I've got a deposit on a 2011 Airstream Avenue class B van. I'm too far away to inspect the unit so I hired a mobile RV tech to help me look over the van.The biggest worry he found was that the black tank sensor showed 2/3 full. The tech had no way to dump the tank to see if it was actually full (dump station blocked by customer RVs).The dealer says that they winterized the unit and the black tank sensor is just picking up toilet paper stuck to the sensor. I looked up the sensor in the owners manual and it is a capacitive sensor, mounted on the outside of the tank with no parts inside the tank. I thought this kind of sensor could not be thrown off by stuff stuck to the side of the tank.The van is in North Carolina, where evening temperatures have been as low as 4 degrees F at night (but usually in the 20s). The recent big storm sent temps well below freezing for over 36 hours straight. My concern is that there really is 2/3 of a tank (7 gallons) of black water in the black water tank. I'm worried about freezing damage to the tank and the drain valves.If there is damage to the drain valves, will it be hidden because the macerator pump will keep any water from dripping out?The dealer says that he will rinse the black water tank and everything should be fine.I need advice from someone more knowledgeable about this than I am. It's a 21 hour plane flight to the van for me. Is this a deal breaker? How would I inspect the van for freezing damage? I'm a little worried because one of the other problems was a leaking shower faucet - which could have been caused by freezing damage.Thanks in advance.

The dealer is probably right. Even the capacitive type sensors are sensitive to scum on the inside of the tank. I wouldn't worry about the drain valves, they are less than $15 and easy to replace. If they winterized it the should have put in enough antifreeze to fill the dump valves.

rvhippo wrote:It's a 21 hour plane flight to the van for me. Is this a deal breaker? That, in itself, would be a "deal breaker" for me.. Where are you, on Mars?

robsouth wrote:That, in itself, would be a "deal breaker" for me.. Where are you, on Mars?I'm in Taiwan. I'm just about as far away from the van as I can possibly get. When I talk on the phone with the dealer there's a time delay on the call waiting for the electricity to travel that far.If this was just a normal RV with generic valves hanging down, I wouldn't worry (as long as the tank was good). But I'm not sure how much of this stuff is Airstream specific. If there's damage and I have to pay Airstream prices on parts, that scares the heck out of me.

Why not get them to write up some kind of guarantee that the tank is fine?

wnjj wrote:Why not get them to write up some kind of guarantee that the tank is fine?They will not warranty anything. All used units are sold "as-is".

Need Advice - look at used RV, possible freeze damage

rvhippo
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
Thanks for all the advice. Most of the Avenues at my purchase price have 5x - 10x the mileage and aren't as clean. The tech said the engine oil, generator oil, and suspension don't look like they've been lubed/changed since new. But the van has only been in service for 2 years and only has 3600 miles on it.

From the test drive, the tech said that it drives good and is a solid camper. With the exception of the possible frozen black water system, the other problems are minor.

As the tech explained it to me, the worst case would be leaky dump valves and a busted macerator pump. All easily repaired. He recommended giving the dealer a chance to resolve all the problems (it'll take time to get all the parts) and then accompanying me to check out everything when I pick up the van.

I'm probably being too paranoid because of the distance. It'll cost me about $400 to transfer the remaining 1 year of warranty by Airstream from the original owner. I'm wondering if it's worth it. I refuse to buy a 3rd party insurance policy.

Thanks again for all the help.
rvhippo
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
John&Joey wrote:
Most RV tech's are not auto mechanics. You stand a much higher risk of loss if the drive train has an issue. If the company will only sell "as is" I would want a mechanic to check the drive train out.

To me a tank sensor is a very small issue compared to an unknown drivetrain.

The mobile-tech took it out for a test drive. 3600 miles on the odometer. No fluid leaks. Holds gear under load and shifts smoothly.
dougrainer
Nomad
Jan 14, 2014
rvhippo wrote:
westend wrote:
Some ice in a tank parked in NC shouldn't be an issue. There probably isn't a low temperature low enough to cause catastrophic failure. Even if the tank was at Barrow,AK, the tank would have to be full to damage it. The piping, rather unknowable but I'd give the seller the benefit of the doubt. The tank sensing units are known not reliable. There are posts on this Forum, continually, about how to get them to read 100% accurate.

