Buying cheap to fix, good idea?

Hi all, I have a question that hopefully some of you experienced RVers can help me with. I am currently in the market for an RV. I don't have any experience with them, but I have been doing an extreme amount of research on them for the past 4 months, so I have a good idea on how to inspect them, and know trouble spots to look for. However, I am still new to the whole thing. I have about 11,000 grand to spend on a used RV, and I have been scouring craigslist. My questions is this, would it be better to spend 10-11 grand on a much better "looking" coach, and then not really have too much cash left over for possible future repairs (only about 500 dollars as insurance), or to buy much cheaper, for example around 5 grand, and then have 6 grand for repairs on hand? Can decent RVs that have still have some decent life in them available for so cheap? It would be a nightmare for me to spend all of my available finances, then halfway out my trip something breaks, and I don't have any money to fix it. That is probably my biggest fear.

My plan is this. I want to buy the RV, have it ready to go within 3 months of purchase, go on an epic excursion up the west coast for 4 months, and then settle down again to work and re-up my deleted finances. This will be my home for the next several years.

I see some RVs that look "nice" on craigslist, 80's to very early 90's models, with desirable floor plans, and the ads say they are running and in good condition, but I wonder if it is really worth even checking them out? Maybe with such old and low priced RVs, there are serious issues that I will not be able to identify, and I end up buying a clunker without realizing it. However, I am definitely wanting to learn about RVs once I purchase them so I can become handy with them, so I do have an interest in becoming RV savvy/mechanically inclined eventually.

I would really appreciate any feedback on this issue, thank you very much! =)

Class C

donn0128
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2015
Nope! Most RV's that need extensive work are already junk. Either from water leaks that have caused dangerous mold or wood rot, making them uninhabitle. Even if you were to rebuild one it would end up costing you more than it would be worth. Spend your money on a good one and go. Sadly if you plan to live in one place for extended periods of time a motor home may be the worst choice. Their drive trains need to be used, not just sit and deteriorate.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
I think to be successful with buying and fixing, you have to figure on looking at a lot of units. What you want is probably out there, though. IMO the buy it and drive it $10,000 MH does not exist anyway. So you're probably better off spending less and figuring on some fixing.
mdamerell
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
I have a friend who likes to restore RV's and thus buys scrap trailers from a local RV bone yard and then rebuilds them the way he wants them. Even built his own tow vehicle out of an old ambulance. He just bought another old ambulance to build a new tow vehicle. Depends upon your skill set and how cheap you can get the unit. Dealing with salvage title is can be different but he built an awesome 5er.
Dick_B
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
Some people have done what you plan but spend so much time rehabbing the rig that they never get out.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 29, 2015
If there is water damage run away.
Oldme
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
It is possible.
I would not be looking as old as you stated.
The older the unit the more possible work it needs.

If you are a real handy DYI person, you can do most of
what you will likely run into. I see you stated that
"This will be my home for the next several years".

A rebuild with your intended use could be different from
one where you intended to flip for a quick profit. You
would be looking at what you like and not a possible buyer.

Careful inspection of roof, walls, electric and water will
go a long way to cutting expenses. The Class C on the E450
chassis is a real proven work horse. Those on the E350 chassis are
narrower, with less capacity. Tires over 10 years old have timed out
and need to be replaced.

Careful inspection and a lot of work can get you what you want.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
Nope, I had a friend who did this with cars. buy an old thing for $2,000, put $2,000 worth of parts and labor into it and sell it for $4250.
bumpy
ScottG
Nomad
Mar 29, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
If there is water damage run away.

X2.
Deal killer. You will spend far too much time and money than what you are planning.
Wijames
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
NemoScopes wrote:
Hi all, I have a question that hopefully some of you experienced RVers can help me with. I am currently in the market for an RV. I don't have any experience with them, but I have been doing an extreme amount of research on them for the past 4 months, so I have a good idea on how to inspect them, and know trouble spots to look for. However, I am still new to the whole thing. I have about 11,000 grand to spend on a used RV, and I have been scouring craigslist. My questions is this, would it be better to spend 10-11 grand on a much better "looking" coach, and then not really have too much cash left over for possible future repairs (only about 500 dollars as insurance), or to buy much cheaper, for example around 5 grand, and then have 6 grand for repairs on hand? Can decent RVs that have still have some decent life in them available for so cheap? It would be a nightmare for me to spend all of my available finances, then halfway out my trip something breaks, and I don't have any money to fix it. That is probably my biggest fear.

My plan is this. I want to buy the RV, have it ready to go within 3 months of purchase, go on an epic excursion up the west coast for 4 months, and then settle down again to work and re-up my deleted finances. This will be my home for the next several years.

I see some RVs that look "nice" on craigslist, 80's to very early 90's models, with desirable floor plans, and the ads say they are running and in good condition, but I wonder if it is really worth even checking them out? Maybe with such old and low priced RVs, there are serious issues that I will not be able to identify, and I end up buying a clunker without realizing it. However, I am definitely wanting to learn about RVs once I purchase them so I can become handy with them, so I do have an interest in becoming RV savvy/mechanically inclined eventually.

I would really appreciate any feedback on this issue, thank you very much! =)

Let me tell you what you might be in for. I was thinking like you that I could buy a decent RV and fix it up so I went on the hunt and found what I thought was a deal. It was a 1994 Chateau with only 33000 miles and when I looked at it everything was working and it was not bad looking on the inside. Bought it for $6000. I started having little problems the second day I owned it and in the past three weeks have put another $3500.00 into it for "Small stuff" which turned out to be big stuff and haven't even gotten to fixing up the inside. I wish now I had just purchased something nicer from the start. Just my two cents!
popeyemth
Explorer
Mar 30, 2015
JMHO but the time to "learn about campers" is before one buys a fixer - upper and it's 10 times harder to rehab one and live in it as opposed to having a home and shop and working space