Pre-purchase advice- Garage queen vs. middle aged 'runner'

[Genevatexan]

We are shopping for our next rig, and have a basic question: How would you guide us between two coaches that price similarly($65K-85K) but one is a remarkably clean and well preserved 2005 with an absurdly low number of miles (10K), versus a 65K mile coach that is a later model? In gas engines, my experience has been something that sat, or was just run sporadically resulted in a mountain of issues if it had not been run regularly. I think I remember both of these are C9 Cats.

Second question- Wrist Pin issue with 2006 Cummins ISL 400 HP engines- can a person track down whether the coach is in the failure range with just the VIN, or must you have the engine Serial number?
Thanks!

[Ivylog]

Engine serial #... BETWEEN OCTOBER 17, 2005, AND APRIL 18, 2006, WITH ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE FROM 46543077 TO 46603939.

If the 10K miles rig was used often for short trips and not lived in (not likely) I would pay a little extra but 65K over 15 years is probably better. That said, I’m not a believer that Diesel engines that sit for 6+ months at a time is hard on them. Tires yes, Diesel engines or generators no.

[bobmar]

Not to be argumentative, and I’m not a diesel guy, BUT.....Ag combines and such very often sit for longer than 6 months at a time with little ill effect. Just sayin’

[TheWoodBoss]

Go for the garage queen.

[Argosy]

Are they both the same quality level originally? There's a lot of difference in how these are built and what's used to build them. That would probably matter to me as much as use.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by Ivylog

Engine serial #... BETWEEN OCTOBER 17, 2005, AND APRIL 18, 2006, WITH ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE FROM 46543077 TO 46603939.

If the 10K miles rig was used often for short trips and not lived in (not likely) I would pay a little extra but 65K over 15 years is probably better. That said, I’m not a believer that Diesel engines that sit for 6+ months at a time is hard on them. Tires yes, Diesel engines or generators no.

Might just PM Dick - look what he has done - he drives and uses his Coach so .....he just might be on to something - BUT - He knows how to shop so keep that in mind -.

IMHO it would be really smart to work up a good list to use as a check off - lots more to look at than just the Diesel engine

Best of Luck,

[Cincy Steve]

Service records on either? The runner may be current on things that will need immediate attention on the queen.

[CountryB]

If all else is equal, I would go with the older Coach since it will have less emission control devices on the engine. I would only want a Coach that is 2006 or older.

There are a lot of people here paying a lot of money to fix emission related problems. I say "the less the better".

[Genevatexan]

Originally Posted by Ivylog

Engine serial #... BETWEEN OCTOBER 17, 2005, AND APRIL 18, 2006, WITH ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE FROM 46543077 TO 46603939.

If the 10K miles rig was used often for short trips and not lived in (not likely) I would pay a little extra but 65K over 15 years is probably better. That said, I’m not a believer that Diesel engines that sit for 6+ months at a time is hard on them. Tires yes, Diesel engines or generators no.

Thanks for the guidance. So to go one step further, if a coach is listed as a 2007, it will have to have been produced after April (18) 2006, which means, no 2007 will be in the wrist pin group. Is that Correct? And next question- when do DEF engines pick up- month and year? thanks again- Kent

[Genevatexan]

Originally Posted by Cincy Steve

Service records on either? The runner may be current on things that will need immediate attention on the queen.

The runner kept an ink log book of every update, change, purchase and enhancement, but no receipts shared... The garage queen has almost nothing...

[fagnaml]

Genevatexan --

My first ever motorhome was a 2007 Damon Astoria 3774 diesel pusher purchased five years ago when we upgraded from a travel trailer. That coach for being eight years old was in like new condition with only 4900 miles of use. It had been stored covered, but not climate controlled, RV storage facility in south Texas. The coach was previously owned by couple who were in their mid-80's and could no longer use the coach. The purchase price was very, very reasonable.

Given the Astoria had very little use, I anticipated that all fluids and filters needed to be changed, new tires had to be purchased, etc. What I didn't expect to happen was several items had to be replaced due to the very limited use i.e. stabilizer bar bushings had rotted, the A/C compressor on the engine "froze" and had to be replaced, the engine turbo booster controller failed and the Dometic fridge failed to work a few months after purchase. I learned that there are "rotating equipment and other moving parts and pieces on a motorhome that if not "exercised" will fail. These failure of course all happened after a rigorous pre-purchase inspection!

A nice, like-new 2005 coach will have the simplicity of no exhaust treatment system. Just be prepared that there may be some large repair cost for items that have received little use.

[CountryB]

Originally Posted by Genevatexan

TAnd next question- when do DEF engines pick up- month and year? thanks again- Kent

Emissions timeline (major emissions technology/system used):
2004: EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation)
2007: DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)
2010: SCR / DEF (Selective Catalyst Reduction / Diesel Exhaust Fluid)

Note that this is for engine year. A Coach will generally have an engine that is one (sometimes two) years older than the Coach model production year. So a 2007 model year Coach will/can have a 2005 or 2006 engine.

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by Argosy

Are they both the same quality level originally? There's a lot of difference in how these are built and what's used to build them. That would probably matter to me as much as use.

Agree, what brand coaches are they? Big difference on quality on how they are built. I don’t believe you can go wrong on either Cat motor though.

[PABO05]

I bought my coach with 26,000 miles at 13 years old.

Two and a half years later at 40,000 miles no regrets.

Got new air bags, bushings and tires because of age.

I won’t let low miles scare me off.