First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006

[JohnnyT]

This post is intended to be helpful to the first time buyer of a motor home. For those of you who don't fall into that category or believe this post is incomplete or off the mark, do us all a favor, and enlighten us. If all you have to offer is criticism with no corresponding constructive comments, no one besides yourself will benefit from the experience. So please improve or expand on this post in a constructive way.

The issue at hand is how to select the coach that best matches your wants and needs and offers the most promise of not being a perpetual headache.

I think there is an order to thinking through selecting a motor home that best maps to your wants, needs, and pocketbook. There are a lot of issues to get at and understand. Going about the process out of sequence will circumvent some critical steps and increases the potential that in the end you will not be as satisfied with what you buy as you could have been. I've heard it said that nothing can be seen until seen in a form that you're looking for. You give yourself the edge by determining your wants and needs first, letting them guide you to the make and model of motor home. Focus on deal making after your prioritized wants and needs have lead you to the type, make and model, and level of fit and finish that best fit your pocketbook.

BUDGET
I believe the first step for most will be to establish a framework relative to cost: decide how much you want to spend, how much you can spend, and how much you are willing to spend. For the most part you can count on spending more that you initially thought. Knowing what the max you can spend is a place to start.

While the initial cost is a lot more than the tip of the iceberg, the cost of ownership and operation bear some thought as well. Gain some insight into annual insurance cost, maintenance, and storage fees. Start making a list of items that will be purchased to support the RV. Don't forget the dingy and associated costs if you're planning on dragging one around, tow bar, braking system, car insurance and registration. Think about chemicals, hoses, adaptors, critical spares, tools, as well as outdoor furniture, grill, mats, and kitchen gadgets, cleaning supplies, hooks, and toilet paper holder! Then add on the operating costs: fuel, camping fees, charges for radio, television, and telephone, etc.

I personally think it's a mistake to go into the process thinking you can always trade in or up. It's a costly strategy. Try to get it right the first time. For many, the choice will boil down to compromising what they want to fit with what they can afford. All the more reason to spend the time and energy to figure out what you want and need and then prioritize your selections to get what you can afford.

Once you have established a framework for purchase budget and ownership cost, use that frame work to construct the best coach that will fit into it. At this point in time you may have a gross idea of size diesel pusher or gas... new versus used. You may even have a specific manufacturer you're interested in. These choices, especially the make and model, ought to flow from your wants and needs.

WANTS AND NEEDS
Go to work figuring out what you want in terms of livability and travel-ability. A good place to start is deciding if you're going to be a parker or a driver. Most motor homes are better suited to one or the other. Coaches with lots of slides are terrific when parked, but coaches with fewer slides may seem roomier when driving down the road with the slides in. Things to think about if you're a driver include how much room there is to move around with the sliders closed, and access to such things as storage areas and facilities like the washer/dryer.

The next and crucial step is to figure out what you think you want for power train, chassis, floor plan, features, amenities, and gadgets. Look at a lot of coaches, even trailers, and see what combinations seem to fit your lifestyle the best. As you get immersed in the process, I think you will find some of your original thoughts will change. The following checklist will give you some things to consider. Keep in mind that the right coach is out there; it just takes hard work to find it.

Will you spend more waking hours driving or parked?
What features need to be accessible while driving?
How many people do you need to sleep?
Is a queen-sized bed appropriate?
How long will you be using the coach at a stretch?
(weekends versus long trips)
How much storage will you require?
How fussy are you about the quality of workmanship in furnishings?
How much counter space do you want in the kitchen?
How often will you use an oven or washer/dryer?
Will a dinette or table and chairs suit you best?
How much privacy do you want for the bathroom?
Does anyone require upgraded seats or bed?
Will you tolerate losing speed on hills?
Are you concerned about miles per gallon or emissions controls?
How far do you want to be able to travel between fuel stops?
How much capacity do you want for water, black, and grey tanks?
Do you require pass-through storage for long items?
Do you want basement doors that open in a specific direction?
(to the side or up like a bus)
How important is soundproofing or insulation?
How important is entertainment, inside or outside?
How many televisions, and where?
Speakers or refrigerator in basement to use when camped?
Can you find the features you want in a used coach?

