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luberhill's avatar
luberhill
Explorer
Mar 09, 2015

? about Itasca 24v 2004

There is a local guy with a 2004 24v ,,,14k miles, new tires, 10 ply Michelins....he wants 26k.....

Price seems high ?

We kinda wanted this size or a little bigger BUT we wanted a slide and this doesnt have one....thoughts ?

8 Replies

  • We have a 2005 24 foot Itasca Class C with over 46K miles on it and without slides that we bought new in 2006. We love it ... it's "our baby". We've taken a couple of long trips in it of 9000 miles (10 weeks) and 7000 miles (8 weeks). We're planning on another long trip this fall and an Alaska trip next year or the year after. In the year 2005 is when Ford switched to the their computer controlled 5-speed (6 speeds internal) TorqShift transmission with a Tow/Haul mode. Unfortunately you'll not be getting this transmission in a 2004 Ford based Itasca.

    It's myself, the DW, and a small dog that travel in it. I'm 6'2" and use the cabover queen and find it very comfortable. I can almost sit up fully in the cabover queen. The DW has a bad back, so must sprawl out on the rear corner bed in order to get good sleep. The DW finds this rear corner queen bed - with the stock Winnebago-supplied mattress - more comfortable than the bed in our stickhouse $$$$ bed.

    Ours has many options, including being on the optional E450 Ford chassis, which gives it great handling, breaking, and cooling ... but a bit stiff ride way back in the rear. The ride in the front cab is superb. Winnebago quality and workmanship is excellent in our rig - including the single piece fiberglass roof with rolled downward edges all along the length of each side for great roof leak prevention - which may still be under it's 10 year warranty.

    Boy ... I guess prices are declining faster than I thought. I can't conceive of letting ours go for anywhere near $26K. Of course the Itasca you're considering has absolutely outstanding low mileage on it.

    If it's in excellent condition (chassis and coach) with some options, I'd say it's a great deal. Plus ... if it's been stored under a roof (out of the sun) all that time when not being used ... I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
  • Seems a little high to me too. But it depends on the market. I'd say about $5000 less would be more reasonable. Does it have something expensive like hydraulic levelers, or specialized suspension besides the new tires? Does it have extra or AGM house batteries and a solar array and inverter? Does it have a fantastic temperature controlled vent fan? These might add to the bottom line but if it is stock, that is not something to pay more for low mileage. If you do think you like it and want to deal, would he let you get it leak tested? An RV that old without leaks is desirable.
  • pnichols seems to be impressed with his. $24k may be a sweet deal.

    pnichols wrote:
    DeanCHS1980 wrote:
    pnichols - ". . . We shopped mostly by reviewing the specifications, implementation workmanship, company reputation, and lastly - interior layout ... except for two things we would not compromise on ... we needed as short a possible (to be able to camp "anywhere") and a permanent bed always available (for the DW to quickly give her bad back a rest anytime). I guess you could say we wanted to buy-it-right-and buy-it-once, hence we had long term viability as our criteria and highest priority. "

    I appreciate your insight. I think you are right. It is important to identify any items in which there is no compromise, such as a permanent bed, length, etc. I also agree that workmanship and company reputation are important to me, recognizing that there are issues with all RVs new and used from time to time.


    Dean,

    A very class act on your part ... responding individually to a whole bunch of us posters putting our two cents in!

    For what it's worth (maybe not much compared to some of the excellent comments in this thread) ... here are some things, in no particular order, that we looked for when shopping for our new Class C or found out were beneficial and wound up with (luckily) after we owned it:

    - We wanted "good old American iron" in the chassis for easy repair and service everywhere -> so we chose Ford.

    - We wanted a chassis designed and built to carry a generous overhead of weight above what the coach might actually weigh for extra margin in areas such as brake swept areas, frame material thickness to provide stiffness supporting the coach, less rear end sagging over time, and a lower rear differential ratio to help with engine and transmission cooling on long grades in high temperatures -> so we chose the E450 even though the E350 was rated high enough to carry the coach.

    - We wanted a one piece fiberglass roof with 3-4 inch rolled edges for leak resistance, that wouldn't dent from freak hail storms (aluminum dents), that was nicely crowned for water runoff and vertical strength to minimize damage from bounching up/down of the air conditioner on rough roads -> so we chose Itasca (Winnebago) with it's 10 year roof warranty.

    - We wanted the driver's seat to be able to move all the way back when traveling -> not blocked by any furniture or other structures.

    - We wanted the shower stall to have high headroom.

    - We wanted room for at least two Group 31 batteries without having to sacrifice exterior storage areas better used for other things.

