07-29-2014, 07:00 PM
This tread has been a very interesting read. But I'm curious about a different aspect of the OP's question.
Let's say the coach your considering has been lovingly maintained...sporting new tires & batteries, carrying a pedigree of yearly (expensive) visits to Newell. But it's now 10 years old and close to 100k in miles. I know the Detroit Diesel Super 60 engines are just at the "really broken in" stage and good for a lot more miles...but it's now a 10 year old house. What are the items you really need to take a hard look at for repair/replacement, and what sort of budget do you need to sock away?
For instance, the current owner just spent $$$ upgrading all the AV equipment. What's the useful life of the overhead A/C? How long would an Amana residential fridge last (and how would you ever get one in to replace it?)? Do AquaHots just get replacement parts, or is there a point that you install a new one? Does the air system last forever on just regular maintenance? I'm not worried about "non-essential" items (though a power shade failure wouldn't be inexpensive), but I am trying to figure out what could stop it dead in it's tracks or make it very uncomfortable or unsafe if that item fails (loss of AC in Tucson, or heat during the winters up north).
I was reading somewhere here about the replacement of a "six-pack" that had to do with leveling (I think). Is replacing something like that done every X years or every XX miles?
Let's say the coach your considering has been lovingly maintained...sporting new tires & batteries, carrying a pedigree of yearly (expensive) visits to Newell. But it's now 10 years old and close to 100k in miles. I know the Detroit Diesel Super 60 engines are just at the "really broken in" stage and good for a lot more miles...but it's now a 10 year old house. What are the items you really need to take a hard look at for repair/replacement, and what sort of budget do you need to sock away?
For instance, the current owner just spent $$$ upgrading all the AV equipment. What's the useful life of the overhead A/C? How long would an Amana residential fridge last (and how would you ever get one in to replace it?)? Do AquaHots just get replacement parts, or is there a point that you install a new one? Does the air system last forever on just regular maintenance? I'm not worried about "non-essential" items (though a power shade failure wouldn't be inexpensive), but I am trying to figure out what could stop it dead in it's tracks or make it very uncomfortable or unsafe if that item fails (loss of AC in Tucson, or heat during the winters up north).
I was reading somewhere here about the replacement of a "six-pack" that had to do with leveling (I think). Is replacing something like that done every X years or every XX miles?
Mark of SJC