quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
The 1000 Chassis is the same as on most 28' and 30' Breakaways.

My 30' Breakaway Chassis is Spartan EC2000 series, specifically EC2242.

The dealer states that this 31' coach has a wheelbase of 172". Does that sound short for 31' motor home? My 28' Regal has a 192" wheelbase. I know that was not standard but still 172"??

Hi Gang,
Perhaps I can help with some information I was able to obtain about this coach.
I was giving this coach serious consideration and communicated At length with the dealer between the first week of December, till last week.
I felt the price was very high, also I could not get candid answers to my question regarding the new engine. And many regarding the known history of the coach.
At first I was told that the new engine had only the mileage shown on the odometer. That the odometer was re-set when the new engine was installed ( I'm only 60 years old and don't know much, but I thought doing that sort of thing was a no no ). I was told that the CAR FAX I requested was in the attachments with additional photos I requested but it wasn't. Had to ask several times before it was sent.
I'm not picking on the dealer I just think that they knew little about what they have. And when I first contacted the dealer the person who caught my call was uninformed and gave me some answers that made no sense.
Anyway, I have other photos not shown in the ad, including the CAR FAX, Data Tag, Chassis Tag and some showing service records.
Jim and Tere, if you are interested in the information I have send me your e-mail and I will forward the stuff I have.
I'm road kill on the information super-highway and don't know how to post things. I am also happy to answer your questions about information I was given

BTW feel free to forward the Data Tag photos to Bill NY for the project.

Joel, I've had the same problems. But I did talk to the owner who had the engine installed. He too thought the price was too high. My email is
jimandtere@copper.net and I would really like to see what you have. Still can't figure the short wheelbase. Anything you have would be great. Could you pm me with your phone number and we'll talk.
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jim and Tere:
Joel, I've had the same problems. But I did talk to the owner who had the engine installed. He too thought the price was too high. My email is
jimandtere@copper.net and I would really like to see what you have. Still can't figure the short wheelbase. Anything you have would be great. Could you pm me with your phone number and we'll talk.
Jim

If I understand the Data Tag code correctly, the coach is 30'

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
The 1000 Chassis is the same as on most 28' and 30' Breakaways.

My 30' Breakaway Chassis is Spartan EC2000 series, specifically EC2242.

Yep, yours and mine seem to defy categorization. billyt53 confirmed with Spartan mine was a 1000, but the chassis was built 2/92 and the coach not completed until 4/93, the prototype for the post-'93 28's. Maybe Spartan as well as Barth were going through transitions.

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:
"New 5500 Duramax Diesel (502 Miles)" Hmmmm, someone converted this? Very interesting!

Calling it a "5500" leads me to believe it was taken from a Chevy C5500 donor truck, so it wasn't new. The Duramax is 6.6L ("6600"), and would probably be an LB7 or LBZ.

The Data Tag is
9410393630LK20B
I decipher that as finished in October 1994, sequential number 3936, 30 feet long, LK??, 20B floor plan??
If I'm right on the 30' that would be interesting because NADA does not show a 30' unit built/titled in 1995.
Will send in Pic of data tag when I get it.
Also, the donor engine/transmission was from a wrecked 5500, probably a Kodiak. It's a 5-speed Allison.
Am making offer later today. Will let you know how it goes.
I've developed a lot of good info on this, some good, some not so good.

hey Jim, I would certainly verify what year the Duramax engine is. Probably being a salvage engine there will be no history of GM recall repair or maintenance. There was a lot of trouble with this engine when first produced with injectors and other major repairs resulting in several class action lawsuits against GM.

Many changes over the year were done to this engine. Later years are quite good and have a ton of torque and can be tuned well.

Just do your home work

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:
There was a lot of trouble with this engine when first produced with injectors and other major repairs...

4 sets of injectors all covered under warranty for me on my 2003 service truck. All told, no injector exceeded 35k miles.

I believe that starting in 2004 they changed the head design to make the injectors changeable without removing the valve covers - this took care of most of the issues related to the injectors.

2 sets of exhaust manifold gaskets, the driver's side manifold kept leaking. 2 fuel pumps that was not covered under warranty - known issue but was tossed when GM was bailed out.

1 injector supply tube that filled up the crankcase with diesel and blew out the front main seal.

By 2005 the Duramax was pretty decent.

Thanks for the info. There is a number on the engine--0240229 that I can't identify. The donor vehicle was a 2002 5500 Kodiak, so it has to be an early 2003 or late 2002 engine I would think. The dealer claims it is a new engine. When I asked him if there was a GM warranty on the engine, he said he would have to check with the dealership. This RV dealer is part of a very large GM dealership in Troy. More later.
Jim

The 172 inch wheel base I believe is standard for 30' Barths using the EC1000 or EC2000 Spartan chassis.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim and Tere:

Also, the donor engine/transmission was from a wrecked 5500, probably a Kodiak. It's a 5-speed Allison.

I would NOT believe it is a new engine, How can it be if it came from a "wrecked" vehicle?

The credibility of this vehicle and what it is in my mind is in serious question!

The vin # on the donor vehicle shows a 2003 GMC Sierra. A set of injectors is $2800, parts only. Think I will run away from this one. Thanks to all for the help.

I have made an offer on this Barth that reflected the many discrepancies and known problems with the motor home, particularly the engine problems and the inability to prove the actual mileage on either the engine or the chassis. As you might expect, the offer was turned down.
If there are any others on the site that are still interested in this motor home, please send me a PM if you want any details. In the right hands and for the right price, it would be a very nice Barth.
Jim