Time for Preventive Maintenance

[Rocky 2]

It seems like the forum should be renamed the Workhorse Brake forum. Just kidding. This is the time of year which I try to knock off some of those maintenance issues which are easy to skip.

This week, I replaced the serpentine belt and kept the old one just because it was about 4 1/2 years old. I was going to put a new air filter in but it just did not look dirty at all. Only had about 6000 miles since the last change. I was going to pressure check the radiator cap and decided just to replace it. Next up was lubing all the zerks and as long as I was under the beast, replace the fuel filter..they are too cheap to worry about when I last did it. Glad I got the adapter from OEMY. The last item was to have the Allison serviced with new filter and fluid. I let my shop do this one and also flush the radiator. It is easier for me to pay someone to get rid of the old fluids than for me to deal with them.

The only two things left on my list are to service the batteries again and check the tires. The tires are also 4 1/2 years old with about 39,000 miles on them. They can go farther but I expect the price of tires to go up and the value of an extra 10,000 miles or so to go down so I may just decide to look for a deal now. Maybe plan a trip to Oregon to avoid the Califormia sales tax.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky 2 This is the time of year which I try to knock off some of those maintenance issues which are easy to skip. The only two things left on my list are to service

Please allow me the opportunity to add one more item to your maintenance list.

• Change your brake fluid.

Since you have a 2006 motorhome and the new recommendation is to replace your fluid every two years, I think this would be a good time to to get it done. I wouldn't go much longer if I were you. I have a brake fluid article that I will be putting up shortly. See if it'll make your brake fluid change a priority. Changing your brake fluid "now" is true preventative maintenace. Later on it will be called expensive repairs.

[Full-Timers]

Wow Rocky, sounds like you got lots of money, time and energy to burn. Where you at? I’ll be right over.

[BEBOP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky 2 check the tires. The tires are also 4 1/2 years old with about 39,000 miles on them. They can go farther but I expect the price of tires to go up and the value of an extra 10,000 miles or so to go down so I may just decide to look for a deal now. Maybe plan a trip to Oregon to avoid the Califormia sales tax.

Let me know where you get get a deal on tires in Oregon as I am going up through there to Canada in August and Cal sales tax at 9.25 % now is a tad much on top of expensive tires.
My tires only got 10,000 miles on them but they show dates of 2003 so time to bite the bullet and do it to it :(
Bebop

[edgray]

Bill: if you have access to COSTCO, see if they will order them for you to be installed in an OR store. Last time I checked they had the lowest price, but have to order the tires. ED

[kayo]

You guys missed the good tire deals last fall. Goodyear had a rebate program on their RV specific tires. I replaced my original Goodyears with 50,000 miles on them for $1950 for all six, installed and balanced, at a Goodyear Wingfoot operation (primarily commercial tire operation). There was a $300 rebate which put them almost $800 cheaper than Camping World

[Rocky 2]

Driver, you are correct about the brake fluid change..which I have a habit of changing every 2 1/2 to 3 years on each motor home I have owned. The current one was done 2 years ago. It will be done again when the brake recall is done, hopefully this year.

Regarding the tire purchase in Oregon, once I pick the brand I can go from there. I suspect it will be Les Scwab or Costco but I am open to suggestions from the folks in Oregon. Any excuse to visit up there is welcome. A state which grants free camping to those with service connected disabilities, even out of state vets, is a great place!

[BEBOP]

Camping world was running an ad for the 19 inch Goodyear tires installed, balanced, everything out the door at 360.00 each. I didn't get around to it even though they are only 20 miles down the road from me. I understand there has been a price increase on tires effective Jan 1st, so I wonder what price they are now. I will have to check it out. I didn't see them in their last mail ad.
Bebop

[Rocky 2]

Bebop, Goodyears are a little rich for my blood. My local tire dealer will sell me 245/70/19.5 Goodyears for $360 and$250 for Hankooks and Sumitomos and $225 for Double Coin. Those are mounted and balanced but not with tax. Here in Ventura.

[BEBOP]

thank Rocky 2. I always feel that the OEM's have good reason for using the vendors that they do and so I am inclined to stay with their judgment, especially when it is obvious that it wasn't just price that caused them to use that particular tire.
I note that both of my toads came with good year tires on them also. I have never had a tire problem or even a flat tire in many years since I started replacing them when the tread is down about 60%.
Bebop

[Rocky 2]

Bebop, you raise a good point about replacing tires before they are out of tread. I wished I had not had tire problems on my first rig, a Rexhall Vision. It was on the early V10 F53 and came with Generals from the Lancaster factory. After one of them unzipped, I put two new Bridgestones on the front and kept the extra General for a spare..which I had to use when another one screwed up. I had problems with the front tires going out of balance due to problems with the Ford hubs and replaced the Bridgestones with Goodyears. Thankfully, my Southwind has not had any problems since I picked it up in August 2005. The problems with the Ford chassis was a primary reason I went with the Workhorse.

[BEBOP]

My 35 foot sunbus Class A on a Ford with 460 came with Bridgestone and I put a second set on that MTH and never had a problem with bridgestone tires. they are a little pricey but if no problems are probably worth it.
That 460 didn't want to go up hill until I added horsepower booster kit (forgot it's name) and a gear splitter. then it would go up hill in no time.
Bebop

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEBOP That 460 didn't want to go up hill until I added horsepower booster kit (forgot it's name) and a gear splitter. then it would go up hill in no time.

Bebop, Possibly a Banks Power pack and a GV Overdrive unit. MorRyde also make the older Ford RV Chassis more enjoyable ride wise.

[BEBOP]

Thanks Driver, you brought those names back in to my conscious mind. Everything else works good but the memory is getting selective
I saw my old sunbus the other day for sale for 19,000.00 USD. I was almost tempted to buy it and get rid of this Rexhall that has been practically unusable due to all its problems. The brake issue is the least of problems for this Rexair.
Best to all,
Bebop