2003 Chinook Cascade

[gofetchwellness1]

Hello Chinook Community!

I'm looking to purchase my first RV and after months of exhausting research I'm close to purchasing a 2003 Chinook Cascade with 90k miles. There are a few known issues shown below.

1. There was a leak from the roof that leaked onto the headliner. It has a pretty large stain, shown on the attached picture. The person selling is in her mid-80s and has RVed much of her life. She tried painting the stain (which was essentially painting carpet and made it worse. My concern is mold/mildew and how to fix it. Any suggestions?
2. Am I correct that the unit is 8 feet 6 inches wide? Does that width cause problems when trying to boondock and access narrow forest service roads? Or even when driving into a city and trying to park or parallel park? What about width restrictions in national parks or similar?
3. Does anyone know an accurate gas mileage?
4. How does this model perform in snowy or bad weather conditions? It's not 4x4
5. Would you use this as your only vehicle or is it too big and costly to fill up?

Thanks so much for your support!

Jeff

[Blue~Go]

Welcome!

1. There was a leak from the roof that leaked onto the headliner. It has a pretty large stain, shown on the attached picture. The person selling is in her mid-80s and has RVed much of her life. She tried painting the stain (which was essentially painting carpet and made it worse. My concern is mold/mildew and how to fix it. Any suggestions?

I'm a bit puzzled by that (if I'm seeing it correctly). That area of the roof looks just like my Concourse, and it's solid fiberglass there with no lights or anything to leak. Yes, leaks can travel, but again there is a "solid" fiberglass liner piece (under the overhead carpeting) so... how does it leak there? Is there something that's been added to the roof there? Chinook roofs don't just leak out in the middle of the fiberglass "field" unless something is broken (of course they can leak around fittings and such just like any other type of roof).

2. Am I correct that the unit is 8 feet 6 inches wide?

I'd have to look that up but I know it's something like 10" wider than the Concourse/Premier, which is 7'7" so that sounds about right.

Does that width cause problems when trying to boondock and access narrow forest service roads?

Yes, but. I say "but" because I boondock and do forest roads a lot, and I don't like to scratch my rig. Many times I wish it were narrower, even though it's "only 7'7". So what I mean is you can say that about anything, even a dirt bike ("if only it were narrower!", as brush grabs your pants legs).

OTOH, a buddy of mine has an 8'6" wide trailer (and formerly had an 8'6" wide Class C), and luckily he doesn't mind scratching his rig or we could not boondock together nearly as often. I slip through all clear at 7'7" wide -- and he also gets through but is "screeching" brush down the side of his rig. (Of course that same thing could apply to me if his rig were 6' wide and then I'd be the puffy one.)

I like solitude but again this is on a sliding scale. I can get into places "normal" 8'6" rigs won't go, but then of course people with skinny 4wd vans are going further.

BTW I don't find 2WD to be my "stopper" most of the time. I'd say the two primary things that get me are width, and then departure angle on the stern (say with places that have a mini-ditch going in). A lift would improve that but I have kept mine stock height because I don't want more of a stairway to get in the rig, and I also like my sporty highway driving (lower profile rig at stock height and quietish tires). Farther down the list would be height, and then 2WD, but they are much less often a factor than width and departure angle.

Or even when driving into a city and trying to park or parallel park?

The length will be somewhat of an issue for parallel parking, and also the width. I do sometimes parallel park my Concourse, and even then I worry about being sideswiped by traffic passing by. A foot wider would not be good for my nerves, but we are all different.

What about width restrictions in national parks or similar?

I don't see that as an issue. There is one road in Utah that you have to be quite narrow for, but that's not exactly a common thing. Other RVs will be bigger.

3. Does anyone know an accurate gas mileage?

You have a different chassis and engine, but I'd say 10-12 would be a good estimate.

4. How does this model perform in snowy or bad weather conditions? It's not 4x4

I haven't driven mine is snow (but do hail from snow country). I would imagine the duallies are not great, because of more surface area (when you really want pizza cutters); but OTOH there is a member (bfischer) who uses his Concourse as a ski trip machine, and he seems to do fine. He does have slightly more aggressive tires.

