New Class A Buyer with Questions
We have a deal pending on a 2006 Damon 353 Challenger with V10. Any advice to look for in this model? Anyone buy tires online or buy local? We have a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited we may decide to pull b...
Forum Discussion
Unless you are very knowledgeable about motor homes, have an independent pro do an inspection of the motor home. Make sure you have carefully looked over every square inch using a flashlight, looking for any signs of water leaks. Check every appliance, electrical outlet, faucet....everything. Check slide outs for proper operation and that the weather seals are in good shape and not allowing water to penetrate. Run the generator with a load, such as the ac units. Check that the water heater operates on both propane and 120 volts (if applicable).
Take it for a really good test drive to see how it handles. Know what stabilizers, after market springs (Summo or others), replacement shocks or other mods such as the "cheap handling fix" have been done.
Couple of opinions: If the MH doesn't have two air conditioners, don't buy it if you plan on taking it to or using in hot temps. Know the size of the generator and determine if it will meet your needs. We were lucky to find our MH with the 7K generator which enables us to power up both ac units when needed.
If the rig needs new carpeting, be aware of the cost of replacing it unless you can do the work. We were originally looking for an older MH but after looking at quite a few of them, we decided to spend a bit more for something newer that wouldn't need a lot of work.
I think your better off to buy tires from a dealer that can install them and provide any service or adjustments as needed. And, get a front end alignment.
Tow 4 down if possible. It's a little pricey, but but buying a dolly isn't cheap either. By towing 4 down, if you have to disconnect the car for some reason, it's not that hard to do and you're not trying to move the car and a dolly. I'm thinking of that rare situation where you've made a mistake and can't go forward without having a problem due to the car in tow i.e. an oops moment at the gas pumps.
Good luck, and just keep in mind that there are a lot of gas motor homes available. In our search, we decided that if possible, we wanted to find a Newmar, Tiffen, Winnebago/Itasca or pre 2008 Holiday Rambler based upon their reputation for quality. But, that's a personal preference and we very well could have purchased something else if it was in excellent shape and met other criteria.
Take it for a really good test drive to see how it handles. Know what stabilizers, after market springs (Summo or others), replacement shocks or other mods such as the "cheap handling fix" have been done.
Couple of opinions: If the MH doesn't have two air conditioners, don't buy it if you plan on taking it to or using in hot temps. Know the size of the generator and determine if it will meet your needs. We were lucky to find our MH with the 7K generator which enables us to power up both ac units when needed.
If the rig needs new carpeting, be aware of the cost of replacing it unless you can do the work. We were originally looking for an older MH but after looking at quite a few of them, we decided to spend a bit more for something newer that wouldn't need a lot of work.
I think your better off to buy tires from a dealer that can install them and provide any service or adjustments as needed. And, get a front end alignment.
Tow 4 down if possible. It's a little pricey, but but buying a dolly isn't cheap either. By towing 4 down, if you have to disconnect the car for some reason, it's not that hard to do and you're not trying to move the car and a dolly. I'm thinking of that rare situation where you've made a mistake and can't go forward without having a problem due to the car in tow i.e. an oops moment at the gas pumps.
Good luck, and just keep in mind that there are a lot of gas motor homes available. In our search, we decided that if possible, we wanted to find a Newmar, Tiffen, Winnebago/Itasca or pre 2008 Holiday Rambler based upon their reputation for quality. But, that's a personal preference and we very well could have purchased something else if it was in excellent shape and met other criteria.
