Looking to spend between 20-50k. any recommendations?

I know where a nice 2000 34' Thor Hurricane with one slide for less money than you show willing to spend is located.

I went and looked it over. RV dealer started the V-10 and it sounded very good. About 40,000 miles. Onan generator. 2 year old tires the dealer had installed for the previous owner. Dealer had performed all the previous maintenance. Local couple owned the unit.

The unit was a trade in for a smaller class C.

If I didn't already own the one I have, I would have purchased it.

I think you're in a VERY tentative position with your budget and you need to proceed VERY carefully. First, older high end coaches are fine if you had 75K-100K and some savings for repair. Buying a 27 year old Prevost bus would be a recipe for disaster. The first major repair, and at 27 years old it's coming, would probably wipe you out financially.

Buying a coach at a 20K price may get you around for awhile, but it's going to cost you to keep it running. Many will jump in and say their 20K coach runs all over the country and that's great, but betting on it running flawlessly is a gamble.

Only you can really decide what you need and how you'll use it. From what you describe as your situation, I would buy a good quality 2-3 year diesel 3/4 or 1 ton truck and then use a smaller budget to buy a decent trailer or fifth wheel. You'll at least know you have a reliable vehicle and the worse that could happen to the trailer, that would prevent you from moving around, is that the axles fall off. Then if you find that you really like the RV lifestyle, wait awhile and step up to a nicer trailer.

Hi roadtrip,

I would run away. 20K for something where the average asking price appears to be close to double that number is a big red flag to me.

Do you have a link to the actual unit?

You might want to look at Cranky Ape, too.

I had a 1987 class C diesel. Parts for the motor became an issue and cost of repairs and maintenance averaged $0.40 per mile over a 160,000 miles and seven years from 2002 to 2009. The unit has a total of 320,000 miles on it.

Here are red flags I'm aware of.

1- it is a repo
2- I believe it sat for awhile unmaintained while Bank was holding it.
3- no generator, but dealer will put one on for me or I'll do it after.

I work in real estate and red flags are often not reasons in of themselves to say no, just reason to do a thorough inspection. I'm taking the Rv to a local Rv repair shop for a full prepurchase inspection. I'm mostly trying to find out if this is a Good model or a known lemon

Clicky: http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/1998/Coachmen/M-370-MBS-Freightliner-Slide-__/3004954/Values

1 slide, diesel. I just realized that the link to Nada didn't paste. Here it is

http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/1998/Coachmen/M-370-MBS-Freightliner-Slide-__/3004954/Values

Roadtripforever, is the Coachman a gas or diesel? How many slides?

MM.

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. As far as my personal decision to drop everything: I am a computer programmer and work freelance from home, so there isn't really a need for "home" to be in a particular place. If I get sick of living on the road then I'll just stop somewhere and settle down in a house without wheels and keep the trailer for vacations.

As far as the type of motorhome, I was exclusively looking for one with slide outs since they seem to add significant space. The older ones don't seem to have that.

I appreciate the feedback on brands to look for. What do you think specifically about this motorhome? I heard coachman was a good brand and this doesn't appear to be a base model.

GlennLever wrote:
In my opinion you cannot bet the quality of an "older" high end Motor Home.

Parts are a little harder to come by but there are a number of salvage yards.

The point though is the parts used in the high end coaches last and you are not repairing them as often as the newer cheaper built motor homes.

Here is an example of a Prevost http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1988-Prevost-Country-Coach-Mirage-113921482

The older Prevosts are usually rock solid, certainly the bus frame is. The Prevost pictured was converted by Country Coach who are now out of business. The good thing is that the chassis company "Prevostcar" is still strong and healthy.

The coach pictured is a fairly rare 40 ft. as most are 45 ft. For those that would consider this coach, maintenance records are paramount. If not, then it would be a good idea to 'zero-out-the-coach' for it to be fresh.

That includes changing of the norgren air valves, air bags, new hoses, oil change and filters, etc. which will run about $30,000. If the engine checks out, that would be a super good deal for a rock solid coach.

The plus in many people's eyes would be that it would be 'low tech'. The electronics today are mind boggling.

MM.

I sent you a PM