Looking to buy your USED Phoenix Cruiser, shorter the better !

Hey Dougn & Ron !!!

I tossed and turned most of the night...thinking about that Dynamax on Ebay !  My  "SO" significant other...(I am too damn old to say boyfriend !)
wants me to wait until after the elections to buy something.  His view is that is does not really matter who wins at this point.

The riots in the street will continue if we are lucky enough to keep our current President (Yep...I am a Trumpster )....the other side will
never accept another win.  If the other side wins....we are in serious trouble (my opinion...so don't flame me please !)
He (SO) thinks there will be a ton of motorhomes for sale by the first of the year. 
Is he right???
Do I jump on the ebay listing and just trust in faith....quite frightening.....but I have a feeling it will go for quite a bit more than I am willing to pay?
(That reserve price is a mystery for sure !!) Do I place my highest bid and let the chips fall where they may??

I actually did checkout the service Ebay provides for $99.00......but it seems it does not do anything more that the actual listing does!!
30 bids as of last night...but I think it was less that 15 actual bidders??)  15 other folks who want it also !

After looking over the bids....I can't help but wonder if there is some shill bidding going on?  I know it happens, but it also makes me leary of
placing a bid.
It ends today I believe.......will I place a bid?
Should I place a bid?
All I hear in my head is a voice saying..."are you feeling lucky"  (sorry lucky...no pun intended !!!    OK...maybe a little... **wink***

Decisions decisions !!!!

Some sellers will tell you the reserve price if you ask nicely. Most bidders are just low-ballers. The coach looks immaculate and a great layout. I'd be concerned about the new roof...what is it and who did it and why...hidden damage?
Good sign is the seller has 227 positive reviews, bad sign is that it looks to be a dealer or "seller assistant" in that the coach is in CA and the seller contact info in Omaha NE. For sure, contact them first. Can you speak (video chat)  with the actual owner?

If you go for it, one way to actually get it is to rent a car one way, pretty cheap if you look, way cheaper and safer than flying. And you can avoid the troubled cities. 

If you can afford gas in CA that is.

Yep...I am a Trumpster

Us too, voting a straight Republican ticket to provide him with maximum support.

As far as that eBay Carri-Go is concerned, eBay will still protect you from a fraudulent sale, just not for a odometer rollback starting with a 10 year old vehicle.  2 Lucky is offering excellent advise.  I find it best to bid my max, 7 seconds remaining for the auction.  I sleep well if my max was surpassed.

If the reserve price was not met in the end, then contact the seller and try to work a deal.  If you can agree on a price, ask them to post the sale on eBay again, but at the agreed "fixed" price where you click to buy.

One other plus is it looks to be on an e450 chassis not 350, much more capable.

Also just noticed the ad say it has leveling jacks, but the picture shows it parked on ramps.

Here is a 2006 24' I came across at Haylett auto and RV...even a video on YouTube! $24,640
 https://bit.ly/2L6mLRi

WOW....a wealth of information here....Thanks !!
I am checking on the PC in MI now......I have never had a 350.....is the gas milage better with the smaller engine?
Will it struggle with hills and beautiful Colorado mountains??

I think I have the fever.....I want to get one NOW.
(No one has ever said that I have patience !!)

Anyone have the ford 350 engine?  If so, what size Motorhome do you have??

Now I am torn !!
 I actually like the layout of the PC better than the Dynamax.....but.....
the dynamax has 2 of the fantastic fans....which really are fantastic....the PC has 1
but those are quite easy to chage out.

The dynamax has that big bathrrom (every gals best friend )
but I am not wild about the 2 couches......I like a booth....or the
2 recliners w/table in the PC.

The kitchen counter space is SO MUCH BETTER in the PC....
I am waiting to get the "Special web price" on the PC !!!

Milage is the same......but I like the V10 over the V8.....
I will keep ya'll posted !!!!!!

suzziq,

The Ford E350 chassis has the same V10 engine and transmission as the E450.  There are numerous minor design differences pertaining to the chassis, but the bottom line is that the E350 handles 3000 less pounds of weight on it's back compared to the E450.  The E350 will yield roughly a 10% improvement in fuel economy, primarily from carrying a lighter load along with a different gear ratio in the rear axle's differential.  If you do not tow another vehicle, and do not exceed 65mph, you could expect right around 10mpg.

One thing you will want to change (if not already done by a previous owner) is to add a heavy duty rear stabilizer bar, and upgrade the wimpy front stabilize bar to a heavy duty version.  If the shocks are original, install a set of 4 Bilstein heavy duty RV shocks.  Your rig (PC or Carri-Go) will handle much more comfortably with those suspension upgrades.  And they are affordable too.  If your man can install them himself, you could get by for less than $1000 for all 3 upgrades.

