Used mountain aire on w22 chassis

[doug jr]

I am asking for chassis information on a used 2004 mountain aire that has a 2003 chassis, this is a very low mile unit,4000, I do not own the unit and I believe I cannot go through workhose direct. my main concern is the brakes do they have the updated calipers because of the limited use of the unit there should or will be a problem. chassis # 5b4mp67g133373267 Thanks for any information

[doug jr]

I am asking for chassis information on a used 2004 mountain aire that has a 2003 chassis, this is a very low mile unit,4000, I do not own the unit and I believe I cannot go through workhose direct. my main concern is the brakes do they have the updated calipers because of the limited use of the unit there should or will be a problem. chassis # 5b4mp67g133373267 Thanks for any information

[bdaball]

Regardless of the age or miles, read the Bosch manual in the Bold header of this forum.
Make sure brake fluid is changed and pins are pulled and lubed, BEFORE you buy it.

[jdsr]

Do a search under brake problems. There's LOTS of info there. BE prepared for alot of reading. Safe travels

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by doug jr:
My main concern is the brakes do they have the updated calipers because of the limited use of the unit there should or will be a problem. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>doug Jr., 4000 miles on this unit? It must look really nice inside. Take the vehicle out for a test drive and drive it like you stole it. Get on the brakes aggressively and check them out.

Are you buying the unit from Arlington? If so I have known them to be a good service center.

According to the VIN# this vehicle should have the ZOHT calipers and those are the latest ones. The chassis was built in late model year 03.

Before taking delivery I would ask that a complete brake inspection be accomplished including lubricating the slides and pins. You will also want to have then accomplish a complete brake fluid flush.

Of course it may be easy to research brake problems what isn't so clear to accomplish is to search for owners that have not had brake problems. There are many of us out here that have not had major problems.

I'm on my second motorhome from Arlington RV. I have had a problem with my 2001 W Series chassis's calipers however those were under a recall. I accomplished close to 70,000 miles on my motorhome before I needed a complete brake job on my 2003. New brakes are working great including the ABS.

In closing check the DOT date stamp on the tires. It will be a 4 number code with the first 2 being the month and the last 2 being the year. If the DOT code ends in an 02 the tires will already be 7 years old and will probably need to be replaced sooner than later although they may still look brand new. Now that I would be worried about.

[oemtech]

Welcome to IRV2... you come to the best place for advice.

Now as for the coach... I have an Apr 04 Mountain Aire with Dec 03 chassis. So, unless you have a very early 04 you pretty much the same coach that I have. I would have the brakes checked, pins grease and replace the brake fluid. As Driver said check the date codes on the tires. Also, check the shocks... If they are all Black get them replaced with Koni's.

Just remember you probably with have a few "new coach" problems do the low mileage.

On Edit:
Checking you serial # 5b4mp67g133373267 the 10th digit indicates you have and 03 coach. So, you may have an 02 chassis. Here is my serial #5B4MP67G543387562

[doug jr]

Thank You all unit is nice but like anything else the numbers need to be right with this economy , the asking price is $20000 away from a new 2007 newmar on a w24 chassis, again Thanks Doug

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">On Edit:
Checking you serial # 5b4mp67g133373267 the 10th digit indicates you have and 03 coach. So, you may have an 02 chassis. Here is my serial #5B4MP67G543387562

Dale </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
SORRY, DALE, but the chassis vin# is the determining factor for the CHASSIS, but not necessarily for the COACH. You are correct that the tenth digit is the WORKHORSE model year indicator, and therefore this IS a 2003 chassis. Newmar would determine if the coach is sold as a 2003 or 2004 model year MACA.

As for YOUR chassis, you have a 2004 model year chassis, as indicated by the vin # you posted. I do not dispute your build date (Dec. 2003), but the model year is 2004. ED

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">the asking price is $20000 away from a new 2007 newmar on a w24 chassis, again Thanks Doug </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
doug jr: IMO, that is not a good deal. I don't believe you can compare a used 03 on a W-22 to a "new" unit on a W-24. Thta is simply not an apples to apples comparison. ED

[doug jr]

Edgray, your right but which unit would be the best value a low milage 04 mountain aire on a w22 chassis @ $99999 or a new Kountry star on a w24 chassis @ $119999 that is fully warrantied that is a decision only I can make depending on the final trade price offered, the exterior colors are less than Ideal on both . I would like to move into a class A unit but will stay with my 5th wheel untill a workable deal is found with a decent interest rate This not apples to apples but which has the biggest bang for the buck Thanks Doug

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">that is a decision only I can make </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Doug JR: I'm sorry, but IMO, neither of those prices are a good deal. The MACA is arguably the nicest gas coach ever built. But, IMO, any 2004 model (now 5 model years old) isn't worth that price, regardless of mileage. When it was brand new I'm guessing the MSRP would have been around $145,000, give or take 5K. A shrewed buyer would have paid around $108-110,000.00 brand new, and he got a three year full warranty from Newmar (worth thousands). It simply cannot still be worth 100K now.

AS for the 07 KSCA, the W-24 makes it a little more desirable, but not at that price. Think "way less". IF you can learn the original 2007 MSRP, deduct 25%. Then take 15% off the new number for model year 08, and then take 10% off the second number for model year 09. Now you have a starting point from which to negotiate. Having a trade almost always complicates the deal, and as you said, only you can decide what is acceptable to you. Good luck, and happy shopping. ED

[oemtech]

Ed,

Model versus build year can be important... For me it cost me 50 degree steering and Bilstein shocks. I got the shocks but Newmar went nonlinear when I told them I wanted the 50 degree steering. They came up with all kinds of legal mobo jumbo about build cycles, model year begin dates etc... and when I asked then to show me that in my sales ordered they couldn't.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

doug jr... edgray's right. A used '04 W22 is probably really worth around $75K or $80K and that's on a good day.

I bought my used '04, chassis built in Dec '03, in Jan of 2005, had 1400 miles on it, and paid less then $90. Granted IMHO a Newmar is a much better build then a Fleetwood (hands down) but still...

After I bought mine I kept looking at other dealer lots to determine if I got a good deal and consistently found W22 '04's selling for $89 to $90K in Arizona back in mid to late 2005.

[paz]

Doug - another thing to consider when thinking about buying a Mountain Aire on a W22 chassis is cargo carrying capacity. The Mountain Aire is a high end coach and is loaded with goodies, and all these goodies in a gas coach can push the weight limits. In later years, Mountain Aires were built on W24 and W25.5 chassis. In fact, I think don't think Newmar even makes a Mountain Aire gasser anymore and weight may be one reason. Somewhere in the coach there should be a sticker that lists the CCC. Check it out before you buy.