trip from hell home....

[hotpursuit]

well i towed my rock crawler to Las vegas for the SEMA show. from pittsburgh pa. i had a new Suncoast tranny installed under warranty just before the trip... we had a great time out at SEMA... we left friday eve to head home... made it till saturday eve as we were climbing a mountain just before the continental divide, my lights started getting dim. i woke my bro up and told him we had a problem.. i was loosing more and more, started looking for a pull over everything shut down and she started to over heat as soon as i saw steam i also found a pullover we pulled over and stopped.

the alternator was fried... tow to the hotel 270$, new alternator 320$, new batteries 200$ ,hotel 100$ throwing it all in in the morning so we can get home......ohh and added some coolant bout a gallon..




Sunday we are on our way home.... drive about 75 miles truck is running fine but.... i see smoke comming off one of the trailer tires...hmm flat? no prob i got 4 spares...we pull off the road, nope tires are good bearing is destroyed... this is the second time ive had this happen, the trailer was bought new in march of this year.

we limp to a hotel... sunday nothing is open so we wait till monday morning...do some searching on the net and find jims trailer repair.. i call them they do not have axles.... call the trailer company they are 2 day truck freighting me an axle under warranty...

we disconnect the trailer to go get some lunch... as im backing into the parking space my brand new warranty replaced suncoast tranny starts shuddering... *** you got to be kidding me...

i start searching for tranny shops... find one but they dont want to mess with a performance tranny... they tell me a place called ATS is 7 miles from here... for all my bad luck there is some good... i call Joe from Suncoast and tell him the story, Joe says take it there and have them get you back on the road...Suncoast will cover the cost...

i go to ATS.........i toured the entire place, what a class act business.... we talked alot bout upgrades on my truck and such.. they get my truck in pull the tranny, showed me the primary clutches toasted... state that suncoast put together a nice tranny... and they will replace the primarys with a different material but this is the problem with there trannies too.. something bout the solenoids... even if you up the line presure once it gets to the solenoids it backs it down some... they are working on a solenoid that will allow the higher line pressure but as of now this is the weak link in these trannies.

they get her all back together, great lets take care of the bill and get on the road... there is no bill, ATS didnt charge me or SUNCOAST, they were just happy to get me back on the road... i call Joe and tell him this and he said hmm well we will have to reimburse them somehow....

conclusion... Suncoast are standup guys backed there promise....ATS are stand up guys with a kick a$$ facility and after being there to see it first hand.... i will now do all my diesel performance business right there....

when i overheated my rig i think i may of popped a gasket... she is climbing temps on the big climbs.... if thats the case i will be getting the fire ring kit from ATS along with the 2000 turbo they suggest if towing...

truck ran great the rest of the trip home except for heating up on the big climbs....

I am amazed with the treatment with both companies... it is nice to see competitors only concerned bout the customer....thanks to all who helped.....

[leros]

That's an amazing story, and truely a trip from Hell. But it sounds like you got a little taste of Heaven from ATS and Suncoast. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Atlantaboy]

That's awesome, what a cool story.

[hotpursuit]

yeahh i couldnt wait to tell this story all the bickering i see on sites its nice to see real world companies stepping up like they did.. its also dang nice to be home...

also got to spend more time with my father and brother stuck in colorado... which was a bonus....

ATS impressed me big time.... im sold on them...

[caryt]

Could ya fill out your Sig, be nice to know what ya have [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Cary