When to change hoses on a Diesel Pusher ??

Do what feels comfortable for you. On water related hoses, I had our engine related hoses replaced with Gates between year 10 and 11. I did this because while inspecting can show when a hose is bad but not yet ruptured. It really cannot tell you if the hose is going bad.

We also feel we'll keep this coach for a minimum of 10 more years. And I've done lots of preventative maintenance on my schedule, and my preferred shop, vs on the side of the road or in a place I do not know.

I did not replace the Hydro Hot silicone related hoses, as all of my research indicated they age much slower then traditional hoses.

Oh, and one of my replaced hoses did show interior signs of being distressed. Sure, may have easily gone for another 5 or so years, or may have blown as we did the ALCAN in 2014....

No right or wrong on this, just what you're comfortable with,
Smitty

down home wrote:
I asked Cat Dealer/Service Center three years ago about hoses.
3,000.00 to replace hoses and flush radiator etc.
Going to see if they will last a few more years. Only 36,000 miles and 11 years on them.

Check with Freightliner factory at Gaffney.
For $1,614 they changed all hoses/clamps, antifreeze, thermostat and engine belts. That price included all parts, labor & shop supplies.

I asked Cat Dealer/Service Center three years ago about hoses.
3,000.00 to replace hoses and flush radiator etc.
Going to see if they will last a few more years. Only 36,000 miles and 11 years on them.

Kayteg1 wrote:
There is no "one shoe fits all"
I believe some of the hoses on my conversion are still original at 44 years old. Just fire up old Detroit today and everything holds.
The PS hose broke 11 years ago, but it is not my first experience that hydraulic fluid is one of the most aggressive ones.
Than I had to replace 1 fuel hose becouse... the steel L on the end had corroded pinhole. (took me a while to figure out where da heck the fuel is coming from)
I replaced those 3" radiator hoses when they got close to 40 years old as precaution at the time when I was rebuilding the radiator.
Inspect, inspect, inspect and don't fall for spam like "new hoses every 5 years" or "oil change 3000"

Exactly!

There is no "one shoe fits all"
I believe some of the hoses on my conversion are still original at 44 years old. Just fire up old Detroit today and everything holds.
The PS hose broke 11 years ago, but it is not my first experience that hydraulic fluid is one of the most aggressive ones.
Than I had to replace 1 fuel hose becouse... the steel L on the end had corroded pinhole. (took me a while to figure out where da heck the fuel is coming from)
I replaced those 3" radiator hoses when they got close to 40 years old as precaution at the time when I was rebuilding the radiator.
Inspect, inspect, inspect and don't fall for spam like "new hoses every 5 years" or "oil change 3000"

mtrumpet wrote:

Peralko wrote:
We had the hydraulic hose burst after about 17 years. No fun to lose the power steering and the cooling fans. Get any hydraulic hoses changed ASAP.

While that would generally be good preventative maintenance, it's much more rare for a hydraulic line to burst then say a coolant hose.(After all, the one on your rig was 17 years old.) Also, high pressure hydraulic lines (hoses) are very expensive in comparison to coolant hoses for example. A 6 ft. Long Hydraulic hose w/ 3/4" fittings (which is what most of us have) would run approximately $80.00/$100.00. Now, figure the line that runs all the way to the front of the coach to the steering unit. What is that, like a 30/40 ft. line? ($$$). You could run into several hundred dollars just changing out the hydraulic lines, not to mention the labor to have it done (and changing out that line that runs to the front of the coach is no picnic!)

(NOTE! We're speaking here of the large, 3/4" hydraulic lines that run the cooling fan and the power steering. Not the hydraulic leveling systems.)

Having said all of that, when your looking at 17 year old lines for example, then at the very least a thorough inspection of those lines is certainly in order. At that age then yes, replacement may be in order.

If nothing else, just food-for-thought...

The hose that burst was the one running from the hydraulic pump to the radiator fan. The ones running up to the steering are more protected inside the coach, and can probably go longer--we did not replace those. Replacing the hydraulic hose at Caterpillar ran just under $800. Another hose to check is the fuel line to the generator--had to replace that one as well.

I agree with most of the above and treat the MOHO just like all the other vehicles I own (car, truck, boat & backhoe). Routine maintenance on schedule and replace components when they show signs of wear and/or degradation.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

I had mine replaced at Gaffney 2 years ago May at 15 years 8 months old while having the engine thermostat changed out for 1st time. And the antifreeze was due for a change.

Next antifreeze change will be due in 6 years. So I figured it was time to change the hoses then. And not when they are 21 years old at next antifreeze change. which I will do myself.

After he thermostat change, the engine ran a littler cooler on hills.

Still running the over 17 year old OEM hydraulic lines.
I will wait for a leak or burst on them. Or it may never happen.
I will keep ERS on it. :)

I was at the Spartan factory recently for maintenance and asked them to change out the heater and radiator hoses due to their age (11 yr). They inspected them and convinced me it wasn't necessary. That might tell you something about the people at Spartan.

Peralko wrote:
We had the hydraulic hose burst after about 17 years. No fun to lose the power steering and the cooling fans. Get any hydraulic hoses changed ASAP.

While that would generally be good preventative maintenance, it's much more rare for a hydraulic line to burst then say a coolant hose.(After all, the one on your rig was 17 years old.) Also, high pressure hydraulic lines (hoses) are very expensive in comparison to coolant hoses for example. A 6 ft. Long Hydraulic hose w/ 3/4" fittings (which is what most of us have) would run approximately $80.00/$100.00. Now, figure the line that runs all the way to the front of the coach to the steering unit. What is that, like a 30/40 ft. line? ($$$). You could run into several hundred dollars just changing out the hydraulic lines, not to mention the labor to have it done (and changing out that line that runs to the front of the coach is no picnic!)

(NOTE! We're speaking here of the large, 3/4" hydraulic lines that run the cooling fan and the power steering. Not the hydraulic leveling systems.)

Having said all of that, when your looking at 17 year old lines for example, then at the very least a thorough inspection of those lines is certainly in order. At that age then yes, replacement may be in order.

If nothing else, just food-for-thought...