Worth paying more for newer Chevy VS older Dodge Class B?
WARNING: long but detailed post:
I've finally figured out that the best choice in a motorhome for me is a Class B van (and I'm talking a regular van body Class B, not a widebody B+). This will be my first motorhome and over the last year I've read so much about all types of motorhomes, I've got information overload.
Now comes the really hard part... do I spend more for a newer Chevy based model? Or save a bit and get an older 1990s or early 2000s Dodge? Or a Ford, depending on the RV manufacturer? I'm leaving out Sprinters because the used ones are at the top of my budget or over, and I hear the older they get, the more maintenance they need, and it gets expensive and not every mechanic knows how to work on a Sprinter. And I'm not mechanically inclined. For similar I'm leaving out the VW Eurovan based Rialta (which is more like a small Class C anyways). And the older pop top Vanagon Westfalias are bit too old, small, overpriced and I believe, unreliable. Any VW seems to be expensive to maintain. No offense to anyone who owns one. I think they're really cool, otherwise. If I were more mechanically inclined, I might have considered one.
This spring, I will have the money to pay cash for my new (used) motorhome. Although I might be able to stretch the budget to $40,000 that is the upper limit and won't leave much for repairs, maintenance, fuel, insurance, etc. But if there's a solid benefit in doing so, I will. I'd rather spend $15,000 to $25,000. I had my heart set on a Roadtrek 170 or 190 but am open to other makes such as PleasureWay, Great West, etc.
Floor plans aside, let's talk about the actual vans - Dodge, Ford and Chevy. I've driven quite a few extended full size 15 passenger Dodge, Ford and Chevy vans in a part time job I had on and off from 1995 to 2005. Most of the vans were either brand new back then or only a few years old. Those are probably the model years in my price range today for a Class B motorhome. I'm not sure how those vans held up over time. I never had to worry about fuel costs, maintenance or repair costs. Many of those vans were rentals, so they were always in pristine condition when I got to drive them, though I recall the Dodge was the more antiquated and less refined of the three. But I did find out this:
- The older extended Dodge and Ford vans have a shorter wheelbase with the "extended" part being a longer body grafted on behind the rear wheels. Loaded with passengers, I found the vans tended to sway a bit at highway speeds and didn't have the best road manners, with the Dodge being the worst. I'm thinking a motorhome van would behave in a similar way, especially if the back end is loaded with heavier stuff making the front end lift up a bit more, thus making it lighter and more susceptible to swaying in cross winds.
- The extended body 1996 and up Chevy vans have a longer wheelbase, so you may need to take tight turns a bit wider so the back wheels don't run over curbs, rocks, etc, but it makes for a much smoother and better handling van at highway speeds. And when loaded up, the weight seemed to be better distributed and the front end did not sit up too high. My employer owned one van so there was always a 15 passenger van available. Originally it was a 1997 diesel but it was such a lemon than in 2000 they traded it on an identiacal new one, which was only slightly better. I hear the 2003 and especially 2004 and newer Chevy vans are better, so it might be best to exclude 1996-2002 Chevy vans. And the 1995 and older style is a bit older than I'd like to go.
- I've read online that many people claim the Ford vans last longer and are better than Chevy full size vans, but these are mostly contractors who will probably be a lot harder on their vans than us using them as a motorhome. I hear Fords don't break down as often as Chevys (contrary to what I used to hear in the 80s), but when a Ford breaks, it's usually something big.
- With most modern passenger cars, the quality keeps improving and they are infinitely more reliable than they were even 15 or 20 years ago. The full size vans seem to lag a bit, but how much so?
I'm wondering if any mid 1990s to mid/late 2000s Class B motorhome - Dodge, Ford or Chevy - will require approximately the same amount of repairs and maintenance - regardless of year or make, and possibly mileage. If so, there's not much point in spending $40,000 for a 2006 Chevy Roadrek when I could spend $20,000 (give or take) for a 1998ish Dodge Roadtrek - other than I would be driving something that looks a bit newer and has a more modern interior. I've never yet bought a used vehicle that didn't need at least something fixed soon after buying it. Let's say I expect to spend $5000 on repairs immediately upon purchase and another $5000 over the next 12 months - and hopefully not that much every year once I get it and maintain it in good condition. I'm not even sure if low mileage plays into this, as vehicles that sit unused can require repairs too, from sitting around, things can go bad. High mileage on a Class B might not be as bad as with a regular car, since the RV would likely have more highway driving, which is better that city driving. Looking on Autotrader (RV Trader), eBay, etc, I see such a variation.
Anyone with experience buying a used Class B Dodge, Chevy or Ford? Other than the obvious, having a newer looking van with a more modern interior, is there any benefit in paying more to get something newer? Obviously buying brand new would give me the peace of mind that it will be reliable and last a while for it needs anything, but a brand new Class B is NOT in my budget. I'd like to spend less, rather than more. But not so little that I'll end up with a well used, carburated 1970s or 1980s van. Thank you in advance for your feedback and opinions! Hopefully this information will help others too :)
I've finally figured out that the best choice in a motorhome for me is a Class B van (and I'm talking a regular van body Class B, not a widebody B+). This will be my first motorhome and over the last year I've read so much about all types of motorhomes, I've got information overload.
