Owning a motor home is not for sissies.

[timjet]

I bought my 10 yo motor home knowing it was going to need up keep and maintaining but geese. Maintaining it is going from a hobby to a full time job. My maintenance spread sheet is approaching 2 pages, and that's just what I've done in the 3 years I've owned it. And this is not a cheap entry level motor home, anything but.


If I couldn't do most of the repair and routine maintenance I would go broke. Like a slip mate said to me as he observed me working on my coach, "You need to be a millionaire to own a used motor home and a multi millionaire to own a new one". Wiser words were never said.


Gotta go, an appt for new shocks and tires at 8 this morning.

[HJLowell]

Welcome to the

Enlightened Club.

Your now a certified Qualified Member.
Of RV maintenance Reality.
Pay now or latter ??? Either way.
Those miles will cost you.[emoji1787][emoji23][emoji849][emoji38]
And no longer on a joyfull fantasy ride down a one way street to

Damned
I just cant afford the repairs anymore [emoji6][emoji848][emoji6][emoji41]

This thing has totaly gotten out of hand.

[tvp]

I call it Parts on Wheels , ,,,,,,lol
Just keep lots of duck tape handy

[Isaac-1]

I know the feeling, I returned home from a month long 3,200 mile trip a couple of weeks ago with a list of things that broke on the trip that need to be fixed. Thankfully they are mostly little things this time, like that the passenger side power seat stopped working for unknown reasons, and the propane furnace is tripping off when the batteries get down to about 70% charge (likely either the sail switch or the blower motor).

[BCam]

Not to mention the toll it can take on your body. I'm still recovering from a torn rotator cuff from July (ladder related). I don't know when I'll be able to install my solar panels.

[USMCRET]

Originally Posted by BCam

Not to mention the toll it can take on your body

Ha! I’ve taken to wearing a bicycle helmet when I crawl under the coach.

[Dgreen1069]

Seeing your post made me chuckle as I said the exact same thing to my wife yesterday. We took our coach to SC, and when we arrived the house batteries were dead. The culprit was a 3amp fuse that blew which kept the battery charging relay from tying the house batteries to the alternator.

Two days later, I woke up to a COOOOOLD coach. It was a bit muggy when we went to bed so I turned the AC on for a bit. I forgot to switch it to heat and it was 60 degrees when we woke up. I went to turn on the heat and the rear furnace wasn't working. I found a wasp nest behind the outside cover which likely interfered with the airflow. A quick cleaning and reset got it working again.

If you aren't a DIYer, you'd be insane to own one of these beasts. Even if you have deep pockets, you would likely spend more time in the shop than it's worth. I've got a whole new respect for motorhomers. I love ours and wouldn't change it for anything, but owning a motorhome is not for the weak of heart.

[Dgreen1069]

Originally Posted by USMCRET

Ha! I’ve taken to wearing a bicycle helmet when I crawl under the coach.

Your comment made me laugh out loud

[FatChance]

I didn't have to fix anything on our coach... yesterday.

[gnvrvin]

Aghhhhhh!!!!!!
Thats where the hole is in our bank account:ba nghead:


greg

[Ivylog]

I just commented to my brother yesterday that I pitied anyone who owns a MH and is not handy. He was headed to Fla and had a small engine water leak...turned out to be on the VGT turbo which Dike sealer solved for $8.

That said, I bought a 10 year old rig 18 months ago without any outside inspections, other than the 3 hours I checked it out after flying to AZ. 2 new front tires and new house batteries were the only things that had to be replaced. Spent $4500 on upgrades (none were necessary) new smart LED TVs, 2nd Joey bed in basement, SilverLeaf monitor system, induction cook top, 900W of solar and mppt controller were the bulk of the $4500. In 10K miles the only repair has been a fuel filter and new hinges on the toilet seat. Did put a new serpentine belt on the engine...side radiator made it a 10 minute job and kept the old one as a spare.

In 14 years with the Dynasty I cannot think of any major repairs/costs over the 90K miles. Hope this does not jink my future costs although I do not see anything major on the horizon.

[House Husband]

TimJet, you're still a rookie. I've been massaging my 95 Bounder since 2002. You've got many more experiences ahead of you.

[Waiter21]

We bought our "New-to"Us" Southwind a couple years ago. most of the maintenance had been differed.

Spend $3200 first year. major items were two new tires ($570) a fuel pump ($130) and a paint job ($1500)

Second year spent $2400, major items were repair broken exhaust studs ($600), headers ($300) a new twin recliner ($500), and new residential frig ($350)

Last year spent $1400, two new coach batteries and converter ($500) new inverter ($200) and new leveler pump motor ($120)

All the maintenance is up to date and in very good condition. If all goes well, this coming year I'll put two new tires on it ($500) and that should be just about it.


http://www.1999southwind.com/


..

[Geo19Irv]

You always take a chance when you buy used. Sometimes you get lucky and other times you buy something someone else got rid of because it had problems. You can take it to a RV shop for an inspection before you buy. I have had good AND bad luck buying used.