What To Consider When Buying A Diesel RV or Motorhome?

[@soillife1]

I spent $9,300. Last month. $3,900 was a new Dometic rv fridge. The one I replaced worked flawlessly for 18 years. Not bad. Last year I spent $2,300. The 2 years before, - 0 - But, I have never been towed in 50 years of driving . Great video. Service Service Service My theory No extended warranty ever. Spend the $$$s on preventive services Enjoy.

[@doncoomer1859]

Very informative

[@bolgerguide]

So true. Preventive maintenance goes a long way and it's cheaper in the long run.

[@Mike-01234]

I rather have a gas engine any day lot easier to fix good Chevy LS engine work great cheap and easy to fix most parts can be found at AutoZone.

[@adriannurse1502]

We bought our diesel RV used and saved the 70%. A oil change for us runs $425. New tires are $6,000. Owning a 42' diesel RV is not free, but ours runs great and it is a fabulous way to travel.

[@kellykelly2938]

I’m wondering how frequently does your RV need an oil change?

[@texaskenny2]

@@kellykelly2938 I have no idea about an RV but as a semi-truck owner, you can usually go 12k to 15k miles between services. I have been researching used RV's and most of the ones I have seen in the 42' to 45' range have Cummins ISX motors in them, which is what is also in my truck. An oil change usually runs around $350. This includes all the fluid filters (oil, fuel, etc.). As far as service, there are Cummins RV service centers in 35 of our 50 states and most states have more than one. Also bear in mind most of the generators I have seen in this size RV are Onan brand, which is also manufactured by Cummins. I have no idea of the service interval on these but I would expect to get it done at the same time you service the engine. Refer to the Cummins website for more answers ( cummins.com/coach-care )

[@raven7068]

@@texaskenny2 About a year ago I bought me a 2002 Holiday Rambler Ambassador Cummins 8.3 I love it mine does hold about 12 gallons of oil though, I normally change my car oil about every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. I haven't checked yet when I have to change this motorhome oil though. But so far knock on wood the engine is phenomenal and Allison Transmission as well, I put a fass fuel pump on it. It will help my vp44 injection pump from burning out getting air locked and I put a fuel additive called XP3. I don't know what got me to good miles per gallon, the fuel additive or the fass fuel pump but on the freeway holding about 65 miles per hour I got 9.5 miles per gallon I was pretty impressed.

[@philz7462]

What the hell kind of tires did you buy for $6k. You can get all eight Michelin for like $4700

[@midnight4109]

@@kellykelly2938 It depends on how much driving you do. Once a year or so will generally do it, unless you're going 10k or more.

[@jws2]

I like what you are doing! My wife and I have a 45' Monaco with a Cummins ISX (600hp). Owning a motorhome and using it like most people dream of is relatively expensive! We like to travel about 6 months a year. When you average out our monthly cost to enjoy our coach it cost us about $3k to $4k a month. I have a few European sports cars and I am a pilot that owns a airplane. When I speak with people about owning these items I try to instill that purchasing these toys is the cheap part. When it comes to any motorized equipment the maintenance will kill you unless you really can afford the item or items you want to purchase. I love this young man for making this video. I wish it would go viral in the RV world!!!

[@rudygrajeda1510]

Yep I always plan on spending $1000.00 per week of trip in my Safari Sahara. Must be nice with that ISX. I used to work on them, great engines. You got double the horse power that I have but I can still pass all the big rigs on the grades with my Cat 3126.

[@Mike-01234]

This is lot like owning an airplane where cost of ownership is lot higher than most realize.

[@brockhitt5461]

Keep in mind,this guy knows his shit no doubt....always very knowledgeable,note to self most mechanics are crooks,something tells me this man has extremely loyal customers

[@mmereday272]

Nice

[@ericsalinas98]

This guy is the best I'm a heavy duty apprentice and this guy helps a lot I hope to be like this soon

[@bobsethbroc]

You are so knowledgeable I could listen to you for days.

[@theflyinhawaiiantravels354]

Of course!! He's a mechanic!!!! He better be!!

[@JasonTAho]

This just in, RV sales dropped 47% after this video

[@sumego4180]

I think that sales are as good as ever-

[@basementracer]

Anyone that buys off on this video is uneducated in diesel engines. RV sales will do just fine.

[@electric7487]

@@basementracer It's a joke

[@gadgetsage]

Thanks for making it easier to get a good price on a dp. 😉

[@scarter176]

Diesel pushers are not unlike any other equipment. Take care of it and most times it will take care of you.

[@daytonkeyes84]

Year-and-a-half ago I bought a 1999 American Eagle EVS40 diesel pusher. It had been gone through top to bottom and everything replaced inside and out. I drove it from Texas to Illinois with no problems. And now I'm selling it. Not because of problems, but because of a change in my work schedule, extra duties, I had not anticipated. Vacation time is almost impossible to take now. I think these videos are good for anyone to watch to anticipate the unforeseen upkeep problems of dealing with these type of vehicles. But I would also encourage anyone thinking of purchasing one to anticipate possible changes in your personal life that could affect owning one as well. I would also add I purchased mine from an individual rather than a dealer as I felt I might get a more honest representation of what was wrong with the vehicle and a better idea of the history of it. The gentleman I bought it from was quite honest. Do your background on anybody you're thinking of buying from whether an individual or business.

