Annual Maintenance / Repair Cost

[Ryan Wright]

Dave,

As others have no doubt informed you, it really depends on the coach
you buy. My '86 was exceptionally well maintained by a gentleman who
had money and took care of it. If you buy a coach from a guy who could
barely afford it in the first place, there's going to be a lot of
deferred maintenance to catch up on. Some folks just don't or can't
afford to fix things when they break, so they just do without that
system or limp along on half-baked repairs. This is not the type of
coach you want.

So, assuming you get a nice coach that has zero problems and needs
"nothing" (they all need "something"), and assuming nothing major
craps out on you, I'd budget $5,000 per year for maintenance - plus
fuel. If you only spend two grand on maintenance one year, drop the
other three into a savings account - you'll need it eventually.

I've had my coach one & a half years now. I've spent $413 in oil &
filter changes (supplies only, labor was my own) but I've spent just
over $5,000 in repairs. Most of that five grand went to fix three real
problems - a minor transmission tweak, a new alternator and a new air
compressor. The rest were minor things, $100 here, $50 there,
replacing worn out household type items - some worn weatherstripping,
light bulbs, a new water pump and the like. As best as I can tell the
alternator and air compressor were original on my coach so after 20
years, it was time for them to fail. No big deal, but you do need to
budget for this sort of thing.

Again, I bought a very nice coach with no deferred maintenance. The
things that have broken have done so after I bought it. If you buy
something that hasn't been cared for, you'll need to spend a lot more
the first year. You could have tires, air bags, rubber seals on valves
& lines, suspension components, and all sorts of other stuff needing
immediate replacement if you buy the wrong coach. That could be a
$20,000 bill real quick, so spend a bit more up front and get a nice
coach and you should, theoretically, be rewarded with repairs under
$5k each year.

How much work you can do for yourself makes a big difference. I don't
know enough to do the heavy mechanical work, but I have replaced
engines in cars so I'm not completely inept, either. I could have
saved at least a grand on labor had I replaced my own alternator & air
compressor but I didn't feel like doing that work and I had the money
to pay someone else. I could have also spent another three grand on
labor if I hadn't fixed all of the little stuff myself. If you're
handy around the house you'll save a bunch of money doing light repair
work on the house parts of the coach.

Of course, you also have to think about what you'd do if your engine
pooped out and you were stuck with a $25,000 repair bill. That doesn't
happen often but it does, unfortunately, happen. I, personally, don't
have a plan for that beyond crying, drinking heavily, and then dipping
into my long term savings against my better judgment.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 6:21 PM, Dave Mayo wrote:
> In reading these type forums one would get the impression that a
> motorhome is constantly broken and being repaired. That is the nature
> of this type forum to discuss mechanical issues.
>
> I'm interested in getting an idea of the ballpark annual cost for non-
> routine repair for a mid 1990's Wanderlodge. I am also interested in
> a ballpark cost of annual routine maintenance.
>
> In planning a budget should one plan on $3,000 per year; $5,000 per
> year; $10,000 or more.
>
> Outside of the cost of purchase, depreciation, etc. how rich does
> one's blood need to be to afford the maintenance on a Bluebird.
> I understand that this will vary based upon the age of the coach and
> its condition. I'm just doing research to understand what is required
> to be able to own and maintain a Bluebird.
>
> Also, would the maintenance and repair cost between a Bluebird and a
> Prevost be similar or would one expect the Prevost to be higher.
>
> I appreciate your input as your knowledge is great.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Dave

[Eric Perplies]

The first year I owned my coach I spent nearly $10,000. Realizing
that I would have to get a job to keep paying to have this coach
repaired I committed to doing as much maintenance as I could do
myself. In the following 4 years my maintenance and upgrades (ie:
changing TV) costs have varied from $1600/year to $4000/year. I would
guess the average is $3000/year. Because I do a lot of your own
maintenance. I would double that number if I took my bus to a shop to
have a lot of the items repaired.

It probably is wiser for me to consider a long term average of $4000
per year because I will have to change tires every 5/7 years, one day
I will do something dumb and it will require some heavy duty engine or
transmission work. Plus eventually I will have to replace my reefer,
couches and chairs.

