LUeno
Southwest
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Joined: 07/13/2006
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Rigs is a 97' Fleetwood American Eagle 40' DP. Go to my Profile to see the rig.
I am doing the complete service for my peace of mind and adding the ounce of preventative measure.
Captain: Pops
Ist Mate: Harlee "Vicious Attack Dog" only if you try to move her when she's sleeping...
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Cliff_Michele
Seattle, WA
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Joined: 10/16/2003
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J Walker wrote:External equipment like alternators, water pump, radiator, or radiator fan can be expected to need replacement before the engine overhaul.
Jim nailed it. If a diesel has clean fuel, clean air, cooled properly, and oil changed on a strict schedule it will last a very very long time. Short change one of these and get out the checkbook.
"If you think you can when you can't, you just might!"
No RV yet but getting closer! We are too old for this tent stuff!
Cliff and Michele (Humans)
Toby and Bailey (Bichons)
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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SCA (Supplemental Cooling Additive) is unique to HD diesels. Do not neglect it.
Test strips are available for abut $1 each. Takes 2 minutes to check.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Lance that is a nice rig and it sounds like you plan to keep it that way.
Clearly from many post the diesel engine for many add to the experience of MH ownership. While we have an old gas 454 that does us fine we do not put many miles on it.
The 500K engine life for a diesel is a non issue in a motor home chassis because few after years go over 100K in a life time and even fewer cross over 200K when used as private non working rigs.
The upkeep and cost of potential repairs in the older DP is a concern to me IF the service history is poor or not known. Personally I think the DP chassis that sees 4K miles a year vs 20K a year will have more issues due to lack of use. Diesels will work 24/7 for a long time if worked and serviced well. Gas engines are not as good as moving a huge rig and towing a huge trailer or toad but can an edge for the family with an older rig that runs out to the area lakes most weekends that are an hour or two away during the warmer months. Each engine type has advantages.
Older DP rigs are so attractive in my view due to the quality of coach itself.
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LUeno
Southwest
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Joined: 07/13/2006
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Thanks Gale, when I got the rig I new it would need some TLC. As I am repairing items in the rig that need attention, I have in my mind that I am living and working in a older, some day a classic rig (like an older yacht).
May be one day I'll earn the right to place an emblem like the "Gorneki"s did (I don't know if I spelled the name right) on their rig....LOL.
I was made aware in American Eagle Yahoo group about the exhaust bolts and it seems to have had the updated locks installed that will keep the bolt from backing out.
Wishing you the best, and as always a safe and happy journeys while on the road!
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belfert
Shoreview, MN, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2004
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PapPappy wrote:You will see Semi's with diesels that have that 300,000+ miles on them, but those guys take care of their equipment...it's their paycheck!!
300,000 miles on a semi is practically new. A good over the road driver can easily rack up 300,000 miles in two years or less. Semis are routinely driven to 750,000 miles or more.
My friend sold his semi tractor with over 1 million miles on it and the engine had never been overhauled. His was a 2000 model sold in Nov 2007. It averaged somewhere over 100,000 miles a year.
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Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
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Joined: 06/08/2001
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Satisfactory propulsion for my big rig, and rear-engine placement, those are the reasons there's a 1050 lbs/ft Cummins in my motorhome. The trademark ruggedness and longevity of diesel engines will go wasted, as I will not drive it more than 60k miles total. Yes, I can believe that the basic engine will go 500K miles. But, all it means to me is that I'm paying for a feature I will never use. It's a luxury, that's all.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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You also need to remember that the 'usage profile' of a diesel in an RV is different from one in a Semi. The big rig is on the road for 20 hours a day, every day. The RV is driven 200 miles and then sits for a week or more and then get's driven back.
Like airplanes, the stress is in the takeoff and landing, not the 'getting there'.
So the benefits of a diesel engine in an RV are pure 'driveability' and nothing to do with longevity.
RV Park Finder
Fulltimers
2002 Beaver Santiam 38DST + Banks + 99 Jeep GC
DH,DW,Jake and Indie
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Sully2
Cincinnati
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
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Gale Hawkins wrote:
The upkeep and cost of potential repairs in the older DP is a concern to me IF the service history is poor or not known. Personally I think the DP chassis that sees 4K miles a year vs 20K a year will have more issues due to lack of use. Diesels will work 24/7 for a long time if worked and serviced well. Gas engines are not as good as moving a huge rig and towing a huge trailer or toad but can an edge for the family with an older rig that runs out to the area lakes most weekends that are an hour or two away during the warmer months. Each engine type has advantages.
Older DP rigs are so attractive in my view due to the quality of coach itself.
I hear that lack of use means its falling apart all the time..and I dont believe it!
If you use your stick home 6 months a year and travel in the MoHo 6 months a year...is your stick home going to "fall apart"?
EVERYTHING requires "maintainence"...whether its the back yard birdfeeders or the engine oil in the MoHo.
Letting your stick home sit..UNATTENDED...totally ignored WILL cause some sort of failure....just as the coach will...but either that is properly MAINTAINED...notice I didnt say USED...will last a person MORE than 1 lifetime.
Buying a used coach..with perfect service records...that has run "Brand X filters" and "Joes Best" ( trash) engine oil...nope..I'll take one that was fully serviced 5 years ago using the very best materials and has set!
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Not being a DP owner (did own one diesel tractor that was a wonderful experience that I would like to repeat some day) I tend to see the higher cost of diesel ownership as a negative in our case. My dream coach (still have the folder from 1996) is 1996 40 foot Blue Bird DP. The steel and the interior in the photos are out of this world. Will I ever own one now is another thing. I like our 32' 454 for low cost operation and the ability to park in most any where and turn around on a dime.
Today helping enable people to learn how to feed and heal themselves is more important to me then my toys. We have just started working with LWI out of Stamford TX to assist in providing clean drinking water for mothers and their children and for household use.
However with that being said I can see one day the 1996 Blue Bird that matches the 1996 brochure I requested by phone turning up in my life and the need of it to justify the associated costs.
The huge potential downside for a DP is the cost should key components fail. Some many are purchased by those will out understanding of the nature of the beast and service them like a car (when they drop). That is why some many of you preach "see the service records" before buying used.
With our 454 P30 there are few parts that I can't purchase at 6 PM on a Saturday evening in most any town in the US. A DP bus conversion that is 40 years old can be reconditioned like new and last another 20 years with little maintenance. Gas vs Diesel really boils down to needs and desires.
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