[@Mike-01234]

Your actually typical of any American I can replace that motorhome with a boat, Airplane, vacation home, Cabin, and lot of other things people buy and never use. I know someone who has a Cessna 310 twin engine airplane he flies it 5-8 times a year which is actually dangerous IMO I won't even fly with him.

[@mikemayfield7716]

Love my Monaco executive with M11 450 Cummins 650,000 miles still running strong. 12 gallons of oil in the engine and 12 in the world 4000 trans . Don't care because I can go up the hills as fast as I can go down . 11\22 5s with nitrogen keeps them cool . Cover your tires when parked keep them shaded and they last a long time .never broke down yet. I drive from California to Louisiana many times a year running 75 to 80 miles an HR through Texas. Love it

[@adriannurse1502]

We have a 2006 42' Monaco Dynasty. 😊

[@Xaforn]

Cummins engines are amazing, my dads truck is 20+ years and the engine is going to outlive the body lol.

[@tingokuman]

Monaco's are great coaches especially when used regularly. I think this guy is referring to the casual user that lets his rv rot on the side of his house.

[@rudygrajeda1510]

That M11 is one of my favorite engines.

[@Mike-01234]

Sounds like you actually drive the thing frequently. Most Americans go out buy the biggest they can get for 2 people go on 2-3 vacations get bored park it. The thing sits for 90% of the year maybe they take it a few more times and move on to other things in life. By the 5-8 year of ownership it's been sitting 2-3 years at a time and is never even started up batteries are dead. They sell it at a much reduced price because it's 10 years old new owner buys it drives it on one trip has bunch of problems take to this guy he gives them an estimate for $12000 they can't understand why.

[@myacct1950]

I own a 1996 Monaco Executive, M11 Cummins, 450 HP, 6 speed Allison, I love it, 96000 miles, runs Strong and Cheap to keep it up! $450 per year in maintainance, $ 2000 every 3 years for tires, Great mileage, upwards of 8 mpg, AND, comfort of a home on wheels! I would never get rid of mine! Love 💖 it!

[@bands3256]

OMG. You have crushed my retirement dreams. Just kidding I was so excited when I saw this video I plan on retiring into a diesel class a pusher. I was well aware of the cost on most things along the lines of Maintenance but didn't realize how quick repairs could add up thanks for the info.

[@QLFProductions]

He speaks facts and I can tell he was trying to go easy on those costs. We recently bought a 2003 Newmar Dutch Star (8.3 Cummins ISC) from a nice older couple who could no longer maintain it and ALL maintenance was due, plus it needed 4 out of 6 tires. The only thing that stopped us from being overwhelmed was the fact that I'm mechanically inclined and did everything myself except the new tire install. We paid over $3000 for four Sumitomo tires because I didn't want to pay the price for the Michelins. Doing my own maintenance helped tremendously but I still spent a couple thousand in materials. I had to replace the toilet, oil change required 24 quarts of oil, I had to fix a coolant leak, I changed all the filters to include the big engine air filter and the Wabco filter for the air system.. I'm happy with where we are maintenance wise but I'll still need to change the transmission fluid soon and I still haven't figured out the dash AC not working.

[@supersami7748]

I’ve never dealt with a DP but a ton of Class A gas and gas Class C’s. Wholesale Warranties has been a dream to work with, never had a problem with parts or labor costs. If I got the estimate to them before noon I normally had approval by the end of the day. Great vid, just ran across your channel and subscribed.👍

[@scottroder5516]

I never would have thought of these expenses. Very informative video. Thanks

[@lazaroibarra8464]

In my humble opinion, the video is an awakening for some people who never have driven anything bigger than a Hyundai. Case in point, if you're 67 yoa, and buy a diesel pusher with 70k miles for 97,000 dollars, you should not have to worry about much else than sightseeing this gorgeous country. Think about it. You're 67. God willing you'll be out there, what, another 8-10 years? You are going to put what? 30k miles? Boom! Time to go sightsee heaven. I hope.

[@Dead-Goldstar]

I enjoy your videos I use to work on cars and trucks as a apprentice mechanic but decided to drive them instead of fixing them. I’m now back into working on engines and am more interested in Diesels than gas ones learning a lot from your videos keep up the great work. 👍

[@jayhare757]

I’ve owned two different dishes since 2006. This video is like a doctor running through 50 medical things you might deal with over the next ten years, kinda scary but in reality, if you take care of your rig, do some things yourself, be sensible about periodic maintenance you’ll be fine and will probably spend $2k a year on average after the first five years which are closer to $1k a year. If you like the RV lifestyle go for it.

