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Old 12-15-2013, 08:44 AM   #1
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How old is old ?

Just thought I would get a few opinions on how old is to old to keep a class a diesel. Its real easy to get attached to a rig.

gerry
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Old 12-15-2013, 09:00 AM   #2
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Not sure but a lot of up-scale, retail RV resorts would tell you 10 years. Probably no "right" answers here but these are some of my favorites: 1-slides came out around 2000--cant imagine not having slides; 2-finish and colors begin to fail/fade if not maintained; 3- exterior color schemes/designs tend to give away age of coach; and 4 -normal wear/tear on carpet and cabinets reach a point of no return. My view is that I cant/wont deal with the depreciation again, so our first [2003] coach is probably our last. If maintained, engine, tranny and suspension will outlast most of us, so keep the "cosmetics" in good order and not worry about the age. So what was the question again [smile]?
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Old 12-15-2013, 09:48 AM   #3
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It is all relative, and you know how old relatives can get sometimes. (smile)

If you like it, if it is in good condition, if it looks good, if you do not walk around seriously craving something more, then the age is irrelevant to you. It may be a factor to someone else and I guess the answer to that is do you care what others think?

There is that awkward growing pangs stage between old and vintage to deal with but the longer you have it there comes a time when it goes back on the list as something desirable to many.

We purchased ours with the intent that it would be our first and last MH. Here we are 12 years later and it looks and runs really fine because we have taken good care to insure that she does. It is as good a plan as any to enjoy motor homes and get value for the dollars spent.

I'm sure some of the places we stay have a ten year rule but because we keep our MH nice and we are returning customers no one has ever bothered to question the age. If it happens then there are plenty of nice places to stay that will welcome us and our money. Not necessarily in that order.

I used to yearn a bit for something newer but that time has past. We spent time looking at new MH's and they have a lot of new fancy features. But it always comes down to basics and the amount of neat stuff we have in 36 feet satisfies us just fine. We do not lust for anything more than what we have. I expect we will get another seven years or so then someone will get a nicely preserved older MH for their very own.
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Old 12-15-2013, 10:02 AM   #4
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I only buy old. I do trade for different reasons on occasion.
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Lots of TLC, elbow grease, wrench turning and good diesel truck shop have been fun for me.
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Old 12-15-2013, 01:32 PM   #5
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I have an older gasser so that will not count, but before the depression I worked on racing and cruising sailboats. What I found to be an issue always with all the systems was when parts became scarce and expensive. Often, instruments and some hardware - like primary winches - need parts that just are not available any longer, so they get replaced with newer versions. Some of the auxiliary engines have gotten so difficult to find parts for that they are just impossible to maintain.

It would be my guess that by that measure, any coach that was built on a transit chassis should have a good supply of parts available for many decades. Many of the driveline parts and brakes are what get called standard specification and there are more that just the original manufacturer supplying complete replacements. This is often the way to go with engines, transmissions and axles. Front ends can be trickier.

If you are a member of an owners group and there is no shortage of important parts, I would keep it no the road. I have several "BusNut" friends that have converted coaches so old it makes mine look young. So, by that measure..
If you like your coach, you can keep your coach. (Didn't somebody already say that?)

Matt
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Old 12-15-2013, 01:47 PM   #6
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Hi gcwp75,
I'm not sure if you are referring to the coach or you personally. Now that I think about it my view is the same. Because the coach is "family" and a depreciating asset, selling it may not produce the desired result. Consider finding a place you want to go back to over and over again. Purchase a lot in an RV resort in that area. Now you can continue to enjoy the coach and your favorite area. It matters not if you leave the coach there, use the lot as a base camp or drive the coach to and from the lot each year. The important point is that you are in an area you love and continue to use the coach.
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Old 12-15-2013, 03:25 PM   #7
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Someone mentioned hat "if parts are not difficult t to get," etc. as a measure. On that thought, I was shocked after our tire blowout on our Beaver in July to learn that it "would take up to 2 months to get a manifold for the slide." This seemed amazing to me and I kept asking why. Similarly with our (too damaged and twisted to be used) fender. The answer on the manifold from a fellow camper was that certain parts are only custom made in lots of 10; while our service writer here at Alliance told us that now that Navistar has sold it's Rv business to AVS(?) the former Monaco parts people have to go through AVS, then Navistar, then Monaco. Really don't understand it all since other campers have told me the Monaco parts people (Monaco owned Beaver) are the same people no matter who owned the business.
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Old 12-15-2013, 03:43 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Scout View Post
2-finish and colors begin to fail/fade if not maintained;
IMHO this is an over-generalization. Our full body paint was clear-coated and looks stunning after 14 years. People constantly ask us if the MH is new.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Scout View Post
3- exterior color schemes/designs tend to give away age of coach;
I'll contend that classic colors and designs never go out of style; lots of today's MH's seem to be designed with the philosophy that more swirls in the paint imply higher cost!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Scout View Post
4 -normal wear/tear on carpet and cabinets reach a point of no return.
We've replaced the front carpet with tile and just figured that was part of living. Our solid walnut cabinets continue to look better than the ones we had in our sticks & bricks home.

