2 Years of RV Repairs & Service Costs

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Ever wondered what it costs to repair and service an RV each year? This was one of our big questions when planning to buy an RV and live in it full-time. As our 2 year anniversary of coach ownership coincided with our visit to Tiffin in Red Bay, Alabama, we figured it was a good time to share our RV repair history and expenses. Of course, while this isn’t necessarily an indication of what you can expect with your RV (they are all so very different) we hope it will give a sense of the kinds of things that can happen and what these can add up to.
 
Also we have a comprehensive real cost of RV ownership post after 6 years that you can read here. And another post comparing the cost of full-time vs part-time RVing, with a close-up look at every RV we have owned since 2014.
 
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About Our RV

Ours is a 2012 Tiffin Allegro Open Road gas Class A coach in the 35QBA (bunkhouse) floor plan. We purchased our motorhome direct from a private seller in May 2014 with 23,000 miles on the clock. It was in excellent condition inside and out and were fortunate to inherit the previous owners’ extended service contract (until 2018). This gave us extra peace of mind when buying a used RV. Learn everything you need to know about RV Extended Warranties in our dedicated post.

We’ve been very happy with our coach. Whether it’s due to the hundreds of hours researching and shopping around, that we chose a quality brand, that the previous owners had taken great care of it (as we do) and/or we’ve just been very lucky. Ultimately we’ve found our RV to be very reliable, requiring only regular servicing, a handful of minor repairs and three larger repairs over the past couple of years.

Of course, the cost of owning, servicing, repairing and maintaining an RV can vary widely with so many variables to consider. The type of RV, age, brand/quality, condition, and mileage – to name a few. So while our RV repair history may be useful information as a guide for your own budgeting purposes, please remember that this is just OUR experience and your RV repairs may end up being quite different! As a general rule, we feel it’s always better to over estimate what you need to allow for RV ownership and repairs, so you are well prepared.

With all that said, here we go!

RV Repair & Service History: May 2014 – May 2016

YEAR 1

June 2014: Propane Leak Test

During our maiden voyage driving the coach from Ohio to our home in Colorado, Marc noticed the scent of propane so we turned it off at the main tank. Back in Colorado, a propane shop confirmed that yes, we did have a propane leak but advised us we needed to go to an RV repair shop to have it repaired. This wasn’t great timing as we were in the midst of moving into our coach in readiness to commence our full time RV life, so we put that RV repair on hold temporarily and simply avoided using propane as much as possible, keeping the main tank turned off until we could get it fixed.

Cost: $40.00 for the test

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June 2014: Replace Broken Main Cabin Door Latch

On our journey from Colorado to California, the main coach door handle broke off in Marc’s hand while overnighting at a truck stop in Winnemucca, NV. We were able to get into the coach from the outside but we couldn’t get out of the coach from the inside. This was the moment we felt immense gratitude for our driver’s side door (an uncommon option) as an alternate way to enter and exit the coach without having to jump out of the bedroom emergency exit window! Tiffin shipped us a replacement latch mechanism which Marc was able to install in less than half an hour. Note: the previous owner also had this issue, so this is actually the second latch replacement in the life of the coach.

Cost: $252.84 for parts & shipping

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July 2014: Repair Crack in Fiberglass Sidewall

During our stay in Lake Tahoe, a crack appeared in the coach fiberglass wall under the rear driver side bedroom slide. We contacted a local Tiffin dealer who advised this was a common issue for our particular coach model as there was insufficient support underneath the slide and Tiffin confirmed they would cover the $1,000 repair under their 5 year fiberglass warranty. Our RV repair appointment for the coach was at Happy Daze in Sacramento who needed it for 4 days to add a support strip, repair the crack and repaint the area. Fortunately, Marc’s uncle lived only an hour away so we were able to stay at his house that week. We did pay for one night’s stay at the Cal Expo Fairground (about $35) so we could take it into the dealer for repair early on Monday morning and we picked it up on Friday afternoon.

Cost of RV Repair: $1,000 (fully covered by manufacturer) Actual Cost to Us: $0

As a side note, we had hoped Happy Daze could also fix the propane leak at this time but they advised they were too busy (in fairness it was July) so we just continued dealing with it by keeping the propane tank turned off, cooking outdoors on our BBQ and electric hotplate and running the generator to keep the fridge cold while driving. Hence, we hardly used any propane at all in 2014.

