Annual or Semi-Annual Maintenance

[GrandRover]

Here is a list I received from a remote RV repair company. I am not too interested but wondered what others thought are on the frequency and the pricing. BTW this company wants $170 for the "service charge" just to come and inspect the roof / exterior.

• Recommended every visit or 90 days:
- Roof/ Exterior Sealant & Condition I nspection -
C omplimentary
• Recommended every 6 months:
- Slide - out maintenance, L ubrication and S eal T reatment -
$ 60.00 per slide
- LP Drop test check for leaks - $65.00
- Battery Service - $27.50 per Battery
• Recommended Yearly:
- Leveling System Service and Lubrication - $135.00 ( fluid not
included)
- LP Appliance System Service including Drop Test for leaks -
$240.00
- A/C unit M aintenance ( every 6 months if used full time) -
$120.00 per unit
- Electrical Charging System Check ( needs 110v power) -
$135.00
- Aqua - H ot Annual Maintenance - - $405.0 0
( 5 year complete flush $ 810.00 plus current fluid cost)

 

[16ACE27]

Looks like high profit gravy work to me.

Slide lubrication? Not IAW Lippert recommendations
Battery maintenance? $30 to check water level IF FLA, maybe a load test?
A/C maintenance? Clean the drop out filters and ???????? It's a sealed system
LP drop test but it's also included in the $240 LP appliance service. Is that PER LP appliance? Fridge, Oven, WH, Furnace?

 

[ducksface]

Sheep are for shearing.

The
'CrispyCreme donuts were due out of the fryer so I didn't have time to do a pdi'
'My husband called and said there was a dead spider in the bathtub so I had to rush home and didn't do a pdi'
'I ordered my rv on-line, had never seen one in person, had it dropped off at the house because I was busy at the pet groomer having Dinkums glands squeezed...so my question is: Where do I find the keys?'
Drive-By Singular Post Gangs

Deserve this service at these costs.

 

[Judge64]

I have to agree with Ace....... there are some maintenance items but not what they are recommending or for those prices.

 

[GrandRover]

I have to agree with Ace....... there are some maintenance items but not what they are recommending or for those prices.

My thoughts too but wanted to hear from others. To me the prices are high.

 

[ducksface]

Don't those prices and jobs correspond directly, and are closely related to;
Those must have your roof inspected on a regular basis type lifetime(or whatever the are)dealer warranties?

Many folks seem to have those.

This is not an opinion on the costs of the op list because if you're unable and worried or just completely stupid, you'll pay those.
(And they may be more directed at a Newell not a 2004 henway)

 

[Judge64]

I have to agree with Ace....... there are some maintenance items but not what they are recommending or for those prices.

My thoughts too but wanted to hear from others. To me the prices are high.

Back a few RV's ago..... and RV I bought came with the so-called "Lifetime Warranty"

But the catch was it had to have an annual inspection and maintenance by the dealer or equivalent as / if needed to keep the warranty valid and it had to be documented.

Back then a dealer would charge about $200 - $300 and several of those services included. However, there are things on that list that are incorrect in terms of maintenance.

The seals can / should be treated but not the slide mechanism is not lubricated if it is a Schwintek mechanism as one example.

The leveling system should need no maintenace if there aren't any leaks. You can clean the unit and inspect the hoses for wear and look for leaks, etc but nothing more. Fluid is not needed unless there is a leak or it was improperly filled at the factory.

An electrical charging check for $135 borders on hogwash.

A propane appliance leak test should be done but that price is laughable.

If you apply EternaBond Tape over all of the Dicor properly, the roof will never need maintained other than cleaning once a year.

Duck is also correct...... if you can't do these items because of age or physical limitations, then you have to pay someone to do it. But many of the items can easily be learned (like battery maintenance) with the more complex ones being done by a Tech.

Even cleaning the A/C is something many people can do... unless they are unable / unwilling to get on the roof. I do my own home central A/C maintenance twice a year instead of paying the local A/C shop to do it.

If you need to have someone do the work, I would shop around with this list and ask for a one-price quote and see how it aligns with this one. Down here in Florida there are a lot of RV Shops.

You also say "remote" RV repair shop so it sounds like this is a mobile tech. They do often charge more than a brick & mortar shop including charges just to show up like the $179.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

They missed:
Change blinker fluid... $30
Inspect muffler bearings... $45

 

[Lt Keefer]

Plums are ripe for the picking.

 

[Redsand]

Let us not forget the fragilator servicing. Might cause misconfliguation if ignored.

 

[MJC68]

Not knowing the OP's physical or mechanical abilities paying someone to do yearly maintenance may be required. However, most of the pricing on that list is just stupid high. And as already stated by others some of those items on the list are basically crap. Electrical charging system check? Leveling system service and lube? Fluid is extra?
A/C unit maintenance might be legit if it includes clean the roof top coil & check mud dobbers haven't plugged the drain holes. Still at $120 they ought to throw in the roof inspection

 

[GrandRover]

Not knowing the OP's physical or mechanical abilities paying someone to do yearly maintenance may be required. However, most of the pricing on that list is just stupid high. And as already stated by others some of those items on the list are basically crap. Electrical charging system check? Leveling system service and lube? Fluid is extra?
A/C unit maintenance might be legit if it includes clean the roof top coil & check mud dobbers haven't plugged the drain holes. Still at $120 they ought to throw in the roof inspection

OP here, I agree that the prices are stupid, especially the service charge just to come out to my location. Electro Mechanically I am experienced after 37+ years installing and servicing x-ray systems, but not experienced on motor homes. But I am getting ready to attend RVTi for their level 1 and level 2 training and certification so hopefully that will provide some good knowledge. Otherwise I certainly know my way around Google searches, you-tube, etc.

Physically it is a little tough to climb the rear ladder to get on the roof but I have done it a few times.

I contacted that company after chatting with a fellow RV owner while at the service center. We talked about roof inspections and he told me about the company he uses which is who I contacted.

Since then I got up on the roof and washed it and inspected the caulk. Everything looks good.

In all of this my main concern is making sure the roof is in good shape. The last thing I want is a water leak. And I have had conflicting information / advice given to me. The dealer claims re-caulking needs to be done every three months. An RV mobile tech friend (not the company that gave me the quote) said every three years. This friend travels a lot and is gone 6 months a year from May to November so is not available.
Interestingly the dealer also told me that the darker grey caulk on my roof was just dirty which is why I washed it. Great news, it is just a darker caulk. See attached photos.



Thanks for your feedback!

 

[Muggs]

Maintenance in most cases easy with a little experience.

We check everything periodically and cycle systems to be certain RV ready to use.

Labor rates high for virtually anything these days.

I keep getting quotes for service from dealers for all stuff I do myself. Just put 4 new tires on Traverse because I do not want to pay $400 to $600 above tires to take to tire store. I also get to pick grade of tires.

 

[lwmcguire]

The largest block of new jobs last report was government related. RV maintenance must have been second to fulfill all the inspections and collect the charges for showing up.

If someone is physically incapable of doing minor Maintenace or unwilling, then something else should be set up to do actual required maintenance and check things over. Our local RV service centers start at $150 and go up based on service area of the RV, plumbing is higher. Truck centers are around $160 per hour for RV's so things can add up. However up the road they are at $140 per hour to work on your ATV/UT so it is a new world and until the money runs out seems to be lining a few pockets.

 

[Muggs]

Sorry typo. I meant quotes for service.

Site Team Edit - Nevermind - fixed in post above.