Retired, first time buyer
Greetings everyone,
I am recently retired and looking for my first motorhome. I'm interested in a Class C maybe 22' to 24' long. We intend to start out with some long weekend trips not too far but we want to get some longer trips in after we "adjust" a little. Just my wife and I and we're looking forward to some traveling.
So, my concern is the purchase of that first used motorhome and doing it right so we don't get a "problem child".
A little background before my question:
This past weekend we saw two, one on the New Jersey shore a 2004 Minnie and it was about as rusted as could be underneath, the roof leaked also and the slide was inoperative - it was listed as "Mint":h walked away.
The other was in MA and it had 15000 miles on it, a 2006 Forrest River Lexington M-235S, very nice underneath with almost no indication of rust said to have been a one owner vehicle. it was a Chevy G35 frame with the 6.0L engine, the slide topper was ripped and there was a small hole in the large side awning. I drove it but it was really in need of a tune up. I wasn't able to check out the water/plumbing because the owner is not going to bring it out of winterization. There was a CARFAX report that indicated it had changed owners 3 times within 5 years. They wanted top dollar for it when compared to the NADA Guide.
So, here's my concern:
I almost went through with the purchase but then my haste dissolved and my engineering experience woke up, I guess Iwas caught up in the moment, but we got home and after a while I felt uneasy and thought "what am I doing, I can't make this purchase I couldn't test ALL of the systems" I mean the generator worked, on the third try; the power slide worked; the Awning worked; not sure about the fridge, microwave or stove/oven and the water system. And it seemed like the owner wanted to move it out, it was her father's.
I decided to back out because of not enough information on those items I couldn't check.
The question:
Did I do the right thing, did I pass up a good one, or am I being a little too skittish? How in depth should I be on my inspection?
Honest opinions please.
Gene.
I am recently retired and looking for my first motorhome. I'm interested in a Class C maybe 22' to 24' long. We intend to start out with some long weekend trips not too far but we want to get some longer trips in after we "adjust" a little. Just my wife and I and we're looking forward to some traveling.
So, my concern is the purchase of that first used motorhome and doing it right so we don't get a "problem child".
A little background before my question:
This past weekend we saw two, one on the New Jersey shore a 2004 Minnie and it was about as rusted as could be underneath, the roof leaked also and the slide was inoperative - it was listed as "Mint":h walked away.
The other was in MA and it had 15000 miles on it, a 2006 Forrest River Lexington M-235S, very nice underneath with almost no indication of rust said to have been a one owner vehicle. it was a Chevy G35 frame with the 6.0L engine, the slide topper was ripped and there was a small hole in the large side awning. I drove it but it was really in need of a tune up. I wasn't able to check out the water/plumbing because the owner is not going to bring it out of winterization. There was a CARFAX report that indicated it had changed owners 3 times within 5 years. They wanted top dollar for it when compared to the NADA Guide.
So, here's my concern:
I almost went through with the purchase but then my haste dissolved and my engineering experience woke up, I guess Iwas caught up in the moment, but we got home and after a while I felt uneasy and thought "what am I doing, I can't make this purchase I couldn't test ALL of the systems" I mean the generator worked, on the third try; the power slide worked; the Awning worked; not sure about the fridge, microwave or stove/oven and the water system. And it seemed like the owner wanted to move it out, it was her father's.
I decided to back out because of not enough information on those items I couldn't check.
The question:
Did I do the right thing, did I pass up a good one, or am I being a little too skittish? How in depth should I be on my inspection?
Honest opinions please.
Gene.
