appropriate service for DP?

[terrylane]

We bought our rig used and have little info on the previous service. We did get the oil changed before we picked it up. We currently have about 12k miles on it.

It looks like we might take it into NIRVC for installation of See Level tank sensors.

I see that NIRVC offers various chassis services that vary slightly depending on mileage and months(?). For example, the 15k/12-month service is $3500, which seems very pricey to me but we are new to diesel pushers.

Question, would the 15k/12-month service be a good idea and is this price reasonable?

I have always been a little skeptical about service based on months rather than mileage.

[Punkinhead]

Check your chassis manual for a list of services that need done at various intervals. Some are done on mileage and some based on time. Compare NIRVCs list against the chassis manufacturers list. I do my own maintenance but the previous owner of my rig had annual maintenance done every year and did everything Freightliner suggested and never had a bill over $1500.

[pasdad1]

Your rig is only about a year old? I think you are fine with just the oil/filters change. Did you get diesel fuel filters changed?, that is something I would probably do now, since there is no way to know the fuel quality it was subject to in the last year.

The rest of it is overkill at this point.

Wait another year before replacing air filter. Air dryer is not usually before 3 years.

[David 70]

His signature says it is a 2020.

[SafariBen]

At 5 years, 12k miles, I'd change the air filter, and the air dryer if you can't find when they were changed. And the engine oil and filter obviously if due. Anything else I'd do on a case by case basis. At least I can't think of anything else I'd change automatically at 5yr/12k.



Definitely grease the chassis, and spin test the tires. Check the stroke length on the brakes if this is air brakes.

[d23haynes57]

Chassis is now going on 6 years of age. Is that 12K miles you put on it or total?
Without any history of past service a full service, inspection may be due.
Besides oil and filters a transmission filter change may be due. Engine coolant! Has the suspension and brakes been inspected, lubed? Is it stored outdoors? I would change the air filter as they do age out and the element can fail. Generator service? Batteries should be load tested if not already replaced. How about the tires?

[Shutterbug57]

If you have no records, I would have them zero out the maintenance schedule. Below per Bay Diesel.

Service Intervals

Engine Service

• Phaeton or Bus with ISL 10k miles or every 12 months—fuel filters every 12 months
• Phaeton with ISC engine every 8k miles or 12 months- fuel filters every 12 months
• Open Road Red 8k miles or every 12 months-fuel filters every 12 months
• Zephyr or Bus with 600/605/M11 Engine 15k miles or every 12 months-
fuel filters every 12 months
• Open road gasoline engine 6k or every 12 months
• Chassis lube every year all coaches
Air filter every 2 years

Generator Service

• Onan 10,000- oil and oil filter change every year or 250 hours-Fuel filter
every 400 hours
• Onan 7500/8000- oil and oil filter change every year or 150 hours-fuel
filter every 400 hours
• Onan 5500/6000 gasoline- oil and oil filter change every year or 150
hours-fuel filter every 400 hours

Transmission service

• 3000MH or 4000MH Transmission every 75k miles or 3 years whichever occurs first

2000MH or 2500MH Transmission every 4 years on fluid every 2 years on filter

Air Drier

• Every 3 years

[ArtJoyce]

If it's a DP, you most likly need to look at the engine, transmission and chassis manual to understand you service schedules. $3,500 is over the top for annual PM. Find an independent shop. I use a small independent truck shop that's Cummins certified for engines. They have 3 shops across the state each with about 12 bays. They charge $125 hr where cummins, frightliner charge 250 hr and a lot of services are by the job at a much higher rate.

[garykk]

Shutterbug has a good listing but if you check, now air filters are required at a minimum once a year.
But as suggested, with no previous service records, it’s a good idea to start from scratch.

[PKI]

Terry

A bill of $3500 sounds high for a 12 month service. We spent $1300 two years ago and $2000 last year. We will end up spending about $3500 on our upcoming service for 2025.

In addition to Air/oil/fuel filter changes and a chassis lube, your rig is soon to be 5 years old. Time to catch up on anything missed in the past before your dime gets dented by repair bills. Low milage may give you some breathing room but develop a plan and get it all done.

Review the chassis manual maintenance items and develop a plan for the big-ticket items like differential oil change, transmission drain and fill, coolant flush/fill; radiator fin clean; DEF filter; Air dryer Dessicant replacement and all the other items.

Note - I had to buy the desiccant kit and engine air filter from Tiffin. My shop could not source due to backordered stock. Cost was high and I need to find direct sources with better pricing.

Shops run specials. Dealers like the one you are considering may be charging full book rates (they also may include AC maintenance and similar non-chassis items). Using the most cost-effective shop for each job will save you $$$s, but it will take research and your time. Time to build a list and a plan.

Oh, do not forget to plan for replacing the tires. Any chance your rig was built late enough to have a Gen7 DEF sensor? Good for you if you do.

