Excessive Component Failure 2017 Suncruiser 38Q

[JB311FS]

Hi All;
We’ve owned many rv’s of 35’ plus, M/H’s and 5th wheels, and now we own a 2017 Winn 38q Suncruiser, V10, with 35k on it. We bought it used 2 1/2 years ago in Arizona thinking most problems would have been fixed by then, plus the new ones are way to pricey.
The coach / floorplan is awesome for our full time needs and it’s a top of the line gasser. The coach appeared like-new when we bought , had only 22k on it ,and everything worked fine the first year.
The last 1 1/2 years it’s turned into a real problem for us with parts failing and water leaks, here up North in WA State.
Some of the failures were expected due to general wear and tear, but others have been pretty major failures causing a lot of inconvenience due to us being full-timing rvers.
I’m a retired mech engineer and a gear head so I fix most broken items, but I’m getting pretty tired of it as it seems every place we travel to lately something breaks. I realize with most rvs it’s the nature if the beast, but give me a break.
I’ve given it top maintenance and do not push or abuse it ever and have fixed every problem when they arise.

Any thoughts or suggestions. Did we buy a lemon, a built-on-Friday rig, or?? From my pre-research I learned up front Winnebago was a quality unit and our’s was not a cheap model in 2017 standards. It still looks great.
Thanks; Jay W

 

[creativepart]

It’s impossible to answer your question. My 2017 Adventurer 37F, same model as the Suncruiser just slightly smaller, has been fine and I have 54,000 miles on it. Unlike yours, I bought mine new. So I know it’s complete history.

As to leaks, do you do the semiannual roof inspections and have you resealed everything like Winnebago advises? Have you monitored the roof radius/drip rail junction? That’s a must do.

You haven’t told is what’s been failing but living in a motorhome full time puts a huge strain on all the subsystems.

 

[Americanrascal-WO]

We have a 2016 38Q. Many of the major elements of our rig have failed since we acquired it new back in 2016. Like you I am a bit of an amature gearhead, but some of the components are so large and complex that when they fail it require professional attention. Our problems have been with the coach and the chassis. To name a few of the problems:

1. failure of each of the 3 slides at least 2 times and the largest one at least 3 times-- all of which have been with the gear/track systems. Required repairs in a qualified shop

2. Refridgerator failure twice. Once when it fell out of its mounting postition across into the kitchen area damaging the microwave (they did not strap it properly to the wall at the factory) and once for a failed circuit board.

3.Failed washing machine- replaced

4.Total failure of the infotainment system- replaced with new.

5.Water pump failure and replacement (coach)

6.Electric fire place failure (replaced with new)

7. Broken water line to fridge= repaired

8. Broken transmission shift cable (rubbed on exhaust)

9.Broken hood hinges- seperated from body. Repaired once in factory, since has failed again. Awaiting recall info

10. Front rooftop heat pump failed requiring replacement

11. Total replacement of engine due to valve failure.(wow was that ever pricey!)

12. Broken valve on water tank repaired and replaced

13 Replaced windshield twice due to rock damage-- big ching ching

14 Burned shore power plug and surge protector- replaced

and what seems like a million little things and a bunch of regular routine maintenance.

Many thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs.

All that said, we have come to accept that this is the norm for us. I expect something to fail any time now, but we will fix it and keep going. We really enjoy the rig and the comfort in travel that its offers as its part of our lives. We know that motorhomes take a beating while in travel and have come to accept they are a high maintenance asset (or liability depending on one's perspective).

We have kept a service contract on the rig and it has saved us a bunch of money overall.

85,000 brutal miles on ours criss-crossing the country visiting 46 states. This is our 8th RV in about 50 years of RVing and we become accustomed to the fact that repairs- many of which are major- are the norm. We will probably keep on trucking with it until the wheels fall off.

 

[creativepart]

Just to show it's all the luck of the draw on my 2017 37F. Here's my report:

1. failure of each of the 3 slides

Haven't had any failures... YET.

2. Refridgerator failure twice.

The Whirlpool Residential 110v fridge has been flawless.

3.Failed washing machine- replaced

Nope, both washer and dryer have been good.

4.Total failure of the infotainment system- replaced with new.

My Xite system was bad from day one and I got a new head unit from Riverpark the first month I owned the rig and replaced it myself.

5.Water pump failure and replacement (coach)

I had to rebuild the check valve and reset the pressure switch, but that's all.

