possible newbie

[mbulriss]

Hugh,

That Bird at PPL Motorhomes in Houston, may have an attractive price,
but be prepared for many repair expenses. PPL does a lot of
consignment sales for low bucks. They are by my Houston office and I
personally think of them as a sales lot of last resort for desparate
sellers. They do not plug in the units or do any upkeep on them, so
expect dead batteries, low air in the tires (or rotted tires as Jeff
said), and probably many mechanical/electrical challenges. On the
plus side, they are low priced. I think a couple of forum members
have gotten real low priced deals there, but they had many expenses
before getting their new purchases home. In fact, as I recall, I
think one of them went off the road with a blowout on the way home on
rotted tires on their new purchase.

While I would generally recommend an old Bird over any early 90 model
gas powered plastic palace, you will get what you pay for.
VintageBirds or Birdconnection might have higher quality Birds to
start with and you get to talk directly to the owner, not some
consignment lot sales person that knows nothing about the product and
just wants to move it as quick as possible to reap the commission.

Maybe one of our Houston area members can check on this Bird if they
get by that area of town and report back on it for you.

Good luck in your hunt.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
wrote:
>
> My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from social
> security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
> eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
> gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
> not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed engines.
> Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
> new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
> the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on the
> left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service records
> are not complete.
>
> My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
> past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should I
> have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
> checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know he
> is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the rust.
> Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
> frame. any help would be appreciated
> Hugh Turner
> Air Force 1977-1992
>