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Topic: Mileage doesn't always tell if RV is good. (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic
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Mileage doesn't always tell if RV is good.
Yahoo Message Number: 66338
I'm currently looking for Lazy Daze and a few things I've noticed when touring a few coaches, including those of other makes. Just because someone is selling one with only 34K miles, it could easily be junk with an engine that's about to blow up. I've seen some with 74K that run great and also some run like junk. Does anyone know why a Ford, Chevy or Dodge engine would be at the end of it's life at 34K?
Re: Mileage doesn't always tell if RV is good.
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66340
Quote
I'm currently looking for Lazy Daze and a few things I've noticed when touring a few coaches, including those of other makes. Just because someone is selling one with only 34K miles, it could easily be junk with an engine that's about to blow up. I've seen some with 74K that run great and also some run like junk. Does anyone know why a Ford, Chevy or Dodge engine would be at the end of it's life at 34K?
I agree low miles is not always a good thing what that tells you is that its been sitting around which is not a good thing the seals dry out the tires go bad which a lot of people are finding out on there trip back home from buying there new unit .
2009 Kodiak 32 foot Island Bed
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Mileage doesn't always tell if R
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66344
Yeah, I was reading some stories of tires blowing out. Probably old tires with good tread would still blow out. Buying a used RV is tricky, because it's hard to know if someone is telling the truth. Like the 89 Lazy Daze that was sold about a month ago on Craigslist.com / L.A. area.  The guy who bought it, is flipping it (reselling it) for $2,100 more and states
Re: Mileage doesn't always tell if RV is good.
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66350
"Just because someone is selling one with only 34K miles, it could easily be junk with an engine that's about to blow up. I've seen some with 74K that run great and also some run like junk."
 Jason, you didn't say what you meant by "runs like junk," nor how you can tell that an engine is about to "blow up." Are you a mechanic, or have you had a mechanic evaluate these RVs? I'm interested in knowing what the symptoms are that tell you when an engine is "at the end of its life," as opposed to when it just needs a tuneup, valve job, etc.
 "Does anyone know why a Ford, Chevy or Dodge engine would be at the end of it's life at 34K?"
 Well, my rig's engine was run dry by the original owners, necessitating its replacement at 22,000 miles. However, such events are *very* rare. In general, these engines, given even halfway decent care, are good for at least 100,000 miles, and usually much more.
 "I was reading some stories of tires blowing out. Probably old tires with good tread would still blow out."
 Indeed they will! It's happened to several people in this group just in the past couple of weeks. The experts recommend replacing *any* tires more than five years old, regardless of mileage or tread condition. Check the dates on any used RV you're looking at, and budget for replacement tires if needed. You can find information about tire date codes (and much more) in the file "ABOUT YOUR TIRES.doc" in this website's Files area.

"Buying a used RV is tricky..."
 It can be. Have you looked at the file "How do I shop for a used LD?" in the Freqently Asked Questions folder (in the Files area)? It has a lot of information that you may find helpful.
Good luck in your search! :-)

Andy Baird

City of Rocks State Park, NM
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Mileage doesn't always tell if R
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66370
Hey Andy,
 I found a 1984 Lazy Daze with forward door floor plant, good, but not excellent condition with 64K and everything works for $5,300. Good deal?   I've recently seen an 1980 LD go for $4,900. It looks 1984 inside, but minor changes should fix that. What do you think? I'm looking at Tioga, too around the same year. You seem to get a little more for your money with other brands, BUT, it's still not a LD.  Is $5,300 a good deal? Thanks for your or anyone's input.

Jason.

Andy Baird andybaird@...> wrote: "Just because someone is selling one with only 34K miles, it could easily be junk with an engine that's about to blow up. I've seen some with 74K that run great and also some run like junk."
 Jason, you didn't say what you meant by "runs like junk," nor how you can tell that an engine is about to "blow up." Are you a mechanic, or have you had a mechanic evaluate these RVs? I'm interested in knowing what the symptoms are that tell you when an engine is "at the end of its life," as opposed to when it just needs a tuneup, valve job, etc.
 "Does anyone know why a Ford, Chevy or Dodge engine would be at the end of it's life at 34K?"
 Well, my rig's engine was run dry by the original owners, necessitating its replacement at 22,000 miles. However, such events are *very* rare. In general, these engines, given even halfway decent care, are good for at least 100,000 miles, and usually much more.
 "I was reading some stories of tires blowing out. Probably old tires with good tread would still blow out."
 Indeed they will! It's happened to several people in this group just in the past couple of weeks. The experts recommend replacing *any* tires more than five years old, regardless of mileage or tread condition. Check the dates on any used RV you're looking at, and budget for replacement tires if needed. You can find information about tire date codes (and much more) in the file "ABOUT YOUR TIRES.doc" in this website's Files area.

"Buying a used RV is tricky..."
 It can be. Have you looked at the file "How do I shop for a used LD?" in the Freqently Asked Questions folder (in the Files area)? It has a lot of information that you may find helpful.
Good luck in your search! :-)

Andy Baird City of Rocks State Park, NM

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Re: Mileage doesn't always tell if RV is good.
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66372
Jason,

I'm not Andy, but according to the 'Asking Prices for Used LDs.txt' file, a 22 year old 23' would have an expected asking price of about $8200, and a 26' about $9,100.

So the price you mention sounds pretty good.

Good luck.

Barry 01 r rb tx
 
Re: Used LDs
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66373
Jason, you'll really be doing yourself a favor if you read through the "How to shop" document I mentioned in my last message. For one thing, it has a link to the "Asking prices" file that Barry mentioned (also in this website's Files area), which is a good guide to what used LDs are selling for. Take a look--you'll find that much of the information you need is already at your fingertips! :-)

Andy Baird

City of Rocks State Park, NM
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"