New to RV world...am stressing out.
Hello, My uncle purchased a class A motor home (1997 beaver) from a friend. My uncle then basically was taken to the hospital from there and didnt come out. So now I have inherited the RV that he h...
Forum Discussion
For moving it, fuel quality and battery condition are the only real issues, and the starting battery or batteries are easily replaced if too far gone to be recharged. Fuel can be sampled and tested, or pumped out and replaced. The same fuel oil used to sit for years in tanks for home heating, but then again the oil burners were less fussy than diesel injectors.
All other issues are the same as for any 20 year old RV: is the value to you worth whatever it takes to get it into shape and keep it usable, to your expectations? I've known a number of people who have bought 20-30 year old motorhomes from estates for $250 to $2500 and got great use from them, as well as the enjoyment of restoring them. If you are not sure that you are into the RVing experience, or ready for a restoration project, consider selling it for whatever you can get. If you want to get into restoraton, consider spending $10,000 to $30,000 and a lot of time over the next 2-3 years, yet have some expectation of using the RV while you are working on it.
Guy across the street from me got a 35 year old Winnebago Brave for $250, it ran,nothing was working, enjoys his time working on it (diabled veteran on pension) and takes it to the lake every weekend hiswife is off work. A couple gals on my RV club got a 30 year old 32-ft Chieftain for $750, it needed about $1500 mechanical work (batteries, brakes, tires) but the house was sound and they do a couple of 3-4 day campouts per month in season, but don't drive much more than 100 miles.
So do you really want this thing, and how do you think you will use it? You might have to put something into it, but a new one would cost you at leadt $200,000, so there's a lot of room financially to make it usable. Only if you will use it.
All other issues are the same as for any 20 year old RV: is the value to you worth whatever it takes to get it into shape and keep it usable, to your expectations? I've known a number of people who have bought 20-30 year old motorhomes from estates for $250 to $2500 and got great use from them, as well as the enjoyment of restoring them. If you are not sure that you are into the RVing experience, or ready for a restoration project, consider selling it for whatever you can get. If you want to get into restoraton, consider spending $10,000 to $30,000 and a lot of time over the next 2-3 years, yet have some expectation of using the RV while you are working on it.
Guy across the street from me got a 35 year old Winnebago Brave for $250, it ran,nothing was working, enjoys his time working on it (diabled veteran on pension) and takes it to the lake every weekend hiswife is off work. A couple gals on my RV club got a 30 year old 32-ft Chieftain for $750, it needed about $1500 mechanical work (batteries, brakes, tires) but the house was sound and they do a couple of 3-4 day campouts per month in season, but don't drive much more than 100 miles.
So do you really want this thing, and how do you think you will use it? You might have to put something into it, but a new one would cost you at leadt $200,000, so there's a lot of room financially to make it usable. Only if you will use it.
