Used Class A Low Mileage

[vjstangelo]

Went to the Hershey show for the second time, really nice units, but we are really adverse to paying $80K for a new Class A.

DW and I are going to check out an 8 year old Damon Daybreak that has - wait for it - 4000 miles on the clock! What in the world? I have already looked at the unit and it looks like it has been used on the inside,no mold/musty smell, no delamination, and the outside has 8 years of sun wear.

I suppose the unit was either sitting in a back yard, or in FL somewhere at a snowbird RV Park.

It has a 2005 chassis, V10, Torkshift tranny. I'm figuring that any rubber (hoses, belts) would need to be changed, all fluids purged, and maybe the brake calipers replaced, tires, essentially up to $5000 in repairs to get back up to snuff.

Anyone else purchase an RV in a similar situation? What did you do to get it ready for the road? Any regrets?

Once repaired, it should be, in my mind, an almost new RV drivetrain for the price of an 8 year old unit (30% or so off of original MSRP).

[frankdamp]

We bought our '02 rig in June 2010 from the original owners. It had just under 12,000 miles on the odometer and 48 hours on the generator hours meter. Apart from a rotted out topper on the living room/dinette slide and OEM tires from the chassis build in '01, it was in excellent shape.

The owners were retirees and he had developed medical issues that made travelling inadvisable. We've had good luck with the vehicle - the interior is still in excellent shape. I got a couple of body dings, one is a small circular piece of gel-coat popped off the back bumper when I backed into a neighbor's rhodie bush. The other is a series of scrapes, low down on three of the passnger-side stow-bins that I think will be fairly easy to fix. I got those from a 30" high rock wall while maneuvering into a tight campsite in an Oregon SP.

The one significant issue is the generator. I had cardiac surgery late in 2011 and didn't get out to do the once-a-month generator exercising routine. We never use the generator, always being FHU people and rarely going to places the second a/c was necessary. I'm still investigating that one and may seek prfessional help soon.

Unfortunately, we're finding the cost of using the RV is becoming unmanageable. When we had our first one (a 26' Class C with a Ford 460), gas was around $1.75 and CG fees rareky topped $15 a night. Now gas is up around $4 and it's rare to find even State Parks under $30.

I'll get an appraisal to determine if the flaws are show stoppers and proceed accordingly. We bought the rig from an ad in our local weekly newspaper, but I'm thinking that a consignment might be the way to go. We have a very reasonable consignment dealer in Burlington, about 20 miles away.

[hipower]

Gjac wrote:

hipower wrote:
Those who mention seals drying out and leaking, do you have any personal experience with that actually happening in the last 25 years or so?

Seals were made of leather, cork and oil impregnated ropey materials years ago and did dry out and sometimes leak. Those materials have been gone for years and the newer materials don't seem to experience the drying effect and only leak when improper installation or damage is a factor in my experience.

I wish I did not have experience with leaking seals but the main seal on my eng was leaking when I bought the MH it sat for a while without use. Once I started putting miles on it the leak went a way. I notice a small leak even after sitting over a 5 mo. period of non use.

Interesting. It makes me wonder if the leak is a damaged seal or actually from drying out. It doesn't seem that the leak stops, rather that it may still be there but the fluid gets blown away during operation or possibly burned off from heat.

[J-Rooster]

I purchased a top of the line Winnebago gas coach new, over a used HR DP, my thinking was even though the Ambassador was a very nice coach. I knew what I was getting with a new coach (History of the coach)! That's just how I was thinking when, I bought a RV and it worked out well for me. Good Luck to you in whatever you choose.

[Dale_Traveling]

vjstangelo wrote:

Dale.Traveling wrote:
Ford updated the chassis with the 2006 model year but a 2006 coach you could have a 2005 chassis under it. The noticeable change will be the 'Tow/Haul' selector on the end of the gear shift and the corresponding dash indicator. The older transmission was 'OD On/Off'.

Exactly. It is a chasis model year 2005 per the mfg label. The transmission has the tow haul which means to me it is equipped with the torkshift transmission. Does that mean that it has the higher hp V10?

