[Dtravis]

So I’m considering a used Newell and confused as to why the high annual expected maintenance costs. I’ve read the suggested posts on this subject but still haven’t read other owner’s explanations to justify the significant annual costs if they’re built so well with redundancy and craftmanship etc.? Yes, they’re complex machines but even lower quality competitors don’t seem to require this much expense. Apologies in advance for my ignorance but I would really like to know and justify a purchase. I like to study, learn and fix things but don’t want to spend money unwisely. Dtravis, thank you!

[HoosierDaddy]

When I was considering my first MH purchase safety was my main concern. The structural and drivetrain integrity of commercial buses and Newell were the best IMO.
Newell tends to be on the “leading edge” of available technology. Canbus wiring would be an example .
Slide out components seal better but are more complex.
Compare an Aquahot system with a simple LP furnace installed in most production RVs.
Air operated doors etc. offer a luxury experience but must be maintained.
Generally production RVs are built to a price point which can yield cost cutting in areas that are not initially apparent.
My Newell is 30 years old. It is very solid and utilizes technology that I can repair at an affordable cost.

[Richard]

If you can provide a bit more context, then the forum can provide better answers. For example, you could be talking about a 2024 coach or a 1984 coach. Obviously the answers would be different. So what years are you researching?

We have very few members here with modern era coaches, so the benchmark 20k first year 10 per year afterwards is centered around 90s and 2000 ish era coaches.

Also, tell us more about you and your mechanical electrical comfort levels. The maintenance price over doubles if you are paying someone else to do the work.

Have you ever owned an airplane or high end boat? Those are good analogies.

We await your guidance narrowing down the subject.

[Dtravis]

Thank you for your responses. My abilities are limited compared to those I read about in these posts. I do not own a high end boat or airplane so maybe I’m just out of my league but do enjoy work, learning and projects. I thought maybe a 10 year old (ish) Newell might be a compromise between my modest earnest abilities and the demands of older Newells. I currently own an Airstream Classic. Funny right? I think I’m “out of my league”. Thank you, Dtravis

[HoosierDaddy]

Dtravis... I love Airstream. We started tent camping 40 years ago. Then on to an OLD 17' trailer with no plumbing, then a 24' trailer with no plumbing, ( they had froze up and burst pipes) . Finally saved up enough to buy a nice 30' Wilderness trailer. Then on to a 1978 35' Newell (pic in my signature}. We are currently enjoying our 1993 Newell. I find it therapeutic to work on the old coach.
You are wise to do the research that you are doing. Enjoy your Airstream. They are great!

[Jack Houpe]

A ten year old coach is considered a late model coach in my opinion but there are a few here that can help you with any questions. One positive note is the valid slides over HWH.

We all started with something and Airstream is an excellent choice.

[Richard]

Your answers are helpful.

Let’s start with some concepts. One, the Newell is closer to the space shuttle than an Honda Accord. Meaning the redundant systems and the leading/bleeding edge technologies used when the coach was constructed require more TLC than the car which had a gazillion reliability engineers perfecting the design over 20 years. When maintenance is required, let’s say a water pump replacement, it’s a 5000 to 7000 amount on the Newell vs 1000 for the Honda. The engineering that goes into the high end coach is more focused on features than reliability. That’s not saying reliability is ignored, just not emphasized. Let me illustrate. If want a reliable door, you install one on hinges with a manual key lock. If you want a fancy door with much more maintenance you install a Bode air operated door with keyless entry. Not only does the air door require some maintenance on the air solenoids and switches which cause it to operate, but it also puts more hours on the on board air compressors.

Concept two, is that high end appliances such as a SubZero refrigerator are more reliable than the basic econo fridge at Lowe’s. In my experience the opposite is true.

Concept three, is that because it was the best of the best when constructed it will require less cost to maintain over the long haul. I learned that the hard way that wasn’t true when owning a BMW 700 series automobile. I spent thousands keeping that car healthy. I put a battery in my kid’s Accord.

Concept four is that the interior is to your liking. Many, many, many owners change out the contact fabrics and colors to suit their tastes. It’s not inexpensive.

With a ten year old coach, you will be approaching the window where new air bags, new shocks, possibly new suspension components, new radiator and or charge air cooler could be on the repair agenda. Also you could be looking at slide seals at 10 yrs. Others may have better numbers but I will guesstimate the cost of those repairs. Air bag 400 plus 500 install plus there are 8 of them. Radiator 8k plus 5 k install. I think Newell is getting about 4k each to replace a slide seal these days. A ten yr old coach will have four roof airs that may be approaching replacement time. It’s not the mileage that impacts the support systems, it is time. We haven’t invented rubbers yet that withstand time. At least with roof air, you can pop a new one on the roof pretty easily. Getting someone to work on the basement airs is a whole nother problem.

A lot of owners take their coach to Miami each year for an annual service. I don’t know exactly what that amount is for changing all the filters and fluids but I estimate it is now over 5K. That doesn’t include any other issues you want to address.

Of course there are tires and batteries that generally are replaced at fivish year intervals. The tires now run 1200 to 1500 each. There are six 8D batteries at 700 each. An ugly truth is that most coach owners stop pouring money into the coach when they start thinking about selling. Meaning a lot of coaches you will look at have deferred maintenance. Many buyers are looking at the drive off price and not the real price of the first year. For example, if an owner prices a well documented and mechanically pristine coach 50k higher than a buffed and fluffed run of the mill coach at the consignment lot, which one gets the buyers attention. My advice is to do your research carefully. Seek out coaches where you can converse with the owner. Learn what and when items were addressed on the coach.

And contemplating spending that kind of money warrants that you read every thread in the what to consider in buying a used Newell section of this forum.

And finally don’t drink the Kool Aid. Higher end coaches mean higher end problems. This is from a guy who does all his own work who has owned Newells for 20 years, and now is running a Prevost. Go visit the Newmar forums and read about London Aires and Essex maintenance costs. Go to the Entegra forums and read about their high end coach maintenance issues.

I am not trying to dissuade you. I was trying to answer your questions with details. I may be off on my prices since I did all those things I mentioned but I used my own labor. And finally I will provide my own data which is not guesstimated. I owned a late 90s two slide coach for ten years. I paid 135K for the coach, over the ten years of ownership I put 125k into maintenance and remodeling the interior so says the CFO who tracks every expenditure on Quicken. I did all the work except replacing a salon slide seal at Newell. Other owners may have different data. This is my .02 and worth exactly what you paid for it.

[RobSC]

My coach is 10 years old and has around 105,000 miles on it.  Excluding tires and batteries, I would put the annual cost somewhere around $5,000.  And honestly, I have been under that every year since I bought it used 5 years ago.  I do most of the work myself and someone on here can usually help with almost any problem you have.  A 10 year old coach should not have any need for major suspension work or big ticket items like that.  Small air leaks, switch panels, water pumps, and PM have been what I've seen in five years.

If you can swing it and get to a 8 year old or newer coach, Newell will have those for sale with a full 2 year warranty.  You will pay more obviously, but will be covered for the next two years.

[Dtravis]

Sincere thanks to everyone for your great answers. They were very helpful and enjoyable to read. It’s an impressive able community that obviously wants to help each other. Thanks again. Dtravis

[Richard]

I am happy that Rob replied. His answer is closer to the year model coaches you are considering. My numbers included many many upgrades, and two reupholster projects over the 10 years we had the coach. I put almost 200k miles on the coach. We traveled 6 months of the year. I had the approach when repairing or upgrading something that overkill was just right. I had rather work on it at home, than the middle of Wyoming. I add that to hopefully put my number in perspective.