Specific info wanted re 2016 Winnebago Journey 36M

[Woodster]

I'm a newbie here, so I'll apologize in advance if I'm in the wrong forum and if this question has been asked and answered 100 times already.  I've researched 16 pages on the "buying" forum and couldn't find specifics on the 2016 Journey 36M, but that might be my poor researching skills. 

I'm considering the purchase of a 2016 Winnebago Journey 36M with 39,000 miles on it.  The current (original) owner has had numerous upgrades professionally or factory installed, including (but not limited to):  Safe_T-Plus steering stabilizer, Freightliner HD Bell Crank, Freightliner In-Cab steering trim control unit, Super Steer Air Bag Motion Control units, Roadmaster HD 1.75" front and rear sway bars and 4 Bilstein shocks--all added in 2018.   He also has all the receipts for the upgrades and maintenance records for the unit because it was maintained each year by either Winnebago or Freightliner.  At first blush, all of these upgrades make for an attractive unit, but it also makes me wonder whether handling problems might have generated the need for these upgrades.  He apparently bought the rig to travel the country, partly to see the sights and partly in search of a second home in a warmer climate (which he found) and no longer has use for the RV.  I'm wondering if anyone on this forum can provide me with comments pro or con on the 2016 Journey 36M, especially on the upgrades that were done to this unit.  FWIW, we currently have a 2003 Winnebago Chieftain 36W that has served us well, but making a 4,000 mile round trip each year, and spending 5 months in AZ, kind of militates in favor of a somewhat larger rig (at least, that's what my wife tells me).  And since we plan to do more traveling during Minnesota's so-called "summers", a diesel seemed a reasonable choice--and the price is right on this unit.

Thanks in advance.  This is a great forum.  I learned a lot just doing the research.

[manholt]

Woodster.  Welcome to the Forum! 

IMHO, one should first have corner to corner weight, proper tire inflation to the traveling weight, alignment, caster and toe checked and adjusted, before any add on's!  Safe-T-Plus is a good thing and so might be more heavy duty sway bars..the rest is BS.  You have a WB, so you should know these things...A DP is a much heavier coach than a gas unit and should track better in cross wind and when trucks pass.  I think "Over kill" on owners part.  

My coach weight is 54,600+/- on the road and there are times that a big truck will pass me and I feel it, 40 mph cross winds will do the same. I have nothing added to my coach!  Have had 16 other gas & DP's over 53 years...only add on was Safe-T-Steer, since they came out.  In 1967, there was nothing to add available for my 67' WB !

[Woodster]

manholt,

Thank you for the response.  I guess I don't mind overkill, as long as it doesn't add substantially to the asking price--and from what I can tell, based on comparisons with other advertised rigs (same make, model and age), it hasn't.  My concern was whether the addition of those improvements was a response to inherent handling problems with that particular Winnebago model.  If I understand you correctly, it probably wasn't and instead was likely more a matter of the owner's personal concerns, warranted or not.  As I said in my post, everything was professionally installed, so I'm willing to chance that the preliminaries you mentioned were addressed.  Ultimately, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so I'll know a bit more after a test drive.  Thanks again for your input.

[manholt]

If it passes the test drive, take a look at the tires sidewall & DOT number. The coach is a 16' but the chassis is probably a 15' or 14'.  If the tires are 5+ years old, you'll have wiggle room for further negotiation on price!  Any cracking or spider webs, you may need new tires...rule of thumb is 5-7 years.  6 new tires, $3,000 -- $5,000 depending on Brand & size!