Let the PO (Previous Owner) games begin! Time for some Winter Time humor to fill the day...
1. It got 8-10 MPG every time we used it... (thats what the PO told us who we got it from)
2. it worked FINE last time I plugged it in (last time was 15 yrs ago)
3. AC runs Ice cold ( in the middle of winter)
4. I patched all the roof leaks I could find (I found 1 of 5.. good luck with that)
5. All the generator needs is a tune up and it will run great (I did all I could and it still doesn't run)
6. My friend who is an electrician helped me rewire things (after drinking a case of beer or 3...)
7. tires in great shape lots of tread left (just don't look at the dry rot on the insides)
The only thing wrong with it is it has a rock chip in the windshield....
wrong!!!
converter dont work
furnace dont work
engine exhaust leaks
roof vents are broke
radiator leaks
belts are shot
front end alignment out of wack
propane tank leaks
large hole in the floor under the bed
city water backflow check valve leaks
engine and genny needs complete tune up
gets 6.5 mpg pulling the car, not 8
Dash AC doesnt work
Couch needs rebuilt
Oh and yes, the windshield was cracked....
True story on our 1986 P30
"and its got a brand new fridge!"
Yep...a brand new Avanti fridge from Home Depot...lol! That was the first thing we replaced when we bought this coach.
Kev
I drained the water system and put in antifreeze every winter...
Those stains on the ceiling are from an old leak.
We use it every summer for long trips with the kids The only thing i know of wrong with it is the tranny leak (wich they could not hide due to the large stain on the driveway) I had to repair the large hole in the roof before i could even road test it / The cracked hot water tank & the warped rotors were just a few of the $3000.00 needed to get roadworthy Frank
"Put on a new set of tires and you could drive this baby anywhere!" Couldn't even get it to the tire shop before it died.
"It just needs a little TLC." A hundred some hours later and a couple thousand dollars... yeah, THEN it only needed a little TLC.
the tree that fell only broke the window didnt touch the roof
not sure what the hole in the roof above the window came from when i looked at it lol
Handy: Had a tire separate ON THE WAY to the tire shop to get new rubber.
Its in good shape for her age all I did was drive it to the race track...He wasn't lieing
I had put on...new motor mounts,water pump, toilet,Headers,stabilizer shock,generator,
She is in good shape for her age. MEANS She is on life support!
It was owned by a mechanic. :)rotflmao
"needs miner engine work". reality was it blow a rod.
The fridge works fine just takes "a while" to chill down - yea like 4 days.....
The Fridge looks ugly but works flawlessly. (it's an icebox with half the interior covered in duct tape)
I rebuilt the engine for the PO "YEARS AGO".Put new cam, rods, pistons, rings, bearings,bla bla bla Ran Great, when it ran. Has been sitting for 10+++++ years. Was used for weekend trips.
(Reality) The RV got an engine from a work truck, that was rebuilt 30+ years ago. wont smog, need it gone...
Part2
$1,200 for a small 1977 Toyota rv. I call to ask about parting it, reply is buy it for $1,000 and YOU part it out.
Then asked me what I was looking for,-ME- I tell him the stove as is, reply what are you looking to pay?,-ME- $100 - $150 as is untested. Reply If I hook it up and test it and it "WORKS" I want $400. -ME- Yea keep drugger dreamin. --Click--
It will pass inspection no problem....
Somebody needs to make a song out of these post to sing at a campfire!! :)rotflmao because its so true!
And you know that if you sang it loud enough people would come over and tell you there stories and have a part 2 to sing :)
Sung to the tune of "Davey Crockett:
Born from desires of you and me
Climbed her first hill doing 43
PO gave up and she was sold
I snapped her up cause the fridge was cold
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
" That 6 digit number in orange writing on the side and back window? No, it didn't come from auction.. just some kids messing around one weekend"
Its been a great motor home, hate to see it go actually
( he shoulda took the time to remove it, as it cost him some negotiating on the price)
awesome.
The P.O. says, " I took the a/c belt off to gain a little extra mpg."
Week later I find the shredded belt under the front seat. A/C clutch frozen.
Don T.
How about the song go to the tune of the Bill Engval song "Here's your sign" but call it " Here's the signs" :)rotflmao .
Another one I've been told is, " Why change the fluids? It hasn't been started in 2 years so the oil and plugs are still brand new." I changed the oil and plugs but neither one looked new. DUH!
Not as controversial as some current subjects, but I'm having fun with it. Feel free to jump in.
