Congrats, and hope this unit gives you many miles of smiles ahead!!!
A few comments, then some suggestions:
-Good honest dealers do exist. What is the rep of the place you bought yours from?
-Did you get maintenance records?
-Some dealers provide those, especially when the records are good
-Some do not
-Do you know the name of the previous owner? If not, ask the salesman
that worked with you, if they will get in contact with the person, and
give them your contact info, saying you would appreciate any
back ground history on the rig.
-Last tip, can you tell where the rig was serviced before? Stickers, old
receipts? If so, contact them and ask them to pull the history on the
rig.
-When in doubt, on the things you can't see. (Like Tire dates, you can see them. But you can't see oil quality.) If you can't prove it has been done, then do your own major service to get a 'solid baseline' to go forward on. Yep, could cost some coin, but it will set you up for normal maintenance going forward.
Baseline Maint Considerations:
-Do an oil change and filters, and get an oil analysis - it will tell you the current condition, and then allow you to monitor from that point.
-Air cleaner
-Cooling fluid check, not levels, but condition (Strips at Cummins available.)
-Air Cartridge, again if not able to prove it is replace, do so.
-Trans fluid, has it been changed to Transyn, if not, good idea to do so.
-Belts, hoses, etc. A visual inspection of the belts will usually tell you. (As a tip, if replacing, we always put the old one in a bag and carry it just in case
!). Hoses are a tough one, at that age, they are getting close to being ready for preventative swap out. Your call on the timing, now on your schedule and your shopping dime. Or, on the road at wherever you might be and their costs....
-Wheel hubs checked, normal chassis lube.
-Inspect bushings
-Shocks checked, and plan replacement if needed
-Etc., Etc.
I'll stop here. If you feel comfortable on many of these, go to it. If not, then look up 'independent RV Inspectors', and ask them to come give you an inspection. Tell them it is for you, and your looking for a sanity check review of what needs to be done now, or soon, from their perspective. (NOTE: If the dealer has a good rep, and you do feel good about it, they should have done a PDI on the rig. Did they include this for you? If not, ask them for it from their records. On our coach, I went in and talked to the mechanic that did the rig's PDI - he had good info, and I find the appreciate being asked for input. If the dealers Service Manager will allow you to talk with him/them.)
On the engine, go to a Cummins service center, and pay for them to do a full analysis and dyno test, look to be sure recalls were done, etc. This cost me about $400, out of my wallet, as a pre-inspection before purchase condition of sell, with a get out of jail walk away, if I did not like the results of the inspection and oil analysis.
A few not chassis areas. I would swap out the water filter, unless again you feel the dealer PDI did this and you believe it (our dealer did, and you could tell it was new). Sanitize your water tanks (search on this board for how to.). Check all windows, and seams where calk is, to be sure it's in good shape. Fridge and LP and Water Heater maintenance, as you would with a gasser. Look over the battery, and if the terminals were not cleaned at the Dealer PDI (another good way to see your comfort level of what they did or did not do)...
I always recommend going slow, and getting the baseline maintenance fully caught up. Again, when it doubt, do it. This give you a chance to learn your rig, it also is again done on your schedule and dime. I'm a firm believer in 'If you take care of your rig, your rig will take care of you.
Once you get up to speed on DP's, they are not really that much more complicated on maintenance, in some ways easier, then a gasser.
Go enjoy, have fun, be safe,
Smitty
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