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Topic: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s (Read 1709 times) previous topic - next topic

Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Hi new member here.

Me and wife want to go full time and will be looking at a 1995 U320SE to maybe buy.

I have been reading a lot in here and found one set of posts saying it cost $5000 to $7000 a year to keep the MH in shape on the road for full time living.

Would like to get more comments on this as that seems very high just to keep it going each year a extra $5000 a year would push us over our budget each year.

Before we make a mistake i would like to get more information of what cost so much or is this a real every year price to expect to pay to fix problems.

I should be able to do any oil and other basic changes and replace other parts myself.

How crazy just on tv right as i am typing this now a bus load of people just broke down on the road...LOL

Anyway any help on that would be great. We will be selling out house soon it should sell fast we only got it last year and they had three people trying to buy it but we won out.

I will be towing a ran mini van.

We would like to travel and stay a month or so at many places plus do some traveling to Washington state each year to see some family. We are in FL right now.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #1 –
You have cost and it depends on how much you move. Fuel is my biggest cost.  Repairs avg about 5k or so a year if you amortize the tires oil changes and other stuff like shocks and fuel lines.  Mods are my next biggest expense.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #2 –
If you do a search on annual cost or annual expenses you'll find a number of previous discussions, too.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #3 –
It depends on how much you do yourself.The mods are options you may or may not need.Can you survive without slides?
If you do not plan on staying in cold places do not get aqua-hot,that seems to be a big expense for some.

Some upgrades/replacements will be long term,tires,shocks,the fuel lines will last for years.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #4 –
Quote from: John44 –
It depends on how much you do yourself.The mods are options you may or may not need.

I think I will grab some popcorn set down and watch the fireworks.

Gentlemen start your keyboards

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Old phart phred –
I think I will grab some popcorn set down and watch the fireworks.

It's prudent to have the "hidden safe" full of crisp CBs, one never knows.  ^.^d  Just ask a couple of forum members who've experienced "unforeseen circumstances".

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #6 –
Quote from: mike leary –
It's prudent to have the "hidden safe" full of crisp CBs, one never knows.  ^.^d  Just ask a couple of forum members who've experienced "unforeseen circumstances".

Yes cash is still king for some emergencies and sometimes better deals are negotiable....

Used to occassionally buy loose diamonds long ago as my office partner trained me and had a store.  Cash money fanned out on a table sometimes allowed a better purchase price,

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #7 –
From what I have learned on this forum,find a coach with all the upgrades/mods that you want already on the coach,but do not
pay super top dollar for the upgrade.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #8 –
Quote from: John44 –
From what I have learned on this forum,find a coach with all the upgrades/mods that you want already on the coach,but do not
pay super top dollar for the upgrade.

In a perfect world, that may be true; however, even seasoned coach vets (me) have missed something when buying a coach, which is back to the CB stash: The (name your part of the coach) so & so unit worked, for two weeks, and went south. I came as close to perfect when we bought this coach (I thought), WRONG, the "little things" are a CB these days.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #9 –
Based on my experience camping with a diesel pusher, I would not do it again. We averaged $2k per year just for maintenance, with no slides or Aquahot. Tires, fuel, and other incidentals added more to the total.

If full timing the total may increase by maybe 20%. Guessing here, others with more experience will chime in.

Fuel & oils/lubricants, coolant are directly proportional to mileage driven.

If you will be staying at one location a month at a time, a more sensible way to go may be a fifth wheel. This forum is more for Foretravels so I'll not go there.

If you are a gear head type, then you will ultimately go with a diesel pusher of high quality such as a Foretravel. These coaches can handle the full time chore very adequately. Just remember that these are very complex machines that need to be fed with regular maintenance of a myriad items. By not having room slides & Aquahot systems your maintence costs will be less.

Good luck in your search for a full time on the move excursion vehicle(s).

