just bought 98 Damon Challenger M330
This is my first post in this forum and is also my first RV. I have owned several tents, pop ups, tag a longs and 5ers, but never an RV.
My fiance is a photographer and we do a lot of traveling for ETS, Equine Trails Sports, events that she shoots the obstacle challenges.We have been staying in hotels, buying meals and having to transfer all the gear from truck to room to truck to home. The last couple of trips got very expensive due to getting caught with big events close by and causing the rates to sky rocket. We had an event in Ocala,Fl two weekends ago and had to stay in Dunnellon, 20 miles away, because of Gator Nationals. That stay cost us $477 for two nights plus getting up earlier to get everything together in order to get to the event before riders got to the obstacles.
This confirmed our decision to get a camper. The first thought was a bumper pull for the 2014 F150, but decided to go with RV for a few of reasons. She will be able to work on her laptop while traveling to and fro each event. No stopping for meals or bathroom breaks to and fro. She has an issue with her tail bone after hours of sitting in the vehicle seats too long.
We knew we couldn't afford a new one and found our budget at 15K or below. So off to the hunt we went or I went. She has never been a camping person and stated she only wanted to have a big bathroom a comfortable bed and a place to work on the laptop editing and uploading pics. Easy enough right? haha.
The first one we looked at belonged to the owner of the local Ace Hardware where my fiance is also the manager. They have a 1994 Winnebago Elante 37' that has been sitting for 5 years due to his health. They had a new paint job, stripes, both windshields and a full tank of gas put in it just before they found out he was going to have open heart surgery. It has been under a cover the entire time, but I couldn't afford any issues that could result from that much resting time.
Next were 2 Winnebago Adventurer 35U in the exact same year and layout. Both had generator issues and water damage to the wall between the shower and the slide out. The second one had the skylight dropping almost 6 inches and that divider wall separating in both directions, towards the bathroom and the living room. Pass.
Then was the Alegro Bay that looked amazing on the outside, but was dry and cracking at every touch on the inside. The hinges were all stiff and rusting as well as the floor being soft in several places. Pass.
This past Tuesday we drove over to Monticello to look at this Damon Challenger. At first glance the clear coat was showing wear on all of the storage doors and bumpers. Once we stepped inside it was nothing short of amazing. Everything looked almost unused and in immaculate condition. Everything works and does exactly as it is supposed to without a single glitch which surprised me for a 19 year old vehicle.
We signed the papers and took ownership of it last night. Our first trip will be April 21-23 for an Equine event 140 miles away.
I'll post up about that trip once as it happens.
Allen
My fiance is a photographer and we do a lot of traveling for ETS, Equine Trails Sports, events that she shoots the obstacle challenges.We have been staying in hotels, buying meals and having to transfer all the gear from truck to room to truck to home. The last couple of trips got very expensive due to getting caught with big events close by and causing the rates to sky rocket. We had an event in Ocala,Fl two weekends ago and had to stay in Dunnellon, 20 miles away, because of Gator Nationals. That stay cost us $477 for two nights plus getting up earlier to get everything together in order to get to the event before riders got to the obstacles.
This confirmed our decision to get a camper. The first thought was a bumper pull for the 2014 F150, but decided to go with RV for a few of reasons. She will be able to work on her laptop while traveling to and fro each event. No stopping for meals or bathroom breaks to and fro. She has an issue with her tail bone after hours of sitting in the vehicle seats too long.
We knew we couldn't afford a new one and found our budget at 15K or below. So off to the hunt we went or I went. She has never been a camping person and stated she only wanted to have a big bathroom a comfortable bed and a place to work on the laptop editing and uploading pics. Easy enough right? haha.
The first one we looked at belonged to the owner of the local Ace Hardware where my fiance is also the manager. They have a 1994 Winnebago Elante 37' that has been sitting for 5 years due to his health. They had a new paint job, stripes, both windshields and a full tank of gas put in it just before they found out he was going to have open heart surgery. It has been under a cover the entire time, but I couldn't afford any issues that could result from that much resting time.
Next were 2 Winnebago Adventurer 35U in the exact same year and layout. Both had generator issues and water damage to the wall between the shower and the slide out. The second one had the skylight dropping almost 6 inches and that divider wall separating in both directions, towards the bathroom and the living room. Pass.
Then was the Alegro Bay that looked amazing on the outside, but was dry and cracking at every touch on the inside. The hinges were all stiff and rusting as well as the floor being soft in several places. Pass.
This past Tuesday we drove over to Monticello to look at this Damon Challenger. At first glance the clear coat was showing wear on all of the storage doors and bumpers. Once we stepped inside it was nothing short of amazing. Everything looked almost unused and in immaculate condition. Everything works and does exactly as it is supposed to without a single glitch which surprised me for a 19 year old vehicle.
We signed the papers and took ownership of it last night. Our first trip will be April 21-23 for an Equine event 140 miles away.
I'll post up about that trip once as it happens.
Allen