Dealer Review: Would we recommend Happy Daze? At the time of repair we thought they did a decent job, but we were disappointed they were unwilling or unable to repair our propane leak when they had it in their shop for 4 days. However, our biggest concern was that the sidewall paint job began peeling within 18 months so we had it repainted by Tiffin in May 2016. Therefore, we probably wouldn’t return to Happy Daze unless we really had to.

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October 2014: 30K Engine Service / Oil Change

It was time for our first coach service (since buying it) so Marc bought the supplies – oil filter and synthetic oil (our RV uses 7 quarts) and we called a local Mobile RV Repair guy to do the RV oil change at our campground in Florence, Oregon. Calling a mobile service guy was super convenient as we didn’t have to pack up and take our coach anywhere, the guys did a good job and given the rain we got that week in Oregon, we sure are glad they were willing to do the dirty work! Be aware, however, that not all campgrounds allow certain repairs or oil changes onsite, so ask first.

Cost: $80 for service + $45 for supplies = $125

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December 2014: Fix Propane Leak (finally) – Replaced Furnace & Hose

With winter looming, it was time to get our propane leak fixed once and for all. We contacted Mike Thompson RV in San Bernadino, CA and worked with them to ensure we wouldn’t be out of our home on wheels for long. They assured us they could identify and fix the problem within 24 hours, so we only had to spend one night in a motel ($50). After several hours of thorough testing to determine the source of the leak(s) they replaced a hose with pinholes and the front furnace.

As the biggest – and most costly – repair to our coach so far, this was covered under our RV extended warranty, also known as extended service contract (minus deductible), along with an electrical repair they made to the main ceiling light wiring which intermittently turned off when the main slide was out.

Here is what our extended service contract covered:

  • Labor for furnace testing and repair (5 hours = $525)
  • LP leak detection fluid ($15.98)
  • Furnace hose ($67.75)
  • Furnace ($821.70)
  • Ceiling light wiring part and labor ($5.56 part + $157.50 labor)

Total Total of RV Repairs: $1,593.49 (covered under extended service contract)

Actual Cost to Us: $517.26 (deductible + some tax) + $50 for motel = $567.26 (saved $1,076.23)

Dealer Review: Would we recommend Mike Thompson RV? Yes, we were extremely happy with their service which was both prompt and thorough. They went above and beyond in every way, even making a small body trim repair to the front of our coach at no cost. We would return to them in a heartbeat and absolutely recommend them. And no, we don’t have any affiliation with them or any other shop mentioned in this article!

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December 2014: Light Bulb Replacement x 2

While at Mike Thompson RV, we picked up a couple of LED bulbs from their supplies store to replace two non LEDs that had burned out – one for the refrigerator and one for inside the closet.

Cost: $16.50 

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February 2015: Replace RV Shower Hose Ring

The bronze shower hose ring affixed to the bathroom wall that holds the shower hose in place is only made of plastic so it eventually broke. We found a replacement on Amazon and Marc was able to switch it out in just a few minutes. Easy peasy.

Cost: $13.95 

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March 2015: Annual Vehicle Inspection + Replace Tag Light

When it came time for our vehicle inspection in Texas, they found the tag light (which illuminates the rear license plate) wasn’t working. They passed our RV vehicle (just $7) based on our sworn promise that we’d replace the light pronto. Tiffin shipped us the part and it was another quick and easy install for Marc.

Cost: $7.00 for Vehicle Inspection Certificate + $12.37 for part & shipping = $19.37

YEAR 2

July 2015: Replace RV Shower Hose Ring (again)

No, it wasn’t a faulty part, even though it’s only made of plastic. This time I have to confess that I (Julie) slipped in the shower, grabbed the shower hose handle and promptly broke the ring again. D’oh!

Cost: $13.95 

July 2015: 35K Engine Service + Chassis Lube + Service Generator

While staying at Thousand Trails in St Clair, MI we found a shop in nearby Port Huron (Hill’s Garage) that was big enough to handle our RV to perform an oil change, lube the chassis and service the generator (238 hours) for the first time since we’d bought the coach. Marc bought the oil and the filters needed for the RV along with filters and oil for our 7K Onan generator. It took the shop 2 hours for them to do the work all up and labor costs came in at about $150.