As for parts availability, virtually the entire chassis was created from standard truck parts and those we've had no problem locating when needed. All the major RV subsystem suppliers (heating, hydraulic jacks, etc) are still in business and have been able to provide replacement parts when needed. And, lastly, Beaver Coach Sales and Service in Bend OR serves as the ultimate parts source for those difficult to find items. Between them and Henderson's Line-up for steering and suspension parts I'm pretty sure most issues can be resolved.
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Old 12-16-2013, 05:20 AM   #9
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Thank you for the reply. In fact we ended up getting a fender from Beaver Sales and Service but they advised they could not make the flare part-closest to the wheel around the fender. A rep there mentioned that Allied (?) ( assume AVS who bought Monaco from Navistar) is "not keeping all lines of business" and reducing the parts end. While the molds exist they cannot access them, but have to call a third party who made them years ago. Don't know if that's true or not but that is what I was told.
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Old 12-16-2013, 08:19 AM   #10
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how is old?

Thanks to all for your in put. I am of the feeling that I'll just keep what I have ,I'ts on a freightliner chassis and Cummings engine.I think they built the older rigs a little better.From what I read they a sure having some issues with some of the new ones.

Gerry
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Old 12-16-2013, 08:38 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gcwp75 View Post
Thanks to all for your in put. I am of the feeling that I'll just keep what I have ,I'ts on a freightliner chassis and Cummings engine.I think they built the older rigs a little better.From what I read they a sure having some issues with some of the new ones.

Gerry
Our MH is also Freightliner/Cummins and parts so far have not been an issue. Almost 10 now we purchased it 4 years ago thinking we would never own it more that a few. It still looks OK and works OK but not without some work and $$. Now I feel like since we know what has been repaired and replaced with as much work as we can reasonably do ourselves we know what has been done and done right. We are familiar with all the systems and Winnebago is still around for parts. Lets face it though all RVs are full of parts from the same bunch like Atwood, HWH, Norcold (ouch), Dometic... Well you get the picture.

Another consideration is that the new Diesels need DEF fluid. Easily obtainable but another cost and inconvenience. Would it stop me from buying a MH I really liked? No but something to think about.
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Old 12-16-2013, 02:02 PM   #12
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Thank you for the reply. In fact we ended up getting a fender from Beaver Sales and Service but they advised they could not make the flare part-closest to the wheel around the fender. A rep there mentioned that Allied (?) ( assume AVS who bought Monaco from Navistar) is "not keeping all lines of business" and reducing the parts end. While the molds exist they cannot access them, but have to call a third party who made them years ago. Don't know if that's true or not but that is what I was told.
Obviously, from your comments yours is a Monaco Beaver, whereas ours is older and was built in the SMC Beaver period. I never cared for the current Monaco folks when they were with Navistar since they had destroyed all records for coaches built prior to 2003. It sounds as if their disdain for former customers continues under the new management.
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Old 12-17-2013, 07:18 AM   #13
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I would say if the engine is autographed by Rudolf Diesel it is probably too old for the road. Then again it would be collectible .
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Old 12-17-2013, 11:41 AM   #14
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As for finding old parts for our old gals, they can be made. I could not find springs for my 1964 deville convert I looked all over and finally had to fess up and have them made at a tune of $350.00 per spring But no other choice. car rides nice though...
I had a cracked manifold on my 454 in my 82 PA but I only had to wait a day or so for the replacement. The shop found it somewhere, just have to shop around and around.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and Traveling.
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