Older Motorbikes with Lower Mileage Cummins

[RUSSELL5000]

In my ongoing research in preparation to going full-time, I have seen high end motorhomes for sale that are older model years (around ten to fifteen years old), have Cummins engines and Allison transmissions, and what I would think are lower miles (around 60K). For my question, assume mileage is true.

I keep reading comments on the RV forum that the combination of years and miles makes the coach undesirable.

If we assume that a coach has had normal required maintenance, I would think that if one changed all the fluids, replaced filters, belts, and hoses, maybe overhaul brake system, perhaps new tires, then you would be good.

Why would something be automatically wrong (mechanically) with a twelve year old Cummins coach with 60K to 80K miles?

I am rather a newby, so appreciate insight.

Thanks.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Title should read motorhome, not motorbike - could not figure out how to edit title.

 

[mwilson]

Age would not concern me half as much as the following "Is the chassis manufacturer and / or coach manufacturer still in business?"

A lot of them bit the dust during the last economic crash which makes some parts expensive or even un-obtainable for an out of business brand.

If the chassis and coach are manufactured by someone that is still in business (such as Daimler / FCC Custom Chassis) then most items are still available. Avoid hydraulic brakes. Expensive.

Look and see if the radiator can be removed without tearing the entire a** end of the coach off. Are there access doors from each side?? Do the rear slides have to be out before you can access the top of the engine??

You are capable of a lot of repairs yourself judging from the projects that you have tackled on this forum.

 

[mwilson]

Besides, if you get an FCCC chassis I can help you with info and such.....

 

[NIsaacs]

In my ongoing research in preparation to going full-time, I have seen high end motorhomes for sale that are older model years (around ten to fifteen years old), have Cummins engines and Allison transmissions, and what I would think are lower miles (around 60K). For my question, assume mileage is true.

If we assume that a coach has had normal required maintenance,

Thanks.

If the above can be verified, I don't see a problem. I think we do need to know what size you are looking at, front engine/rear engine combo, light duty, medium duty or class eight size.

On equipment the hours/miles are more important than the year, maybe motorhomes are the same?

Nick

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Thanks, guys.

Mike, you know more than I do regarding chassis, etc.

I have been looking at Foretravel, Newmar, Tiffin. I am still researching. Those are still in production.

As one example, a 2004 38 ft Tiffin with 55,000 miles. Seems to me that this should have all kinds of life left. Also, I think prior to major emissions stuff.

 

[mwilson]

They are still on someone's chassis. For example Spartan and Monaco make chassis in addition to FCC. We find Spartan and Monaco to be very expensive and bizarre on some repair parts. It's not the powerplant or transmission that will get you, it's the attaching items, custom items specific to that particular brand, etc.....

Most FCC items can be obtained at or ordered by a Freightliner / Western Star dealer.

Monaco and Spartan, we have to go to their own in house parts department...Ouch....

See if that Tiffin shows the chassis info with it....there are two sets of Vin numbers on a motor home as a rule, one for the coach body and then one for the chassis...The chassis vin will be in the federally mandated 17 digit format....

 

[Wayne M.]

I got dragged in here because I thought I was going to read about cool bikes wearing chrome :-laf

Anyway I am not a RV dude yet, but I can understand the issue of getting involved in a chassis that is hard to get parts for. It goes beyond the engine and trans. Also, from my viewpoint, I think most RVers are not obsessive about their rigs like we are with our Rams. IF- BIG IF- I hit it big, and wanted to get in this game, I would do a medium or heavy conventional chassis type RV.

 

[mwilson]

I got dragged in here because I thought I was going to read about cool bikes wearing chrome :-laf

Anyway I am not a RV dude yet, but I can understand the issue of getting involved in a chassis that is hard to get parts for. It goes beyond the engine and trans. Also, from my viewpoint, I think most RVers are not obsessive about their rigs like we are with our Rams. IF- BIG IF- I hit it big, and wanted to get in this game, I would do a medium or heavy conventional chassis type RV.

View attachment 94182

Same here, that is EXACTLY what I would do...^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[S.Morris]

Be aware that NO ONE wants to work on them if you have a break down while traveling. Truck shops HATE to see them and most charge a big premium to do so. Other motorhome specific shops only want to work on their own brand.

Do your homework as far as companies still being in business . If you are completely comfortable and able to do what ever needs doing then there are some real values out there.