[@ronmoore3987]

Thaaaaaaats it change ur own oil and filters and just keep the damn thing up. Most people are to gd lazy to do that they think oh I can just be an ABSENTEE LIKE A STUPID ASS KID THAT DONT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, HAAH! WELL FOLKS , LAZY MIND+ LAZY BODY= ZEERO

[@Gcal1956]

Let’s list some basic parts and expenses so rv watchers get a idea. Air dryer 300$ plus labor. Or u can rebuild it yourself for under 130$ in parts. Tires are 400-700 for the good top shelf ones. 200-300 a battery for the nice ones. Plus labor. Brakes ? If you have the new disc brakes , u need a loan to replace those. But truth is you can rebuild the calipers for cheap. Alternator , 200$ plus labor. Diag time to find out what’s wrong 130-160 an hour. Head gasket ? 2800-4500 depending if it’s a Cummins or cat or Detriot. Depends on year and engine model. Injectors ? Water pumps? Air compressors ? Turbos ? And the list goes on and one and he cost goes up and up and up. And I didn’t even hit on the trans , rear end, ac system, cooling system , electrical system to control the inside, or the actual rv itself inside with a million moving parts for slide outs , suspension, steering , etc etc and yes there is more I didn’t mention lol God forbid I have a rv with a Cummins 08-13 years. You’ll really hate life. Just burn that thing and walk away. If your not a very mechanically inclined owner or a master at information intake and comprehension , just rent a rv and don’t own one. Massive money pits that lose value like a boat or like 3 legged horse. U fly where your going , rent a car or van, and get a hotel. Thank me later and enjoy your vacations. If your really crazy about an rv hire a mechanic in a van to follow you and carry tools to fix you up. It would be cheaper the. Taking it to the dealer every time the heck engine light is on. And I’m not even kidding.

[@AdeptApe]

Pretty much have to agree here. If you have to go on the road, a truck trailer combo is better in my opinion. Used truck and used trailer as well.

[@vmoore5356]

@@AdeptApe only thing is that you can't tow a stacker trailer

[@elcajoia619]

Brutal comment you got going there, tough and truthful, you would be perfect for drug intervention situations.

[@Mike-01234]

Wife and I flew to the east coast rented a motorhome for a week best money spent. Same thing with boats I sold my boat 10 years ago we found only used it no more then 10 summer days in a year if you added that up way cheaper to rent. My boat cost 28k with 5 year loan that's $5600 a year comes out costing. It would take 50 years to break even we only really go out now on the lake 3-4 days a year 10 days was just because I felt had to use it since spending all the money. My boat was a cheap one just a bow rider not even close to what I see people spending 100k easily on .

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

A great video. We have had a 97 diesel pusher for ten years now. New tires last year. I do all the oil changes chasis lube and all necessary repairs. I'm not a mechanic but I believe most people could do these things if they informed themselves of the simple but ackward procedures to get things done. 26 litres of oill at cosrco about $75.00, oil filter ebay $35.00, 2 fuel filters $40.00, transmission filters $50.00. A lot of times the problems have simple solutions. A furnace or fridge that hasen't worked in awhile just needs a jostle or whack with a screwdriver handle. As for trouble insurance, put away 3 or 4 hundred avery month in a separate account then if something goes wrong you will soon have a stash, instead of the insurance company. Anyway happy diesel motoring.

[@gadgetsage]

My uncle who owned a gas station took his cars to jiffy lube and explained he did so because 1 in a million oil filters go bad and destroy the engine, and if he did the work, he would have to buy himself a new engine, whereas if jiffy lube did it, they would pay. I understand the pleasure of doing it yourself, just thought I'd post this because it was a revelation to me about his take on this. I think really he was just getting older and didn't want to do it any more, but it is a valid point. Though I'll probably do my own oil changes too, $200-300 for an oil change is way different than $29 or even $69...

[@Frank-dy7lx]

@@gadgetsage when you want the Jiffy pay you, you will know you need to pay laywer more than you want from Jiffy

[@gadgetsage]

@@Frank-dy7lx that's not how it works here, lawyer would be paid by defendant when they lose. Are you my personal Shill assigned to follow me around and quibble and attempt to demoralize?

[@johnwilson1784]

Another great video from my favorite diesel youtuber.

[@rebellucy5610]

Very correct about the cost of maintenance. Most people are clueless. All the see is a fancy condo the moves.

[@psmithrpm]

Thanks for the frank talk about the realities of owning a diesel RV. Much appreciated.

[@mikevigil3677]

Every one wants a diesel truck or RV until it's time to repair them, diesels are good if your making money with them they give you a lot less trouble if you start them in the morning and drive the hell out of them all day, they hate to be started and stopped all day and if you only run them every now and then here come the issues. Adept Ape spitting the truth...

[@noblece]

I alway appreciated your videos on diesel motors. We just bought a 01' Monaco Diplomat with 103k miles... were definitely rolling the dice.

[@AdriftAndAtPeace323]

Being a manager and a service writer at my local TA/Petro for close to 6 years gave me a lot of onsite on the maintenance side of a large diesel. Something else to consider is a lot of times, truck shops don’t even stock rv tires. As they’re not a common tire size like the 11r, lowpro 22.5 and 22.4 are, so that’s an added expense, as well as downtime if you have to wait for them to be ordered from the local warehouse. Oil changes on cats at TA specifically and maybe loves and speedco as well as cat filters are an upcharge. So 350-400 is pretty common for an oil change cost. Yes, you can run fleet guards but it’s still gonna run just shy of 300 to change your oil

[@rudygrajeda1510]

That right there is why I always carry a matching mounted spare, plus I have an extra spare in my garage .

