Advice on buying a used RV motorhome

AF4iK

AF4iK

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Some friends and I are thinking of taking a road trip out east in the spring. I came across this 1978 RV with 97,000 kms on it for $1000. Needs a bit of work but just wondering what I might be getting myself into here.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...torhomes-23-Foot-Motorhome-W0QQAdIdZ428855232

The plan would be to use it for a week or so and then get rid of it. Although, if it turns out to be a reliable beast I may just hang on to it for a while longer. Especially if I can haul a couple bikes with it ;).

Any RV owners out there with some advice? Thanks in advance
 
A leaking roof usually means that the wooden frame for the trailer/motorhome is damaged as well, this is normally a can of worms.

Motorhomes are also hard on transmissions and for some reason they like to rot out trans cooler lines and brake lines faster than other vehicles (at least it seems that way). Most mechanics hate working on motorhomes so getting it services can be difficult. A common problem on Dodges of that vintage are the steering boxes.

If the roof hasn't been leaking long and you have a mechanic check it for you before purchasing you might have a decent hauler there for the price.
 
Some good info there, thanks! I do think it's likely going to be more hassle than it's worth, especially since I only intend to use it for a week. I've just always wanted to own a motorhome since I was a kid lol.
 
A friend used to buy the things cheap and ended up spending a fortune afterwards. Parts can be expensive and a breakdown on the road is a pain. As they become clunkers the owners neglect them even more. The one for $1000 likely isn't worn out but rather rotted out. That could include the toilet and holding tank.

If it's a one week affair just rent a new one and travel in class.
 
nobbie48 said:
A friend used to buy the things cheap and ended up spending a fortune afterwards. Parts can be expensive and a breakdown on the road is a pain. As they become clunkers the owners neglect them even more. The one for $1000 likely isn't worn out but rather rotted out. That could include the toilet and holding tank.

If it's a one week affair just rent a new one and travel in class.
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Thanks for the advice. Our original plan was to buy a couple of beaters--most likely 4x4--and drive the crap out of them for a week. Sort of like a Top Gear episode. Then sell or scrap the cars and donate the proceeds to a charity. The RV I just happened to stumble across and thought what if...
 
you get what you pay for! yes rent one or drive in a car and stay at backpackers for $20 bucks a night, less than 1000$ and cheaper in gas
 
AF4iK said:
Thanks for the advice. Our original plan was to buy a couple of beaters--most likely 4x4--and drive the crap out of them for a week. Sort of like a Top Gear episode. Then sell or scrap the cars and donate the proceeds to a charity. The RV I just happened to stumble across and thought what if...
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If they are truly crapped out you will likely have to buy something, a battery or ?? to get them to start reliably. If you and your buds are just goofing off for a week and staying local, spending half the week jury rigging the clunkers could be part of the adventure. Do you have the tools and skills?

The costs:

Insurance
Licence plate
Transfer fees
If the vehicle was certified you should be able to get a transit permit instead of licencing it, no certification costs. However what is your life worth? Or would your conscience bother you if the brakes failed and you killed someone?
Tax based on some government value
Towing in the possibility of a breakdown
Storage (Hope they don't mind the puddles of oil left on the driveway)

Scrapping doesn't bring much unless the vehicle is conditioned All the fluids drained, no tires etc

Also air fresheners or febreeze.

Depending on conditions, the thing and how you drive it could be a cop magnet. That cost that doesn't go away when you scrap the thing.
 
at $1000. its still not road legal or possibly functioning completely. If you just want an adventure and have about 3K to put out to get it going then ok.
But that buys a lot of nice hotel rooms and steak dinners.

I've been down this route, its an adventure but makes no economic sense. Most adventures don't

CAA premium that covers motorhome towing, best $150 you'll ever invest. CAA does not cover you if you convert a city bus you bought at auction for $600 and turned into a motorhome with bunkbeds from the salvation army store. When an inside dually blows out near Chicago you will be told, thats a Commercial vehicle regardless of what you made it into and it will cost you about $400 at 6am. justr say'n...been down this route.
 
I say depending on what it needs to be useable, go for it. If it's safetiable (sp?) and all the bits work for that kind of money, or a bit more, why not? As mentioned by others, you could rent one (last time I looked into it it was about $1500 for a week), and at the end of the week, you have nothing but memories. With this, if it makes it, you still have it and can do it again. If it breaks down, junk it there and you're not out that much anyway, just a wrecked vacation (different adventure). Every time you take it out after the initial week, you're making money. Of course I have access to lots of space to store such a beast, that may not be your case.
 
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Lyndsay said:
As mentioned by others, you could rent one (last time I looked into it it was abot $1500 for a week), and at the end of the week, you have nothing but memories.
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I thought renting a car was bad with extra charges, when I looked into renting an RV for a family trip I would've needed gallons of lube for the ****ing they were aiming to do.
 
