Foretravel Owners' Forum

I met Bill A. this week when he was in Nac having some Aqua Hot repairs work on his Newell, by Roger and Rudy.  Creative AH repair alternative but that is a story for Rudy to post. 

Bill has a 2003 Newell.  He thinks of getting a new paint job at Xtreme and related that rather than buying a newer coach, he undertook a program of replacing things that age might indicate were at or near the end of life.  For example, replace the water pump even though the present one works.

So...anyone undertaking such a program of methodically replacing such as Bill is doing?  And if so, what is done at what age or mileage?

Sounds expensive but may be smart?

Mike

Hey Mike,

I know folks with a newer coaches that have replaced or repaired so many more things than I have.  Am I lucky? Is my 2001 less troublesome? Not all that much difference in miles either.

I do the maintenance as scheduled. I have a complete set of the uncommon filters (fuel, oil, air) that lots of places have to go hunting for.  I have a spare water pump, space water filters, a spare solenoid water valve, spare pex fittings, some spare pex tubing and a whole tub full of other stuff.  I carry spares for stuff that is just going to stop you cold and getting a replacement might take a while. I also have lots of stuff to fix almost any basic wiring problem, spare bulbs, fuses connectors, spare wire and more.  I carry a pretty complete tool box too.

All that prep never stops a hydraulic pump or line failure or an alternator failure or any one of a hundred other things.  How are you going to choose what to replace as a preventative measure?  Do the best you can. 

I am having electronic parts fail for which there are no replacements available.  Creative work-arounds are needed.  The more you understand how your coach works the more you can do.

Roger

I carry all the little stuff that one may need to make minor fixes on the side of the road (hoses broken wires and such), a set of fuel filters and belts, and tools necessary to do minor repairs. I do replace the water pump and theromostat every 3 years, and have the starter and alternator freshened up 5 years. As far as replaceing things that may break from old age well my whole coach is 15 years old, hum what may go next, one could ponder that forever. Seems like if something breaks it will be the one thing I don't have. Lifes to short to worry about what might break, if I did that I would never go anywhere.

I would add the fuel lift pump (secondary pump). It stopped me instantly. I was lucky that the dealer had one or I would have been waiting. Less than $500 if I recall. And it took the tech awhile to get it started.

Mike, as you may recall from one of our previous conversations I am a huge believer in preventive, as well as progressive  maintenance. Having said that, I carry spare filters ,belts ,etc and the tools needed to change them. I also take my coach to FOT once a year for its "annual" where I fix all the little squawks that have been differed for various reasons. I also "listen" to my coach. Many things that go wrong often send us signals that all is not well. Anything that that triggers the "that doesn't look/ sound right " response gets immediate attention, especially if it is something that will leave me on the side of the road. Yes, it can get expensive, but it is generally no more expensive than being stuck on the side of the road and much less painful.

Missed you Ron at FB.

To all, I carry spares such as fluids and belts.  I have annual that is extensive but normal things unless I add, inspect the slide pins, which paid off. Ron is right, I recall our talk on air plane preventative maintenance, but Bill seemed to take that to a higher level, almost like having an air plane engine rebuild at x hours.

Roger added a couple of things I might need to normal carry.  Good.  Ditto on the spare fuel lift pump by John.

But then came Barry with replace the water pump every three years.  Hmmm.  I did get those warning signs on the dash AC, and the starter.  Dave told me how I can limp along if the alternator goes out.

Except then for thinking about the water pump, I sense not much is done about replacing every ten years or such.  I have been known to replace auto batteries after six years.  Bill seems thinking along a schedule such as that for pumps, alternator, starter, etc.

Thanks,  Mike

Preemptive replacement:

1. For any coach older than 2000 would be, at least for me, the charger/converter. The new technology with battery "float" instead of "trickle charge" is far better on batteries.

2. Inverter. The old 2500-watt "modified sine wave" inverters (or charger/inverter) should be upgraded to a pure sine model. Again, the new technology.

Craig

The one thing that crosses my mind more often than anything else is the injector pump.  I need to do some homework and decide if that is one thing that should be done on some periodic schedule.  I dont think that carrying a spare one of these would be cost effective.  Thanks and have a great day  ----  Fritz

I would imagine and hope the MTBF on injector pumps is many more miles and years than we'll experience in two lifetimes.

My Injection pump failed at about 90K, some never fail.  Does not seem to be any thing that can be done to extend their life.
Gary B

I knew a very good marine engineer. Every day he would take a different size wrench & walk around the engine room tightening everything it would fit. wasn't long before he knew every engine room in the fleet blindfolded. He saw leaks while they were just a minor seepage & scheduled replacements & repairs while in port. He wasn't afraid to spend the bosses money on parts either! The more you poke around your rig performing minor tweaks/cleanings/maintenance the easier you'll notice discrepancies that need attention. So far, this approach seems to be working for me.

A mechanic was loosening and tightening the pump end of an injector line while trying to get the air out of my fuel lines after a replacement of the fuel lines. The connection leaked until it was repaired by a diesel mechanic who knew how the line should fit. He repaired the end of the injector line and then torqued the connection to specifications. Tighter is not always better.

Anytime work is done to the steel high pressure injection lines, if there is a bridge that clamps them all together about half way between the injection pump and the injectors, make really sure it's replaced if removed for any reason. It dampens out harmonics that will cause a crack and failure at one end of the line down the road a few thousand miles.

This applies to both the generator and main engine.

Pierce

There isno end to progressive replacements, updates, refurbing etc.  Way to many to list here, but bigger things, starter, alternator, vac pump, 12v air compressor, hydraulic pump assy, steering gear, remove LP tank, add 4th 8D Gel bat, all new Michelin's.
Not counting nor worrying, but staying as safe, reliable & secure as I know how gives me a feeling of being secure.
Cost, not counting, trouble free is a biggie.  Doing these at my leasure is important.
Dave M

I hsve noticed that most items fail when you need them. Its important to be somewhat prepared to address any emergency. How prepared someone gets for component failure isdictated by their own skills & desired comfort level. Me? I'm gonna have hot coffee & showers!

Fred,
Correct, for me, either I can run to a motel if the heat, generator, A/C or other biggie as long as the wheels turn.  If the wheels stop, I will enjoy the comfy of the generator and satellite TV, microwave and all the other comfy's while waiting for Coach Net service.

It is of VITAL importance to be comfortable while you fix something with phone call. ;D