New Member buying 2005 ADVENTURER 38J

[Trish4801]

Hi, we haven't gotten it yet but I'm in the process of buying a 2005 Winnebago ADVENTURER 38J. It is from an individual but through a broker.

They wanted 27,800 I offered 22,000 and they accepted. It looks well lived in but with only 12989 miles on it.

I'm having it inspected but seller has asked for time to replace a switch behind passenger seat with a new panel with USB connections. I have no problem with allowing him time to finish it.

I plan on replacing water heater with an on demand system. Also replace carpet in living area and flooring in kitchen.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. Nervous also qualifies since we are going from a 81 mini Winnie Itasca which is basically a van with a camper attached, to a bus. My husband has at this point refused to drive it, which is fine. My sister, use to be a school bus driver, is going to train me how to drive it. Hopefully I learn fast.

[Morich]

Sounds like a big step up but that bigger is often a mind thing more than actual problem. They often ride much better.
You just have to learn not to stick it in any of those smaller holes!!

Want to do some creaming/planning for what you now have?
Winn does a good job of posting things online so we can look and learn a lot of willing to spend the time.

Home site here:
https://www.winnebago.com/

Under the "owners tab, you can find a start on a tub full of info. things like the owners manual are a great place to start. with winter coming on, it can be vital to know where and how to drain and protect lines?

The one I like for learning the new RV is the plumbing diagrams as they can point me to the drains that the book may show but not explain well how to FIND them!
Some manuals are better than others, so good luck on the learning!!

[Trish4801]

Thank you Morich for that info. I will check it out, husband I think will come around in time.

[Morich]

We find the big thing on any change in RV, is to try to look forward and learn as much as we can about where the controls are and what they do. That first stop is often the owners manual to even find what to expect and where and how it works.
It's a ways to reduce the little things that drive us crazy!
Little switch on the dash that sets which battery the radio uses for power? No big thing but it does keep you from using the radio and makes you think something is broken if you have it in the wrong position!
The coach battery disconnect switch that you may figure is good to disconnect the RV from the batteries while storing?
Good thing but it also will keep the coach batteries from charging if you plug the RV in while stored and turn the disconnect off! So you come back and the batteries are ruined because they stayed flat for months----even when you thought they were cutoff or being charged because it was plugged in?
Another "learning curve? The safety equipment inside is left connected, even when coach batteries show disconnected! Look at a green light on propane detector and it may still work? Given time it eats your batteries.

You may already know lots of those small point from the other RV, but they do keep throwing new wrinkles in every new RV, so watch those batteries carefully until you KNOW what they do!