Livability... Casual Use to Full Timing

RESEARCH
Buying a motor home is easy... the hard part is selecting the one that will best fit your needs. Do a lot of looking and as much research as you can. Take notes about what you like and dislike in each coach you see. Do not accept that what you want is not available. After our first month of looking, we had a floor plan we liked but everything else was wrong. We almost bought that floor plan because we were beginning to think what we wanted was not available or economically attainable. Any fool can buy a motor home; the trick is not to be foolhardy about the process of selecting the one. Some people are smarter than we are; it took us months of intensive research, giving up every week end visiting dealers, hours of reading magazines, exploring all the internet sales sites, and forum surfing. In the end, we looked at 26 different models from 12 different manufacturers, and test drove most of them. We also visited a multitude of factories and found people to discuss ideas and assumptions. One thing to keep in mind, make sure that you adopt your own ideas and make your own priorities for features and functions. Others will have valuable insights, but those insights and perspectives will reflect their own priorities. As you listen, try to understand not only what they think is important, but also why. Get as many variant opinions as you can in arriving at your own conclusions. What's perfect for one can be a horrible mismatch for another.

There is no substitute for spending time in a prospective coach, visualizing daily routines in terms of workability and comfort and convenience... sit in every seating position, open and close everything that will do so, adjust anything that has an adjustment, especially the driver's and passenger's seats. Lie down on the bed, open up any convertible couches and test them for comfort. Walk through meal preparation and maneuvering around in the coach with a full complement of people and pets, both with sliders in and out. Go through the exercise both indoors and outdoors. Open the sliders and the awnings at the same time to check angles and clearances. Think through loading and unloading: is there enough space and is it easily accessible? See how cords and hoses roll in and out.

Do not expect that what you will get is any better than what you see in the showroom. So many times I got that response to an inquiry about a noticeable defect in terms of fit, finish, or operation. As you are deciding on the coach and examining the details of fit and finish, do not limit you looking to the interior. Look hard in all the equipment bays and in the engine compartment. A lot of unnecessary breakdowns are set up when the coach is mated to the chassis, look for hoses and wiring too close to heat source or that will rub, abrade, or get pinched, look for lapses in sealing seams. In other words, fit and finish has two flavors: cosmetic and functional. If what you can see looks slipshod, then what you can not see is not going to be any better.

Choosing Gasoline or Diesel Powered?

SELECTING THE DEALER
It seems that a lot of dissatisfaction that people experience lies at the doorstep of the dealer they choose. In other cases, I think some buyers have unrealistic expectations about how the dealer will react to their concerns and problems. Thorough vetting out of the dealer is of utmost importance. Talk to as many people as you can who have done business with the dealer. Also have some very frank discussions with your perspective dealer, starting with the salesperson, and then a review of your expectations with the salesperson and the sales manager together. Be specific, give examples, and require specific responses. Do not accept "You're in good hands All-State" responses.

TAKING DELIVERY
When you go to pick up your coach from the dealer have a thorough checklist of items to check. Do the inspection systematically. There are several lists already created that you can use as a starter. Here are a few thoughts.

„« Do not schedule your pick up of your new motor home on a Friday or a day before a holiday. That way the pressure to get it done will be lessened and there will be time for corrections to be made. Have extra time built into your schedule. Have a place to stay so there is no need to rush the inspection if you're picking up your coach remotely from where you live.

„« Make sure that all the documentation and manuals are present. Do an inventory and do not forget to get a list of all the serial and model numbers for all the warrantee registration. It's the job of the dealer to provide that.

„« Operate and test everything. Make sure you can do it yourself... and then do it, and have your companion do it. We got the in motion satellite and the home entertainment system; I am still the only one who can operate them...

„« Take notes of what you see that bothers you or questions that come to mind. If you don't get satisfactory answers to your question, just ask them again and again until you're satisfied. You have paid a lot of money for those answers.

„« Question anything you do not understand. Make sure you and spouse do not leave with any unanswered question... Nothing worse than to discover something and then hear the words, "I was wondering about that."


„« Do not assume anything has been checked or is working properly. Check them yourself, especially fluids and tire pressures... which means bring a suitable tire gauge. It would also be useful to have one of those indoor/ outdoor thermometers with a remote sensor to check air conditioner and heat performance, including the dash air.