A leaking shower valve may be just that. If freezing water in the supply lines is an issue, you'll have bigger problems that that valve but there is no way to ascertain the shower valve leaks without running water through it and that should have turned up any other freeze damage. IOW, the valve leaks, not damaged by freeze.

The mobile-tech pressured up the plumbing system. No other leaks in the van. No leaks underneath from the tanks or piping.

But did he operate the Macerator system? Doug
rvhippo
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
dougrainer wrote:
Yes, they sell "as is". ALL used RV's are basically sold that way. But, the systems should be functional AT DELIVERY. You have a couple of problems
1. The A/S has a Macerator system. I would be worried that IF there is any water in either tank, that means the dealer did NOT do a correct winterization. You CANNOT winterize the A/S macerator system unless you completely DUMP both tanks and then run RV antifreeze thru either tank to run thru the Macerator. There is NO OTHER way to run RV antifreeze thru a A/S macerator. This means the odds are the macerator pump has frozen AND the 15 foot 1 inch drain hose on the reel is frozen also. I service A/S motorhomes and trailers, so what I post is correct.
2. Yes, they use the inductive type probes, but you can have defective pads causing a false readout. Easy to replace if needed. Doug

The mobile-tech said that he didn't hear or feel any sloshing of water when he took the van out for a test drive. He felt that it was a sensor probe error and not a full tank.

The van was in service for 2 years and has 3600 miles on it. Could there be enough sludge/hardened waste to cause a poor reading if the unit was only sporadically used?
rvhippo
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
westend wrote:
Some ice in a tank parked in NC shouldn't be an issue. There probably isn't a low temperature low enough to cause catastrophic failure. Even if the tank was at Barrow,AK, the tank would have to be full to damage it. The piping, rather unknowable but I'd give the seller the benefit of the doubt. The tank sensing units are known not reliable. There are posts on this Forum, continually, about how to get them to read 100% accurate.

A leaking shower valve may be just that. If freezing water in the supply lines is an issue, you'll have bigger problems that that valve but there is no way to ascertain the shower valve leaks without running water through it and that should have turned up any other freeze damage. IOW, the valve leaks, not damaged by freeze.

The mobile-tech pressured up the plumbing system. No other leaks in the van. No leaks underneath from the tanks or piping. Thanks for pointing out the logic that a leaky shower valve would be the least of my problems. I think I'm just being too paranoid because of the distance.
rvhippo
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
mayo30 wrote:
Let me ask would you buy a used car 21 hours away sight unseen with no warranty or recourse for problems?Rv's and dealers are somewhat different then automotive buying.

I think it's pretty normal for them to used RVs as-is. When I asked them about a warranty, they politely steered me towards a third party insurance company. They said that all systems will work at delivery.

I will fly over and look it over with the mobile-tech. If anything is wrong, I'll just get my deposit back and walk away. Lots of used class Bs all across the USA. One will work out.
Horsedoc
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2014
Name of the dealer and location? Might be work a couple of bucks to have someone from the area ride up and check it out for you.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Most RV tech's are not auto mechanics. You stand a much higher risk of loss if the drive train has an issue. If the company will only sell "as is" I would want a mechanic to check the drive train out.

To me a tank sensor is a very small issue compared to an unknown drivetrain.
westend
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Some ice in a tank parked in NC shouldn't be an issue. There probably isn't a low temperature low enough to cause catastrophic failure. Even if the tank was at Barrow,AK, the tank would have to be full to damage it. The piping, rather unknowable but I'd give the seller the benefit of the doubt. The tank sensing units are known not reliable. There are posts on this Forum, continually, about how to get them to read 100% accurate.

A leaking shower valve may be just that. If freezing water in the supply lines is an issue, you'll have bigger problems that that valve but there is no way to ascertain the shower valve leaks without running water through it and that should have turned up any other freeze damage. IOW, the valve leaks, not damaged by freeze.
jhilley
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
I have bought three motor homes off eBay. All turned out well. A mascerator costs about $250 and can be rebuilt. If it was drained I wouldn't worry too much. What is the condition of the rest of the motor home and how many miles on the drive train? Send the mobile mechanic back and have him exercise the macerator.

Forum Discussion

Need Advice - look at used RV, possible freeze damage

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Is this possible?

Freeze prevention ?

Possible Mold

Possible???

Freeze Butter?