Mileage on used coaches question... - RV-Dreams Community Forum

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mileage on used coaches question...

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mileage not as important as maintenance...........good service and records are more important than starting it and running it

everything needs exercise but I have bought a few that nothing was done with low mileage and they were the biggest headaches I ever had......bought a few that were taken care of with over a 100k on the odometer and ran like the day they were new!!!

I do a full inspection once a year needed or not.....brakes ,calipers , seals and the not so normals.......fluids once a year minimum.........grease on 60 day intervals......battery checks on 30 day intervals with misc.......no problems

depends on the care!! not the coach

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike, I was thinking of that point as I wrote up the post but it was so obvious that I failed to include it. Thanks for making it clear. So let's say the maintenance is up to snuff, do you feel that the mileage or lack thereof would not be an issue for a well maintained but under-utilized coach. It occurs to me that coaches that sit around would not be maintained properly as you say, thus at least getting some "exercise" could mitigate some of the potential issues.

ticat900 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Interesting statement ***coaches that sit around would not be maintained properly *** just exactly what do you mean by that statement?

Are you saying even though the unit is not moving you still think or believe that one still grease it and change oils and filter etc. change fluids and belts and hoses and the lot?

My DPAB is a 2008 24000 miles sits 6 months in one spot lived in and 6 months open storage pluged in fridge off
I grease it once a year and change the oil and filter every 3 years its in perfect condition tires starting to age out though

I do not subscribe to any theory that a diesel has to be driven constantly otherwise it will deteriate its just not true

-- Edited by ticat900 on Friday 19th of February 2016 10:17:40 AM

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Its going to depend on environment and type.......each has its own quirks.......belts seals dry up in higher heat places.......calipers rust up in humidity places.......ice is a big issue in cold places .....so this is gonna go in 9 directions before its done!!

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

ticat900, note I said "would not" and not "are not" being maintained. I was referring used rigs for sale with low miles on them and the higher probability that they have been just sitting there.... From a caveat emptor perspective..... Some people will maintain their rigs even when sitting there and then again some will not. Nobody suggested that it had to be driven constantly either.

Again I'm searching for knowledge and or experience to fill in my own knowledge gaps. I have no idea if it's even an issue thus the question. How do I learn without asking? I'll put you down as this not an issue when the coach is properly maintained and leave it at that.

-- Edited by BiggarView on Friday 19th of February 2016 12:15:25 PM

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

My 1999 Fleetwood American Dream only had 60,000 miles on it when I bought it. Real nice shape..............But.......The Allison MD3060 tranny had a failure shortly after I got it. After pulling and going through the tranny it was found one(1) failed lip seal. The rest of the tranny internals looked like new. This definitely was from sitting and hot climate. That's the thing with sitting for long periods in hot climate.....you can have the internals of motor/tranny become dried up at the top end especially along with failing seals/gaskets.

ticat900 · RV-Dreams Family Member

"would not" and "are not" in the context as I see presented here are one and the same

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

ticat900 wrote:
"would not" and "are not" in the context as I see presented here are one and the same

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

When the Life on Wheels Conference was going, Steve Savage, an RV tech - http://rvsteve.com, would give seminars and discussed this issue. His rule of thumb was at least 4000/4500 miles a year of usage on an RV. Below that and it was not getting used enough, which caused all manner of issues. His website does not show this exact information, which I heard around 2002/2003, but I have heard similar mileage numbers from others.

rodeojoe · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with a previous post here that maintenance is far more important than mileage. Take your time to find an RV in very good shape inside and out that has been well maintained. It will reduce the risk of breakdowns and expensive repairs down the road.