Think I'm getting what I asked for but...

[Dancemom03]

not sure it was exactly what I meant. My mouth ran off with me and now I'm worried that it could come back to bite me in the tush.
After much whining and hinting over a period of several years, it appears the wall of reluctance is going to fall. That should be a good thing right?... well right???.... "It should - shutup and count 'yer blessings woman" that's what I've been telling myself all day - now I just need to feel good about it.

Our story begins... the DDs have each had this thing about tent camping - over the years they've begged, pleaded, and occassionally made DH look old & spoiled in front of friends; while I've mentioned how "I'm so sick of clutter, house repairs, and high electric bills, that I long for the day I can trade it all in and just live in a little camper going wherever we want, whenever we want" more than a few times over the years.
I have a FW site for 6 nights in July to tent camp with DD8 and am really looking forward to it. I grew up camping with my dad and brother and I like it so no problems there but DH always said that he "did all the camping he ever needed in the army, then again in scouts" with DS30 and, if the kids & I wanted to camp, it better be solo.

Well, fast forward to last week...DD19 has a great summer job offer in an amusement park and would need a place to stay so I started thinking why not put her in a TT or MH with a friend or two for the summer instead of signing a lease and being stuck if the job didn't work out well.
So, I'm talking to a dad at lacrosse practice the other day about whether it sounded like a practical solution when he says "well you should buy my MH, needs some cosmetic work but I'll sell it cheap."

I get home, mention it to DH who tells me to go look at it. Being married for 32 years now, I assume this is just another ploy to shut me up. He knows I'm a huge procrastinator and sure enough, I'm thinking "okay, I'll get to it" when I run into my DB (who owns both a TT and MH and is such a perfectionist that we would never consider asking to sleep in either even if we were homeless in the snow. Don't get me wrong, he's a terrific guy and I love him very much but he's 49, never had a wife/kids just motorcycles, and still has the plastic wrappers on his alphabetically arranged dvd cases - while we're lucky if we can even find an empty, crushed dvd case when we want it. hey, what can I say, we got kids...) Anyway, DB goes to see it that same night on his way home. It's a 1988 38' (?) Pace Arrow with a $2500 price tag. Since he has a smaller PArrow, he likes it & calls DH who saw it today and is now convinced. Geez, who'da'thunk it?

It is reported to be in fine mechanical shape (has a Ford engine which DH liked w/recently replaced tires & brakes) but the inside has roof leaks and is trashed. Actually, "trashed" is being generous. The cabinets are down, there's no headliner & no ceiling - heck there's tarp covered holes in the roof in many spots, fridge rusted, cushions missing, seat upholstery VERY rough, bathroom is... well, we'd better not go there The outside looks great but when I saw the inside today all I saw was time, work, and lots of dollars. FTR I am not shamed to admit it - I am seriously craft-impaired and easily intimidated by Martha Stewart.

So, I come to you, oh DIS-god's of the campfire to ask your opinions. Is $2500 really a great price if the entire inside is gutted - or needs to be? Would you put two or three college kids in a MH parked in a campground for 4 months. The dads would be driving it down and setting it up for them. I'm sure they'd be safe and know of a retired couple who do this for the husband's job at the park each summer so I know it's possible but is it practical? We could look at TT's too but we don't have an SUV that'd seat us all if we wanted to take it on vacation without another vehicle along too - DH drives a 4x4 F250 - yet I suspect with the price of the gas, in a MH we wouldn't be far or often either.

Please... pull up a chair, I've got a fresh bag of cheetos...so pop the top on that beer, and share some suggestions with this long lost camper...

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I would run like the wind from this deal. Put the money towards a newer MH in better condition. With the poor economy, there have got to be some better deals than this.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I'm with Jim, sprinting would be more my style.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

This sounds like the RV version of the movie The Money Pit.

 

[Dancemom03]

LOL, Thanks guys, I just had to hear someone else say it before I admitted I might be wrong. It did just occur to me though as I read my post back that maybe DH said yes b/c DB told him it was bad enough inside to shut me up for good. Now that I think about it, his voice did sound a little smug when we got back into the van after looking inside the MH saying "but I thought that's what you said you wanted..."

About the idea itself though... I'm worried that if any of the kids don't like their jobs (or make it past the 30 day trial period) they might quit and decide to come home before the summer is over. Do you think putting them in a TT or MH if we start shopping for something now is a workable idea for a summer in VA? Also, would it be too hot? or too much stress on the AC unit to be on for a prolonged period?

 

[Gatordad]

This sounds like the RV version of the movie The Money Pit.

i don't sprint.

 

[auntie]

I think I had too much wine tonight. My head hurts from just reading this thread!
I will read again in the morning..I'm quite sure it will make more sense to me then. Although..it doesn't take much to confuse me...

 

[des1954]

RUN, FORREST!! RUN!!!

First, if the cabinets are ruined due to roof leakage, then you can bet the side walls and floors are in the same condition.

Second...it's the end of April. Unless your DH is a miracle man, he would never have it ready for your DD to use by the time it was needed.

Third, all the upholstery is probably shot as well.

See if you can find a month-to-month lease on apartment for the girls to rent.

 

[CampingBandit]

I thought that was an excellent point about the timeframe - even if you were to tackle a rehab, how much is that going to cost and will it even be ready.

I agree there are better deals to be had - lots of people are selling their rigs outthere.

I think it's a good idea, if they are the responsible type. If they are the partying type (or their friends are) it could be trouble and they could get kicked out of the potential campground. Are you planning to be close enough by to keep an eye on them from time to time? (read: spy?)

Finding a month-to-month apartment will be difficult, many renters are defaulting on their leases and evictions are up like 400%. Landlords will be hesitant to rent to a group of college-something-age kids. As a former apartment manager, I know I would be....

Good luck!

 

[Dancemom03]

Finding a month-to-month apartment will be difficult, many renters are defaulting on their leases and evictions are up like 400%. Landlords will be hesitant to rent to a group of college-something-age kids. As a former apartment manager, I know I would be....

That's what I was afraid of. They're 19 and 20, really good kids, with a drama/music background and not into the stereotypical college party life but I'm sure a lot of parents think that only to find out differently later.
Also, they'd be working as performers - really awesome, but worrisome too as if they got injured & couldn't dance or the show was cancelled/changed they might not have a job.

 

[AuburnJen92]

i don't sprint.

i would only sprint if i knew that much money was going to come out of my pocket and go into that rv money hole!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I have to agree, that RV needs to go to someone who is looking for a project and has no real specific timeframe. It could be fun for someone....I'm guessing you may not be that someone...quite frankly, I'm tired just reading about it!

As for the camping for the summer....to me that sounds like an adventure! A summer these girls would never forget! As a theatrical person myself, as well as a camper....it sounds like heaven! I'm wondering why I didn't think about that while I was in college!!!!