When Looking to Buy Class A

check the tires, not just the tread but the date the tire was made, also check the other rubber as well, like vacuum hoses and fuel lines, check for mice droppings, mud dubbers in the furnace outlet. check for water leaks.

Try to find an older coach that was top end when it was built. Quality in at the beginning does translate into longevity. An older Newmar, Beaver, Tiffin or Safari. It will take some looking. We looked for the Sahara for 6 months.

Look for leaks and past leak damage then look again. Look under widow frames in corners along floor in backs of closets etc. water leaks are your enemy.

Like others have said condition is everything, the photos are far too few, and far too low of resolution to really tell much, a few good signs that it may have been well cared for are the tire covers, windshield protectors and the fact that the faucets on the sinks have been replaced with higher quality domestic models. So this one may be a rare find, or may be a money pit, depends on condition (rot) engine, maintenance, age of tires and batteries, ... It is real easy to spend $5,000 or more on maintenance even on coaches that are in relatively good shape, at this age all of the rubber components should have been changed out at least once, this includes belts, hoses, suspension bushings, probably also shock absorbers, rubber brake lines, etc. The ad mentions new air conditioner, how about the RV refrigerator, 20 years is a long time for an RV refrigerator to last, check the back side of the refrigerator for ammonia leaks as this can be a major fire hazard (look for yellow gunk around the coils and pipes on the back of the fridge under the access panel).

p.s. it has been mentioned before, but here goes again, RV tires generally age out, and rot from the inside after about 7 years, so check the DOT date codes on the tires, tread life is not usually the determining factor on RV's.

Thank you everyone for the input. I will be reconsidering my purchase. I know now any help I need will be here with you guys. Thanks Again@!

Nice looking, appears well cared for, no body spend money on an armor flex roof, just do the can sell it, this to looks to have been cared for and in use

Also i would rather have a 1997 460V8 instead of the a first generation V10, i remember some comments on here about spark plug failures , and blowing a spark plug, right out of the engine block, problem was fixed in the later versions

smbmikey wrote:
Hello Friends,

I am only able to afford around a 1996-1999 Class A Motor home. When you are looking for a good Buy? What are some of the major check points and inspections before a purchase? My wife and kids really like this motor home I found.. Can you tell by the pictures in a listing?

Can some one tell me about this class A https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/rvs/d/pacearrow-34-foot-motorhome/6396879126.html

For a long road trip. Please help, I can not afford to buy something else.

Not a fan of the 460 ford or with so much overhang to wag the dog on this particular rig. Also, it doesn't appear to have any slides and like them or not, it kills the resale. I mean you can buy a big American DP in that price range without slides.
For comparison, we sold our 98 36ft National Tropical Chevy with one slide and a tag axle last year for $12500. It was as nice quality coach with the 7.4 Vortec engine. You could probably buy a like Ford coach in a 2000 model at 37ft, with an additional BR slide, with a V10, but try not to get the first year V10, which lacked in power.

I suggest finding one that is used frequently. That way, the owner has most likely kept up with maintenance and repairs. Ones that have low mileage and have been sitting around are candidates for many costly repairs.
I'd personally pass on the one in the link. That is top $$ for a 460 V-8. You can find newer V-10's for comparable $$'s.

As long as all the appliances work, water pump, furnace, ac, etc, then my only concern would be engine quality and how old are the tires. I replace mine after 7 years just for safety and they have always looked good at that time. This could be a major cost. $2,400 for the 6 of mine.