Longevity ?

[JF]

I, has a future owner of a used MH, I would like to know the life longevity of the features and accessories that we found in a MH. For sure those will be approximative answer I know. Exemples; Frig, hot water system, inverter, cook range, heating system, W/D, and on chassis, brakes, radiator, alternator etc...
Regards

[JF]

I, has a future owner of a used MH, I would like to know the life longevity of the features and accessories that we found in a MH. For sure those will be approximative answer I know. Exemples; Frig, hot water system, inverter, cook range, heating system, W/D, and on chassis, brakes, radiator, alternator etc...
Regards

["007"]

Appliances as long as they are protected with surge protector of some sort, kept clean and well maintained should last just as one inside your house would an even longer. As to chassis keep it maintained the best you can you will be replacing brakes, fluids as you should on regular time interval. Had coach for 8 yrs just had tires replaced and brakes redone, never anything inside all appliances were still giving good service just check them every new season. "007"

[rogueii]

One item to keep in mind, is the Generator. You need to use it. They will run better when used often, rather then sitting idle, until you need it. The fuel will gum up in the Carb, etc.
Be sure to do the required maintenance on the generator--OIL change, Oil Filter, Air breather, Exhaust clean out, Spark plugs when needed.
If it is an Onan, go to their site and check on the maintenace schedule. Generators run better, when used often.

[RV Wizard]

JF, as has been stated, there are many variables. Depending on how the coach was used and maintained being the most important. I sold a coach that was about 21 years old and all of the original appliances were working then. I had a cooling unit of a refrigerator die in a four year old coach, so there are no guarantees as to how long things will work properly. It seems that the more constant coaches are used the less problems the owners have. The initial quality of the coach has a lot to do with the longevity as well. I wish I could provide better answers but the question is rather broad and if you find something in particular we can discuss that if you would like. Good luck.

[Steady Eddie]

As Mike has said, there are many variables.

One thing that was not mentioned or has not

been talked about in the previous posts,

is the little quirky things that are known

to happen to a certain appliance. I don't

know how you'd find these things out, other

than cruising all the RV Forums you can find.

A question you might ask is: "What goes wrong with

a Dometic Xxxxx Product?" The answers you get back

may well head off a potential problem that could ruin

an up-coming vacation.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Refrigerators seem quirky - some last forever and others fail within a few years, for no explainable reason. I eve know of a knowledgeable RV tech who has lost a4 year old fridge, so it probably wasn't misuse of the product.

Circuit boards in some makes and years of appliances have been problematic, but they are mostly easily (if expensively) replaced. Newer units seem better - I don't hear as many complaints about this sort of problem as I did 4-5 years ago.

Chassis components seem to last remarkably long times, but then many Rvs don't actually get driven much. Belts, hoses and tires generally die of old age before they wear out. For example, tires need to be replaced after 5-6 years, regardless of visible appearance or tread wear. They will definitely fail at about 7 years of age, regardless of use or brand name.

Shocks in a motorhome chassis work hard and need to be replaced periodically - I suggest at 30-35k miles. Brakes last many years unless you drive hard, but they should be inspected regularly. Annually is suggested, but I confess I don't do that myself. Ditto for wheel bearings. Routine maintenance (chassis lube and various fluid changes) helps prolong the useful life of everything.

Furniture is perhaps the biggest problem in RVs - some of it is of mediocre quality (materials & workmanship) and much of it just gets dirty and worn from concentrated use. In close quarters, you touch the same spots much more often than you do in a larger stick house. It's not unusual to see a 3-4 year old Rv whose interior has gone to seed from frequent use. Many Rvs are designed only for vacation use and thus only 30 days per year of actual wear and tear. High dollar units usually fare somewhat better becasue they often have beter materials and construction.

[Steady Eddie]

Here's another one that I wonder about:

Our Newmar has a Dometic LCD display

"Comfort Center" control box on the wall.

If it throws craps and dies on you, well,

then you cannot run the furnace OR the

Penguin Heat Pumps on the roof. Both the

furnace and roof airs run through the same

controller. I have been trying to figure out

which wires to "hot-wire" in an emergency,

but haven't done so--yet. I think if the

LCD display quits, you are in deep "stuff".

["007"]

Have you had the controller off wall mine has a tel type plug cord a new controller should have same your coach isn't that old. "007"

[Novi]

Hi JF, when I traded my 13 year old MH with 135K only the refridgerator had been replaced and that was due to the previous owner not parking level enough and the furnace had to be repaired once. Everything else was original and still working.

[Steady Eddie]

"Have you had the controller off wall mine has a tel type plug cord a new controller should have same your coach isn't that old. "007"--"

===============================================

007--

Your reply was just about the most politically

correct and nicest way to say that maybe I

should jump off my wallet and buy a spare

controller.

I feel much more confident now that I have been

out to Bryant's RV and looked at the Dometic

Manuals there. Shows how to "reset" the

controller manually (so long as the readout

is OK)--it does a bunch of "stuff", even brings

on the furnace if ambient temperature is too low

to run the heat pump side.

["007"]

Sounds good to me. "007"

[harry storm]

My 26 year old dolphin still has all of the original appliances and the all work, some times you just luck out. My new to me 2001 fleetwood storm is great only 21934 miles and what a difference from my old dolphin ( on a ford f150 . it was called a chassis mount) our first trip is next week, just a shake down cruise.