2003 NATIONAL RV DOLPHIN 5342
Description
2003 National RV Dolphin Motorhome
GM 8.1L Vortec V8 • Allison 1000 5-Speed • 66,000+ Miles • Full-Body Paint • Clean Interior • No-Reserve Auction
This 2003 National RV Dolphin is an exceptionally well-kept motorhome for its age, particularly when you look at the condition of the exterior paint, interior furniture, cabinetry, and front captain's chairs.
It is built on the Workhorse W22 chassis and powered by the proven GM Vortec 8100 8.1L V8 gasoline engine, rated at approximately 340 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, paired with an Allison 1000 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
This drivetrain was one of the major advantages of the Workhorse chassis of this era, combining GM's large-displacement 8.1L Vortec engine with the Allison automatic transmission.
The exterior is finished in full-body paint and still has a very clear, glossy appearance throughout the majority of the coach.
Inside, the furniture and cabinetry remain in fantastic condition for a motorhome of this age. The front captain's chairs in particular are in incredible condition and show significantly better than what is commonly seen in a 20+ year-old motorhome.
It has just over 66,000 miles and is currently sitting on 2020 tires that remain in good overall condition.
For someone looking for an older Class A with the desirable Workhorse/Vortec/Allison drivetrain that has clearly been kept in much better cosmetic condition than most comparable coaches, there is a lot to like here.
SALE / AUCTION PROCESS
We are Reliable Rides Utah, an RV dealership based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We acquire RVs throughout the United States from a variety of sources, including insurance, dealer, wholesale, and liquidation channels. Rather than fully retail-reconditioning every unit we purchase, we occasionally offer solid units like this one directly to the public at a reduced pre-auction price or through AuctionTime.
Our process with this motorhome is simple:
It is first being offered for sale on RVUniverse for $14,500 for a limited period of time.
If someone purchases it before the scheduled auction date, it is theirs and it will not proceed to auction.
If it is not purchased beforehand, it will move to AuctionTime and be sold in a true NO-RESERVE auction.
The AuctionTime bidding will start at just $250.
There is no reserve and no hidden minimum selling price. The highest bidder when the auction closes will win the motorhome, regardless of the final bid amount.
Depending on where you are reading this listing:
If you are viewing it on RVUniverse:
The motorhome is still available to purchase for $14,500 before it goes to auction.
If you are viewing it on AuctionTime:
The pre-auction purchase opportunity has passed and the motorhome is now being sold to the highest bidder with no reserve.
We regularly use AuctionTime for select RVs and other inventory.
You can copy and paste the link below to view our Reliable Rides Utah AuctionTime profile, including current and upcoming auctions:
SALVAGE TITLE / REFRIGERATOR FIRE DISCLOSURE
This motorhome has a salvage title due to a fire involving the refrigerator.
According to the history of the coach, the refrigerator caught fire while the previous owner was inside the motorhome.
Fortunately, it was noticed immediately and stopped before the fire was able to spread through the coach.
The refrigerator itself was damaged, but there was no resulting structural or exterior fire damage to the motorhome that we are aware of.
The insurance company ultimately elected to declare the motorhome a total loss.
This is an important distinction with this coach.
The salvage-title branding is not the result of a major collision, rollover, flood, or known drivetrain failure. It resulted from the refrigerator incident and the insurance company's decision to total the motorhome.
The refrigerator is no longer present and there is currently NO refrigerator installed.
For the right buyer, this creates an opportunity to purchase an unusually clean older motorhome at a substantial discount and install the refrigerator of their choice rather than paying normal retail pricing for a comparable coach.
We have not attempted to install or replace the refrigerator prior to the sale.
KNOWN ISSUES / DISCLOSURES
We want bidders to understand the coach's current condition before bidding.
The following are the known items we observed:
Bedroom Slide-Out:
Our person on the ground was unable to get the bedroom slide to extend.
No repair or diagnosis was attempted.
Cellular service at the location was extremely poor, and he was unable to communicate effectively with one of our technicians back in Utah while attempting to operate it.
Because no diagnosis was performed, we do not know whether there is actually a mechanical issue or whether it was simply an operational/user issue.
We are therefore selling it with the bedroom slide-out condition unknown rather than making assumptions about what it may need.
Refrigerator:
There is currently no refrigerator installed as explained in the salvage-title disclosure above.
Exterior Steps:
The exterior entry steps are bent and will need attention.
Rear Clear Coat:
There is one area toward the rear of the motorhome where some clear coat is coming off.
Outside of that localized area, the full-body paint presents extremely well for the year and remains glossy and attractive.
Bedroom Wallpaper:
A previous owner installed aftermarket wallpaper in portions of the bedroom.
Some of that wallpaper is beginning to come loose in areas, likely because of the adhesive or installation method used.
This is cosmetic and can be removed, re-adhered, or replaced depending on the new owner's preference.
ENGINE / CHASSIS / TRANSMISSION
Chassis: Workhorse W22
Engine: GM Vortec 8100 8.1L V8 Gasoline
Horsepower: Approximately 340 HP
Torque: Approximately 455 lb-ft
Transmission: Allison 1000 5-Speed Automatic with Overdrive
The combination of the 8.1L Vortec and Allison transmission is a well-known Workhorse gasoline motorhome drivetrain and is a significant feature of this Dolphin.
