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Open Roads Forum  >  Class C Motorhomes

 > Repair issues, best choice for fulltime on fixed budget?

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sunlight

Durham,N.C.

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Posted: 04/22/12 03:28pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have a nice 92 Toyota motorhome that for the first two years gave me no trouble. It started motoring sort of rough and I also wanted prep for long trip so I said do the timing belt and all new belts. Ever since I have had 3 mechanics mess with it and it seems to have 3 new issues. I have to look long term in terms of my budget and would like to fulltime RVing. Would I be better off pulling a trailer to avoid difficult repair issues? I really would not mind having a used short class A but probably would have similar repair issues. Funny, I was told the Toyota was so good an engine and anyone could repair it. Doug

MudChucker

Niverville Manitoba

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Posted: 04/22/12 03:44pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

What are the issues and what are the costs ?

If you like the unit the repairs will likley not cost you as much as another unit will, for me, I draw the he at carbureted and would move into a new technology.


2005 PILGRIM 274RL 5SS
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT 6.0


past-MIdirector

Michigan

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Online
Posted: 04/22/12 03:45pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Those Toyota's campers were overloaded before they left the factory and yours is now 20 years old. Friends had one and replace the head and a year later the whole engine which they said never ran right again. You would have less problems from a small A which is built with a frame and engine for the weight.





Wills250psd

walnutcove NC

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Posted: 04/22/12 03:50pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

what are the issues?

ScottG

Bothell Wa.

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Posted: 04/22/12 05:07pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

What ever you tow the trailer with is going to have repair issues too.


Scott, Grace and Wesly
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sunlight

Durham,N.C.

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Posted: 04/23/12 04:21pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The Toy seemed to have some sort of tune up issue but the main thing was I wanted it prepared for big trip with timing belt and all new belts. It came out with new queer transmission shifts and the idle was not right. Finally I took it to another town where the guy was supposedly " the best in the state". It came out with sort of a queer belt noise and the idle still seemed high. I did not take it back to him because he had sort of a testy personality and taking it over there involved me renting a car.( The first mech. I had taken it back to twice and he just did not get it right) Had been in mechanics for 50 years. Thirdly had a mobile mech. come out and he came up with some new issue which was unrelated to anything. He did a diagnosis no repair. Finally I took it to the dealer he agreed there was sort of a belt noise and suggests its the idler pulley and bearing, another $500 like doing the timing belt. I want to verify this with another tech before having that done. I also complained seemed low power he reset the dist. timing saying it was wrong. If felt normal power for one day then acted like it needed a tune-up the next day. Two mech. confirmed the cam timing was right but 3 have played with the dist. timing. With all 3 mech. I am getting some sort of tran shift around 55 or 60 on this 3 speed 6 cylinder and never had any high shifts before all this timing belt work. I don't mind paying the fee if someone will fix it right and honestly. Doug

sunlight

Durham,N.C.

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Posted: 04/23/12 04:25pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Joseph, this guy seemed to handle nicely inspite of the weight and I did like it. It had the recalled head gasket done early and has only 27K miles on it. I agree with the physics, and had an 85 WinnChief 23ft. some years ago. I like this because at 21 feet I can drive it around town and get in small restricted camp areas. Thanks Doug

sunlight

Durham,N.C.

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Posted: 04/23/12 04:28pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Scott, not only would tow vehicle have repair issues but I would have to add another vehicle to my ownership. There are some honest good shops that just will not take my small motorhome. I was thinking with a tow vehicle i could take that to them. My tow vehicle would have to be gas efficient enough to be my only vehicle and to be able to tow perhaps a 19-22 ft. trailer of some sort. Doug

sunlight

Durham,N.C.

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Posted: 04/23/12 05:01pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

After getting a second opinion on the idler pulley bearing issue( $500) I am going back to the Master Mech. at Toyota, if that diagnosis is confirmed and ask him 1) about the late tran. shifts, the temporary nature of the low power fix and whether they are looking to cultivate a long term customer or not as I am going to be wise to money spent where problems are not fixed or new problems appear after visits. Also I am going to consult with my honest tran. guy, who evaluated my Toy as having a normal trasmission 6 months ago as to these high shifts after the timing belt work. I have a confidence problem after all these failures. If everyone repaired these units would not be a problem because I know of 3 honest repair shops and they either cannot fit it in their bay or don't want to work on the older unit. Doug

TyroneandGladys

Chandler AZ

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Posted: 04/23/12 06:57pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

"don't want to work on the older unit" also they might not know how to work on an older unit. We take our 1984 El Camino to a very large Chevy dealer and they only have ONE tech that works on the older stuff.


Tyrone & Gladys
26" 1986 Coachmen


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