How much to budget for RV repairs ?

AprilWhine wrote:
There are a lot of variables to your equation:

For instance, if you are handy and can do most of your repairs, cost goes down.
If you full time and have no place to do maintenance/repairs the cost goes up.
Generally, the older the RV the more repairs needed.
The more you use it, the more parts will break.
The more it sits, the more you will have to replace rubber and gaskets.

Buying an RV is sort of a pay me now/pay me later scheme. Newer costs more upfront but older costs more in repairs. But older does not mean it will cost as much in repairs as a newer unit does upfront. Both of our RVs were high mileage when bought but for both of them, the cost of the RV plus all needed repairs is a great deal less than the price of a similar RV that wasn't used as much. But you have to have a ready reserve of funds because you never know when something is going to break.

DING, DING, DING!!! We have a winner.

At the risk of sounding curt.

If you have to budget for repairs,
you are not in the position to own a motor home!

What if you blow the motor,
are you ready to pony up fifteen thousand or so?

bustoff wrote:
My request was asking forum members to share what their prior repairs have cost.

I bought a 1996 Class A GBM in 2004 with 24.000 miles on it. Had a lot of trouble with overheating, leaking exhaust manifolds, auto park problems, front end rebuild. I tracked all mods and maintenance costs which comes to $12,000 in 9 years and 70,000 miles of ownership. Roughly half the cost were mods, Headers,free flow muffler, CAI, HD front end springs etc and half normal maintenance oil and filter changes, 2 transmission & filter changes, 3 brake fluid changes, 2 rear end changes etc. I included every thing that I had to buy nuts bolts etc. Maintenance I did myself the front end headers and muffler stuff I paid someone else to do. So if you divide $12,000 by 70,000 miles that comes out to 17 cents per mile. I don't know if this is good or bad based on others experience. Hope this helps.

We have had our fifth wheel trailer for 5 years and have lived in it for about 3 (we split our time between our fifth wheel and our sailboat in Mexico, so it has been in storage when we are living on our boat).

Our only real repairs have been needed because of accidents/operator error and have been covered by either warranty or insurance.

A tire blowout caused by a faulty tire and covered by Michelin warranty cost $2,000.

When we forgot to lock a pocket door and it slid out while driving it cost $300 to repair (unit was fairly new so NuWa covered it under warranty - great company).

We took a turn too tightly and caused $17k worth of damage to the back end that was covered by insurance.

Other than that, we have not had to repair anything due to it wearing out or breaking down on its own.

We wash and wax it regularly and wash the roof at least once a year, usually twice.

Fifth wheel trailers have pretty simple systems... a motorhome might be more complex...

Thank you all for sharing the good and the bad, and forgive me if my replies sounded curt.

Our Class C in an 89. When we bought we had quite a bit of work done. All the fluids replaced, brakes, new battery (engine and house) and more.

Since we have had regular tune ups and oil changes. The only unexpected repair while on the road was the clutch fan going. I think it was just under $300.00 for that repair. I have all the repair and tune up invoices in a binder.

The gas gauge has given up the ghost. We have checked the fuses, and they are all okay. We will be taking it in for a repair before our first long trip this summer. I do not yet have a quote on the cost of the repair.

AS far as the house goes, we have replaced the kitchen faucet, toilet valve and bathroom fan. None were expensive repairs.

We have had to repair almost all the cabinets as the glue has dried. It is an easy repair.

Oh, lastly the electric step give up the ghost. Instead of paying to repair it, we now have a manual step.

Next year we plan to replace the curtains and blinds. That will be the most expensive upgrade to date.

Real friendly sort huh? But we have spent zero dollars on repairs since buying new in '08. Depending on where service is done, it varies from 2-5 hundred on fluids and filters. We we likely replace tires this year and that will run about 500 per tire if I shop. Winterizing usually takes about 3 gallons at about $3.50 at Tractor Supply. Washing at Blue Beacon is about 40 dollars with a 10 dollar tip.

Dolph - check this out re Pac-Brake.

http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/2012/06/motorhome-repair-rebuilding-pac-brake.html

Thanks Dolph and Dalehelman ! Now that's an eye opener to the realities of owning an RV.

Thanks kalynzoo and pianotuna, that's exactly the kind of info that helps me. I want to go into this with my eyes wide open to the economic realities. My philosophy is to hope for the best but plan for the worst.