Need advice on purchase of '01 Tradewinds

Vegasdan · 10-31-2009, 05:08 PM

We are currently looking at an 01 Tradewinds 37' with 2 slides. 75K miles on a 300 HP Cat. Appears to have been maintained and is in good shape. Any recommendations or suggestions before we make a long didstance trip to see it? Would this make us a good fulltimer rig? This will be our first coach. Thanks to all.

Theberrys · 10-31-2009, 07:31 PM

Dan

We have owned a 1999 Tradewinds 300hp Cat for about two years now and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. We had a 26ft Tioga "C" class before and have noticed the Tradewinds is a lot tighter. It does a lot better in cold weather and I find it easier to drive as well. We constantly get between 9 and 10 MPG on short and long trips. We have had some problems like plumbing and exterior decals, but nothing we couldn't do ourselves. All in all it's a great coach. We only have one slide and with two, I assume the second one is a bedroom slide, I can't imagine not being able to full time in it. Also the Allison 6 speed and the Cat 300hp seem to be well matched, we haven't noticed the engine laboring at all and we drove Wolfcreek Pass this summer.

If you click on "Check Out Our Pictures" in my signature, you will find albums of several of the projects we've done to our Tradewinds and a few trips we've made.

Good luck with your decision. Just remember buy what you like and are comfortable in after having the nuts and bolts checked.

Dick

Vegasdan · 11-01-2009, 03:43 PM

We talked to the owner today again and are booking a flight to go out and view it and hopefully, all will be well and we can driver her home.

hardy1000 · 11-01-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasdan

We talked to the owner today again and are booking a flight to go out and view it and hopefully, all will be well and we can driver her home.

Find out when the tires were replaced. If they have not ever been replaced they would be over 7 years old maybe even older. You are supposed to replace tires every 7 years regardless of how much tread is left. If they have not been replaced budget about $2500 for new tires.

Good luck, you must be exicited

Vegasdan · 11-01-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000

Find out when the tires were replaced. If they have not ever been replaced they would be over 7 years old maybe even older. You are supposed to replace tires every 7 years regardless of how much tread is left. If they have not been replaced budget about $2500 for new tires.

Good luck, you must be exicited

I checked and the tires were replaced 2 years ago (yea!) and all of the batteries were replaced 2 months ago. They also just had a complete service done.

bldrbob · 11-02-2009, 09:19 AM

I have a 2000 Tradewinds with 125000 miles. The only major problem I have is the windshield.I believe they had a problem for a few years including my 2000.I am thinking about trying gluing it but not sure if it will cause more cracking.
BOB

Vegasdan · 11-02-2009, 08:44 PM

Got the flight booked, we will fly out on 12-4 and drive her back. Now we just have to wait patiently.....or not.

ChrisNJ · 11-06-2009, 03:51 PM

We just bought our first Class A, same unit but '02 with a 330HP. WE LOVE IT. I am a mechanical guy, so I'm not scare of the minor stuff. I own a National Toy Hualer trailer that was built very well. I've gone over it from head to toe, had a diesel truck service do all the heavy stuff underneath. They said they have 200 RV customers and their favorites to work on are National's and Winnebago's, I know it's hard to believe, but that's what they said. I have the Spartan chassis, but it appears a lot came with Freightliners. I had a local body shop come out and redo the finish, and it's really nice having a fiberglass roof. They made it look like new, spent about 30-40 hours on it. It was outside all it's life and took a little beating. It is inside now, so should not age much at all. It drives great, is a little noisey compared to the Holiday we test drove that had double pane windows. The holiday also had a lot more sound deadening spray material all over the undercarriage that the National doesn't have, but maybe I can add some myself later. I've spent a lot of time going over it, fixing all the little stuff that the previous owner let go. She's pretty close to brandy new, and we are finding things to use it for. Best of luck. Keep in mind that pretty much anything can be fixed for a price.