True Story
I was looking for an older, first generation Cummins 5.9 diesel engine for a project I was working on. The reason for wanting this old of an engine was its reliability, and that it doesn’t require computers and electronics for the engine to run. Eventually I found one in a marketplace ad that caught my eye. The ad said it was a re-manufactured Cummins engine that was removed from an older motorhome.
I went to look at the engine, and asked the owner about its history. I was told a guy had a 1993 motorhome and the original engine was bad so he bought this Cummins re-manufactured engine and had it installed in the motorhome. Afterwards, he parked the motorhome for the winter. The following spring the owner discovered there was irreparable water damage in the roof, to the extent the RV was totaled. So, the person I bought the engine from bought the RV just for the engine.
The only miles put on the newly re-manufactured engine was driving it from the original owner’s house to the new owner’s house. He removed the engine and transmission and salvaged what remained. The project he had in mind for the diesel engine never came to fruition, so after agreeing on a price I took it home with me.
Along with the engine, I was given some miscellaneous parts, and a folder inside a protective cover. When I had time I sat down and went through the paperwork. The first thing that caught my attention was a work order with capital letters saying the cause for the original damaged motorhome engine was due to: NEGLECT OF ROUTINE AND SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. The next thing that caught my attention was it was a one owner RV and it only had 53,000 miles when the engine went bad. The RV was only 11 years old at the time!
The statement on the work order was followed by a litany of bad pars discovered on the engine during the inspection and disassembly. This is unbelievable for a sturdy diesel engine with only 53,000 miles to have damage to this extent. If the owner followed some fairly simple preventive maintenance procedures and had the engine and transmission serviced at regular intervals chances are it would still be road-worthy today.
The Cost of the Neglect?
The cost for the re-manufactured engine including parts, labor and deducting the old engine core was $8,625.00. And keep in mind, after storing it the following winter the RV was totaled due to water damage. More owner neglect that was easily avoidable through simple preventive maintenance procedures. The owner sold the RV for practically nothing just to have it removed from their property.
I was the fortunate recipient of the re-manufactured Cummins engine. Because it sat for many years since the rebuild in 2003, I went through the engine checking everything and replacing gaskets. Prior to attempting to start the engine I plan to get engine oil throughout the engine to lubricate all the moving parts.
After I went through the engine I painted it in preparation of installing it in my project vehicle.
The recipient of the new engine is my 1983 Dodge Ramcharger (pictured on the lift). I bought a 1-ton Dodge Ram 3500 donor truck and installed the 1-ton front and rear suspension on the 1/2-ton Ramcharger in anticipation of the added weight and torque from the Cummins engine.
I just got the rebuilt transmission back and the engine and transmission are ready to go in the Ramcharger. Through regular and routine maintenance procedures I expect this diesel engine to outlast the truck itself.
I mentioned earlier, the reason I wanted this particular engine is because it is all mechanical, meaning there are no computers, ECMs, PCMs or TCMs required for it to run. Ah, the good old days! These are desirable engines for that reason, and because they will go in excess of 500,000 miles if you keep up with the basic and scheduled maintenance procedures. It’s sad to see the original engine only lasted 53,000 miles and the RV only 11-years because of owner neglect.
The moral of this story is, “Don’t be that guy!”
RV owners, whether a motorhome or a tow vehicle, have a responsibility to maintain the engine, other running gear, and the RV itself. In the above example, after only 11 years of ownership not only did a 53,000 mile diesel engine go bad, but the RV roof too because of water damage.
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
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Good Morning Mark:
This is one of those articles that so many people need to read!
I see so many RV’s around my area that just sit outside and Look exactly like the motorhome picture you posted. Unfortunately, living in Louisiana the Heat and Rainy weather we have here take their toll on RV’s. There are literally around 100 RV’s close to my home that are in really bad shape and will cost the owners thousands to repair! My neighbor across the road rarely uses his small travel trailer and so it sits outside in the blazing heat and rain, slowly rotting away! My next door neighbor has a small travel trailer that has only been used 2 times, but I know it has had NO maintenance done, since they brought it home! Really sad to see this stuff, since people pay so much for these units and then let then ROT away in a driveway or back field someplace!
Fortunately, we have our 5th wheel stored in a Covered Shed with concrete floor! And I do regular maintenance and cleaning on it. Looks as good today as it did when we first brought it home!
Too bad your articled can’t get published in a National Publication someplace. It needs to be read by all owners of RV’s and prospective buyers of RV’s. Far too many people make those impulse purchases and have NO CLUE what is involved in owning an RV! And then when they find out the TRUE cost of ownership they either park the vehicle and leave it ROT or try to sell it and lose their shirt in the cost!
Good article!
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