New to Rv'ing...Is this an okay buy?

Thank you for helping us get started in the RV world!

We are going to do a 6 month tour of the US starting next September and are beginning our search for a motorhome. We found this one on craigslist. It has been sitting for 2 years. When we went to look at it, he wasn't even able to start it up or turn the generator on to let us see if it ran. All of the awnings need replaced, tires need replaced and one window will need replaced. There is some minor interior work that needs done- mostly cosmetic. He said he wanted 18k-20k. To me that sounds like a lot of money for something that hasn't been started in two years...but I don't really know anything about this type of stuff.

"""""Selling my Pinnacle Mountain High 36.5' Motorhome. It is nice piece, but has been in storage for a couple years and shows a little age. It will need some exterior TLC, including some buffing and a new awning. Interior is in good shape, just needs a good cleaning. There is some good potential here with a little elbow grease. I'm not going to be stupid with the price, I want to sell and if you offer a reasonable amount, I'm ready to sell. Throw me a number!

Year: 1999
Manufacturer: Mountain High Coach Works
Model: Pinnacle
Length: 36.5
Miles: 45600
Engine: Ford Triton V10
Transmission: automatic
Slide Outs:2
Chassis: Ford
Sleeps: 4
Leveling Jacks: yes
Exterior Camera: Yes
A/C: 2
Heating: Central
Generator: Onan Marquis 5500
Awning: 17' Brand New
Emergency/Aux Start: yes
TV: 2 (Front and Rear)
Exterior: fiberglass
Electric Step: yes
Tires: Good
Decor: cloth
Dining Style: free standing
Sofa/Couch: Yes
Bedroom: queen walkaround
Refrigerator: Refigerator/Freezer
Counter Tops: formika
Microwave: yes
Stove: 3-burner stove w/oven and vented hood
Windows: Single
Sound System: Panasonic CD player
Satellite Dish: yes
LP Gas: 24.2 gallons
Water Heater: 10 gallons
Batteries: 1 chassis 2 house
Condition: Good
2 large wardrobe closets w/built-in dressers
Double door bathroom
Garden shower
Lots of recessed lighting
Coffee maker
Electric can opener
Diner/passenger fans
Wood cabinetry
Elegant window coverings"""""

Your guidance is greatly appreciated!

AND- what kind of gas mileage can I expect (I know it's pretty close to 0...just curious)

Class A

mrkoje
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
Adventure2014 wrote:
I DO get it...I need to run away from this motorhome. But just because I ask what a reasonable price for it would be doesn't mean that I am a moron, idiot or deserve the words that you all intended for me.
I came here to ask for advice on a specific situation- which I got and I am grateful for. However, please don't feel the need to bash someone you don't know for asking questions in hopes of adding to their knowledge of the RV/Motorhome world. You are putting a pretty sour taste in my mouth with comments like "There is one born...",etc.

PS-I'm a "she".

Sabrena

Don't mind them - there are a few people here that might pick on you for considering it but I am a firm believer that if there is money to be made then it might be a viable option.

I obviously don't know what the exact condition of this MH is. I don't know what kind of book values are associated with that MH or what it would take to recondition it would be. So I'm not going to tell you what you should offer - rather a simple formula used in the car business on evaluating trade vehicles.

How I would come up with a price to offer is to take a private party book value say (Kelly or NADA) and then start subtracting the costs of what it would take to make it retail ready condition. Be sure to leave yourself with enough margin to account for the unexpected and your time (capital) to get it ready. If what you end up with is in the positive side then negotiate from there. For example:

Motorhome has an average value (trade-in, whole sale etc...) of 10,000.00.

MH VALUE 10,000
-1500 ENGINE WORK
-1000 AWNING
-500 GENERATOR REPAIR
-800 NEW APPLIANCES
-2000 NEW TIRES
-600 NEW BATTERIES
-800 NEW WINDSHIELD
-600 NEW SIDE WINDOW
ETC...
-1500 PROFIT MARGIN / UNEXPECTED COSTS / TIME TO RECONDITION / USE OF CAPITAL ETC.