Good luck,

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL
currently in Fredericksburg, TX

[Terry Neal]

I doubt that you would do anything "dumb"
Eric. I see that you are registered for the SWBB Rally in January.
Kellie & I are trying to shift things around enough to get away
& drive down from the "frozen North". We will look forward to
seeing you & Suzzie again.



I feel that doing your own maintenance on these Birds really gives you
a better understanding of the various systems as well as a real comfort
knowing that the work is done properly & not just to finish the job
& go home.



Be safe,

Terry Neal

Bozeman, MT

82PT40 6V92TA

74FC34 6V53T











Eric Perplies wrote:







The first year I owned my coach I spent nearly $10,000. Realizing



that I would have to get a job to keep paying to have this coach



repaired I committed to doing as much maintenance as I could do



myself. In the following 4 years my maintenance and upgrades (ie:



changing TV) costs have varied from $1600/year to $4000/year. I would



guess the average is $3000/year. Because I do a lot of your own



maintenance. I would double that number if I took my bus to a shop to



have a lot of the items repaired. 







It probably is wiser for me to consider a long term average of $4000



per year because I will have to change tires every 5/7 years, one day



I will do something dumb and it will require some heavy duty engine or



transmission work. Plus eventually I will have to replace my reefer,



couches and chairs.







Good luck,







Eric Perplies



96' 42' WBWL



currently in Fredericksburg, TX 









 
				

[erniecarpet@...]

Eric, you going to be able to come to the rally?

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40 Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Texas

---

One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!

[luckyron1]

Dave, It's good to see this thread from time to time and now that we
have 5 years of full-timing under our belt I feel somewhat qualified
to contribute. Our's is a 2000 LXI with a front slide. We are very
conscientous about the appearance and condition and we, very
carefully, rely on Detroit Diesel, reputable RV service facilities and
mobile techs to keep it in good repair. Like most others, we have
gotten burned from time to time but have learned a lot from the
experience. So much that we no longer fear the coach. Well, maybe
not as much as 5 years ago. After 5 years of very diligent ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE we have averaged about 2685.00 per year.
SURPRISES/REPAIRS have cost us about 2980.00 per year. Hope this helps.

Ron & Ruth in Port Aransas

[Eric Perplies]

I'll be seeing you at the Pearl Harbor Day rally in Fredericksburg,
TX. I probably will not be able to make the Q Rally. This stock
market plunge has affected me. The market still looks like it is
diving. Until things stabilize I will be staying put. This market
crash has got me rethinking how I will be traveling in the future.
The only good news: cheaper diesel. Give me high diesel and a stable
economy. With my luck next year I will have high diesel prices and
economic chaos (note: I avoid the "d" word.)


Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> Eric, you going to be able to come to the rally?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40 Wanderlodge
> Weatherford, Texas
>
> **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social
networks,
> and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com
>
today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x...dir=h\
ttp://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp
> %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)
>

[Dave Mayo]

Thanks for all the input. This really helps in getting a realistic
view of annual expenses. My sense is that it is realsonalbe for one
to expect to expend between $4,000 and $6,000 per year for total
repair costs assuming the engine doesn;t go.

Helps to make an informed decision.

Dave


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mayo"
wrote:
>
> In reading these type forums one would get the impression that a
> motorhome is constantly broken and being repaired. That is the
nature
> of this type forum to discuss mechanical issues.
>
> I'm interested in getting an idea of the ballpark annual cost for
non-
> routine repair for a mid 1990's Wanderlodge. I am also interested
in
> a ballpark cost of annual routine maintenance.
>
> In planning a budget should one plan on $3,000 per year; $5,000 per
> year; $10,000 or more.
>
> Outside of the cost of purchase, depreciation, etc. how rich does
> one's blood need to be to afford the maintenance on a Bluebird.
> I understand that this will vary based upon the age of the coach
and
> its condition. I'm just doing research to understand what is
required
> to be able to own and maintain a Bluebird.
>
> Also, would the maintenance and repair cost between a Bluebird and
a
> Prevost be similar or would one expect the Prevost to be higher.
>
> I appreciate your input as your knowledge is great.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Dave
>

[Dave Mayo]

Thanks for all the input. This really helps in getting a realistic
view of annual expenses. My sense is that it is realsonalbe for one
to expect to expend between $4,000 and $6,000 per year for total
repair costs assuming the engine doesn;t go.

