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

Topic: Cost to keep the MH on the road each year ?s (Read 1585 times) previous topic - next topic

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

September 04, 2016, 02:57:06 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 09:54:54 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 09:59:41 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 10:14:40 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 11:25:34 am

Quote from: John44 – September 04, 2016, 10:14:40 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 11:43:50 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – September 04, 2016, 11:25:34 am

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.

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 – September 04, 2016, 11:50:12 am

Quote from: mike leary – September 04, 2016, 11:43:50 am

It's prudent to have the "hidden safe" full of crisp CBs, one never knows. 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 – September 04, 2016, 11:53:49 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 12:13:37 pm

Quote from: John44 – September 04, 2016, 11:53:49 am

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 – September 04, 2016, 12:36:31 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 12:57:34 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 01:09:21 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – September 04, 2016, 12:36:31 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 01:21:53 pm

Quote from: ltg – September 04, 2016, 12:57:34 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 01:43:12 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 01:50:58 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 02:10:11 pm

Quote from: ltg – September 04, 2016, 01:43:12 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 02:14:31 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 02:51:16 pm

Quote from: ltg – September 04, 2016, 02:14:31 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 03:02:17 pm

Quote from: craneman – September 04, 2016, 02:51:16 pm

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 – September 04, 2016, 03:14:53 pm

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

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

Reply #20 – September 04, 2016, 03:23:15 pm

Quote from: ltg – September 04, 2016, 03:14:53 pm

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

How many miles are you driving per year?

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

Reply #21 – September 04, 2016, 03:24:10 pm

Quote from: ltg – September 04, 2016, 03:14:53 pm

I drank coffee in the waiting room.

We don't do "waiting rooms", bad coffee, old mags, smell of dirty socks. If the DW and the dog can't stay in the coach, and I can't look around to see what's up, I'll go elsewhere.

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

Reply #22 – September 04, 2016, 03:30:34 pm

I am trying to answer the OP's questions. At some point, he may not be able to do the service himself. What does he do then, sell the coach?

NancyS, I drive about 6,000 miles. Most service is time or miles. I could go about 18,000 miles a year and the maintenance cost would be about the same. The OP stated that he would spend a month or two at campgrounds, and a large trip to Washington each year.

Larry

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

Reply #23 – September 04, 2016, 03:34:21 pm

Quote from: ltg – September 04, 2016, 03:14:53 pm

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

Yes
I don't drink coffee though
The original poster said he could do oil changes and basic changes and replace parts himself as I do. Check diff. oil 2 min. grease chassis 1/2 hour. only do the slack adjuster greasing every 2 years. Check brakes using slide pin length for pad wear 1/2 hour. I would have to look up my cost to service the generator. I did post earlier on that issue. Service or change with reman air drier every 3 years guess $ 150.00 per year would cover it.

The day I have to permanently have someone else do my servicing, my motorhome days will be over.

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

Reply #24 – September 04, 2016, 03:40:53 pm

Mike.
So how do you handle the "checking out what's up with the coach" while a tech is servicing. Many people don't care for people "watching" as they work. And do you pass up a foretravel authorized service if the have that " no admittance to shop area" placard at the entrance area.

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