So we are looking at a new RV that checks all of our boxes. It is a 2016 Winnebago 38P. This model has a unique floorplan that we really like and the dealer has it for what we feel is an excellent price. No complaints there. The issue is that it has almost certainly been sitting on their lot for 12-18 months, if not more. As a newbie to the Class A world, what kind of maintenance issues should I bring up when negotiating the deal? I was planning on hitting them up for an oil change at the least, and they are going to get the tire date code for me. How concerned should I be about the tires, assuming they are not terribly old. The unit has 1300 miles on it.Thanks for any help.Jp

Just wondering how a coach sitting on a dealer's lot gets 1300 miles on it. Delivery?I wouldn't worry about the tires unless the date code is not consistent with the age of the motor home. You may be changing the rubber earlier than expected, but must RV owners take perfectly good tires off their rigs just because they worry too much.Really, if the floor plan is what you want and the price is right, go for it. Just make sure you get a satisfactory answer to the question "Why hasn't this unit sold yet?"

I'd go for a lub, oil, and filter at a minimum. Tires are another story. Doubt you will get new tires but if this is a used unit I'd try very hard for tires. I bought a new, one year old left over model. It had been setting on dealers lot for a year. As it was new the tires had a tire company warranty. One year later the two steer tires had large cracks in sidewalls. After getting them inspected at a truck tire dealer Michelin paid 90% of the replacement costs. Truck tire dealer could not believe it. I would expect tires are st least degraded.

jplante4 wrote:Just wondering how a coach sitting on a dealer's lot gets 1300 miles on it. Delivery?I wouldn't worry about the tires unless the date code is not consistent with the age of the motor home. You may be changing the rubber earlier than expected, but must RV owners take perfectly good tires off their rigs just because they worry too much.Really, if the floor plan is what you want and the price is right, go for it. Just make sure you get a satisfactory answer to the question "Why hasn't this unit sold yet?"Like others have said having it serviced is a must. I would let the dealer pay for that as it will cost a few dollars however your filters are probably in good shape. The tires are good for seven years but if there are not any cracks they should be good for a few more years. The 1300 miles would be delivery as they don't trailer them.

If it's a diesel dump the DEF tank and put in fresh and have them test for proper operation DEF can crystallize over time and heat. Flush all the tanks and make sure they. I would stay in the coach on their property until I was sure everything worked.

If you like the coach, have them lower the price for all normal maintenance items. I would then go to a service shop and have them do it correctly. I would not trust a dealership trying to move a unit to do a good job. I would worry that they would try their best to cut corners.Example, saying they changed filters but just cleaning them up and using a 'magic marker' writing a new date on them. The warranty should start the day the unit is sold so that is a plus on your list. I would make sure that the warranty on EVERYTHING starts the day you buy it.Good luck,MM.

DP Purchase Advice Needed | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2017
jplante4 wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
jplante4 wrote:
Just wondering how a coach sitting on a dealer's lot gets 1300 miles on it. Delivery?

OP's profile says Florida. Winnebago plant to Orlando is 1446 miles. So the RV must be North of Orlando as it doesn't have enough miles on it to have been driven that far.

That's what I figured. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a hundred people driving it 13 miles and saying "This thing sux".

Nope, all motorhomes are going to have delivery miles on them as it's cheaper to pay somebody to drive them to the dealer than it is to haul them any other way. Now I did see a dealer in Iowa just down the road from the Winnebago plant that was advertising new motorhomes with 8 miles on the odometer.
stvdman
Explorer
Jun 14, 2017
I bought a 2008 model in late 2009 that had been on the lot for over a year. Two things that I should have caught but missed.

House Batteries: They died 3 months after I bought it. They had been sitting for 1.5 years and were 2+ years old when I bought.

Tires: They "flat-spotted" after sitting out un protected for that length of time. I thought I had a drivetrain vibration that I just could not get rid of. After an inner rear blow-out 1.5 years into ownership. I replaced all the tires and she ran very smooth after. It then hit me that it was the tires all along.

Some good suggestions up there, if you get a good deal on it, go for it and enjoy!
jplante4
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2017
msmith1199 wrote:
jplante4 wrote:
Just wondering how a coach sitting on a dealer's lot gets 1300 miles on it. Delivery?

OP's profile says Florida. Winnebago plant to Orlando is 1446 miles. So the RV must be North of Orlando as it doesn't have enough miles on it to have been driven that far.

That's what I figured. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a hundred people driving it 13 miles and saying "This thing sux".
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jun 14, 2017
I do not know enough about DEF to comment on that suggestion. Changing any of the fluids is a waste of time and money and I would be concerned about the batteries over any other item.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2017
jplante4 wrote:
Just wondering how a coach sitting on a dealer's lot gets 1300 miles on it. Delivery?

I wouldn't worry about the tires unless the date code is not consistent with the age of the motor home. You may be changing the rubber earlier than expected, but must RV owners take perfectly good tires off their rigs just because they worry too much.

Really, if the floor plan is what you want and the price is right, go for it. Just make sure you get a satisfactory answer to the question "Why hasn't this unit sold yet?"

OP's profile says Florida. Winnebago plant to Orlando is 1446 miles. So the RV must be North of Orlando as it doesn't have enough miles on it to have been driven that far.
The_Texan
Explorer
Jun 14, 2017
I would not worry about tires as much as I wed with the batteries being boiled dry setting for that long and knowing they would not be serviced until they got ready to deliver it. Full fluids service plus NEW batteries.

Take the advice about "camping" on the dealers lot until you are 1000% satisfied EVERYTHING works as advertised, especially if it is a Lazy Days coach. Once you leave a dealers lot, you become just a number to get in line for any service.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Jun 14, 2017
If you like the coach, have them lower the price for all normal maintenance items. I would then go to a service shop and have them do it correctly. I would not trust a dealership trying to move a unit to do a good job. I would worry that they would try their best to cut corners.

Example, saying they changed filters but just cleaning them up and using a 'magic marker' writing a new date on them. The warranty should start the day the unit is sold so that is a plus on your list. I would make sure that the warranty on EVERYTHING starts the day you buy it.

Good luck,
MM.
mccsix
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
If it's a diesel dump the DEF tank and put in fresh and have them test for proper operation DEF can crystallize over time and heat. Flush all the tanks and make sure they. I would stay in the coach on their property until I was sure everything worked.
Bob___Ann
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
jplante4 wrote:
Just wondering how a coach sitting on a dealer's lot gets 1300 miles on it. Delivery?

I wouldn't worry about the tires unless the date code is not consistent with the age of the motor home. You may be changing the rubber earlier than expected, but must RV owners take perfectly good tires off their rigs just because they worry too much.

Really, if the floor plan is what you want and the price is right, go for it. Just make sure you get a satisfactory answer to the question "Why hasn't this unit sold yet?"

Like others have said having it serviced is a must. I would let the dealer pay for that as it will cost a few dollars however your filters are probably in good shape. The tires are good for seven years but if there are not any cracks they should be good for a few more years. The 1300 miles would be delivery as they don't trailer them.
imgoin4it
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
I'd go for a lub, oil, and filter at a minimum. Tires are another story. Doubt you will get new tires but if this is a used unit I'd try very hard for tires. I bought a new, one year old left over model. It had been setting on dealers lot for a year. As it was new the tires had a tire company warranty. One year later the two steer tires had large cracks in sidewalls. After getting them inspected at a truck tire dealer Michelin paid 90% of the replacement costs. Truck tire dealer could not believe it. I would expect tires are st least degraded.