[@paullogan9960]

As long as you don't stop at T/A Commerce(Denver, Co.) Me and the Ass Mgr got into it back in 2014. Checked in at 10:19 am. I was put to bottom of pile. Complained. Found things wrong that was not there. Carrier Bearing going bad. Told Immanent Failure. Same for 1st U-Joint. Massive oil leak at steering gear box. Pictures could not find. Same parts still in the truck. Go figure. Liars, Cheats and Thieves. Called C.S., when asked what I would like done? Stand them against the wall. No more T/A for me.

[@TheRebelOne.]

I sell RV's for a living. Just to let you know Josh as I write this I am saddleing up the horses and rounding up a posse. We are setting out at dawn to hunt you down. Our mission from the sherrif's office is to capture you, bind you with heavy rope, tie you to a tree at midday (very hot you know at midday!)..give you one sip of water and show you that buying a good horse that's well nourished is cheaper and more economical than buying an RV....as a horse changes its own oil every 6 or 7 hours for free and it helps the environment....its a no brainer. 🐎 Great piece Josh. I'll ring the sherrif and tell him you have skipped the country 😜👍

[@AdeptApe]

Thanks Buddy.

[@FDchief904]

Adept Ape after all of the great questions spurred by your video, this is the one you respond to... the jury is still out. 🤔

[@uprednecked]

great video man! we see a few in the international dealer i work at! most RV owners dont think about this stuff! an RV isnt bad but you just need to think about this stuff before buying one!

[@Whatever_dude]

Same as you have to do when you buy a car or a house this guy is just all doom and gloom

[@frankziola7710]

One last comment thank God I still have my 1984 number 27 Holiday Rambler I don't know how many were built as a Ford 460 in it C6 trans drop axle oak cabinets all that yeah there's things are failing but it still is awesome and I'm going to keep it to the Grave still drives good that's when I started doing mechanics

[@maxpower9848]

Always be extremely cautious when buying warranties.. especially warranties that aren't directly from the manufacturer! I worked with Ford for decades and if their car broke down they're aftermarket insurance would not cover towing, diagnosis, fluids, taxes, seals and gaskets, and almost everything else. Every time someone had one you would hear them say "why did I buy this warranty then"? Of course we didn't have anything to say to that. A typical transmission repair would be around $4,300 and usually the warranty company would only pick up about 800 to $1200 and the customer was on the hook for the rest! When my dad bought his class A allegro they tried to sell him an aftermarket warranty for $3,500. I read the contract and it said they "reserved the right to fix it in the most economical way possible" which means they're going to install junkyard parts. I told him to save his money and I would put in any parts that are needed since I'm a Ford mechanic. (And an awesome good looking son.) I just had AAA turn down one where my estimate of repairs I live in the Bay area and they only wanted to pay $80 an hour! They ended up having to get a new radiator and air conditioning condenser installed at miracle Auto painting because there was only ones that would work for that low of a labor rate. My mobile mechanic business doesn't even go that low. The Ford dealer around here is it $220 an hour!

[@grammyg8x]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO. We are looking to upgrade RV's and had thought about diesel RV's. We knew they were more expensive to maintain, but had no real idea. You helped us make up our mind. GREAT JOB! THANK YOU.

[@grammyg8x]

THANK YOU. You opened our eyes alot. I don't consider it "discouraging" but "enlightening". Buyer knowledge is so important. We looked at one yesterday and it seemed so overwhelming to us as well. I think it is not for us at this time and appreciate you sharing your knowledge to INFORM us of things we did not know.

[@billewing7727]

Great video. We are thinking about buying a Class A motorhome, haven't decided diesel or gas but the video and comments about preventative maintenance makes a lot of sense. All things to consider including warranty coverage when we start aggressively shopping.

[@josephhicks6989]

I have a 40 foot class A and yes it is expensive to own but if you keep up with it and dont wait for things to break it is doable. Now I have a gas motorhome and it is 20 years old, and when I bought it I spent 20000 rebuilding the engine and in upgrades, but that was all planned when I bought it, I have never had any problems in the past 5 years, and I use it all summer up until Oct every year. We have put over 10000 miles. I would say just do some research into what your buying. I will say get a good mechanic, my oil change was only 45 dollars last week.

[@gadgetsage]

$45! Is that any where near Los Angeles?

[@paultavres9830]

Although this was not an RV situation it was a warranty issue A used truck customer who’s vehicle broke down was at our service desk yelling at the service writer “I have warranty I have warranty,”shaking a piece of paper that describes warranties available “ The service writer trying to calm him down Explains you dont have warranty what you have is a warranty brochure! Make sure you know what your warranty covers I try to tell people before you take your vehicle to a dealer its best that you know what is the matter with that vehicle so you can make a financial decision Ive seen people fed a elephant one bite at a time before realizing they are in too deep

[@Robasteerjock51]

Good realistic information..I’m full timing. In my 2nd motorcoach.. you better have finances for maintenance...enjoy your vids and education

[@cameronk6621]

Yep I’m a chassis technician at a rv dealer and it’s not just the diesel pushers that have issues but the ford gas units as well many of these coaches sit for long periods of time which leads to many of the issue as well as every coach is unique and modules fuse boxes etc are placed at random and there are very little diagrams to solve issues the motors themself are very reliable and have never really seen any major issues as many of the coaches that come through have less than 50k miles main issues are lack of maintenance

[@aaroncarranza1129]

Another thing to consider is storage when not in use. Mice, rats, wasps, spiders, mud dobbers and moisture (rust) love the r.v. life too. Especially r.v. wiring.

