How much do you spend annually on maintenance?

[rjreiffer]

Originally Posted by grindstone01

Maintenance expense is somewhat subjective. One owner may chose not to perform maint including things like oil changes or tire replacement and then years later may have a huge cost when replacing the motor or blowout repair. Another owner may go overboard and change oil every 3k miles and tires every 5 years. To do a proper survey, you would almost need the total RV maint cost over a 10 year period or longer including miles driven.
Also, storage inside a building for 10 months/year vs full time living would affect maint expense.
Example - The couple next to us are volunteering in Mich and live in FL. There MH is a 2002 model and they store it 20 miles away for the winter and drive a car to FL. They told me they have not changed oil in 5 years and the tires are 10 year old Michelins with side wall deep cracks in them. The MH is perfect for how they use it with almost zero maint cost.

I agree that it is very subjective but it is kind of fun to see how much people are sticking into their motorhomes just to keep them on the road.

[rjreiffer]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

grindstone makes a good point. I was doing some math in my head and realized that there are too many variables to really nail down a number. Tires are huge expense and are difficult to factor into the budget. Some change at 5 years, 7 years and 10 years. Tire prices exploded a few years back and who knows what they'll cost 7 years form now.

Is washing and waxing considered a maintenance issue? Many pay to have this done.

I understand what you're trying to do, but just sooooo many variables.

You are right, there are a lot of variables but just getting a feel for range. I would not consider washing & waxing normal "maintenance" but it is great for keeping up the value of the rig!

[twogypsies]

We always put a certain amount of money aside earmarked for repairs/maintenance so it's always there. We never had a repair on our '04 Newmar MH; just regular maintenance. No issues.

[rjreiffer]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

We always put a certain amount of money aside earmarked for repairs/maintenance so it's always there. We never had a repair on our '04 Newmar MH; just regular maintenance. No issues.

How much is “a certain amount “?

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by rjreiffer

How much is “a certain amount “?

$1500/yr & always had some left from year to year which came in handy at at year #5 before our all summer Alaska trip when we bought all new tires.

[D Gardiner]

We too have had larger expenses, such as new tires, and generator repairs in 2018. And to be fair, our coach sat in storage for 10 years and received very little to no maintenance in that time. So our three years of expenses have been abnormally high. With that said, I suspect these numbers would be consistent with anyone buying a older coach that has had deferred maintenance.

1996 Fleetwood Flair, Gasoline Class at 29'-11"
Purchased used from my parents in 2017, after it being in storage for 10 years (since November 2006).

Total Cost of Repairs 2017-2019 = $17,165.21
Average Cost per year $5,721.74

In the last three years we have replaced and maintained items that should have (or would have) been performed over the life of the coach. If these repairs had been performed throughout the last 13 years, the per year cost drops to $1,320.40

This would put us very close to the $1,000 per year that the OP mentioned his RV mechanic stated.

Quite often I see posts from prospective RV buyers, asking about purchasing a used coach. Most of us strongly recommend they get an RV Inspector, and if ask if there is any repair and maintenance documentation.

My step-dad had kept every repair receipt since the coach was purchased new. I have the original repair log book he kept. My wife and I knew that we'd have to catch up on a decade worth of maintenance before purchasing it.

But, we knew how the coach was driven. That the engine and transmission had never been overheated. That it had never been involved in a collision, never had a roof leak or had been abuse. Many buyers don't have that history or documentation. They buy from a dealer, or private party taking a chance and rolling the dice.

In conclusion, my advice is to add at least $1K a year, per year to the expected repair costs before any used RV purchase. In nothing else it would help with negotiations.

[Dutch Star Don]

I did a rough estimate to help with your numbers. I do my own service, so I save quite a bit.

I change the oil every year and spend about $200 on oil and filter.

I change the filters every other year, including air, fuel, and gen set filters, plus yearly oil change....about $500.00

The variables would be wiper blades, tires, water filter, refer filter and coolant flush.

[Soppy]

1) Class A
2) Gas GM 454
3) 32'
4) Allegro Bay 1993
5) Bought it used 5 yrs ago


When I bought the coach , I replaced and repaired many over the first 2 yrs. Items. They included tires, brake pads, front springs, swaybar bushing, shocks, batteries, A/C compressor and hoses, radiator, belts, rad hoses, timing chain and sprockets, universal joints, all fluids and filters including repacking front wheel bearings, installed LED lights ,small inverter for TV, Laptop , another inverter to run the fridge on AC while traveling. The total cost was around $5k. I do all my own work so there is no labor charges.

Since then the only expense has been oil and filter changes for the engine and generator which works out to around $70 per yr.

[sbleiweiss]

1. What class machine (A, B or C)?
2. Gas or Diesel?
3. Length in feet?
4. Make?
5. Did you buy it new or used?
6. Annual cost for maintenance (average since owning it).
.

A, gas, 38, Thor Challenger, new, less than 1000; less than 500 many years.

[Cat320]

Maintenance and repairs are two separate areas. I don't know what my maintenance costs are, nor do I care....they are necessities which I feel required to spend. I've had two check engine lights this year that cost a little over $10k to repair what was required to get the coach running again.

[bhammond1980]

Current coach
1. Super C
2. Detroit series 60
3. 43ft
4. Haulmark
5. Used 2007 owned one year
6. $1200 average + 8 drive tires $4,000 this year

Prior coach
1. Super C
2. Cat C7
3. 38ft
4. Dynamax
5. Used 2007 owned five years
6. $800 average + replaced tires once (6) = $3,800