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gonesouth's avatar
gonesouth
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016

Blown Engine

recently I came across a coach for sale at a dealer with a blown engine. I had a small stroke, a bleed, in the fall and don't find my driving safe anymore. DW drives the car now, but there is no way on earth she will drive a DP. Not gonna happen. Now, our favorite park in central Florida allows people who stay through the winter to leave their rigs on their site all summer at a cost of $50/month. So, I have been thinking of putting an older DP (read, lower cost) on a site and using it as our Florida home. Those of you who know me will realize it's not an unlikely prospect for me to consider just about anything, so i began thinking about the blown engine coach as our winter home. Sort of like a park model....

Can any of you advise me on how nuts this is? Questions I've come up with so far are:
1. Are there other salvageable parts I wouldn't need? Transmission, batteries, maybe inverter come to mind...
2. What would I need to add back? A small air compressor if it has air levelling, Probably want to change out the Norcold for a residential refrigerator. Might need to put in electrical cooktop and water heater if there's no propane delivery. Anything else?
3. I'd need to tow it to its final stop....Anyone know what towing costs where Coach-Net wouldn't be paying?
4. Am I insane? Why do you think so? Savings would be in the neighbourhood of $30,000 so this isn't as crazy as it sounds, although I'd maybe need to put up a bond or something to cover the cost of future removal.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

26 Replies

  • I would think that whatever money you put into it would be gone forever. When the time comes that you no longer can go stay there you would probably have to give it away to get someone to tow it off. Like the others said, I would go with a park model that would have some resale.
  • donn0128 wrote:
    Buy a park model! Way more room, better i sulation, easier resale when the time comes.


    This makes the most sense! If you are going to leave the RV on site, just get a park model, or if the park allows, a small mobile home.

    Why have systems to maintain that are designed for constant, mobile use when the unit will be stationary!?
  • If it were my park I'de tell you no way are you going to tow that thing into here and leave it. Get a nice travel trailer or park model.I am in Florida and see lots of them for sale in parks for $10,000. Lot less aggrivation than towing a rig there that don't run.
  • Mr. Jim, I can certainly see the interest, especially, if the coach is in good shape. If it has Aqua Hot, you will need to keep the fuel tank, that fuel will last you forever! Of course you will have to close the engine antifreeze loop.

    You really won't need your air suspension or hydraulic legs, just put heavy duty jake stands underneath. The slides can be run manually if they are hydraulic or even electric. If the engine motor is required to run the slides, you probably could bypass that feature.

    I would probably want to keep the generator too in case you lose power in a Florida Hurricane. You can bring fuel in a five gallon can as needed. The inverters will charge the house batteries, everything engine related could be parted out.

    Good luck, keep us updated!

    Mr. Mark
  • Buy a park model! Way more room, better i sulation, easier resale when the time comes.