 |
11-29-2013, 01:20 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Polson, Montana!
Posts: 2
|
New from NW Montana
howdy from the northwestern corner of Montana, where I own a 1986 Chevy Transvan (Champion)...it's a challenge to take care of this rig, on my budget. I wonder if there are folks on here who can help with tips and ideas on how to keep an older rig in working condition without breaking the budget! (granted, my budget is pretty pathetic LOL)
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-29-2013, 01:39 PM
|
#2
|
Community Administrator
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Marquette, Michigan "Da UP" & Lehigh Acres Florida
Posts: 21,869
|
__________________
John & Cathy R.
06 Pace Arrow 38L Workhorse W24
|
|
|
11-29-2013, 04:52 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ocala, Florida
Posts: 6,295
|
 Welcome and glad to meet you!
__________________
FMCA #F431170, GS #822128658, Escapees SKP #112655
2012 Airstream Mercedes Interstate Class B
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
|
|
11-29-2013, 05:04 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Auburn, CA, Havasu, AZ & Mulege, BCS
Posts: 5,385
|
Magpie- Welcome!!
W/a Chevy van conversion, your long term maintenance costs are really only containable by vigilance. Expensive oil is the cheapest long term chassis maintenance, i.e. regular oil changes, don't scrimp. I wouldn't recommend synthetic oil, as your rig has stabilized on dino oil, and you will likely start seals seeping if you change to syn. But a good grade of dino oil. trans oil changes every 3 years (your trans works pretty hard).
Other than that, vigilance & the old "stitch in time"- look for signs of issues cropping up, do an annual overall inspection for cables fraying, belts cracking, radiator hoses getting brittle, etc. Its a good idea IMO to carry a spare set of belts; my practice is to buy a new set & put them on, then carry the old ones as the spares (less chance of breakdown on the road). Watch for leaks & stop them early if they are something coming loose, or keep after the cleanup if its a big dollar repair (letting things get way messy makes repairs harder & way more trouble).
__________________
Baja-tested '08 2-slide 36'
Alpine: The Ultimate DIY'er Project
|
|
|
11-29-2013, 08:24 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 678
|
Good luck and those transvans are only outcooled by the ultravans  Keep that ole' girl on the road for the geeky ones like me to admire. No way I'd have the skill to keep her truckin'. Heck I literally had rear door fall off of an '09 Chevy. Beat that. We all have budgets even the rich. Consider their dilemma, should I buy an island in the Caribbean or in the Ivory Islands or... Oh wait that's something we all wish we could deal with. If only those were our problems.
Welcome to the forums, from quite possibly the most off-the-wall member.
__________________
FREG/P under 45', over 300 hp under 600 lb ft torque.
|
|
|
11-30-2013, 06:52 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Buffalo, IA
Posts: 2,825
|
Welcome aboard..
__________________
Terry & Brenda - From the Iowa Banks of the Mighty Mississippi
2011 Winnie Journey 34y, Freightliner / Cummins , 2012 Chevy Colorado Toad
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
|
|
11-30-2013, 07:29 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Crawfordville, FL
Posts: 803
|
Hey, I'm glad you came. Do you have pictures? I don't know what your 1986 Chevy Transvan is.
I think it is easier to keep my motor home is great condition by using it more. I'm more aware of what's going on.
I have had only one expensive repair. That was when the mechanics threw parts at it until one fixed it. A bad coolant sensor caused a $2,800 bill.
Send pictures and keep it rolling.
__________________
Simple Life
|
|
|
11-30-2013, 07:37 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,126
|
welcome to irv2
|
|
|
11-30-2013, 11:12 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 55,991
|
Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang here!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless! 
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
|
|
|
11-30-2013, 03:45 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wherever the rig is parked
Posts: 8,092
|
__________________
Bruce Dickson 2013 Thor Challenger 37GT, 5 Star Tune, Safe-T-Plus Steering Control with Air Trim, Roadmaster front and rear Sway Bars, SuperSteer rear Track Bar, Crossfires, 2018 Honda CRV . Full timers since Jan 2012.
|
|
|
12-02-2013, 10:29 PM
|
#11
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3
|
Trans van
As Mr walker mentioned use it as much as you can. Make a list and prioritize it. A basic safty check by a reputable shop and hit the road.
|
|
|
12-02-2013, 10:36 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 12,315
|
__________________
Tim & Mary Discovery 40X. Jeep GCL RVM32
"I've been lost now, days uncounted..."GFR"
|
|
|
 |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|