5. Would you use this as your only vehicle or is it too big and costly to fill up?

I wouldn't. Not so much because of the gas cost (almost anything is cheaper than having a second vehicle), but just because it's not that handy. I enjoy driving big rigs, so it's not that. For perspective my previous rig was an E-250 regular wheelbase camper van (17' long and relatively narrow). That I would take anywhere, like say even to a mall and park in a regular spot. With my Concourse I tend to park more out at the edges as I don't like door dings. And some places I just would have a hard time parking (my dentist's parking lot, for example). The Cascade is a step larger again. But of course it IS doable - it's just a matter of degree and your preference. Oh, another thing is that I just don't prefer to drive my Chinook around cities because of all the other people on cell phones, staring at their mappers, or whatever. It's not as "replaceable" as a more generic car. OTOH, I think others here use their Concourses as daily drivers, so maybe they will chime in.

In summary, to me the additional width and length of the 24-footer would not be worth it. IMO, I wouldn't get anything more (like another room), just everything is a shade larger. But I'm sure someone else would feel teh exact opposite, and enthuse over the wider body, the bigger bathroom, and the drawers next to the closet (all of which are very nice).

Also I sometimes tow with my Concourse and I believe the 24-footer starts out closer to load limits, and probably would put me over the edge into not being able to tow (anything with tongue weight). But that doesn't matter unless you plan to do that.

[68camaro]

I'll add to Blu-go on forest service roads, I think the rear overhang and height of rig will be biggest problem. Here on eastcoast most or our fireroads are single lane with a lot of tree/brach overhang, in certain areas drainage ditches running across can cause a steep embankment, not too steep for my lifted Chinook but I can see the Cascade's rear overhang being an issue. Width will only be an issue if you have to pull as far too side of road as possible to let someone go bye.

I pretty much love and try to doonedock exclusively and Chinook seems to be right trade-off in getting off-grid. 2wd has not slowed me down and I really don't think I could go anywhere else if I had 4wd due to my height, width and clearance.

As far as leak I would make sure it is fixed, I discovered leak and shocked how quickly water spread.

[Blue~Go]

I pretty much love and try to doonedock exclusively and Chinook seems to be right trade-off in getting off-grid.

That's basically how I feel (tho I'm the "west of the Rockies" version, mostly). But when you say Chinook, do you mean our 21' long 7'7" wide models? Since Jeff is asking about the 24' long, 8'6" wide model it's a distinction. (I often call mine "The Chinook, btw.)

[68camaro]

I pretty much love and try to doonedock exclusively and Chinook seems to be right trade-off in getting off-grid.

That's basically how I feel (tho I'm the "west of the Rockies" version, mostly). But when you say Chinook, do you mean our 21' long 7'7" wide models? Since Jeff is asking about the 24' long, 8'6" wide model it's a distinction. (I often call mine "The Chinook, btw.)

Sorry for not being clear, but yes, I was talking about the Concourse 21’ as being right size. I think the Cascade he mentions has rear overhang that will limit it further than Concourse model.

[gofetchwellness1]

Welcome!

1. There was a leak from the roof that leaked onto the headliner. It has a pretty large stain, shown on the attached picture. The person selling is in her mid-80s and has RVed much of her life. She tried painting the stain (which was essentially painting carpet and made it worse. My concern is mold/mildew and how to fix it. Any suggestions?

I'm a bit puzzled by that (if I'm seeing it correctly). That area of the roof looks just like my Concourse, and it's solid fiberglass there with no lights or anything to leak. Yes, leaks can travel, but again there is a "solid" fiberglass liner piece (under the overhead carpeting) so... how does it leak there? Is there something that's been added to the roof there? Chinook roofs don't just leak out in the middle of the fiberglass "field" unless something is broken (of course they can leak around fittings and such just like any other type of roof).

As I understand it, the leaks occurred through cracks in the roof. They aren't sure if it came down where the big globe is on the roof (maybe TV antenna) and it dripped down onto the owner while they were sleeping. She tried painting over it, on the fabric material, so that is why there is a big discoloration. The mechanic that looked at it said there were several hairline cracks on the roof. His solution was to take a grinder, open them up, and then do a fiberglass repair.

