Full-term travelling with an older RV
My husband and I are in the very early talks of planning a long-term (1-2 years) trip with our two young children and pets. I have a dream of buying an older trailer or motorhome, gutting, and totally...
Forum Discussion
CM,
Just a little nomenclature here. If you are going to live in it and not have a "Sticks and Bricks" (S&B) home, you will be FullTimers and you will not be alone. There are more than a few.
First, you need to decide what you really want to do. In very simple terms (having had both and a lot in between), Motorhomes are for traveling and trailers are for staying.
As to age, do not buy anything that has any signs of interior water leakage (except at the windows of an all metal or fiberglass coach). Water leakage of almost any amount can rot the wood frame that forms the structure of the shell. Repair is rarely practical.
Motorhomes are a special case. You have to know what chassis it was built on and how available support and parts for same are. There are few out there that were made by companies that abandon the business and they want nothing to do with any of it. This can also be a big non-issue if a support network has formed to replace them.
Do not buy something with intent to gut and renovate it unless you both posses the skills and patience to do so. I could tell you where to find three locally that are part way though renovation and have been for a number (like 5) years. You could buy any of them real cheap, but it may not be worth dragging it home.
What ever you get, the tires will probably be shot - over aged. That and all the other rubber and much of the plastic as well.
Please investigate this at great depth before you jump in.
¿Does this Guy Know what he is talking about?
Look at the picture in the sig... This is not our first coach. It is not the oldest RV we have had. It is 44 years old and it has had its share of troubles. But, it has no structural wood and the community affords amazing support. It would be very difficult otherwise.
Matt
Just a little nomenclature here. If you are going to live in it and not have a "Sticks and Bricks" (S&B) home, you will be FullTimers and you will not be alone. There are more than a few.
First, you need to decide what you really want to do. In very simple terms (having had both and a lot in between), Motorhomes are for traveling and trailers are for staying.
As to age, do not buy anything that has any signs of interior water leakage (except at the windows of an all metal or fiberglass coach). Water leakage of almost any amount can rot the wood frame that forms the structure of the shell. Repair is rarely practical.
Motorhomes are a special case. You have to know what chassis it was built on and how available support and parts for same are. There are few out there that were made by companies that abandon the business and they want nothing to do with any of it. This can also be a big non-issue if a support network has formed to replace them.
Do not buy something with intent to gut and renovate it unless you both posses the skills and patience to do so. I could tell you where to find three locally that are part way though renovation and have been for a number (like 5) years. You could buy any of them real cheap, but it may not be worth dragging it home.
What ever you get, the tires will probably be shot - over aged. That and all the other rubber and much of the plastic as well.
Please investigate this at great depth before you jump in.
¿Does this Guy Know what he is talking about?
Look at the picture in the sig... This is not our first coach. It is not the oldest RV we have had. It is 44 years old and it has had its share of troubles. But, it has no structural wood and the community affords amazing support. It would be very difficult otherwise.
Matt