[@chriserickson4417]

An eye-opener for sure. I am looking to get into RVing, but need to make a decision, Class A or Trailer. After this video, I think that a truck with a trailer will be the way to go.Thanks for the video.

[@paullogan9960]

Check out HDT RV. Semi tractor to pull a 5th. Suite Travels anwers questions.

[@robertweber3140]

I'm discouraged after the reality of this video hit. Great video and enjoyed the bonus feature that the back end. My son is a diesel mechanic and owns his own shop. He will not work on RV's.

[@maxpower9848]

Just get an RV and make him work on if it breaks down for God sakes! He's your son!

[@maxpower9848]

When my dad bought an RV they were trying to sell him a warranty and I said don't do anything until I read the contract. I read the contract and it says "we reserve the right to fix your vehicle in the most economical way possible". That means junkyard parts. I said don't buy it save the money if your thing needs a water pump or a fuel pump I'll do it for you! I'm sure your son would do the same for you. And then I bought him an electric impact wrench so he could change his tires if he had a flat alongside the road. Sons love their fathers.

[@Dinoxt12]

Excellent Video, If you like Frustration, Repairing, and just things not working correctly on any type of R/V... BUY ONE !!!

[@Gcal1956]

If some one starts making glider rv’s that will be one hell of a seller. A new rv with a 3406b/e would run for ever, like the people expect. I feel sorry for the people who have zero experience with truck engines and they get stuffed into a regen def engine with a dpf or a regen system bill that follows it ......in the thousands.

[@michaelmurphy9596]

Exactly why I'm thinking 06 or older. You can replace outdated stuff, if you're mechanically inclined. Buy an older one with a few miles, that way you know it didn't sit still all the time, like 100k or so, broke in, not down.

[@engineergaming4295]

@@michaelmurphy9596 dang I thought I would have no problems with emissions because I bought an ‘08 motor coach because it didn’t have def, but instead of DEF it has DPF which is still I guess a problem. It has a 2007 Cummins ISB 6.7 turbo diesel

[@brucemagnuson1139]

I bought a beautiful 2006 Itasca Ellipse 40 ft diesel(Cat 3.7 350 hp turbo) with 9000 miles about 4 yrs ago. First trip returning home from Florida to Colorado blew the head gasket. Ruined cylinder wall and piston. Almost 3 months later after tow to nearest shop in Georgia, new engine, 20k bill. Not a believer in extended warranties. However, with as many moving parts as an RV seemed like the right think to do. My only cost was the 1k deductible. Warranty paid for rental car home, gas, hotel , food and return air fare to pick up RV. Don’t go without it..

[@dougmartin8664]

Thanks for the more in-depth information. I’ve had 2 diesel pickups, but after watching this, there’s not much chance I’d buy a diesel motorhome.

[@bobbyl4334]

This video gave me a lot of useful information without a bunch of BS I don't need. Adept Ape obviously knows what he is talking about. I am starting to look for my first RV, and this video provided valuable information. Thanks.

[@kiprice8327]

Spot on! Really good video. Have had lots of "occurrences". Shop extortion and hung out for months in the shop (Cummins}, before it was finally over. Extended warranty finally kicked in, but not without an Attorney warming them up. Tell ya, it is all good until somebody else has to pay.

[@5AXISDLOCKHART]

Our race rig is a super C. Built off a 86 kenworth t600. A little Cummins L10 and a 13sp, makes it more than adequate for moving our stuff. Love the simplicity of the all mechanical motor. Ps it's for sale

[@ericbenjamin6504]

Nothing lasts forever. Buy what you want.

[@johnnyturbo8460]

Adept Ape... you should start thinking about merch (merchandise) ... T shirts, Hats, Decals etc... make you some money and it will give us more ways to support you and for us to get something in return..

[@TheGbab]

Super good info. Obviously Diesel is not always all its cracked up to be. The big rigs get overhauled with new parts, driven pretty much full blast all the time. This brings everything up to temp and keeps efficiency high. RV's putter around and sit for most of the year which causes that "age wear" you talked about.

[@Walt1960]

Great video. You really helped me make up my mind regarding purchasing an RV. I think I’ll keep my money and just stay in a hotel when I travel. Seriously, thank you.

[@crazycanuck2578]

Maybe cheaper to rent an RV for a couple of weeks, travel around in it for a while before investing in one??

[@philz7462]

You're missing out on life.... Say hello to the bed bugs

[@acedrifts]

You spoke facts about the insurance/warranty company’s. Im a tech and hate dealing with them. They nit pick about every little thing

[@gerardfitzpatrick3031]

extremely informative. Thank you so much for your honesty. As a newbie rv retiree, I'm more aware of the difference between diesel engine and gas repair costs👍

[@mikecarbiener2137]

Now THIS is the RV vid I've been looking for! Nice work sir!

