10-03-2023, 06:10 AM
(10-02-2023, 06:33 AM)Richard Wrote: I put this in the things to consider column to potentially aid a buyer in assessing the cost of replacing the airbags on a coach.
I was lurking on the Wanderlodge forum, reading a similar post. A well known suspension shop in the Pacific Northwest had quoted a Wanderlodge member 10k to replace the airbags. That quote included parts and labor. I think the gentlemen got it done using an independent tech for a total of 6800.
The cost of airbags, like tires, has almost doubled. And for those who have changed their own, the labor is intense, dirty, and challenging.
I am kind of thinking on 8 airbag coach, the rears would be in the neighborhood of 400 each, and the two fronts about 600 each. Obviously more if sourced from the mothership. So the minimum parts would be just under 4k. Based on my own ineptness in doing the work several times, about 3 or 4 hrs per air bag. Using 3 hrs per bag at shop rate of 150 results in labor of about 4800 in labor, so the 10k quote was not out of the question.
I am curious what others experience would say about my estimates.
I am trying to get a 2023 cost for some of the major maintenance items that a new owner may face in taking over a used coach.
I also would like to hear about any recent radiator replacement costs.
My purpose is to give a potential buyer a tool in helping assess the price of a used coach, and to anticipate what maintenance costs may be incurred if these items are not reasonably fresh:
For example:
Slide seals
Radiator
Brakes
Tires
Airbags
AirCon Options and Costs
Would love to hear your thoughts on other items that should be on this list.
So the o e thing I will say about airbag replacement, the owner on WOG was talking about an FC and the bags on the front of them are quite difficult because the engine is there taking up a ton of real estate. I have not removed any airbags on my Newell yet, but by looking at them, mounting locations and accessibility, I think it would be similar to my PT, and I think I could change a bag in an hour or less each based on my experience, so hopefully a good mechanic could do similar time. This is not including the time to raise the coach and support it of course. Now one thing that did catch me off guard was how much time it took me to change the front shocks on the IFS84 suspension. Removal was fairly straightforward and probably took 20 minutes each shock, but the install I was not prepared for. Getting the new bushings to squeeze into the slot was a chore, finally worked out a better method but still took some fiddling to get the bushings in where they were not distorted and you could get the bolt through. Greasing everything was the trick to getting them to slide in better. Anyways what I thought might be a 2 hour job turned into closer to 8 hours at least and lots of colorful language.
So something else would be the air system.
Looks like my air dryer filter had not been changed in a while or maybe not at all. It was rusted on, had to beat it off with a mini sludge hammer and big drift jabbed into the filter. I hate having to do that but the thing was not moving and I broke my big strap wrench trying to get it freed up.
I am sure you know this Richard but some of the costs may widely vary based on how well things weee cared for, and it may be just as important to find a coach that has service history so you know that things were taken care of.
I know that a lot of things on my bus were cared for by it’s previous owner, I can tell by the spare parts I have found in the bays. But apparently some things appear to be overlooked. Air systems seem to be a common system that people overlook, just because I think they are not used to having them on any other vehicle.
Jeff LoGiudice
Temple Terrace, Fl
1984 Bluebird Wanderlodge PT40
1998 Newell 2000 #490
1986 MCI/TMC 102A3 (sold)