Cost: $270 including all parts and labor

Dealer Review: Would we recommend this shop? Yes, we were very happy with Hill’s Garage and would definitely return.

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August 2015: Replace Broken Plastic Fridge Door Shelf

One of our plastic fridge door shelves was cracked and it finally gave way completely. No big deal, but I have to admit I was shocked at how expensive a simple, silly plastic shelf can be! Camping World wanted $60 plus shipping – seriously!? But I managed to save at least $20 by buying it from Dyers online.

Cost: $48.46 for part & shipping 

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November 2015: Replace Water Heater, Fix Driver Side Window Switch

Marc discovered water pooling on the main living area floor between the cabinet and dining area. Initially he thought it was coming in from when we pulled the slides in. But upon closer investigation, he realized it was coming from the bathroom – a leaking water heater. When we brought the coach off it’s leveling blocks and the RV tilted forward, the water that had pooled underneath the heater ran underneath the cabinets and into the living area. This is definitely one of the advantages of living full-time in your RV. You’re able to notice and rectify issues like this immediately as opposed to having it sit for weeks or months in between trips which could cause extra damage and create a nasty mold problem.

We arranged to take our coach into Camper’s Inn of Mocksville, NC near our campground at TT Forest Lake. They diagnosed the problem, ordered a replacement (ours is a 6 gallon Atwood) and sent us back to our campsite until the part came in. We returned a few days later and they completed the install of the new water heater, removed the cabinets to check for water damage and treated the area to prevent mold occurring.

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While we were in the shop, they also checked our kitchen sink pipe adjustment as they occasionally leak when the sink is full of water ($60 labor). They installed a new driver’s side window switch (Marc thought he had fixed this but the problem kept recurring) and also rewired the rear license plate wiring as it kept shorting out the bulb.

Here is what our RV extended service contract covered:

  • Water heater part ($796.57) and labor ($300)
  • Driver’s side window switch ($18.99) and labor ($60)
  • Freight for parts ($23.86)

It did not cover:

  • Labor for the shop to build a new wooden base for the water heater ($60)
  • In-line valve for water heater x 2 ($25.81)
  • License plate re-wiring ($60)
  • Kitchen sink pipe check and adjustment ($60)
  • Shop supplies ($9)

Total of Repairs: $1,414.23 (covered under extended service contract)

Actual Cost to Us: $500 deductible + 214.81 = $714.81 (saved $699.42)

Dealer Review: Would we recommend Camper’s Inn? Yes, absolutely, everyone was professional, efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. We would definitely go back.

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March, 2016: 40K Engine Service + Annual Vehicle Inspection

As we’re officially Texans now, we stopped in to get our annual vehicle inspection along with an oil change at Trucks and Tracks in Columbus, TX – it was the only local shop we could find that could deal with a large RV like ours. Marc bought the oil and filter, as usual, the service side of the job went smoothly. Our oil cap was missing so they also ordered a replacement for that. However, our TX State Safety Vehicle Inspection cost us a LOT more than the $7 it should have, as they found the 5 Amber Clearance Lights above the windshield weren’t working and spent another couple of hours trying to pry them off in an attempt to fix. They were unsuccessful, charged us $150 for their time and we left without a vehicle inspection certificate. Needless to say, we were bummed about the wasted time and money without a satisfactory outcome. (Two months later, as you’ll find below, Tiffin fixed the clearance light issue in 5 minutes by replacing a fuse. A fuse, can you believe it!? )

Cost of Service: $176.57 for parts, labor and environmental fee

Cost of Oil Cap: $15.37

Cost to Inspect Faulty Clearance Lights: $150 (!)

Dealer Review: The oil change went fine but based on our annoyance, frustration and costs relating to the amber lights issue alone, we would not return to Trucks and Tracks.

