Diesel with 100,000 miles -- too many?
I have never owned a Diesel before, so I'm hoping that folks here can enlighten me. A MH that we're interested in has just under 100,000 miles. Model year 2004, Freightliner chassis, Cat 7.2 liter...
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Unfortunately, many folks look at diesels like the gas engines of the 60s/70s.. 100,000 miles and it's lived its lifetime. Not anymore...even gas engines are designed to last 200,000 miles. If you look at NADA, it says not to take mileage into consideration when pricing diesels. Sellers though, like to tout "low mileage". That, to me, is a red flag as it usually means the INTERIOR of the coach has been used while the owner's sit in one spot for months at a time. Also, a coach that's not being driven will have all the rubber compounds drying up and the rubber splitting. Finally, remember, all these diesel engines are computer monitored. That means hooking up the computer and taking a quick trip through the innards of the engine will tell you in a few minutes where that engine has been in its lifetime.
When looking at a coach, I had a preference list that I'll share with you...
1. Whatever the wife likes.
2. Year of the coach. Improvements are made from year to year.
3. Condition of the interior. Was it maintained or were things put off until they broke.
4. Condition of the drivetrain. Is the engine compartment clean or a filthy mess.
5. Records, records, records.
6. Fit and finish of the cabinets and appliances.
7. Date codes on the tires. Over 5 years, figure $5-6k to replace.
8. Whatever the wife likes.
Keep in mind, most stuff can be covered up by the seller. Things like steam cleaning the engine, armorall the interiors, a good detail for everything else will make the coach shine. You need to look underneath those things. Check for rusty connections in the wiring compartment. Rusty connections mean bad connections eventually that could leave you stranded someplace.
Spend that $8k on updating a 10 yr old coach. Save a little to take the wife out to a celebratory dinner...:B
Happy Fourth of July.......Dennis
When looking at a coach, I had a preference list that I'll share with you...
1. Whatever the wife likes.
2. Year of the coach. Improvements are made from year to year.
3. Condition of the interior. Was it maintained or were things put off until they broke.
4. Condition of the drivetrain. Is the engine compartment clean or a filthy mess.
5. Records, records, records.
6. Fit and finish of the cabinets and appliances.
7. Date codes on the tires. Over 5 years, figure $5-6k to replace.
8. Whatever the wife likes.
Keep in mind, most stuff can be covered up by the seller. Things like steam cleaning the engine, armorall the interiors, a good detail for everything else will make the coach shine. You need to look underneath those things. Check for rusty connections in the wiring compartment. Rusty connections mean bad connections eventually that could leave you stranded someplace.
Spend that $8k on updating a 10 yr old coach. Save a little to take the wife out to a celebratory dinner...:B
Happy Fourth of July.......Dennis
