Question Class A maintenance - self or no?

[turbopilot]

I just sold my New Aire but during 4 years of ownership I did all the coach maintenance. It had never been to a dealer for coach maintenance. I made some trips to FreightLiner for chassis maintenance but it was such an awful experience I began using mobile lube services for the chassis.

 

[FLSteve]

I have always had Freightliner chassis' and tried to get them up to Gaffney for all the annual services. I really like that place. I normally take care of all the generator service work myself here at the house and have even done chassis engine oil and filter changes on several occasions when I could not make Gaffney work in time. Now that I am getting a Spartan chassis I have not figured out where to get the annual service work done as it's a long way up to the Starting service center but may still try and do that and just work it in on trips if possible. If not, maybe get it back to NIRVC Atlanta where I am buying the coach. I only live 10 minutes from NorthTrail RV but don't see them real excited for me to bring in an NIRVC bought coach for service work even though I have bought all my previous coaches from them.

FLSteve

 

[MapNerd]

I just had chassis service done at NIRVC Atlanta. The only problem I had was that there were so many coaches there that the place was overflowing. The overnight service spots only have electric hookups which wasn’t a big deal, but our service took almost a week to complete as we had some other issues addressed as well. I was quite surprised by how small the place was. I was expecting it to be the size of a Carmax, it was half that.

 

[FL-JOE]

When we had our Newmar I went to Freightliner/Cummins service center for all oil and fuel filter maintenance. I did most of the other stuff. Prior to that we had a gas Class A and I did everything on that, including the oil changes.

 

[Neemer]

I just had chassis service done at NIRVC Atlanta. The only problem I had was that there were so many coaches there that the place was overflowing. The overnight service spots only have electric hookups which wasn’t a big deal, but our service took almost a week to complete as we had some other issues addressed as well. I was quite surprised by how small the place was. I was expecting it to be the size of a Carmax, it was half that.

@MapNerd, how did you find their pricing on annual service items? I was looking at a NIRVC pricing schedule someone posted a while ago and it appeared to me their pricing for annual service was pretty steep compared to Freightliner’s.

 

[High Desert]

I did bulk of maintenance on the Tiffin gasser we had. Just got a DP on a Freightliner chassis, so am going through the learning curve now. Plan to do the oil changes and fuel filter changes myself. After that will visit local Freightliner shop and learn from them, and what else I can also do myself. Generator service is easy enough to do on the DP also With the 8K diesel.

 

[FLSteve]

I just had chassis service done at NIRVC Atlanta. The only problem I had was that there were so many coaches there that the place was overflowing. The overnight service spots only have electric hookups which wasn’t a big deal, but our service took almost a week to complete as we had some other issues addressed as well. I was quite surprised by how small the place was. I was expecting it to be the size of a Carmax, it was half that.

@MapNerd ... when we stopped by on Labor Day to finalize the order for our new coach, I also noticed how busy the place was. There was constantly activity and coaches always being moved around. They really had them packed in. We did stay overnight and they gave us a full hook-up site under the covered parking area ... but I am sure that may change when we go there for service as we won't be ordering a new coach.

FLSteve

 

[MapNerd]

@MapNerd, how did you find their pricing on annual service items? I was looking at a NIRVC pricing schedule someone posted a while ago and it appeared to me their pricing for annual service was pretty steep compared to Freightliner’s.

I just emailed and asked. Compared to Gaffney, it is steep. I just couldn’t get into Gaffney after having to cancel my previous appt.

 

[FL-JOE]

I used to spend anywhere from $750 to $1,000 for the annual service on my Newmar 4360 at a Freightliner/Cummins service center. It depended on if I was having the generator done, or maybe the air filter was due, etc. From everything I read Gafney charged at least double that.

 

["EZ"]

I do my own service 90% of the time. I'm usually happy with the job done and it costs a lot less. It's a win win for me.

 

[FLSteve]

@MapNerd, how did you find their pricing on annual service items? I was looking at a NIRVC pricing schedule someone posted a while ago and it appeared to me their pricing for annual service was pretty steep compared to Freightliner’s.

@Neemer ... I just had the 30,000 mile / 24 month annual service done in September on a 2019 Dutch Star 4018 in Gaffney and the bill was $958.39. Just a FYI.

FLSteve

 

[scottwilliam174]

We did most of our own maintenance and repairs during the 18 years of owning our coach. I think our Teardrop trailer we have on order will be easier to maintain. And the tow vehicle is electric so not much to do on it. Washer fluid etc. .

I noticed that this post is from last year but seems to fit me perfectly. I am in the market right now for a teardrop trailer and will be towing with an electric vehicle. I will be towing with a 2022 Tesla Model 3 LR. I’m hoping to get some information on how much it effects the range and on which teardrop trailer you decided on.

Thanks,
Bill S.

 

[Gizmo]

In my younger years, I did all my oil changes to save money now I bring to Freightliner to do the yearly service. They do some re-torques and check several magnetic plugs and lube the chassis. I also have them do a full safety inspection which gives me peace of mind that my coach gets inspected by someone that knows what they are doing. It runs me 860.00 a year for the service.

 

[Rustymayes]

I will do as much as reasonably can. I just hate having to rely on "professionals". I was in the aircraft repair business my whole career and saw so many customers come to me to correct issues where they really got a good screwing. It really did erode my confidence in humans. Now I teach aircraft MX and alot of what I preach is how to make sure the customer's interests need to be put first not our own. I just got back into the RV thing and on my 2022 4081 DS I already have corrected three issues on my own that had I been just a check writer, I probably would have not had access to the use of my coach for at least three weeks. I feel for those of us that do not have the resources or the acumen to do our own work and have to rely on "the Guy" to do everything for us.
If I did not do my own work I would not own an RV of this caliber. I do have to say as I get older it take more time and effort to do what came easily yesteryear for sure! I was exhausted early yesterday after replacing the thermostat on the Cummins 450RV!

 

[AbdRahim]

I used to change oil and filter, once a year before putting it away for the winter and take to a shop for them to do oil, filters, generator and lube.

With the high cost of labor on a class A, waiting time and only changing oil once a year, now, I am considering doing the oil, oil filter,air filter, and generator service myself, and just having the shop di the chassis lube, grease the wheel bearings, etc.

I did change the regular headlights to led. I did not do the brights yet.