Have Mercy on us.

We are still here in Barnesville Minnesota. Pronounced "Mini-so-tah" if you want to come up here and speak our language. But the clock is ticking down to where we are near the kick-off of year 2 on the road. "T" minus 6 days and counting.

Now to the reason for the title of this blog. Those that are enjoying this lifestyle will understand what I am talking about. So time is running out on us and we still have things to do. I took the truck in for service at the Dodge dealer in Fergus Falls MN. They did an oil change, transmission flush, fuel filter, and rotate the tires. Two weeks later our tire pressure monitoring system goes off for a rear tire on the truck. I check it out and find a bad valve stem. So I then take the truck to Moorhead MN. where I got the tires because I have tire damage coverage on them. They look at the tire and then say, we can't fix that because the tires are too worn.

Too worn? I thought I could get another year out of them but no. So I make arrangements to get 6 new tires. In changing the tires they notice that the front ball joints have some play in them and they tell me they are worn and need replacing. What? I tell them to put the tires on and then I will take it to the Dodge dealer in Fargo ND. where I bought the truck. They take it apart and check it out and tell me that they are fine. Everything is with in limits.

So just a couple of things to ponder then. Why didn't the Dodge dealer in Fergus Falls tell me how worn the tires were before they rotated them and charge me for that? They could have made a sale. Second. The tire place, where they just trying to get me to do the ball joints with them? That would have been another $1200 dollar bill.

I know we are putting a lot of miles on the truck and pulling the camper puts more added wear and tear on it. So I do expect things to wear and need to be replaced. But seriously, they don't need to screw us at the same time. I have had service done at 2 dealers in Florida and a dealer in Colorado and felt comfortable with the work they did and recommended.

So the title. We are truely at the mercy of these dealers. Most are honest, but you have to keep your eye on them.