Newbie wants your input before buying used
Hello all, Been a lurker, but this is my first post. Never owned an RV...but have borrowed a truck/camper, and decided that we liked it enough to consider buying, but didn't like the separatio...
Forum Discussion
Justme47, to answer your question: Without maintenance records on the MH and the age alone tells one it needs some suspension work. I bought my second MH last September, inside and out,it was in very good shape, low miles but not stored for years, and garaged, and no leaks. Even the fiberglass exterior had little or no oxidation, it shined. I drove it and could tell right away the steering had a very lite feel as though the tires were not on the ground, so I knew there was work to be done. I paid 14K for a 1998 Four Winds 5000 22rk from a privet party, and there were people standing in line.
So, did I want to spend 30 to 40 grand on a much newer MH, or put some bucks into this one. I bought it on the spot, paid cash, a big advantage when buying anything. At 70 with some physical health issues, and even though I have a large garage, holds a MH, pickup and two cars, with tools to fix the MH, it is past me now.
I made of list of everything I wanted done. I bought the parts that were not available locally, Bilstein heavy duty shocks, and adjustable caster/camber sleeves, put them in the font seat with the list of other preventive maintenance items: Replace all the cooling and heater hoses, serpentine belt, shocks, clean mass air flow sensor, fuel filter, flush the radiator and V10 engine cooling system, and new thermostat. They found the tie rod ends were loose, and a leaking pinion seal. They replace the tie rod ends and seal, drained and cleaned the differential,( 15 year old oil).
I weighed the MH last Saturday loaded as if leaving on a trip. The difference between Gross Weight ratings, and actual loaded weight on the front and rear and total weight, is not much, a few hundred pounds. Total money to get all this done was 3K, that does not include the price of the shocks and sleeves. I now have 17k, less tax and license, into and old motor home, a lot less then a new price. But I only did it because of the condition of the MH, also made by a respected company still in business. You are either in or out when buying a MH. If you're in, then you are all in, or reliability will suffer.
So, did I want to spend 30 to 40 grand on a much newer MH, or put some bucks into this one. I bought it on the spot, paid cash, a big advantage when buying anything. At 70 with some physical health issues, and even though I have a large garage, holds a MH, pickup and two cars, with tools to fix the MH, it is past me now.
I made of list of everything I wanted done. I bought the parts that were not available locally, Bilstein heavy duty shocks, and adjustable caster/camber sleeves, put them in the font seat with the list of other preventive maintenance items: Replace all the cooling and heater hoses, serpentine belt, shocks, clean mass air flow sensor, fuel filter, flush the radiator and V10 engine cooling system, and new thermostat. They found the tie rod ends were loose, and a leaking pinion seal. They replace the tie rod ends and seal, drained and cleaned the differential,( 15 year old oil).
I weighed the MH last Saturday loaded as if leaving on a trip. The difference between Gross Weight ratings, and actual loaded weight on the front and rear and total weight, is not much, a few hundred pounds. Total money to get all this done was 3K, that does not include the price of the shocks and sleeves. I now have 17k, less tax and license, into and old motor home, a lot less then a new price. But I only did it because of the condition of the MH, also made by a respected company still in business. You are either in or out when buying a MH. If you're in, then you are all in, or reliability will suffer.