[@bradfisher4782]

The biggest issue I saw selling motorhomes was sidewall delimitation. If they leak, they’re worth next to nothing. It mainly occurred in discount brands and in part was due to poor maintenance as well. I’d stick with Fleetwood or Winnebago. Didn’t sell Monaco, but they looked nice too. Most the ones I handled were 10 years or less in age. More issues seemed to be with the coach itself. If you buy a used Triton V10, have them put in writing that the spark plugs were changed in their care and they’ll cover expenses if they break off in the cylinder head (which is common).

[@jaysmith1408]

Oh I dread the Triton

[@moofasa6953]

I LOVE THE MUSIC INTRO TO THIS VIDEO!! Hey its MooFasa from the AdeptApe channel viewers and today I'll be watching your video to educate myself about diesel further

[@allancooper7152]

Thank you man, opened my eyes further to the possible pitfalls and related costs!!! 🤔😁😀😉😎

[@lanksterprice]

10 years on RV tires is normal. $500ea @ 6 tires... service is done once if not twice a year @ $1000 ea Air filer for my C7 is $50.91 (yearly) Fuel filter $19.91 ea @ 2 (service cost) Oil filter $26.79 (service cost) Air cleaner filer (brakes) $38.14 (part of service cost) oil and gas filers are part of the service cost I named above. Also the generator get a oil changes and new oil filer also done ever 100 hrs or yearly with our full service. Other cost like Roof should be check each year, by you or a service tech.. $800 We plan $2000 a year for service cost. Also we are full time RV'rs, We live in out RV and stuff also brakes.. Simple people .. You have to put $100 a month away for yearly service of your RV.. If you have gas you cost will change as you have to do more service more times a year.

[@Cutlass_Rudd]

Lol what does the $800 roof check include???

[@jponyboyace]

Wow good advice here.....if u buy an RV get a good extended plan....mine is great just a 50 deduct at dealer....always worked great .....be careful what u buy.......by the way cat has not been used since 09.....great advice ...great video.....gooooo cimmins

[@Mike-01234]

That's because Cat didn't want to get into the emmision controls mandated on diesels. The emmision controls now put on diesels has ruined the longevity of a diesel. I would never buy a diesel powered vehicle made past 2007 the EGR valves have to be cleaned, and DPF filters cleaned both costly repairs. The soot forced back into the engine makes the oil get dirty faster. All kinds of issues with the def fluid pumps and heaters go in there. Get an older diesel like 2003-2004 much better or just better to avoid diesel. My company quit buying diesel pickups because of this now they only buy gas engines 1 ton pickups.

[@rudygrajeda1510]

Where are you getting oil for $10.00 a gallon? Retired diesel mechanic here, with a Snap On scanner that I can diagnose my own engine with. I can say for certain that you are correct. I got a 36 foot Safari Sahara with a Cat 3126 to tow my Bronco and go 4 wheeling while I travel. It pulls the grades towing that Bronco like nothing is back there. Unless you can handle the $700.00 each for 6 Michelin tires plus mounting and balancing, usually $35.00 a tire, or the $150 to $200 a battery for 4 to 6 at a time because you can't just change one at a time. Or the cost of filling the 100 gallon fuel tank, on a regular basis because it gets 6 mpg, or the $1000.00 road call if you need a tire or get stuck in the sand because your AAA RV service or Good Sam doesn't want to pay, etc then a class A diesel pusher is not for you. A diesel pusher tow costs over $100.00 per hour door to door meaning from the time it leaves their yard until they get back to their yard and towing you in between. Yes I love my RV, it's reliable because I maintain it properly and I know how to fix it if it ever does break down, and the number one reason I enjoy it is because as a retired mechanic I can afford it...

[@neilreid9005]

I wouldn't let this chatter scare you off. Any six figure purchase requires research. My home with a large pool on a large lot is also expensive. What isn't discussed is how much better a Freightliner chassis is to drive than a V10 pulling a flexi-flyer chassis. If you've driven both, you'll know the night and day difference in driving them.

[@JohnnyC10071959]

Great video, matter of fact. No one else tells us this stuff.

[@Whatever_dude]

Common sense should be telling you most if not all of this shit

[@electric7487]

@@Whatever_dude Common sense SHOULD be telling people most of this stuff, but these days common sense isn't that common anymore, sadly.

[@duffjolly8745]

Thanks for the video Josh, we are on the road South from Canada in our RV. It’s a 2000 diesel pusher with a Cat 3126B engine. I agree with everything you said and have done the things you have suggested regarding the maintenance of the engine. The drivetrain is one thing but the rest of the coach requires as much care and maintenance, if you want to keep it looking good and that can cost as much or more. Cheers, I look forward to your future videos.

[@raven7068]

Great video I have a motorhome I bought it used this July 2018 it is a 2002 Cummins Allison Transmission 38 ft. Although I do have knowledge of working on gasoline engines even doing the rebuilt on them, this is my first diesel. There are some differences but if you know how to work on gasoline engines you're about 90% there to knowing how to work on your diesel. But the information I get from your channel makes up for the 10% I'm unfamiliar with help me a lot thanks so much for the great work you do 👍😉

[@franceinegelven677]

GREAT!

[@jhvhbh1897]

Dude, I am glad to have found you again....I was unsubscribed for some reason.....I thought you were not making videos anymore!!!! You are badass!

[@maxpower9848]

One of my customers was stupid enough to buy a brand new RV at $525,000. He's now 10 years into his loan and he owes about $449,000 on it still and he thought he would refinance so he went to the bank and they said well we can't refinance it because your RV's only worth about a 240,000!

