Advice needed on possible purchase UPDATE in original post

Topic: Advice needed on possible purchase UPDATE in original post (Read 1096 times) previous topic - next topic

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May 23, 2025, 10:11:11 pm

Hello. I am very interested in a 2009 LD IB with 47,000 miles. She is perfect in every way but the age. I'm very concerned about the rig holding up to the amount of traveling I do. I average about 15,000 miles per year and travel long distances at a time. Advice please

UPDATE: I found a 2006 26.5 mid bath with rear lounge 43,000. miles. She has been stored under roof her whole life and comes with service/maintenance records starting from purchase. She is being sold by her 2nd owner. They have been very accommodating and transparent. I ordered an inspection, and it is being performed today.

Bonuses include: she is located 6 hours away from me. She is my favorite color, and the interior upholstery is really pretty. Fingers crossed.

UPDATE:
The inspection has been completed and there are no issues other than the ones disclosed by the current owners. The inspector was impressed with the condition and said he would consider her if he was in the market. There are two issues I need to deal with, and I will post about those in the appropriate section. All in all, I'm very happy and excited to get her camping.

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #1 – May 24, 2025, 12:46:31 am

Welcome to the forum.
The E450 chassis is well-proven. It was designed primarily for heavy hauling, with U-Haul being the major buyer. You will see many E40s used for airport shuttles, a tough job for any vehicle.
We have one member with 195,000 on the original drivetrain; the engine, transmission, and axle have not been replaced or rebuilt. The rig has not been babied either; the owner full-timed in it for 15 years.

The coach is probably the simplest, best-built body among Class Cs. With proper maintenance and resealing, the coach should last at least 30 years. The two-part polyurethane paint is as good and long lasting as any RV paint.
There is minimal tech inside the coach; nothing major has changed in a couple of decades other than better TVs and radios.
If you want higher tech, it's up to you to install it. Many here have made serious investments in solar and lithium batteries.

Not sure what else you want to hear. You will not find any RV with much better reliability or durability.

Happy hunting
Larry

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #2 – May 24, 2025, 07:18:40 am

We have a 2009 MB with 85,000 miles. We’ve not had a single problem with any of the Ford’s mechanicals or the Lazy Daze house. We get decent gas mileage while towing and we don’t burn any oil. We couldn’t be more pleased to be a 2009 LD owner. Hope this helps.

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #3 – May 24, 2025, 09:07:07 am

I agree with Larry and Ed & Margee. I have been looking for a LD for years and never bought one. Just never worked out for us. However, I believe it is clearly the best value out there and I keep coming back to them after straying to other brands.

Before buying it is important to know that they are all wood, I mean a lot of wood! So like Larry said first you must make sure it has been maintained properly. Sealing/resealing the roof (LD recommends complete reseal at 10 years) is necessary. The rear end caps crack over time. If left unrepaired water intrudes and damages the wood behind it. Also the rear window (or any window) can leak if not resealed or kept sealed. That can cause wood damage below it. Once wood is damaged it is repairable but very difficult to fix.

If you are in California a former employee, Vince, works for Leisure Coachworks in Fontana, CA. They could inspect the exterior for you and offer advice.

As far as the chassis at that age all fluids should be changed (brake, oil, transmission, power steering and rear axle). New shocks, serpentine belt and steering stabilizer and other steering related suspension parts might need changing. Tires should be less than 5 years old. Refrigerators last about 12 years along with a/c.

I would recommend getting an inspection of the LD to look at everything.

Ron S

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #4 – May 24, 2025, 12:30:57 pm

I knew I would find valuable information here. Thank you for the replies.

I just discovered this brand yesterday when I came across one listed on RV trader. After 3 minutes of learning about the company I was sold. This is exactly what I would design and build if I started an RV company. The quality of new RVs should be illegal. Such a shame that quantity has replaced quality in the RV industry.

Would I be a fool to purchase sight unseen but with an inspection? I can tell from the pictures that the paint is cracked. The rep said it looks like it was repainted and it's the second coat that is cracking. Is this anything other than a cosmetic issue? Thaks in advance again

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #5 – May 24, 2025, 01:24:00 pm

Quote from: Dazy - May 24, 2025, 12:30:57 pm

Would I be a fool to purchase sight unseen but with an inspection?
I can tell from the pictures that the paint is cracked. The rep said it looks like it was repainted and it's the second coat that is cracking. Is this anything other than a cosmetic issue?

A high-quality repaint, done locally, has a $20,000+ cost, a price few are willing to pay. The paint on LDs holds up well and shouldn't need repainting yet. I wonder if it was in a crash.
I would NOT buy this rig unless it was inspected by experienced eyes. Unseen problems can cost many thousands to repair, possibly more than what the rig is worth.

It is very easy to fall in love with a shiny rig and not really know what the actual condition of the rig is.
I call it "stars in my eyes" syndrome.

Larry

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #6 – May 24, 2025, 01:27:05 pm

I’ll share my advice.

First, it would be unwise to purchase any RV without an inspection and a personal inspection. There’s plenty of accounts of new owners discovering serious problems after purchasing the RV which had an inspection.

Secondly, it’s highly unusual for a 2009 LD to need repainting. There’s several reasons for repainting to include repainting some kind of damage. You said the paint is peeling which at the least suggests it was poorly done.

Finally, we wouldn’t trust a seller’s account of the RV’s condition unless we personally knew them. Now, this is just our opinion but I hope it helps.

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #7 – May 24, 2025, 03:32:16 pm

Thank you all. I will take everyone's advice and pass on that particular rig.

Instead, I am keeping a lookout for a 26.5 or 27 twin/king. My previous rig (Winnebago) was 26 ft and I find that to be an ideal size for my needs. I bought it from an individual who had loved and maintained it. He spent a lot of time teaching me all about the rig and we keep in touch. I had zero problems with her, and I planned on keeping her indefinitely, but a huge tree fell during a storm and demolished her. Looking to have the same experience with a Lazy Daze...minus the natural disaster.

I'm looking forward to owning a Lazy Daze in the future. I will go make a wanted post in the classifieds.

Thank you all so much

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #8 – May 27, 2025, 09:54:17 pm

If you have not already you might also look at Phoenix Cruisers. They have a 2552 or a 2551 model which is popular. You can get a newer 2552 for about same price as a LD. It also has exceptional quality and a good owner forum. I would stay away from any one that has 2 or 3 slides as they are over loaded.

Ron S

Re: Advice needed on possible purchase

Reply #9 – May 28, 2025, 10:50:21 am

Quote from: Sarz272000 - May 27, 2025, 09:54:17 pm

If you have not already you might also look at Phoenix Cruisers. They have a 2552 or a 2551 model which is popular. You can get a newer 2552 for about same price as a LD. It also has exceptional quality and a good owner forum. I would stay away from any one that has 2 or 3 slides as they are over loaded.

Ron S

Thanks for that. Those are really nice too. But deal breakers for me are no bunk over cab and they have a slide. I sometimes need to sleep a lot of people and slides are just something to maintain, that can still break and ruin my fun. For me, and how I use my RV, the LD floorplans are the most versatile and functional. Especially the 26.5 rear lounge with mid bath.