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May 2016: Several RV Repairs while visiting Tiffin HQ

We initially planned a trip to Tiffin to do the factory tour but in the lead up to our visit, we found a number of relatively minor items that needed attention. You may have already seen our video outlining the things we wanted Tiffin to take care of in this video but we have listed them below for easy reference.
  • Replaced fuse for amber clearance lights above windshield ($9.50)
  • Repaired main coach door shock absorber – screws wouldn’t stay in side wall ($47.50)
  • Adjusted basement door latches (x2) to close properly ($29.83)
  • Replaced toilet – clunking sound, leaking gasket ($180.04)
  • Replaced water pump which literally broke down while we were in the service bay! ($94.82)
  • Checked slides to see if adjustment needed ($47.50)
  • Checked and lubricated leveling jacks (no charge)
  • Checked tank sensors – weren’t showing empty after dumping tanks (no charge)
  • Repaired peeling paint from coach sidewall repair (related to repair in July 2014) (no charge)
  • Inspected and touch up paint on a scuff on top rear corner of roof (no charge)

Cost: $427.82 including parts, labor and tax

We also filmed our actual experience in the service bay at Tiffin, Red Bay and shared it in the video below.

Dealer Review: Would we recommend the Tiffin Service Center? We think it’s pretty evident from our videos and articles so far, it’s a resounding yes! These guys work on Tiffins day in and day out, so they were able to troubleshoot and fix our issues quickly and easily and we were thrilled at how much we got fixed on our coach for so little. It may not be that way for everyone, but for us, it was a breeze.

May 2016: Miscellaneous Items Replaced

Windshield Wiper Blades: $39.38

Sink drainer/plug: $8.62

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So what’s been our total out of pocket coach repair and service costs in the time we’ve owned it? Drum roll please…..

2 Years of RV Repairs & Service: $2,900 = average of $1,450 / year

The first year actually came in at $1,034.92 and the second year was $1,864.98 – which averages out at under $1,450 a year or about $121 a month. During our planning phase, we had actually budgeted $100 a month for RV repairs and service so it’s not too far off our guesstimate. We think that’s pretty reasonable for a home on wheels that has traveled over 40,000 miles around the country, with 20,000 of them driven by us!

It’s important to keep in mind that we do have an RV extended warranty service contract which has saved us $1,848.53 so far. Without that, our expenses would have totaled $4,748.43 over the 2 years, an average of $2,374.21 per year ($198/month). We definitely appreciate the extra peace of mind this coverage brings us, knowing that the cost of most major repairs is capped at our deductible of $500.

When it comes time for us to change/upgrade our coach, we’ll definitely be buying another Extended Service Contract – we like having as much certainty as possible when it comes to managing our expenses and we don’t like nasty surprises so for us, we just consider it part of the overall cost of owning an RV – or any home. Of course, much like insurance, you never know if or when you’ll need to use it, but at least you can relax more when you know you are covered for the unexpected.

Summary 

Overall, we have found the cost of RV repairs and servicing to be quite reasonable, but remember, we live and travel in our RV full-time and no longer own a stick and brick, so our RV costs are not on top of the expenses related to also owning a home. We do take excellent care of our motorhome, keep a keen eye on things and Marc is quite handy so he’s able to do a number of smaller repairs himself – all of that makes a difference.

Remember, for our comprehensive post on the costs of 6 years of RV ownership click here.

So now, we want to hear from you!

How does this compare with what you spend on annual coach repairs and service? Is your coach trouble free or do you have a horror story or two? What do you spend on RV repairs and servicing each year?

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GOT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

We would love to hear from you. Drop us a note in the comments section below.

27 thoughts on “2 Years of RV Repairs & Service Costs”

  1. Were the repairs covered by a standard warranty or was is part of an extended warranty? If it was Extended – can you say who you use? We are having such a time trying to pick an Extended warranty company and even deciding if its worth it or just to set up a repair account ourselves.

    Reply
    • Hi Christene – was this question meant for us or one of the other commenters on the article? We specified that for each repair in our article… most repairs were covered by an extended warranty except the fiberglass repair work which was covered by Tiffin. This article is a comprehensive overview of extended warranties and our experience – both with and without an RV extended warranty. https://rvlove.com/planning/rv-extended-warranties-are-they-worth-it – This should help you decide whether to self insure or get a policy – this is very much a personal choice and a matter of risk tolerance. We currently have an extended RV warranty through Wholesale Warranties on our 2019 Casita Travel Trailer. Hope this helps – the article is very detailed and should answer a lot of questions for you. Good luck!

