We're looking at this one..

Slides are great! And they're not that complicated, so no reason you couldn't have a problem fixed. Just like the rest of the unit, it just requires some basic maintenance, not overwhelming at all. Good luck!

If you like the layout, do a THOROUGH inspection for leaks, etc and you think the price is right, go for it!

When we bought our 96 Southwind I did not want slides. I thought they would leak and be a problem.
I think I was wrong. Slides are a nice addition to a RV.
It gives you more room when camping. And, apparently, they have few problems.
I don't think keeping one in the closed position is a good idea, it will limit your interior space and may make access to the bathroom, etc., difficult.
Plus, it will probably effect your resale value.

it looks like that would be almost liveable with the slide in which is something that I want in an RV. seems high priced to me for a 16 year old small motorhome however. it must be "nice" however. :)
bumpy

You will likely get differing views on the slide issue. A suggestion I have for you, is to think how you will mostly use your RV. If you go to a place and camp for a weekend or week, and don't plan to move, a slide can make sense. If you like traveling the highways, and only spend a night or two in one place, they may not be as beneficial. If when camping, you think you will spend a lot of time outside the RV (hiking, fishing, etc.), you will not benefit as much from a slide, vs. being inside the RV. Remember, the slide is in while moving, no additional room then. Further, if you like to boondock in Forests or out of the way places where room can be tight, you will need to make sure you have the room to deploy the slide. Most commercial CGs will not present this problem. Finally, slides add weight and decrease the Cargo Carrying Capacity of the chassis. You will need to take into consideration how many people and how much stuff you plan to take with you on your trips (as with any RV).

Wishing you success with your purchase. Bob

It looks nice from the few pictures they list. I would ask for a bunch more pictures so you can see more detail. However, the price is too high for a 1998. I would try for well under 10K. The new tires are a plus.

The RV is identical to mine, only the name is changed. Ours is a 1998 Four Winds 5000 22rk (rear kitchen). Most likely yours is also built by Thor. I purchased ours for $14k nice inside and out. Dinette is small hard to fit into unless you are a bit more fit then we are. Our water heater worked only from propane, would prefer also to work from electric. Came with with new Firestone LT tires and new batteries, and 36,500 miles on it, with a V-10,and no leaks. Came with all the manuals for everything, but actual MH operation.

Sleeping is either on the jackknife couch, dinette, to short to stretch out on, or the overhead. In our case, the overhead was nicely modified and extend to the rear of the front seats, sleeps two adults just fine, or lots of storage. No slide out in this unit.

Now the MH was only eight miles down the road when I bought it off Craigslist. When I drove it, I knew there was a handling problem, steering was way to lite. There were people standing in line when I bought it, felt lucky.

This was last September. Sine then I have invested another $4,000 in preventive maintenance of items at my request, and mechanics found bad tie rod ends and a leaky pinion seal. Steering is fine now. I've upgraded the converter to a three stage, radio to new do everything, backup camera, and new high profile toilet.

So, be prepared to invest more then the purchase price, at least a thousand or more in tax and license. But, I would drive it, and inspect for leaks. The one I bought was garaged and I also garage it, and continue to look for modifications. We get 9 mpg in the mountains, and 11 mpg on the flat. Hope this helps with the reality of older MH's. One nice thing and a reason we bought it: Is we can park just about anywhere. We've had five TT and two MH's. Both MH's have been short to allow better access where ever we go.

Think you've found a good one, the price seems fair when you consider prices are higher on the west coast than back east or down south. Definitely take a drive in it and go out on the freeway to see how it handles when trucks pass you. Remember it is a truck chassis, so don't expect handling like an automobile. I wouldn't bother with more pictures, hop in your car and beat a path over there to see it first hand!

Never buy an MH with the slides out.

Make the owner or dealer put all the slides in. THEN make your decision.

Many RV's when the slides are all in you can not access the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, etc.

This means while traveling if you need a sweater out of the close closet you won't be able to get to it. Some you can't get to the sink, and some even the bathroom.

So depending on how you RV if you stop at a rest area you have to put out all the slides just to use the inside of your MH.

Being new this might not seem like a problem but as you become a seasoned RV'er you will find just how often you want to use the inside of your MH while on the road and it is a REAL pain to have to put slides out to do so.

I had an RV dealership tell me they couldn't put the slides in on a MH I was looking to buy because the battery was dead. I MADE them put a new battery in it and pull the slides in......turned out you couldn't use ANY part of the MH with the slides in. :R

Just saying, just a heads up if you buy one with slides! :C

If it does not have leaks it looks like a good deal.