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[airduds]

Hi Guys. My wife and I currently semi-fulltime in a 2003 Country Coach Magna. It's a nice coach but we're looking move up to a 2006 or newer Wanderlodge. In the coming days I'll be reaching out to you for advice.

There is one on rv trader now at a dealer in Alvarado, Tx. that we're interested in. I don't know the etiquette here. Is it okay for me to post a link and ask for input?

Thanks in advance and hope in the next few months we get to be owners and not just members of the group.

[Arcticdude]

Airduds, welcome to the site! Please post away, as most of us are very opinionated and more than willing to share those opinions!! Quite a bit can be gained from having several folks look at the same pictures. We'll help however we can.

[airduds]

Thanks. Heres's the link:

http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2006-Blu...-112491547

[davidbrady]

Hi Airduds,

Welcome to the forum. Here's a post pointing to other posts which describe features of WaGu and how to use them. You get a plus 2 rep for your first post. If you push a pin into our User Locations map you'll get another plus 2 rep.

That's a very, very pretty M450. I know nothing about that particular one. It looks pretty much original to me. It looks like it has 315 steer tires; some owners have upgraded to 365's. You'll want to check the date codes on the tires and on the batteries. I imagine this M450 also had all the recall work performed including moving the generator and disabling the Hadley, both of which weren't actually enforced by the recall but were done out of the goodness of Blue Bird's heart! You'll also want to check to see if all the load capacity placards are in place. I'm sure Ross (dentmac) will have much more insight into items you may want to check before you plop down your hard earned cash. BTW, can anyone tell if the floor is original? Good luck!

[Arcticdude]

I believe that's an original floor. Iirc, the 06's I've looked at had similar offerings. As David has said, check for recall status, tire/battery dates and get her weighed-preferably the corners individually. Huge discrepancies can be found in the weights. Ask for pictures of each bay.

[ernie ekberg]

there was a 450 for sale on dallas cragis list a couple days ago
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/rvd/4630632035.html

[airduds]

(09-16-2014 08:07)ernie ekberg Wrote:  there was a 450 for sale on dallas cragis list a couple days ago
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/rvd/4630632035.html

That's the same one I'm looking at in RV Trader.

[davidbrady]

Hi Airduds,

One of the items you should check are the steer axle ball joints - the lower ones in particular. These ball joints are no longer available. The problem is the boot disintegrates allowing entry of road debris and abrasives leading to premature ball joint wear. Ryan Saari (turbokitty over on wog) sells a better quality replacement ball joint boot, there's also instructions on this forum for drilling and installing grease zirk fittings. Both of these mods should be done to ensure long-lasting ball joints. Don't ever throw out a ball joint for an M450. There's mounting evidence that they can be rebuilt or remanufactured by a qualified machinist.

[ernie ekberg]

the one in rvtrader is quite a bit less then motorhome specialists.
wonder if it has had the updates?

[dentmac]

(09-16-2014 19:01)ernie ekberg Wrote:  the one in rvtrader is quite a bit less then motorhome specialists.
wonder if it has had the updates?

?
Hitch capacity is 10,000 . Should be placarded as such. Are placards in each bay? they are NOT additive from side to side.I.E. If bay 1 indicates 100 lbs on left door and 100 pounds on right ,it means 100 pounds total across coach and above the bay in the coach. . Floor doubtful as orig. Are tow hooks still in front.? Hugh difference there.
R