Now comes the really hard part... do I spend more for a newer Chevy based model? Or save a bit and get an older 1990s or early 2000s Dodge? Or a Ford, depending on the RV manufacturer? I'm leaving out Sprinters because the used ones are at the top of my budget or over, and I hear the older they get, the more maintenance they need, and it gets expensive and not every mechanic knows how to work on a Sprinter. And I'm not mechanically inclined. For similar I'm leaving out the VW Eurovan based Rialta (which is more like a small Class C anyways). And the older pop top Vanagon Westfalias are bit too old, small, overpriced and I believe, unreliable. Any VW seems to be expensive to maintain. No offense to anyone who owns one. I think they're really cool, otherwise. If I were more mechanically inclined, I might have considered one.
This spring, I will have the money to pay cash for my new (used) motorhome. Although I might be able to stretch the budget to $40,000 that is the upper limit and won't leave much for repairs, maintenance, fuel, insurance, etc. But if there's a solid benefit in doing so, I will. I'd rather spend $15,000 to $25,000. I had my heart set on a Roadtrek 170 or 190 but am open to other makes such as PleasureWay, Great West, etc.
Floor plans aside, let's talk about the actual vans - Dodge, Ford and Chevy. I've driven quite a few extended full size 15 passenger Dodge, Ford and Chevy vans in a part time job I had on and off from 1995 to 2005. Most of the vans were either brand new back then or only a few years old. Those are probably the model years in my price range today for a Class B motorhome. I'm not sure how those vans held up over time. I never had to worry about fuel costs, maintenance or repair costs. Many of those vans were rentals, so they were always in pristine condition when I got to drive them, though I recall the Dodge was the more antiquated and less refined of the three. But I did find out this:
- The older extended Dodge and Ford vans have a shorter wheelbase with the "extended" part being a longer body grafted on behind the rear wheels. Loaded with passengers, I found the vans tended to sway a bit at highway speeds and didn't have the best road manners, with the Dodge being the worst. I'm thinking a motorhome van would behave in a similar way, especially if the back end is loaded with heavier stuff making the front end lift up a bit more, thus making it lighter and more susceptible to swaying in cross winds.
- The extended body 1996 and up Chevy vans have a longer wheelbase, so you may need to take tight turns a bit wider so the back wheels don't run over curbs, rocks, etc, but it makes for a much smoother and better handling van at highway speeds. And when loaded up, the weight seemed to be better distributed and the front end did not sit up too high. My employer owned one van so there was always a 15 passenger van available. Originally it was a 1997 diesel but it was such a lemon than in 2000 they traded it on an identiacal new one, which was only slightly better. I hear the 2003 and especially 2004 and newer Chevy vans are better, so it might be best to exclude 1996-2002 Chevy vans. And the 1995 and older style is a bit older than I'd like to go.
- I've read online that many people claim the Ford vans last longer and are better than Chevy full size vans, but these are mostly contractors who will probably be a lot harder on their vans than us using them as a motorhome. I hear Fords don't break down as often as Chevys (contrary to what I used to hear in the 80s), but when a Ford breaks, it's usually something big.
- With most modern passenger cars, the quality keeps improving and they are infinitely more reliable than they were even 15 or 20 years ago. The full size vans seem to lag a bit, but how much so?
I'm wondering if any mid 1990s to mid/late 2000s Class B motorhome - Dodge, Ford or Chevy - will require approximately the same amount of repairs and maintenance - regardless of year or make, and possibly mileage. If so, there's not much point in spending $40,000 for a 2006 Chevy Roadrek when I could spend $20,000 (give or take) for a 1998ish Dodge Roadtrek - other than I would be driving something that looks a bit newer and has a more modern interior. I've never yet bought a used vehicle that didn't need at least something fixed soon after buying it. Let's say I expect to spend $5000 on repairs immediately upon purchase and another $5000 over the next 12 months - and hopefully not that much every year once I get it and maintain it in good condition. I'm not even sure if low mileage plays into this, as vehicles that sit unused can require repairs too, from sitting around, things can go bad. High mileage on a Class B might not be as bad as with a regular car, since the RV would likely have more highway driving, which is better that city driving. Looking on Autotrader (RV Trader), eBay, etc, I see such a variation.
Anyone with experience buying a used Class B Dodge, Chevy or Ford? Other than the obvious, having a newer looking van with a more modern interior, is there any benefit in paying more to get something newer? Obviously buying brand new would give me the peace of mind that it will be reliable and last a while for it needs anything, but a brand new Class B is NOT in my budget. I'd like to spend less, rather than more. But not so little that I'll end up with a well used, carburated 1970s or 1980s van. Thank you in advance for your feedback and opinions! Hopefully this information will help others too :)
