Toedtoes advice is spot on. You want to get the RV functional, weatherproof, and hopefully cosmetically "acceptable". And keep it on budget.
We just bought a 2002 that appeared to be in good shape. Hmmmmmm. Let's see: six tires, rear leaf springs, Bilstein shocks all around, front ball joints, steering stabilizer, full lube, oil, all filters, generator fuel pump and filter, a new fantastic fan, a deep cycle battery, seat cushion foam, new kitchen and bath faucets, a new backup camera, black and gray water valves, and a bunch of other stuff I don't recall.
Our bill so far is just over $9000. A lot of our repairs are improvements or upgrades and are better than what it had when it left the factory. You don't have to go nuts like we did.
I think it is reasonable for you to fix your rig for $4000 - $6000, especially if you do much of the work yourself.
This will make a great "practice" RV for you. You will leave a ton of stuff, have a bunch of fun, and, at the end when you sell in a few years, you will probably get back most of what you put into it. So, you can apply that money to an RV you really want.
Awesome adventure. Have fun. Post pics as you go along.