[@wjb111]

Damn! Guess I need to rethink retirement winter travel plans. 🤔🤔

[@DLeske]

I just bought a 2018 Thor 33ft pusher with 10,000 miles on it for $150k, new was $259k. I am a retired ASE certified mechanic, mainly autos but worked for a spell on Cats, Internationals and Cummins. Hope I don't have any brake downs till I am done rompin the 50 states for a couple years. ;)

[@maxpower9848]

Have a blast! I've been a mechanic my whole life and I can hardly wait till I get a chance to do that myself.

[@kingsdaughter777]

very informative and to the point. Thank you

[@kellykelly2938]

Thank you so much for the info. I could listen to you all day about your repair experiences.

[@ShainAndrews]

Friend bought one. Get it home. I notice a very very slight skip at idle. Didn't pay much mind to it and used it that year. Then before you know it injectors, injection pump. I think they had to get it towed to CAT. Fat check to cover that bill. I could stay in some swanky hotels just for the repair, add the cost of the RV and I'd be set. C15 ACERT

[@sonotaps]

Any thoughts that I had about owning an RV disappeared like a fart in the wind after watching this video. Having said that, I do appreciate his candor.

[@TSemasFl]

Great information to keep in mind, good video. No class A's for me, think I'll look at fifth wheels and 1 tons, lol

[@frankziola7710]

I've never made a comment I'm a master mechanic, basically the 3406 and most CATS. Yet I lean from you. Most people don't like the truth of what it takes to maintain a diesel engine. I love semis the best basically I tell people all you need is a sledgehammer in a torch. Just being funny, basically true. I'd like to know more about the csx models

[@druffner3074]

I’ve never had a warranty that I had to cover the overages. Usually a shop that accepts the warranty directly has negotiated labor and parts rates. I’m actually buying a 2 owner Class A with a c9 cat. Thankfully the current owner of 10 years is a pilot and maintains the RV like his plane and he actually uses it 3-4 times a year for family road trips. So nothing has sat and dried out. Not counting my blessing before hand but I’m feeling lucky with this one.

[@jw4620]

And still a lot of people don't ask, they just buy something and learn the hard way.

[@MrBillygoat]

I was an owner operator for 15 years with big trucks. Had Cummins, Cat and Detroit’s. I had a pretty good clue what I was getting myself into when I bought a used Class A diesel rear radiator with a Cat. Well I thought I had an idea anyways. I have one suggestion, if your going to buy one , and your Rich with deep pockets , buy a brand new one, get extended warranty on powertrain. And get a side radiator coach. If your a working man or retired and on a fixed budget... I recommend a pickup pulling a camper. Stay clean away from these beast and money pits.

[@ronmoore3987]

Ahhhh no no no , just GET A GARAGE KEPT WITH LOW MILES AND TAKE OF IT AND KEEP THE radiator CLEAN!!!¡!!, MOST PEOPLE ARE TOOOOO LAZY TO OWN AN RV, JUST LIKE ANYTHING YA TAKE A IT AND UR GOOD

[@BlackBuzzzard]

Very good summary in straight forward terms......Excellent! Just buy a gas powered dually cargo cube truck and build out the interior.

[@EarlBalentine]

Some repair centers want to over charge for labor. The warranty company sys it takes 4 hours labor to replace that part and the repair center wants to charge 12 hours. That's when the repair center trays to take advantage of the customer saying that the warranty people are not considering all aspect of the labor involves. I had it happen to me. The replace place wanted 5 hours to replace a simple part. The warranty company would only pay for 3 hours. I found out from several of my friends that it only takes 2 hours to replace the part and for someone that has done it several times can do it under 1 hour. I still believe that are repair centers trying to take advantage of the customer. It's best if you can is to call a few different repair places and get estimates when possible.

[@Mike-01234]

Not if your stuck in a small town your going to pay what ever it takes to fix it

[@jamro217]

Great video. Thanks. It always pays to do your homework before making a potentially life altering decision (like buying a Class A DP). Once you know the risks and the costs the fear melts away. It's like buying a European sports car. Expect high maintenance costs as well as the occasional surprise. Going in with your eyes open helps. Deciding whether or not it's worth it is a personal choice. Budget accordingly.

[@doug4501]

Clark, that there is an R V. She's a good looking vehicle aint she?

[@1617kinsella]

my tube shitters full!!!

[@hawkie333]

Great video, really eye opening!

[@ddubsvideos3433]

It is why we got a School Bus with 170k DT 466 CAT 77 Pass . and a Big RV for parts . the RV has 33k on it its a 97 with 454 turbo 400 and all the good stuff. got it for $1.00 . Thank you for all your Video's .

[@AdeptApe]

Well like I said, RVs lose their value over time so that $1.00 might only be worth .70¢ down the road, then you might have to steal some change out of the penny jar at a convenience store to make up the difference. Those both sounds like decent rigs that you knew what you were getting into when you bought them.

[@ddubsvideos3433]

@@AdeptApe thanks . Yup taking time to convert but well worth it.