„« If at all possible, go through the manuals and documentation before you do your acceptance inspection. Just take a couple of hours off in a corner; you will be amazed at the questions that will pop up. It's better to do that before you do your walk through.

„« Use one of the many cookbook PDA lists that are around. The best one I found was at http://www.rversonline.org/ArtFactoryPickup.html There is also a special section on air brakes on the rversonline site.

„« Do a test drive that will approximate how you will drive your motor home.

„« Go into the process expecting to have glitches and some your expectations not to be met. Focus on resolutions instead of recriminations. Don't let someone else's ignorance spoil what should be a very special day!!

OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
From my own experience and what insights I have gained from private discussions with a number of first time buyers, the really tough issue is nailing down your wants, needs, and priorities and then overlaying the price one will have to pay. In our case we spent more than we originally set out to spend, but less than I could have. Deciding which manufacturer was not the starting point, it was the place to end...

Here are some of our answers to the questions I posed above:

Will you be a driver or a parker... In our case we are drivers. We tend to drive a lot and never stay in one place for very long while others will pick a destination, go there and plant themselves for a period of time, then return home. We wanted the maximum of space in the coach when the sliders were closed which was a governing factor in determining floor plan and the number of sliders. We also wanted certain key storage areas accessible and wanted access to the washer/dryer with the sliders closed. We wanted to maximize the kitchen counter space and be able to use the seating area and table while underway or for those times we stop in route. So we opted for a dinette which has the advantage being able to convert into a sleeping position (albeit for a short person). We also preferred not to deal with the chairs while underway which have a tendency to want to move around if not securely strapped down.

In terms of the bathroom, we wanted the toilet area separate from the shower and sink. We wanted to be able to separate the bathroom from the bedroom and the living area for those times when there would be others on board besides my wife and me.

We also chose to eliminate the up-front TV for increased visibility and to avoid a source for bumping heads. We wanted it placed elsewhere in the coach and at eye level so we wouldn't crane our necks up to watch.

We needed a floor plan that would comfortably sleep 5.

How far do you want to be able to travel between fuel stops... how much capacity do you want for water, black, and grey tanks... These are good issues to raise on forums; you will get a wide variety of answers. We arbitrarily decided we wanted a 1000 miles for fuel, and 3 to 5 days capacity for water and holding tanks.

It helps to be reasonable and recognize that it's better to start with the minimum you are willing to settle for and then the maximum you're willing to pay for. Be conservative in your estimates.

We wanted to have pass-through storage in the basement as well as sliding drawers, which eliminated some coaches including one that had our favorite floor plan in it. While you're thinking about storage, keep in mind there are different options for the type of doors used on basement storage. Aside from the conventional, there are bus style doors that cantilever up and out of the way, as well as side opening doors. Our coach has all three types.

We put a premium on insulation and the soundproofing of the coach when parked, so we paid attention to the specs and tested the noise level in the coach in terms of isolating the inside from the outside. We were focused on not being disturbed and not disturbing our neighbors. We wanted the coach to be as quiet as possible on the road as well as when parked.

We opted not to buy used, although there are many compelling reason to do so: initial cost and the potential that new coach bugs would be worked out. Part of our criteria was to bypass anything that had not had continual use, since disuse often accelerates the deterioration of such things as seals, hoses, belts and the like. In the end, we concluded we were unlikely to find a match for our wants and needs in a used coach and focused on going the new coach route. Once we decided we wanted a new coach, we soon discovered that it was going to require us to order one to get exactly what we wanted and would fit into our budget.

So we began to reduce the number of potential manufacturers from 12 down to 3 since the others did not offer what we wanted or their level of fit and finish wasn't acceptable to me. Having said that, I believe that with minor exceptions many of the manufacturers we deselected would have worked for us, had their offerings been a match to our wants and needs.

We placed a priority on which manufacturers would give us the most flexibility to make minor alterations to their standard fare; that got the list down to 2. In the end, we chose the one that gave us the most flexibility. Their reputation for warrantee support was also a determining factor, but any of the final three would have given terrific support based on their reputation.