    - We wanted two permanent queen size beds in about a 24 foot Class C length.

    - We did not want slides in order to keep wall shear strength and leakproofness optimized.

    - We wanted large as possible gas, propane, fresh, grey, and black tanks in about a 24 foot Class C length.

    - We wanted the fresh water tank and all fresh water plumbing to be contained within the heated interior.

    - We wound up with aluminum running boards -> fiberglass can crack.

    - We wound up with an automatic coach step.

    - We wound up with steel lined fender wells for the rear duallies so that a shredded rear tire would not damage the underside of the coach.

    - We wound up with steel drawer slides.

    - We wound up with solid wood drawer fronts.

    - We wound up with gravity latches for all the drawers that never wear out.

    - We wound up with an exterior sewer storage bay that can hold the entire 30 foot of sewer hose so no sewer hose tube at the rear of the coach is required.

    - We wound up with a full size spare mounted out of sight and a huge heavy duty lug wrench to loosen/tighten the wheel nuts.

    - We wound up with seven steel lined and carpeted exterior storage bays -> with two of them running laterally across the coach width for storage of long items such as fishing poles, shovels, etc..

    - We wound up with a black/grey tank emptying valve arrangement that permits off-loading of the grey tank into the black tank in an emergency situation -> where the grey tank is full with the black tank still having some spare capacity.

    - We wound up with 12 volt electrically heated grey and black tanks for cold weather travel and cold weather hookup camping or drycamping.

    - We wound up with a built-in Onan generator fueled off the main tank, that is mounted way up so it doesn't show, and is enclosed well enough such that it is low enough in interior vibration and noise that it can be tolerated for hours, if necessary, while living inside the RV.

    - We wound up with a bunch of interior 12V DC receptacles.

    - We wound up with a bunch of interior 120V AC receptacles.

    - We wound up with all interior wiring being neatly bundled.

    - We wound up with a double galley sink with a single control faucet

    - We wound up with built-in curtains (so we didn't have to buy them or make them ourselves) to seal off the rear bed area, the cabover bed area, and the cab area -> for added privacy and better heat-loss control in cold weather or better heat-gain control in warm weather.

    - We wound up with a combination of vinyl and carpeted areas for good ambiance where needed and ease of cleaning where needed.

    - We wound up with storage areas along the head and along the foot of the cabover bed.

    - We wound up with good ground clearance to minimize scrape-ing when entering parking lots or traveling off-pavement. The wheel wells also permit larger diameter tires to increase stock ground clearance, if necessary.

    - We wound up with a water heater drain valve that's very accessible for changing of the sacrificial rod.

    - We wound up with storage areas under the dinette seats that are fully usable, as no equipment is under the seats -> some Class C designs have the propane furnace there.

    - We wound up with ducted air conditioning.

    - We wound up with ducted heating.

    - We wound up with a built-in fresh water filter.

    - We wound up with an exterior shower with a remote water pump switch right next to the valves.

    - We wound up with four rechargeable walkie-talkies in a charging rack accessible right by the exit door.

    - We wound up with an exterior entertainment center with handy 12V DC and 120V AC receptacles.

    - We wound up bright chrome wheel liners for good looks.

    - We wound up with a roof ladder that is well mounted for many years of reliable use in doing roof washing, waxing, and roof equipment servicing or repairs.

    - We wound up with heavy gauge wiring between the engine alternator and the coach batteries for fast charging with the engine idling and when traveling.

    - We wound up with grey tank and black tank level sensors that are outside the tanks to keep them from clogging up -> they sense the liquid levels through the walls of the tanks.
  • If it doesn't get you excited, skip it. If you would like more info on our 24v remodel for two PM me with you e-mail address. Dick
  • High NADA is 19,400. Low 16,100. Wife ,myself and dog as well. We have a 24ft
    Coachman, with a slide. I would not want a 24 without a slide. Would be too cramped in my opinion. But on the other hand some people don't like slides and would be fine without one. Personal choice

    I sleep up top and DW on the dinette bed, works great for us. Corner beds I am not a fan.
  • my wife, me and a dog...all three avg size...there is a bunk over the cab which is useless to us...maybe I can put a console for tv and storage ???

    Just seems it may be too small
  • We have a 2006 24v that we remodeled just for the two of us and it has worked out great. How many will be traveling in your RV? Dick
  • luberhill wrote:
    There is a local guy with a 2004 24v ,,,14k miles, new tires, 10 ply Michelins....he wants 26k.....

    Price seems high ?

    We kinda wanted this size or a little bigger BUT we wanted a slide and this doesnt have one....thoughts ?


    Regardless of the price, it doesn't sound like it's really what you're looking for.