1997 Class C Winnebago, 47,000 miles too old to buy?

[Xavpil]

I did my due diligence and read the FAQ and also did a search
I am looking at a 97 Winnebago Minnie Winnie with a ford engine with 47,000 miles on it.
It looks great cosmetically and drives good. But I know this is the tip of the iceberg and it will require a thorough inspection.
It is my first RV. I’d take it across country.
I know it depends on a lot of factors but is there a rule of thumb that says RVs shouldn’t be older than....
Thx guys

[gbopp]

No, there is no rule of thumb. Many of us have older RV's.
CONDITION, is the important factor. If you are not familiar with RV's hire a mobile RV Tech and a qualified mechanic to do a prepurchase inspection.
Leaks are a killer of any RV. And, if you don't know, RV tires age out before they wear out. Factor in the cost of a set of tires when making an offer.
The roof condition is another consideration. It may need coated or replaced.
Do not give the seller, dealer or private, any money or sign anything until you are satisfied with the condition of the unit.

You're doing it right by asking questions before you make a purchase.
Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions on the forum, someone will have the answer.
Use your search as a learning experience

[Xavpil]

Thanks for so much for the answer. It makes a lot of sense.
It is exactly how I approach it as far as “in case the RV dies”... at least we didn’t bury ourselves in debts.

[RetiredRealtorR]

In my opinion, no, it's not too old, especially for a first-timer. Definitely do your full due diligence, and get a good thorough inspection, but expect the inspector to find a good number of issues (as with a home inspection) -- then you would have to decide which of the issues are worth spending money to fix, and if the purchase makes sense at that point. 47K is nothing, assuming it was used regularly and hasn't sat idle for an extended period of time (47K on a '97 is only an average of a little over 2000 miles per year). Also, the unit you describe is probably no more than a $12 - 15,000 motorhome, so if you bought it and ended up hating it, you surely wouldn't face a huge loss re-selling it as you would on a much newer unit. The only drawback is if you ran into one of those snooty campgrounds that doesn't allow units over 10 years old, but you probably don't want to stay there anyway! Good luck to you!