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chuckbear's avatar
chuckbear
Explorer
Jun 09, 2015

New Owner With A Couple Of Questions

We are new buyers and new to the RV world and have a couple of questions I hope someone might help us with. We are looking at buying a 1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer 35 with only about 30,000 miles, with a Ford engine and chassis. I have a couple or concerns that the more experienced owners can offer some insight. The coach has belonged to the current owner for about 12 years and for that time it has been kept in a garage. He keeps it set up on the hydraulic levelors at all times. I have been over all of the systems and everything except the heater and one of the overhead vent fans works fine. One thing that worries me are the tires. The owners have used the coach MAYBE 10 times since they owned it. The tires look like brand new except they are 8 years old. So might this be a problem? Also, during the test drive yesterday, once the coach reaches about 40 to 50 miles an hour, there is a very loud high pitched sound that appears to be coming from the outside on the passenger side. It comes and goes so it isn't constant. But it's loud enough to be annoying inside. When stopped or at slow speeds it is not heard. Thanks for any feedback you can give me. Chuck
Class A
  • chuckbear's avatar
    chuckbear
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2015
    Thanks for the replies. I suspect it is some kind of wind noise, but it appears to be from the outside. I checked the windows and the door. When I open a window, the sound is much louder on the outside. It goes away at lower speeds and even at 40 to 50 MPH it will stop for a while and then start up again. I do suspect the awning although it appears to be closed. I will have to look at the cost of tire replacement, since my feeling were also that the tires should be replaced.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2015
    I would replace all tires. You will run into that problem on many used RVs.

    Noise: 1. I would have someone open and close different windows on that side at highway speeds to see if noise changes. 2. Check awning to make sure it is fully closed.
  • JumboJet's avatar
    JumboJet
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2015
    I would add new tires. The tires on the used MH I purchased only had 12,000 miles on them. They were originals - 15 years old.

    The heater may have a dirt dauber's nest on the fan and in the heating tube. Mine did and would blow a fuse as soon as I turned it on. Once I cleaned the dauber's nest and the fan was able to turn, replaced a fuse and all was good.

    No idea on the high pitched sound unless it could be an air leak

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