440, I will assume it is gas and not Diesel. You may go broke driving it.

I also bet it will end up costing you a couple grand to get it road worthy (problems beyond those listed). It will have to be look over very well before you buy, specially for any rot, mechanical issues and/or mold.
 
All very good points, thanks guys! There is really no intention to be practical on this trip as it's completely for our amusement. However, to address just a few concerns...

nobbie48 said:
The costs:

Insurance
Licence plate
Transfer fees
If the vehicle was certified you should be able to get a transit permit instead of licencing it, no certification costs. However what is your life worth? Or would your conscience bother you if the brakes failed and you killed someone?
Tax based on some government value
Towing in the possibility of a breakdown
Storage (Hope they don't mind the puddles of oil left on the driveway)

Scrapping doesn't bring much unless the vehicle is conditioned All the fluids drained, no tires etc

Also air fresheners or febreeze.
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Thanks, I was wondering whether I'd be able to use a temp permit.

Cost is something we have yet to work out in full detail, however, we're not expecting to get back much for these vehicles. Whatever we do get we plan to donate so this will be considered an expense and not an investment.

Mechanically speaking, I fully expect to run into some issues on the road. I do my own car work so I'm prepared to take the risk but I don't know if my friends truly appreciate what this means. It's still a variable I want them to seriously consider otherwise we'll turn this into a bike trip :D

We'll be doing silly things with these cars but not really on public roads. We plan to camp out most of the time and beat these things silly off road (not the camper obviously). Safety cert means absolutely nothing so I'll be inspecting the vehicle myself and most likely have a mechanic do the same for me.

lol I didn't think about air freshener! Good point!

crankcall said:
at $1000. its still not road legal or possibly functioning completely. If you just want an adventure and have about 3K to put out to get it going then ok.
But that buys a lot of nice hotel rooms and steak dinners.

I've been down this route, its an adventure but makes no economic sense. Most adventures don't

CAA premium that covers motorhome towing, best $150 you'll ever invest. CAA does not cover you if you convert a city bus you bought at auction for $600 and turned into a motorhome with bunkbeds from the salvation army store. When an inside dually blows out near Chicago you will be told, thats a Commercial vehicle regardless of what you made it into and it will cost you about $400 at 6am. justr say'n...been down this route.
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Yep, it's just an adventure for fun. And I do have CAA so should be covered there... at least to tow the vehicle off the road if it dies on us. Did you ultimately enjoy your experience?

oilycreek said:
I have a 2006, Triple E Regal C30G, I will sell you for 60k
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lol thanks but no thank you :lmao:
 
AF4iK said:
All very good points, thanks guys! There is really no intention to be practical on this trip as it's completely for our amusement. However, to address just a few concerns...



Thanks, I was wondering whether I'd be able to use a temp permit.

Cost is something we have yet to work out in full detail, however, we're not expecting to get back much for these vehicles. Whatever we do get we plan to donate so this will be considered an expense and not an investment.

Mechanically speaking, I fully expect to run into some issues on the road. I do my own car work so I'm prepared to take the risk but I don't know if my friends truly appreciate what this means. It's still a variable I want them to seriously consider otherwise we'll turn this into a bike trip :D

We'll be doing silly things with these cars but not really on public roads. We plan to camp out most of the time and beat these things silly off road (not the camper obviously). Safety cert means absolutely nothing so I'll be inspecting the vehicle myself and most likely have a mechanic do the same for me.

lol I didn't think about air freshener! Good point:
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Keep in mind these things are built on truck chassis and parts / tools are more expensive.

I've heard of people scrapping cars by signing them over to the tow truck operator instead of payment. Don't know how that works.

Have fun.
 
This may be hard to scrap, most wreckers wouldnt touch it and you will probably have to pay someone to take it. The wood etc makes it mainly garbage and very labour intesive to scrap.
 
Nobbie / Steve, good point

I've decided to scrap the RV idea thanks largely to all of you guys. Cheers!
 
If you are looking for an adventure with some excitement and no costs other than the gas you put in it you should just steal an RV! I guarantee you will have stories to last a lifetime and more excitement than you can handle
 
Dave L said:
If you are looking for an adventure with some excitement and no costs other than the gas you put in it you should just steal an RV! I guarantee you will have stories to last a lifetime and more excitement than you can handle
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:lmao:sounds like an adventure alright. Maybe one day if I decide to flee the country I'll do just that, drive it to the coast, steal a boat and live amongst pirates. Til then, I'd like to keep my non-fugitive status.
 
Might be a better option to use their reliable daily driver with a pop-up type of camper trailer.....
 
Buy my 97 Saab I have for sale, fix it up slightly, get a class ii hitch for it (there is one available for the car), tow away! lol
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