In our case, we did not place a high premium on after sale dealer support. This is not a course I would recommend for every one but our situation was such that we were comfortable in taking on the responsibility of managing our service needs. It did take some work to establish a network of support once we bought. We have been fortunate to have had only one coach related issue, which was very minor. Other problems we have had were with the generator and our satellite system, where we dealt directly with the manufacturers with satisfactory results. We found both the coach manufacturer and the manufacturers of the specific components were very helpful in answering any questions that popped up.

When our coach was being built, I visited the factory to follow progress on the construction, timing the visit so I would be able to inspect what I was expecting in terms of wiring, plumbing, and interior construction. I was able to see our coach and other coaches down the line so I inspected each step of the build process.

This post will raise more questions than it answers which in part was the intent, and the offer up a process to get the answers...

If you interest is in Buying A Used Motorhome Here are Some Thoughts For First Time Buyers

Good luck in your odyssey it's a worthwhile journey.

JohnnyT

[wcb5300]

Let's see Charles, you said that you have a 40' Beaver now, but have had many motor homes in the pass? Add up the amount of money you have paid over the years and see who the "nut" might be. I've only bought one MH in my life, and I bought new, and I got what I wanted. I finally got an '07 Monaco Dynasty that was optioned out with everything you could put on it. I did my homework, and was able to work out a deal that the dealer and I could live with. People talk about the "loss" from buying a new coach, well the loss is only on paper ( like the stock market) unless you plan on selling right away. Also, when I look up the N.A.D.A. book price it values the coach at more than I paid new for it (I was able to get 27% off of the MSRP). Under these conditions I really don't see the loss, and I've got a new coach with warranty to enjoy.

[retiredlife]

I agree with Gale, and as a matter of fact, I am purchasing a new MH and plan on buying only one of these expensive beasts, living in it until I am sick of it, then parking it, so that when I get the bug, I can at least travel occassionally. It will no doubt last me my lifetime. Is it a waste of money buying it new, perhaps, but in my case I got all the options that I wanted, my expected usage is 5 years of full-time rving, and if you divide the depreciation on the unit over the 5 years you find that it was one cheap 1,825 day vacation. On a $200,000 purchase price (round number used for simplicity) a depreciation of $100,000 ends up costing me $54.79 a day excluding meals and gas. My current home costs me in taxes and utilities cost me at least $54.79. So, although I may not be any further ahead, I am surely doing what I want to do, in places I want to be, and loving it. So is there really a loss?

[Gale_Hawkins]

Charles while to you or I might not spend big bucks for our first MH and go with a used one to learn the ropes it does not make one a “nut” if they have the money to spend on an expensive new MH. Some people may be at the age when they have the time to hit the road where they expect to only buy one nice MH to last them as long as they want to being involved in the RV world so why not get what you want up front. They may have not spent 100 hours reading the forums on this site to know the pitfalls of buying new or used. Most do not know it can take a couple years for the dealer to fix the defects in material and workmanship. Some just do not want a used MH. After all how are we going to find a like new HM with the defects fixed for a price at 50% off of the purchase price if no one buys new?

[CRA492]

That was about the worst "How to buy" information sheet I have ever encountered.... and My first coach was a 24 ft Winnie. and I've had many many coaches since those days I now have a 40' Beaver. but 'nuff said. The brain will only absorb.... What the seat will endure! so said an old college professor of mine. Take all that information and break it down into palatable segments... your going to have this coach a long time .... spend a long time thinking about all the different facets! Most people are not going to go out and spend a quarter to half million on there first coach (yes there are a few nuts around who will) but having said that when you buy "used"... make sure the dealer is reputable and if the coach is on conseignment make very sure that you get a clear title before you part with any cash, DO A TITLE SEARCH.. In the pasts few years there was a dealer in Leesburg Florida who took some 40 customers to the cleaners... They are now in jail. Charles Alexander CRA492@Hughes.net

[Gale_Hawkins]

Kay your post points out the weakness of this industry and the lack of any standards with teeth. While many new motor homes have some issues that can take a couple years to work through it never the less is troublesome to hear stories like yours when in good faith placed your hard earned money down for a home that is not meeting the performance level one would expect after spending $185K per one ad I saw. The first hit on Google when searching “Sportscoach Elite quality complaints” provides you a story similar to your story for a 2005 Elite. http://www.epinions.com/content_173887622788 2005 Coachman Elite story

