20 Year Preventive Maintenance?

[cvd]

My coach has hit the 20-year mark (I've had it for 14 years). To keep it reliable, do I need to change every coolant, fuel, and air hose? Air bags? All are original (engine belts were changed about 10 yrs. ago).

The coach is on a 1999 Freightliner XC chassis, ISB engine, MT 643 trans. Only 75k miles (I know, irrelevant for rubber degradation). When not being used regularly, I pull it out of storage every 6 – 8 weeks and take it on a 20 -25 mile “exercise” trip – it hasn’t sat for extreme periods of time.

[JBDISCOVERY]

I share with you a 1998 XC chassis with a 5.9 engine. 135,000 miles so far.
IMHO changing the fluids: cooling, trans, engine, generator, surp belt, shocks
is a good practice. Not so much on hoses since they will tend to show problems themselves. Have had issues which we then repaired at that time. Have worked hard to keep the body in good shape as well as all running equipment.
Really do like the size and layout of the coach.
Regards,
JimB

[brandss]

I think you are being extremely proactive asking the question and considering the opinions of others. In my opinion you’ve had the coach for a long time so you know it inside and out. I believe I would attack the question with probabilities, cost, along with a visual inspection. I would tend to replace any and all hoses and belts that show any wear and tear. Minimal expense. As the price went up and after a visual inspection, I would let that be my guide. I must say congrats on 14 years of ownership. Can only imagine the incredible memories made with it

[Ray,IN]

If you decide to change coolant, change ALL hoses and install new thermostat at the same time; otherwise when a hose fails, coolant is lost. This repeats every time an old hose fails.
I'm in the same position.

[Alpine36]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

If you decide to change coolant, change ALL hoses and install new thermostat at the same time; otherwise when a hose fails, coolant is lost. This repeats every time an old hose fails.
I'm in the same position.

Great advice.
We too are in the same position.
Good frequent visuals are important and I do them often.
Following this thread for sure.

[zproud]

Have a mechanic you trust check it out for you, and try to break it out to do over the next few years.


Like rad hoses, thermostat, water pump ,belts and bearings coolant, heater core?

Then air bags, shocks ,slack adjusters check air lines ,air dryer filter tie rods, ball joints, sway bar links and bushings

Trans fluid and filters, power steering fluid change

Tires

Best of luck

[blevtr]

I would think that where you start depends on where you have been with your maintenance. Are you up to date with filters and fluid changes? In the years of ownership, what has broken or worn out and replaced?

It may be useful to itemize various tasks and hit them in order. Do you have manuals for different systems and components? Figure out and list things to do. A truck with a house on it is daunting, after all these years, yours should be an old friend.

[grldst]

I'm one of them guys that follows the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Do a diligent check of your RV annually and before any major trips. If it looks sound your good to go. But then again, I don't mind fixing things on the road if I need to.

[DKStall]

I'm right there with you. I've kept up with issues as they have presented themselves. However, I recognize that somethings that wear out are not best addressed on the road. That said, I bought a new set of four air springs and carried them in the basement for about six months with the thought that if one failed it would be easy to find a shop to replace it if I already had the correct replacement. With lots of travel plans for October through December I decided not to put it off any longer and changed them all. Before the summer 2020 travel season I'm seriously considering a wholesale replacement of hoses, thermostat, block heater and coolant. I'll follow this thread and see if there's anything else I should put on my radar.

[ASU777]

If you guys were changing coolant hoses and flushing the system, would you change the water pump as well? (after 17 years)

[HJLowell]

Originally Posted by DSBill

If you guys were changing coolant hoses and flushing the system, would you change the water pump as well? (after 17 years)

Water pump ?
Personally No
If its not leaking its a good one.

I have seen new ones only last a year or two.

I flushed and replaced, updated coolant 8 years ago.

I change coolant filter annually.

But never changed a radiator hose yet.
Or pump. Or thermostat, yet.

99 ISM 500hp Cummins

[winniman]

If your rv has the vp44 injection pump, does it still have the original lift pump. Mine went on my rv, and took the injection pump with it. The lift pump is cheap. The vp44, not so much. The lift pump is famous for wrecking the more expensive pump. I replaced the lift pump with a FASS pump set up. Since I had to change both of my fuel pumps, I pulled my rad to inspect it, and the CAC. I ended up replacing the rad. The CAC was fine, and just got a good cleaning. I replaced the water pump, belt tensioner, and serpentine belt while the rad was out. My oil pan had a pin hole in it, so we replaced it as well. We also replaced most of the rad lines, and tranny lines. I live in Ontario, so maybe mine saw a little more corrosion than perhaps yours has. I had one steel cross over rad tube that went from the motor to the tranny cooler that was pretty rusty. It cost $875 Cdn to buy. I could only locate two of them in North America. Rust is the enemy. The less rust you see under there, the better.

[jimmy braden]

No on water pump as long as last 3 coolant samples are clean. But I would add a Serpentine belt tensioner to the PM list.