How old is too old?

stoutz429 - Bounders are great motorhomes. I have a number of friends with gas ones and also a diesel one. The RVCG rates them as vacation rigs not full time rigs.

I have a question I think fits in this thread rather than as a new topic. My wife and I have been out of RVing for ten years and are about three years from retirement. We are considering fulltiming after retirement.

A motorhome caught our collective eye on the internet within the last few days - a 2001 Fleetwood Bounder 36U, gas engine on a Ford chassis. It has all the amenities we want and is being sold by a reputable dealer in Iowa. We live in Pennsylvania.

Before making the 850 mile trek to Iowa to look at this rig, we want to know if other forum members feel this class A that the dealer claims has no negative mechanical history, 56,000 miles on the odometer, stored indoors by the previous owner, and a $35,000 list price would be a good choice for our RVing needs.

We would use it for weekend camping, trips to visit family, and some extended travel for vacations lasting two weeks or more, with the potential for fulltiming upon retirement in perhaps three to five years.

After having owned three new motorhomes over the years, we are definitely not interested in buying new, but are looking for a less expensive way to get back into RVing.

Would the expenses associated with owning and operating a motorhome this old make this prohibitive?

Wayne - I owned a 2004 S2000 sports car and also several motor homes. Motor homes have WAY more parts than the S2000. Likely your S2000 was made like mine, jewel like. We have a beautiful Country Coach Affinity from 2002. It is also jewel like similar to the Honda. But again, lots more parts and lots more stuff to go wrong.

TALE OF WOE! Bought a 1997 Monoco Dynasty with an 8.3 Cummins with 59,000 miles from PPL Motorhomes in New Braunfels, Tx the middle of June. It looked well taken care inside and out. Picked it up on Wednesday and on Friday night we were on our way out West. Made it as far as Grant,New Mexico. This is my third MH (all from PPL). Had trouble holding it on tne road (thought it was wind)and when applying the air brakes the back end would try to come around. Got under it and all the trailing arms that hold the rear end in place did not have bushings in them (a common Monico problem according to Monico in Oregon). Contacted PPL and all they said was ("well,you made it 800 miles without a problem and you bought it as is".) Four days and $2200. later turned around and headed back since my son-in-law was in critical condition in ICU. Blew a tire outside of Socorro,NM and after four hours and $200. for a used tire made it to Las Cruses,NM where we spent the night. The next morning and $2700. later for six tires from Big O we headed home to San Antonio. Now, I can't get it to storage since I have no throttle response (electronic throttle).

No plastic buses! :)

As a newbie, I went the used route as well. After seeing what it would cost to rent, I took my time and found a nice '92 Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite. All aluminum construction-no spec of rust anywhere. Well maintained. So well, infact that the dealer gave us a 30-day warranty on all systems and the drive train. This thing is a peach. A top of the line model in it's day, and it shows and drives well. I can use it for 3-4 years and probably sell it for 80-90% of what I paid for it ($7000).

It's not the age, but the condition that counts.

I bought this one in 1991 when it was 23 years old and sold it in 2007 when it was 39 years old. It's still travelling and winning trophies at car shows.



And I bought this one in 2007 when it was 11 years old and it still looks and drives like new.



:C

Well, I am not a Cummins person, but that engine is good for 300k before it needs an overhaul. Still better then a gasoline engine.

Hi Wayne and Michele, I'm sending you a PM

David

I am looking at used DP's. Currently interested in a 2001 Newmar Dutch Star 3852. Sparten chassis w/ the Cummins 330hp and Allison electronic 6 spd. 97K miles. Excellent condition. All records and manuals. Prior to this I have been looking at lower miles coaches. What reasonable life can I expect from this drive train? Experienced input appreciated. Ed