[@davecampbell6656]

thank you for this! Saved many people a lot of head aches. well dome)

[@HimmelbergerBus]

I bought an older MCI bus with a 2 Stroke 6v92 in it and have converted it into an RV. So far it's pretty good to me, do you ever see many of those?

[@Nudnik1]

Himmelberger Bus Those were awesome.

[@jasfrolich9973]

When one buys an diesel powered motorhome, realize it is a money pit. Enjoy. Nothing is free.

[@jmbrunson34]

Do you find that super c RVs get the truck labor rate?

[@maxpower9848]

A lot of older people also obviously are the majority of the RV users and they are an absolute sticker shock when they come into some of the shops for repairs it's like they're living in the 1950s and 60s still when it comes to labor rates.

[@tattletailstrangler3457]

Good information I was planning on buying a class a but I think I’ll just buy a tent instead.

[@Mike-01234]

That's why you see 15 year old diesel class A motorhomes for $20k with 38k miles on them. Also larger RV's like that make them difficult to park some campground. Example is Yellowstone only has one campground that allows your overall length over 40 feet total including any other vehicle. Classic American thinking here go out buy the biggest RV with the most features for 2 people. Reality is all you need is smaller class C RV gas engine since don't have all that weight no need for maintenance hungry diesel engine gas engine gets you down the road just as fast.

[@jena2664]

Thank you. I was going to buy one to the misconceptions I was taught. Boy that would of been a mistake. Thank you.

[@AdeptApe]

Glad you found it useful.

[@jeffreybuck8621]

@@AdeptApe hi there. .. great vid on class a ownership... Spot on. thanks for sharing your knowledge on all things cat, and more... I've got a C10 in a motorhome 2000 CC Magna... My driver information display has been flickering and when I whack the dash it'll settle down and act right for a while, but usually if I scroll down, the screen goes to startup mode... A new one is $1300+ available at cat dealer... I'd like to modernize with that kind of money and wonder if there's an aftermarket substitute digital dash display that's kinda plug and play? Thanks 👍

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Thank Josh another great video thanks for sharing , your channel is growing quite well 👍👍

[@desertcat8029]

Really helpful info...appreciate the honest opinions👍

[@Xaforn]

With all the costs considering, is it worth it if you live in 1 full time rather than just using it for vacation while also paying for a home?

[@Nudnik1]

just got a pusher CAT 3126 freightliner chassis. Real cheap. Fixed everything. Only 40k 1998. Just did all filters and oil. Onan 7.5 kW genset . You have to be a mechanic and technician or $$$$$. Should I hire a heavy haul tow truck to pull it?? Lol

[@johnmain7109]

Truck dealerships charge more for RV's because they take up two bays, not because they don't want to work on them. A dealership can only make money if all the bays are filled with profitable repairs.

[@tpcoachfix]

Dont forget hoses, belts, coolant, brake jobs, tow bills, maintaining the air conditioners.

[@Whatever_dude]

Same as a car

[@doctorisout]

So a friend of mine is thinking of buying an otherwise well maintained cream puff of an RV with a C7. She asked me about it, but I am no diesel mechanic. Its a 2005. But it has 100k miles. Very good maintenance records. One owner, and he is very meticulous. I asked her to ask him about the HEUI pump, fan bearings things mentioned by Mr. Ape. The guy didn't know about those being changed out .... She is OK with work, like changing the pump, etc. Question is, do you change out the HEUI pump as prevention? Or do you pass on every CAT7 like this with 100k?

[@michaelmurphy9596]

I'd get oil samples on anything with oil in it. If it comes back good that mileage is just proof that it didn't sit all the time, which is a good thing.

[@maxpower9848]

I've never seen anybody replace a high pressure oil pump due to mileage? Some go 20,000 miles some go $600,000 mi.

[@ronmoore3987]

@@maxpower9848 those pumps are about a $ 1,000 , on line

[@uzaiyaro]

Probably the biggest reason why any vehicle gets a million miles is because they spend their entire lives hot, they don’t perform anywhere near as many heat cycles, they’re always running, which is why taxis are so reliable with so many hundreds of thousands of kilometres or miles on it. It’s a common misconception that ‘harsh operating conditions’ means something like this, driving huge amounts of distances on the highway and never letting the engine rest or whatever. Engines will run as long as you want them to, they don’t mind. What they don’t like, however, is heat cycles, especially when the engine doesn’t have enough time to get up to operating temp. Those short jaunts back and forth to the train station and the shops twice a day? *that* is a harsh operating environment. Endless miles on the highway is dead easy. It’s actually, by far, the easiest driving an engine will ever do. Cruise control, 100km/h, constant 1500rpm, basically a fast idle? They’ll do that all day, every day. Further, the engine heat soaks nicely, and any of the water, fuel, and shit that collects in the oil, has an opportunity to be burned off. Sometimes the effects of oil dilution are so profound, that the oil level can appear to go *up* in the engine, instead of down. For the sake of your engine, either take it for nice long drives, or change your oil at least twice as often as the book suggests for the harsh operating conditions mentioned above.

[@paulhenry4276]

Very good points to consider.

[@jaquigreenlees]

The option you missed is to buy a gas powered RV. More shops to work on them so shorter waits, lower parts cost, lower labor rate. They aren't perfect, but they are a viable option if the high operating costs of a diesel RV are to much for the person buying.