed them about this but haven't heard back yet. Wondering if anyone knows anything about these folks. I posted this picture previously on this forum, but my main question now is whether anyone knows about this shop and whether they do good work. I think I could probably get the bent bracket off, and I probably can get a new bracket from FWC, but I'd like someone to assess whether there is any damage to the frame of the camper. Also I think maybe the new bracket might need to be mounted a little higher than the old one, to avoid re-using the screw holes which are now sheared.


View attachment 181812

Ouch! Sorry that happened.

Mule installed our Hawk onto our Tundra -- did a great job. The tech at the time was a fellow named Gabe. That was 5 years ago, so I don't know if he is still there. If I needed work on our camper, I would go to Mule.

Good luck!

 

[Sagefemme]

Yes, it's a bit of an ouch. Lesson learned: the jacks make you wider than you think!!!

For a while I thought we would just leave the camper on the flatbed indefinitely, but I took the truck to a mechanic yesterday (following my previous thread about maintaining an old Dodge Ram) and the mechanic told me two things:

1) He's going elk hunting today and will be gone for two weeks; and
2) When he gets back he would be happy to evaluate the vehicle after I take the darned camper off!

I guess no one wants to put the whole rig up on a lift. That's probably wise. Also this is an older (correction: truly old) guy who works alone in his shop. So caution is probably in order.

 

[Sagefemme]

Emphasis on "I'm going elk hunting so don't bother me right now!"

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I suspect you have frame damage, and I’m not sure Mule will be able to deal with it. Pretty sure the camper will need to come off to get at things. I would trust the guys at ATC to do the repair. You might also call Stan Kennedy to see if he can recommend a shop.

Sorry that you got bit by that!

 

[goinoregon]

my only experience with mule in tualatin, is that they installed my awning on an atc, which required moving 2 latches. they are a fwc dealer, so they should understand the framing behind there, and where to attach brackets. that said, whomever replaces brkt, i would recommend a longer one if they can. no problem having more attachment points. the brkts are just screwed into the frame, and not 'bolted', so , new screw holes might be beneficial. i have also used Van Specialties, in tualatin, and they are a great place, with a lot of knowledge of rv's, vans, etc. they work on a lot of things, and if the skin of the camper needed to be pulled back, etc., they know what they are doing. i have walked thru their shop, and you can tell they are professional.

 

[Glenn]

the jacks make you wider than you think!!!

Sorry about the damage….this won’t help with that, but IMO a very worthy upgrade is newer, wider, tow mirrors.

I leave mine fully extended ALL the time. It reminds me of the extra width of my dually and has saved me multiple times. For Ford I went from ‘02 to ‘08 mirrors and they are “huge” compared to OEM mirrors. Might be worth seeing what later year mirrors fits the RAM.

 

[Sagefemme]

I suspect you have frame damage, and I’m not sure Mule will be able to deal with it. Pretty sure the camper will need to come off to get at things. I would trust the guys at ATC to do the repair. You might also call Stan Kennedy to see if he can recommend a shop.

Are you saying ATC preferable to FWC for repairs? I know these two brands have similarities. I guess I could make it an opportunity to visit a good friend on the Sonoma Coast........

 

[Sagefemme]

Sorry about the damage….this won’t help with that, but IMO a very worthy upgrade is newer, wider, tow mirrors.

Hard to imagine wider mirrors than the ones already on this vehicle! Although I suppose it's possible.

 

[Glenn]

Just a visual, and I’m not standing right next to the side of the front fender. If the mirror won’t clear…..the Dually fender wont either.

 

[Vic Harder]

And take off the jacks when you are not putting the camper on/off! Damage like that is all to common and hard to fix.

 

[Glenn]

I’m getting old my brother in law always says it not the year of the model, but the mileage on the clock, and I’m racking up the mileage

In the previous picture that I posted
I didn’t have the mirror extended all the way out….. here’s a better comparison and fully extended in case anyone wonders about the newer mirrors on early model trucks (sorry for the oversight)

 

[campito]

I had a similar issue a few years ago after I was hit by someone cutting a tight curve in Death Valley. My truck was totaled and he wacked one of the jack point (jacks not on camper). It took nearly a year for FWC to have time to look at it, in the mean time they suggested I not use if because of potential frame damage. They did finally get to it and luckily there was no frame damage.

I did contact ATC and got this response "we do not do installs or repairs on FWC campers newer than 2004".

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

<snip> I did contact ATC and got this response "we do not do installs or repairs on FWC campers newer than 2004".

Things may have changed at ATC, it’s always worth a call.

 

[Sagefemme]

I don't know, Glenn, I think I might have you beat in terms of tow mirrors. I have no real excuse for why or how this "accident" happened. It was driver, not equipment, failure!

 

[Sagefemme]

And take off the jacks when you are not putting the camper on/off! Damage like that is all to common and hard to fix.

Yes, lesson learned. This happened soon after we acquired the camper, before I had even figured out how to take the jacks off.

I am planning to contact ATC to see if they will repair.