used RV - carfax shows driven 50,000 miles in one year

Hi. Agree with the others about getting a professional inspection. Keep in mind a few other things. Whatever RV you decide to purchase, check the DOT dates on the tires. They should be replaced about every six years, no matter how good the tread looks. This could add to your purchase costs. Also, carefully look around any openings inside the RV (windows, vents) and push on the areas around the openings to check for leaks and rot. While there, do a sniff test in several areas checking for mildew. Does the unit have a generator? When was it last run? Most gens. are recommended to be run one to two hours each month. Based on the info on these forums, 150K on the engine is not much of a concern if it was maintained properly. Good luck with your search. Bob

mcmfrv wrote:
My husband and I have a sale pending on an 2004 Class C Ford E350. We were a bit worried with the high mileage (133,000), but the engine sounded great when it was turned on. We came home and ran a carfax on it and found that it was driven 50,000 miles from June 2013 to June 2014.

Now, we are really worried about the miles. Any advice?

Thanks for your help. We are excited about getting into the RV life with our two boys!

Have it checked by a good mechanic. What I don't understand here is you were concerned with the mileage to start with but after a carfax report you are worried that it had 50K put on it in just the last year. Its still the same mileage it had in the beginning and evidently has done very well the last year on the road.
Some type of work has been done or their would be no Carfax report. Also keep in mind in my business I have seen more than one incorrect report from Carfax.

I like O,, yellers reply best.

Most V10's and the 5.4 are good for 250,000 -300,000 miles. But there is a lot of other items that OP doesn't list or doesn't know to look for. For instance what is CCC versus scale weight?

Some good advice here...

First thing is to have a mechanic check it out... He'll load test the electrical system, check the genset, pull the oil pan and check for shavings, etc.

Also, the heck with 30 days, you're coming into winter. If the dealer believes in the unit, he'll give you a mileage warranty. Say, 6,000 miles over what it currently has on the odometer, or six months.

What did carfax say about how many owners there were, and were any of them rental companies? If it was a rental, there WILL be service records.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

The best advice you have gotten is to have a mechanic check it out. I know quite a bit about autos and yet when I bought my last RV I paid the $250 and had both the chassis and house inspected by a qualified shop. It was the best $250 I spent. They found a few minor problems which I could negotiate into the purchase or budget to fix later but I knew where any problem lay.

133,000 isn't terminal on a V10 but those miles are also on all the other parts in the chassis and house. A cab AC failure could run $1,000. Shocks, tires, tie rod ends, brakes, ball joints are all possibly worn and may need servicing soon in addition to a transmission.

If you had maintenance records that showed that the trans fluid was changed every 30K and oil was changed regularly, and tune-up was done prior to 100K, and ABS fluid was changed along with antifreeze and other fluids, then it might be worth taking a chance. Without records, assume it all wasn't done and stay away from this unit.

You did not mention what the unit is, and how much they are asking for it.
Have you checked NADA? have you shopped private party sales? In other words are you sure, it is that great of a deal?

133k is getting up there, How many miles will you drive it a year? how long will you keep it? All things to think about. Every thing breaks, nothing runs forever.

Worse thing broken down 2k miles from home, waiting to get it fixed. You are at the mercy of a shop you don't know.

In my life experience, I have found it is often better to spend more up front for something newer and with less wear and tear, than to try and go cheap.

Most every time I have gone cheap it has ended badly. My two cents

It is getting close to the end of the year, that means that the new models are out and the ones from this year have to be moved out, we purchased ower unit the 22nd of December of 2001, and the factory had a discount of 15% plus the dealler had a 30% discount, we ended paying 55% of the original price on a new unit, this unit came with an awning, generator and on to of that the dealer threw in a bunch of other things, a blue sewer hose with a transparent adapter, and a bag of Lego type blocks to level the rv.

Get the VIN number located left side ot windshield window, go to the police and ask who the previos owner was if they say rental company or private citizen you have at least an idea, they will not tell you the name of the rental or the private party but you will gain some leverage on the price.

Do have tyhe unit checked by a mechanic that you trust.

navegator

garyhaupt wrote:
Just as an added consideration. Are you going to be able to adequately road test it, right now? You are about to have winter, I would think. Also, assuming you are going to purchase, if you have a CC that provides for a doubling of a warranty on any item purchased using the CC, do that. Then you'll have 60 days, rather than 30.




Gary Haupt

Good luck with that. Get a photo of the sales managers face when you tell him you will be paying for your RV with a CC. :E

Most credit card companies ding the merchant around 3% so look for that fee to be hidden somewhere in the deal.

:B

Sounds like emotions are driving your desire to buy it.

If you are not planning on putting many miles on it or if it is at the top of your purchase price, then
get the mechanic of your choice to go thru it.

If you are planning on driving it much, I would be concerned with repairs and resale value.
As this is the time of year to buy RVs cheap and many are for sale, I think I might keep looking. Don't know about your area but many are around here without high miles.