[dp7]

I see you are in Mesa Arizona. For chassis service, suggest you list the items you want addressed & email it to Pete Rodriguez (prodriguez@vvgtruck.com) at Velocity Truck Center in Tolleson Arizona. He will give you a price for just the items you want done. They are different from NIRVC in a couple of significant ways. Velocity does not have a one-size-fits-all maintenance sheet. By that I mean they will do only the items that apply to your coach & that you request. NIRVC's sheet covers items that you may not even have on your coach but will still pay for because they are included in the one-size-fits-all package pricing. More importantly, Velocity's techs are factory certified & authorized by multiple manufacturers. In the event that repairs are needed, Velocity can handle larger jobs & usually has the parts in stock. Velocity also has free, paved, full hookup sites for overnight service customers. Bottom line -- from my experience with both, you will receive professional, targeted service at a better price with Velocity.

[1doodadd]

WOW.....Outrageous Prices......I am happy I can still do all of my own maintenance from brakes to airbags. I don't know how anyone can afford such pricing and still own the coach. It look's like the final readout for the fuel pump after filling up though!

[Bill Reith]

Originally Posted by dp7

I see you are in Mesa Arizona. For chassis service, suggest you list the items you want addressed & email it to Pete Rodriguez (prodriguez@vvgtruck.com) at Velocity Truck Center in Tolleson Arizona. He will give you a price for just the items you want done. They are different from NIRVC in a couple of significant ways. Velocity does not have a one-size-fits-all maintenance sheet. By that I mean they will do only the items that apply to your coach & that you request. NIRVC's sheet covers items that you may not even have on your coach but will still pay for because they are included in the one-size-fits-all package pricing. More importantly, Velocity's techs are factory certified & authorized by multiple manufacturers. In the event that repairs are needed, Velocity can handle larger jobs & usually has the parts in stock. Velocity also has free, paved, full hookup sites for overnight service customers. Bottom line -- from my experience with both, you will receive professional, targeted service at a better price with Velocity.

Hi dp7,

NIRVC has made changes to its chassis packages over time and have been standardized to be simplistic, yet comprehensive. They're specifically designed to the OEM's specifications and maintenance recommendations for each service interval. You are correct; there are some discrete differences between the chassis manufactures so we have different packages for each. Everything listed on these specific packages are in fact inspected, torqued, or replaced. To provide additional clarity, we recently updated the descriptions that align to the chassis manufacturers nomenclature. "You say tomato, I say tomaatto".

That being said, all chassis services are also offered "a-la-carte" to a customer's specific requests. We do a comprehensive competitive analysis each year on our chassis packages, and we are priced fairly and offer the best value for the service we offer. We have dedicated chassis technicians at each location and have a certification program in place as well.

NIRVC will gladly price match any chassis service albeit "a-la-carte" or a complete chassis annual service. We always welcome the opportunity to compare '"apples to apples" and earn your business!

Attached you will find our latest chassis service menu for your consideration.

Thanks,
Bill

[dp7]

Originally Posted by Bill Reith

Hi dp7,

NIRVC has made changes to its chassis packages over time and have been standardized to be simplistic, yet comprehensive. They're specifically designed to the OEM's specifications and maintenance recommendations for each service interval. You are correct; there are some discrete differences between the chassis manufactures so we have different packages for each. Everything listed on these specific packages are in fact inspected, torqued, or replaced. To provide additional clarity, we recently updated the descriptions that align to the chassis manufacturers nomenclature. "You say tomato, I say tomaatto".

That being said, all chassis services are also offered "a-la-carte" to a customer's specific requests. We do a comprehensive competitive analysis each year on our chassis packages, and we are priced fairly and offer the best value for the service we offer. We have dedicated chassis technicians at each location and have a certification program in place as well.

NIRVC will gladly price match any chassis service albeit "a-la-carte" or a complete chassis annual service. We always welcome the opportunity to compare '"apples to apples" and earn your business!

Attached you will find our latest chassis service menu for your consideration.

Thanks,
Bill

Thank you for the feedback & revised maintenance sheets. I would like to clarify my observation about paying for items in the packages that are not present in all coaches. As an example, the $3699 package for the 30K Freightliner service includes changing the oil in the mechanical fan drive gearbox. This service would not apply to coaches with rear radiator since they do not have a fan drive gearbox. Similarly, changing the tag axle hub oil would not apply to coaches that do not have tags. However, the cost is included in the service package price. Perhaps listing the price for each line item would allow a customer to exclude any items that do not apply & subtract that cost from the total price.

When I had my chassis service done I asked if NIRVC techs were Freightliner trained & certified. At that time I was told they were not. Is the referenced certification program from Freightliner or NIRVC self certification?

Again thank you for your participation in the forum threads.