When young and inexperienced we bought an old rig that looked nice and seemed to run OK. Afterwards we found that the generator needed major overhaul, furnace didn't work reliably, roof AC needed recharge, engine cooing system needed major work, etc., etc. There were roof leaks and exterior parts coming undone previously resealed by an amateur. We also found that the rig had once been a rental, and that the owner's son had done a number of DIY wiring and other fixes were not good. Tires looked good but blew and did some damage to holding tanks. We had paid too much for the rig and spent another $8K on it in repairs and replacements the first year to make it reliable for camping and touring. The 23-foot rig had poor sleeping accomodations, smelled of mold etc. when we sold it years later for $4500. I have always advised beginners to buy a 3-5 year old rig if feasible, after having it inspected by a pro truck mechanic and a trusted RV repair and getting an itemized list of repairs etc., needed with parts and labor estimates. 2004 and later Ford E-450 based rigs have fuel injection, better gearing and better engine cooling and brake systems, all of which are important on hot days driving at high altitudes with confidence. My impression is that current roof AC and refrigerators have somewhat less useful life , ours lasted some 10 years in our current 2004 rig.
