Rvndave
Medina, Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 01/23/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
Have never bought a used rv but we kept our last one 16 years, The 1st thing to go was the temp sensor for the fridge under warranty, then water heater, circuit board for the furnace, blower motor for the furnace, the water pump, jacks in front rusted an fell off, and finally the roof started leaking an was time to trade it in. I replaced all the roof vent covers twice due to hail damage. Not bad for 3 kids and all the use it had.
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
|
gonesouth
St. Catherine, Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 02/16/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Mine was a 90 Allegro and we got off lightly. Needed new batteries and an alternator when we got it. We shampooed the carpets, sofa, and chairs, washed the curtains, and cleaned and cleaned. Replaced the airbags. Painted the propane tank. Fixed a coupole of dings in the caps, changed the oil in engine and generator, sanitized the water system, and took off.
Oh yes, on edit, i had the fridge fixed under recall. (Dometic) Never did get my $20 gas card.
Once on the road I changed the spark plugs, wires, distrbutor cap. Replaced the circuit board in one atwood furnace, cleaned up the other. Just as we were selling discovered the electric heat in the A/C units worked fine!
We broke down once with a chafed wire which shorted out and blew one of the fuses that run the engine power.
Other than that, it was all good!
fulltime 5 months a year
FMCA 368297
1990 Beaver Marquis 40'
Gillig MHA 3208T chassis, 300 HP Cat 3208, Allison MT647
|
boogaloo
Houston, TX
Full Member
Joined: 05/19/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
We purchased a '07 HR Navigator with 76,000 miles a couple of months ago and have had to fix several minor things, but nothing serious or real expensive. This is our first RV and I am glad we bought a used coach. I am learning about all the major systems on board and how to service them. We would not have learned as much, as quickly, if we had purchased a new coach. And, I would be more concerned about the softening of the RV market and resale prices if we had bought a new coach.
I have owned small boats (up to 21ft) most of my life and find this is a similar experience. There is always maintenance and repairs to be done and if you don't enjoy doing that work yourself you wouldn't enjoy boating or owning a RV. We own a boat and a RV and they are my hobbies. I enjoy working on them, learning how to service them, and upgrading them to make them more enjoyable to use.
We have nothing against buying a new RV, and hope to have one ourselves someday. But, in the meantime we are enjoying our older RV even when not on a trip somewhere.
I want to say thanks again to all the helpful people who contribute to the blog. I am learning a lot from everyone here. I don't really have anyone else to talk with about RVs and this site has been very helpful.
Best of luck with your new project. Hope you enjoy it.
|
winfan
Southern California
Full Member
Joined: 04/18/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
We brought our Aerbus last April. It is 2002 that had 8500 miles on it now we have over 14500. Nothing major besides replacing the rubber. That was the biggest expense thus far. Added driving lights, XM Radio, fans for the driver and passenger, and put in a temperature and compass system in the cockpit area. Had the Sat Dish fixed because it did not work but the dealer took care of that. Oil changes, replace the batteries this year and windsheild wipers. Replaced the faucet in the 1/2 bath and had to replace the valve in the back bath toilet. Had to replace one line for the front leveler but again then dealer took care of that. At some point I am sure that the carpet will be replaced and I also would love to have a full paint, but that is awhile off, if ever. I will say no regrets. I can do most of the stuff on my own, but we did buy a warrantee. That has basically payed for itself with the Sat repair alone, and the leveler line replacement plus for me it was a feel good thing too. Good luck in your new ventures. Also for the first month we had the MH home I was out in it every night tinkering and adjusting. Everytime we bring her back from storage usually 4 days before we go out I check and double check and adjust and tinker. Aways doing something. DW says that I pay more attention to my GF (MH) then her, LOL. Nah not really. Good Luck and enjoy!
Warren, Mary, Chris (#3 and last) and Sonny the Border Terrier
2002 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BGS
FMCA 388864
|
bingoldsby
Oregon State Parks - somewhere
Senior Member
Joined: 10/22/2006
View Profile
 Online
|
What a great thread - and a great bunch weaving the threads together.