      Reply
  2. Our experience with all the repair shops we have taken our class A diesel pusher is that we’re more than welcome to stay in our coach. No need for hotels. We actually stayed once at a dealership for a whole month – long story – covid related…
    Anyway we have found the myth that you have to find aternative accommodations while your motorhome is being repaired false.
    We stayed at repair facilities in Oregon, Texas and Georgia. All made us feel very welcome.

    Reply
    • Hi Annell

      More often than not, we too, have been able to stay in our motorhome while it is being repaired. As stated in the article. However, there ARE occasions when we – and many other RVers – are unable to stay in our RV while it is being repaired. We believe what you mean by your statement “the myth that you have to find aternative accommodations while your motorhome is being repaired false” – is, in fact, incorrect. What you are probably meaning to say is that based on your experience to date, you have not had to stay in alternative accommodations. Depending on the type of repair needed and/or the facility you are having the repair done, at some point you WILL find yourself in a situation where you are unable to stay in your RV while being repaired and need to find alternative accommodations. It just has not happened to you YET. We have been made to feel welcome at many RV repair facilities too – but it is just not always possible. Case in point – for one repair on our motorhome, the vehicle was immobilized and needed to stay INSIDE the shop which was locked up at night, while waiting for parts to come in. Due to insurance/liability issues, we were not permitted to stay inside the RV in the shop overnight, and the vehicle was immobile, so we were unable to move it out of the shop to stay in it on their lot overnight. It’s important to point this out, as your statement calling our comments ‘false’ is misleading….. your opinion is based on your own experience – it is not exactly an accurate ‘fact’. We felt it was important for people to point this out and for people to know that sometimes they will NOT be able to stay in their RV. Or is simply may not be comfortable for them to do so. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Managing expectations is very important and there is NO hard and fast rule that RVers can always stay in their RVs while at a repair shop. Glad you have been able to stay at shops yourself and made to feel welcome. As stated, that is most often the case for us too. But not always – and it was not because we weren’t welcome, but due to prevailing factors at the time. Just wanted to clear that up.

      Reply
  3. The ideal way to slash RV repair costs is to do repairs yourself. At first it will not be easy but with the passage of time and learning curve you will achieve this impossible looking task. RV manual is the best thing to start with. Other than manuals there is lot of information and testimonials available on the internet which can help you out with everything ranging from how to repair your RV roof to fixing up your outdoor awning. RV roof repairs are not that difficult if you have the right kind of coatings e.g., RV Roof Magic.

    Reply
  4. Hello Marc and Julie, I actually found you from an RV resale company that the salesman recommended your Blog. that being said, it has been very informative. I lived in a Class C RV for 2 years saving money to buy my first house in ’94 … Pre marriage, that being said, now 23 yrs later and getting divorced I find myself in same situation. I’m researching the cost and availability / affordability to live back into a much larger Class A/Diesel for a couple of my kids to enjoy with me. Your insite and information is invaluable to someone like myself and just wanted to say thanks. I’m actually looking into the remodel option. what is the best “Base” importance if you know you will be remodeling an RV?

    Reply
    • Hi Darrell, so glad you found us – welcome! Happy to hear our content has been helpful to you! And how ironic you have come full circle in your living situation. The RV life is a pretty great option if you ask us! In answer to your question, look for a used, quality DP. Don’t be afraid to buy older… the quality was better up to 2008… you will still need to spend money on it, but it will have also done a lot of the depreciation already. If you find a motorhome with a floorplan/layout that works for you – or can be easily modified for your needs – and is well built, the renovations should hold up over time. Ours has – it’s been a year already and still in great shape. Did you see our Ultimate RV Makeover Series on the blog and YouTube? You will get a lot out of those (useful tips, and entertaining too) and find them here https://rvlove.com/rv-makeover May we also recommend you pick up a copy of our book “Living the RV Life – Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road” – it will help you immensely with a ton of information covering every aspect of what you need to know to get started (again) in the RV Life. You can find it (and read reviews) here https://rvlove.com/rvlife – Enjoy the journey – it’s a lot of work but fun too, to personalize your RV and make it your own!