Sung to the tune of "Davey Crockett:
Born from desires of you and me
Climbed her first hill doing 43
PO gave up and she was sold
I snapped her up cause the fridge was cold
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Second verse:
PO told me that the engine's brand new
Brakes and steering and the tires too
First time I took her down a good steep grade
Three of the tires and the brake lines blew
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
:)ThmbUp :)clap !-! !-! !-!
Last one for tonight - I obviously need to go fishing if the weather would cooperate.
Sung to the tune of "Davey Crockett:
Born from desires of you and me
Climbed her first hill doing 43
PO gave up and she was sold
I snapped her up cause the fridge was cold
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Second verse:
PO told me that the engine's brand new
Brakes and steering and the tires too
First time I took her down a good steep grade
Three of the tires and the brake lines blew
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Third
PO told me that she runs like a charm
Tree branch hit her but it did no harm
Don't need the shower - roof leaks so bad
Re-roofing took all the money I had
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Perfect for a restore, I have new paneling that goes with the unit! Means " there is nothing inside left to attach the panels to! D:oH! N:(
it's ready for the road, just got back from (insert Long distance state here) with it.
translation: I just got back from 100 miles away and I figured out what all is wrong with this thing and I'm looking for a sucker
There sure is a lot of rv's for sale that say "just drove here from??" Thats funny chickenhead....
I'm going to keep adding until Mark shuts me down :'(
Sung to the tune of "Davey Crockett:
Born from desires of you and me
Climbed her first hill doing 43
PO gave up and she was sold
I snapped her up cause the fridge was cold
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Second verse:
PO told me that the engine's brand new
Brakes and steering and the tires too
First time I took her down a good steep grade
Three of the tires and the brake lines blew
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Third
PO told me that she runs like a charm
Tree branch hit her but it did no harm
Don't need the shower - roof leaks so bad
Re-roofing took all the money I had
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Fourth
Inspected three times and all seemed fine
Sat down with PO and a bottle of wine
Paperwork done, now drive her home
Made it ten miles - need tow but no phone
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Fifth
Savings now empty, still off for a trip
What's this in the galley - is that a drip?
Plumbing let go - holding tank too
Wife has left me. Dog did too
Winny, Winny Bago
Roamer in the wild frontier
Terry
your doing a great job on the song can't wait for the recording :)clap
Thinking it'd be better if l change the chorus so it's not Winnebago specific (it worked at first) to
RV, RV traveler
Roamer in the wild frontier
Terry
I just had the engine tuned up!
Translation: Just added Gumout to the fuel tank .
:)rotflmao
All tuned up, just drive her away
Gumout's fresh, what more can I say
Turn-key unit, ready for your trip
Your cheque'll clear before the starter goes "click"
RV, RV traveler
Roamer in the wild frontier
Terry
Hehe, Love it.. Bravo! :)clap
It's got new brakes???? :(
Thats one that really takes the cakes !
The AC runs cold (in Winter)
The Heater hot (in summer)
The ceiling has not a splinter
The fridge don't work is a bummer
I'm told the repair is to burp it
A simple thing to interpret
The shower worked last I used it
(that is if you turn that like this and hit it)
I just put new brake fluid in it
(won't tell you why none was there)
The check engine light is always lit
My mechanic tells me not to care
There's a short in the wire so he said
takes you five minutes to run a new line
the fuel gauges in these (RV's) are all bad
I just keep track of the miles and time
It gets 8 to 10 miles per gallon
wow I said that's great, no lie'n?
The carb leaked gas all over the engine
That it didn't blow up I can't imagine
I new Edelbrock was what I did order
The old one thrown south of the border
The wires were shot one clean burned through
How she ever moved forward I haven't a clue
Didn't climb on the roof nor run the heat
propane is empty not missing a beat
Worked last we used it he smiled and said
I nodded believing then without dread
Clear plastic over the vents I did not see
First rain I found out as the roof took a pee
Not only the covers needed replacement
Had also to buy all the casement
Next was the furnace which would not turn on
to fix it required the kitchen be gone
Daubers and switches were both to blame
But after it all she had a nice flame
The fridge took four days just to chill down
Wow that PO took me to be such a clown
Twelve hundred later a new shiny fridge
cause burping and flipping did only a smidge
I learned a few curse words changing airbags
But now she rides steady with no sways or sags
Then on a trip we heard a big bang
She sounds like a tank I said with a twang
manifolds and mufflers both torn in two
more money out the door, what else is new?