My 2005 Excursion has the venerable 4R100 with the OD light on the stalk. The V10 in the Ex is the 310 hp version.

It should. I don't think Ford ever mated the 5R110W transmission to the older engine design. Might be best if you could call the dealer and see if they will give you the VIN so you can research this a bit deeper. The chassis label model year of 2005 has me scratching my head.

I haven't personally confirm but I think the three valve also updated the throttle from mechanical to electronic. Pull the dog house and inspect the throttle body for a throttle wire going back to the gas pedal. No wire-three valve. Also missing would be a mechanical cruise control throttle linkage and the linkage at the top of the gas pedal. The VIN is still your best source as to chassis configuration.

[vjstangelo]

Dale.Traveling wrote:
Ford updated the chassis with the 2006 model year but a 2006 coach you could have a 2005 chassis under it. The noticeable change will be the 'Tow/Haul' selector on the end of the gear shift and the corresponding dash indicator. The older transmission was 'OD On/Off'.

Exactly. It is a chasis model year 2005 per the mfg label. The transmission has the tow haul which means to me it is equipped with the torkshift transmission. Does that mean that it has the higher hp V10?

My 2005 Excursion has the venerable 4R100 with the OD light on the stalk. The V10 in the Ex is the 310 hp version.

[Dale_Traveling]

Ford updated the chassis with the 2006 model year but a 2006 coach you could have a 2005 chassis under it. The noticeable change will be the 'Tow/Haul' selector on the end of the gear shift and the corresponding dash indicator. The older transmission was 'OD On/Off'.

[vjstangelo]

Good advice from all. I've noticed internet photos seem to make any unit look better than in person, and the same holds true here.

Can I assume that any Class A with the V10/torkshift transmission combination has the 360+ hp V10 and not the 310hp? How could I verify this?

[Gjac]

I think the Daybreak has a lot more than the other entry level models such as the ACE or FR3. A lot more storage and much larger FW tanks. If the PO exercised the genset an hr per mo under load, 100 hrs sounds about right. I would give this MH a serious look after checking all fluids for rust. Then check all the other things that previous posters suggested. Don't under estimate damage from rodents, look in every cabinet pull out bottom drawers look for droppings chew insulation etc. You may have a real nice MH. Is it a Ford or WH?

[Dale_Traveling]

Is it this coach?

Anticipate the tires are probably original and will need replacing so take $3K off the listed price. TV's are analog and you will either need convertors or replacement, take another $500 off. If the seller has maintnenance records bonus otherwise another $500 off.

If this the coach I know of the dealer but have not had any direct contact but would expect any post sales support to end at the curb but overall it looks pretty good. Some risk with the limited road time but probably OK. If the coach doesn't feel right walk away otherwise you'll be second guessing yourself everytime you use it. Offer them $37K and see what the counter with. Also they don't take trades.

[vjstangelo]

It is a Damon Daybreak 3272, Model Year 2006, genny has <100 hrs, 4000 miles on drivetrain.

[WILDEBILL308]

What model of the Damon Daybreak line are you talking about? I would start with low retail and try to negotiate for tiers from there. Some where around $32,000. You don't give enough info to give good answers.
Bill

[olfarmer]

I bought our MH from a dealer but I found out who the owner was and called him about the low mileage on it. He said they bought it new and the only long trip they took was from NC Ia. to La. and back, other than that they used it locally and it just sat in his shed. That is why he traded it off on a new pickup, they just didn't use it enough to justify owning it.

[tinkerer]

My opinion is the worst thing you an do for a motorhome is not use it. My first motorhome was a coach that didn't move for 2 years. It wasn't as good as I thought as there were a lot issues from not being used. Again just my opinion.:)

[vjstangelo]

We will go check it out this weekend. The biggest concern in my book is roof soft spots and delamination. Any or either and we will move on. It is not in a back yard but in a parking lot so I know, unless it was towed there(!) it has moved and engine transmission exercised.

I just keep wondering why would one buy a 100K+ rv only to let it sit? Maybe it was just sudden illness and the owner was hoping one day it could be used so it sat in the yard...