      Reply
  5. We have a travel trailer (new-haven’t used, yet) but I appreciate you outlining all that has gone wrong and how you remedied it. My husband doesn’t “believe” in extended warranties, but it looks like we should consider them when we do start living in our RV full time. Great article!

    Reply
  6. We are in process of purchasing a 2013 Thor Tuscany XTE 36MQ and are very excited. The dealer is offering a four year extended warranty for $8,000 which I think is extremely high. I know they would be making money off of this. I believe we can find an alternative plan for a longer period of time and less money but am confused as to who to contact to find out. We have until 07/23/2016 which is when we are to take delivery. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • HI Darlene, trust you received my email with the info but for those reading this article with the same question, here is the info from our Resources Page and a recommendation for a comparison quote:
      Wholesale Warranties – Click the link to get competitive and obligation-free quotes on an Extended Service Contract for your RV, or to get a cost estimate for one you are considering buying to help you as you budget. Extended Service Contracts can offer peace of mind knowing you’re covered for larger, expensive repairs on your RV even after the initial manufacturer warranty period. Their service and pricing is excellent and it’s definitely worth considering and obtaining an obligation-free quote. Especially as dealers can be more expensive.

      Reply
      • Hi Julie,
        We purchased our first MH 1 month ago, an Itasca/Solei 38R, with 6300 miles. We bought a service warranty, up front, for around $6600. After arriving home (1300 miles later), I shopped a bit to see how big a mistake I had made. I received a quote from the Good Sam Club for $1148/yr, locked in for 4 years. This would cover the entire rig, including tires and windshield, with a $250 deductible. What I bought is coach only. I have no idea how comparable the 2 policies are, but the latter could be paid monthly. It did not cover preexisting issues, of which we had many. We shall see.

        Reply
        • Hi Nick, thanks for sharing your experience. Who is your warranty with and what’s the deductible The amount you paid sounds in the ballpark of what we’ve seen but of course each contract is different. I have also heard that Good Sam has some exclusions and after our recent experience with their Roadside assistance (article coming up) I would probably think long and hard with getting a GS policy. It’s on my “to do list” to do a deep dive into the warranty options and report on it… hopefully you won’t have too many issues with yours, but we just had another extended warranty claim last week ($500 deductible) so that makes for 3 claims since we purchased in 2014. Averaging once a year. Cheers, Julie

          Reply
        • Hi Nick, Congrats on your new MH! It definitely pays to cross check the differences in inclusions and EXclusions of the policy as well as compare deductibles.. perhaps the preexisting issues is what you paid the extra for and may be worth it? At the end of the day, what you are buying is peace of mind and we never really know how much or little we will use our policies, so far we’ve made 3 claims in 2.5 years. But we were lucky we inherited our policy from the previous owner. Keep us posted and safe travels!

          Reply
  7. Hi Julie & Marc,

    I’m always amazed at the informative content of your articles.

    Our maintenance and upgrade expenses after two years of ownership, 2012 Tiffin Allegro 36LA as 2nd owners is quite similar to yours. Our monthly expense budget is 2x yours because we include tire replacement in 3+ years.

    Sharing your link on our social media connections.

    Happy Trails… until we meet again,
    – Jay, Lynda & Artie

    Reply
    • Hi Jay, Lynda and Artie – ha, thanks! Yes we always like to create content that we wish had existed when we were starting our research before hitting the road, having so much detail and real life data can help remove some of the unknowns. That said, with RVing (and life) there are ALWAYS unknowns, but when you have no idea what to expect cost wise before hitting the road… well, we just hope this kind if info is useful to others. We are replacing tires in a few weeks so that will fall into year 3 expenses. Thanks for sharing! See you in the southwest 🙂

      Reply
  8. Thanks for the article. It was informative. I’ve been tracking RV repair and operating costs since 2008 for our 2000 Winnebago Brave. We’ve put on about 110,000 (58,000 when purchased) miles. Our total operating cost are $0.83/mile with repair costs of $0.39/mile.

