Do you perform your own maintenance tasks on your DP?

[HD4Mark]

Online Truck Filters for Sale, Filterbarn H&S Industries - Filterbarn for my filters. If you buy over $100 they ship free. That is easy to do when you buy two fuel filters, an oil filter for the MH and one for the generator.... You get the picture. I buy mostly Fleetguard filters from them. They are not much more than the other brands.

I can change the oil myself for under or around $100. Much less than even Speedco (from what I see). As for doing the work at a CG I would ask first. Some are good with it, some not so. I do the maintenance at our sticks and bricks house. Much easier when parked next to the garage where all my tools are. This is not to say we have not made repairs in a CG when necessary.

[twojayhawks]

I'm not capable so I hire it out. I have two tech's that come to me and the work is done at my place. They have been helping me for about ten years now. I do source parts ahead of time and for this coach I am using OE from local Cummins facility. This parts list is for PM on engine & genny and air filter.

[Sidewinder4]

Originally Posted by twojayhawks

I'm not capable so I hire it out. I have two tech's that come to me and the work is done at my place. They have been helping me for about ten years now. I do source parts ahead of time and for this coach I am using OE from local Cummins facility. This parts list is for PM on engine & genny and air filter.

I have been able to beat most of your prices on Amazon. I have many of the same filters if not all by first look. Your air filter, I bought direct from Freightliner and with shipping paid about $25.00 less.
Also oil and fuel filters, exact same thing was cheaper as well on Amazon, also close to a $20.00 dollar savings for both.

[Scatterbrain]

Originally Posted by Triker56

But they are made too the OEM specification. And the cheaper ones?
And they cheaper ones are not the exact same filter inside.

Ever hear that saying. Pay me now or Pay much more $$$ later.

As someone who has made a living as a technician, both independently, at dealerships, and as a technical troubleshooter for manufacturers I know a wee bit about what I'm saying. To give you a specific example, Mann is a filter maker that supplies several European manufacturers. We used to order their filters by the case. Usually they would come in the Mann standard yellow and green box with the green print on the filter, but every so often we'd get a case with the O.E. branded packaging and printing of the manufacturer. Usually blue and white for Volvo in our case. They are the same filters inside and out.

Take a second to think about the manufacturing process and it'll make a bit more sense. It would cost more money to retool the assembly line for a different filter medium for the house brand vs. the "branded" product than to just keep making the same filter and print two different boxes.

[Scottybdivin]

Originally Posted by twojayhawks

I'm not capable so I hire it out. I have two tech's that come to me and the work is done at my place. They have been helping me for about ten years now. I do source parts ahead of time and for this coach I am using OE from local Cummins facility. This parts list is for PM on engine & genny and air filter.

I hire our diesel mechanic from work and I become his mechanics helper. Changing the oil and all the filters is the easy part. To me, lubing the chassis is the hard part.

[Jim2]

I do my own maint on all 3 RV's. Here is one online source I've used that hasn't been mentioned yet.
http://www.rvchassisparts.com

[rag_ftw]

Originally Posted by barmcd

.....I still need a big torque wrench or torque multiplier.....

Dennis try these guys the next time you are in Dallas. I bought a torque multiplier from them for $40. Yes it is made in China and yes it is cast and not steel! That being said it managed to loosen and retighten all my lug nuts, which was something I couldn't do with a two stage impact!

https://www.google.com/search?sclien...12.0i-6w11ga_Q

[becks]

Originally Posted by Jim2

I do my own maint on all 3 RV's. Here is one online source I've used that hasn't been mentioned yet.
http://www.rvchassisparts.com

I do all my own maint as well, and use rvchassisparts.

[djbmsu]

I am fortunate that our RV summer resort is just 40 miles from Gaffney SC and all work is performed at their facility every April. The cost is more than reasonable and I am assured that the work performed keeps our coach within warranty specs.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by barmcd

I'm going to pay to have my transmission fluid changed from regular to synthetic because I don't want to dispose of that much ATF. It'll cost more, but I live in the country and don't have a good place to get rid of it.

Just remember to have them use a TES-295 Allison approved fluid or you'll be doing it again sooner than later.

[Tony Lee]

One advantage to being based in CA is that shops that sell oil seem to be obligated to take back the used oil so that solves the waste oil disposal problem.

[twojayhawks]

Originally Posted by Sidewinder4

I have been able to beat most of your prices on Amazon. I have many of the same filters if not all by first look. Your air filter, I bought direct from Freightliner and with shipping paid about $25.00 less.
Also oil and fuel filters, exact same thing was cheaper as well on Amazon, also close to a $20.00 dollar savings for both.

Thank you Sidewinder and I will admit I am not a very good shopper. I actually felt good about the prices from Cummins after I ran up to Autozone to get one more gallon of oil & it was $5 more than Cummins.

[rag_ftw]

Something to be aware of when buying filters from Amazon, eBay, etc is the manufacture date of the filter. Paper filters are said to have a shelf life of 5 years before the glue starts failing. Amazon or eBay would be a good place to unload outdated filters!

[WyoFree]

I've read a lot about the importance of having good records when you go to sell your motorhome. Maybe a stupid question, but how can you show good records if you perform your own maintenance including oil changes etc?