Small used Class C--good idea or false economy?

Full timing in a Class C can be a challenge. We lived in ours for 9 weeks once, and it got pretty small on rainy days. It will be easier with just one person. Limitations for us were the size of the holding tanks, and propane use when boondocking. A generator helps, even if it is a little Honda 2000.

The house side of the C was pretty easy to work on.

At 10K you will probably have to put some money into a class C. I spent 19K on mine and, while I don't full time in it, I do spend extended time in it. I find 24 feet to be a good length for one person.

There out there,you just have to look..I sold a Beaver class C 24ft that I had replaced about everything inside like Refer/Air/hot water/pump and everything imaginable short of a new short block on the 440 motor.I would have driven that motorhome anywhere..Very reliable..We full timed in it for several years..

I sold it for $4K to buy a 35ft Fiver.

There are a lot of used small class C's out there under 10 grand that are a great buy..Some from older folks that had everything fixed and up to date including tires..Some had a mechanic that kept the motor up to date for them and others took it to the RV shop once a year to fix anything they saw wrong..One guy even had all the locked serviced and replaced as well as yearly service on the air conditioner.

There out there but you have to be patient and look and ready to buy when you find it as they don't last long..

$2,000 is a bit optimistic. You'll need new tires out the gate most likely - that's $800 to $1500 right there. A new fridge can run $1000. A rebuilt carburetor - $300+. A rebuilt engine $3,000+. Smaller stuff adds up.

When I bought my clipper, right off the bat I had to replace all 6 tires, replace all the fuel lines, repair the emergency brake, and replace other hoses and belts. Within the first month, I had to replace the converter. The first time I tried to dump the black & grey tanks, the valves got stuck (rubber had deteriorated and got stuck in the pipes) and I had to have the pipes cut to get the gaskets outs and put back together. American Clippers are quality rigs - very well built for their age and mine was in good shape. But its 40 years old. If I were to live in it full time, I would have had to also repair/replace the furnace (in my situation, I just closed it off from the propane and use a Mr. Heater Little Buddy for heat the few times I need it).

My point is that $2,000 isn't a lot for repairs to make an older RV something dependable in which to full time. And if you can't do the repair yourself, you don't have a place to live while it's being fixed so you should have some funds set aside for a motel room, etc. in such a situation.

Also, depending on your income, you'll need a regular infusion of cash for new things to go wrong at any moment. With an older RV, anything can suddenly fail at any time. Living in it full time, you'll have to be able to fix those things asap rather than wait until you save up the money.

I would say, wait until you save up $25,000. Put $10,000 into the purchase; $3000 for the tow dolly and solar/battery system; and the rest for repairs as needed. Then each month for as long as you own it, put away an additional $200 towards the repair fund. If you're lucky, by the time you want a change, you'll have thousands saved up. Otherwise, you've got $12,000 to put towards repairs - both initial issues and emergencies. Each year, you'll have replenished your repair fund by $2,400.

I bought my first Class C for $1500 from the Salvation Army. Had a sign on the back, "Honk, if you see parts fall off". Drove the snot outta of that rig and finally gave it to my brother. He still has it.....Shop carefully....Dennis