    We purchased an Xtra Ride policy when we bought the coach. I’ve had mixed results from them. What turned me off was when I had a major problem near the end of the mileage limit on the policy. They refused to cover the repair because they said it happened after I exceeded the 30,000 mile limit even though the issue arose before we exceeded the limit. Since we were on the road at the time, it took a couple of days to get to a repair shop. In retrospect I should have called as soon as I experienced the problem, but I didn’t realize I was that close to expiration. several years ago I’ve decided it’s worthwhile to go without a policy and pay as I go because of the cost or unavailability of a policy for a 16 year old coach with 165,000+ miles on it.

    Reply
    • Hi Vince. Wow 8 years of expense tracking – impressive! You have done some serious miles! We currently have Xtra Ride too.. so thank you for sharing your experience. We will be sure to give the coach a good once over in the last year of our contract to avoid issues like you had. Yes, I expect it would either be near impossible or prohibitively expensive to get a policy on a coach of that age and miles. But how awesome you still get such great use out of it! But for newer coaches – when you can buy a policy more affordably, it probably makes more sense. Happy travels!

      Reply
    • HI Vince wow that is some serious miles – so great to see you getting so much enjoyment from your RV and tracking your expenses along the way. Excellent. I would agree that an extended service contract for an older coach like yours wouldn’t be worth it… and those older ones are sometimes simpler and can have less issues than newer, fancier coaches with more electronics and so many things that ‘can go wrong”. Probably more worthwhile for coached under 10 years old I’d say. Thanks for sharing your experience for the benefit of others!

      Reply
  9. Hi Julie and Marc,
    As usual great information. We are considering an extended warranty for our 2010 Allegro Red 38QBA. My question is what was the cost to purchase your warranty and how many years is it good for?
    Thanks,
    David

    Reply
    • Hi David, thank you. Glad you found it helpful. Our policy was for 5 years – March 2013 to March 2018. We bought the coach in May 2014 and only had to pay the $75 transfer fee to get it into our name form the previous owner. I don’t know what they paid for it but I have already put in a call to the dealer rep last week to find out the cost of the original policy. And I also want to get new quotes on our rig from several providers so I can present the info in a separate blog post as a comparison. It is definitely worth shopping around – I think you’ll get a very competitive quote from Wholesale Warranties. Most important thing it to be very clear on what is and what is not included in the policy. Our deductible is $500 (the highest) as that is what was in the original policy… but the Service Manager at Mike Thompson (where we had our furnace repaired) said extended service policies were a ‘must have’ in his opinion but he said it was best to get one with a lower deductible so you don’t need to wait for a major repair (as we do) to make it worthwhile taking it in for a repair/making a claim. When I know more, will share it. A separate post about extended service contracts coming in the next few weeks as so many people have been asking us about them. Hope you’re enjoying your RED!

      Reply
  10. Hi Julie and Marc, wonderful article. Thanks for taking the time to write this! I wanted to know if you have Wholesale Warranty for your ESP? (that’s what showed up when I clicked on your highlight) I need to pick one and my head is spinning. The more I read reviews for all the companies the more confused I become. For every like of a company there’s a dislike. I have gotten quotes from the one the dealership offers, Wholesale Warranties and Good Sam. We are big on insurance coverages/ESPs and paying a premium for peace of mind on expensive purchases does not bother us. I know not everything is covered under these ESPs, and have read the fine prints. We just want to choose a reputable company who will pay or reimburse promptly. If your ESP wasn’t transferred to you, would you have chosen Wholesale Warranties? Also, is your Roadside Assistsnce with them too? Thank you for your help.

    Reply
    • Hi Joanne, yes you are like us, we don’t mind paying for the peace of mind. The policy we inherited is actually a Xtra Ride policy and we have had no issues, as you saw they paid up the 2 times we needed them. However if we were to purchase a new one next time, it would be from Wholesale Warranties, that’s why we link to them. We got a tire coverage policy from them and we really like the people, their service levels and their policies are generally more affordable for the same coverage level. Plus they can act as an advocate on your behalf when dealing with a claim. I am actually writing a more detailed blog post about this but it may be a couple of weeks before it is published. Would you like me to connect you with my contact at WSW to ask some questions and help reduce the confusion, help you make a decision? I think as long as you read the fine print on the policy and are clear on what IS and what is NOT covered, and choose a reputable company you should be OK. Dealers make good money on these policies at time of RV sale and so it definitely pays to shop around as you are. Our Roadside Assistance is with Good Sam. Hope that helps!

      Reply

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