• HOME
  • OUR BUCKET LIST
  • RPA (DRONE) OPERATIONS
    • AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
    • RPA FLIGHT INSTRUCTION
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • WORK WITH US
  • THE FINE PRINT
  • SEARCH

All Around Oz

Australian Caravan and Camping Adventures

  • Australia
    • A-Z of Aussie Towns
  • Camping
    • Camping Equipment
    • Camping Spots
    • Camper Trailers
  • CARAVANNING
    • Caravan Parks
    • Caravan Reviews
    • Hints and Tips
  • Destinations
    • ACT
    • New South Wales
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Victoria
    • Where To Stay
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
  • RPA’S
  • Reviews
    • Events
    • Experiences
    • Places to Stay
    • Products
  • TRAVEL COOKING
    • Camp Cooking
    • Cooking on the Road
    • Hints and Tips
  • Travel Tips
    • Active/Healthy Travel
    • Budgeting
    • Family Travel
    • Hints
    • Maintenance
    • Planning for the Future
    • Travel Safety

How To Find A Mechanic

July 6, 2016 By Melissa 7 Comments

If you are heading off on a trip somewhere, whether it’s a short or long term trip, one of the worst things that could happen would be for your vehicle to break down. So how would you find a mechanic that knew what was wrong with your vehicle and how to fix it without it costing you a fortune?  These are my tips to help you out with that question.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Have your vehicle serviced by a reliable mechanic before you leave on your trip.  Make sure you tell your mechanic that you are going on a trip and are towing a trailer or van.  Also tell him what sort of driving you are going to be doing – eg. rough tracks, beach etc. Giving him this information will enable him to check all the right things for you.

CHECK YOUR VEHICLE

Take the time to get to know your vehicle.  Know how to check the oil, water, brake fluid etc.  If you are not confident with doing these things get your mechanic to give you a run down on what you should be doing. A little bit of mechanical knowledge can also help you explain a problem that you are experiencing.

ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE

Consider becoming a member of a motoring organisation eg RACQ, NRMA, RACV. They can offer roadside assistance, towing, accommodation etc in the event of a break down or accident.

Find a Mechanic

{Image Source}

In the event of a mechanical emergency, you might give consideration to the following before choosing a repairer.

VEHICLE DEALERSHIP

If possible take your vehicle to a mechanic at its manufacturer’s dealership.  In theory, they should be more easily able to obtain parts and should have training specific to those vehicles.  Their workmanship should then be guaranteed across Australia.

If no dealership is available, contact your motoring organisation, to see if they can recommend someone in the area.

LICENCED MECHANIC

Make sure the mechanic you choose is licensed and a member of a Motor Mechanics Association.

If you are having trouble finding a mechanic, ask the locals who they recommend.

If the job is looking like it is going to be a big one, and it is possible to do so, get a couple of different quotes, in writing, so as you know exactly what sort of cost you are up against.  It is a sad fact of life that sometimes there are people out there who just want to make a quick dollar.

Hopefully all your travels will be trouble free.

happy-travels-melissa1.jpg

SHARE THIS

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Filed Under: Hints, Maintenance, Travel Safety

Comments

  1. Gregory Willard says

    August 10, 2016 at 2:09 am

    I completely agree that you should find someone that is licensed. I am lucky enough to have some reliable cars that haven’t given me much grief, but I stay prepared. It could be very bad to go to someone that isn’t licensed.

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      August 10, 2016 at 6:22 pm

      Very true. Always good to find a great mechanic too!

      Reply
  2. Tobias Armstrong says

    July 7, 2016 at 3:16 am

    I really liked how you talked about having your car serviced before you leave for a trip. Usually car problems are something that you think about only after they’ve happened, but if you realize that a lot of car problems can be addressed before they actually become problems, you can save time and money. I also liked the tip about finding a licensed mechanic as opposed to one just doing it for fun. And asking locals for advice is never a bad idea (unless its about which exotic food to try!).

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      July 7, 2016 at 10:47 am

      We keep up with all our scheduled services so hopefully this will prevent in major problems down the track.

      Reply
  3. Joe says

    July 6, 2016 at 7:05 pm

    My late father was a gun with all things Volkswagen Kombi/Transporter – I can remember one older couple with a T25 Transporter syncro AWD Trakka campervan. It blew the clutch just outside Dubbo and Dad was driving home when it went past on the back of the tow truck. He said to Mum that he had saw it amd would not be surprised if it was in his driveway the next morning…. sure enough, it was sitting outside his workshop! That was a massive job – he had to replace the flywheel as it had burned beyond machining (and finding a flywheel for a 2.1 litre fuel injected Wasserboxer (water-cooled boxer) isn’t easy!)…. but he managed to find one and got them back on the road quickly as he could. They enjoyed their breakdown-causing holiday in Dubbo so much they sent Dad and Mum a card thanking them for all their help – they made it to Gympie in Queensland the following year – they ended up doing a front CV joint in a deep hole. Again, Dad came to the rescue and got the part and had it sent to their mechanic in Gympie. He got them back on the road quickly and they were ever so thankful to Dad again….

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      July 6, 2016 at 9:39 pm

      Great story and memories of your Dad, Joe. Really outlines the importance of being able to find a good mechanic who knows about your particular vehicle. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Joe says

        July 7, 2016 at 7:12 am

        You’re welcome – I can remember Dad always helping stranded travellers with all matters of VW’s….. was the mainstay of his business!

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Brenden and Mel from All Around Oz.....passionate Aussie travellers who love sharing their adventures......

GET SOCIAL WITH US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

FOLLOW OUR TRAVELS

Never miss a post. Get our latest news and adventures in your inbox.

WE USE AND RECOMMEND

SHOP NOW FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS

Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Cleaning Mould off Canvas
  • 12 Caravan Storage and Organisation Ideas That Work
  • Alternator or DC-DC Charging - What is the Difference?
  • Things to do around Eugowra, Forbes and Grenfell, NSW
  • What is the Best Dinner Set to Use for Caravanning?
  • Free Camping - 7 Tips for First Timers

Archives

Tags

australia brisbane bush camping buying a caravan camp cooking camper trailer camping camping spots camp oven camp oven cooking caravan caravanning caravan parks caravans carnarvon gorge day trips drone drones expenses featured lappers Fraser Island free camps gold coast gold coast hinterland lap of australia national parks new south wales northern nsw NSW Outback NSW outback travel Queensland remotely piloted aircraft reviews rpa scenic rim snowy mountains south east queensland travel travel Australia travelling travelling with kids travel safety trip planning victoria

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

All Around Oz acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. {SOURCE}

This site utilises Affiliate Links as a form of advertising as per our Disclosure Policy.

Instagram

Follow our Adventures

©2020 All Around Oz

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.