I bought a 1996 Monaco Dynasty three years ago and should have said no as I have been fixing it up. The first visit to a mechanic after a trip to Edmonton and then Calgary I was informed that the Rv should never have been safety. The windshield was nit even attached; it needed 4 new back tires and other mechanical work. After these fixes and being taken by 2 mechanics i then had trouble with the power steering pump which I was told it had seized but had not but the pulley had cracked and serpentine belt had broken completely. After much researching and getting the pulley fixed with a new serpentine belt. Last year a hose came of from the coolant and I fried the oil. This was on my way back from Michigan watching NASCAR so I was stuck in London Ontario waiting for parts. Really lucky that I did not burn out the engine. .....I am now having the shocks done on the front as the bushings were completely gone and the back 4 shocks will have to be done as well. I also had a new seal put onto the power steering pump as it was leaking. The mechanic sats "it is really rough under the coach" and will tell me more when I pick up the coach. Hard and frustrating to get parts and a mechanic who is good. So....after all that...do I just walk away knowing this coach has been a money pit and I know I will never get my money back and will probably cost me a loss of approx. $20K. The coach originally cost me $38K 38K years ago. I really need the seasoned RV people out there to please give me your opinions.

do you like the coach?do you own it free and clearwhat is the condition of the house part

My opinion is that owning an older RV is fine....as long as you can do the work yourself. If you cant, might as well buy a new one every few years

Did you have it inspected before purchase? It seems a lot of these could/should have been found on a pre-purchase inspection. As for if/what to do now, like the previous poster mentions, it depends on what you need it to do and where you are at with money and what not. It sounds like you've had some bad luck with mechanics so maybe do some research in your area and find a good shop that you like, and can work with. That is probably the best first step just so you can wrap your head around some numbers.

Well it is a 20 year old MH. Everything you have fixed is good for quite a few more miles. Find an independent rv mechanic and have EVERYTHING inspected. Then get an estimate on needed repairs before your next trip. Then decide.

10 years after buying my motorhome I'm still making payments on it and paying to fix little things. No where near the problems you're having, but I bet my annual costs are still more than yours. If I wasn't so set on buying my stuff new, then I think it's a much wiser decision to buy used units and use the money that you would have spent in payments to fix them up (at least to a certain point). But if you're buying a 20 year old motorhome because that's the limit of your budget and you can't afford the repair bills, then maybe a motorhome isn't for you.

When do you know to get out? | Good Sam Community

28 Replies

Weldon
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
Serpentine belt ,power steering seal, tires, bushings and shocks are normal items to be repaired after normal wear and tear. Those items should last for some time. I would be concerned about the transmission and other high ticket items.
summerhouse
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
The cost of a full inspection may answer your question. However, with a coach that old, ANYTHING that looks okay today-can go tomorrow. Rubber seals, gaskets, hoses etc dry out, dry rot, etc. fuel lines, brake lines really deteriorate with age and any road salts that may find their way on them in the north country. Imagine a car 20 years plus....
As said previously....with an older coach, you have to be able to do much of the work yourself, or have deep willing pockets to make it worth while. And, as you are fixing the current problems...the next batch are ready to hatch. The time really, honestly to get out....is now.
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 24, 2015
poncho62 wrote:
My opinion is that owning an older RV is fine....as long as you can do the work yourself. If you cant, might as well buy a new one every few years

No truer word have ever been written here.
RV's need a ton of upkeep and if you have to pay for everything you may as well buy something new.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2015
10 years after buying my motorhome I'm still making payments on it and paying to fix little things. No where near the problems you're having, but I bet my annual costs are still more than yours. If I wasn't so set on buying my stuff new, then I think it's a much wiser decision to buy used units and use the money that you would have spent in payments to fix them up (at least to a certain point). But if you're buying a 20 year old motorhome because that's the limit of your budget and you can't afford the repair bills, then maybe a motorhome isn't for you.
Tyler0215
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
Well it is a 20 year old MH. Everything you have fixed is good for quite a few more miles. Find an independent rv mechanic and have EVERYTHING inspected. Then get an estimate on needed repairs before your next trip. Then decide.
mtofell1
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
Did you have it inspected before purchase? It seems a lot of these could/should have been found on a pre-purchase inspection.

As for if/what to do now, like the previous poster mentions, it depends on what you need it to do and where you are at with money and what not. It sounds like you've had some bad luck with mechanics so maybe do some research in your area and find a good shop that you like, and can work with. That is probably the best first step just so you can wrap your head around some numbers.
poncho62
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
My opinion is that owning an older RV is fine....as long as you can do the work yourself. If you cant, might as well buy a new one every few years
darsben
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2015
do you like the coach?
do you own it free and clear
what is the condition of the house part

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When do you know to get out?

28 Replies

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