Looking to buy used (1998-2003) Class MH

craziresi wrote:
Unfortunately my budget is low... I'd like to find something for $30k or less. Can leaks or their damage be seen when looking the MH over? Thanks for all the replies so far! Very helpful. Do people prefer gas or diesel?

If you could go to $40K there are diesels available in the year range you are looking for.

Diesels are usually preferred by folks who drive their coaches a lot.

Gasoline units are less expensive and favored by folks who park.

These are generalizations but some say that the first decision you make is whether you are a driver or a sitter.

Good luck and enjoy the hunt!

We have a 2000 coach that we bought 3 years ago, so when it was 10 years old. It is a Monaco gas engine F53 chassis and had 39,000 miles on it. We paid less than the amount you would like to spend and it was like brand new inside. We put on new tires, have replaced a couple of circuit boards and otherwide no major expense to make any repairs in 3 years, all minor things like resealing vents, replacing vent covers, that type of thing.

craziresi wrote:
Unfortunately my budget is low... I'd like to find something for $30k or less. Can leaks or their damage be seen when looking the MH over? Thanks for all the replies so far! Very helpful. Do people prefer gas or diesel?

While most if not all "prefer" diesel, the price difference between gas and diesel powered chassis means that many trade off diesel for a newer gas rig. In your price range of $30K, you would be looking at a early to mid 1990's diesel, but a much newer gas rig.

Check PPL motorhomes for their sold units to see what your budget will get you. This consignment lot lists their sold units for one year.

The more I drive my 96 F53, the more I like it and think it was a good choice. Sure, there are more comfortable motor homes. A DP would get better fuel economy and last longer. But, ultimately, all of those things would have also cost more money. For the primary use of my RV (place to sleep at the race track and an occasional outing with the wife), it's perfect. And I don't have too much cash tied up in it.

There are some big questions that you need to ask yourself. Sharing the answers with us will help with the suggestions.

1. What is going to be your primary use of this RV? Full-timing, camp a few weekends a year, local tailgating, etc?

2. How many miles a year do you plan to travel? On average, what distance to your destination?

3. Are you mechanically inclined? Do you want/plan to do your own maintenance? Gas class A's are pretty similar to working on a large consumer grade truck.

4. Are you a handy-man around the house?

5. What's your budget?

Unfortunately my budget is low... I'd like to find something for $30k or less. Can leaks or their damage be seen when looking the MH over? Thanks for all the replies so far! Very helpful. Do people prefer gas or diesel?

Teresa,

What is your budget?

We bought a 1995 and changed all belts, fluids oil, anti freeze, trans fluid, hydraulic fluid and some of the hoses. We grease everything every 6 months and bought all new tires. Have also replaced fuel filters, oil filters, trans filters, air filters and coolant filters many times.

We have put about 20,000 miles on it and all the original appliances except the water heater work fine. Water heater was replaced.

I have seen fridges fail in a year and seen them last 20 years.
Transmissions in Diesel pushers are mostly bullet proof.

Save cash for these items and future repairs.

Pogoil.
In a gas motor home you will not have as many filters to change.

I would look more for 2000 and up that is when Ford and Workhorse made frame changes ( I think). Wider frames updated engines, disk brakes on all 4 wheels etc.

I have bought several use RVs over the 40 years we have been RVing. For a Motorhome. Look to see if all the books are with the unit. Quite often a service record will be with all the books. Look for one that has been kept under cover if possible. Drive it to make sure it shifts properly and seems to have enough,get up and go,to get you over those mountain tops you will encounter. But as far as I am concerened the most important thing that you can do for yourself is heck to make sure it has not leaked. If it has and they tell you the leak is fixed,walk away. It its still leaking and they tell you its just a simple fix just smile and walk away. A leak is one of the most difficult things to locate and fix it also does some of the most costly damage in a very short order. Many thousands of dollars can b e saved by buying used and you can get a usnit with all the bugs corrects buying used. Good luck and trusdt your instincts.

Transmissions are usually not the issue, but the appliances seem to have a 10 year life span. Make sure all the appliances are in excellent working condition.
Especially the fridge, as they are the most expensive part to replace.