According to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=QuickSearch&rcl_ID=07V341000&summary=true&PrintVersion=NO Recall there is a potential engine failure with the CM 850 diesel engines but that is not likely a concern for you since it only applied to 49 units of the 2007 model year. While Freightliner is a wonderful company it just goes to show you they got let down by Cummins who supplied the engine.
Coachmen 2007 Sportscoach Elite motor coach
August 6, 2007 - On certain motor coaches built with Cummins ISL CM850 diesel engines, the connecting rod contains a machining defect in the wrist pin bushing of the rod that could cause a seizure of the piston pin. If allowed to progress, this can lead to engine failure with the possibility of the rod rupturing the lock cavity, spilling oil and debris onto the roadway increasing the risk of a crash.


I know a guy who bought a brand new mobile home from Fleetwood (a motor home less the truck) and he fought with them for years over major quality issues. I know some that work in a local Fleetwood factory and the stories you can hear about quality is not good. The ones building mobile homes often are not tradesmen with skills but just people hired off the street to push them out the door and let the dealers fix what should have been fixed in the factory right the first time. Even from down under we hear the same stories http://www.motorsm.com/complaints/caravans/default.asp Stories from down under

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=14807 tells of a person who went 640 miles to save a mint with less than great results but with Google no one would buy anything if they researched their future purchases. Low cost dealers

It is true there are many happy campers out there who do not post how excited they are. Many wait out the first owner buy at steep discounts after the bugs get addressed during the first few years or go ahead and spend the same about of money as you did and get a Prevost that cost the same as the lower quality mobile home based motor homes. Slides are nice and at some point the hardware manufactures will perfect the slide technology and the bad ones will go out of business hopefully but they add complexity to an already complex machine. They are really nice if you are looking for a house instead of a rolling hotel.

The problems you have should get addressed in time and you will have a nice MH for years to come. The more you use it the faster you will find the defects and quirks. Try to stay positive. Your initial objective was valid and while RV’s are not for masses there are now 8 million households now in the US with one or more types of RV’s so it is huge. Remember there are people that live in units like yours so the bugs can be addressed even if you have to do it at your expense. Motor homes are very different and there is a learning curve to both maintaining them and enjoying them. You post can be very helpful to others that dig deep on the internet before spending on their first box on wheels.

As an added point you can find cases of about all brands of MH's where there were quality workmanship and dealership issues.

[emzee]

kay, if all motorhomes were like that there wouldn't be a market for them! granted they all can have problems from time to time, but remember they are basically a house on wheels, things happen.

the mechanic is just trying to justify all the problems yours seems to have.

maybe take it to another mechanic and get an unbiased opinion of whats going on.

[kay1]

My husband and I have were first time buyers this year. We love the layout of our MH and everything about it, except for one major factor.
It is a total LEMON. From day one we have had nothing but problems.
It is a Sportscoach Elite with quad slides. It has been in the shop more than in our possession. TV's not working, Slide outs not sliding,windshield wiper broke, leaking exhaust into closet etc....

The repair man says ALL MH are like this, unless you get a PREVOST.

What is your opinion.


Kay, ticked off in Texas

[Gale_Hawkins]

Paul if you picked up the 86 or 87 model that you was looking at back in July update us. One with the newly rebuilt engine and transmission sounded interesting and I would like to know did some local shop do it or was it like factory rebuilt. It is a little strange that one would sell a “good” MH for less than the recent repair bill. Most of the time we spend money like that on something we plan to “drive” it out of it, not sell it at a price that would have meant giving it away before the engine and transmission job would have be the best financial decision. John Deere chassis’s typically have a high load rating and many like the 460 but both may be “pre” fuel injected. Many of the 454 and 460 engines will have less than the 16 required (at least on my 454) manifold bolt heads showing due to the fact they tend to pop off over time so make sure you count exhaust manifold bolt heads before you settle on a price. After some back firing (which I fixed yesterday with a $13 distributor “pick up” coil) I went under my engine after dark with a strong flashlight and that was the first time I realized I had a missing bolt on our 1992 Georgie Boy 32’ Pursuit with 90K miles that I paid $7995 for this past July to the previous owner of 10 years. So far after about 800 miles of driving the manifold bolts were the only thing that I have found that I missed on the quick initial inspection but I am sure there would be other things show up. There still is not a leaking sound that one hears over the engine sound and had it not been for the high RPM miss and back firing I am not sure when I would have caught the missing exhaust manifold bolts.

