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Topic: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it? (Read 3253 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #25
I have an email dialog with the owner going. Aquahot is down, electric only, currently getting awning fixed. Its in the shop. Expect to see it this coming week.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #26
That's great Dave. It would be interesting to hear about your observations.
Bob and Pam Brumbaugh
Ernie (English Bulldog)
2000 U320 WTFE 40' Build # 5740 (former)
Xtreme "Lights and Paintjob"
Motorcade# 18659
Souderton, PA
Towd: 2021 Ford Ranger
Quickee Mini Golf Cart (former)

We Are....Penn State!

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #27
I guess it sold. The listing is gone. Hopefully it was a forum member.

On edit: it's back. I wonder what happened.
Bob and Pam Brumbaugh
Ernie (English Bulldog)
2000 U320 WTFE 40' Build # 5740 (former)
Xtreme "Lights and Paintjob"
Motorcade# 18659
Souderton, PA
Towd: 2021 Ford Ranger
Quickee Mini Golf Cart (former)

We Are....Penn State!

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #28
Just guessing, but I'd expect that living outside in Daytona Beach...how long?....might have something to do with it.  Those compartments look kind of crusty.  Bulkheads?  How's the headliner?  Unit shows some pretty good use but for someone doing their own work might be a good canvas. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #29
The little bits of metal I can see in the pictures doesn't really look corroded.  I don't think you have to be very far from the beach to stop the salt corrosion.

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #30
I have run into good deals before, but as the old saying goes. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #31
Spoke with the owner today, he has someone buying it tomorrow. Last update to the ad showed better quality pics including decal weathering and window snakes. Asked the owner to let the buyer know about the Foretravel Forum.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #32
Owner (Ron) now says buyer is defaulting, coach will probably go back up for sale. The wife and I have discussed this and for various reasons (mainly our commitment to get out of debt) we are passing. I may go have a peek if someone is interested, and I've told the owner I would inform the forum. Without a look I would reserve at least $10K over the $30K price. Known issues from pics/discussion:
1. The aquahot has only worked on electric for years.
2. no mention of date codes on tires.
3. tree limb damage of Zip Dee main awning and perif'arel' damage (his words!). Submitted for insurance.
4. Snakes in windows
5. Graphics in rough shape.

Positives (from ad and speaking with owner) - recent reefer work, recent batteries, 475 Watts solar (with a lame controller - not MPPT. I had same controller go bad and spike my batteries with 16V...).

I was very interested in this coach, and became frustrated with the owner in addition to my own personal reasons for passing. It could very well be a great buy, just not for me. (Or as they say on 'Fast N Loud', "A diamond in a goats a...") The wife has really had a tough time on this trip with her back and I will likely try to adapt a class 8 air ride to her passenger seat to get her some relief for now. I've already told her that for a truly better ride we need to go to a tag 42 (or 40), plus she wants a slide. I really think that with what I want and what I know an 01 42 is in the cards some day.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #33
Dave,

Thanks for the report. Do you know if he is planning on posting a new craigslist w/pictures again since the old post is no longer available? Do you remember which floorplan it had?

Thanks in advance,
Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #34
As I recall it was a walk through bath. Same as mine.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #35
Thanks Dave.  Still waiting on the house.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #36
Fan speed controllers on the AH fans are pretty simple and not expensive.  I put an on/off switch on the dash blower that comes on with AH.  Big noise reduction, LR and Kitchen fans run longer with it off and the temp is more uniform.  You can get a rebuilt AH for about $6K from John Carrillo in the Denver area.  Not sure if that is with or without a core exchange.  It is tempting but time is hard to come by for me these days.  Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #37
Dave,  sent you a PM.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #38
Everything here is all just $$ you know?  $200/window for the snakes, aquahot max $6K but since it works on electric the freshwater loop and boiler chamber have to be intact meaning it's going to be less than $1K. 

If I had some property and I was able to get the engine dyno'ed it would be an interesting project.  This is a much better investment than some of the half-hearted bus conversions out there.

As pretty as my coach is the lights didn't turn on when we walked through the coach batteries were flat dead.  Tires were aged out, etc.  But $$ added up in my head.

Main things I would look at is roof integrity/past leaks, frame/bulkhead issues, and engine condition.  Everything else is relatively cheap and accessible.

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #39
As others have said its only $$$ and time. But when one starts with something nearing 20 years old there comes a point when it just doesn't add up any longer, one must look very carefully before jumping in. Cosmetic stuff is cheep, the bones is what starts costing big dollars cooling system, engine and trans, hyd system, fuel lines and on and on.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #40
As others have said its only $$$ and time. But when one starts with something nearing 20 years old there comes a point when it just doesn't add up any longer, one must look very carefully before jumping in. Cosmetic stuff is cheep, the bones is what starts costing big dollars cooling system, engine and trans, hyd system, fuel lines and on and on.

AND ON AND ON;      That IS, the bottom line!
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

 

Re: 1997 U320 in Daytona Craigslist. Anyone know about it?

Reply #41
Which is exactly what is happening for me but the price equation has a lot of variables. 

You could buy a brand new one for $800K or whatever.  There is an awful lot of maintenance and repair between $30K and $800K.  That is one way I could rationalize spending even large amounts of money - even if it isn't recoverable in the sale.  Consider it a cost of ownership and still cheaper than a new one.

Presumably there is some sweet spot where you can own the coach mostly depreciated for a few years without constantly repairing it.  I don't know when that is.  The person who owned my coach before me spent a lot of money on it both in renovations and service.  During my ownership I am still spending money.

So every time something stupid (or maybe not so stupid) breaks I just get to work fixing it and so far 99% of the stuff has been pretty cheap.  We need a set of batteries though.  But my point is if a 97 U320 is worth $50K-$60K it would have to be pretty broken to achieve that in service and repairs.  Therefore if you have a house you don't plan to sell, like to putter around and need a project.  It doesn't look like the worst thing you could take on and still save maybe $15K.