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #10 –
With specific budget limits, You may want to consider a gas powered motor home. With gas there is  no air level system, no air brakes, no air slide bladder, no 12 volt air compressor, no air step, no air dryer, no aquahot,, no diesel fuel filters, etc. In other words, your annual maintenance just went from $2,000 a year to $300. And, all the other stuff that breaks, a/c's, refrigerator, etc. are the same in a Foretravel as a gas Winnebago. And, you will have a lot newer motor home for the same money. I have owned a gas Winnebago and a Foretravel.
Larry

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Peter & Beth –
If you will be staying at one location a month at a time, a more sensible way to go may be a fifth wheel. This forum is more for Foretravels so I'll not go there.

I'm prolly off topic, but I think it has a point:  Our neighbor has a pretty fresh (to me) fifth wheel w/slide. When I first met him, he told me about all the leaks he had. Had it "sealed", still leaked, I can see the de-lamination on the roof sides, which is common on cheaper coaches, as well. Point? He now has a "for sale" sign on it. Think he's going to tell the "would-be-buyer" about the problems? Don't matter the choice of types, as Brett says, "Caveat Emptor".  :-[

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #12 –
Quote from: ltg –
With specific budget limits, You may want to consider a gas powered motor home. With gas there is  no air level system, no air brakes, no air slide bladder, no 12 volt air compressor, no air step, no air dryer, no aquahot,, no diesel fuel filters, etc. In other words, your annual maintenance just went from $2,000 a year to $300. And, all the other stuff that breaks, a/c's, refrigerator, etc. are the same in a Foretravel as a gas Winnebago. And, you will have a lot newer motor home for the same money. I have owned a gas Winnebago and a Foretravel.
Larry
Maybe when the engines were carbureted $300. would work but now fuel injection, catalytic convertors, smog certificates done every 2 years in Cal. don't know other states rules. Some cats run over $1000 ecms fail another $1000 automotive transmissions moving heavy vehicle don't last long. Over heating issues and the list goes on.
Diesel pushers eliminated the problems with the heavy vehicle gas problem. A class B would not be a full-timer option in my opinion.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #13 –
Craneman,
I was speaking to annual scheduled maintenance. Not repairs. Fuel injection, catalytic converters, transmission do not have routine annual scheduled maintenance. At least not on anything I have every owned.
Larry

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #14 –
Once a coach is brought up to proper condition the annual maintenace is a small percentage of the numbers posted.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #15 –
Quote from: ltg –
Craneman,
I was speaking to annual scheduled maintenance. Not repairs. Fuel injection, catalytic converters, transmission do not have routine annual scheduled maintenance. At least not on anything I have every owned.
Larry
We were not comparing to the same thing, you are correct. I was referring to the cost of having a gas rig to a diesel pusher over the time the coach is kept. One transmission in a 10 year period would off set some of the maintenance costs though. Very few Allison failures in 200,000 miles probably have 3 replaced in that period in gas motorhomes large enough to full time in.

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #16 –
The annual service cost at FOT on our coach was $1146. And, that did not include the fuel filters which they forgot to change. On the years that require hydraulic fluid change, transmission fluid change, or engine air filter the cost would be a lot more.
Larry

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #17 –
Quote from: ltg –
The annual service cost at FOT on our coach was $1146. And, that did not include the fuel filters which they forgot to change. On the years that require hydraulic fluid change, transmission fluid change, or engine air filter the cost would be a lot more.
Larry
May need to spin this to a thread of why service costs are so high.
My annual service $150.00 Delo 15-40 oil filter $50.00 both fuel filters $ 50.00 rubber gloves $5.00 laundry $5.00

Edit: recycling oil is free in Los Angeles

What else are they doing?

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #18 –
Quote from: craneman –
May need to spin this to a thread of why service costs are so high.
My annual service $150.00 Delo 15-40 oil filter $50.00 both fuel filters $ 50.00 rubber gloves $5.00 laundry $5.00
What else are they doing?

Don't forget $0.50 for the grease!

Re: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s

Reply #19 –
Craneman,
Do you service the front hubs, the generator, the differential, grease the chassis, service the brakes, service the air dryer? I am talking about the annual service recommended by Foretravel. And, I did not do the work. I drank coffee in the waiting room.
Larry