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Old 01-31-2021, 11:08 AM   #1
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New to Class A - About to buy used - any advice?

Hello All - Hope my post finds you well!

My wife and I (and dog) are taking the plunge from being regular travel trailer RVers to going full-time working on the road. We have done 4-6 weeks in a Flagstaff 23-FBDS many times now and we love it. Looking to spend most of the year in 2 spots (3-4 months each) and the rest pretty variable chasing sun, fish and trails.

We are about to pull the trigger on a used DP and we would love to get any feedback to give us a little confidence going in to the deal trying to avoid any big expensive mistakes. The details of the deal we have negotiated from our dealer:

2013 Coachmen Sportscoach Cross Country 390T

-34,000 miles
-340 Cummins - 6 speed
-The dealer is adding and installing stackable W/D, Convection-Micro, a new Sofa Bed (not a JackKnife), converting to a king bed
-All tires were shot, so they are replacing
-Dealer commits to ensure everything works as it should
-No real maint records - disappointing for sure
-Only 5k towing - another disappointment - hoping to flat tow a new Ranger

Settled on $79k

So thought on if it seems like an OK deal and an overall decent choice for us. Any advice or comments are so very appreciated!

Many Thanks,

Brian
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Old 01-31-2021, 11:13 AM   #2
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Sounds good but I would check and see that all appliances are actually working for myself.

A new Ranger weighs more than 5K. Really? We tow my Explorer all the time with 330 hp.
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Old 01-31-2021, 11:45 AM   #3
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That Sportscoach is an entry-level DP, with a modest sized engine/tranny and a relatively light chassis for its size. For example, the Allison 2500 transmission is the reason for the low towing limit. A more capable (and expensive) coach would have the Allison 3000. I'm not trying to discourage you from buying it, but want you to understand that it was designed with an attractively low price as the primary goal and tradeoffs were made to achieve that.

here are the Freightliner chassis specs for that model:
https://cdn.fccchq.com/specsheets/5b...ss-Country.pdf


That said, don't put great faith in the dealer promises - verify each and every one before you turn over the money and take possession. Once you accept it, they won't love you nearly as much as right now!
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Old 01-31-2021, 11:46 AM   #4
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Sounds a little late to be asking???
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Old 01-31-2021, 11:56 AM   #5
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Just a quick addition on timing - we have a fully refundable deposit on the coach and we can absolutely change course and wait for a better fit. We are not in any rush - we are looking to the experts here to help us make a final decision.

Also - new rangers weigh from 4100-4500 according to the ford site - closer to the limit than i prefer, but not over the 5k....
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Old 01-31-2021, 12:12 PM   #6
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Sounds like the dealer has started or is about to start on your todo list, after he starts I'm sure your deposit money would be a risk, if your happy with coach and dealer does all updates per your request sounds like a fair deal.
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Old 01-31-2021, 12:24 PM   #7
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Have an independent inspector check the coach. It will be worth every penny you pay for the inspection in peace of mind. Any and all fixes or repairs get in writing preferably from the the manager not just the salesman. Good luck with your purchase. Hope to see you on the road soon.
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Old 01-31-2021, 12:43 PM   #8
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Thanks for answering my question. It’s a entry level DP. NADA low retail is $80K so with new tires it is a OK $ deal. While the little Cummins ISB is a good engine, the torque is only 700 ftlbs... probably enough for a rig of only 28K GVW.

It probably has a 16K rear axle and a 12K front so you need to find the CCC or NCCC sticker, often on the back of a cabinet door. For FT use I would want a CCC of 3000 lbs minimum and a NCCC (includes fuel) of 2200. As half timers we use 5000+ lbs of or 9000 CCC.

I learned the $$$$ way that you should buy more MH than you think you need...
hopefully only one time. Can you FT in this rig??? Yes, but you have to be minimalist and for one item in, one item must go.

PS: welcome to the forum.
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Old 01-31-2021, 01:49 PM   #9
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Kkbward
Some thoughts...
Have you & dealer agreed & in writing what they are replacing tires with? Mfg, model, load range? Balanced? (Wts, beads, etc?) Including extensions to allow check & fill inner duals?

With no maintenance records avail are they replacing fluids & filters & chassis lube to have a defined starting point for future changes / service? If not you will likely want to do this on your $ to start.

Coolant testing may be in order... not just freeze point but corrosion additives important with some coolant types... also need to know specifically what coolant is in it or again need to drain, flush, refill with known good coolant to start. Lots of posts on Cummins vs Freightliner coolant recommendations... worth searching and reading. Some Cummins recommendations will cause FL sensor failures.

What condition are battys in? I'd suggest a deep cycle load test of house be part of the inspection... not just a conventional start batty test as they really don't relate to deep cycle performance.
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Old 01-31-2021, 02:23 PM   #10
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The price seems fair with all those conditions attached to the deal, big one being the tires. If your happy with the floorplan and test drive, maybe add a mechanical inspection with an oil sample for piece of mind. Worth checking that the house and chassis batteries are less than 3 or 4 years old and as well. Get up on the roof and look for damage, check AC shrouds ,vents awnings and ensure the skylights and all seals are good. Good luck with your purchase.
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Old 01-31-2021, 03:08 PM   #11
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Excellent advice - so very much appreciated!

I have reached out to a couple independent mobile RV techs to see if they can inspect the coach - willing to spend the money to check it out.

I am also going to sit down with them and see exactly what products they plan to use for our upgrades and the tires. I am sure they are going to try and use the cheapest stuff possible.

I forgot to mention before that I am also having the house batteries all replaced - going for 6 6v AGMs - price on this is still TBD - the salesman said they were going to change the Lead acids in it now and i would just pay the diff. We will have talk about coach batts as well...

Still a little worried about the full time suitability of this rig - i would not be surprised if it ends up needing an upgrade in a few years even though i suspect i would lose 20-30k in the process...

I cannot tell you all how much I appreciate the help here - its almost easier to buy a house than a class a - crazy complicated and nerve-wracking!

Brian
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Old 01-31-2021, 03:36 PM   #12
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Check their AGM premium $ to make sure they aren't inflating it. If outrageous id request they credit you the $ of FLA and you supply the AGMs. Sams Club Duracell are a decent AGM made in USA by East Penn and run about $180Ea. I've used quite a few EP / Duracells and been happy.
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Old 01-31-2021, 08:00 PM   #13
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“Still a little worried about the full time suitability of this rig - i would not be surprised if it ends up needing an upgrade in a few years even though i suspect i would lose 20-30k in the process...”
I’d be very worried and trading is harder and more expensive than just buying. I wanted to say ^^^, Run Brian Run but with only 2 posts I doubted you’d appreciate that.

Now that you have 3 posts... Run Brian Run!!! A entry level DP is not what you want for FT.

In fairness to the dealer, you need to stop this purchase tomorrow and rethink all of this. In a week, as more people respond, you may decide to go ahead... I have my doubts you will with more information.

In 18 years on RV forums rarely have I read “wish I had a shorter MH” and never have I read “wish I had less HP”. A 340 HP Cummins ISC (8.3L) engine has 1000 ft lbs torque, not 700 that a 340 HP ISB (6.7L) has ...big difference in power even though the HP is the same.
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Old 01-31-2021, 08:47 PM   #14
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I believe you would be better off to only look at the top three brands.....

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