Forum Discussion
StirCrazy
Jul 29, 2022Moderator
valhalla360 wrote:StirCrazy wrote:valhalla360 wrote:WinMinnie02 wrote:
OP if you are handy you should be able to bring it back takes time, DIY, don't outsource. Wood, fastener, caulk, foam insulation. Should be a good hobby project. IMHO anyone rving it helps to be handy.
There's being "handy" and being a "masochist".
As previously stated, unless it has some sentimental value, just get rid of it at the least cost you can.
If you want to do a home built camper, you might utilize the appliances and cabinets...but I don't think that's what you were looking for.
PS: getting an RV tech to do a rebuild is pretty tough. A friend has some minor water damage to the ceiling of his Class A and he can't get an RV tech to even look at it. They make more money swapping out parts and 3 separate techs said basically, they know there will be more damage once they open it up and then the owner will complain that they are milking the job, so it just winds up giving them a bad reputation while making less profit and a lot of headaches.
I don't nessasarly agree. its like restoring a car, doesnt have to have sentamental value, some people just get satafaction in the process of repairing or restoring things. like to tinker. as for the rv tech thing.. the dealers must pay way higher than up here down there. the guy I know said he makes 10 times more on his own as a mobil repair than he did in the dealership and likes it way better. no watenty repairs with a book time of 25 min that in reality takes an hour and so on. he also works out of a 4x4 van and knows all the spots and is willing to go in to the bush to rescue people.
It's not a classic car, so that comparison doesn't hold up. If you bring it back to pristine like new condition, it will take thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours and in the end, you will have a $4k camper.
If you just like to tinker a bit, find one that's in better shape and just needs a bit of work if you like projects. If you want a really big project, I would go with building a new one from scratch, so it's exactly how you want it.
As far as RV techs, I was talking about mobile guys. They are making way too much doing quick jobs. They get $X for showing up, $X for parts + $x per hour for labor...If they spend a 1/2hr, they are charging $200 minimum. Dealers generally have no interest in on site work and certainly wouldn't consider having the owner help.
I see lots of restored classic campers and such around here. so ye they are like a car, you spend way to much and you can never get it back. you think if you spend 100K doing a car your going to sell it for that... probably half that, so when I say it is like that I mean the joy some one gets just from the process and the final product. if its not your thing thats ok also, I like new ones just as much.
ya the guy I found only charges 80/hr and only trvel time outside a spicific distance, and if he is there for 1/2 hour you pay 40.00 he is real decient that way. now if he has to 4x4 into where you are yes there will be traveling costs. dealers are the same out here.. bring it in and when we have time we will look at it haha
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