If you only had $40k to spend.........

[MagillaGorilla]

Just for the sake of conversation, lets say that you have $40k to spend and you want to buy a MH. The entire world is your oyster.....as long as it costs under $40k. What would you buy and why?


Note: This would apply for used MH's only.

[frankdamp]

Unfortunately, AGC, you're correct. Divide $19k by 6K miles and you're looking at $3 a mile over the three seasons and 6000 miles we actually used it. Add in 8 mpg on gas at $4.50 a gallon (the prices we paid in the small towns we travelled through) and $40 or more a night for CG's, you can see how much this hobby ended up costing us. Our normal travel pattern was 120 - 150 miles between stops and overnight just one night.

If we'd been more careful in our choice of a consignment dealer, we might have done a bit better, but I've agreed "no names. no pack drill" with them.

When we bought it, from the original purchasers when it was new, everything worked just fine and it was in great condition, except for original 8-year-old tires and a rotted-out topper over the living room slide. Early in our third season, the fridge died.

New tires - $2300. Replace toppers - $600. Replace fridge - $1800.

This "hobby" is not for the faint of heart or the light of wallet! We enjoyed our three seasons, but the attack on our retirement funds couldn't be tolerated.

To "Magilla", I would send the following caution. If your budget for this lifestyle is $40K, I'd suggest putting $8K on one side for the additional expenses (not including the costs of actually using it). When you buy a used rig, what you spend to get it is only 80% of what it will cost to keep it and running it will cost a lot more.

[superk]

dbbls wrote:
A travel trailer. You won't get much in the way of a motor home.

I picked up my 1999 fleetwood bounder 34v for 10k

it needed tires, a tailpipe, a shock, and 1 marker light repaired in order to pass mechanical.

all said and done, it cost me about 14k.

TRUTH BE TOLD. It was somewhat of a fixer-upper in the sense that the generator ran but didnt produce power (voltage regulator needed replacement), the backup camera worked intermittently, so I replaced it with a $160 kit from amazon which works well, and there is some sort of issue with the cruise control (not ford-recall related)

its a great little unit, and aside from the above items, everything works. the interior has some pretty good wear, but surprisingly all the upholstery is in great shape. the carpet was replaced with floating floor (not my first choice, but it was already there)

I am overwhelmed by the options available in this unit, the polar package alone is absolutely amazing. I love the heated storage and in turn, the then heated floors 🙂

[John_Joey]

MagillaGorilla wrote:
Just for the sake of conversation, lets say that you have $40k to spend and you want to buy a MH. The entire world is your oyster.....as long as it costs under $40k. What would you buy and why?

Note: This would apply for used MH's only.

Well I kinda did just that in '07. Bought a gas 33 footer that was 10 years old for 21K. Put 35,000 miles on it. 7 years later I sold it for $14,000 on Craigslist. It was still a good running coach.

All those years I did wish for a DP though, but having the extra money to have fun with sure was nice.

[Peralko]

For $40k I would buy a late 90's Country Coach. Quality is far above that of any travel trailer or 5th wheel.

[the_silverback]

For 40,000 I think I would buy a 5th wheel.

[MagillaGorilla]

Joatha wrote:

MagillaGorilla wrote:
Everyone seems to say that you need to get a DP. Why is that? I did not want a DP, I wanted Gas. I get gas for free but have to pay for diesel.159606

You asked what I would buy with $40K. You put no constraints on it. So, I told you what I would buy - an older Bluebird. Yes, its a diesel pusher. No, it doesn't have slides (I don't care). But, that is what I would buy.

Your right. i was asking what others would buy. It seems that the general consensus is diesel. People seem to love DP motorhomes.

[AGC]

frankdamp,
Does that mean you lost about half ($20k) of what you paid for the unit.

[Joatha]

MagillaGorilla wrote:
Everyone seems to say that you need to get a DP. Why is that? I did not want a DP, I wanted Gas. I get gas for free but have to pay for diesel.

You asked what I would buy with $40K. You put no constraints on it. So, I told you what I would buy - an older Bluebird. Yes, its a diesel pusher. No, it doesn't have slides (I don't care). But, that is what I would buy.

Now, if you want a recommendation on what to buy that is a gas motorhome for $40K or less, then that is a different question. Do you have to have slides as well? Any size restrictions? Any layout restrictions? I haven't looked at gas motorhomes in that price range. So, I wouldn't be qualified to give a recommendation. There are plenty of other folks here, though, that could probably help out.

[tropical36]

MagillaGorilla wrote:
Just for the sake of conversation, lets say that you have $40k to spend and you want to buy a MH. The entire world is your oyster.....as long as it costs under $40k. What would you buy and why?


Note: This would apply for used MH's only.

A lot has to do with how many miles a year you will actually use the unit, as you can buy a later model gas puller or an older DP. The former will have less maintenance costs and be easier to work on and the latter will have the benefits of ride, extra size and longevity.
I'm partial to National products in that price range and if going with a DP, the Tropi-Cal went with a diesel beginning in 03.

[frankdamp]

From our experience, $40K should allow you to buy a 6 or 7 year, old 32' - 35' Class A. Just over 4 years ago we got an 8 year-old Georgetown 32', with 12,000 miles on the clock and 48 hours on the generator.

We sold it in Dec 14, on consignment, at 12 years old with 18,000 miles and 75 hours on the meters. We pocketed just under $20K. We may have raised another $2 or maybe 3k if we'd sold it ourselves.

[tatest]

They are saying DP because you are asking in the Class A forum and a used diesel pusher is the most motorhome for the money at that price.

At $40K what I would buy would be a Class B at whatever age and mileage that reached that price for me, because that is as big as a motorhome needs to be, for me. I already have one bigger than I need.

But more likely now, I would buy a travel trailer, 22-feet or smaller, and I just might pay $40K to get a really good one.

[MagillaGorilla]

Everyone seems to say that you need to get a DP. Why is that? I did not want a DP, I wanted Gas. I get gas for free but have to pay for diesel.

[soren]

dbbls wrote:
A travel trailer. You won't get much in the way of a motor home.

I paid just over $40K for a seven year old, low miles, one owner Winny that looked and ran new. It was stored indoors and owned by the kind of guy who waxed the roof every year, and climbed under with Black Rustoleum, and touched up anything that wasn't shiny.

Guess I should of held out for a travel trailer?

[JimM68]

For 40k, I would find an older top brand (monaco/tiffin/fleetwood/newmar) DP with one or two slides.

A foretravel, bluebrid, prevost with slideouts is not going to be found in that price range

[Joatha]

Bluebird.

Plenty of good ones to be had for $40K or less. I'd probably aim for a late 80's to early 90's widebody.