Researched and read and spent a wad
Now Gone has Banks headers installed
She now rumbles and roars when you step on the gas
Having power to spare that big truck to pass
Then next of course there's always whats next
ah now to create more text
Stepped on the brakes in the heat of summer
That the pedal hit the floor was a big bummer
Pumped them for all I was worth
stopping an inch from the end of the earth
Fluid had boiled as did my temper
But she limped on with barely a whimper
Hydroboost system needed a new
hey lets do the whole system lines and calipers too
Now you think I'd be nearly done but no
The tires were the next to go
dry rot was found though good tread did remain
Another eleven hundred did flow down that drain
The tales just keep going the miles go by
but I keep smiling is just not a lie...
:)clap :)clap :)clap
Bumping this post back up to the top of the list for the benefit of all our newbies after reading a bunch of PO tales.... LOL! Welcome new owners!!!!!
Tina
I don't have a catchy rhyme but I have some tales of my own...
I got it cheap because the PO didn't know how to use most of the RV.
He didn't know if the water system worked, it was winterized when he bought it.
The 12 volt system doesn't work, it only works when plugged in. (There were no coach batteries to power the 12 volt system)
The tires are new. ( I now know the new tires were 11 years old when I bought it, the old tire was 25+ years old)
The engine runs great....
Shifts smooth....
Fixed the leaks, Doesn't leak anymore, those are old stains.
Brakes are new
Electric fridge (gas one long gone)
Generator didn't work, but it has just been rebuilt...(I didn't believe that for a minute)
(of course no papers to back up the claims of repaired things)
I knew I was getting a project but didn't realize it was this big of one.....
I discovered the black water holding tank was full all without water..
Roof leaked like it wasn't there. Turned out there was 7 screws drilled from the inside right through the skin of the roof. I still have a dribble when parked level after three days of rain, I think it may be the AC seal. I need to get up there and add another coat of roof sealer and replace the gasket on the ac unit (which sortof works)
The toilet didn't hold water in the bowl, and parts to fix it were no longer available. (Installed new porcelain toilet)
The furnace stopped working. (needed a cleaning and a tune up, ignitor board was fine)
The Transmission died 300 miles from home on the 4th long trip I took it on.
Fan clutch was dead (discovered this while replacing the transmission just past the middle of nowhere)
On the 1st trip after getting home the brakes fail during a panic stop on the highway. nearly rear ended the in laws car due to tourist stopping in both lanes and the shoulders to gawk at Dhal sheep hanging on the rocks off the highway. THe RV filled with smoke, took all my leg power to push that pedal. Found out the front calipers were siezed, the master was bad and the rear calipers were bad....so new brakes went on.
During the brake install that is when it was discovered the heat shields were missing on the right side plug wires, I was lucky to make one trip towing a car let alone three. Right side wires melted off 2 times once on the side of the highway 35 miles from Seward, Fortunately I had a car following me so we jumped in the car and went to Seward to get more plugs and got lucky and found some heat shields and a pull down bed in a junk yard there....
Right after the wire problem a propane line developed a leak from a rotted hose between the tank and the rig. So I had no propane on the trip since I couldn't get a new hose where we were camping.
Front suspension was dead. Right side was sitting on the bump stop, and the death wobble was present on any crack I hit. Replaced, bags, springs, and all 4 shocks. Got an alignment, replaced three tires.
During the alignment they found heat 2 wires still melting due to exhaust leak. new ceramic plug wires are on the way...Also found the wire feeding the HEI coil was melted and grounded to the engine make less than 12v to the coil and not a constant voltage of whatever voltage that was getting, so the harness was replaced. It runs so much better and has power.
Power converter is dead, it won't charge the batteries from shore power.
Tank valves are shot and need to be replaced...
I still need 4 tires.
The shelf the fridge sits on has collapsed and the homemade drawer I discovered under the fridge is what is holding it up.
I just rebuilt the top drawer in the kitchen, the pressboard original rotted and the drawer fell apart.
I have probably spent 5 times what I paid for it, but on the other hand I have no payments and have not gained any debt because of it. We plan to drive it a long time after all the money spent to keep it alive.
Damn. I bought a RV 3 days ago and I resent that I can relate to this thread.
"Good tires at 80% tread" - Tire blew like a cannon on the way home. I owe the person in the car next to me a new pair of undies.
"Everything works" (twice) - Made the 8 hour round trip to buy this wonderful RV that's been frozen in time, and the brake lights didn't even work.
