I am seriously considering (at some point in the next couple of years) looking for an inexpensive but low mileage small class C. I would be using this to travel on some extended trips either by myself, or with a grandchild. Something like this one:1988 Minnie WinnieOf course I would look for one that's been taken care of, and in good condition at first glance.Some things are obvious to look for, like dry rotted tires/belts & hoses/mouse damage.BUT I know there are lots of potential issues.What are some things I should specifically check for in an older C?One thing I know is a common problem is leakage around the front window. What are the signs of that, and how do I look for hidden rot, there and elsewhere?Something like a Sportsmobile might be adequate, too. But the lack of water & gray tank capacity puts me off that.

I recently had to replace the head gasket on a 10 year old car (cheap part, very high labor charge). The mechanic showed me the old gasket. I was shocked how old and brittle it was. I swore right there that I was done buying old vehicles no matter how little they have been used. I would hate to see what some of the parts look like deep inside a 26 year old RV.

If it has leaks do not buy period. The first clue to leaks is smell when you enter the RV does it smell if so walk. Other ways are to look for stains and soft spots on walls and roof and look for delamination on the outside.

A few things I'd try to find-Something that has been stored under a roof for substantial time.No musty mildew smell inside.Its hard to see everything when looking for water damage. Look into everything you can-compartments, cabinets, behind furniture etc. with a good flashlight. Maybe you can see under flooring in some areas. Make sure floor feels solid. If the unit has had recent use that is a plus. I've had older low miler vehicles and boats have lots of shakedown pains till they get sorted out.Newer the better within budget all things equal. Lots of depreciation has already occurred with early to mid 2000s units. The engines are more powerful in the later units and they haven't had as much time to deteriorate.

Get up on the roof and check the vent covers and seals. Have the engine checked by someone who knows about mechanics. Expensive things to replace, refrig, water heater, generator, a/c. Have the brakes checked out all the way around.We bought a MH that was 11 yrs old at the time. Second trip out, the one brake caliper locked up. Started a fire on the wheel. Not fun sitting along the road, not to mention the adrenalin rush of seeing flames. And especially if you are traveling alone or with a grandchild.Make sure you always have a working fire extinguisher.

Here are the standards that I checked for when I bought my 1975 American Clipper last year:Soft spots, dry rot, mold/mildew, etc. for potential leaks. Ran water through entire system and watch for leaking. Light pilot lights on stove, hot water heater, furnace, and fridge to make sure they light and stay lit. Test water pump and lights on battery power only. Test water pump, fridge, a/c, lights on shore power. These you can test yourself. If the seller won't let you plug in, run water, etc. walk away - no reason is acceptable not to test those things except acknowledgement of a major problem (e.g., the hot water tank is split open, etc.).Have a professional test these: propane regulator and lines for proper functionality and leaks. All rubber (fuel lines, belts, etc.) for wear and tear, leaks, etc. Brakes (including emergency brakes), dump valves (older RVs had rubber gaskets in the valves - those gaskets go bad and leak or come loose), etc.Expect to replace tires. Expect to spend up to $10,000 (including purchase price) to get the RV in full working order. Expect to wait until everything is fixed before enjoying the RV, or expect to have things go wrong out on the road. As my mechanic told me last week when I brought in my RV for repairs "wouldn't you like just ONE trip that goes without a hitch".All that said, I love my old RV. Even with the repairs, the on-the-road problems, etc., I smile every time I get in it. I wouldn't trade it for a new one for anything. It's exactly what I wanted. Over the past year, I have put in about $3000 (not including tires) getting things working right. Only a couple things left that are known issues. Then maybe I can start doing some of the stuff on my want list (versus my must do list).

Pitfalls of buying an older C??? | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Bordercollie
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014
Take a look at Road Trek and similar van campers. They are more versatile as a transportation/touring vehicle than a Class A or C or trailer, and may be best solution for one person. Not much elbow room for two people, and everything converts into something else to save space. No RV is perfect for every purpose, Length and floor plan affect comfort, storage space, and parking. Make sure that what you buy fits your driveway and intended usage.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2014
wbwood wrote:
When you buy a unit that is 26 years old or 6 years old, you never know what you will get. Anything can happen. Just because something is good today on it, doesn't mean it will be tomorrow. And appearances can be deceiving. People do a good job and hiding things. The more time you spend with and in a unit, the more you see the defects in it.

If you are a handy person that can fix anything, have the time and have the money to fix things as they come up, then by all means save the money if it makes you happy. While I can do some simple mechanical things, I do not have the desire to do more than that. Nor do I have the time. My off time is spent camping, shooting photography, kayaking, etc. Repair work is not in there as a hobby. With the little time I get to be able to go camping, I don't want to be spending it fixing something. I bought the RV to use it. For me, the better choice is having a newer unit. Yes I purchase the extended warranties. I may waste my money there, but I save it where others may waste their money.

Some people can only afford to buy older units. And I think that's great. I would rather see them out in an older unit, than sitting back and saying "when I retire....". No matter what you can afford, just get out there and enjoy the lifestyle. But if you buy something that you are forever putting a band aid on, then you might not enjoy it so much.

I totally agree. I don't enjoy fixing things, there are things I would MUCH rather be doing. Given that a fairly new top of the line unit is out of my budget, I'll be going the simple route with a DIY van conversion.
wbwood
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014
When you buy a unit that is 26 years old or 6 years old, you never know what you will get. Anything can happen. Just because something is good today on it, doesn't mean it will be tomorrow. And appearances can be deceiving. People do a good job and hiding things. The more time you spend with and in a unit, the more you see the defects in it.

