class a diesel maintenance

[shannon62]

Hello, we are thinking of buying a class a diesel, can most repairs/maintenance be done from outside the coach or do you need to go under the bed? If so have anybody had any problems with garages getting grease & diesel smell all around the bedroom? As we can not handle the smell. Thanks for any info on this.

[tropical36]

shannon62 wrote:
Hello, we are thinking of buying a class a diesel, can most repairs/maintenance be done from outside the coach or do you need to go under the bed? If so have anybody had any problems with garages getting grease & diesel smell all around the bedroom? As we can not handle the smell. Thanks for any info on this.

It's all about the money, as always and with that you can have any kind of service you desire, whether it needs done outside or inside and for using white gloves, as well.
As for big Diesel rigs in general, they're like any Yacht, on land or sea and both cost money to buy and maintain, over the cost of just having a boat.
Most maintenance is outside and sometimes both. Not like you can just raise the hood for getting to everything, you know, unless you go for a Super C class and for something you might want to look into, given your concerns.

[msmith1199]

I just recently traded my DP in for a Class B+. There were a lot of reasons for doing this, but one reason was the cost of maintenance and finding places to do it. I live in Reno and basically the only place I would trust is the local Freightliner dealer. There are a few places around town that will do the oil changes, but not much else. Before I traded it in I was trying to find a place to replace the serpentine belt but couldn’t find anybody to do it. So I’m stuck with Freightliner which leaves a couple of problems. One being they are expensive as heck. But mostly it’s because Reno is a huge trucking hub and the only place big rigs can get repairs in a long stretch of I-80. So they are swamped with work and they are going to give their commercial customers priority. I’ve tried to make appointments there and they tell me I need to leave it for a week and they’ll work it in.

[shannon62]

Thanks for all the good info, it all was very helpful.

[down_home]

The only thing they do besides replacing thermostats from inside and hoses if needed is lashing the valves. Ours is a C7 Cat rear radiator though.
When they lashed the valves they left sheeting with adhesive that stuck to the carpet from the front to he bedroom. Same stuff I think as we used when we moved into our home now for the movers so as to not mess up the carpet.

[chuckftboy]

None of the regular service items are accessed from inside and if your mechanic did need access from inside and got fingerprints on anything, it would be time to find a different mechanic.
As for engine or diesel odors, that pretty much isn't an issue.

[ferndaleflyer]

same here. I drop it off and pick it up when its done. Never seen or smelled anything. I also get mine done at a truck repair shop.

[Bruce_Brown]

Only issue we've ever had was the shop using sooo many protective mats it took a minute to pick them all up! Not once, ever, have we had as much as a fingerprint in ours. We're happy with our shop.

[thelazyl]

We have a rear-radiator diesel with engine access under the bed. We've never had an issue with grease or oil smell. I have a truck mechanic do the maintenance for us. Although maintenance costs are higher than a gasser, we very pleased with the quiet and smooth ride of the rear diesel.

[dodge_guy]

I have seen the pros and cons of a diesel. Maint is t too bad, but from seeing them a side radiator, although they seem to cost more, are much easier to do maint on. Unless the engine needs to come apart there would be. I need to go inside the MH.

[CA_Traveler]

Side radiators allow for more open engine access from the rear.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Typically all routine service can be done without needing to access the inside of the motorhome.