"My dad installed this INGENEOUS battery shutoff switch to cut-off power so you don't drain the battery" - My interpretation: "Something was draining the battery, but he couldn't figure out what, so he just installed a switch to kill all battery power." -- I found this out the hard way on the way home. About an hour into to the trip we stopped at flippin Hardee's. When I tried to re-start it, the battery was dead. Luckily, we were able to jump it off my wife's truck and get back on the road. I didn't even mention this little hiccup in my thread about this wonderful time machine. It's a small detail that was lost in shuffle after the tire blew.
And I haven't even had a chance to try out the plumbing, fridge, stove, furnace. I will have to learn how to use most this stuff before I can even test it.
This thread will go on for years....awesome, UNTILL IT'S YOUR TURN!!!! hahahahaahahahahahahahahahaahahaha..........
That's a fact, right there.
Owning an RV it sure is a trip
reality meets fiction a new owner will quip
brakes go, tires blow, we limp them home
money and time so we may then roam
up hill and down, like driving a tank
she rattles and rolls again with us to thank
The smiles she brings to all those who pass
thumbs up and grins, owner memories last .....
My favorite;
"It works perfectly, although I never turned it on."
:D
I am starting a list of things to tell the new owner, should I sell my rig. I'll start with the windshield. " Listen here, pardner, the windshield only leaks in a very hard rain. Light showers, she stays dry as a new pamper. Look me in the eyes, pardner, I would never steer you wrong. Speaking of steering, she'll go straight if you............
Don T. ( P.O. in training )
Im with you Mr. T....
"I know the tires date codes are 12 years old, but hey,they were in a dark storage place 9 of those years, so really partner, there only 3 years old!" W%
"Your never going to find a cleaner, well maintained unit as this one partner".
"After you fix the rear main seal leak, and replace all the brake lines, fix the furnace and the reefer, you will be good to go". "Whats that you say partner?" "The last time I drove it was six years ago", "all it needs right now is for you to buy a BATTERY, and it will fire right up". "Do you want to buy it partner?" :P
Me and the wife decided to get a motor home, after searching the net I remembered seeing one in town for sale so went and looked at it done a little research on it and looked at it a few more times. Every time I talked to the seller he told me how great it was and just about everything I asked about he said it worked so we bought it! Looking back I should have done my inspections with it plugged in because the great refrigerator only works on propane, the front ac kicks the breaker after about 30 minutes and the converter was shot! the water system was drained and winterized but when I hooked the hose to it water was running in the floor, after fixing a busted line I started looking at the plumbing closer and it had no antifreeze in it thankfully it was just minor repairs! The seller talked about the spray insulation on the holding tanks which I thought ok may help in the winter but our second trip the grey tank was leaking after scraping off the insulation I discovered a 14 inch crack welded it and so far it is holding. Went to the station to fill up with gas got home and could smell gas noticed it was running from top of the tank and the gas gauge only shows 1/4 tank now I have to drop the tank and fix both these. The kitchen roof exhaust vent after an hour will shut off so it is being replaced. second trip the fuel pump went out and on the way home a header gasket blew out and this engine supposedly only has 500 miles on it and has paper work showing the new engine install. There has been several other small things.
If your going to buy one of these classics hook the thing up to power and water to test everything, this is my second one so I thought I new what to look for and have been very surprised at all the problems I did not notice.
I haven't bought one yet but I'm getting the royal treatment on the phone...
"Runs great, but we changed our plans" = come get this money pit outta here!
"They drove it in here, we're loosing money on it already... oh, it doesn't run sold as is" = We've lost our shirt on it, please pay for our mistake!
:)rotflmao That's like baiting your fish hook with a shoe...
Quote from: Oz on July 06, 2016, 09:16 PM
:)rotflmao That's like baiting your fish hook with a shoe...
New one today: "It's good on gas." :)clap
After a long interview. PO stated that he:
Never tried the A/C. He hates A/C.
Never tried the stove. doesn't cook.
Never tried the refrigerator. Used a cooler.
Never tried the furnace. Used an electric space heater.
Never tried the water heater. Showered at campground.
Never tried the plumbing. See above
Never tried the propane system. Propane scares him
Never tried the generator. His PO told him it was broken
Did not have or ever have a title but if I paid him he could get me one.
:)clap
PO advertised the Class A as a 30 footer. Turns out it is a 28 footer.
Interior in fair shape ="water leaks never fixed, some rot in the floors, some appliance probably don't work"
Still laughing as much today as when I started this thread a few years back LOLOL...