I live in mine, so there better be something to work on, or I'll just sit and rot in front of the TV. I haven't been disappointed with nothing to do yet. I've done so many big and little things that I feel like I've built half the rig. And many many of the things I've done have already been covered by previous posters. In reading through this, I found myself doing the "done that" gesture over and over.
I'm a problem solver, and really like to solve one or get the satisfaction out of having fixed something or improved something, or added something new.
The money I've spent doing stuff... (don't get me started on that). But if I owned a house and property, I'd be in way deeper than I am now - and just be stuck in one place. And all the years I'd still be paying, and now, more years of doldrums trying to get over the reduction in its value. That's enough.
I'm just so happy with what I have and being able to wander about in it as I enjoy each day I have.
* This post was
edited 06/27/08 09:53am by bingoldsby *
Brian K7ZRZ
Campgrounding hosting - Oregon State Parks
1987 30' Holiday Rambler Class A
GL1800 Goldwing - Honda Scooter Mounted
2000 Silver Miata LS Toad
Picture taken at Salem, Oregon
|
|
|
BamaRVer
Alabama
New Member
Joined: 10/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Great thread! Just got my 98 HR Endeavor and in the process of going over everything. First thing to replace/fix was the radio, which has led to the replacement of one coach battery (6 volt golf cart). There are four of these batteries connected in series/parallel and they were put in by the previous owner at the same time. Now that one has gone bad, i may have other issues with the inverter/charger which may have caused the one batt to go bad.
|
Romer1
Bolingbrook, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 03/08/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Bought our's expecting some repairs. So far needed a tune up(plugs & wires), egr valve, 3 new tires(2 front worn because of misalignment, 1 nail puncture), furnace motor and convertor/charger replaced, generator rebuilt, 2 new house batteries and a new radio(because I wanted it).
Furnace, convertor/charger and generator all covered under extended service plan with $100 deduct.
Now if I can just get it waxed
Merrill (KC9NPT)
1994 Winnebago Adventurer 34'
2005 Jeep Liberty
2002 Jeep Wrangler
|
LUeno
Southwest
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
It seems you are never done...when you feel you are, better knock on wood...
LUeno
Captain: Pops
Ist Mate: Harlee "Vicious Attack Dog" only if you try to move her when she's sleeping...
|
Yankee Clipper
Cairo, GA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/08/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
You'd think this was an easy question, but things sort of blur after a while..
6 tires; starter solenoid; wiper blades; replace sway bar bushings; xmission service; coach betteries; leveling jack springs (1 pair); aft storage compartment deck rebuild; remove CB (never used it anyway); add GPS; add DVD; repair drawer runs; replace potable water pump; run 30-amp shore power to driveway; remove various dirt-dauber mud clots and wren nests, evict mice; added sound insulation to doghouse; re-caulk TV antenna on roof. All this in 25 months.
Still awaiting maintenance: rubber roof re-seal, slide topper replacement, carpet replacement, new captain chairs, re-upholster sofa and barrel chair.
Note: we under-estimate the cost of outfitting, things like tableware, glassware, linens, deck chairs, grill, hoses: the essential junk you just gotta have!
Yankee Clipper
1997 Coachmen Catalina 330MB on F53/Ford 460efi
1991 Explorer Sport 4 down toad/Blue Ox
Two dachshunds/4 cats that actually rule the place
Not overly concerned about depreciation with this rig...
|
JCWWBT
Georgia
Full Member
Joined: 12/08/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Yankee Clipper wrote: evict mice
That made me laugh!!
dh has also tinkered with an outdoor light on the drivers side that wasn't working. He is pretty handy, so I guess I am fortunate. We have replaced 3 batteries too. I had a friend tell me shortly after purchasing that it was a money pit. I told him that you have to think of this as our vacation home. You always have maintenance to do on your house so a house that goes down the road will definitely have things to be repaired. Glad to know we are right on pace with everyone else, and thanks for the replies. For the poster who has owned their rig for a year and still hasn't had the chance to camp in it...my heart goes out to you. I hope everything will be fixed soon.
1996 Itasca Suncruiser 37RW
|
|
|
|
