Just bought this a couple of days ago at a low price because it needs some serious fixing up. It seems to drive okay (although I have an appointment for next week with the auto repair place that worked on my last 2 motorhomes) but it ran very loudly going uphill. And of course they will be checking the tire codes for me to see if I need to replace them.
It looks like a former owner took out the usual queen bed in a rear bedroom and replaced it with a twin and a couple of dressers! I'm planning to take them out and see it if would be possible to get a king in and still have enough room to walk around the bed. If not, I'll go back to a queen. Has anyone put a king-sized bed in a MH? He/she/it also replaced the sofa/chair up front with white leather and no seat belts! I need to check with CW on whether they would install a recliner if I bought it from them - they already told me they don't do repair work on older models. I am still thinking about whether to replace the sofa, convert it to a dinette, or do something else. What I would really like is the swing-up table between 2 chairs I have seen in some RV setups but I'm not sure where I would find that, and I'm not sure I am willing to forego the additional bed space of a dinette or sofa. Most of the time it will just be DH and me, but one of our grown kids might want to join us occasionally.
I'm still checking out what works and what doesn't. Both dash and roof AC work. I haven't turned the fridge on yet because someone left a gallon of milk in it and the stink is awful. But I didn't smell any mold so I'm hoping air and time will make it usable again.
The door is the biggest problem right now. It opens fine from the outside, but from the inside you have to jiggle the mechanism just right at the right point to get it to open. Plus someone cut a jagged hole around it for easier access so it can be easily pulled away from the outside - not really secure. I have another appt for it for next week to have the mechanism replaced, but I'm wondering if I would be better off just buying a replacement door (if I can). Where would I look for that? And assuming it didn't come with a key, how would I get a key made for the new door? Also, it doesn't have electric steps, and neither of us can easily pull them out or put them away (or get in or out without using them). Right now we are just leaving them sticking out but I'm worried I'll hit something with them. Has anyone added electric steps to an older MH?
Most daunting task: how do you find good service for such an old MH? I'm not dissatisfied with the engine repair shop that worked with my other MHs, but I've never been thrilled with them either, and their prices are by far the highest around. (But because they do work on motorhomes, they nearly always have some sitting around waiting their turn.) And I've been hearing rumors that the place that used to work on the RV parts is now doing shoddy work.
I am open to ideas and suggestions. DH and I are both older and have health issues, so DIY isn't possible. But I don't mind paying to have things fixed and added as I can afford it. This is a long-term project but eventually we should have a really nice MH set up to suit us.
1988 Winnebago Superchief 27'
