DouglasBriggs wrote:
I am looking at possibly buying what I think is a late build '04 Journey 39K with 3 slides and a Cat C7 350 with 45,000 mi. The reason I say late build '04 is because I can't find specs on an '04 that match this motorhome but can find '05's that match. The owner says it's an '04. I have read a lot about this motor and it seems the HEUI fuel injection sytem can be very problematic. I have also read where owners say don't worry about that motor if you like the coach buy it. We really like the looks and the floor plan on it. Is this one I should stay away from because of the motor ?
DouglasBriggs,
I'd sure like to find all these folks that say stay away from a CAT engine due to it having the HEUI system. As I understand it, CAT isn't the only engine builder that's used it. But, in any case, the CAT engine, specifically the C-7, along with it's infamous HEUI system, is not and was not, only installed in motorhomes but, also cement trucks, fire trucks, over the road trucks, local delivery trucks and a whole lot more.
And guess what, a very, very large percentage of them are still running around today. As you can already read from the responders here, many have lots of miles and great years of travel with their CAT engine equipped coaches, including ours, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. We have at present, right at 84,000 miles on ours. I've done the fan bearing, serpentine tensioner bearings, idler bearings, water pump, "regulators" as CAT calls them, belts, and a few other items on that motor.
Your potential Winne Journey and our '04 Itasca Horizon, are pretty close in similarities. I could go on for pages but, I won't bore you unless you ask. It would be nice if you could obtain any form of maintenance records with that coach. But, if not, it's not the end of the world. Many of us have purchased these rolling Kleenex boxes with less than preferable supporting paperwork. For the most part, all of them are still rolling down the road.
There's lots to check out on that Winne. A very important first line of inspection, on a coach of that age is, the roof-to-gutter seam/seal/joint. It travels long the edge, for full length, on both sides. And, Winne and Itascas roofs are fiberglass and are only held in place by an adhesive caulk/sealant. After time, and a few zillion miles, that joint has tendency to start to come loose.
You can tell if it is by getting on a ladder, CAREFULLY, and, climb up to a point you can inspect that seam. You press on the fiberglass section of the roof, just above the caulk/adhesive. If you can press the fiberglass away from the sealant, NOT GOOD! You do this inspection, for the full length on both sides, noting any where it may be separated. To fix this situation, that's a whole 'nother set of pages here.
But, there's also lots of other areas to inspect. If you'd like help, just ask. There's tons of experience on this forum that are always more than willing to help. Good luck and, don't worry about the CAT, it's a great engine.
Scott
