20 year old hoses
My 20 year old American Dream diesel pusher still has all the original cooling and hydraulic hoses. It has been stored indoors all its life and only has 30,000 miles on it, and is in excellent conditi...
Forum Discussion
Tom/Barb wrote:
Inspect, Inspect ---- and change as required.
all new hoses will set you back $3000 or more.
We commonly see 50 years on Equipment with no problem.
Agreed! But, inspect for what? Make sure your pressure cap is functional, if applicable. Flexible hoses, both coolant and hydraulic, typically fail from the inside out. So, you can't see the internal cracks in the hose when it's beginning to fail because the failure points are on the inside. (unless you can see physical damage on the outside) Internal cracks will eventually show themselves externally. When you inspect your hoses you should do it when they are hot and pressurized. Generally you will see bulging near the clamped portions at the ends, at flex points, or, at the swagged fittings for hydraulic hoses. Of course, leaks/seeping/precipitate of any kind should receive immediate attention. If tightening the clamp doesn't cure the leak, you should replace the hose. If the hose is bulging throughout its length when hot/pressurized, it's done no matter what it looks like.
At 30,000 miles and considering the age of your MH, it has been sitting cold/covered more than 99% of its life. If you are using factory recommended fluids and changing them regularly, chances are you are fine. If it makes you feel better, you can buy the hoses that run hot and carry them with you. Then you'll be prepared. IMO, you should buy OEM quality hoses if you decide to change them. This is not a place to save a buck on parts.
Chum lee
