You may recall I looked at a 1999 Winnebago Adventurer 34V with a Cummins 5.9 a week ago. This had been stored inside since new and is immaculate inside as well as on top and on the sides. I had decided against it due to an abnormal amount of rust on the chassis and components and also noticed what appeared to be corrosion along the water pump joint between the engine and the block. The owner, an 83 year old businessman was selling it and had purchased it new. I declined to make him an offer, bolstered by the advise of members on this board.. He had it advertised for $40,000 on Craiglist, the sign on the windshield read $35,000. After seeing his factory I have no doubt that he is quite wealthy.
Well, yesterday he sends me an email and asks me what I would give him for it, so I did some figuring. Tires $3000, exhaust and water pump issue perhaps $1000, broken remote outside mirror $500 I guessed. Rust below, so perhaps brakes at $1000. So I emailed back that I would look at it again and might offer $25K if it looks better the second time around. I was in the area today so I stopped to test drive it and check the bottom side again. This vehicle has been off the road for three years and the building it has been stored in all this time has an apparent moisture issue. At any rate, he stuck a plate on it and away we went.
The coach drove absolutely great, loved it, and the 5.9 surprised me, it seemed peppier than the two others I have driven with larger engines. We get a couple miles down the highway and the "low water" light comes on, he says that's ok, it's full. A few more miles and the "check engine" light blinks intermittently, again the owner says that's ok. Meanwhile I'm glued to the temperature gauge. I suggest that we should turn back as the temperature is rising and falling on the gauge, could mean that the water pump is not operating correctly as I did spot an issue with it last week. So I turn back to the storage building as soon as a spot was available to do so. Now I have both lights lit on the dash and the temp is creeping up quickly. Finally back to the garage I pull into the bay, temp is above normal but not pegged. Upon walking to the rear of the coach, I see greenish-rust red antifreeze pouring out of the engine and a trail behind it back out to the main road.
So, I figure no big deal, it's probably the water pump and perhaps a hose that let go as well, but I don't like the rust color either. I climb under the rear on my creeper and can't get close to the leak, it's someplace closer to the top, radiator, hose, pump, who knows. Now I notice that the complete exhaust system is rotted, hanging by almost nothing and the genset exhaust is in the same condition. The more I looked the worse it got, wherever there were components, they were covered with serious corrosion. I get back on my feet and check the genset in the side compartment and it looks like it was used as an anchor in salt water, yikes!
So, it seems my first impression was correct, something is wrong here. It appears that a beautifully maintained coach was ruined by being stored inside in a humid environment :'( . I told the gent that he might better had let it sit outside.
My point in all of this is "buyer beware"! If I had not taken the time to literally crawl under that coach and look around, I would have assumed all was well due to the beautiful condition of the rest of it. He told me that the Winnebago dealer would buy it, so I assume he had a standing offer for a price less than what I had suggested. I feel sorry for the person that ultimately ends up with this thing.
Well, yesterday he sends me an email and asks me what I would give him for it, so I did some figuring. Tires $3000, exhaust and water pump issue perhaps $1000, broken remote outside mirror $500 I guessed. Rust below, so perhaps brakes at $1000. So I emailed back that I would look at it again and might offer $25K if it looks better the second time around. I was in the area today so I stopped to test drive it and check the bottom side again. This vehicle has been off the road for three years and the building it has been stored in all this time has an apparent moisture issue. At any rate, he stuck a plate on it and away we went.
The coach drove absolutely great, loved it, and the 5.9 surprised me, it seemed peppier than the two others I have driven with larger engines. We get a couple miles down the highway and the "low water" light comes on, he says that's ok, it's full. A few more miles and the "check engine" light blinks intermittently, again the owner says that's ok. Meanwhile I'm glued to the temperature gauge. I suggest that we should turn back as the temperature is rising and falling on the gauge, could mean that the water pump is not operating correctly as I did spot an issue with it last week. So I turn back to the storage building as soon as a spot was available to do so. Now I have both lights lit on the dash and the temp is creeping up quickly. Finally back to the garage I pull into the bay, temp is above normal but not pegged. Upon walking to the rear of the coach, I see greenish-rust red antifreeze pouring out of the engine and a trail behind it back out to the main road.
So, I figure no big deal, it's probably the water pump and perhaps a hose that let go as well, but I don't like the rust color either. I climb under the rear on my creeper and can't get close to the leak, it's someplace closer to the top, radiator, hose, pump, who knows. Now I notice that the complete exhaust system is rotted, hanging by almost nothing and the genset exhaust is in the same condition. The more I looked the worse it got, wherever there were components, they were covered with serious corrosion. I get back on my feet and check the genset in the side compartment and it looks like it was used as an anchor in salt water, yikes!
So, it seems my first impression was correct, something is wrong here. It appears that a beautifully maintained coach was ruined by being stored inside in a humid environment :'( . I told the gent that he might better had let it sit outside.
My point in all of this is "buyer beware"! If I had not taken the time to literally crawl under that coach and look around, I would have assumed all was well due to the beautiful condition of the rest of it. He told me that the Winnebago dealer would buy it, so I assume he had a standing offer for a price less than what I had suggested. I feel sorry for the person that ultimately ends up with this thing.