6.Electric fire place failure (replaced with new)

Don't have one.

7. Broken water line to fridge= repaired

Nope.

8. Broken transmission shift cable (rubbed on exhaust)

Zero Chassis issues

9.Broken hood hinges- seperated from body.

Mine fell off during an oil change and the shop just glued them back on. No problems since.

10. Front rooftop heat pump failed requiring replacement

I had a bedroom unit fail and I paid to replace it. Then that unit failed within warranty and it was replaced for free.

11. Total replacement of engine due to valve failure.(wow was that ever pricey!)

WHOA Nelly. Yikes. No problems here.

12. Broken valve on water tank repaired and replaced

Nope.

13 Replaced windshield twice due to rock damage-- big ching ching

Two small rock hits fixed by Safelight

14 Burned shore power plug and surge protector- replaced

Nothing here either.

I have had the motors replaced in my front windshield shades this year. And, the furnace control board was replaced a few years ago.

I did have a leak at the driver's window usually a day after a big rain. I fixed it by resealing the roof radius at the joint of the front cap on the drivers side. The sealant had shrunk right where the drip rail ended at that joint. This fed water into the front cap which took a day or so to start dripping out of the headliner above the driver's window.

All together for 7+ years and 55K miles I've spent perhaps, $3000+ in total repairs. Plus of course, batteries and tires, etc. I never bought a Service Contract and I was quoted $4000 for a 4 year contract. So, I've come out WAAAAAY ahead.

 

[Morich]

Sometimes we tend to miss on the basics as we want to use things in ways they were never meant to be used.
On our RV, we tend to actually want a house! The difference is that RV are meant as "recreation" and no parts are built as if they were for a house!
If we were able to tie a hitch on our sticks built house and drag it a few thousand miles, we could expect lots of things to fail!
I'm betting the desk I'm using right now would not last even a thousand miles! My frig has been replaced three times in the last ten years and I'm needing a new roof.

We did the kinda full time for a few years and it does take a lot of strain off when we no longer drive the house! But we do now have to deal with mowing the grass. BUMMER! Who knew?
That reminds me. I need to change the furnace filters AGAIN!
But the oil is good for a long time yet!

Point is that we have to choose our poison and how we want it!

 

[dkoldman]

I can cite many reasons for buying used over new. Depreciation and new value on Day being by most #1 reasons and a good deal for a 1 or two year old car.

But I have never understood those that buy a used RV with hope or expectation that the previous owner may have fixed issues

If I had that worry / fret about any purchase, I simply would move on to buy something else.

In regard to below with respect t my brand new WGBO purchased in 2019.

1. failure of each of the 3 slides at least 2 times and the largest one at least

3 times-- all of which have been with the gear/track systems. Required repairs in a qualified shop

On full wall slide, no issues, always extend/retract with jacks down and with engine running, zero exceptions, thus far zero issues.

2. Refridgerator failure twice. Once when it fell out of its mounting postition across into the kitchen area damaging the microwave (they did not strap it properly to the wall at the factory) and once for a failed circuit board.

My complaint with the fridge is the inability to lock the door when driving. The detents use to close is a joke. I admit the issue is the weight of drinks on the door and hard 90 turns especially to the left, but it is only issue.

3.Failed washing machine- replaced

N/A

4.Total failure of the infotainment system- replaced with new.

N/A or I don't know where it is. If it is not working I don't know

5.Water pump failure and replacement (coach)

Two ShurFlo water pumps, no issues

6.Electric fire place failure (replaced with new)

N/A

7. Broken water line to fridge= repaired

N/A we have Frigidaire Icemaker that uses bottled water works great

8. Broken transmission shift cable (rubbed on exhaust)

No issues

9.Broken hood hinges- seperated from body. Repaired once in factory, since has failed again. Awaiting recall info

This occurred to us and Dealer wanted $1,500 for repair and the repair was going to be the same way it is manufactured so I refused. I worked with Mobile Tech and we redesign and have had no issues in 4 years. I would love for the recall to reimburse my expenses but we will see.

10. Front rooftop heat pump failed requiring replacement

N/A

11. Total replacement of engine due to valve failure.(wow was that ever pricey!)

No issues (I would sell my RV if that ever occurred)

12. Broken valve on water tank repaired and replaced

There is no valve on my water tank. If you are talking the City Fill / Normal valve then no issues. Although I think it could be labeled better with arrows to know which position the valve is oriented.