  Thanks Ron & Irene.....Looks like I need to do more research on the V10 engines.
I DO plan on towing a tiny car....and I also have been know to drive over 65 miles per hour.
Hmmmm......
The add ons you suggest seem fairly inexpensive....just not sure my guy can do the install..
(guess we will find out???  LOL)

I am in contact with the actual OWNER of the dynamax.....we talked for 30 minutes and I am going
to call her back this evening too.
Looks like I will be spending some time on this forum......it is better than GOOGLE !!!!

Stress !!!!!!!   But exciting stress !

SUZZIQ4U, take a look at the BT Cruisers by Gulfstream.   You can usually find many of them previously owned on rvt.com or rvtrader.com.    We bought one new in 2003 and it was a great little C, but certainly not the quality of a Phoenix Cruiser.   The 5210 and 5230 (which is what we had back then) might be what you are looking for.   A lot of the older models had the option of one jackknife couch and a dinette.   Same reliable Ford 450 under most of them.    https://www.gulfstreamcoach.com/products/motorhomes/btcruiser

We drove ours from Gallop, NM to Amarillo, TX on one trip and drove 75 most of the way and it was no diff than 60.   Those Ford V10s run.  They scream.   They all have a drinking problem when it comes to gasoline. 

YES !~  I think most motorhomes have a "drinkin' problem" when it comes to gasoline!!

I will look at the BT Cruisers......I also saw a Coachhouse  Platinam 221XL that was nice too.
I owned a class B coachhouse many years ago....just did not care for the layout.
The PC is the one that captured my heart..........I just KNOW there is someone out there
that has what I am looking for....

Looks like my decision has just been squashed!
The phoenix Cruiser has already been sold !!!!!  I just got the phone call......
sad part is that I could hitch a ride to MI next week.....but, it was not meant to be.

I think I want the E-450 for sure.......so, my hunt continues !!!!

The E450 chassis is over kill for models 2100, 2350, and 2400.  The issue is that an E450 is designed to handle that extra 3000 pounds.  Worst on model 2100, all that extra "weight margin" translates to a very rough ride which is hard on the house and contents, and also it's occupants.

Ford uses stronger rear leaf springs (and a few other things) to increase the chassis to handle the 3000 extra pounds.  Fortunately there is a means to address the rough ride.  Take the rig to a truck suspension shop and have them remove one or two pairs of rear leaf springs to soften the ride to a much more comfortable driving motor home.

I wish our 2350 was built on the E450 to get all it's fringe benefits, then remove the right quantity of rear springs to soften the ride as much as possible without dragging the rear end during our trips.

The E350 and E450 have the same front suspension, front coil springs included.  Because our PC-2350 is tail heavy, it's front is light from the teeter-totter effect.  The light weight front yields a rough ride for us sitting up front.  I will soon replace the front springs to lower-rated ones to soften the ride up front.  I hope the change will also lower the front a bit to level our rig out better when loaded up on trips.  A wheel alignment thereafter will surely be in order.

Most people just buy and drive their rig, PC or otherwise.  As of late, I am getting daring enough to attempt "tuning" the front suspension to make our RVing driving experience a little more pleasurable along with maintaining the structural integrity of the house better over so many years from a softer front suspension.

Thanks for that info Ron & Irene.......Seems like I still have much to learn!

About that Ebay listing:

Slept on it again....convinced myself that I should not buy anything site un-seen....then I looked at the listing again....HAHA !
I am going to wait........I may kick myself after that auction ends....but I see a couple of red flags......may be nothing, but follow my gut.
There are many RV places around here and I will check outother brands & models....I hope to buy to buy from an individual......
.it will just be a matter of time until the right one comes along. 
  
Also...totally off topic: Did you know that Camping World does not want  or need any business from Trumpsters????? 
Strong statement......seems foolish to me but, maybe they already have enough money???

What happened to respecting our President even if he was not the one we may have voted for?
How do we look to other countries with all this hate and disrespect for our legally elected officials?

Good Lord......what has happened to our beautiful world?????????  (Rant over..)

It will be interesting to see what that coach actually sells for later today......I am PRAYING I can keep my
fingers off that "BID NOW" button........and yes...I was a sniper too.  Always submitted my bid within the last
5-10 seconds......Love that thrill !!!!

Ford or Chevy if your driving a house down the road forget gas mileage. My buddy has a Chevy chassis 4500 with a v8 and a 23 foot rig.  No toad driving 60 he gets 10.3 no better.  That’s what I get with the v10.   Pulling the Jeep I get 8.5 so far.