MY sons FIL bought a 2010 Monaco (forget specifics) for less than half of its value at the time (a REAL Steal) from a OEM car dealer where it had sat for 2yrs. It had really low miles and was a 6.7 Cummins with Allison. and hydraulic brakes. Also had diesel gen set.
No books of any kind and unable to attain. Gen set would start and quit on a cutout switch.....NO motorhome dealer or truck shop would even LOOK at it without hugely exorbitant quotes (you new you were gonna get hosed). Even the manufacturer of the genset would not look at it UNLESS it was delivered to there shop OUT of the motorhome.......
Also the slides would not go back in after about the 3rd time out, and the air suspension would not reinflate (ever try and get under one of these while they are deflated , slides out in a campground LOL)

After many hours of tracing wires and testing trouble shooting (amazing amount of in series proximity switches etc) my son ( a licensed truck mechanic that is very adept at wiring type issue) finally got things all ironed out and working. He could not/would not charge his FIL but felt obligated.

After all his work he has been offered the use of the MH any time...........He has yet to take up on the offer , as he said he would be afraid to go a long way from home without one of his ERS shop trailers in tow.LOL.

Guess I got a little off track:-laf

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Wayne and Mike:

Thanks for the insight on chassis. I have seen the motorhome on the HDT chassis - saw one last summer in Wyoming - absolutely the way to go. Also, probably absolutely out of my budget. If I had that money, I would not be asking about used!!!!

It looks like I have a lot more learning to do on this issue.

Also, motorhome versus truck-trailer is far from obvious answer. Lots to think on.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Wayne&Mike,

Jayco offers a class C on a Freightliner M2 chassis and Cummins ISB 6.7. That would be an example of good chassis/drive train, would it not?

I do not know about RV aspect, but that sounds like what you talking about.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wayne&Mike,

Jayco offers a class C on a Freightliner M2 chassis and Cummins ISB 6.7. That would be an example of good chassis/drive train, would it not?

I do not know about RV aspect, but that sounds like what you talking about.

That's exactly what we're talking about. And a perfect rig chassis wise. Likely similar to a yellow school bus spec.

 

[jgillott]

http://www.jayco.com/products/class-c-motorhomes/2016-seneca/

 

[Wayne M.]

Yup. Zactly.

 

[mwilson]

If your budget allows the truck mounted camper is a lot more normal as far as the chassis goes.

As I mentioned before, AIR BRAKES. Don't accept a hydraulic or hydraulic / air hybrid system. By hybrid I am referring to Hydraulic brakes with an air actuated parking brake....Expensive and weird.
Straight Air Brakes. Then you are using components which nearly every Class 8 vehicle have. Trouble shooting is familiar to a truck mechanic. Parts are cheap and durable.

Plus they are a better brake.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

I found this link doing a Google search. I think this would be possibilities to look at, if I understand you correctly.

http://www.fcccrv.com/coaches/?current=1

This is what I saw in Wyoming last summer. Big, big dollars (at least to me) even at ten year old used.

http://renegaderv.com/products/motorcoaches/renegade-motorcoach#scroll-dn

 

[mwilson]

Yes, the FCC chassis. The progression was as follows....

Years ago they were John Deere chassis, then went to Oshkosh after Daimler bought the John Deere chassis line. Then after Oshkosh they were spun off as the FCC brand. Most parts are still available for the John Deere and Oshkosh chassis. I can tell you by any chassis VINS that you provide what they are.

The one shown in Wyoming is based on the Cascadia platform. That's a pretty darn big wagon for a camper. I would (if playing fantasy motorhome / truck) stick with the M2 chassis which was referenced on the first page of this thread.

OR an old, pre-emission Class 8 single axle.......

 

[zb39]

I sold my 05 Tiffin Zephyr about 1.5 years ago for not a ton of cash. it had 43k miles on it and had a ton of life left in it. It was my second motorhome on a Spartan chassis. I always liked Spartan, parts were easy to get and I got a discount because of FMCA and free shipping. They have a home coming every year at the factory and you can get a ton of work done for free. Same with Tiffin. I have had 4 motorhomes in the last 22 years. 2 gas, 1 40ft DP and the 45ft DP. Loved them all. We now pull a 5th wheel. Also still have my AF truck camper. Looking at Host Mamoth.