One of the great anxiety producers of nomadic living is the possibility of a breakdown. Or a malfunctioning system. Or just one too many flat tires.
It has been my philosophy to worry the least about the things that are least likely to happen, but to be vigilant and prepared for that which is more likely and, in some cases, inevitable at some point.
How can we better know which repairs we should be most concerned about? What if we had some sort of data we could refer to? Well, let’s collect some. From all y’all.
Tell me what you’ve needed to repair during your vehicle-dwelling life. Major, minor, once, repeated… Everything you can think of. Send your response to editor.crvl@gmail.com or leave your comments here. Include relevant details, like the age and make of your rig, the circumstances, and particularly the cost and how long your rolling home was out of commission. I’ll go through the information and make some tables and graphs. So we can see what we should worry about. And what we might not need to.
2014 Ram Promaster 2500 Diesel. Broken glow plug.
New Top end -$10000 repair cost. Ended up selling. 3 month repair.
Tree fell on top of Promaster and as the top is welded in, the cost of replacement was also around $10K out of commission for 3 months for repair.
Headlight passenger side out. 3 times burned out in 2 years. My brother with the gas version has same headlamp problem. Risky because each time you need to do it, the headlamp needs to be removed and the part relies on plastic exterior trim to be held in. AS the sun destroys plastic, it is only a mater of time before one more time becomes the last time.
Loved some features of this van. I gambled that the use in Europe was a reasonable testing ground for the van. As the combustion requirements for the states are different, I would guess that is the reason for a different engine set up and hence the glow plug problem (?)
Ujoints and collar on a 2010 Chevy Express with 60,000 miles. Had it looked at locally in Quartzite but they could not order parts to repair and was not made to be lubed. Had to take it to Yuma to a DEALERSHIP.? That was enough to have me fearful through the whole process. I could not leave it for repair because I travel with 2 cats. I had to come back twice because when they stopped the drive shaft they found the collar was rusted as well ( I knew I had purchased a van with lots of rust underneath) I camped close to Yuma till part came in.(next day) They did fit me in the next day but I waited about 6 hours till it was repaired at a cost of just over $800.00. The service advisor had lied at the beginning when he said he called me back and when I stopped in to see about on hand or need to order stock the price of parts had doubled. So between driving around wondering if the thing would fall apart before I got it fixed and wondering if I would get a much higher cost than the ball park figure I was a wreck by the end of the whole thing. I tried to find some trusted mechanics on this site but couldn’t find anything helpful. I would not take my van back here but I did get the name of a trusted mechanic in Parker from the staff at Quiet Times in Quartzite. Am hoping maybe some input to people around Arizona or New Mexico that have done reputable work. I’m sure I will eventually need more than an oil change. ?
I had a good experience with Villanueva Auto Repair in Blythe. Also Joe’s Alignment, which had been recommended by Villanueva.
My 2019 Ram promaster 2500 high top needed new transmission at 35k miles. It was under warranty however took 12 weeks for repair. Dealer loaned me a Fiat 500 that I lived in with 50 lb dog.
Wow. That had to have been tough. I’m glad you made it through. Big dog. I’m traveling with 2 big dogs and 1 small dog. It’s tight but I manage as well.
I drive in 04 GMC Safari. I parked at one night, and the next morning it was a no start. I was across the street from Walmart so I walked over there and got a can of ether. When I sprayed the ether it started so that told me it was fuel-related. I got out and jumped out the fuel pump, and nothing. So I believed that the fuel pump was bad. I had a folding bike with me so I went to every parts house in town, and nobody had a fuel pump for that 6 cylinder GM motor, but one of the guys said he could have it in by 2:00 p.m. in the meantime, I did a whole bunch of searching online to determine where to cut a hole to access my fuel pump through the inside of the van because I had an almost full tank and there was no way I could just drop that in a shopping center parking lot to do it right. I cut a hole in the floor in the van. By then the fuel pump was ready. I went and picked up the fuel pump. Put it in and it started but it didn’t run right. So I looked and by accident when I was starting it on starting fluid I must have damaged my mass air flow sensor. So back to the parts store and they had one in stock. One entire day wasted, and about $225. I need to buy another fuel pump because I don’t trust the one that I bought out of an emergency in a a parts store.
WINNEBAGO SOLIS POPTOP:
Locks don’t hold. Mine popped up at 55mph. Nobody heard of that before, I must not have have followed instructions. No known damage but took 3 weeks to have them look at it. Then had to return for them to “fix it “. Still loosens and could pop up again. I now have my own fix.
Sorry, I have a 2021 Solis PX that I have been living in for a year.