1974 Ambassador 29

[airboy1]

I am thinking about buying a 74 ambassador that looks to be in pretty good shape on the exterior and the inside lokks ok. just dirty. I do know that the heater does not work and the a/c needs some work.

I will be parking it on a lot for awhile and need to know if I can rig up something that will allow me to empty of have emptied the bathroom waste. Is this possible????

Last question is the trailer is for sale for $3500 .....is that fair?

Thanks

T

[overlander64]

Greetings airboy1!

Welcome to the Forums!

Originally Posted by airboy1

I am thinking about buying a 74 ambassador that looks to be in pretty good shape on the exterior and the inside lokks ok. just dirty. I do know that the heater does not work and the a/c needs some work.

I will be parking it on a lot for awhile and need to know if I can rig up something that will allow me to empty of have emptied the bathroom waste. Is this possible????

Last question is the trailer is for sale for $3500 .....is that fair?

Thanks

T

The price that you quote is fairly typical here in the Midwest for a 25' or longer coaching needing refurbishment but still usable with minimal outlay according to what I am seeing in the regional trader magazines. With such a coach, you want to be careful that it doesn't exihibit one or more of the serious repair issues:

• Floor Rot -- the best defense is to utilize a small ice pick or awl to probe along the outer edges of the floor looking for rot paying particular attention to areas below windows and other openings in the body.
• Frame Sag -- not a prevalent problem with the Ambassadors, but a potential issue. Look for rippling in the body particularly in the vicinity of the wheelwells -- most often at the extreme edges. Also, look between the axles for visible cracks in the frame.
• Rear End Separation -- a condition that can afflict any older Airstream product. This problem can be made worse by any weight mounted on the rear bumper such as bike carriers, tire carriers, etc. When this condition is present the bumper moves independent of the bumper creating a gap in between the body and bumper. The best way to test is observe the junction of the body and the bumper frame member and while someone stands on the bumper watch for any changes in the gap -- if it opens up there is a problem --this condition is also often accompanied by rot in the rear floor perimeter.

Something to keep in mind is that you will need something in the vicinity of $1,000 for new replacements for the air conditioner and furnace. Also you will want to be sure that the running gear (tires, brakes, bearings) is in safe enough operation to permit transit to the lot where you plan to keep it long-term.

If you have a septic system or sewer on the site, it should be possible to work out a method to dump the holding tank. Lacking a septic tank/sewer system it is possible to use what is commonly referred to as a "Blue Boy" portable tank to empty your holding tank -- it will then be necessary to find a suitable receptacle to empty the blue boy. Many septic tank maintenance companies offer pumping service for RVs, but it would likely become quite expensive for long-term use.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin