Max4 class b rv possible scam

[stan909]

Max4 class b motorhome. A similar scam was done a few years ago with a company called Eko . They would let the customer buy a dicounted van and become a sales rep and get a percentage of whatever sales they inspired.People put down10% or more to get a van that was never built. Company went belly up.

[molliegirl]

Darn! I was excited that there was finally a Class B manufacturer that was building on the Ford Transit chassis! It sure did look legit to me. Guess I'll wait until I know for sure that a mainstream manufacturer is building on them. 😞

[RobertRyan]

My Roadtrek wrote:
"Eko USA, Inc. is a Dallas, TX based start up manufacturer of the all new Eko™ Compact Motorhome – the world's first green motorhome."
There web site is still up, but not updated since 2013.

Max 4 Class B Dallas TX. Based.
One interesting (suspicious) thing. They tout the Ford Eco Boost, but the only generator option is propane.
I wouldn't be surprised if the same people weren't involved in both.
Looks like a vacant field on Google Earth.

Both LLC's out of Montana.

This gave me a chuckle. It has a payload of 2,200lbs, but the GVWR has been reduced too 6,800lb. Helium panels, Lithium Batteries? Think it is the same people, using interior photos of Euro RV's

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 9,000 lbs.
Gross Vehicle Weight: 6,800 lbs. (after conversion)
Occupant & Cargo Carrying Capacity:

On the Eko site, they show a 1990's Ducato, what has that got to do with a Promaster?

[My_Roadtrek]

Eko had a EquityNet page (fund me) their fund goal was $150,000, they only raised $27,000.

Max4 does offer coach warranty service through second parties.
"Our service program is one of the best in the business. We don’t limit you to an RV dealer network, so you can take your Max4 to any of our 140 authorized motor home repair facilities nationwide and have the technician call us for troubleshooting assistance. For issues covered by our conversion warranty, we pay for any repairs directly to the authorized service center right then and there, so you can get the service done and be on your way."

As for the 4 (AWD) wheel drive issue, it looks like their info is from Europe, probably just copied with out fact checking for their questionable web site.

[mlts22]

From what I have read, I -think- Eko and this place both share the same address.

The funny thing is that when I called Eko about november of 2013, they were fairly straight up with me, and actually would not sell a unit directly to me, since it had to go through one of their dealers. I almost think they just didn't have a viable business model, as opposed to being true shysters from the get-go.

However, this new place gets my alarm bells going off:

1: Quigley and Sportsmobile do NOT have 4x4 upfits for the Transit. They are in prototype stages.

2: The fact that the website says that any Ford dealer can do service? For the chassis, yes. However, what about a problem with an electrical component, house battery, LP gas line or water tank? No Ford place will touch that. That just by itself worries me.

3: As stated above, there are no pictures of the finished product. Apparently photos of European rigs.

If someone commits a small ethics violation how can you trust them from doing a big one? If it is true that the pictures are copied (without permission) from an European "B" maker, the relationship is starting off with a lie. How can I trust them if they can't even show me a picture of them in the process of upfitting something? At least Sportsmobile allowed me to take photos about a year ago when they had their first PM being done.

[bobojay5]

My Roadtrek wrote:
Geesh, let's not turn this into an LLC thread, there's a hundred of those already.

Ditto!

[My_Roadtrek]

Geesh, let's not turn this into an LLC thread, there's a hundred of those already.

[westernrvparkow]

mkguitar wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
there would be no logical reason

A Montana LLC can buy a motorhome with no sales taxes...and the plate is permanent so no yearly visit to DMV or inspection etc.
So the owner can live and park the thing in any State...never ever even seeing MT.

This is why many motorhomes have MT plates- a tax dodge.

There are anumber of services which will walk your LLc paperwork through, and act as you agent supplying an address for Docs.


I ran into a fella buying used motorcycle parts- his Prevost motorhome was purchased just that way- he saved enough ( he said) to cover a Harley FLHTK and a lift.

That might explain any MT connection

mike

The sale can be conducted in any state in the Union. You don't have to buy it in Montana to register an RV to a Montana LLC. All you need is to file the proper paperwork to create that LLC. You don't even need an attorney to file those documents, but most people do hire an attorney familiar with the process to make things simple. A Montana LLC to register an RV and a company manufacturing and selling RVs have nothing in common.

[stan909]

I mostly started this thread on here , Sportsmobile forum and classb forum so people can Google this company and see the threads and maybe they will be informed. I think the scam would be similar to the Eko scam. Take 10% down and never deliver.

[rwj146]

The google street view of their Dallas office shows a small building with two offices, one for lease and one with a sign company. It's a year old and things may have changed but I am a bit skeptical.

[mkguitar]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
there would be no logical reason

A Montana LLC can buy a motorhome with no sales taxes...and the plate is permanent so no yearly visit to DMV or inspection etc.
So the owner can live and park the thing in any State...never ever even seeing MT.

This is why many motorhomes have MT plates- a tax dodge.

There are anumber of services which will walk your LLc paperwork through, and act as you agent supplying an address for Docs.


I ran into a fella buying used motorcycle parts- his Prevost motorhome was purchased just that way- he saved enough ( he said) to cover a Harley FLHTK and a lift.

That might explain any MT connection

mike

[westernrvparkow]

According to the Craigslist ad for that address, 601 Nickles Dr in Bozeman is a bunch of small office spaces (200 sq ft to 1000 sq ft) for rent. I drive by that location often and there is no way a manufacturing facility or dealership type facility is located there. I love Montana and Bozeman is about as good as it gets, but there would be no logical reason for an RV manufacturing or distribution facility to be there. Even a sales office makes little sense since there just isn't a population large enough to generate any traffic or volume sales. If they are legit, I wish them luck, but getting people to plunk down $45,000 for a van shell and another 40 grand for a conversion without ever seeing it is asking for a whole lot good faith. I am from the Ron Reagan camp, trust but VERIFY!!!. And this looks like it requires too much trust without much verification.

[rebop]

Looks really cool. Their Bozeman, Montana location is a church 🙂

[Naio]

Curiouser and curiouser.

[My_Roadtrek]

"Eko USA, Inc. is a Dallas, TX based start up manufacturer of the all new Eko™ Compact Motorhome – the world's first green motorhome."
There web site is still up, but not updated since 2013.

Max 4 Class B Dallas TX. Based.
One interesting (suspicious) thing. They tout the Ford Eco Boost, but the only generator option is propane.
I wouldn't be surprised if the same people weren't involved in both.
Looks like a vacant field on Google Earth.

Both LLC's out of Montana.