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Can we talk maintenance cost?

i dont keep track of how much i spend either. for most of us, exactness of how much time we spend, how much money, and all that stuff just isnt something we dwell on. almost all of us has had expensive things go awry and just accept that is part of coach ownership. and things on the newell are pricey at times because they were the highest quality when put in the coach.

its kind of like watching the fuel gauge go down while thinking how much it costs to drive every minute or hour. if you think about spending 35 to 45 dollars per hour just for fuel, what fun is that? when you get a rig like ours, you want the best fuel mileage you can, but it doesnt change the fact that a fill up can be 750 to over a grand. but i just dont think about it and accept it as part of the package.

i do document my repairs and most of them are on this forum. as for posting what things cost, i usually dont do that as we all get things done differently. i try to source things i can as cheaply as possible. i am willing to buy NOS or slightly used items to save money (i bought a demo headhunter water pump for about 1/3 of a new one and it has worked fine. but some wouldnt feel comfortable doing that. my junair compressor was used and it was 1/6th the cost of new. that said, i wouldnt buy used airbags....etc.

labor rates at repair shops are all within a few bucks of each other. the real thing there is finding someone you know and trust their ability. spending a few hours hunting and pecking on problems really adds up in cost. the bus shop i go to is a git-r-done kinda place. you may have to wait your turn, but they know what they are doing.

when i do things myself the rule is simple. that is that i usually have no idea how long it will take and the engineer in me will make it take 3x as long as it probably should take and sometimes longer. but i do know it is done right when i am done.

buying a high end coach is a leap of faith no matter what vintage. buying a 30 year old one like clarkes is a leap of faith. buying a new one is a different leap of faith. and in between is as well. you can buy one that has been well taken care of and still have problems. but one thing is certain, you will have problems. the trick is how you handle those. when i bought my second coach, a 35 foot executive many years ago i was concerned about what might go wrong with it. a dear friend who had one told me this. dont worry about it "there is nothing a credit card cant fix". how big a bill on the credit card is determined by your ability and willingness to do things your self.

i fix things like i am keeping it forever. if i do, fine. if not, then i know what i have done is first rate.

i am an engineer and i research everything to death. so much that many times the wanting and researching was more fun than the having. i tell my kids that they should enjoy the wanting as much as the having. (and it is alot cheaper). but i will say, that the having of my 2 newell coaches was BETTER than the wanting.

darlene just called and was checking on the coach where we have it stored while i am building the shop. she said an alarm was going off inside. i told her how to check the prosine inverter and then reset it. it turned off. if something is wrong with it, i will figure it out and fix it.

i have learned that i love tinkering as much as using sometimes. i spent my whole career mostly working on things that took many years. hard to see what i or my teams accomplished in a single day, week or month. when i come in from working on the newell, when i clean my hands and wipe the blood off whatever got scraped, i know what i got done. i love that sense of accomplishment. there is nothing i cant fix if i want or need to. it may take me a long time or i may have to take it somewhere for help, but i know that with my own abilites and those of my many guru friends i can do it. i cant tell you how many times i have called gurus for help. most of them probably think i am totally helpless and at times i am.

that is the way most folks are on here. and the ones that are not as inclined mechanically know it and know their limitations and know how to get things done with the help of others or writing a bigger check.

i have watched clarke go from being somewhat intimidated to do much of anything on his coach to doing everything from engine work to system work himself.

well, it is a long epistle. take it for what it is worth.......1-2 cents as wally would say

happy 5th saturday

tom

2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608  Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH

Very well said guys,
My situation is a bit different. I bought my Newell and am changing 80% of the interior. In the past month I have rebuilt the electric step, reworked one of the A/C condensers, and am almost finished with the new cabinet to be installed above the sink. I enjoy the challenge of these projects and strive to build it using the same methods that were used in the original construction even though I have limited tooling available to me.


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1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.

dean. are you going to laminate the curved panel while it is installed or take it out?

tom

2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608  Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH

I was just testing the fit. It has been in and out 10 times!!!I'm pleased that it fits tight enough that it will stay in place temporarily with out screws. After this photo was taken I removed it and added some inside bracing. I also added a concealed paper towel holder and coffee cup shelves with felt covered separators. I'm hoping to cover it with laminate tomorrow. I will then cover the portions of the coach wall and ceiling with felt before reinstalling the cabinet.

1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.

what are you going to use as backsplash. i really like the look of the glass mosaics

tom

2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608  Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH

Im planning on a split-face natural stone tile. I like the glass as well and it would add some needed sparkle but We couldn't find a color that seemed right to us. The split-face tile looks good if I can get it lit properly so that the texture shows up. And it doesn't require grout!!!

1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.

Thank you all for your input,

Richard said: “If you own one, you will work on it. The attitude in which you approach the work is the key to enjoying the ownership.”
I have no doubt that is exactly right and it goes to attitude and pride! If you own a Newell and don’t take pride in it, it may be lobotomy time or shock treatment! Smile

Encantotom said: “when i do things myself the rule is simple. that is that i usually have no idea how long it will take and the engineer in me will make it take 3x as long as it probably should take and sometimes longer. but i do know it is done right when i am done.”
That has to be a huge piece of mind with all the things to keep up with in a motorhome. Knowing “its been done right” would be a big deal!

Encantotom siad: “buying a high end coach is a leap of faith no matter what vintage. buying a 30 year old one like clarkes is a leap of faith. buying a new one is a different leap of faith. and in between is as well. you can buy one that has been well taken care of and still have problems. but one thing is certain, you will have problems. the trick is how you handle those.”

I know that's right, you can check out as much as you can check out but stuff happens... If I buy a motorhome thinking "I'll just jump in and go" that would not be a reasonable expectation would it? I hope I can get a couple months of travel before anything major hits.

I was planning to take Richard with me but he was quick to tell me he doesn't like basement apartments! Shy

Thanks guys,

Harry

I've always said...........Take an old house and an old truck and combine them and you have an old motorhome...

1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.

Keep about 25-30K cash reserve just in case. You should be able to handle any surprises that come along.

ccJohnson said: "Keep about 25-30K cash reserve just in case. You should be able to handle any surprises that come along."
I'm reminded of some years ago when I joined a health-club and got a call from them saying "Put on some loose fitting clothes and come on down" and I said if I had some loose fitting clothes I wouldn't need your health-club"! Wink Only 25 - 30K? Tongue
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