Considering a 1999 Newmar Diesel Pusher Purchase - Potential Money Pit?

[Bizz aker]

I had a 2017 tiffin 40 ft that was a money pit!!! It stayed broke for the entire time I owned it. Just be careful.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by JAZRV

I just wanted to give another update the roof has a leak and the wood underneath has puffed up in the front on top and signs of leaks inside.

After seeing the photos you took, I thought I should say something . . .

We had a 2001 Newmar MADP that was in good condition when we bought it in 2010. However, it had its share of issues (engine rebuild @ $10k, new radiator/intercooler @ $3k, new ACs, etc). And that was a coach in "good" condition.

Your 1999 is a POS. What the sun hasn't done, abuse/neglect has. "Free" isn't a good price. Walk away.

[darnold9999]

Agree with techwriter. Free would be too much to pay for this one.

Way too many red flags. Water damage, engine issues and lived in not moving for many years come to mind.

You would need, at a minimum, to replace everything rubber in it. Tires, hoses, serpentine belt, air bags, suspension bushings etc. Then fluids and filters and finally the roof and water damage.

Walk away.

[ViperJD]

Originally Posted by JAZRV

I just wanted to give another update the roof has a leak and the wood underneath has puffed up in the front on top and signs of leaks inside.

Now that I have seen the pix, agree with "free is to much." I would walk away. No way I coukd spend what was needed to get it back up to liveable condition.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by Skip426

...It could very well take a while and $$$ to get this coach trouble free and road worthy...

Agree. Too old and neglected. There will be many items that will need replacing that you won't see until really 'getting into' the coach.

[Chuckge]

What kind of RV resorts will you stay at because the nicer ones limit the age of RV’s to 15 years old.
If you stay at good old KOA’s, etc, you’ll be fine with an old RV

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Chuckge

What kind of RV resorts will you stay at because the nicer ones limit the age of RV’s to 15 years old.

I haven't found this to be true. I've owned two "over the limit" RVs and only found a few campgrounds that were age restricted.

[jacwjames]

You say pack rats, did you actually find signs of them and wires damaged?? If so you can expect problems, not while the rig is parked but while driving as the bouncing will result in bare wires coming together.



This happened to me, I lived in my coach while building our house, it was in a wooded lot and it wasn't long that I had mice (or other vermin). Set traps but it was a continuous battle.



Ultimately on a trip in 2021 on my way home running the generator it quit and I could start it but as soon as the transfer switch closed the generator would die. Ultimately I narrowed it down to a circuit feeding the bedroom outlets, and found the problem must be in the ceiling. I was able to rewire the circuit to make all the outlets active but it was a job, if I took it to shop to fix it would have been $$$$$.

[rlengner]

This will be my two centavos,

Reading pieces like this post always makes me wonder what does the writer really want. The best thing I believe anyone can really offer is the saying,"Plan your work, then work the plan". Because, buying, used or new, anything is going to take a little blood, sweat and tears. Then, if one does purchase whatever, get ready for the real education that's going to await.

One will find that this is no different than purchasing a house, high-end auto, plane, boat or set of golf clubs. It cannot be accomplished solely from a terminal connected to a high-speed connection either. Then know, that it doesn't matter at all if you are a multi-lingual, rocket-scientist with 45 years experience with whatever to be acquired is. No one finds all the items wrong till after the deal has been closed.

Worrying about finding all there is know, only takes away from the stories you're going to be able to share anyway.

1. Develop a list of your (and only your) requirements for the performance of the purchase in question.

2. Do your research. Find out about things like the cost of insurance and property tax that will be due shartly after the purchase

3. Plan everything from the worst case. If it all works out better than the worse plans, you'll be that much more satisfied.

4. Don't really worry about what anyone thinks but your wife. You're going to look foolish about something anyway. And it's cheaper to keep her.

5. You live life once, at least that we can remember. A good deal can be found almost anywhere. But almost everyone never finds the absolute best deal.

6. We are populated by fewer and fewer craftsman. There are manufacturing issues found on even the most expensive brand-new Prevost coaches. Why do you think they brag about how many times they inspect and correct them before they reach the customer?

7. Stop listening to me, finish a good stiff drink, check your package, get out there fulfill your dream. Re-read number 5.

[JAZRV]

Originally Posted by rlengner

This will be my two centavos,

Reading pieces like this post always makes me wonder what does the writer really want. The best thing I believe anyone can really offer is the saying,"Plan your work, then work the plan". Because, buying, used or new, anything is going to take a little blood, sweat and tears. Then, if one does purchase whatever, get ready for the real education that's going to await.

One will find that this is no different than purchasing a house, high-end auto, plane, boat or set of golf clubs. It cannot be accomplished solely from a terminal connected to a high-speed connection either. Then know, that it doesn't matter at all if you are a multi-lingual, rocket-scientist with 45 years experience with whatever to be acquired is. No one finds all the items wrong till after the deal has been closed.

Worrying about finding all there is know, only takes away from the stories you're going to be able to share anyway.

