89 Chevrolet Fleetwood Flair 30' - right for us?

[FlyByNight]

Hi All,

My husband and I are in the interesting position of needing to commit 6-8 months to the Philadelphia area, but no more than that. Short-term apartments are extremely expensive, so I started trying to get creative and landed on the idea of living in an RV for the season. There are two separate Craigslist ads right now for 89 Chevy Fleetwood Flair's, both 30'. Mileage on each is around 30,000, and both are asking under $9k.

I know gas mileage wouldn't be the greatest, but we just plan to park it so not too worried about that. I am concerned about their age however. Do we need to be worried about plumbing, electrical, things like that? What should we look for when we view the rigs? Any known issues with these models/years that I should be aware of?

More importantly, everyone thinks we're crazy. Are we?

Best,

Sarah

[Campfire_Time]

You might consider hiring a service to find you a sublet for that period of time. It seems to me that whether you buy a MH or trailer, the hassles involved in the purchase, moving it, and sale would not be worth it for the short time you are talking about.

[bsinmich]

Not all RVs are created equal. Some have very little insulation in floors, ceiling and walls and some have it in their brochures with the R value listed. Newmar list the R values for their MHs and it is better than my condo. There is not a lot in a Flair because it was at the bottom of the Fleetwood totem pole then. TTs have the same problems. We got caught in 10F temp once with a '96 Pace Arrow MH. We used a tank of LP every other day.

[FlyByNight]

We have checked campgrounds and they are very affordable. Philly is our closest city but really we're in the 'burbs, which isn't exactly a hot travel destination.

I will definitely look into making a trailer work. After looking online a little, I see you get a much newer model, plus more space, for the same price or less.

[leaddog]

Have you checked campgrounds in the area where you want to stay? Summer rates could be very high in the Philly area.

Check tire codes for year of manufacture. Anything over 7 yrs old is a danger.

As stated above, make sure all appliances are in working order. Some water heaters need to be turned on from the outside and that is a pain. If the unit was lived in by a fulltimer or used extensively, then it could be worn out by now. Hard to tell is so unless a careful examination is done by a knowledgeable person. Make sure you drive it and check the brakes, belts, oil pressure, etc.

We had a 30ft Flair bought new in 1995. It will be cramped, but doable.

I think the asking price is quite high and would not pay anything close to 9K for the unit. JMHO

[Bumpyroad]

since you are going to just park it, no problem but if you are going to drive it that old P-30/32 chassis leaves a lot to be desired.
I agree with the bear "You would be better off to find a Travel Trailer or 5th wheel and hire someone tow it to the RV site. You will get a lot more living space and comfort for your money."
bumpy

[FlyByNight]

Thanks Dieharder. One of them has recently had the roof sealed, which seems like it's worth paying a little more for.

Generally is there a good cutoff year for assuming most things will be in working condition, all else being equal?

Another thought - do people ever lease their RVs? I found a campground that had some on site for rent, but they were no pets which is a killer for us.

[dieharder]

Buying a unit that old, you will really need to have the condition of the roof checked by a professional before you make any commitment. It can be a really expensive lesson to learn.

Make sure that, when you go see it, the current owner has all the capabilities for you to test all the systems. Won't do you any good to get someplace and then find out the plumbing leaks in many spots. Same with propane. Electrical system, furnace/AC. If you're lucky you might even be able to make sure the waste tanks don't leak.

[FlyByNight]

Thanks for the input so far, all.

On the travel trailer - we have nothing to haul one with. I drive an Impreza, husband has a Corolla. We could hire someone to haul it, but from here we will be headed to Maine; not sure how many drivers we could find to take it that far. It's something to think about though.

Also, we love camping - I'm not too worried about space.

As to the issue of winters, the plan at this time is not to live in it through winter. That said, do most people avoid staying in their RV's/trailers in the cold? Or is it that this one is so old it won't be insulated enough?

Thanks again -

Sarah

[donn0128]

IMHO this is probably a bad idea if your planning to live in it next winter. Think of how bad it has been this winter and now imagine living in 300 SQ FT with insufficient heat, and no water part of the time. Get the picture. Any RV is very poorly insulated and older ones are probably worse than new ones. A motor home to be parked is just plane foolish. Motor homes are designed to be driven not parked. If you really want to try it, then get a TT. But don't expect to be comfortable if the temps get down to 20 or below.

[Tom_Diane]

I don't think your crazy. I guess that it depends on if you like to camp. Of course you will still have upkeep while your staying in the RV. I used to work on the road and I stayed many years in a camper and loved it. I would also look at something newer than an 89 model. I would be cautious of a unit that old. For extended stays or full time, at least one slide would be a requirement for us. Also be aware, some campgrounds have a 10 year limit on the units they let in. The other thing to ponder is, will you be able to stay in one spot that long? I would say the RV route is good but buy something you can enjoy after the 6-8 month position is done. The 89 unit might become a fixture in your yard should you decide to try and sell it later on.

[the_bear_II]

You would be better off to find a Travel Trailer or 5th wheel and hire someone tow it to the RV site. You will get a lot more living space and comfort for your money.

Some of the things to look for are roof leaks, rot, working appliances, plumbing leaks, tires need to be less than 5 years old...