2. Am I correct that the unit is 8 feet 6 inches wide?

I'd have to look that up but I know it's something like 10" wider than the Concourse/Premier, which is 7'7" so that sounds about right.

Does that width cause problems when trying to boondock and access narrow forest service roads?

Yes, but. I say "but" because I boondock and do forest roads a lot, and I don't like to scratch my rig. Many times I wish it were narrower, even though it's "only 7'7". So what I mean is you can say that about anything, even a dirt bike ("if only it were narrower!", as brush grabs your pants legs).

These are very good points. It seems like this one might be too wide for where I want to take it. I'm wondering if there are any lifted or higher clearance Chinooks out there?

OTOH, a buddy of mine has an 8'6" wide trailer (and formerly had an 8'6" wide Class C), and luckily he doesn't mind scratching his rig or we could not boondock together nearly as often. I slip through all clear at 7'7" wide -- and he also gets through but is "screeching" brush down the side of his rig. (Of course that same thing could apply to me if his rig were 6' wide and then I'd be the puffy one.)

I like solitude but again this is on a sliding scale. I can get into places "normal" 8'6" rigs won't go, but then of course people with skinny 4wd vans are going further.

BTW I don't find 2WD to be my "stopper" most of the time. I'd say the two primary things that get me are width, and then departure angle on the stern (say with places that have a mini-ditch going in). A lift would improve that but I have kept mine stock height because I don't want more of a stairway to get in the rig, and I also like my sporty highway driving (lower profile rig at stock height and quietish tires). Farther down the list would be height, and then 2WD, but they are much less often a factor than width and departure angle.

Or even when driving into a city and trying to park or parallel park?

The length will be somewhat of an issue for parallel parking, and also the width. I do sometimes parallel park my Concourse, and even then I worry about being sideswiped by traffic passing by. A foot wider would not be good for my nerves, but we are all different.

This is helpful, thanks.

What about width restrictions in national parks or similar?

I don't see that as an issue. There is one road in Utah that you have to be quite narrow for, but that's not exactly a common thing. Other RVs will be bigger.

3. Does anyone know an accurate gas mileage?

You have a different chassis and engine, but I'd say 10-12 would be a good estimate.

4. How does this model perform in snowy or bad weather conditions? It's not 4x4

I haven't driven mine is snow (but do hail from snow country). I would imagine the duallies are not great, because of more surface area (when you really want pizza cutters); but OTOH there is a member (bfischer) who uses his Concourse as a ski trip machine, and he seems to do fine. He does have slightly more aggressive tires.

5. Would you use this as your only vehicle or is it too big and costly to fill up?

I wouldn't. Not so much because of the gas cost (almost anything is cheaper than having a second vehicle), but just because it's not that handy. I enjoy driving big rigs, so it's not that. For perspective my previous rig was an E-250 regular wheelbase camper van (17' long and relatively narrow). That I would take anywhere, like say even to a mall and park in a regular spot. With my Concourse I tend to park more out at the edges as I don't like door dings. And some places I just would have a hard time parking (my dentist's parking lot, for example). The Cascade is a step larger again. But of course it IS doable - it's just a matter of degree and your preference. Oh, another thing is that I just don't prefer to drive my Chinook around cities because of all the other people on cell phones, staring at their mappers, or whatever. It's not as "replaceable" as a more generic car. OTOH, I think others here use their Concourses as daily drivers, so maybe they will chime in.

In summary, to me the additional width and length of the 24-footer would not be worth it. IMO, I wouldn't get anything more (like another room), just everything is a shade larger. But I'm sure someone else would feel teh exact opposite, and enthuse over the wider body, the bigger bathroom, and the drawers next to the closet (all of which are very nice).

Also I sometimes tow with my Concourse and I believe the 24-footer starts out closer to load limits, and probably would put me over the edge into not being able to tow (anything with tongue weight). But that doesn't matter unless you plan to do that.

[FatBuoy]

Didn't want to stat a new thread for this question, but it is in reference to a Cascade. Does anyone familiar with this model know if it's possible to install a trailer hitch? I'm looking at one, but they come with auto-step, which is pretty substantial, at the rear. So there's no hitch. Thanks!