Buying a used Class A Repairs to Expect?

Almost every part that has a piece of rubber in it.? anything that is exposed to water ?

brightond wrote:
Hi There!

I'm looking at an older Class A RV to renovate for a 1-2 year adventure with my family.

Right now I'm looking at a 1998 Fleetwood Southwind (30' with a Ford engine and 35K miles.) I could get this for just over 10K.

I've researched these Southwind's and have mostly found people saying they loved them and that they ran great for them.

Now I realize that I will need to budget some funds for repairs/renovations but I would love some input on what I may be looking at for tuning a vehicle like this up.

Any advice on what I should consider when purchasing a vehicle would be appreciated.

Thanks!

James

first off, anything made of rubber should be thoroughly examined...tires, gaskets, hoses, belts, etc. next, change ALL the fluids and i might have the drained oil analyzed. next, the battery(ies) should all be load tested and if older than, say, 48-60 months replace them. but unless you're a really good mechanic i'd have the unit professionally examined and vetted before purchase.

Unless recently replaced expect to put on new tires, good idea to change all fluids, check the brake system including rubber lines, check the roof and caulking, if anyplace is badly delaminated walk away, check the appliances and plumbing, otherwise it is mostly interior and exterior condition and what you are willing to do. Oh, check the engine and heater hoses and fan belt along with any other belts.

In addition to what is above, I would have the reefer and all A/C checked thoroughly, and replace the batteries NOW. Have the generator checked out, look at all the circuit breakers, verify function. The awnings are probably worn out, and the slides may have motor/circuit/mechanical problems. Have the suspension(s) checked and the shocks. Get a real professional to evaluate the engine and transmission. All the best of luck to you and HAVE FUN!.

When you are going to restore---- restores a classic.

Welcome to the forum

Make sure the floor plan will work for your situation. It you have kids I would look for something with bunks. Setting up and taking down a dinette/couch for sleeping every night gets real old, real quick.

Budget for new tires before you leave on your 1-2 year adventure.
Plan on restoring your roof, Eternabond and Dicor Self Leveling Lap Sealant are great products for repairing any leaks, tears or worn spots.
Then use the Roof Coating of your choice.

I just restored the roof on our 96 Southwind and used Heng's Rubber Roof Coating. I'm very satisfied with the results.

Depending on the age and condition of your batteries, house & chassis, you may want to replace them before your trip.

Service your generator, you will probably use it often on a 1-2 year trip.

Don't hesitate to ask questions on the forum. Someone will have the answer.

A lot depends on has it been setting,was it used lately.Beware of exhaust leaks,and water leaks.Exhaust leaks can be broken manifold bolts.Water damage is hard to repair.

Look for any signs of delamination of the sidewall material that will cause a waviness down the sides. This could be an indication of water intrusion.
Also spend some time underneath the coach examining eveything to see if there has been any water damage, critter damage, broken welds, or anything else that may be a future problem.
Ask if the owner has any records to determine when, and if, the spark plugs were serviced on this V-10. I believe this is the time when Ford engines used to have spark plug threading issues that can get fairly expensive to deal with.

Be careful about those posts you've read because you're talking a 98 Ford. If those post had a V10 engine then yes, if they had a 460 then you may not be getting the whole picture.

First suggestion is to get the V10 and forego any 460's. Once you do that get up on the roof and scrap away any loose putty. After that redo all the joints with new Dicor. Important to have a strong water tight roof.

Second I would go through the brakes. You need to stop and sometimes in an emergency.

Third I would swap out all the fluids with fresh Ford suggested stuff.

Forth, I would go load up the family and have a great time. Remember if you're going for 1-2 years the rig only has to make another 10-30K miles. Expect break downs in the coach part. You can fix those on the road.

Sidenote: study up on DOT tire codes prior to buying the rig. Also study up on the weak points of each engine. V10 would be spark plugs and blow outs. 460 it would be passenger side exhaust. Lots in the forum all you need do is use the search function.

Calipers and front brakes lines. They are rubber.

They will look just fine but the rubber lines collapse "inside".

Don't ask me how I know that. I found out coming off a ramp and unable to stop my MH towing. :(

And a heads up these lines on a Ford can 'only' be replaced with OEM parts. Don't even bother looking for off market. :W