Am considering purchasing an 85 barth, 32'.....63,000 miles....drives great ( steering feels a little "loose" ) engine sounds good..... all in all feels solid and looks well cared for....had most of the paperwork including original bill of sale (this was 3rd owner)

Question?: Would you Barth owners purchase it without having the engine checked by a mechanic?

If it's on a P30 chassis, a loose-feeling front end is common.

There are many causes:

Worn parts, particularly idler arms. There are higher quality idler arms from Henderson that really help. Otherwise, good quality replacement parts from any good brand will do the job. I like Bilstein shocks and steering damper.

Saggy springs and leaky air bags. The compression bump stop clearance needs to be 1 3/4" to 2 1/2". This can be achieved by air pressure in the bags or replacement springs for your weight.

Poor alignment. Most shops are unaware that a P30 MH has its own specs for alignment, especially caster. If they use van or potato chip truck specs, it will want to wander.

The steering gear can often benefit from a little adjusting.

Improper tire pressure. Pressure needs to be set to actual weight.

Michelins. Durable but loosy-goosy on a P30. This is my own experience, and others may report different results, as tire feel is as personal as a choice of toilet chemical. Everybody swears by their individual choice for their coach. I use Bridgestone R250F 245/70R19.5 LR G up front. Some sources will say that is too wide for 6 inch rims, but some RVs were sold that way. I don't know if GM or the RV manufacturer did it that way. Anyway, the possible effect of a bulgy sidewall from a narrow rim is counteracted by the stiff sidewalls of the tires. My weight is not even on their load inflation table, so I run the minimum 85 psi,on the advice of a Bridgestone applications engineer.

A steering stabilizer can help.

In 32ft length, a tag axle makes the P30 go straighter if everything else is right.

Before any front suspension issues are addressed, the rear ride height must be correct. This means a level chassis rail when the front height is correct. You can do this with helper springs or air bags or now or re-arched OEM spings or a combination. A wallowing rear can make the front feel loose.

A heavier front anti sway bar, and Polyurethane bushings can make a world of difference. PU bushings can firm up the rear anti sway bar, as well.

A Panhard bar in back keeps the rear from moving from side to side, too. They can be bought or made by you or a local welder. I have some info if you make one or have one made.

Having the vehicule thoroughly inspected is always money well spent, if you are serious about buying it. If after inspection, you decide not to buy it because of something major showed up, that you did not see, you save much more than the cost to inspect or that may give you some bargaining power if you decide to go ahead. If you do not find anything major, you will get a better overall idea of what has to be done: not only the engine but also the drivetrain, the direction, … You will then be able to figure how much you are likely to spend in a near future.
Good luck
Michel

Thank you for all your input...I am enoying this site already..... I am going to have it checked out by chev. dealership this weekend and if all goes well plan to become a barth owner. After test driving many many rvs, I really want to get this one. The quality really shows. the final thought I had was about the "much newer" rvs I drove and realizing they would never be in the great condition this 1985 Barth is in 25 years form now. I really appreciate all the technical information and will be checking in here first for help if needed! Again thanks!

On a used coach, beware of tires that have sat. I do not believe in mileage or age as a determining factor of tire safety. Sitting is worse. Try to get info from the owner on how much and how often it was driven. Oftener is better. Lie down and feel every inch of the sidewall of every tire. Bumps form that the eye can not see as well as the hand can feel.

Agree with Bill, tires are in very good condition are essential! Here's something I thought y'all might enjoy, a Barth sighting of a different sort:
http://www.bargainbusnews.com/...2311-1997BarthBarth/ Anyone interested?

When I purchased my Barth the tires were 19 months old. They had less than 2000 miles on them. The coach had been stored in a carport it's entire life yet the front tires sidewalls were cracked and needed to be replaced.

The only sun exposure the tires saw came from being out on the road. I guess the combination of sitting extended periods and the Lake Havasu heat did the rubber in.

Tire dates and miles tell only part of the story, hands and eyes will tell the rest.

By chance where they Michilens? (SP)?

The tires were Durun YTR04 7.5/16LT. The tires were in horrible shape, covered with a brownish film. I replaced them with Firestone LT235/85R16.