Repair costs and frequency frustration

pnichols wrote:

Jayco-noslide wrote:
We like our 15 year old 30 ft. Class C we've had for 7 years. Reliability has always been up and down. We had a pretty good couple of years of repair costs we could live with but now we're discouraged and don't know what to do. Many costs this past year; some routine and expected, some not. Must have totaled 7 to $8000 and today, after $300 dollars of work, I'm told that I need a differential bearing which this shop can't do which will cost thousands; not hundreds. Only has 67000 miles. We're reluctantly considering downsizing to an older used Class B, like a Roadtrek but seems like we would have to repair our present one to sell it. I'm not asking for an answer; just venting. Oh, spending over $30000 for a replacement is out of the question. Thanks for "listening"

I'm guessing that your Class C is probably (not a Super C) based on a Ford E350 or E450 chassis - in which parts and mechanics are available everywhere.

If it is ... wouldn't it be least expensive to merely have a used (from a junkyard, reclamation yard, etc.) whole rear axle and differential - as a complete assembly - installed to replace the original one?

Probably way less labor than messing with disassembling an installed differential merely to replace it's bearings.

And the cost to locate, remove and replace the entire unit?
A qualified competent mechanic can easily replace the bearings and not for thousands, that’s just ridiculous.
What exactly are the symptoms.

Jayco-noslide wrote:
Appreciate all comments. Forgot to mention; there is a bearing noise so I don't doubt the need. I actually don't have a cost estimate yet but will get one at an alignment shop in a day or so which works on a lot of motor homes. We've decided to proceed with the repair, use it for our snowbird trip, meanwhile looking at downsize alternatives, then decide. Additional factor is that I'm 76 and sometimes would like to simplify, downsize and eliminate a TOAD.

Eliminating a toad will do little simplify. Every time you need a cup of sugar you are going to have to break camp. That means more than just disconnecting. Every dish, glass and loose item inside the rig will have to be stowed. You now owe me two cents.

Appreciate all comments. Forgot to mention; there is a bearing noise so I don't doubt the need. I actually don't have a cost estimate yet but will get one at an alignment shop in a day or so which works on a lot of motor homes. We've decided to proceed with the repair, use it for our snowbird trip, meanwhile looking at downsize alternatives, then decide. Additional factor is that I'm 76 and sometimes would like to simplify, downsize and eliminate a TOAD.

Jayco-noslide wrote:
We like our 15 year old 30 ft. Class C we've had for 7 years. Reliability has always been up and down. We had a pretty good couple of years of repair costs we could live with but now we're discouraged and don't know what to do. Many costs this past year; some routine and expected, some not. Must have totaled 7 to $8000 and today, after $300 dollars of work, I'm told that I need a differential bearing which this shop can't do which will cost thousands; not hundreds. Only has 67000 miles. We're reluctantly considering downsizing to an older used Class B, like a Roadtrek but seems like we would have to repair our present one to sell it. I'm not asking for an answer; just venting. Oh, spending over $30000 for a replacement is out of the question. Thanks for "listening"

I'm guessing that your Class C is probably (not a Super C) based on a Ford E350 or E450 chassis - in which parts and mechanics are available everywhere.

If it is ... wouldn't it be least expensive to merely have a used (from a junkyard, reclamation yard, etc.) whole rear axle and differential - as a complete assembly - installed to replace the original one?

Probably way less labor than messing with disassembling an installed differential merely to replace it's bearings.

Gjac wrote:
I have owned my current class A in my signature for 16 years, I have put $21,000 for mods repairs and maintenance.

But if you bought a new coach, you'd lost more than that the day you drove off the lot! And probably that much again in interest that first year, if you had to finance a new one.

And... while the chassis have improved, I think coach construction quality and mechanical durability has down in the last 15 years.

IMHO the RV lifestyle is not inexpensive in anything bigger than a pop-up. But we love it, and we pay it. If OP's RV structure is in good shape, then fixing the rest is inexpensive compared to another purchase. If RV structure needs work, the OP is not far from Elkhart where lots of folks do this work. Everything that has been fixed should last the life of the RV and not draw money again.

X2 on finding an independent truck repair shop for a second opinion. DO NOT hire anyone to replace a differential bearing without have all 3 bearings replaced--that job is almost all labor.

bobndot wrote:
Might be time to rethink this rv life style. IMO, this used MH rv style is not working for you.
I have been down the used MH road and found it not all that reliable a road to travel, especially if you do not know the previous owner and the units history.
If you can live with a rv style change, you can hold on to your cash that you have using to repair things. When I had limited cash to spend on toys, I had the best mechanical luck buying a smaller trailer under 6,000# wet and leasing a new truck. The truck never broke down and the trailer has a lot less mechanical stuff to deal with than a MH.
There are so many 'cash back' deals that will save you thousands on 1500 series trucks where you do not need any special aftermarket equipment for it to tow a smaller TT. A stock truck with a tow package will be fine. You'll be driving a new rig for about the same money as you're spending repairing an unreliable MH where you're chancing being stuck in far away places.
You could lease a truck and put the down payment into the lease and use your cash for the TT.
I can't see buying a used B with uncertain repairs in the future. You'll be in the same position you're in now. I see that being a revolving door with too much expense and down time.

This is the same conclusion that I am coming to also. I have owned my current class A in my signature for 16 years, I have put $21,000 for mods repairs and maintenance. Every trip something needs fixing. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed the trips up to Alaska, Canada out west over 100k miles of travel but the biggest problem if something major fails on a trip truck shops don't want to work on class A's and other shops don't have lifts big enough to accommodate large Class A's. I have had 3 break downs over the years and difficulty finding shops , the last one in Mt which took 4 months to get the MH back home. I too have looked at smaller Class A's, B's, C's in the 24 ft Range with full wall slides, TC's, small 5th wheels(not many on the market) and small TT's which there are many to choose from. Everything has its trade off's, B's are way to small no storage or FW capacity. TC's require a HD truck and if you want at least 50 gals of FW and a slide out you need a DRW truck($60k plus). 5th wheels sacrifice storage in the truck bed for a more stable tow. So to me the best option is a small TT that has 50 to 80 gals of FW, a pass tru storage up front, plus the whole bed of the truck which as bobndot stated can be towed with a 1/2 ton truck, can be used as a second vehicle and any shop across the country can work on if something happens.

Have you looked into or know of any mobile RV repairmen. Also, there are mobile mechanics that will outperform and underprice most brick and mortar businesses.
A rear end bearing at 67k miles is suspect to me. I have wrenched my career on heavy equipment of all kinds and I would question that one.
WHY do they recommend a rear end bearing, what are the symptoms? My guess is after replacing the rear end bearings and emptying your purse they will end up changing the drive shaft support bearings IF there is a noise or HUMMM that they are hearing.
get a second opinion.

My local mechanic can work on the Ford engine along with my cars. He's can't pull the MH in and doesn't work on truck parts, but I have a choice of truck shops in the area that are good. Maybe pricey, but that's the cost of this hobby, and still less than staying in hotels. That's what we'll do when the time comes, rather than get a different unit. You don't have to get stuck in this lifestyle- and if you don't consider yourself stuck, then you just consider the expenses as part of the cost of choosing this lifestyle.

If you've been going to the stealership for repairs, then of course you have high repair costs.
High repair cost is what they do best.