Help me find a motorhome?

[roadtriptoforev]

I am also willing to pay you for your time helping me find a motorhome. I recently got the itch to try mobile living full time. I posted about a week ago a similar post but talking about a specific model I was looking at. But as I started learning about this I realised how much less I know then I thought I did.

I am wondering if anyone would be interested in helping me find a motorhome. I am in no particular rush and don't mind traveling to get the motorhome. Here is what I am looking for:

1- We are looking for something that can tow a trailer/vehicle behind it.
2- Preferably 2000 or above since I can get a Good Sam Extended Warranty for it
3- I don't care about the cosmetics. Even if the inside is gutted, I can redo it.
4- The most important thing is a SAFE vehicle, I don't want anything that is going to have the brakes go out while going down hill with my whole family inside.
5- In reasonably good running order. I do know how to do some things construction wise on my house, but I am not a mechanic.
6- Diesel
7- Would prefer slide outs

I am looking to spend 15-35K (Preferably on the lower end of that so I have more money for the unexpected)

[roadtriptoforev]

2gypsies wrote:

roadtriptoforever wrote:
Full timer

What do you guys think of this?

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/diesel/2003-Endeaver-28594.htm

That only has 230 HP for a 40' motorhome.

figured that was a typo. Here is the model listed on nada: http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/2003/Holiday-Rambler/M-40PBD-330hp/3016601

Am i correct?

[2gypsies1]

roadtriptoforever wrote:
Full timer

What do you guys think of this?

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/diesel/2003-Endeaver-28594.htm

That only has 230 HP for a 40' motorhome.

[JimM68]

A "good deal" depends a lot on the age.

There are a lot of "good deals" in DP's from 1995 to 1999. These are typically no slide models, but will have the bigger deisel, good chassis, stuff like that. Monaco Diplomats, HR /endeavers in that year range will be around $30k and will have ISC / ISL power and 10k tow ratings.

As you get newer, you will get more modern electronics as well as more horsepower. and more slides

[ferndaleflyer]

Look at them close to home first--the more you look the more you learn about them.......Somehow many will never mention things that are broken, don't work, or they had trouble with....You got to try every switch and button in and out of every unit. Then as you get more familiar you can expand your search.....Your post here should bring out a few vultures----but you never know unless you look.

[roadtriptoforev]

I know users of this forum are probably used to people thinking they can buy an RV and live off their 8K tax return. This is not me. I have been financially planning this for years with the exception of choice of vehicle (A biggie I know). From what I have gathered, I should be able to pick up a RV for this range if I am patient. The problem is I am still trying to figure out what constitutes a "good deal". I figure if I find someone with experience, they can help me find a good deal since I don't really know what constitutes one.

I have seen most of the people in this forum have YEARS of experience in this. As where I know very little. Since I believe I am financially able to make this major shift, I don't want to waste years learning about RV's just to get started. If someone is able to help me find a deal, then I can start learning hands on.

ferndaleflyer wrote:
Don't believe you can't find one in that price range, and a pretty good one at that.....Friend down the road bought an 03 with 1 slide, less then 20K mi, had been kept inside, and looks and runs like new, original tires needed replaced....$14,000......Don't believe you can't find one but when they pop up you got to be ready to go--not let me go to the bank. Someone usually gets there quick.

[ferndaleflyer]

Don't believe you can't find one in that price range, and a pretty good one at that.....Friend down the road bought an 03 with 1 slide, less then 20K mi, had been kept inside, and looks and runs like new, original tires needed replaced....$14,000......Don't believe you can't find one but when they pop up you got to be ready to go--not let me go to the bank. Someone usually gets there quick.

[cjoseph]

I have never used this site=, but it looks pretty straight forward. It looks like they do a good job of showing deficiencies with photos. If you look towards the end of the RV postings, it will have the final sale price for some units or the max bid without the reserve being met.

Cranky Ape

They have a few locations across the US. One is in Kingman, AZ.

[Gjac]

Effy wrote:

Gjac wrote:
How do you plan on using the motorhome, weekend trips, long-term, travel national park state parks or RV resorts? Based on how you camp what size motor home will you want? Will you do most of the maintenance work yourself? If you can post the answers to these questions this will help you get some better answers.

OP said Full time.

I missed that.

[roadtriptoforev]

Full timer

What do you guys think of this?

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/diesel/2003-Endeaver-28594.htm

[Effy]

Gjac wrote:
How do you plan on using the motorhome, weekend trips, long-term, travel national park state parks or RV resorts? Based on how you camp what size motor home will you want? Will you do most of the maintenance work yourself? If you can post the answers to these questions this will help you get some better answers.

OP said Full time.

[Gjac]

How do you plan on using the motorhome, weekend trips, long-term, travel national park state parks or RV resorts? Based on how you camp what size motor home will you want? Will you do most of the maintenance work yourself? If you can post the answers to these questions this will help you get some better answers.

[tatest]

$15K is not going to get you a 2000 model year or newer diesel pusher with slideouts. $30-35K maybe, for something that was small (32-38') and at the low end of the price range when new. $15-20K puts you more into the late 1990s for small diesel pushers, mostly entry-price model lines before slideouts became common at all price ranges. That's just where the market is today.

At the age and size dictated by your price range, what you will find in diesel will be 5.9 Cummins rated in the 150 - 230 HP range, or Caterpillar C-7 at 250-275, 300 HP at the highest. Higher output small diesels did not show up until later, when the Cummins was boosted for the pickup truck horsepower race. For any significant towing, you might be looking for a larger motorhome, with Cummins C or L series engines, or the 9 liter Caterpillar, which would bring horsepower ratings to the 300-350 range. But that's in the $50-$90K price range for late 1990s to early 2000s.

Front-engine diesels maybe? In the early to middle 1990s Safari was optionally putting a small GM or Isuzu diesel in the 24-28 foot Trek, built on a GM chassis and normally powered by the 454 gasoline engine. They are a rare find, and sometimes you will find that one that had been diesel re-engined with the 454.

[wa8yxm]

I know of a used Class C, high quality unit or so I'm told, for sale 50K (I can almost see it from where I'm sitting, there is a Coachman in the way though)

Can not tell you much beyond the address/name/telephone of the seller.

I will say this, If you plan on pulling a trailer with a car in it you may be limited to Diesel Pushers.. Most gassers max out at 4,000-5,000 pounds towing and a car plus trailer can easily exceed that,, big time, even a small car.

Same car towed 4 down is no problem (and how I do it)

[jplante4]

Clickable

This is basically the same coach as my Sahara. OP- call right now, this won't last long.