Community Forums

FreddieMac · 11-05-2015, 01:29 PM

Question, I know DPs can get a significant number of miles on them compared to gas. How many miles is too many miles for you when looking at a used coach?

abarkl · 11-05-2015, 02:12 PM

I now have 80,000 on my 2003.
The Cummins will probably be the last thing to go on this motorhome but the rest of it will suffer from a slow death.
As someone once said in these forums and I paraphrase, "these things are like slow moving earthquakes".

dennis45 · 11-05-2015, 02:40 PM

It's not so much a factor of mileage as it is time in terms of years. The power train is built for a million miles with decent routine maintenance. The rest of the house just goes to pot with time just like your stick built but a little less time.
Anything over ten years will begin to show its age.

t55watson · 11-05-2015, 02:49 PM

I am on my 3rd used DP. 1st bought with 56,000 miles on it and sold with 135,000 miles on it. 2nd bought with 165,000 on it and sold with 260,000 on it. 3rd (current rig) bought with 78,000 on it and now has 128,000 on it. All have needed some repairs at various times, it's just the cost of doing what we do. Have a used rig inspected if you are not knowledgeable. It's worth the investment.

bigdog · 11-05-2015, 04:51 PM

Always get an engine oil test. I didn't and if I had, I would have found that my engine was already heading for toast. Everything looked good on the coach at inspection, but since all the service records looked good, they only gave the engine a cursory inspection and it showed good when they pulled the computer records. BUT, at 112,000 miles, my engine is dusted because, according to CAT, probably the PO had a bad air filter and it allowed dirt into the intake and that would have showed up in an oil test. If we had caught it then, CAT would have done the work underwarranty and now they have quoted me $24K for a long block, installed.

LakeKerrGuy · 11-05-2015, 04:55 PM

An '01 under warranty???

brobox · 11-05-2015, 05:21 PM

The inside will wear out long before the mileage factor will on a DP with proper maintenance. That is where proper maintenance records are a must.

GA Navigator · 11-05-2015, 06:08 PM

I think most folks won't wear out the drive train on gas or diesel but a diesel will probably last longer. I have a diesel with over 140,000 miles and have spent a little time and money on the chassis but probably more on the house.

1994 Holiday Rambler Navigator
Cummins 8.3
Allison MD3060

Nana25K · 11-05-2015, 06:30 PM

Ours was purchased with 102k on it. A lot of the interior had some upgrade. Some of our interior needs a little upgrade, carpet, removal of some old looking wall trim etc

LETMGROW · 11-05-2015, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis45

It's not so much a factor of mileage as it is time in terms of years. The power train is built for a million miles with decent routine maintenance. The rest of the house just goes to pot with time just like your stick built but a little less time.
Anything over ten years will begin to show its age.

I wonder how my stick house would fair if I towed it down the interstate at 70+ MPH. LOL
The fact is we don't give our motor homes or tow behinds the credit they rightfully deserve. I don't off road with my class A but do go over some not so smooth country roads. We have to use our heads and not overdo it.
I disagree with the age thing as the miles traveled have exposed the house to bumps, potholes, dropping off shoulders, bumping curbs. The more miles traveled, the more exposure it has endured.
Personally I would have no use for a diesel pusher. I don't go that far in a full season to see a benefit. I logged just 755 miles this past season. Up here the season generally is from mid May until maybe early October. Then it goes into storage until May 1.
Northern NY is not RV friendly in the winter months.
Maybe next year I will try to break 1000 miles.

Ramets · 11-06-2015, 05:02 AM

I have 97K on my Cummins, and I swear it's running better now than it ever has. I do oil changes religiously every year regardless of the miles I've gone, and oil analysis at the same time. I have too much invested to half step. We've updated the interior, full body paint, res. fridge and a number of other things to make it much more comfortable living in.

FreedomDream · 11-07-2015, 12:44 PM

An 80,000 mile diesel coach that has been well cared for is only just now broken in. I drove a diesel powered automobile for 250,000 miles and never had work done on the engine other than normal maintenance. Semis are good to go close to a million miles.

Gas? Not going to happen.

MSHappyCampers · 11-07-2015, 01:42 PM

Our 2002 coach had 84K when we bought her. Just over 104K now. I didn't worry about the mileage!

evesely · 11-08-2015, 01:23 PM

We purchased our DP with 99,000 miles on it and now have 128.000 miles. Have had no problems with the Engine or Chasis but replaced or repaired several things on the Coach.