As a thought you may look for something a little more current (less than 20 years old) unless you are more into restoring than spending a lot of time on the road. By not getting in a rush with the price of gas being $3+/- much fresher units (ones that has seen 3K+ miles each year of its life) with many less years of age in the $7K-$10K range. In my case I got great tires (both in tread and condition) that are on 19.5 inch wheels, a GM Good Wrench remanufactured (not rebuilt) transmission with updates with 16K miles on it plus new shocks and air bags around the same time. The overall condition is good but it has been used and is 15 years old.

The older the more bottom side rust you may find unless it has never been out of AZ. Most of the electronics from the engine to coach are dated along with the appliances. Fuel injected engines are much more desirable for service and power. The roof AC units and the generator, etc may demand more service. I know a guy that got an 84 Class C 23’ unit for like $2500 but has been rebuilding if for the longest and still is running the factory front tires on mountain areas. He is looking at converting to fuel injection because the 350 is not powerful enough to tow and buying a new gas tank because of rust he is only getting about 400 miles before he has to replace the fuel filter.

Paul I realized I have rambled here but it there is a point it would be look at what you really want. If you are looking for an evening and weekend project the older the better. If you are looking for a project and going 40 miles to a lake to fish once a month then the older the better perhaps. If you want to make 5K mile trips you may want to upgrade on the front end to something that will be easier to find parts and service for should you break down on the road where it could cost you $500 just to get towed to a service area. From what I can see buying an old one in need of repairs, tires, roof, etc cost no less than to buy one that someone else has kept road worthy and is 8 or 10 years newer after 6 months down the road if you make it road worthy. Go to www.rvtraderonline.com and you will see it is a buyer’s market.

After almost buying one off of E-Bay we on advice of another person looked in 3-4 of the penny ad shoppers like find at the door of your local greasy spoon restaurants. There are more older cracker boxes on wheels out there that you can shake a stick at. Granted most will be priced 2X what they are worth but no one is going to pay it so as one said over them 50% of the asking price but ready to write the check because they know the real value and will accept it when they get ready to get it out of the yard. Most that set a couple years and start leaking can not be given away. Read this site and others you will fine with Google. Clearly you are good with your hands so learn all you can about motor homes and go for it. For $10K you can find motor homes like others are paying $15K for and they are no better. Remember a 1990 HM with 120K miles is most likely a better MH than a 1990 with 17K miles on it and they are out there. If the one with 17K miles has been kept inside it will look like new but if the miles were put on it in the first five years it has not been maintained and when you hit the road and the elements you are going to find out that fact. If you can fine the 17K mile 1990 after some one has spent $8K on it during the last 5000 miles over the past two years then you are the lucky one most likely and it can happen.

Heart attacks, strokes and cancer put 1000’s of quality MH’s on the market each year for a quick sell and these will not be found mainly on dealer lots. Many of us start too late to enjoy many years of RV’ing. Keep your eyes open and more deals may come your way than your bank account will want to handle. There are more sellers in a rush than there are buyers in a rush. This may not apply to new MH’s but does to the more “mature” ones.

[Larry_S]

Johnny,
I have to agree with you.
Don't beleive salesmen, get it in writting, it saved us around $2000.00.

Take Care,

[camp2boat]

On the trip home from not buying the MH we towed our 5W 700 miles to trade in, we stopped at dealers & kept searching. In Albuquerque, to our surprise, found 3 deals; 2006 Winnebago, 07 Monaco, & 07 Bounder. The Winnebago was a great deal w/resident style AC, washer/dryer, top-of-line furniture, but I thought too heavy & too long @ 36' (I wanted 32', easier to launch boat). Also, when we returned to the campground, an 05 Winnebago Voyager had pulled in next to us with the whole side of his roof taped on with duct tape (it had just happened that day). May have been an isolated incident, but we decided not go with the Winnebago.

