1993 wanderlodge bought on e-bay for $51,300----LEFT IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA !

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jburgessx2"
wrote:
>
> That is quite the story and very unfortunate. I've had very good luck
with Ebay (knock on wood) and it's bad when people try to take advantage
of others. I'm sure they were well aware of most of the problems (maybe
not the water - surely they wouldn't have flooded the coach again in
front of you if they knew). I'm sure they knew of the paint problems,
doors, cabinets, etc.
>
> I bought my coach from just looking at the pictures on the internet.
Fortunately, the PO (he originally wanted a bank transfer before I
arrived) allowed me to bring a cashiers check and gave me the
opportunity to check it out prior to me buying. I knew the coach needed
a few repairs and I fully accepted it. And, I've discovered a few other
problems and I'm sure the PO didn't even know about them (tie rods,
leaking wheel seal on tag). But, I got a good price and have freely paid
for the fixes.
>
> I'm sure you will find the coach you want for the price you want. It
seems there are plenty available right now and the prices continue to
drop. It surely is a good time to buy.
>
> Jerry
> 85 PT40





Boy what a nightmare! That coach looked so nice on E-Bay and the
interior looked so new! But I do think if I was going to invest 50,000
dollars in anything I sure would check it out first. I think your
almost oft better by buying from a private person as then you can get a
feel of how he or she has kept up there equipment. My Wanderlodge I
bought oft of the Vintage Bird site and one of the main reasons I bought
it was that I saw that the guy who owned it before has a garage as neat
as a pin and really like keeping up his equipment. Some of the people
think nothing of buying a rig and then spending thousand of dollars
after that fact but in reality you should be able to buy something today
that has been well kept up and not haft to go broke just trying to get
the rig ready for the road. So anyway I hope Bob has better luck next
time and if possible buy a rig owned by someone on this site that has
really loved his old coach. Jon
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Ernie Ekberg ernietex@ wrote:
> >
> > WOW, What a nightmare, Bob. This is the new meaning to the term
fixer-upper.
> >
> >
> > Ernie Ekberg
> > 83PT40
> > Wanderlodge
> > Weatherford, Tx
> > http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair
> >
> > --- On Sat, 4/25/09, Bob & Carol Howald` rhowald@ wrote:
> >
> > From: Bob & Carol Howald` rhowald@
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 1993 wanderlodge bought on e-bay for
$51,300----LEFT IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA !
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 9:33 AM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > What I thought could end up being a really good deal on a 93
wanderlodge ended up being a waste of time and money. Being the
successful bider on e-bay my son and I left early Tuesday to go to
Piedmont SC to pick up the coach. Karolina Koaches wanted me to wire
them the full amount before we would arrive, I gave them a $500,00
deposit and told them I would hand carry a cashier check for the
remaining amount.
> > When we arrived at their place in Piedmont on Wednesday morning we
were met by Bob the sales manager who told us the coach was plugged in
and ready to go. We went out behind the building and there was the 93
plugged in all the doors etc open plus air conditions, radios, light,
televisions etc all turned on. Immediately we could see that the coach
did not look very clean, covered with red mud and dirt. that part was ok
so we started looking beyond this, It had been repainted and who ever
painted it did not prep the surface at all, dings painted over instead
for being sanded out etc. Lots of paint mission around rivets fiberglass
cracked bumpers out of alignment etc. Three of the cargo doors would not
close as the hinges were broken on two of them and a third one was
missing completely. The generator auto-start control box was torn
completely out of the bay wall and lots and lots of great stuff foam was
used in the generator fan area to patch or ?
> > something on the floor under the drivers seat. Upon further
examination of the paint we discovered that half the paint markings on
the side were vinyl decals which were cracking and pealing off. Lots of
white rust. The engine compartment door would not latch. The engine
compartment was a mess with lots of lose insulation hanging along with
dirt and rust.
> > Now we decide to check out the inside, upon first look it appeared
to be ok, some lights out and some drawers with broken hardware. I ask
about the water system as there was no water coming from the faucets or
in the toliet bowl. Bob said he would turn on the water pump, While we
were looking at the safe that would not open although we had the key's
we saw water start running down the isle. Water was running from under
the cabinets and from under the bed in GREAT amounts. I thought he had
turned the city water on and called for him to turn off the hose, but it
was the coach water pumps running. The coach is flooded by now with
water every where. Several cleaners come in with towels etc and start
mopping up the mess. When we go outside water is running out of every
crack in the coach and running into all the bay area's on the left side.
After the water stopped and the mess cleaned up enough to go back inside
and look around we found the broken pipe's
> > under the bed (bacteria filter completely cracked in half) pipes
under the sink dripping and the instant hot cracked and leaking. That's
on the left side, because of the leaks on that side no water could get
to the stool, washer, vanity etc so who knows how many breaks on the
right side.
> > Ok, so now he says I guess the bank diden't get it winterized?? ?I
don't know who or what ever but I do know that the plumbing has big
problems. He says he did not put that the plumbing was ok in the e-bay
ad. and that I had bought it as is. and I replied that he was nuts to
think I would take that coach and that it was totally mis-represented on
ebay ( pictures of the exterior had to be touched up)
> > To shorten this story, I told him I would give him $47,000 and take
it. He disappeared for a few minutes then came back and said " They
would release me from the deal and write me a check for my $500,00
deposit plus give me money for my expenses. All they asked in return was
a positive feed back on e-bay.
> > My son and I got back in the car and started home for Illinois ,
thinking about what a Junker the once lovely 93 bird had become and glad
we were leaving her in SC.
> > Don't get me wrong, I knew there would be problem's with the coach,
I've owned 4 bluebirds and feel that I know the birds well, and this
bird had problem's that I could not over look or that I was willing to
work on for the next year or years.
> > This coach will probably be back on e-bay when they get the plumbing
put back together. What kind of job or repairs they'll do???? who knows
> > Iam still looking for a bird and hopefully a bargin but, in the mean
time I still have my 06 PonyExpress Super C with the Duramax diesel and
10-13 mpg (anyone want to trade), ha
> > Hope I diden't bore anyone but felt that this story should be shared
with the group. O' both primus boilers were bone dry and the radiator
needed water and the generator smoked...... .
> >
> > Regards to the group..Bob..
> >
>