13 Replaced windshield twice due to rock damage-- big ching ching

I have had two windshield replaced due to rock damage as well. I have Progressive insurance so there was no out of pocket. The 1st time they used a aftermarket windshield and the second time they went with the WBGO OEM glass. Both times it was done at our house.

14 Burned shore power plug and surge protector- replaced​

Why didn't the surge protector protect the plug? I have a basic 50amp Southwire surge guard that I plug into pedestal to verify electricals. If good, I plug in the 50 amp shore cable and it plugs into a very pricey portable 50 amp Southwire EMS that the Transfer switch is connected to in my electrical bay.


As a rule, I NEVER buy an extended warranty. They wanted $7500 for 5 years. I spent $1,500 a year doing mods that I like as each year elapsed. I ironically the only issue I had ( the hood hinges) WBGO said it would NOT have been covered by the extended warranty anyway because it would have been considered a Mfg workmanship defect. As fate would be 4 years later WBGO is stating to fix as part of a recall.

So in summary, I have only bought one RV, and it is now going on 6 years. You couldn't get me to even look at another RV Mfg. I love WBGO. They Customer Service is always there and honest. I just follow the manual and do what they recommend when questions arise. I could create another list of all of the things that came with my coach that WBGO has installed that I didn't know that I would need. i.e. the MCD Shades, battery storage location etc.

 

[Eagle5]

Regarding:

• 11. Total replacement of engine due to valve failure.(wow was that ever pricey!)

I would recommend that the V-10 not be turned over 4,000 RPMs. Above those revolutions is pretty hard on the valves and cams. I also recommend 0W-40 oil:
Oil Viscosity and the Ford V-10
Eagle5

 

[Americanrascal-WO]

Regarding:

• 11. Total replacement of engine due to valve failure.(wow was that ever pricey!)

I would recommend that the V-10 not be turned over 4,000 RPMs. Above those revolutions is pretty hard on the valves and cams. I also recommend 0W-40 oil:
Oil Viscosity and the Ford V-10
Eagle5

Only rarely went over 4000 RPM's -watched the RPM gage fanatically. Regular oil changes to specs. Ford does have a good many stories of V-10's cam follower and lifter failures- Thats what took my engine out. Lifter fell down into block and service contract would not pay for the engine to be broken down for repair. Said they would only cover a new crate engine.

The infortainment system frame literally melted in the cabinet rendering it usless. I replaced the entire system (control box, video switch, and screen) myself from Riverpark. About $1500.

I never have been much a believer in service contracts, but we have been lucky that we carried one on this rig. We wanted it just for the catastrophic failures that ultimatly did occur. The failures of the A/C, 3 slides, and ultimatly the engine failure were very high cost items out of manufacturer's warranty. Those three issues alone have run over $25000 after the Ford and WBGO warranties had expired. We luckily have come out far ahead with the contract. With a $1K deductible I do many of the repairs myself. All that said I would not buy one on any other asset I own.

 

[Eagle5]

Regular oil changes to specs.

Before 2001, Ford specified 5W-30 for the V-10. Then, from 2001 to 2015, Ford specified 5W-20 oil to increase fuel economy, but it was at the cost of destroying the cams. Using 5W-30 might be OK, but in ultra-hot conditions is too thin. I currently use Mobil One 0W-40 in everything I own (including my Onan Generator.)
Eagle5

 

[Americanrascal-WO]

Before 2001, Ford specified 5W-30 for the V-10. Then, from 2001 to 2015, Ford specified 5W-20 oil to increase fuel economy, but it was at the cost of destroying the cams. Using 5W-30 might be OK, but in ultra-hot conditions is too thin. I currently use Mobil One 0W-40 in everything I own (including my Onan Generator.)
Eagle5

My 2016 manual specs 5w-30 for the 2016 V-10. I previously owned a WBGO with a V-10 F53 from 2014 until 2016 and I agree the spec then was 5w-20. Like you, I use the 0w-40 in my genny. Ford tried to convince me to use 5w-20 in the new engine. Told them I was sticking with the manual spec of 5w-30 on the new engine. So far glad I have been using it with15K miles on the new engine and shes running well. We typically don't run much during the warm months but do our RVing in the cooler shoulder months and winter here in the south.