Used DP, Miles vs Years

[jpsage]

Next question on the search for next MH.

I have decided (although DW is not totally on board yet) that a 10-12 yo quality DP is a the best deal for us, but....

I see so many posts on DP chassis outlasting the MH and I witness the rattles in our Jambo as it approaches 100K-miles. The question is how many miles will a quality used MH have in them?

If I get one that has sat in a barn with low miles it may have rotted seals that lead to expensive drive-train repairs but what about expensive coach repairs on coaches that have a lot of road miles. Do DPs with air ride suffer the same abuse as my rough riding Jambo?

Thanks for all your inputs. While I have grown up through tent, truck and then class-Cs, I feel like a new first time buyer again.

John, Donna and Ginger

[jpsage]

We did buy a 10 year old HR Neptune. Thanks for the help. Its going in for good overall service on Wed.

[BUB1988]

I would add to the comments that for the most part you will need to expect the unexpected. Low mileage = none of the appliances were used much because the RV set for long periods of time, Or the RV was lived in and the appliances have many hours of use. In the same category you can put the drive line and tires. As most have mentioned maintenance records help, but have a contingency plan with funds to replace items as they go bad. High mileage could mean the same thing or the opposite. Bottom line find one that fits you and be prepared to make it yours by purchasing stuff

[John_Joey]

For over eight years I've been reading posts like this one, and I've come to a conclusion after being on the road for those years also. If you're not comfortable driving a 15 year old car cross country, you will not drive a MH (gas or DP) cross country.

Most of it will be in your head and hands, meaning what you feel comfortable repairing. If you feel comfortable swapping out a fan belt on the side of the road, or if you need to call a tow service.

Remember these things only get driven 2k -10K per year usually. Rust and corrosion will be the problems. For example your hot water heater won't ignite because the connections need cleaning. Your calipers will stick from sitting too long. Service records will show none of this. If buying an older coach and your first trip out has a few issues that you can't fix, bet on the fact the next trip out will be much shorter. If that next trip has issues, bet on the fact it will be a longer time before you take it out again. Doesn't take long before it is a driveway queen.

So the bottom line is would you take a car that is "X" years old cross country, and feel comfortable doing it. Use that same logic when buying a used coach regardless gas or DP.

[hipower]

Just as a point of interest regarding gaskets and seals drying out. The days of rawhide, graphite impregnated rope and cork are gone. Todays seals and gaskets rarely leak unless something damages them or the installation was poor initially.

As far as age related deteriation my concern would be for exposed items like fanbelts, radiator and heater hoses, air lines, etc. Universal joints and automatic brake slack adjusters along with ball joints on IFS coaches seem to either get neglected or over serviced in the case of slack adjusters.

As Bruce said in the previous post I would be a little slow to pull the trigger on a coach with the ISB Cummins. Lower torque and a shorter lifespan for the small Cummins are concerns for many. In heavier coaches a life expectancy of 150,000 miles seems realictic, where the ISC and other bigger Cumming have a long history of 400,000 miles before overhaul, and many documented cases of a million miles plus.

The real story is simply you can have good experiences with a young high mileage coach and the same with a old low mileage coach. There is no right or wrong answer. Find what you like and jump in and enjoy the experience. Don't let fear drive your fun out of your life.

[big_jim_2]

I have owned and driven the 300 h.p. cummins 5.9 since 2004 and put on 108,000 miles other than a new turbo it has performed flawlesly. Mine is in a 38 ft. Fleetwood. I have pulled a toad over mountains and in 100 degree temps with no problems just make sure you keep the radiator clean as you will be working that little engine. I found a mint geo tracker and that is now my current (and favorite) dingy. Expect around 10 miles per gallon and no oil usage even up in the 10,000 mile range.

[Bruce_Brown]

Also be sure to give that a good test drive. That has the low torque Cummins ISB engine in it. For many it has enough power, I'd want more.

It is a fairly light unit so it may be just fine, plus you should see some decent MPGs with it.

[wolfe10]

jpsage,

Make sure it has the new-design (stronger) rear trailing arms: http://community.fmca.com/topic/569-important-safety-issue-monaco-hr-safari-chassis/

[jpsage]

Well I think we are going pull the trigger on a 2006 Holliday Rambler Neptune 36pdd with a 5.9 (ISB 300HP) with a 5-speed. Two slides that is usable with the slides in while stopping at rest-stops.

[jpsage]

Thanks for the training.
We spent yesterday on the road looking seriously for the first time. We saw two new entry DP and four older. Two were junk and two were nice Winnebago Journeys. It is because of the posts on this and other forums that I knew what I was looking at. We are going to see a HR tomorrow and on from there.

The nice thing about the junkers was that I see my Jambo in a much better light. While she is ready for a new roof and some suspension work she is still a solid ride. I think that I a caught up on the maintenance can continue this trip in confidence.

Again thanks for all the help. I am sure that by winter we will have a new (to us) coach and be ready to go south if we want to.

John, Donna and Gingerrella

[Ivylog]

I plan on using this DP for another 10+ years at which point I may be the one aging out. If I had to replace my 12 year old DP it would be with much the same or maybe a 06 Exe. Coming up Wolfe Pass today I could have used a little more HP.

[J-Rooster]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
You should be able to get all of the information you need by asking if the seller has COMPLETE service records on the coach. Without any records, you have no way of knowing when or if any service was done on a regular basis.
Some full timers put very little mileage on their rig but they have used the systems and interior 24/7/365 and the exterior has been exposed to the elements 24/7/365. Low mileage does not guaranty low usage.
You can also find coaches with higher mileage that have only been lived in for a few months at a time. It just depends on how the people traveled.
Again, COMPLETE service records will answer your questions.

X-2, this is very important! You will wear out the inside of a DP before the engine needs rebuild. A well maintained DP should run over one million miles on the speedo!

[Greyghost]

In 2013 we purchased our 2005 American Tradition with 62K miles. On the surface the coach was well maintained with complete service records. Since the purchase we have replaced the shocks and tires, transmission control module, refrigerator, water pump and the front A/C, all under extended warranty. We've had a couple of leaks due to inept roof maintenance by the previous owner, but they are all repaired properly now by me. We now have 92K miles on it and the mileage has increased by 1 mpg. Would I buy another well maintained used moderate to high mileage Coach? Yes, in a heartbeat.

If you decide on a used coach, be prepared to perform your own repairs whenever you can. If you have a chassis or engine problem, go to the aproprietary factory reps unless you can get a good recommendation for a good repair facility. If you need work done on the coach, find a good small shop that can do the work xorrectly.

[Kayteg1]

My recently sold 1972 Prevost is still mostly original.
On the engine the only thing replaced- beside belts and couple houses was fan clutch.
The air-operated clutch simply corroded in unprotected coach.
So quality parts will last 50 years and even my coach had low mileage, the drive-train was 1 million miles rated.
Bad news is that I notice degradation in automotive parts.
My father still owns 29 years old Mercedes, where plastic parts still hold.
Our 8 years old model has plastic parts chalking.
Come to the point where when I need replacement plastic grommet for 8 years old car, I go on junk yard and pull the same part in good condition from 25 y/o model.

[JumboJet]

I purchased a 2003 Fleetwood Expedition with 19,000 miles on it July, 2015. I just returned from a trip and the odometer turned over 30,000 miles.

The previous owner and I worked at the same company. He drove the MH 4,000 miles in the 9 years he owned it.

The first thing I did was to carry it to a reputable truck service shop and had them change ALL the fluids, serviceable items, and check all the hoses, etc.

I am satisfied with the MH and look forward to many years using it.