Thinking of buying a 2005 Tropi Cal LX need advice

[Countrylivin]

We have an opportunity to purchase a 2005 Tropi Cal LX with a 350 Cat, 6 spd Alison on a Frtliner chassis with only 16,000 miles. The coach has 3 slides and looks very nice. The price is quite good for such a nice looking mtr home with all the features these seem to have but I am not familiar with the National Line and it seems like it is too inexpensive for what they offer. Are these well built coaches? Anybody have any opinion on how they stack up to a Newmar or good quality Holiday Rambler?How are these 350 cat motors? I've generally stayed away from Cat because of their reputation for small oil leaks and expensive rebuild costs, but my experience is in industrial equip where the hours are high and the useage hard. With the low miles most mtr homes get might not be an issue.I'd sure appreciate hearing from Tropi cal owners on what their experiences have been and how well built they feel the line to be.Any things to watch out for in these homes?They are certainly beautiful and hopefully not just skin deep.Thanks to all

[JVJ]

Sometimes a question will get asked that it seems to take a while to get a reply. Looks like yours in one of those questions.
While I don't currently own, or should I say have a National RV in my possesion, from what I have read about them and seen in the past they are very well built motorhomes. I have owned a couple of gas coaches and two different Fleetwood American Eagle diesel pushers. The AEs had the Cummins diesels with 300HP and moved the coaches very well down and up the road.
Every manufactured coach will have a problem or two, but by now most of or any of the kinks in an 05 motorhome should have surfaced and bee addressed by the past owner. Don't get me wrong, at some point, if you purchase this, you will get the opportunity to either do a little hands on repair. Or at least do a hands on the pen to sign for the credit card or write the check for a repair or two.
AS for the CAT power plant, I remember hearing years back how CAT would leave little puddles or drips of oil to mark it's spot. Also heard that Detroit motors would blow oil from the motor which then would accumulate on the back of the motorhome.
Don't know alot about Freightliner chassis, my past was either with Ford or Spartan chassis.
All of that being said, we are to pick up our new National RV Pacifica coach in a little over a week. It is built on the Freightliner Chassis and powered by a CAT 350 power plant.
Do a little price research, check it out a few times, and get ready to go through a little emotional roll-a-coaster of joy of the purchase.....buyers remorse of what did I just do, and why...then back to the joy of the purchase as you look at all the roads to take and memories to be made.
I know this hasn't been of much help, and I am sorry I can't offer more.
Happy Camping
Jon

[Theberrys]

We own a 1999 Tradewinds by National. Although it isn't of the same vintage as the one your looking at it is really well made. We haven't had any serious problems with either the 300hp Cat, or the freightliner Chassis. So far parts haven't been a problem, we haven't needed anything National specific, and all the OEM suppliers are pretty common to current suppliers if not model numbers. All in all were really happy with it. We now have about 55,000 miles on the unit, it's not a lot but enough to have problems if were going to. The Tropi Cal is one of Nationals top of the line coaches. Nicely appointed and well built. Have it checked out thoroughly and you should get many years of service from it.

Dick

[Family Time]

I have a 2005 Tropical T350lx. I'm the second owner and have had it about a year. Seems to be well built. Just minor issues that comes with ANY RV. I think the Cat C7 is very reliable, you can check the Cat forum here or the Yahoo Cat forum. The engine and trans are probably still under warranty (5 years).

[Ragman]

Hi
We have owned two National RVs and have been very pleased with both. We had a 34-ft. 2000 Sea View with 2 slides. Although we were very happy with it, we decided we wanted a larger diesel motor home. About a year and a half prior to buying our tradewinds, I spent some time visiting with diesel owners in Rv parks asking them if they had their money back, would they buy that motor home again. Although there are many good, new motor homes built, we had decided on either a Newmar, Tiffin, or National. We have had the pleasure of touring the National factory in Perris, CA and knew how well they were built. We ended up with a Tradewinds. We happened to be at the factory the day they rolled out the first diesel Tropicals and had an opportunity to go through them. I believe if we were to buy another motor home, we would certainly look for a National RV. As for the 330 CAT, we have about 70K miles and have been more than happy with it. No oil leaks. I do my own maintenance and change the oil once every year. We usually put between 5-6K miles a year on it.
Best of luck on your decision.

Happy Trails,
Larry

[1kainone1]

Hi I have had 2 Nationals, 1997 Tropical and now a 2005 LX. Purchased the 05 new in 07 knowing National was in trouble and never regreted the purchase, as with the first it is a great MH. Larry

[Manshoon]

I have owned my 2005 Tropical t396LX 39' , 3 slides, 350hp Cat C-7, 6spd Allison Auto for the last year. My wife and I have only put 4k miles on it and have no major issues.

I had to adjust the bathroom door latch, do a little touch up to the under coating, clean around the bay doors and add a little black paint to areas that had chipped off. I did notice that the Bay doors for the storage area, on a couple doors are starting to rip at the mounts.

I fixed this by adding a 5" piece of ( you can go way smaller in width ) thin aluminum with some self tapping screws to keep the corners from splitting. Easy maintenance stuff considering it is 5 years old.

If I had the chance to buy it again brand new, I wouldn't hesitate for a second, only because they are such a solid built coach. It is like driving a half ton truck, but smoother, while towing a 1/2 ton truck and all the gear/water to stay for a week at a time.

Cant beat that.

[Vegasdan]

We just bought our 01 Tradewinds in Dec. It has 77K miles on it. I've been under it to view the bottom of the engine and transmission. I was amazed to see that it has not had nor does it now have any oil leaks. National made good coaches and I took the advice of many on this forum in this regard before I bought mine.