I am in the process of purchasing a used 2004 Winnebago Journey. The motorhome has low miles and is in beautiful condition. Today I ran a Carfax on it and found that its original owner lived in Gautier, Mississippi (on the Gulf Coast), which was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.The carpet, cargo bays, undercarriage, etc. are all extremely clean and rust free. There are no smells or evidence of leaks or water damage, but I'm thinking I should run away from this deal.It has had 4 owners. The original owner moved to Alabama and kept it for 4 years after Katrina. It has had 2 owners since.There are no reports of any damage on the report, just a note indicating that it was In a county that was declared a flood disaster area. I looked at the location (Gautier, Mississippi)on Google Earth, and looked at pictures on Google of the town it was in, and the damage there was horrible.Any thoughts?

If it had any damage that was inadequately repaired, it would be obvious by now. There would be odors and water stains. Possibly it was in secure storage above the storm surge. Gautier is about 50 miles from Pass Christian, which took the absolute worst of the storm surge. And could be the owner did a bug-out and rode out the storm several hundred miles away.If it looks and smells OK, it should be fine.

coolmom42 wrote:If it had any damage that was inadequately repaired, it would be obvious by now. There would be odors and water stains. Possibly it was in secure storage above the storm surge. Gautier is about 50 miles from Pass Christian, which took the absolute worst of the storm surge. And could be the owner did a bug-out and rode out the storm several hundred miles away.If it looks and smells OK, it should be fine.Agreed.Katrina happened during the summer so based on your visual of the RV's appearance it could just as well been on the road during that tragedy. Wouldn't give too much weight to the CarFax report

Serious flood damage should be very obvious on a typical RV. That you see nothing at all suggests that it was not damaged in any way, presumably because it wasn't flooded. If it's been repaired so thoroughly that it looks as good as new, then it may well be better than new now.I would not let the fact that the previous owner lived in an area that was flooded prevent me from buying a good RV. It sounds to me more like CarFax trying to prove it's worth the cost than anything. It's hard enough to find a good used RV that has no signs of water damage.

CarFax is a joke at best... If you have personally inspected the rig and found no issues, I'd believe that more than a CarFaux report...I base this on the fact that my first experience with CarFaux was in 2001 and I was looking at a used F150 and it came out of Canada.. So, guess what the mileage was in? When it was imported to the US, it had the odo converted from km to miles , but did CarFaux acknowledge that? Nope..Said it had it's odo tampered with... I had the paperwork to PROVE the actual mileage. Good thing I kept it..When I traded that 97 F150 for my 13, the dealer ran a CarFaux on it and it was still showing the different odo readings from the km to miles... So, gave the dealer the same import paperwork I got and all was well, but still....Sorry for the rant on CarFaux, but the mention of them always just leaves a bad taste in my mouth... Good luck!Mitch

Once something is severely damaged it seldom is ever the same again. Seems like the item is forever nickel and diming a person to death in small repairs. Carfax will only show service that has been done and REPORTED. Many shops do not report repairs because of that very reason. The best thing to do is take it to a qualified RV place and spend the money for them to go over it. I'm sure you'll get your moneys worth regardless of the outcome.On edit: the rig might have been used to get out of town. Is just one of many scenarios.

Checking for flood damage | Good Sam Community

stang37
Explorer
Apr 13, 2017
Being a Ms. resident and from the Gautier area it all depends on where the owner lived in many cases. If the MH was located above HWY 90 more than likely it did not get flooded. HWY 90 acts like a levee for most of the area. Now if they lived along one of the rivers or bayou it's possibility. My parents, sister and most everyone below HWY 90 had water damage. That is other than my sister in-law who lives less than a mile off the gulf south of HWY 90 in Gautier. Most everyone in her subdivision had water in their homes but she didn't.
jaycocamprs
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
colliehauler wrote:
I can't imagine anyone staying for a flood when they can take a motorhome and bugout.

This is what I'd do. Need the the Motorhome to live in after the storm.
gbopp
Explorer
Apr 10, 2017
If you're in doubt, hire a mobile RV Tech to inspect the Winnebago. Tell them your concern.

Don't forget to post a picture of your new Journey. :)
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2017
If it was in a flood in order to get retityled when sold there has to be a disclaimer sheet that it was or was not in a flood
colliehauler
Explorer III
Apr 10, 2017
I can't imagine anyone staying for a flood when they can take a motorhome and bugout.
Vvvv1010
Explorer
Apr 10, 2017
www.autocheck.com Run an autocheck and if information is consistent with carfax then you have more information to make a decision.
John_Joey
Explorer
Apr 10, 2017
Once something is severely damaged it seldom is ever the same again. Seems like the item is forever nickel and diming a person to death in small repairs.

Carfax will only show service that has been done and REPORTED. Many shops do not report repairs because of that very reason.

The best thing to do is take it to a qualified RV place and spend the money for them to go over it. I'm sure you'll get your moneys worth regardless of the outcome.

On edit: the rig might have been used to get out of town. Is just one of many scenarios.
MitchF150
Explorer III
Apr 10, 2017
CarFax is a joke at best... If you have personally inspected the rig and found no issues, I'd believe that more than a CarFaux report...

I base this on the fact that my first experience with CarFaux was in 2001 and I was looking at a used F150 and it came out of Canada.. So, guess what the mileage was in? When it was imported to the US, it had the odo converted from km to miles , but did CarFaux acknowledge that? Nope..

Said it had it's odo tampered with... I had the paperwork to PROVE the actual mileage. Good thing I kept it..

When I traded that 97 F150 for my 13, the dealer ran a CarFaux on it and it was still showing the different odo readings from the km to miles...

So, gave the dealer the same import paperwork I got and all was well, but still....

Sorry for the rant on CarFaux, but the mention of them always just leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

Good luck!

Mitch
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2017
Serious flood damage should be very obvious on a typical RV. That you see nothing at all suggests that it was not damaged in any way, presumably because it wasn't flooded. If it's been repaired so thoroughly that it looks as good as new, then it may well be better than new now.

I would not let the fact that the previous owner lived in an area that was flooded prevent me from buying a good RV. It sounds to me more like CarFax trying to prove it's worth the cost than anything. It's hard enough to find a good used RV that has no signs of water damage.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Apr 09, 2017
coolmom42 wrote:
If it had any damage that was inadequately repaired, it would be obvious by now. There would be odors and water stains.

Possibly it was in secure storage above the storm surge. Gautier is about 50 miles from Pass Christian, which took the absolute worst of the storm surge. And could be the owner did a bug-out and rode out the storm several hundred miles away.

If it looks and smells OK, it should be fine.

Agreed.
Katrina happened during the summer so based on your visual of the RV's appearance it could just as well been on the road during that tragedy.
Wouldn't give too much weight to the CarFax report

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