The Monaco was a NEW FLOORPLAN & when we did the 'deciding' walk-thru, we found you couldn't sit on the toilet comfortably (my husband & I are both thin, but had to sit slightly sideways to not have our elbow scrunched into the wall) & you had to hold the lid open! The salesman called the manufacturer to find a "fix" but we weren't interested. He came back & said the toilet should have been installed at more of an angle, but that didn't fix the "lid problem."

That left the Bounder 33R. We did our final decision walk-thru & found no negatives (as with the other 2 MH's). We made the deal & are tickled with the results! There are so many thoughtful small things in the Bounder that weren't on other MH's we looked at (unless you paid much more). After all the research & looking, the Bounder gives you more bang-for-the-buck! The dealer in Albuquerque was the nicest we dealt with also. Now I know why there are so many Bounders on the road!

[Gordon_R]

vinkar23 wrote:
IT'S HERE ! ! ! ! ! !:B AND IT'S MAGNIFICENT ! ! ! ! ! !

The hubby and i picked up our Holiday Rambler - Ambassador yesterday!
I was prepared with the PDI check list and reading. Boy was our sales guy and mechanic impressed! We picked it up from PA and drove home back to Jersey. I drove our pick up home as we used a trade (a hybrid w/ 3 expandable bunks-perfection)and i played the defensive back for lane changes and yellow line guidance 🙂 We stayed overnite and have a good buddy with a sister unit (twins - go figure!)who helped us remember and reviewed proper generator and inverter useage. Yes - we did use the digital voice recorder to tape our dealer orientation - thanks for that handy tip.

Well...it got to go put some more supplies in and hit the road!

Thank you all....till next we chat. Oh, yes we did whack a tree branch or two :S...compound coming right up dear.....

Congratulations!!! I hope you guys have years of fun with it. We have been very happy with ours. Post some pics when you get a chance.

[adtchris]

Camp2Boat -- you did the right thing by leaving that dealer and driving the 700 miles home. a 1,400 mile trip the dealer thought you probably wouldn't make vs. buying damaged goods they just wanted to unload.

The price of gas is cheap compared to what you almost bought. Dealers beware; we're getting smarter.

[Mr_Mark1]

pwelch1021, if you are mechanically minded which you must be if you are looking at older coaches. I would think the unit that you can get the cheapest is the one you should buy. Offer half of what they are asking and go back and forth to see who breaks.

From your description, they both sound like they are in need of some TLC. The new engine and transmission rebuilts seem like a strong plus. Depending how old the tires are on #2, they will need replacing if they are older than 7 yrs old whether they have good tread or not.

Good luck and let us know which one you decided on.

Mr.Mark

[pwelch1021]

I have two motor homes that I am thinking about buying. Which one would you buy.
#1 1986 32' Mobile Traveler. The coach has 75,000 miles on the chasie. The 454 Chevy motor and the automatic transmission were both rebuilt and have 2,500 miles on them. The refridgerator needs replaced, the carpet needs replaced, all 6 tires needs replaced, and the fresh water tank needs replaced. Everything else is in working condition. No leaks. Price $4,000.

#2 1987 34' Gulfstream. The coach has 40,000 miles on it. It is powered by a Ford 460 on a John Dear frame. The only thing wrong with the coach is the dash air does not cool, and the netural switch on the transmission is out. The motor home can be started and runs strong by jumping the started silinoid. The carpet was replaced with prego flooring and there are no signs of water or heat damage. Everything on the coach works. The tires are in good shape. The price on this one is $5,200.

Which one would you buy?

[vinkar23]

IT'S HERE ! ! ! ! ! !:B AND IT'S MAGNIFICENT ! ! ! ! ! !

The hubby and i picked up our Holiday Rambler - Ambassador yesterday!
I was prepared with the PDI check list and reading. Boy was our sales guy and mechanic impressed! We picked it up from PA and drove home back to Jersey. I drove our pick up home as we used a trade (a hybrid w/ 3 expandable bunks-perfection)and i played the defensive back for lane changes and yellow line guidance 🙂 We stayed overnite and have a good buddy with a sister unit (twins - go figure!)who helped us remember and reviewed proper generator and inverter useage. Yes - we did use the digital voice recorder to tape our dealer orientation - thanks for that handy tip.

Well...it got to go put some more supplies in and hit the road!

Thank you all....till next we chat. Oh, yes we did whack a tree branch or two :S...compound coming right up dear.....