Helps to make an informed decision.

Dave


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mayo"
wrote:
>
> In reading these type forums one would get the impression that a
> motorhome is constantly broken and being repaired. That is the
nature
> of this type forum to discuss mechanical issues.
>
> I'm interested in getting an idea of the ballpark annual cost for
non-
> routine repair for a mid 1990's Wanderlodge. I am also interested
in
> a ballpark cost of annual routine maintenance.
>
> In planning a budget should one plan on $3,000 per year; $5,000 per
> year; $10,000 or more.
>
> Outside of the cost of purchase, depreciation, etc. how rich does
> one's blood need to be to afford the maintenance on a Bluebird.
> I understand that this will vary based upon the age of the coach
and
> its condition. I'm just doing research to understand what is
required
> to be able to own and maintain a Bluebird.
>
> Also, would the maintenance and repair cost between a Bluebird and
a
> Prevost be similar or would one expect the Prevost to be higher.
>
> I appreciate your input as your knowledge is great.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Dave
>

[Bob Lawrence]

Hi Ryan,
How much was the air compressor and where did you get one? I'm
thinking about replacing mine just cause...just cause it's 24 years
old.
Bob Lawrence
84 P36
Los Fresnos, Texas

>
> I've had my coach one & a half years now. I've spent $413 in oil &
> filter changes (supplies only, labor was my own) but I've spent just
> over $5,000 in repairs. Most of that five grand went to fix three
real
> problems - a minor transmission tweak, a new alternator and a new
air
> compressor. The rest were minor things as best as I can tell the
> alternator and air compressor were original on my coach so after 20
> years, it was time for them to fail. No big deal, but you do need to
> budget for this sort of thing.
>
> How much work you can do for yourself makes a big difference. I
don't
> know enough to do the heavy mechanical work, but I have replaced
> engines in cars so I'm not completely inept, either. I could have
> saved at least a grand on labor had I replaced my own alternator &
air
> compressor but I didn't feel like doing that work and I had the
money
> to pay someone else. I could have also spent another three grand on
> labor if I hadn't fixed all of the little stuff myself. If you're
> handy around the house you'll save a bunch of money doing light
repair
> work on the house parts of the coach.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
>

[Ryan Wright]

Bob, I'll have to check my records, but it was on the order of $1200
for the job. Most of that was labor - while they were back there they
replaced some soft cooling lines that were falling apart and that
added quite a bit. I just took it to the local big rig garage to have
the work done.

I don't know that it's necessary to replace it just because it's old.
These are supposed to last a very long time. Any truck shop should be
able to test yours and tell you if it's still working like it's
supposed to. I don't think they fail catastrophically - mine didn't
leave me stranded or anything, just took a very long time to air the
bus up and when they tested it, it was only putting out a fraction of
the air it's supposed to.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:10 PM, Bob Lawrence
wrote:
> Hi Ryan,
> How much was the air compressor and where did you get one? I'm
> thinking about replacing mine just cause...just cause it's 24 years
> old.
> Bob Lawrence
> 84 P36
> Los Fresnos, Texas
>
>>
>> I've had my coach one & a half years now. I've spent $413 in oil &
>> filter changes (supplies only, labor was my own) but I've spent just
>> over $5,000 in repairs. Most of that five grand went to fix three
> real
>> problems - a minor transmission tweak, a new alternator and a new
> air
>> compressor. The rest were minor things as best as I can tell the
>> alternator and air compressor were original on my coach so after 20
>> years, it was time for them to fail. No big deal, but you do need to
>> budget for this sort of thing.
>>
>> How much work you can do for yourself makes a big difference. I
> don't
>> know enough to do the heavy mechanical work, but I have replaced
>> engines in cars so I'm not completely inept, either. I could have
>> saved at least a grand on labor had I replaced my own alternator &
> air
>> compressor but I didn't feel like doing that work and I had the
> money
>> to pay someone else. I could have also spent another three grand on
>> labor if I hadn't fixed all of the little stuff myself. If you're
>> handy around the house you'll save a bunch of money doing light
> repair
>> work on the house parts of the coach.
>>
>> -Ryan
>> '86 PT-40 8V92
>>
>
>