With any old rig, you have to identify your Purchase Price Max and your ability to make/pay for repairs.
For American Clippers (built between 1973 and 1980), which are all fiberglass and very well built, the price ranges as such:
Great condition (cosmetic and/or regular maintenance required) - $5,000 to $8,000.
Good condition (missed maintenance requiring repair/replacement, most appliances working) - $3,000 to $5,000.
Poor condition (major work needed) - under $3,000.
The above is just what you would expect to pay for the RV out the door. The lower the price, the more money/work needed to get the RV into running condition. For a good condition clipper, you could expect to put in between $500 to $5,000 in work to get it into proper running condition (this isn't cosmetic work, but functional work). This does NOT include new tires or batteries.
Tires and batteries are a given purchase. No matter what used RV you buy, you'll end up purchasing these within a year in almost all cases. In addition, for any RV, you will have to purchase these within 7 to 10 years regardless. It's just a standard expense.
With a budget of $2,000 to $5,000, you're looking at an RV that will need work. How much will you have available over the first year to put towards this work? This will determine how quickly you will be able to get your RV out on the road. You will need to prioritize what will need to be done to the RV - Safety issues (can kill you if not done - done immediately); Functional issues (being able to depend on the RV to get you there, etc. - done after safety issues); Cosmetic issues (updating, etc. - low priority).
The more safety issues that need to be done, the less money/time to get the functional issues dealt with - which means you'll be sitting around and not out on the road. The fewer safety issues, the more money/time to get the functional issues dealt with - getting you on the road sooner.
All that is to forewarn you that with older rigs, you can't base your decision on a single "purchase price budget". If you do, you will end up with a big pile of stuff in your driveway and you won't be able to enjoy it.
Instead, figure out your "Ongoing Budget". To do this, identify how much you can afford to pay for a rig, PLUS buy tires and batteries, AND how much you can reasonably put into the rig for repairs/rebuilds/etc. over that first year to get it in running order.
Then you can start looking for a rig that is most likely to meet that budget. If you can do a lot of the engine work, etc. yourself, then you have more wiggle room.