1. Develop a list of your (and only your) requirements for the performance of the purchase in question.

2. Do your research. Find out about things like the cost of insurance and property tax that will be due shartly after the purchase

3. Plan everything from the worst case. If it all works out better than the worse plans, you'll be that much more satisfied.

4. Don't really worry about what anyone thinks but your wife. You're going to look foolish about something anyway. And it's cheaper to keep her.

5. You live life once, at least that we can remember. A good deal can be found almost anywhere. But almost everyone never finds the absolute best deal.

6. We are populated by fewer and fewer craftsman. There are manufacturing issues found on even the most expensive brand-new Prevost coaches. Why do you think they brag about how many times they inspect and correct them before they reach the customer?

7. Stop listening to me, finish a good stiff drink, check your package, get out there fulfill your dream. Re-read number 5.

Thanks for the advice, I did actually take it for a short drive and the coach drives very nicely. I helped the current owner fix a plug for some kind of ambient sensor and the check engine light went away. I also helped sort out some chewed wires and fix a few other small things. The coach runs surprisingly well with the generator having 210 hours on it. The generator also runs well. Has newer AC units on the roof (relatively speaking). Coach seems very easy to work on. It does need tires, belts, fluids, filters, etc. to be put on the road for a long trip. Other than looking a bit crispy with the front roof damage it is in otherwise decent condition.

I was looking at a post where someone bought a salvage 2002 Newmar Mountain Aire coach replaced the rear cap and did extensive work to put it back on the road. They even built their own paint boot tarp thing to do a full paint job.

Honestly, this coach even for a nominal purchase price is easy to work on seems to have quality finishings inside. If I where to get the coach I would do all the work I could myself. It is the second motor home that I would have ever owned and if it got a bit beat up its better to be on this one than say a fancy new one. I could of course get a new one but I like the sense of adventure. I don't know where people are finding great deals because most of the 1999-2002 Newmar RV's are listed around $20k-$40k depending.

[JAZRV]

I know that many of you have stated I should walk away. I just wanted to give an update that I am going to be moving forward with getting this RV. The arrangement and challenge just cannot be passed by. It is probably not acceptable for the Newmar Kountry Klub at this point. It does have the NKK registration number proudly displayed on the front and back.

I just want to say that this coach even with some packrat and water damage is definitely an upgrade to my vintage 1977 GMC Palm Beach (exhaust leak and no cruise control). I drove my vintage RV from Arizona to Mt. Rushmore over 2,000 miles. That was definitely an adventure with no front air-conditioning working as well.

Back to this coach though the amenities and build quality are very nice for the year. I would even say it has better build quality than any of my parents previous coaches up until the last two both being Country Coach. I have to make a second trip out and order a bunch of filters/parts for the coach. So back to the New Mexico Desert to pick up this diamond in the rough. I will keep everyone posted if I make it back from New Mexico without the RV breaking down (will be getting new tires as well).

[JAZRV]

I also want to thank everyone for the different perspectives and thoughts on the motorhome. As a side note I understand that this is a 40’ diesel pusher and will be expensive. I am not under a false pretense that this coach will be cheap. I have been reading posts where people have $$$ problems with newer more expensive coaches. Also, there are the risks of the coach sitting around. I have ordered all the filters and I have ordered 10 gallons of different fluids for the coach. I am going to invest in one of those drain plugs that I can adjust the amount of oil that can come out.

I need to check with my insurance and see if roadside is covered or if I need a separate thing for coverage. I may post some inside photos so folks can see the good parts of the coach.

[RoadTrip2084]

Awesome!

These things have a way of getting in your head, I fully understand your perspective.
Excited to hear how you make out and what you're able to do with it.

The adventure begins...

PS> DEFINITELY get a roadside assistance package as insurance against the possibility of a dreaded $10K tow!

[ImagiNathan]

I have a 2000 Newmar KSC 3357 I believe. It's got the Ford Triton V10 gas I'd do anything to trade for a diesel pusher especially being a Cummings if injectors were an issue you can swap them out definitely if you do that get a bank's chip tuner, especially for the funky shifting on these Newmars.

But especially in the summertime, in the desert heat I'd be running alternative fuels driving around the country for free if I had a diesel pusher. Those older Cummings they'll run on straight vegetable oil filtered through a whole house filter or two beefed up fuel pump the run on used O'Reilly's motor oil, you just about name it. Better miles per gallon especially if you have the drivetrain and egine tuned right, by this I mean real time OBD analyzers and modifiers that adjust the throttle body position with Rich flash being air ratios oxygen consumption, RPMs transmission RPMs, and altitude like I said the bank's tuners I hear great things especially with the diesel pushers.

WITH THAT SAID...

There's less diesel mechanics especially in emergency situation than there are standard ford mechanics.
I hope you're not thinking about even trying to get it to start below freezing. There's a huge fluctuation in diesel prices for month to month and from County to county, let alone state to state. So.. mines got 64k kept up great awesome renovations....

TRADE YA?!?