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SuicideCharley's avatar
SuicideCharley
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015

Deal or No Deal? (new here)

Hi everyone, been searching for an RV to purchase and I got this seller to agree on 6k WITH the car. I know nothing about RV's other than I want to begin to travel in RV fashion with my family before the kids leave the nest soon. On the surface does this seem like a worthwhile deal?

This is the CL http://fresno.craigslist.org/rvs/4921654237.htmlLINK

Looked at it yesterday and she's not new, but definitely mechanically sound. Some minor cosmetics on the interior, no leaks, all in working order..thoughts? Things I need to look at prior to handing over any money?
Here is the description

APEX 32 FT MOTOR HOME SELF CONTAINED

72,500 ORIGINAL MILES

3RD AXEL UNIT, BETTER HANDLING, MORE STABLE/SAFER THEN MOST MOTOR- HOMES.

OVER HEAD AIR CONDITIONING

COMES WITH ONAN GENERATOR

MICROWAVE/STEREO/TV/ANTENNA/CB/FANS/ELECTRIC STEPS,REFRIGERATOR, ETC.

RUNS AND DRIVES LIKE NEW
CLEAN CALIFORNIA TITLE (NOT SALVAGED) NO BACK FEE REGISTRATION PENALTIES.
VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN MY NAME , I AM SECOND OWNER, PURCHASED FROM DAN GAMELS RV FRESNO, CA

1998 SATURN WAGON
COMES W 1998 SATURN STATION WAGON THAT WAS TOWED BEHIND MOTOR HOME,
4 CYLINDER /AUTOMATIC
CLEAN CALIFORNIA TITLE/ TAGGED TILL JUNE 2015
RUNS GREAT, GREAT MPG.
HAS FACTORY TOW HITCH WELDED ON FRONT FRAME FOR TOWING. SATURN IS INCLUDED IN TOTAL PRICE OF $6995
Class A
  • 2bzy2c's avatar
    2bzy2c
    Explorer II
    Mar 25, 2015
    If it runs and the tires have some life left to them, that is a smoking deal!

    Good luck.
  • ddndoug's avatar
    ddndoug
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2015
    rgatijnet1 wrote:
    Check to see if the tires are about to "age out", in other words 7+ years old and may have cracks in the sidewalls. This could add a few thousand in expense to have tires that are safe. Check batteries, house and chassis, to see if they hold a charge. This might add a few hundred if new batteries are needed. Is the TV compatible for today's digital channels?
    Other than that just go through the basics and make sure that the AC's, both dash and overhead, put out cold air. The furnace and all appliances work. The refrigerator and water heater work. The coach has brakes that will stop you and the Saturn when applied. Make sure that the transmission is shifting smooth and that the engine doesn't have an excessive amount of smoke(I'm not sure if CA has emissions checks for RV's).
    If you are comfortable with the price, go for it and enjoy.


    Good advice right here. I'm assuming with the Ford chassis you will have 16" tires which should save you quite a bit over larger tires. There should be a date stamp on the tires (you may have to look on the opposite side of the tire to find it. Here's how you read the date stamp reading tire date stamp. Don't let the amount of tread left fool you. Many new people make that mistake and end up stuck on the side of the road with a blowout and damage to their "new" RV becasue of the shredding of the old rotted tires.

    If all the appliances are working and there are no water leaks or soft spots in the floor, then I would say you have found yourself quite a bargain. Heck just setting up a car to tow four-down can cost between $1-2k.

    See if the PO (previous owner) has maintenance records for the RV. And so you don't go into this blindly, ask him what kind of mileage he was getting don't expect more than 6 or 8 tops) and make sure that fits into your budget.

    Oh yeah, one big thing... Are you handy or mechanically inclined? Because a unit this old will require maintenance and repairs and if you have to pay someone it could eat you alive.

    Doug
  • SuicideCharley's avatar
    SuicideCharley
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2015
    rgatijnet1 wrote:
    Check to see if the tires are about to "age out", in other words 7+ years old and may have cracks in the sidewalls. This could add a few thousand in expense to have tires that are safe. Check batteries, house and chassis, to see if they hold a charge. This might add a few hundred if new batteries are needed. Is the TV compatible for today's digital channels?
    Other than that just go through the basics and make sure that the AC's, both dash and overhead, put out cold air. The furnace and all appliances work. The refrigerator and water heater work. The coach has brakes that will stop you and the Saturn when applied. Make sure that the transmission is shifting smooth and that the engine doesn't have an excessive amount of smoke(I'm not sure if CA has emissions checks for RV's).
    If you are comfortable with the price, go for it and enjoy.


    THANKS! Any input on the year or model? Tires were the first thing I looked at, good tread no sidewall cracks but is there a code or year stamped on the tires that I can reference? Going back tonight to test drive it, and fire everything up one by one.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Mar 25, 2015
    Check to see if the tires are about to "age out", in other words 7+ years old and may have cracks in the sidewalls. This could add a few thousand in expense to have tires that are safe. Check batteries, house and chassis, to see if they hold a charge. This might add a few hundred if new batteries are needed. Is the TV compatible for today's digital channels?
    Other than that just go through the basics and make sure that the AC's, both dash and overhead, put out cold air. The furnace and all appliances work. The refrigerator and water heater work. The coach has brakes that will stop you and the Saturn when applied. Make sure that the transmission is shifting smooth and that the engine doesn't have an excessive amount of smoke(I'm not sure if CA has emissions checks for RV's).
    If you are comfortable with the price, go for it and enjoy.

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