What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

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What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

November 13, 2018, 02:34:05 pm

We're doing a bit of research on 2000-03 coaches for fulltiming and wonder what major repairs are typical on units of that age. Obviously, everything depends on something, but what repairs have you done on your 2000-03 rigs?

Thanks.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #1 – November 13, 2018, 03:35:37 pm

OK, I'll get this started.

Specific to those year models:
Creeping window seals.
Slide seals, structure, mechanism
Fuel lines if OE are at the end of their life
Air bags if OE are at end of their life
Cap seams on some

In general:
Service air brakes
Change all fluids and filters
Service/replace air dryer
Tire age/condition
Battery age/condition
Check hydraulic fans for leaks
Check power steering box for leaks
BULKHEADS

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #2 – November 13, 2018, 03:36:00 pm

Tires, Bladders and manifolds in both slides and batteries. Nothing else really major..

If you want to talk major.. its all the extra stuff I did to make it mine.. that other stuff is small in comparison

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #3 – November 13, 2018, 03:43:23 pm

For half of us a 2000 and above is a new coach.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #4 – November 13, 2018, 04:42:20 pm

Just had a couple axle seals fail on my 2002 U295

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #5 – November 13, 2018, 04:48:54 pm

On our 02 U320 we had to replace the radiator which isn't unusual at that age, we had to put new seals in the hydraulic fans, new air bags, and a few things we didn't expect but a well cared for coach is definitely worth making repairs on. The good thing is that we never needed to add oil between changes, after the radiator repair we never had to top off the coolant, and the transmission worked flawlessly. The brakes were superb and even at 16 years old the coach was comfortable traveling or parked.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #6 – November 13, 2018, 04:55:40 pm

Presently and over the past few weeks we've replaced the radiator, PS hydraulic pump, refrigerator, cranking batteries and both ACs. In 2016 we did the steering gear. The PO did a full slide service with bladders and he replaced house batteries. We're happy with the coach.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #7 – November 13, 2018, 04:59:33 pm

So far we have had to replace the radiator, have the rear bulkhead rebuilt and replaced the differential pinion bearings. The brake caliper slide pins have been an issue and were replaced on the steer and drive axles. Everything else was just routine maintenance.
Overall we have been happy with the coach in the 3 years and 25,000 miles we have owned it.

Steve

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #8 – November 13, 2018, 05:46:39 pm

Quote from: grc – November 13, 2018, 02:34:05 pm

Obviously, everything depends on something, but what repairs have you done on your 2000-03 rigs?

It will all depend on what the previous owner(s) did. There are a lot of really well maintained coaches owned by people on this forum and occasionally one comes up for sale, with the chances being that 99% of the things listed above have been already taken care of.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #9 – November 13, 2018, 05:56:14 pm

Over the last few years I owned my coach, I replaced fuel lines airbags transmission cooler radiator and had the slides fixed. They new owner found the bulkhead issues that we were unaware of and was checked every year. I also put in a resonator as the muffler died too. I had to put a new head unit on the generator as well. That was because power tech shipped the wrong voltage regulator. I also replaced all the shocks twice in my time of owning it.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #10 – November 13, 2018, 06:12:09 pm

Only unexpected repairs on my 2003 U295 were a radiator leak, alternator rebuild, lift pump, and cracked cylinder head repair.

Expected repairs were air bladder, shocks, air bags, and all six batteries.

Just had the bulkheads inspected at FOT, all is well.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #11 – November 13, 2018, 06:28:48 pm

Interesting post..I'm seeing lots of radiator repairs/replace in that era coach....Did FT change vendors..

Hans

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #12 – November 13, 2018, 06:55:52 pm

Quote from: Hans&Marjet – November 13, 2018, 06:28:48 pm

Interesting post..I'm seeing lots of radiator repairs/replace in that era coach....Did FT change vendors..

Hans

I noticed that too - I wonder if it is age or mileage related.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #13 – November 13, 2018, 06:58:19 pm

Quote from: grc – November 13, 2018, 06:55:52 pm

I noticed that too - I wonder if it is age or mileage related.

Depends.

Is replacement because if fin decay (like driven on salty roads) OR from failure of mounting "ears"?

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #14 – November 13, 2018, 07:12:57 pm

Could be the wrong mixture or type of coolant also?

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #15 – November 13, 2018, 07:29:22 pm

We had our radiator rebuilt, it might have been less that just buying a new one, it wasn't quicker. It was a small leak but more than I was willing to put up with.

Air bags and fuel lines seem mostly due to age, miles and temperature related. The are going to need replacing sooner it seems, on coaches that live in warmer climates. Slide bladders have a finite life. Ours are nearly 18 years old and still good. Some slide mechanisms might be harder on them than others. It might be operator and maintenance influenced as well. Shocks are mostly miles. Tires mostly time. Batteries mostly time.

