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repairs

Yahoo Message Number: 116276
Good afternoon,
First motorhome and novice camper

Doing some research for a 1999 CC intrigue with 96000 miles.

Below is a list of repairs that have been made during the first quarter of 2017

* New awnings,
* wall to wall carpet
* dash air compressor
* all new batteries
* all new front end work 7 steering ball joints replaced
* steering box replaced
* brand new refrigerator unit replaced,
* slide-out cylinders replaced,
* complete oil change including all filters including main air filter as well as generator filter and oil
* new Serpentine belt on the engine,
* new water pump
* all new cargo door shocks replaced
* new wiper blades.

other issues: needs tires
hydronic water systems operation unknown
second owner has limited maint records
tranny fluid change-unknown
additional items have been verified for proper operation

Do any of the repairs indicate that perhaps the coach was not maintained properly? Or are the repairs common for a coach of this age?

Appreciate any opinions or thoughts.

regards,
Tom




Re: repairs

Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 116298
On older coaches you'll spend @ $5-7k a year on maintenance. Some years a lot more some years a lot less. My first year with mine I put around $25k, but it was all worth it. Just take the maintenance schedule as a start and just keep track of things. Look like you had someone go through it, so you should be good. Look things over before you get on the road. I always look again about an hour or so down the road on a trip. Also give it a good look at the end of the day. There will always be problems just get on them early before they get worse.

Sincerely

Alex Ritchey 2000 CC Affinity B&B


Re: repairs

Reply #4
Yahoo Message Number: 116302
Ouch, Alex. We've had our '93 Magna Grandeur for approx five years. The best we can come up with is a total out of pocket to date of approximately $7000. This includes 6 new Toyos, a hydraulic fan motor (plus belts, filters and fluids at the time of HFM replacemt), some misc furnace parts, (5) 8D batteries, regular oil changes, a new residential frig, new inverter, new ride height valves. Granted, most of the maintenance is done in the driveway or on the bench in the garage, thank goodness. We do have a few minor items to address before Maggie Magna goes on the selling block. Can't imagine having to spend $5-7k/yr on one of these guys. Have we been fortunate or is this typical?

Marie and Eddie Slagle
'93 Magna 5011


Re: repairs

Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 116304
I could guesstimate our costs averaged over the years. But, in reality they really don't matter. As we do with our coach what we want. Including maintenance, fixes of items and or component so systems as needed, and probable the most on modification's to refresh and make the coach 'our coach' for a 10+ years life cycle.

We knew it would be expensive going in. And we do not mind paying the price for enjoying our coach, and having it as safe and 'ready to go' as reasonably possible.

If I wanted to save the money I'd worked for - I'd be sitting in my backyard - instead of yearly seeing such a great country:)!

And no question, that the more complex a coach is - the higher the costs to maintain, and when things go wrong, to repair... I suspect, why some owner's of CC's see different yearly maintenance cycles. Toss in, that some owner's use their coaches for vacation or week end get away's and travels. While other's, live and use them year round, and or, many months a year. Also, some owner's really put the miles on 10, 12.5, 15+ K per year. And other's, even full timer's, due under 10, or even 5K per year. So usage wear can vary between owner's. And make a difference on how much they spend per year.

Could we do it for a lot less money per year? Heck yes! Our T28 1998 F53 with V10, non slide, Bounder - with proper maintenance - would have gotten us out and about. But not as safe, as comfortable, as happy - as we are in our CC. (Joke about wishing I'd kept it to be our Toad. So I'd have a Man Cave.)

RV'ing is not an inexpensive decision. As an owner, you can make decision's to put off some maintenance for sometime. Not make an update, or repair and item that is broken. Gamble on older tires. Zero modifications and interior refresh. Older electronics. Etc., etc.

But, sooner or later, the piper will be paid. A catastrophic breakdown. Or if lucky, a sell at a later date at much lower value due to lack of maintenance and normal (LED vs Tube TV, as an example.) upgrades/refreshes. Or worse case, an accident while on the road due to neglected maintenance.

Pay me now, or pay me later. Possibly hurt yourself, or other's - due to poor maintenance practices.

If you want to save money. Gasser Class A's can be more economical per year to maintain properly. But, then you'll not be in the glory of a Country Coach - and one of the gang of cool owner's that appreciate and enjoy them.

Me? Well, I look at all upgrades an improvements as amortized over a 10 year usage ahead. (That's a 'moving' ten years, as I've been saying this for 5+ years now:)!).

I look at normal maintenance, as just the costs of enjoyment.

Everyone must make their own decisions on what they're willing to spend.

And no question, several thousand dollars a year of our spending, is discretionary... Not maintenance and or safety related... That's our choice.

Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

 

Re: repairs

Reply #6
Yahoo Message Number: 116305
As usual, Smitty says it best, notwithstanding reading his many words! I am of the same philosophy as him, in fact, maybe I do over maintenance as I am always looking for something to do on my coach. That said, I am about $5-10K per year, after an initial $30K when I first bought the coach three years ago. Expensive yes, but so worth it, in my opinion. As Smitty says, how else are you going to enjoy the glory of driving a Country Coach!

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad