26 replies to this topic

[yellow roadrunner]

Hi everyone. So a guy my husband works with has a very clean Winnebago Brave 31RQ for sale. Today we drove it and noticed the front air conditioning didn't cool. Just blew out air. When my husband asked him about that, he said that it didn't work when he bought it but that they always used the gen with roof air anyway even going down the road. So here's my question, is that true? Do most of you use the big ac units for the RV while going down the road? Also, what happens when we want to sell it and the air doesn't work? The next buyer may want the air to work. Should this make or break the deal?
Thanks in advance?Wendy

[dzwiss]

If he didn't bother to fix the air conditioner, what else did he not bother to fix?

[Scottiemom]

Hi everyone. So a guy my husband works with has a very clean Winnebago Brave 31RQ for sale. Today we drove it and noticed the front air conditioning didn't cool. Just blew out air. When my husband asked him about that, he said that it didn't work when he bought it but that they always used the gen with roof air anyway even going down the road. So here's my question, is that true? Do most of you use the big ac units for the RV while going down the road? Also, what happens when we want to sell it and the air doesn't work? The next buyer may want the air to work. Should this make or break the deal?
Thanks in advance?Wendy

We use the dash air, have on all our motorhomes. It is true you can run the generator and the roof air. We have done that occasionally if it was really hot to cool the coach for the dogs, but haven't had to for years. It doesn't always cool the cab up front very well. Deal breaker? Well, they can be expensive to fix, depending on what's wrong with it. If you really want the coach, I would negotiate a lower price due to that. I personally would not buy one if that didn't work.

Dale

[OHVRanger]

No dash air will definitely affect the price. Will

[Barbaraok]

If he didn't bother to fix the air conditioner, what else did he not bother to fix?

My thoughts exactly - wonder what else he 'made do' - for some things that might be ok, but it is just indicative of an attitude that I would find perplexing.

Barb

[yellow roadrunner]

Thanks guys! We will definitely reconsider this a being a main problem. Also one other question, why do I have a "warn status" under my roadrunner picture?

[yellow roadrunner]

Sorry, I tried to cancel this....

Edited by yellow roadrunner, 21 October 2012 - 07:57 PM.

[Dutch_12078]

I repaired our non-working dash air shortly after we bought the rig. The compressor needed to be replaced, but I knew that going into the deal and allowed for it in my offer. We go in stages, depending the temperature. When the dash air can't keep up, we fire up the genny and run the living area A/C. If that's still not enough, we run the bedroom A/C as well. If that still doesn't do the job, we head for someplace cooler.

On edit: The "Warn status" bar is only seen by you, and as long as the bar is blank, you're in good standing. If you were to get a warning, it would be accompanied by an email from the administrator outlining your transgression.

Edited by Dutch_12078, 21 October 2012 - 08:13 PM.

[Biker56]

It may only need some freon put in it.
I have to add around 4 cans to mine every spring.
Cheaper then paying a shop $100 plus a hour to spend hours trying to find my leak.
In the 35-40' hose from the rear to the front.

[oRV]

A number of years ago we had a Shasta with a Ford 460 engine. When our dash AC failed I was at first told that the clutch on the compressor was bad and would be expensive to repair. . . didn't get it fixed that day and am I glad. I later found an honest repair person who found that the wire engaging the compressor clutch had vibrated loose. He repaired it for nothing. It's worth a look. Other than that. . . I agree with the above posters and urge you caution. What year and what chassis is your proposed new vacation home got? As always, oRV

[George Stoltz]

If he didn't bother to fix the air conditioner, what else did he not bother to fix?

This sums it all up. There are plenty of other units for sale. Keep looking.

[Leadfoot]

This sums it all up. There are plenty of other units for sale. Keep looking.

Sums it all up?? . . sight unseen - - - based on a couple of lines on an internet forum?? - Yikes!..

Must be - "Cyber ESP" !!..

Ask the owner to take the MH to a mechanic of *your* choice for a check out.
You should do that with any motorized RV.

Same for the dash air. Get an estimate for whatever repairs might be needed.

You might end up missing a great deal - but you will never know.

The mechanic "check out" should be free - or maybe an hour labor.
A/C estimate should be free.

As ORV (and others) indicated - A/C might only need charging - and/or a simple fix.

Once you have the results - you can negotiate - or pass on the deal.

If the owner won't agree to the above - it's a deal breaker for sure..

.

[mptjelgin]

I don't think that you should expect a mechanic check-out to be free or even a single hour. If you already have a relationship with a mechanic they might do it as a favor, but otherwise I would expect to be charged for at least a couple of hours of labor for a decent checkout.

This could get a little expensive if you do it for several units, but it can be worth it if they turn up $erious issues.

Good luck with your search!!

Mark

[Kirk]

Also one other question, why do I have a "warn status" under my roadrunner picture?

