I have questions about buying an RV used

[tikilyn]

Hopefully someone on here can help. I have found a 1995 Class C Winnebago (winneminnie). It has 44,000 miles and looks great. It's priced under 20,000.00

what should I look for in the class c? Is this a good price? Please help

 

[Mr Man]

Hopefully someone on here can help. I have found a 1995 Class C Winnebago (winneminnie). It has 44,000 miles and looks great. It's priced under 20,000.00

what should I look for in the class c? Is this a good price? Please help

I tend towards caution on these things. Lots of things can go wrong on a MH that is over 20yrs old. Engine (44k isn't a lot of miles but suggests the motor sat for prolonged periods of time), tires, roof, appliances, chassis, electrical, plumbing......and the list goes on..... If you are a "handy" sort, this may not be a problem. Unfortunately, replacement parts are always expensive on MH (especially older ones).

There are companies that offer inspection services for used MH/autos. Maybe you can look one up in your area and get a professional opinion.

Good luck.

 

[Disneefun]

Like anything else, it's going to depend on how it's been cared for. We bought a 1996 MH two years ago and have enjoyed it with no major problems. It was cared for very well before us and the prior owner had all the service records and went through the coach with us answering questions, pointing things out, etc. We have had a few things go wrong, but then again I see posts on RVnet.com about people who've bought brand new MH's and had them in the shop more than not so I think it's a crapshoot to some extent.

Fortunately, we are both very handy and have been able to take care of everything ourselves. It's been minor annoying stuff, not "mission critical" like the engine. But we have spent a fair amount of time on maintenance to make certain nothing big goes wrong (we'd do this even if it were new, so it's not that it's old -- good maintenance is key to a long life).

The most expensive thing for us has been tires (about $1400 for 6) b/c you need to replace the tires every 5-6 years regardless of mileage or whether they look ok. Sunlight and idle time does a number on the rubber so you have to replace them based on time rather than wear as you do on a car. So find out when it last got new tires and that will tell you how soon you need to plan for that expense.

You need to make certain there's no leaks or water damage from prior leaks. That's one of the biggest dangers to a MH. Water gets in the walls, wood, siding, etc. and can cause big problems if not dealt with immediately.

Unlike a car, just giving it a test drive isn't enough. You need to check all the appliances and systems over thoroughly and make sure they're in working order. If you don't know what you're looking at, find someone who does. You need to crawl over, under and inside the thing thoroughly.

Check to see that the roof is in good shape. It's probably rubber, so look for signs of wear or tears or rot. These are all pathways for water to get in. Make sure the areas around the vents, etc. area sealed properly.

If the prior owner has all the service records, this will give you a good idea of the care level. If it's never been maintained, it may look good now, but is probably a candidate for major problems down the road. RV's have to be cared for to last a long time.

If it has slides, make sure they work properly, seal well when closed and don't show signs of trouble. Check the engine thoroughly just as you would a used car.

There's nothing wrong with used motorhomes in general. You get to escape the big hit on depreciation and taxes and you can get a good unit that will last a long time -- or at least long enough for you to decide whether camping is really for you and whether or not you'd like to upgrade. But you do have to be careful that someone's not trying to unload their problems onto you. Do some research, compare units, spend some time looking at new ones, too just so you get familiar with how things are supposed to look, hire an experienced, independent 3rd party if necessary to look the unit over with you, know your NADA values on the unit so you don't pay too much and you can come out great.

 

[tikilyn]

Wow! Thanks for all the great information. Dh and I talked and we've decided to wait and see if we can get a newer one next year. We saw a few on ebay but there not in our area. That kind of stinks.

Thanks again

 

[bradisgoofy]

If you are looking used, spend a little money and buy this cd -

http://www.rv.org/index.html

Well worth the money.