1) some RV service centers will do the routine oil/filter changes on a MH. But for anything other than the routine service, you need a truck shop.
2) although Cat is no longer in the on-road engine business, there are lots of old Cat driven MH's out there. Personally I'm happy with my Cat and had no issues with it over 40,000 miles and 8 yrs. But Cummins is also a quality engine. In my opinion its more important that your engine/chassis match the size/weight of the rig rather than which brand name is on it.
3) These heavy duty truck brakes in light RV use will last longer than the MH, unless they're abused. With an engine brake, you rarely need to use the wheel brakes.
4) to me it would depend on what kind of service records/feedback from the previous owner. If I wasn't convinced the previous owner did all the required routine maint, then I would change all the fluids & filters; the belts can be visually inspected and should be obvious if they are damaged. I would carry spare belts rather than replace them up front. If you include the coolant and transmission fluid in "all fluids & filters" you could be looking at $1000
5) other than blowouts from abuse, your tires will be replaced due to age, not mileage. Somewhere between 7 - 10 yrs max, you should replace the tires, whether they have 20,000 or 100,000 miles. Prices vary widely by brand, size, quality; my last set of 6ea 275/70 22.5 Michelins cost about $500 each using the FMCA member discount.
6) the dependability & life of mechanical systems like the auto leveling jacks are directly related to proper use & maint. My 8 yr old levelers have needed nothing other than a bit of hydraulic fluid topped off a few yrs ago. Like any hydrl sys, the common issues are hydrl seals leaking, not complete failure/replacement.
reading all the instruction & owners manuals, and following the proper use & maint can eliminate a lot of issues and repairs. But complex mech & electr sys can break down for any reason at any time.
I have both a diesel MH and a couple of 5th wheels, I spend slightly more per yr avg on the MH maint than either 5'er, not enough to make much difference. But I self perform all my service & maint.
barmcd wrote:
First, about service--do RV dealers, that sell class A units, also work on the running gear? Or, do you have to take the coach to a heavy truck repair center to get engine or chassis work done?
Are there any inherent advantages of one chassis/engine combo over another. We have experience with Cummins engines in our Dodge trucks, but see a lot of units have Cat engines. Are they similar in performance and reliability?
How many miles can you go before brakes need service and how much does it cost?
Would it be prudent to change out all the belts and hoses on a rig that old and what kind of cost are we looking at.
How many miles can we expect to get out of a set of tires and how much do replacement tires run?
How reliable are things like self leveling jacks and the electric steps and more importantly how much does it cost to repair those types of things?