Every member of the forum has that warn box under the avatar but only your own can be seen by those who are not part of the forum staff. It is there to remind people if they receive some warning for rule violation to be sure that they do not get surprised if repeating the behavior should get them barred. When you join that box is completely empty and each time one is warned of a rule violation, a part of it gets filled in. If it gets completely full, you get barred from participation but all warning also come with an email from the admin people who are the only ones who can use that function or bar members from posting.

Each of us have that same box so yours is not exclusive.

On the air conditioner, I would probably want an estimate of repair costs made before I considered purchasing it. With any class A, there will be times in really hot weather that the dash air conditioner will not keep up with needs because the area cooled is far larger than a dash air is intended to supply, but I do not run the generator for the roof air unless it is needed. After all, the generator also burns fuel and is not free. If he will get an estimate from a repair shop and share it with you, then I would still consider this RV but not otherwise.

[yellow roadrunner]

1350871886[/url]' post='576452']
I repaired our non-working dash air shortly after we bought the rig. The compressor needed to be replaced, but I knew that going into the deal and allowed for it in my offer. We go in stages, depending the temperature. When the dash air can't keep up, we fire up the genny and run the living area A/C. If that's still not enough, we run the bedroom A/C as well. If that still doesn't do the job, we head for someplace cooler.

On edit: The "Warn status" bar is only seen by you, and as long as the bar is blank, you're in good standing. If you were to get a warning, it would be accompanied by an email from the administrator outlining your transgression.

Thanks Dutch. I won't be getting any warning I hope!

[yellow roadrunner]

1350875164[/url]' post='576468']
A number of years ago we had a Shasta with a Ford 460 engine. When our dash AC failed I was at first told that the clutch on the compressor was bad and would be expensive to repair. . . didn't get it fixed that day and am I glad. I later found an honest repair person who found that the wire engaging the compressor clutch had vibrated loose. He repaired it for nothing. It's worth a look. Other than that. . . I agree with the above posters and urge you caution. What year and what chassis is your proposed new vacation home got? As always, oRV

It's a 97 winnebago brave. Only 28k miles! Offered him 16k for it depending on the air working.
Wendy

[yellow roadrunner]

[quote name='Leadfoot' timestamp='1350895999' post='576486']
Sums it all up?? . . sight unseen - - - based on a couple of lines on an internet forum?? - Yikes!..

Must be - "Cyber ESP" !!..

Ask the owner to take the MH to a mechanic of *your* choice for a check out.
You should do that with any motorized RV.

Same for the dash air. Get an estimate for whatever repairs might be needed.

You might end up missing a great deal - but you will never know.

The mechanic "check out" should be free - or maybe an hour labor.
A/C estimate should be free.

As ORV (and others) indicated - A/C might only need charging - and/or a simple fix.

Once you have the results - you can negotiate - or pass on the deal.

If the owner won't agree to the above - it's a deal breaker for sure..

.
To all of you who posted: He is having the air checked out and did have the local RV repair shop he just had the brakes redone at, repair the gen carburetor since we noticed it lugged when running 1 a/c unit but not when running both. Other than that it only has 28K miles and not a scratch on the outside! If we buy this unit, we will replace the flooring and drapes to try and update it a little. I'll let you all know what we decide.

Wendy

[Barbaraok]

Wendy,

I know you think that low mileage is an advantage, but understand that all of those parts are made to be run, not sitting. So belts and hoses become brittle, fluids suffer, etc. Plan on a complete change of fluids, filters, belts and hoses, as well as tires. The appliances, have they been used lately? Was the refrigerator on one of the recalls and was it done? When were the burners for the refrigerator and water heater last cleaned and the burners checked? Just make sure you realize that there will be more expenses once you get on the road and be prepared for it.


Barb

[strawberry joe]

I want the dash air to work...adding freon/coolant is not a fix ..the thing is leaking and will get worse.
Low miles on rigs is not unusual..it dosen't impress me in the least.
Aside from belts, hoses, tires ect. the pulleys that belts ride on rust with inactivity and start to throw belts,
replacing them gets expensive.
In my experience with 3 different older class A's , they are like boats ...a hole in the water into which you throw money.
By all means buy one and have fun, but just understand we do this because we love it, not because its cheap.
luck to you

[yellow roadrunner]

Thanks Barbaraok and Strawberry Joe,
Yes we realize low mileage is just how much the unit has gone down the road. The current owner says he has started the home and run it pretty regularly although I can't imagine someone really doing that when they hardly used it. Apparently he wanted to go rving but she didn't. We will get the air checked to see what's up. Even if we use the roof air, like some of you, when we decide to sell, we would want it working. It has 6 new tires and he just had the brake lines replaced. We are looking for something that we can pay cash for so as not to have payments.
Our first RV was a small class C and we had the transmission done and new upholstery. Then we had 2 5ers. These were when we had kids coming along. Now we are planning for the 2 of us once we make plans for Mom. This would probably be too small for full timing, but maybe by then we will be able to buy something bigger. We really appreciate all the advice from everyone. Hope we can meet everyone one day at one of the Escapades!
Wendy