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02-02-2021, 04:57 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 391
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The coach and chassis batteries are about due for replacment too. Also, check the "new" tires being installed. Sometimes they find some that have been laying around the warehouse for years. A Goodyear dealer tried to palm off some three year old tires on me. Replacments shouldn't be more than 6-9 months old.
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02-02-2021, 05:51 PM
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#30
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Eugene Oregon
Posts: 95
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While you are looking you might look at the ALPINE coaches.
We found a 2005 36' with the 400 ISL, two slides and loaded for $62K
Just My opinion
Rod
__________________
2005 Alpine 36 FDDS 75316,FMCA F507619,ACA 2020011, 2016 F150 Lariat (toad), FC1 Terrier Radar Tech, (In GOD we trust, all others we track)
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02-02-2021, 06:31 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Fulda, MN
Posts: 1,851
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Interesting reading. I bought a 2000 Adventurer 5 years ago with 50,000 miles. I had no real warranty written, just a verbal that everything was goo working order. I bought it this time of year in Minnesota so no way to check appliances. I had some engine problem and took it back and he done some injector work, also the two heaters that use the engine water. Tires were original and of course they gave trouble. I would never have rv dealer put tires on as part of deal. I would ask for discount so I could purchase them from my local dealer but if you're going to full time that wouldn't matter if you don't have a home base.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Adventurer 32v, P32 Workhorse
2005 Winnebago Adventurer 38J W24 Workhorse 8.1l, 5 Speed Allison MH2000
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02-02-2021, 06:38 PM
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#32
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 23
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Rood leaks were my biggest problem when I bought a 10 year old motorhome. Skylight leaked, drip rails that attach the fiberglass roof to the frame leaked, end cap rails leaked. I ended up removing every fixture from the roof except the two air conditioners and resealing them with Dicor. I then removed the drip rails and re-installed with with new putty tape. Finally, I sanded the entire fiberglass rood and applied Dicor white sealant paint then used Eternabond tape over the Dicor on the skylights and roof vents. Perhaps overkill but it won't leak again. I also had to replace some of the the luan inside the coach where water damage occured.
There is a pressure test that can be done. It involves pressurizing the inside of the coach with a fan through a skylight / vent then using a soap spray to look for leaks outside.
Good luck.
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02-02-2021, 09:46 PM
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#33
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Junior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 18
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I agree with Rod that Alpines are very nice coaches. They were a small company but made a quality product. I would put them up with Newmar and Tiffin (I've owned both). Since they went out of business after the 2008 down turn, I'm not sure about on going support but then again most coches use many of the same manufacturs and vendors to purchase thier parts and so many are the same. Nevertheless, for a first time Class A diesel purchaser, I would suggest going with a company that is still in business like Tiffin or Newmar, both have good customer service.
__________________
2009 Newmar All Star
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02-02-2021, 10:00 PM
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#34
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Junior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 18
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When ever you are looking at a 10 year old coach, the most important thing is how the previous owner(s) took care of the coach and kept up with the maintenance. Obviously, buying a coach brand from a quality manaufacturer is a given but the best quality coaches still need regular maintenance and repair. Buying a coach with more miles that has been taken care of is better than one with low miles and has had little use and little maintenance.
My advice is to be patient and wait for the right deal. Right now, both dealers and most individuals are pricing their coaches for way too high because of the demand caused by COVID. If you wait a little, you just might find some deals on coaches that were hastily puchased and now the owners have buyers remorse after finding out that RV life doesn't suit them. Just my 2 Cents...
__________________
2009 Newmar All Star
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02-03-2021, 06:23 AM
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#35
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Blairsville, GA & WPB, FL
Posts: 3,993
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The 10 year olds roof leaks
above was on a National Tropical 34' I bought a 10 year old rig 3 years ago and had to replace the cracked shower sky light...looked like something fell on it. Didn’t do anything else to the roof, then or since. Here again there’s a big difference in a entry level rig and a top of the line.
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02-03-2021, 07:30 AM
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#36
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 2,184
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Going from a budget of $80K to $200K opens up a whole new world. If you’re willing to shop for something before 2010, pre-DEF, you can start looking at:
Country Coach
Foretravel
Newell
Prevost
To name a few.
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02-03-2021, 08:44 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kid Gloves
Going from a budget of $80K to $200K opens up a whole new world. If you’re willing to shop for something before 2010, pre-DEF, you can start looking at:
Country Coach
Foretravel
Newell
Prevost
To name a few.
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Also puts you within reach of 2011+ top 3.
For example https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/201...QGP-5014504545
I bought my rig from them. Nice to deal with, among other things the owner's son is a tech, Aquahot certified. He put in a residential reefer for me for a really low price. They will pick you up from the airport, finesse the financing for you. Just great people.
Be advised, Duane can pick a coach, but he's not a diesel mechanic. Have somebody look it over. Trust me on this. If it passes oil analysis, take it down to cummins and spend the $1000 to really inspect it, if it passes THAT have them do the annual and buy it quick before somebody else does. Rebuild will run you about $55K; if you're not willing to choke that down, thorough inspection is money well spent.
Lots of tires on that thing, you don't want to replace em all at once so check your date codes, a good tire (Michelin, Toyo, Sumi, etc) should be good for 6 years if they aren't cracked or scuffed up. Don't accept off brand tires.
