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rvten · 11-01-2006, 02:21 PM

Have any of you figured out what it cost to opertate your MH a year for maintance and up keep?

Not counting fuel/gas or propane.

We have just over 51,000 miles on a 6.5 year old MH.

Last service done today was Cooling system flush and oil/lub service.
Todate Iit has cost us just over $2,600.0 this comes to about $403.0 a year.

Included items: like new coah batteries, two new front tires, removing carpet and replaceing with vynal flooring, new faucets in galley and shower. Purchase of unmounted spare tire. The rest is just general maintance.

rvten · 11-01-2006, 02:21 PM

Have any of you figured out what it cost to opertate your MH a year for maintance and up keep?

Not counting fuel/gas or propane.

We have just over 51,000 miles on a 6.5 year old MH.

Last service done today was Cooling system flush and oil/lub service.
Todate Iit has cost us just over $2,600.0 this comes to about $403.0 a year.

Included items: like new coah batteries, two new front tires, removing carpet and replaceing with vynal flooring, new faucets in galley and shower. Purchase of unmounted spare tire. The rest is just general maintance.

HD tech · 11-01-2006, 02:29 PM

Gosh Tom that's very reasonable!

I would have guessed more. How long did the coach batteries last?

rvten · 11-01-2006, 02:56 PM

I just replaced them this summer.

Easyrider · 11-01-2006, 03:15 PM

If you keep your batteries charged up with a fully automatic charger like the "Deltron Battery Tender", you batteries will last a long time. The trick to battery longevity is to not let them sit in a depleted state for a long period of time. I've got 3 of them, 1 for the engine battery, 1 for the 2 house batteries wired parallel, and 1 for the motorcycle battery. I remove all the batteries for winter storage and keep them plugged into the tenders. The tenders have more than paid for themselves.

rvten · 11-01-2006, 03:19 PM

WE use our MH all year. So far engine batt is holding up. Just had to replace the coach batts.

Tom N · 11-01-2006, 03:31 PM

Depreciation is the major cost of motorhome ownership. I don't even like to think about it.

-Tom

HD tech · 11-01-2006, 03:43 PM

I remove all the batteries for winter storage and keep them plugged into the tenders. The tenders have more than paid for themselves.[/QUOTE]
I do not remove the batteries, but I do keep them charged, and frequently check the water. The coach batteries are fine, but the chassis battery requires some attention. I also use a tender (HD motorcycle tender which is made by Deltron). There is more parasitic drain on the chassis, so charging once a month works just fine.
I suspect the Allison service on this MH will be one of the more costly expenses, but since it's required only every 50k, it's a cost I can live with. I do my own LOF with Valvoline and GM filters, and that's about $20..
Tom, did you have the brake sys flush as WH suggests?

Bob (WA0MQE) · 11-02-2006, 03:52 AM

I've had two motorhomes over the last 5.5 years. Figuring just maintenance and up-keep the average came to $321 per year, which is $27 per month. I do my own oil, filter, chassis lube and minor repair work.

However, I have a computer program for tracking all expenses (not counting the loan on the second motorhome.) The last 5.5 years averages $5,525 per year, or $460 a month. This includes annual license fees + insurance, gas, trip expense i.e., campground costs, propane, etc., as well as maintenance and up-keep. License fees drop each year, but insurance goes up a little, so it's probably a wash.

Makes me want to stop tracking these costs and/or sell the house and fulltime. I think I could justify it easier this way.

rvten · 11-02-2006, 04:13 AM

My brakes were worked on by WCC for the brake recall. All four wheels were done than. About do to have it done again.

I also do most of my own serviceon MH. There are times when it has to be done by someone with all the equipment. Beside someone anther than myself under there might catch something I have been over looking.

There are also days when these old bones do not want to do any work.