Isn't High Mileage Still a Problem on DP's

[StuartT]

I have always heard that 100,000/+ miles is just breaking in a diesel MH. Lack of use, indicated by low mileage, is a bad thing. NADA doesn't even want you to include mileage in looking up values.

But high mileage also means more wear on other components, like transmissions, rear ends, brakes, suspension, etc. And it also implies more use of the interior and systems, all contributing to additional wear and tear.

So let me ask you, assuming you care about resale value to future buyers, which would you prefer to be able to offer, low or high mileage. And if the answer is low mileage, does that mean we have been blowing smoke all these years that higher mileage is no big deal just to make ourselves feel better about it?

[StuartT]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Some COACHES and CHASSIS are built for 1,000,000 miles of use, like the Prevost chassis motor homes. These are the very expensive RV's used by NASCAR teams, Hollywood celebrities, corporations, and anyone else that has the means to afford them. Many of these are listed for sale as used high end coaches, with hundreds of thousands of miles, and they are still going strong, and still fetch some pretty big bucks. These are built on the same chassis as the coast to coast Trailways and Greyhound buses.
Most other diesel coaches fall in the other category and they are NOT designed for a million miles but they can do several hundred thousand miles with proper maintenance. As you read on this forum, diesel engines do break down and DP chassis and suspension items do break.
The facts are that if you do proper maintenance on ANY coach, and replace everything that breaks or wears out, there is no mileage limit. The limit is reached when it is no longer financially feasible or practical to continue to dump money in to a coach that is worn out. That does not mean that an old coach cannot continue to be used, but at a certain point in time, the coach is worth less at resale than the cost needed to keep it running.

Great observations and a well thought out response. In our range of DP's, you point out the absolute need for maintenance, and this is definitely a fact. But would you be afraid to buy a high mileage DP in the first place, given you will face the resale market down the road.

[Ivylog]

A lot has to do with the person buying and their experience level. I bought a hard to find crew cab FL 70 with high miles because it was fleet maintained and the engine was at a lower HP than most. Now that I'm trying to sell... most are afraid of the higher miles. I would take a 10 year old DP with 90K miles over one with only 20K assuming the low miles was because it sat a lot. Now if the 20K was used to tailgate close by most of the year, it could be a great find.
OP, yes most buyers will shy away from a high mileage DP because there are plenty with fewer miles for sale. Supply and demand trumps everything and there are plenty of mid mile DPs for sale... 5K/year.

[StuartT]

Born To Travel wrote:
It all has to do with maintenance.. A well maintained vehicle can last for hundreds of thousands of miles.. A poorly maintained vehicle has a short life span.. Keep your maintenance up to date and it should serve you well..

You missed the point of my question. I am really asking if you would buy a high mileage DP without fear of resale consequences.

[rgatijnet1]

Some COACHES and CHASSIS are built for 1,000,000 miles of use, like the Prevost chassis motor homes. These are the very expensive RV's used by NASCAR teams, Hollywood celebrities, corporations, and anyone else that has the means to afford them. Many of these are listed for sale as used high end coaches, with hundreds of thousands of miles, and they are still going strong, and still fetch some pretty big bucks. These are built on the same chassis as the coast to coast Trailways and Greyhound buses.
Most other diesel coaches fall in the other category and they are NOT designed for a million miles but they can do several hundred thousand miles with proper maintenance. As you read on this forum, diesel engines do break down and DP chassis and suspension items do break.
The facts are that if you do proper maintenance on ANY coach, and replace everything that breaks or wears out, there is no mileage limit. The limit is reached when it is no longer financially feasible or practical to continue to dump money in to a coach that is worn out. That does not mean that an old coach cannot continue to be used, but at a certain point in time, the coach is worth less at resale than the cost needed to keep it running.

[Born_To_Travel]

It all has to do with maintenance.. A well maintained vehicle can last for hundreds of thousands of miles.. A poorly maintained vehicle has a short life span.. Keep your maintenance up to date and it should serve you well..