Community Forums

Tulsa Mike · 01-16-2008, 07:43 AM

I did the same thing! 1995 Bounder in Tuscon, AZ, I am in Tulsa Okla- 1100 miles away.
Told my wife we just bought a MH on Ebay- her response was not pretty....you did what? For how much?- Got the plane tickets, he picked us up and drove us to his house. She saw it and said THAT is OURS? I said yup - then she went inside - THIS is OURS? Yup- she somehow had visualized a far lesser vehicle. he really took care of things- filled up everything, and even gave us sheets, pillows and blankets for the trip - what a gas it waws driving that home!! That was a year ago, and i have learned a lot- especially what a great buy it was, it will change you!

Tulsa Mike
1995 bounder- 32H F53
In perfect shape after 50k miles
Lovin it!

george henry · 01-16-2008, 12:28 PM

NHRA1256 , Welcome to iRv2.com

Tom N · 01-16-2008, 02:05 PM

I bought my 35' 1994 Vectra off eBay. Seller was a Chrysler dealer and it was his personal Penn State tailgating coach. He kept it in a heated building. Paid $28,000 in Dec. 2002. Traded it in Oct. 2004 and got $63,866! Vectra was gas and had 81,000 miles on it when I traded it but it was perfect. (I know, I know, I actually got wholesale when traded.)

I didn't bid on eBay. He had lots of bidders but no one reached his minimum. He relisted on eBay and still no bids reached his minimum. The last day of the auction I drove 80 miles to see and test drive the coach. He told me what he had to get out of the coach and he was going to email all the bidders with that figure. I then purchased the coach for his minimum, $28,000.

He had his service dept. detail the coach. It was perfect and I never had a problem with it.

We were spending all winter in the coach and the wife wanted slides so I traded it in less than 2 years later.

Below are photos the day I picked it up.

-Tom

David K · 01-16-2008, 04:20 PM

We bought ours off of Ebay also. We live in Atlanta and the dealer was the other side of FT Worth, TX (Weatherford -- I think). The dealer and I talked before I pushed the buy it now button. He said that everything on the MH was in working order and he said he would even split the cost of a 4 year, 40,000 mile extended warranty. We flew into DFW and he picked us up and drove us to the lot. We loved what we saw. I got a good deal from him as I paid $100 over what he had in the unit (it was a trade in). According to the blue book, we bought the unit $54,000 below what the median value was. The next day as we were getting ready to start the drive back to home, we turned the frig on to propane just to test and it would not light. He brought out his propane/refrigerator guy and they replaced the thermocoupling and one valve -- the refrig has worked like a champ since then and there was no charge to me -- he said "I told you that everything was working." Everything on the coach worked as advertised. The person who ordered this from Winny, took every option/upgrade that was available in the 2002 Ultimate Advantage -- the only thing he did not take was the GPS system. The only thing that I did do -- and the dealer did tell me about this prior to purchase ---- was to get some touch up paint and touch up the little chips on the lower front end.

I always look on Ebay for high cost items, use PayPal or credit card to pay for, and see how many feedbacks the seller has and what is said. I have bought gas swimming pool heaters, digital camera kits, etc. and have always been really pleased -- both with the product and the savings to my pocketbook.

Bob N Deb · 01-16-2008, 04:27 PM

We bought our motorhome on Ebay in october and we are very satisfied . If you are buying a used vehicle you are taking a chance even if you have a mechanic check it over it may break on the way home from ebay or your next door dealer

Bob/Becky D - VA · 01-17-2008, 11:54 AM

We also bought our coach on Ebay from an Arizona dealer (bdclassics). Flew there on the 4th of July, picked it up the next day and took a 5100 mile tour on our way back to Virginia with no problems. An extremely positive experience for us. We researched the dealer as best we could, and now count him as a valued friend. Most honest person I have met in years.

VtChris · 01-21-2008, 02:59 PM

I bought my first RV on eBay and had a very positive experience. It was from a private owner and Walter and I are still friends. I flew from Vermont to Newark Airport, he met me at the airport and I test drove and checked it out in the parking lot, we signed the papers and off I drove. Being a single woman of retirement age, he was a little worried about me, very sweet young man. Besides feedback, I called him on the phone, both at his home and his office, plus I goggled him to check him out. And for payment, I took a bank check made out to both of us, he never had a cent up front. I also bought my Camry this way. No problems with either!

read & learn · 01-22-2008, 02:58 AM

Welcome to iRV2.com VtChris

read & learn · 01-22-2008, 03:07 AM

NHRA1256 welcome to iRV2.com and best of luck with your Motorhome.
I know from the past, most of us will love to hear of your adventure home to NJ.
Make sure you join some of the clubs-FMCA they have a great rally in the summer this year. The North East Area Rally [NEAR] is in Essex Jct. VT in August, great for the kids--Fleetwood Owners--Good Sam has a NJ chapter, you'll meet a get group of people.

NHRA1256 · 01-23-2008, 02:59 PM

Thanks for the replys everyone!

Sheesh...I thought I'm taking a long ride back to Jersey, but some of you got me beat! I dont feel so bad now...

Getting down to the wire...packing tonight and flying tommorrow all day. Tomorrow night will be dinner and checking out Texas...

...then go to the dealer at 7am Friday morning for the inspection. If all goes well, we will do a wire transfer of the funds and I'm on the Road

bsavage · 01-23-2008, 07:21 PM

Good luck and congratulations! Can't wait to see pictures!

NHRA1256 · 01-28-2008, 09:18 AM

Well....1,637 miles later, I'm Home!

What a ride...went through some beautiful country, Texas and Louisiana were nice..interesting roadside sights to say the least! Camped at Ameristar RV Park in Vicksburg Mississippi Friday night....nice and quiet. Filled the propane tank Saturday morning and hit the road...went to Cleveland Tn next night...made a few stops for supplies and did some shopping at a great antiques store...then stayed at a KOA just past Chattnooga...pulled in in the dark and drove right into an RV spot I thought was a road

Stopped right short,..ha! anyway, another peacful night. Had one issue with a 12volt resetable breaker in the infamous Battery Control Center...got that squared away....Woke up real early in the am and rolled outta there all the way back to NJ.

Visually the rig is mint, inside is soooper clean...just what I wanted. Mechanically the rig checked out good, one issue is I need to do front pads and rotors asap...I'll need to figure a place to buy them around here in jersey or maybe on line if they're common (F53 chassis i believe). Also, have an issue with the intermittent wipers...after about ten minutes, on intermittent, they get a little too intermittent...they go thru two timing cycles to make a full sweep of the windshield..halfway up, stop, then go all the way up and back down.....

Had to winterize the rig in my driveway sunday night around ten o'clock...but No big deal, I'm used to working late!

All in all, a very memorable experience. Went past alot of place's I wish I had time to stop and check out....

*note to self... make sure to retire early to get back on the road asap!

NAUTIQUE · 01-28-2008, 10:25 AM

Congrats! Sounds like things went well.
Where's the pics?????

David K · 01-28-2008, 02:04 PM

Glad to hear that you made it OK on the trip. Hope it is the first of many, many more as you enjoy your new MH. I know that first time out, it is "anxious time" but, we all go through that.