Indiana Robinson
Central Indiana USA
New Member
Joined: 09/07/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
I believe that there are only 17 RV's in north America that have not leaked "somewhere at sometime" and 12 of those are going to leak next week...
I would think the choice would depend somewhat on your skills at monitoring and repairing a leak. If you are the type to "let George do it" (a valid choice) then keep track of a very good George. 
|
mobilefleet
on the road
Senior Member
Joined: 10/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I would buy anything at the right price...but I prefer to do so in person to get a feel for the desperation level and then kick them a lowball
|
JoeRT04
Cape Cod, MA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
No. There's nothing worse than leaks. The leaks will simply come back, get worse and cause more damage.
2012 Aliner Sport
2010 Toyota RAV4 SPORT with 269 HP V6 Tow Package
|
webhannet
Southern Coastal Maine
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
ANY RV can have a leak, and you need to have enough education about the construction to be able to decide if it is acceptable. To do a proper job of assessing any used RV, you need to know how the box is put together - and what to look for.
I applaud the honest Seller - at least he knows what he's got. Very few people will tell you the real history - mostly because of gut reactions like those above.
A properly fixed leak will not leak again unless it is due to a design issue. No, a RV shop repairing a leak is not performing a miraculous do-over of an affected area. They're just stopping the leak.
Front or rear cap leaks RARELY affect SIDEWALLS which are where delamination takes place.
You sound like you have a good understanding of the situation, but confirm any damage and pay accordingly.
|
EMD360
Tempe, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 01/18/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I agree, just because someone tells you it "never leaked" does not mean that it didn't. I bought one that didn't leak and the whole lower back end was rotted from a leaking light and I fixed it myself. I loved learning about the vehicle and it cost me about $75 in materials. Certainly worth the time and I think we got a reasonable price. At least it wasn't the cabover, which is the most common spot that leaks.
Buy the moisture meter and check it out. Press inside and outside to feel for soft spots, roll underneath and check out the inside of the bottom panels (mine were rusted which I thought was normal but they were rusted where the rot was--I just looked and didn't touch!) Look for cracks and gaps in the caulking on all edges and the roof--eternabond is always a good sign! We were newbies and a few mistakes are to be expected. I hope we don't get so jaded that we never get another used RV because we would have missed a ton of fun.
We're hooked!
2003 Itasca Spirit 22e
|
|
|
snowdance
Yreka, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 12/09/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I bought a motorhome that had a leak we could see was there by water markes inside and looking at the calking out side. I got it for 10,000 less than book. But its a 2000 Jamboree. The leak was into the structal foam. The water markes cleaned up and left no trace. It also had other problems. My total cost to fix every thing has been my time and about $1100. I did however get the motorhome layout I wanted and a motorhome with 21,000 miles. The owner took better care of the truck than the coach.
Its really a call you need to make. If the water leak was one time and not much time it does not mean the complete rig is rotten. But you also have to understand you may have a problem at some point in time and need to buy it cheap enough that fixing the problem if you need to will be worth it. I think we did that..
So like others say.. Your call.
Snowdance
We spent most of our money traveling... Just wasted the rest..
Chevy 7.4 Vortex
2000 Jamboree 23b Rear Kitchen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowdance38
|
deerslayerah
ELKIN N.C.
Full Member
Joined: 07/14/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Indiana Robinson wrote:I believe that there are only 17 RV's in north America that have not leaked "somewhere at sometime" and 12 of those are going to leak next week...
I would think the choice would depend somewhat on your skills at monitoring and repairing a leak. If you are the type to "let George do it" (a valid choice) then keep track of a very good George. Well said most of us have a leak and just dont know it ive had four campers and none of them have been water tight it just depends on how much damage was done before the repair check the walls and floor from the inside for soft spots
|
ksg5000
Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 06/30/2008
View Profile
|
Depends on the leak -- where it was - how long - how much damage etc. RV's tend to get leaks. Class C cab overs are very prone to leaks. Good owners catch those leaks quick and fix before they do too much damage. If you like the rig you might ask whether the owner will have the rig leak tested on his dime - should cost him about $100 and give you some piece of mind.
Kevin
|
calvinator
Cleveland, Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 03/28/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
As others have said, leaks happen. But for $28k, I would keep looking. Maybe open up the price range too. Might find a little older MH for less $$, but has been in covered storage for its life.
I bought an old MH that was barn stored. Then spent $$ on the mechanicals. I'm left with a MH that has seen no weather and freshened up mechanicals.
1992 Seven Seas by Cobra
Overhauled & Customized.
Vacation rig for DW, DS(11),DS(10),DS(7)and a mighty Maltese.
Fav mod=Hott Rodd elec water heater - no propane!.
Jeep Cherokee toad w/Excali-bar and ReadyBrake
2011 nights camped=1, plan=20 (broken leg)
.jpg)
|
Mammoth-Snowman
Mammoth Lakes
Full Member
Joined: 07/27/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
28k for a leaker = keeping looking!
Rig: 1995 Jamboree Searcher 23 feet
http://www.discovermammoth.com
|
|
|
