Community Forums

cl440 · 03-11-2025, 03:05 PM

My wife and I finally found the used class A motorhome that checked all the boxes. Coach is located in Michigan.

We traveled for our second visit with a cashiers check in hand. I wanted to run through all the systems and make sure everything worked. We get to the fresh water system and I asked him if it was winterized with anti freeze or did he blow out the lines? He gave me a funny look and said I didn't winterize it. It should be fine! We turned on the pump and water started leaking from under the bathroom sink. A pretty big leak for sure.

We were soooo disappointed. He said he would take it and have it fixed but now I am worried what else he neglected or what other damage there may be to the fresh water system? Hot water heater, valves, holding tank, water pump etc.....

PS89 · 03-11-2025, 03:11 PM

Take your check, go home, and keep looking.

Unless you want to roll the dice.....

If you really have your heart set on THAT unit, hire an independent inspector to go over it with a relatively fine-toothed comb. Then you'll have enough information to make an informed decision.

Flyer15015 · 03-11-2025, 03:20 PM

I agree. Go find another one.
Even if he fixes that one leak, there could be MANY more in places it is almost impossible to get to.
If he did not know that they need to be winterized, makes me wonder what else he doesn't know.

Now you know what your looking for, there are others out there and now is a good time to buy (dead of winter).
Sorry for the wasted trip. I've made a few in my searches. It's just part of the game.

Mike in Colorado

twojayhawks · 03-11-2025, 03:21 PM

Oh my! Did the seller only own it since last summer & not know any better?

ChrisDParise · 03-11-2025, 04:39 PM

Did he elaborate on reasons it should be fine? For example he winterized it the previous season and didn't use it?

You have been looking at long time and finally found what you wanted.

Have him fix it and have it inspected.

Test everything yourself.

Know where the water lines are and know which ones were replaced

If your confident the other lines can be accessed if they were to develop leaks and your willing to take that risk on, consider going ahead.

A few extra steps and your search is over.

hastemaker · 03-11-2025, 04:46 PM

Don't buy until it has passed a professional RV inspection.

SandiaMan · 03-11-2025, 04:50 PM

Sorry to hear about your current dilemma, believe it or not most of my neighbors with RVs have no clue how to properly winterize their rigs. They will take them in to have them properly winterized at their favorite RV service center and/or dealership.

As stated above we all have encountered issues with RVs we had intentions to buy once we arrived. The majority of RV owners prefer a turn key experience and don't want to bother with maintenance or upkeep, just like their cars they take them in for service.

We looked at 3 dozen coaches over a couple of years, there were quite a few that we were ready to purchase only to find something miss that we didn't want to mess with. The class A we purchased was not issue free, although I easily corrected them once back home.

OMMM4747 · 03-11-2025, 04:59 PM

A guy from MI that didn't understand the simple requirement of winterization?! What else hasn't been done???

Walk away or be prepared for buyer's remorse, 20/2 hindsight w/a good dose of everyone told you so. If you decide to pull the trigger, you must get it professionally inspected. You may be out the cost of the inspection, but at least you'll know.

Good luck

d23haynes57 · 03-11-2025, 05:03 PM

What type, model rig is this? I would expect there could be damage in multiple places including water heater tank and sink drains, p-traps. If winterization was not done what other maintenance has not been done?

Blastvalve · 03-11-2025, 06:16 PM

I’m with the others, if that basic item was never done, I cringe to think what other horrors await.

I’d run like heck away or if you go forward, have a second cashier check ready for the needed repairs down the road.

Dodge Guy · 03-11-2025, 06:35 PM

If he didn’t even winterize it, what else wasn’t done? Oil changes? Greasing the frt suspension. Etc. etc.
Move on and find something else. Consider your time and gas money well spent to save yourself bigger headaches!

**NLOVNIT** · 03-11-2025, 10:08 PM

I agree with the others. If the owner was that irresponsible with something as simple as winterizing, who knows what else they didn't do or how lazy they were with the care of the RV.

Run, don't walk, away from this RV.

Wiscampsin1 · 03-12-2025, 07:15 AM

I agree with the above posts about what else hasn't the owner done/maintained. I know you've probably spent a lot of time searching for that Class A that checks all your boxes. I can completely understand your disappointment. IMHO if you buy this one you'll have nothing but disappointment, headaches and remorse. You'll waste a lot of down time having repairs done instead of enjoying your Class A and spend lots of cash to get those things that aren't right fixed. Walk away, don't look back, and keep searching for a unit that was owned by someone that knew what they were doing and properly maintained their unit.