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Qballfc

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Hello! Just joined. I’ve been looking for a Chinook or Sunrader for a while now and one has just popped up. 1978 Sunrader going for $5k. I’m going to look at it in a few hours, and since I’m not a mechanically inclined person, was just wondering what were the most important tips to look at to make sure RV is with the money. I do apologize if this should be in a different section of this forum. Thank you for your help. Mike.

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2 hours ago, Qballfc said:

Hello! Just joined. I’ve been looking for a Chinook or Sunrader for a while now and one has just popped up. 1978 Sunrader going for $5k. I’m going to look at it in a few hours, and since I’m not a mechanically inclined person, was just wondering what were the most important tips to look at to make sure RV is with the money. I do apologize if this should be in a different section of this forum. Thank you for your help. Mike.

Count the number of lug nuts on the rear axle. If you have duel tires and 5 lug nuts, the axle is unsafe and will cost lots of $$$ to replace. Tire age is also a biggy. They may look good but could be too old to be safe. 

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There are countless things to be checked and most with time and money are fixable.  Tire age age is a biggy, tires that look good ready to explode on the way home!   Google how to read DOT codes and check for dry rot.  I would replace tires of unknown history at 6 years old.

The absolute worst problem I have seen over the years is overheating problems.  People have bought Toys and they start with a thermostat, then a water pump, new radiator, new fan clutch, change to electric fan, then a fancy multi core radiator on and on throwing good money after bad.   Overheating can be difficult to diagnose and may be a simple fix or a nightmare!

It is often head gasket sealer or magic radiator fix that has plugged the cooling cores in the motor.  This is rare, I have seen 4 in the last 3 years, but for me personally if I saw any signs of overheating I would walk away.

cooling passeges blocked..PNG

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7 hours ago, jjrbus said:

There are countless things to be checked and most with time and money are fixable.  Tire age age is a biggy, tires that look good ready to explode on the way home!   Google how to read DOT codes and check for dry rot.  I would replace tires of unknown history at 6 years old.

The absolute worst problem I have seen over the years is overheating problems.  People have bought Toys and they start with a thermostat, then a water pump, new radiator, new fan clutch, change to electric fan, then a fancy multi core radiator on and on throwing good money after bad.   Overheating can be difficult to diagnose and may be a simple fix or a nightmare!

It is often head gasket sealer or magic radiator fix that has plugged the cooling cores in the motor.  This is rare, I have seen 4 in the last 3 years, but for me personally if I saw any signs of overheating I would walk away.

cooling passeges blocked..PNG

I like that picture. A common mistake done. Keep renewing the sealant instead of fixing the problem. Gasket sealing also has another similar effect. The thought is it will never leak when I am done. You only need a thin coat of sealant for gaskets, make it thin enough to see through on both sides of the gasket.  I knew a guy who bought a long block hot rodded engine. He used so much extra sealant for gaskets it got into the oil and pan. It blew up within a few miles after first start. And not all gaskets need sealant. Engine builder would not warrantee it.

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some of that leaking can be caused by total cooling system neglet .a  guy I new bought a 1980 20 r truck all the antifreeze would go in the oil pan . the bearings where all gone . But the head was so corroded out  from  from never changing coolent. that no way would it seal. I used the cam and rockers the only savable parts                              in another 20r that I got out of a junk car the owner of that one never changed oil had to bore it  and all reman. the cam and rockers wer e   scored too junk. I have seen other aluminum heads totally eaten out by corsion.

Edited by 5Toyota
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Many years ago it was Bardahl stop leak if you used more than one can the first thing it did was plug up the heater core then the radiator. 

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