New buyer question

[oldbob]

I looked a 2004 Winnie the other day and the cabin ceiling was covered with a very thick textured coating and the chassis and sheet metal underneath was heavily corroded. Is normal for a motorhome with less than 40,000 miles.
I just started looking.

[Skip426]

Welcome to the forum.

Any RV's condition is dependent on the area and type of use , where it was stored and how it was maintained.

Some owners think nothing, of taking there RV on to the sand at ocean front sites, others have to drive in areas where snow and road salt are common.
Proper clean up can slow corrosion in these situations, but without clean up, the corrosion can accelerate.
Keep looking , I'm sure you'll find a unit in the condition your after.
Not sure what you describing on the cabin ceiling.

[747Driver]

A white textured material is normal for that vintage RV.

[LSC9901]

Help is free and graciously given here. Photos are always a big plus when asking questions. We all want you to get the best possible unit so ask away and toss in a photo for everyone to go by.

Also you can look at other units of the same year and type just by checking some of the popular "For Sale" sites

[FleetMan]

Check the amount and severity of the under chassis corrosion on metal work done by Winnebago. Winnebago did not do a very good job of metal prep and corrosion control those days. Some owners have reported metal underside compartments corroded so bad they had to be completely rebuild them. Many Winnie owners, myself included, do annual undercarriage corrosion treatment and control to stay ahead of it. The Chassis manufacturer typically does an excellent job on the frame and the components they supply to the RV manufacturer.

[LarryW21]

I'd get a professional to evaluate a 12 year old RV with heavy corrosion.

[marjoa]

All these points may not apply to you but may be helpful to others:

A few things to consider when buying ANY motorhome (MH):
Buying any MH is NOT like buying a car. You should not just go out and find one that you like and it’s pretty to look at, price is good and then make a decision. Buying a MH on emotion without careful thought could turn into buyers remorse. There is also a learning curve and testing of all the systems that are in a MH. It is considered—best practice—that no matter what type of MH you decide to purchase, Gas or Diesel, used or new, that once you do purchase one, give yourself time and a few short trips to become familiar with it, and fix any bugs or issues that may and probably will arise BEFORE you go on any extended trip.

1) The first thing to consider and probably the most important to most of us is, what can I afford
2) How are you going to use the MH? Are you going to use it sporadically throughout the year for short 1,2,3 or 4 weeks at a time or are you planning to travel a lot year round, traveling the US & maybe Canada
3) Are you planning to tow a vehicle
4) Insurance will vary a lot depending on the type of MH, how you use it, the size, its value, its age, the state you live it, and your driving record
5) A few states have MH size restrictions, and license requirements
6) It’s a best practice to store your MH inside when not in use so in most cases this requires renting a storage unit and—depending on your location and the length—will vary a lot on what you pay. Usually a 35’ or less storage unit for most people the cost is very reasonable. Over 35’ it goes up quite a bit. And don’t forget, you’ll need an extra 5’ - 10’ at least to give yourself the ability to store supplies and have the ability to work on and clean your coach. If you choose not to store your MH and leave it outside, your MH’s condition will pay a price
7) Maintenance is another consideration and this is not just confined to oil changes, air filters and lubing the chassis. MH’s are equipped with many onboard systems. It’s a house on wheels. They have 12volt and 110 electrical systems with a variety of different appliances and charging systems. Some have no slides some have many slides. There are different types of roofs. There are so many systems they can’t all be mentioned here, but some are only found on Diesels. Regardless with ether it’s Gas or Diesel, all these systems have to be maintained on a regular basis and you have to decide whether you can perform some, most or all of these systems yourself or pay someone to do it
8) Any MH owner should also have roadside service of some kind
9) Warranty. If you buy a new MH it will come with a factory warranty. But most dealers & shops today are so back logged with coaches that need service work—in many if not most cases—may take weeks to schedule your work. Therefore, your normally warranty expires fairly quickly so you’ll have to decide whether you want to pay for an extended warranty. Many times if you buy a new MH out of state, when you get home, your local dealer will not service it because you didn’t buy it from them. Or, they may work on it but you’ll usually be put on the bottom of their list. If you buy locally your local dealer is probably fairly close to your home base, but it would be to your advantage to buy a MH that also has factory service center nearby (say within 500 miles or so) that can not only take care of warranty issues, but also address any other more complicated issues that may arise
10) Tire costs for Diesels (for the most part) are much more than gas rigs simply because they are bigger
11) How much storage space do you need in the basement to carry all your stuff
12) If you buy a new MH you will take a big depreciation hit, especially in the first 3 years
13) If you buy a used MH, get it inspected by a professional and have the fluids tested by a lab.