buying a 1996 Holiday Rambler Vacationer

[guardrail53]

Ok, here goes, I have purchased a 1996 Holiday Rambler Vacationer online with out seeing it in person. The reason i did not check it out my self is i am in Thailand. I did have a buddy go look at it for me, and said it is the nicest, cleanest, Motorhome he has seen! It has the chevy chassis, 454cu. in., Will it have the OD trans? runs like a top, and drives just as nice! I was told. It has new tires, brakes and rotors, air bags, shocks, and new paint! Looks brand new! I would like to hear from any other owners that have this coach, and drive line as what to expect and what i need to look for when i do take delivery. What kind of gas mileage can i expect, any problems they have had, or anything else? It is a 32' with dual pane windows and the winter package? It is also a side isle, east west bed. Anything will be helpfull! This is not my first class A motorhome, it is my 3rd, so i am pretty sharp, but never bought with out looking myself first! Thanks for your help in advance! Guardrail53

[Big_Katuna]

I had a 97 vacationer on the horrible Ford chassis. The Chevy much better
The Rambler had good build quality. It's aluminum frame and skin. Not laminated which is good BUT they did have some electrolysis problems which could eat pin holes in the skin. Aluminum roof.

[Gjac]

I have a 1996 GBM on the same size chassis. It is a 454 TBI not the vortec. It weighs about 15,000 lbs and has got 8.7 mpgs over 70k miles of driving. Look at the front end components and check the ride height I had spent a lot of money fixing the front end. Exhaust manifolds are another know problem for leaking or cracking. Headers fixed this problem and engine and trans have performed well, it has 100k miles on the OD now. Check for water leaks around windows,roof, and anywhere there are screws into the MH and recaulk. Hope all works well for you and you enjoy the MH.

[bsinmich]

1996 was the year the Vortec engine came out but not all got the Vortec. There were many chassis sitting on lots from '95. My Roadtrek is a '95 on a '94 chassis so it does happen a lot. Vortec was a big improvement on the 454. I had one in a '96 Pace Arrow and got 6-7 mpg, always with a toad.