If you are a handy person that can fix anything, have the time and have the money to fix things as they come up, then by all means save the money if it makes you happy. While I can do some simple mechanical things, I do not have the desire to do more than that. Nor do I have the time. My off time is spent camping, shooting photography, kayaking, etc. Repair work is not in there as a hobby. With the little time I get to be able to go camping, I don't want to be spending it fixing something. I bought the RV to use it. For me, the better choice is having a newer unit. Yes I purchase the extended warranties. I may waste my money there, but I save it where others may waste their money.

Some people can only afford to buy older units. And I think that's great. I would rather see them out in an older unit, than sitting back and saying "when I retire....". No matter what you can afford, just get out there and enjoy the lifestyle. But if you buy something that you are forever putting a band aid on, then you might not enjoy it so much.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2014
Islandman wrote:
coolmom42 - Since you seem to be happy with Toyota vehicles have you considered the old small Chinook RV's built on Toyota chassis; think they were built in the 1970's possibly into the 1980's. They were well built as Chinook products were, the early models have some rear axle problems I think but later versions were pretty durable. Only thing is that they were small, but OK for 1-2 people. Economy was the strong selling point. You'd have to get on to a nationwide hunt for an older Chinook on the Toyota chassis, used to be some down in Oregon and California. Good luck on your search for whatever way you turn, PVing is lots of fun and provides you a way to see many places.

I've looked at those but they are few and far between!
coolmom42
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2014
PghBob wrote:
Hi. It seems to me that you are jumping right in and planning to buy (in a couple of years), but I'm unable to tell if you have RVed before. You have narrowed things down somewhat, but are still not able to establish a desired size,type, or floor plan. Let me respectfully suggest that you rent for a week-end or week a type of RV you are most interested in, and camp at a local campground. Learn how they handle, how to back up, how to hook-up, dump and do the daily "chores" of ownership. You might want to do this a couple of times before making your purchase decision. Whether your budget is $5000 or more than $50,000 it is still a lot of money, so you want to make an informed decision. Posters on this forum can help, but you will be the one living with your decision.

Best wishes for success. Bob

I've been traveling with my boyfriend for several years in a travel trailer. So yes, I'm very familiar with all matters regarding RV plumbing & electrical, towing etc. We still travel together, but I'm interested in going some places he has no interest in, and vice-versa. So I want to be able to travel on my own. I'm a traveler, not a go-to-the-same-place-on-the-lake type RV-er.

All the potential issues with RV systems make me think I want something simpler. I do not want to tow, it's just too much hassle. I don't want to deal with roof leaks, refrigerator replacement, winterizing, etc. Aside from the hassle factor, the expense is an issue, since I'll be retired and not wanting to dip into cash reserves more than essential.

Right now I'm leaning towards finding high-top cargo van and converting it. I've camped in my Sienna mini-van occasionally, but headroom and more space would be nice. I'm pretty handy, and could likely do a basic setup for around $2K, from what I've been researching.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Philosophy: A motorhome is a van chassis attached to a big
box full of limited life appliances and electro-mechanical devices that depend on 12 volt DC, 120 volts and propane gas to operate. Ownng a motorhome is like owning a cabin cruiser boat or an airplane, not much like owning a minimum maintenance SUV or Toyota grocery getter. Owning and using a motorhome is a hobby, not a casual pastime toy. The older the rig, the more it becomes a hobby. The more you learn about the converter/charger, the house batteries,
plumbing, air conditioning, furnace, fresh water and holding tank,awning etc., etc. and what to do to maintain them the less you will be disappointed when on the road or camped in the great outdoors.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jun 03, 2014
I know someone with the old Chinook. If you're looking for something simple, they are a good deal. But be prepared to have to say "no, it's not for sale" every time you take it out.

The downside is that they are very small. When you walk in them, you are IN them. :) For a solo person, they are great. For 2 adults they are really tight quarters. 1 adult and 1 child could go either way. The top bunk will work for a small child, but not much more.

As for the mechanical issues, a lot of it is just normal wear and tear (replacing rubber, brakes, etc. that goes along with any vehicle). There are older RVs out there that have been lovingly cared for by their owners and just need a new home. Your "RV outings" just need to fit the condition of the RV you buy - knowing ahead of time what that can potentially mean just makes it easier to make an educated decision.
Islandman
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2014
coolmom42 - Since you seem to be happy with Toyota vehicles have you considered the old small Chinook RV's built on Toyota chassis; think they were built in the 1970's possibly into the 1980's. They were well built as Chinook products were, the early models have some rear axle problems I think but later versions were pretty durable. Only thing is that they were small, but OK for 1-2 people. Economy was the strong selling point. You'd have to get on to a nationwide hunt for an older Chinook on the Toyota chassis, used to be some down in Oregon and California. Good luck on your search for whatever way you turn, PVing is lots of fun and provides you a way to see many places.
PghBob
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Hi. It seems to me that you are jumping right in and planning to buy (in a couple of years), but I'm unable to tell if you have RVed before. You have narrowed things down somewhat, but are still not able to establish a desired size,type, or floor plan. Let me respectfully suggest that you rent for a week-end or week a type of RV you are most interested in, and camp at a local campground. Learn how they handle, how to back up, how to hook-up, dump and do the daily "chores" of ownership. You might want to do this a couple of times before making your purchase decision. Whether your budget is $5000 or more than $50,000 it is still a lot of money, so you want to make an informed decision. Posters on this forum can help, but you will be the one living with your decision.

Best wishes for success. Bob
Cobra21
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Shop for a well cared used rig and test everything out the best you can.
If you are handy this isn't a bad way to go. With an older rig, along
with it you should get...

1. No payment
2. Lower license plate fees
3. Lower ins. premiums
4. Don't notice new scratches as easy
5. Have more money at hand for repairs
6. Don't mind having it parked outside as much
8. And the list goes on...