All of these are normal maintenance and repair sort of things. At 15 - 20 years old expect to do them all sooner or later.

When you buy a coach do so understanding that there needs to be an annual maintenance budget, an annual set aside for periodic expenses (tires and batteries) and another set aside for things that may or may not happen while you own the coach (air bags, fuel lines, bladders). With some good planning and realistic budgeting owning a coach is much easier.

Save enough money to travel and enjoy it too.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #16 – November 13, 2018, 11:28:57 pm

Rear air bags, lift pump, and a simple electrical pin problem on ECM, everything else were improvements to suit our wants and needs. This is in 9 yrs of owning it.
JohnH
Added, rebuilt starter, hydraulic pump hose replaced, repaired CAC myself.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #17 – November 14, 2018, 01:29:36 am

My 2003 was maintained by the book, but had a tiny radiator leak when I bought it in 2008. After 5-6 years of ownership, and no luck finding the leak, my new mechanic found it and sent the radiator out for repair. It's been fine ever since. Now I only have to replace a leaking radiator cap every couple of years.

I also had the fuel lines checked at FOT last month. All are good.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #18 – November 14, 2018, 08:32:54 am

Rebuilt alternator rebuilt starter replaced house batteries replaced start batteries in process of replacing radiator ( fin rot see radiator and fan earlier post) May have to replace inter cooler have found several pin holes. The radiator and inter cooler appear to be from road salt .
Have refrigerator out and waiting for new one to come in.
Took couch out and replaced with 2 recliners in its place replaced loveseat with lift TV cabinet
We are just making it ours!!!
Chris

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #19 – November 14, 2018, 09:05:05 am

Replaced lower left slide hydraulic cylinder on our 2002 36.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #20 – November 14, 2018, 10:45:00 am

1) Slide seal,
My 2000 320 is on its 3rd slide seal, I'm thinking the HWH installed one in 2012 had problems that caused it to only last 16 months. I purchased my current 320 in 2014.......$2762.94 in 9/28/2012... $3600 Knoxville Tenn. 2014

2) Fuel lines are starting to crack at connection points.

3) Window snakes. I haven't replaced windows..."don't bother me that much"

4) aquahot has a tiny leak on one of its pumps.

5) Rear bulkhead repaired/reinforcement...Thru bolts...."fixed myself"

6) Air bags cracking/deteriorating ... It wasn't that difficult with a few tools. .... $1300 parts /my labor

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #21 – November 14, 2018, 11:02:56 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – November 13, 2018, 06:58:19 pm

Depends.

Is replacement because if fin decay (like driven on salty roads) OR from failure of mounting "ears"?

My radiator replacement was due to rust (NY coach) and fin decay. There were no issues with the mounting "ears".

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #22 – November 14, 2018, 02:03:01 pm

Let's see, replaced rear ABS control module, was leaking air and no kits available for DIY. Had the rear brakes done due to sticking slide pins, replaced potty room wall due to window seal not installed properly replaced all tires two years ago, replaced bedroom slide seal and manifold due to leak, replaced house and chassis batteries at 9 1/2 years old, and replaced steering box to see if it would help in steer wandering, which it did. Anything else has been regular maintenance and cosmetic stuff done to the inside of coach.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #23 – November 20, 2018, 06:44:36 pm

Since this thread has died down, let me say thanks for all the helpful replies. We are a month or two away from getting serious about this, but if we do end up going for a Foretravel coach, I will be referring to your replies as I shop. Thanks again to all.

Re: What major repairs have you done to your 2000-03 Coach?

Reply #24 – November 21, 2018, 10:55:30 am

Have done the lift pump (this was the easiest, but did require a bit of contortion, laying on top of the motor,) the steering box (this was the most time consuming just because you have to remove a bunch of stuff just to get to it,) cleaned up from a steering line failure (which luckily happened at home while pulling into the driveway,) replaced the insulation in the generator box, and how doing all the airbags after finding one leaking. All of this was DIY, so only cost has been for the parts.

All other work has been additions and regular maintenance, installed solar system, installed Tri-Metric, replaced shocks, replaced stereo, replaced satellite dish, added See-Level system, modified utility bay by adding an access panel for the tank valves and a sight panel to allow a clear view of the water tank, added LED lights to outside cabinets, added auto-on LED lights to inside cabinets, added/modified glass cabinet above microwave for Tri-Metric panel, Solar controller panel, and See-Level panel, replaced TV's, added desk counter, added flip-up kitchen counter, added shelves to closet, and then just fluid and tire changes, again, all DIY.

Have owned this since 2012, so bought it when it was 9 years old. The first owners only had minor repairs and interior cosmetic upgrades done, all completed by the factory.

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