OK, Brake it down and be honest, Please!!

[JVJ]

Got a great friend, who is looking at purchasing a brand new 2007 Damon on the Workhorse chassis. Matter of fact he has found out that even though the coach is a 2007 it is a 2006 chassis. Again, this is a new motor home with 2,000 delivery miles or so on it.
He and the coach are 1,600 miles apart, so if he does purchase it his first trip will be a long road trip home.
There have been numerious post and horror stories posted about the Workhorse brake problems. The interiem recall statement mentions that most of the problems have been on older coaches. I have noticed that a number of the complaints seem to be from coaches from around the 2004 model year area. The Workhorse notice also mentions coaches that have sat for an extended period of time. Well, this coach has sat for a long period of time, but that is because it is a new old stock unit.
AS for the recall, it appears that Workhorse is now looking at the parts and solution for repairs will be forth coming in the first of the new year.
So here is the big question.....in your honest opinion, would you see any problems with his expectations of being able to purchase this coach and have no brake problems on his maiden voyage of say 1,600 miles home.
He has found what appears to be a great deal at least as far as price goes.
Thanks in advance,

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVJ So here is the big question.....in your honest opinion, would you see any problems with his expectations of being able to purchase this coach and have no brake problems on his maiden voyage of say 1,600 miles home. He has found what appears to be a great deal at least as far as price goes.

JVJ, I would like to be there with your friend to help him PDI the vehicles before it took to the road. Every fluid needs to be checked, oil & filter changed, grease job, air pressures set and a brief test drive prior to accepting delivery. That said, If the dealer can be influenced to flush the brake fluid that would be my only PM need in the very short term. Please remind the owner to change his transmission spin on filter after he gets home and no later than 5,000 miles indicated on the odometer.

If this vehicle is a W20 or bigger it will have a 6 speed transmission, that's a good thing. Features like the Grade Brake are also present. 50 degree steering is standard on this vehicles as are Bilstein shocks. The 2006 chassis also have the new IP with the bigger screen fonts.

I fully expect that given this opportunity to purchase at a comfortable price that the vehicles will perform well for the long run. I would recommend that he go for it ....

In regard to brakes, this vehicle is within both the scope of the brake campaign and under manufacturers original warranty (if delivered new) for the next 3 years or 36,000 miles.

[ron55]

the downside of workhorse is brakes! Do you really want to purchase a motorhome you are afraid to drive because of brake failure?
Service centers usually require a long travel to get there, (you just can't go to your local ford dealer and order a part)
the service, most do not stock parts, so that requires 3 trips IF they order the right part
After reading this forum, I can't beleve anybody would buy a workhorse

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron55 Service centers usually require a long travel to get there, (you just can't go to your local ford dealer and order a part) the service, most do not stock parts, so that requires 3 trips IF they order the right part.

My service center is only 10 miles from my house and there are many of us out here that live within 50 miles of a service center. Many RV dealerships are one stop shopping. Workhorse service centers can be GM, GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, International, Cummins or private shops. As of October 1st there are 450 service centers. This number is growing. Workhorse has one of the largest dealer service networks in the "RV" business.

Regarding parts, service centers that want to be in business to service their customers will normally have the most common parts. Parts are always available from our sponsor service centers, Redlands and Brazels via the phone. Next day shipping is available.

My service center will normally have the most common parts because he stays ahead of the curve and orders what he expects what he will need. The longest I waited for parts was 15 days because I ordered (2) ignition key blanks and writing a separate order for a $20 part plus shipping would have not been economical. Waiting I relieved myself of a shipping charge.

[George Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron55 Service centers usually require a long travel to get there, (you just can't go to your local ford dealer and order a part) the service, most do not stock parts, so that requires 3 trips IF they order the right part After reading this forum, I can't beleve anybody would buy a workhorse

Have used 2 different WH service centers and have not found that to be the case at either one. Previous unit was a Ford which I would drive past 2 dealerships to get to one that would service it.

[JVJ]

There are 7 service centers with in this meto area.
I have made him very aware of the brake issue. Of course he, as well as I, take into account that when looking at the number of negative post on any given repair item, it is difficult to get a true number or percentage of owners who have or will experiance this problem. You alway have the unkown number of how many owners have not had this problem. People are more apt to complain than compliment a product when they are satisfied with their purchase.
He knows the problem has the potential to appear, his concern is more of what are the odds this will do so with in the next 1,600 miles on a new coach?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVJ He knows the problem has the potential to appear, his concern is more of what are the odds this will do so with in the next 1,600 miles on a new coach?

On a 2006 chassis, I would not expect that the guy will have a brake problem within the 1,600 miles that it takes for the guy to get home ....... I consulted my 8 ball!

[mfire1339]

I would be more concerned with the tires.

Mike

[rickandcheryl]

Stay away from any Workhorse product.

[BellaBo]

For what it's worth, the M/H will get brand new calipers with the recall and that is expected within a few months or less. If he is getting a good price on this coach, which I suspect he is, putting out a few dollars to bring it up to current maintenance standard should be well worth it. Hopefully it is a long term investment to enjoy once the brake issue is resolved in the short term. If he decides to buy it, he should be made aware of the symptoms of brake drag and test his wheel temperatures frequently on the way home. Use the grade brake too. IMHO go for it!

[George Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Streamerman For what it's worth, the M/H will get brand new calipers with the recall and that is expected within a few months or less. If he is getting a good price on this coach, which I suspect he is, putting out a few dollars to bring it up to current maintenance standard should be well worth it. Hopefully it is a long term investment to enjoy once the brake issue is resolved in the short term. If he decides to buy it, he should be made aware of the symptoms of brake drag and test his wheel temperatures frequently on the way home. Use the grade brake too. IMHO go for it!

We fully agree

[abarkl]

A fool and his money are soon parted!

[Luv2go]

As far as WH vs Ford service is concerned, I agree with GeorgeZ, none of the Ford dealers in our area will service Motorhomes. When our previous coach needed service, we used an independent "Authorized" service person Ford recommended, who, unfortunately, was not very good.

My conclusion is that both brands of gas chassis have their problems, it just happens that WH is getting the most press lately.

Our previous coach had the wonderful E4OD transmission which spewed transmission fluid out the front seal when it didn't like the load (going up the hills on curvy roads in NC, or backing into campsites up leveling ramps), and no, it was nowhere near GCWR, plus I had installed a big aux trans cooler and trans temp gauge (temps never went over 210F even while it was leaking).

Even with that experience, I couldn't justify the extra cost of the WH, which at the time was about $3000. Fortunately, the new Ford transmission (TorqShift) is excellent and we have had no brake problems (actually no chassis-related problems at all).

Stewart

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luv2go ...... and we have had no brake problems (actually no chassis-related problems at all).

Stewart, I just wanted to share with you that just like my Workhorse your Ford shares the same hydraulic brake system, Bosch pin slide hydraulic disk calipers and the Hydro-Max brake booster.

It would only be my advice to you in the absence of guidance in your owner's manual that you should flush your brake fluid at the minimum every 2 years.

Do not be overly surprised if at some point in the not too distant future that you receive a campaign notice from Ford in regard to brakes. The only thing that distinguishes the problems that Workhorse is experiencing as opposed to Ford is that Workhorse has been using these brakes for 10 years and Ford for about 3 years. Given time issues are going to present themselves because the brakes are ZOHT type brakes.