EXTERIOR CONDITION
The exterior condition is one of the strongest aspects of this motorhome.
It has full-body paint rather than the large vinyl graphics commonly found on many motorhomes from this era.
The paint remains clear, glossy, and visually impressive throughout the majority of the coach.
There is the localized clear-coat issue toward the rear described above, but otherwise the exterior presents very well for a 2003 motorhome.
Please review the photographs closely.
We have attempted to photograph the coach accurately so buyers can judge its condition for themselves rather than relying solely on the description.
INTERIOR CONDITION
The interior is another major strength of this coach.
The furniture and cabinetry are in fantastic condition considering the age.
The woodwork has been preserved very well and gives the coach a much more cared-for appearance than many motorhomes from this era.
The front driver and passenger captain's chairs are especially impressive.
Older motorhomes frequently have heavily worn, cracked, peeling, or damaged front seats. These remain in incredible condition by comparison.
The overall furniture condition is similarly strong.
Aside from the aftermarket bedroom wallpaper beginning to come loose in certain areas, the interior presents extremely well for its age.
This does not look like a coach that has simply been neglected or abused.
MILEAGE / TIRES
Mileage: Just over 66,000 miles
Tires: 2020 date codes
The tires remain in good overall visual condition.
As with any used motorhome, bidders should make their own determination regarding tire age and replacement based on their intended use, distance traveled, and personal standards.
WHY THIS COACH IS INTERESTING
The salvage-title designation can make two very different motorhomes look identical on paper.
One coach may have been involved in a major collision or sustained extensive structural damage.
Another may have been totaled because an insurance company determined that repairing or replacing a particular component did not make financial sense relative to the insured value of an older motorhome.
This Dolphin falls into the latter category.
The refrigerator incident resulted in the insurance total-loss designation, yet the motorhome itself remains an exceptionally clean example cosmetically for its age.
That combination is exactly why we believe there is an opportunity here.
You are getting:
* Just over 66,000 miles.
* Workhorse W22 chassis.
* GM 8.1L Vortec V8.
* Allison 1000 5-speed automatic transmission.
* Full-body paint.
* Very good exterior presentation.
* Exceptionally clean furniture and cabinetry for the year.
* Front captain's chairs in remarkable condition.
* 2020 tires in good visual condition.
* A disclosed and understandable salvage-title history.
* A coach that needs some items addressed, but does not need to be cosmetically rebuilt from the ground up.
OVERALL
We are not representing this as a perfect or fully reconditioned motorhome.
What it does offer is an unusually clean 2003 Class A with just over 66,000 miles, the desirable Workhorse W22 / 8.1L Vortec / Allison drivetrain, excellent furniture and cabinetry for the year, remarkably well-preserved captain's chairs, attractive full-body paint, and a straightforward insurance salvage history.
The known items that need attention are disclosed clearly above and have been factored into how we are selling the coach.
For someone comfortable taking care of those items, this represents an opportunity to purchase a very presentable older motorhome at a substantial discount compared with a fully retail-reconditioned coach.
PRE-AUCTION BUYERS
If you are seeing this on RVUniverse and want to secure the motorhome for $17,500, purchase it before the scheduled AuctionTime date.
Once it moves to AuctionTime, the $14,500 pre-auction purchase opportunity is no longer available.
AUCTIONTIME BIDDERS
If you are seeing this on AuctionTime, there is no reserve.
Bidding starts at $250, and when the auction closes, the highest bidder wins regardless of the final bid amount.
Please review all photographs, disclosures, and available information carefully and purchase or bid according to the motorhome's current condition.Specifications
Stock Number03WC
VIN5B4MP67G233376372
Year2003
Mileage66,000 mi
CategoryGas Class A Motorhomes
ManufacturerNATIONAL RV
RoadworthyYes
ModelDOLPHIN 5342
LocationFarmington, Utah 84025
ConditionUsed
Sleeps7
Number of Slide Outs2
GeneratorYes
Gross Vehicle Weight22,000 lb
Number of Rear AxlesTandem
Exterior Length34 ft 9 in
Exterior ColorWhite
Pass Through StorageYes
Interior ColorBrown
Drive SideLeft Hand Drive
Air ConditioningYes
Stock Number03WC|
VIN5B4MP67G233376372|
Year2003|
Mileage66,000 mi|
CategoryGas Class A Motorhomes|
ManufacturerNATIONAL RV|
RoadworthyYes|
ModelDOLPHIN 5342|
LocationFarmington, Utah 84025|
ConditionUsed|
Sleeps7|
Number of Slide Outs2|
GeneratorYes|
Gross Vehicle Weight22,000 lb|
Number of Rear AxlesTandem|
Exterior Length34 ft 9 in|
Exterior ColorWhite|
Pass Through StorageYes|
Interior ColorBrown|
Drive SideLeft Hand Drive|
Air ConditioningYes|
