ah - water damage - reminds me - I rebuilt the cabover area due to water damage. Look very closely where the metal roof meets the fiberglass front cap. Mine was trimmed too short where the metal folds over the sidewall and it created a gap right above the side window for water intrusion.
If you can see the black streak coming down past the side window, the top of that streak is the roof section that is too short.
'83 Tioga 27' Ford E-350 460
'97 Dodge 2500 CTD 4x4 in need of a TC
couple of ratty old well-loved Artic Cat sleds that the kids just can't hurt any further
gkainz wrote: If you can see the black streak coming down past the side window, the top of that streak is the roof section that is too short.
Yikes! I downloaded the pictures from the ad, opened them in a picture editor and blew them up 400% to try and view the little details. One of my first qualms was seeing some black streaks. Maybe it’s just grime; but your picture is a good forewarning of what happens with water damage. Now I’m scared.
We do want to thank all for the replies. They were printed off and given a close read. Since I first wrote, I went out and researched sites that gave additional details about RV inspections – I think I printed off about 50 pages of stuff. I also looked up the services of several mobile RV techs. There are a few in our area.
We haven’t gone to look at the Coachmen, yet. Up until Thursday, we had to work and didn’t have time. Thursday morning I called to make sure the unit was still available; it’s a 20 mile drive for us and I didn’t want to waste time and miles if it was gone. Turns out that a fellow had put down a deposit and was coming back for a second look, but I was promised that, if he didn’t want it, we’d get a call. Which we did this morning. The buyer backed out. I used the opportunity on the phone to ask for details, one being “why did the fellow not want the rig after all?” Welllll, it runs rough. I was told several things: it needs a new carburetor or a rebuild, or maybe it just needs a tuneup. The buyer decided that he didn’t think the rig would make it up to Virginia (I know what he’s talking about. Anyone familiar with I-77 going from NC to VA? THAT hill). I then asked about the previous history of the vehicle and got some vague answers. It has new tires, though, and a newer refrigerator. The carpet is a recent install of Berber. When I pressed for more details, I was told that a service tech would be looking over it today; no previous checks have been done. Okayyyy. I was then “encouraged” to put a deposit down, over the phone, to hold the unit. There are “two or three other people who are anxious to look at this. If you want to hold it you better put something down. It will be refundable.” I politely declined. Nothing goes on the credit card anymore that we don’t immediately have in our hands. “Well, you better call in the morning before you come look at it. It might be gone.” Me “OK. I’ll check in the morning. Thank you for the call.”
Now, we’re not in dire straits about getting an RV. I noticed this rig while puttering and figured “what the hey. If it turns out to be a good deal we’ll go with it. Otherwise we’re sure another bargain will turn up in the years before we retire.” It would be nice to have an RV now. I was just figuring out the costs of taking a trip to the mountains sometime this summer and flinched at the expense. Mostly the cost of boarding our dogs. We have 5 and that gets expensive. Two of them we’d like to start taking with us anyway. Also, hotel rooms. Boy, I hate staying in hotel rooms. No matter the cost, it’s a roulette game these days on whether or not your vacation is going to go well, according to the accommodations.
So if anyone has a comment/advice on the update, it would be welcome – brutal or not. I’ll post on the success or failure of the venture tomorrow.
Don't go there. Don't let affordability suck you into something that you will surely regret.
You can spend around $10,000 and get a decent RV that you won't have to worry about structural damage. Get educated on "The makings of a well constructed RV". Then go shopping. Once you know what to look for, especially in your price range, you will rule out so many.
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
Dingy towing a red Toyota MR2 Spyder
See The Inside by clicking on "View Profile" and scroll down
ron.dittmer wrote: Don't go there. Don't let affordability suck you into something that you will surely regret.
No worries. We're hemming and hawing as it is. There are a fair number of reasonably priced used RVs out there now. A search I did on some of the B+ models (in particular the R-Vision line; that forum is something I've read many times) shows that the amount of $$ we may have to put in the Coachmen to bring it up to speed would equal the price of a 2001 B+.
I know I'm not looking forward to "the dance", anyway, and that might be a bigger turnoff than the condition of the rig. I didn't particularly care for the telephone conversation just asking about the danged thing. I know it might be hard time in the RV industry right now, but we aren't going to be pressured into buying a piece of junk just so a sale can be made
* This post was
edited 06/28/08 11:43pm by an administrator/moderator *
Short update: we didn't buy the rig. The dealer had upped the price by $700 when I again checked the site. We figured that a service check was done and something was found wrong that was fixed, hence the elevation in price. Scared us off. If they had to boost the price by $700 while the thing was sitting on the lot, how much would it have cost us once we had it on the road and started using it.
So, the search goes on .....
We continue to look at used rigs, but will be looking at something in the "less used" category. Thanks to all for the advice and warnings. We'll keep up with this group and add to our education
Editing to add: *heh* so much for the "you better put a down payment, there are several other people who are after this RV". I just checked the site and it's still there
Offline
I downloaded the pictures from the ad, opened them in a picture editor and blew them up 400% to try and view the little details. One of my first qualms was seeing some black streaks. Maybe it’s just grime; but your picture is a good forewarning of what happens with water damage. Now I’m scared. 
Online