Tiffin won't work on it, but they will give you phone support. There are independents in Red Bay who used to work for Tiffin, who will work on older rigs like this.
My only problem is, that rig is too new for me. I personally found utility is going with an older, pre-DEF rig with a Freightliner chassis. You gotta think about those times you're broke down in Two Mules AZ and hoping the local mobile big-rig guy can bail you out, ya know?
I do like Cummins a lot but be advised, those engines are more fragile than you think. Make SURE you have it checked out.
That said. Dude! That rig is a *beast.* My daughter thinks I've lost my mind living aboard, but my Tiffin is nicer than any house I've ever lived in. By a wide margin.
I'm sure the same applies to Entegra and Newmar, just never looked because my wife is one of those Tiffin disciples, you know the type. Point being, with that kind of money in play you can get a *nice* rig. It's just gonna be harder than going down to your local CW, ya know?
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02-03-2021, 12:00 PM
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#38
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 25,296
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So far.....you've made a smart move by eliminating the Coachman. It might be a good DP for a young family to get into a diesel pusher model, but only for occasional short vacations and weekends. It was not built for any long term use.
You need to go out and look at several different models/brands. Get past the excitement of buying a coach and start looking at how they're built. Pull the drawers out and look at how they were assembled. Push on the interior walls. Look into the back cabinets like the ones under the sink, to see how neatly it's wired. Check the cabinets for real wood or veneer.
For a full time coach, you want a Cummins ISL 380-450 HP or Caterpillar C-7/C-9 350-400 HP. No matter which engine, you want a minimum of an Allison 3000 transmission. Look in the engine bay and see how it's wired and things are made. Check how the bay doors open and close and how the bays are made and wired.
The point.....as you look at several coaches, you'll soon see which ones are quality built and you'll quickly learn what to look for. The cheaper coaches use cheap furniture. Once you start using the furniture full time, it will quickly fall apart. I would be looking at Monaco, Tiffin, Newmar and Winnebago (Meridian lineup).
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 4x4 6.2L
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02-03-2021, 02:42 PM
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#39
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 2,184
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TampaDave
Also puts you within reach of 2011+ top 3.
For example https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/201...QGP-5014504545
Tiffin won't work on it, but they will give you phone support. There are independents in Red Bay who used to work for Tiffin, who will work on older rigs like this.
My only problem is, that rig is too new for me. I personally found utility is going with an older, pre-DEF rig with a Freightliner chassis. You gotta think about those times you're broke down in Two Mules AZ and hoping the local mobile big-rig guy can bail you out, ya know?
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If I were to consider a Tiffin it would be one on the Powerglide Chassis, which I believe was introduced in 2012.
The newer Freightliner chassis have improved. I would not limit myself to that brand out of concern for serviceability. Particularly, given the ride characteristics of an older chassis.
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02-03-2021, 07:20 PM
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#40
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
Posts: 37
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Wow - more great advice to add to my gradually building knowledge base. It is SO appreciated.
Officially passed on the Sportscoach - feeling quite relieved. Its a camper, not a live-in - i can totally see that now.
We are pretty seriously moving on from the idea of a sub 100k forever coach. Its not realistic with my limited knowledge and expertise to take on a fixer-upper.
The Itasca is still an option, it is at the very limit of the length we wanted though. Its crazy to balance getting the HP and layout you want without ending up with such a beast of a coach.
I like the idea of a sub-40 foot, 380+HP, 10K towing type of machine. The Allegro Reds are interesting, but I hate the layout for chilling out at night when the TV is on the end of the couch.
So adding in countless hours of research, everything you all have provided and seeing several different brands, we have narrowed down our criteria:
- 10K+ Towing
- Must be diesel
- At least 380HP with 1000-ish torque
- King Size bed
- One comfortable bed for an adult guest
- Under 42 Feet (prefer under 40)
- Residential Fridge - Stackable W/D
- Theater Seating with the TV across (preferred)
- Decent kitchen counter space
- A dream would be to also have a place for my MTB(s) (starting to let this go)
- Everything is tall enough for 6'6"
- Preferably no more than 5-7 years old
- Absolutely no more than $250k prefer 150-200
- Quality that will make it so I am not constantly fixing something (occasionally fixing i understand is part of the deal)
I have probably just described the unicorn coach that the entire world is looking for.... Ugh - the joys of RV shopping...
Thanks for reading - I will update as the saga progresses - seems there will be much more to come and hopefully leave behind a helpful thread for the next person....
Brian
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02-03-2021, 07:47 PM
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#41
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,823
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Lots of good advice here...hard to comment on this particular rig--if things work out--it was a steal….if they don't, it will be a money pit. Like some have said, this is an entry level coach….full-timing can be tough on a coach...personally, I would look for a bit older coach--perhaps one of the big three....but a slightly older, higher-end coach with many more necessities and conveniences can probably be had for about the same or a bit more money....right now is not a great time for buying an RV--the virus has brought buyers out of the woodwork, so prices are inflated ….if you could wait a year or so and let this current mess settle, you might find some real bargains…..
__________________
Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
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02-03-2021, 08:15 PM
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#42
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,159
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Check out MOT also for choices..Straight shooters
https://www.motorhomesoftexas.com/
__________________
Retired truck owner/driver,
Sign on this "Shack" says "Foretravel"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Livingston, TX
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