Saturday, May 23, 2009

Trapped

When about to leave the USA for the annual trip to Europe, the Fuso Szulc expedition vehicle was brought to Kearny Mesa Mitsubishi Truck Centre in San Diego, California, USA.

The reason was that the front of the truck had become higher than the back.
This after Bilstein shocks had been installed and an extra leaf in the front left set of springs.
This extra leaf had become necessary because somehow the truck had started to tilt to the left.

The agreement with Ron Lucero, the manager at Kearny Mesa Mitsubishi Truck Centre, was that in the 6 weeks of the European tour, the problem with the Fuso Szulc not being in a horizontal position would be solved.
By arcing the springs.
At that time the news came to all of us that Doug Hackney on his trip in South America had broken the chassis of his Mitsubishi Fuso FG.
Exactly the same truck as the Fuso Szulc.
Therefore the excellent mechanics at Kearny Mesa Mitsubishi Truck Centre inspected the Fuso Szulc more closely.
And found that also the chassis of the Fuso Szulc was deforming and about to break.

Drastic repairs had to be performed and in the coming postings this will be explained and pictures will be shown.

The current situation is that the Fuso Szulc is not ready.
Although 8 weeks have been available for the repairs and it was promised it would be ready for 99 % on the day of return from Europe yesterday, the reality is that the Fuso Szulc is far from ready.
It is going to take at least another week.

The reason is that the company that has been assigned by Kearny Mesa Mitsubishi Truck Centre to do the work has accepted over the last 8 weeks many more jobs.
With as a result that there are serious delays.
And promises are broken.

And that is just how it is.
The customer can do nothing about this.

In this case it is particular because the Fuso Szulc is the home and return to the USA was based on recent promises the expedition vehicle would be ready.
Hence, home is not available.

The pioneering photographer finds himself out in the street.
Like a homeless hobo.
With the few things he brought from Europe.
Nowhere to go.

But Ron Lucero, the manager of Kearny Mesa Mitsubishi Truck Centre, didn’t allow this to happen.
He booked and paid a hotel room and a rental car.
For the pioneering photographer to wait it out.
A week at least.
To go and visit the shop daily to document and witness the rebuilding of the Fuso Szulc.


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