Would you drive a 1985 Class C with 130k 2,500 miles RT?

If it's a typical old rig and has not been kept repaired and maintained and updated well, and you are not skilled in truck mechanics, RV body work, electrical, plumbing and gas operated appliance repair, you could spend over $10K on the rig the first year getting it ready and reliable for full enjoyable use with everything working properly. My advice, save your money and buy a 3-5 year old rig with everything working and new safe tires, if you and yours really want to enjoy RV-ing. Speaking from personal experience. Owning ad RV is a hobby in itself, like owning a cabin cruiser or an airplane.

If the mechanic says it's OK then yes - so long as it's a real mechanic and not an RV tech who usually knows a lot about RV stuff but wouldn't qualify as auto/truck mechanic. Agree with comments about tires which tend to rot from inside on RV's so outside looks don't give you the whole story. At a minimum I would have tire guy dismount the tires and inspect them - if they are real old tires I would even forgo that and buy new ones. If you buy new tires consider upgrading to E class but keep the tire pressure at D ... also - opinions vary on Tire mfg but many find that less expensive tires like Toyo work well on Class C's.

rjxj wrote:
You can cover the basics but can never know for sure no matter what year it is. I have bought many used vehicles and always gone over the basics before trusting them. Tires, brakes, hoses, belts, water pump etc. 130,000 isn't that bad but years can be. If you are mechanically inclined you can carry tools but the most important tool is money. If I didn't have the money to fix whatever happens and put me up in a room or have the rig towed home then I'd stay home.

It's all about the maintenance of the vehicle !!!! When I purchase a new (used) vehicle I go over it with a fine tooth comb. Unless the previous owners can come up with invoices from reputable automotive repair ship I don't consider anything has been done. I start with replacing ALL the filters, ALL Rubber hoses, AT transmission filter, rear end fluid, ignition wires and associated parts. Check radiator & heater cores for signs of leaks or spongy cores. Replace automatically if vehicle is 15 yrs or older. On to breaks, new pads or shoes and break lines. Tires, yes unless DOT code is less than 3 yrs. Also dont forget to look at the drive shaft joints, and rear seals. Batteries, unless they 24-36 months old - replace them!!

I've done this religiously to ALL my vehicles across 50 yrs and have never been left stranded along side the road. Yes, my maintenance philosophy may be a little overboard. However, I give's me a baseline that I know that the item has been replaced / or maintained and I shouldn't have to worry about something breaking down or leaking out in the middle of Gods Country.

The same maintenance philosophy hold true for the Gen set, A/C, etc....

AL

You can cover the basics but can never know for sure no matter what year it is. I have bought many used vehicles and always gone over the basics before trusting them. Tires, brakes, hoses, belts, water pump etc. 130,000 isn't that bad but years can be. If you are mechanically inclined you can carry tools but the most important tool is money. If I didn't have the money to fix whatever happens and put me up in a room or have the rig towed home then I'd stay home.

All about the condition. If it's in good condition, no concerns.

You really need to get someone who knows RV's to check it out. The year and mileage mean nothing if it's really been taken care of. Unless the price is really low, I might start looking for something else a little newer.

How old are the tires. It is not how much tread they have it is about previous care and age/ Over 5-6 years old you NEED new tires as you do not know how they were cared for. A Catastrophic blowout at highway speed can cost thousands of dollars. So find the DOT date code and determine their age. It is not like a car tire Motor home tires tend to sit and bake in the sun for long periods. This allows the compounds in the tire to deteriorate. Your car gets driven daily and this tends to keep the compounds distributed in the tire.
Brake fluid needs to be changed Yes that is a real maintenance item. As Brake fluid gets old it gets contaminated and the boiling point of the fluid gets lowered. I am including a link to Mercedes website
http://mercedes-benz.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/45/~/how-often-should-the-brake-fluid-in-my-mercedes-benz-be-changed%3F
BTW I drive my 1990 3200 miles each way from New York to Arizona every year.
Yes I have experienced problems on the road but it could happen anywhere

If it's checked over, maintenance and repairs done. Good tires brakes and hoses. What chassis and engine?