Buying a used Lazy Daze with Roof leak

[kevinlyndsy]

Hello I went and looked and test drove a 1998 Lazy Daze 26.5 RB that I found on Craigslist. Asking price is $9500 it has new tires brakes and batteries. Overall I think it looks to be in real good shape. The big negative though is the roof leaked a couple years ago from the center vent and made the ceiling and roof soft in a 3 ft area. The owner sealed over the entire roof and it no longer has let any water in for the past year. I read alot about avoiding roof dry rot. But if leak is stopped and coach looks good I think at the low price it could be a great deal. I will just use it as is and don't plan on doing a major repair. The owner has had it for 16 years and seems to be a real nice guy. Any advice out there before I buy it this weekend. I really have always loved laze daze but their price has always been out of reach.

Thanks

kevin

[JT]

"Older Lazy Daze do not have a one piece roof."
---
Lazy Daze went to a one-piece aluminum roof in 1985; the model year in this thread is a 1997. The point is not whether the roof is one piece or a dozen; it's the extent and severity of the dry rot in the wooden roof framing caused by the previous leak that was "repaired".

The OP has heard all the advice, pro and con; entirely up to him whether to go or pass.

[kevinlyndsy]

Thanks All for the info still hashing it out to pull the trigger or not I will let you know I appreciate the advice.

[Bordercollie]

Brand loyalty is a many-splendored thing. You will find it on most forums.

[Snowman9000]

Older Lazy Daze do not have a one piece roof. They have seams running right across the middle. Eventually the seams leak if they are not maintained.

[fourthclassC]

Howdy,

My suggestion is to buy it. I think Lazy Daze units have 1 piece roof so the leak may be genuinely resolved by sealing done at a junction ...etc. It will be a project to fix the water damage-so what? I like lazy daze products just from hearing about them.... I have bought known projects..... Good luck and I hope you get what you are looking for.

[jjrbus]

kevinlyndsy wrote:
His price is down to $7000 for me a guy from Austin is flying in to buy but he wants to sell to me locally.

What is this an RV thing?

I went to look at 3 Toyota RV's each one of them had a buyer flying in from half way across the country to look at them!

The first one I did not put any thought into until every time the guy opened his mouth he lied. The second I was thinking wait a minute, the third I was smiling.

I don't know about you but if I had someone flying in to look at a $9,000 unit I would not sell it locally for $7000, guess not everyone is like me. Jim

[Hondavalk]

"The owner has had it for 16 years and seems to be a real nice guy"
And he's letting some guy fly in when he plans to sell to you.

"These things go for $18-$20K all the time."
But he will sell it to you for $7,000.If it sounds to good....

"he wants to sell to me locally"
Ya when I sell something I always turn down out of towners. LMAO

[cgmartine]

Ok. No offense to anyone, but it seems that either Kevinlynsy is spitting in the wind, or all those who have warned him not to buy it are spitting in the wind. Sorry, but the back and forth of comments seem like coming across a suicidal person, who no matter how much you tell him that life has to offer him, he goes ahead and does it. Yes, no one would have walked away and did their best to help, but ultimately, it is his decision. He came here for advise. Advise was given to him. He has a counter point for each piece of advise, so further advise is moot. Let us all now take a break and take on the next issue.

[Gene_in_NE]

j-d wrote:
Part of the draw to this coach is no doubt that it's a Lazy Daze. A shot at one of those is always something to consider carefully. Used to be the cheap RV's had wooden framing and better ones had aluminum. Exception was Lazy Daze with its very carefully crafted WOODEN framing. I take that as a warning that the damage to this particular coach might be more widespread than one with metal roof framing. Another reason to vote NO on this one.

That is a very important point. The Lazy Daze probably has the best record of "no leaks". You can find 1980 models that still are leak free. I would consider contacting the factory to see if they would rebuild what needs to be done and what the cost would be. They know their construction. It could be an easy fix for them. 🙂

[Snowman9000]

Kevin, here's the rub. It could be rain-tight, and at the same time there could be a lot of hidden rot. Do some quick education on the internet about RV rot, and go back to look at it. He probably won't let you push a screwdriver against the ceiling and walls, but that would tell you a lot. OTOH if the blade breaks through some rotten wood, he's not going to be happy with you, lol.

[IAMICHABOD]

And I assume that the members here will graciously offer their help as they have on THIS thread :B

[JT]

Why do I get the feeling that the OP will be back after a couple rainstorms asking for suggestions on roof repair? :R

[kevinlyndsy]

I really belive this is a great guy family man he is not trying to scam anybody. I have a pretty good vibe on people. I think anyone in the market for a lazy daze would see the price and be interested. Plus I was first to come look at it hours after he put it up for sale. He lives a very nice part of town. lazy Daze MFG said if I get it to California down the road the would replace the whole roof like new would last 15 more years if I wanted to invest the money.

[avan]

kevinlyndsy wrote:
His price is down to $7000 for me a guy from Austin is flying in to buy but he wants to sell to me locally.

To me, that's a second red flag. That 'I prefer a local buyer' and 'someone is flying in to buy a $7,000 item' (sight unseen?? or would this be the Austin buyer's second trip) would make me more wary than I previously was over a leaky roof, not repaired but instead just sealed, by owner.

[kevinlyndsy]

His price is down to $7000 for me a guy from Austin is flying in to buy but he wants to sell to me locally.