= 700.00

If that was the case ( I know it isn't and I know some things would cost more or less but that is an example) but if that was the case the reasonable offer would then be $700.00. I would offer half that up front and when the guy goes screaming I could come up from there. I would even show that math on a piece of paper as a negotiating tool so he can see how I came up with the number.

If you're really interested in a project than maybe that's a way to go for you and if you do it that way then you're not going to have a lot of unexpected expenses.

Best of luck to you but just be careful on this purchase. It could hurt the pocket book more than you realize OR less likely but still possible that you come out with a GEM that needs minor tune-ups, new batteries and a windshield.

Let us know how it turns out please. I am interested in your outcome.
okhmbldr
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
Sabrena,
Just ignore the negative posts. Some folks just don't know how to work a deal.
I've bought and fixed a few motorhomes/trailers in the past and usually made money when I sold. Here's how I approach the deal:
You may have a motivated seller, didn't his ad say " throw an offer at me"?

Your first job is to determine what this motor home is really worth on the open market. The best way is to check the completed listings in ebay for similar size/year/option motorhomes.
Then check Craigslist to see what asking prices are for similar units in ready to go condition (discount those asking prices by about 20% to get a realistic price)
And here comes the part about how you make your money...."the Deducts".

After I establish the real value for this year motor home, for your purposes lets use the number $16,000.00.
Then I examine the motor home and start the "deducts".
If it needs tires....(find the real cost) and deduct.
If it needs cleaning....deduct.
If it needs fluid changes.....deduct.
Batteries....deduct,

get the idea?

After reasonable deductions, you have a real figure to make your offer.
Show the seller your deduct list, be exact, then tell him this is what you'll pay, and make the offer. Your offer may be only $9,000, but make it. He might take it, but just be sure your offer and the "deducts" don't exceed the real value of the motor home.

Also, don't fall in love with the motor home, if the seller says no to your offer and counters with another price, just walk away. At that point it's not a good deal for you.

Good luck, and if this one doesn't work, keep looking, there are a lot of good motor homes for sale. And if you find one that's 500 miles from home...take a "Road Trip"!
WoodGlue
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
Sabrena,

You'll find that you'll need thick skin or flame retardant underwear when you post here a lot of the time. It's all an anonymous bully pulpit.

WoodGlue
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 28, 2013
Hi Sabrena,

The unit is a "give away". It would be a poor choice even if it were free.

There are literally thousands of things that could be wrong, and most of them may be expensive to fix.

If it were running and did not have ANY water leaks it might be worth something.

Any time you see a water leak, say "thank you for showing me the rv" and leave, unless they can provide invoices for the repairs that have been done to fix the leak.
Adventure2014
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
I DO get it...I need to run away from this motorhome. But just because I ask what a reasonable price for it would be doesn't mean that I am a moron, idiot or deserve the words that you all intended for me.
I came here to ask for advice on a specific situation- which I got and I am grateful for. However, please don't feel the need to bash someone you don't know for asking questions in hopes of adding to their knowledge of the RV/Motorhome world. You are putting a pretty sour taste in my mouth with comments like "There is one born...",etc.

PS-I'm a "she".

Sabrena
Richert
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
RUN RUN really fast!!! This sounds like a money pit to me.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2013
We bought a 10 year old coach when we purchased that was in almost perfect condition for about what this guy wants. I wouldn't even have consider his. There are much better ones out there in your price range.
2bzy2c
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2013
One born every minute
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2013
1711tab wrote:
If after all the reasons everyone has told you and you still want to purchase this motor home, you need to pay the asking price and not a penny less!!!

Good One!
1711tab
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
If after all the reasons everyone has told you and you still want to purchase this motor home, you need to pay the asking price and not a penny less!!!