Community Forums

supercub · 08-12-2016, 07:07 PM

I have an 04 Fleetwood Revolution 38B with a Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP. Just wondering when the hoses should be changed? I'm talking any and all hoses. I also have a side radiator.
Thans

Mr_D · 08-12-2016, 07:26 PM

A few days before they break!
Now, when will that be? Could be tomorrow or 10 years from now.
I was getting ready to change the coolant hoses and coolant on our '02 DSDP last year, then we traded it off.
Are you hoses getting stiff and bulging or are they still in good shape?

NHRA225 · 08-12-2016, 08:46 PM

I inspect My hose and lines all of the time between trips , and their old - like 24 yrs old ! No permeation- No exterior rot -No Scuffing.
But It Never Sits for more than 45 days between runs.

vsheetz · 08-12-2016, 09:18 PM

I have always used periodic inspections with replacement at 10 years even if they look ok. Has kept me off the side of the road.

jimmy braden · 08-12-2016, 09:21 PM

So is the conclusion they dont need proactive replacement? Is that mostly because coolant and ambient temps generally remain moderate? I know most auto hoses (even relatively high quality silicon) wont go 15+ years..

tom chelbana · 08-13-2016, 11:38 AM

With the EGR engines running hotter both as coolant temp. and under the engine cover 10 years would be a good time to service those hoses, belts and change the coolant.

Smitty77 · 08-13-2016, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I have always used periodic inspections with replacement at 10 years even if they look ok. Has kept me off the side of the road.

One of those 'Pay me now, or maybe pay much more later

!' situations.

Ours were 10 years old, at least from the combo of month and year of engine build, and also several months later the year and month the coach rolled off the assembly line. (BUT, please note, hoses could have been bulked purchased and been older, with some manufactures much older, the the actual coach 'build date'.).

I figured it was cheap insurance to go pick the hoses I wanted (A combo of Gates and Cummins OEM, highest quality possible hoses.) (I looked closely at the Silicone Hoses available, but remained with conventional.), and have them installed on my schedule, at my shop. Vs, say on the road in 'Well here is what I can get you, and by the way, here is the price I'm charging. And as I'll never see you again, I'm not too worried about doing any of this work real carefully. Heck, I'll spend more time and effort assuring your credit card checks out OK, then doing the work!'

So, I replaced all of my hoses, and thermostat too, at the same time I had our radiator drained, flushed, cleaned, and flushed again - and covered to Final Charge coolant. Did it on my time, my schedule, my shop - and never impacted the wife or Princess Dawg during a delay in travel due to a failure

@!

And at the end of another 10 years or so, I'll do it again

!

Yep, cheap insurance is my thinking.

Best to all,
Smitty

noserider · 08-14-2016, 12:01 AM

Changed mine at 13 years. They still looked good. I figure I would need to change them at some point before I sell the RV so might as well do it sooner than later and get some peace of mind. No plans to sell the RV but I will most likely sell it before I need to change hoses again!

jpollard62 · 12-30-2016, 07:35 PM

What did it cost you to get all the hoses replaced??

Just For Fun · 12-30-2016, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHRA225

I inspect My hose and lines all of the time between trips , and their old - like 24 yrs old ! No permeation- No exterior rot -No Scuffing.
But It Never Sits for more than 45 days between runs.

Yep!!! 18 years for us. But we take excellent care of this coach and watch everything about it. We are the original owners.

In other words... Keep a vigil eye on your hoses and change them when they appear warn.

USMCRET · 12-30-2016, 07:50 PM

I had my coach at the Spartan factory last year for service and asked them to replace the hoses due to their being 10 yr old. They talked me out of it.

Fugitive861 · 12-30-2016, 09:13 PM

10-15 years gets my vote. I just did all mine as we bought a 20 year old coach and didnt know if they had ever been changed. Relatively inexpensive. All were available from freightliner for our unit. Don't forget the heater hoses. New hoses and fresh coolant makes me a bit more relaxed out in the middle of the desert.

hypoxia · 12-31-2016, 06:14 AM

Are you doing the job yourself or hiring it out?

If you're hiring it out you can wait until it breaks, the only difference will be the tow and inconvenience.

If you're doing it yourself you can shop the parts, do it at your convenience and have peace of mind. I have a strong adversion to sitting alongside the road broke down and would change them now.

Gary RVRoamer · 01-08-2017, 11:45 AM

I do not proactively replace hoses based on age alone, but some people do. I do check the hoses (and belts) every year and replace any that have anything at all suspicious. Modern materials hold up really well and hoses in a decently running engine should last 20+ years easily.

The 13 YO coach I just sold had all hoses still in excellent condition, but the serpentine belt has replaced 4 years ago and the a/c compressor belt 6 years ago..