Expert advice for Insane person?

[Allieloopy]

I have been searching for advice on buying a used RV and most of the best links led to here!

Hopefully an experienced RVer can help us with their experience.
There is a 1974 Pace Arrow motorhome. Yes. I know that's old. Really, horribly old. I was born in 1963, so am I! We actually want an older RV. We don't even care about the stove or fridge, although they are supposed to work.

It does have water damage on the inside. We don't care too much for cosmetics right now. I know it is going to need new tires, and brakes. The owner says he had been using it for snowboarding trips and it has been stored outside (ugh) for a few years. He has just replaced the transmission line because it was leaking. I am assuming that the hoses and belts will need to be checked or replaced because of age and outside storage. The owner says minor repairs but I will know more after our meeting. Also all the water lines were dry in storage.
What we really need it to do is take us from Michigan to Florida. Once we get there we can use it for a hobby and fix it up. Or pretend to. Mechanics are what is important.

We get to see it tomorrow so that is about all I know. If anyone one sees this tonight, do you have any advice for what I need to look for? I am still searching myself but an experts advice would sure help!
The owner wants 2000 for it, but you know how that goes if he really wants rid of it. 🙂
I have the link but I don't want to just post links with my first message.
Thanks a lot, and I hope I at least made someone laugh with my crazy idea.

[JohnnyG73]

You made a wise decision to pass it up. The condition you described it to be in...I have seen those given away or parted out to be honest. My friend had an old Dodge 26' motorhome. Ran great, no leaks, and everything worked. Needed tires, exhaust, brakes, and new upholstery. He had a difficult time getting $500 for it. The buyer moved it to his hunting property where he planned to leave it till it rotted into the ground.

[Allieloopy]

Thanks so much everyone. I have been working on getting my yardsale together for this weekend, which means i've been doing anything else but working on the yard sale.
My husband wants to try to finance a newer motorhome. We have horrible credit due to foreclosure but he wants to try. 😛

I still am looking at used ones sold by owners. Did you say you had some mechanics I could trust? I would love to have their info if you want to send it.

We found that 20 to 26 feet seems to be the best size for us, driving wise. I really don't want to drive anything bigger. I don't care how squished we are, LOL!

so if you all care I will try to keep you updated on our search and of course, Im going to have a lot of questions. Thanks so much!

[adayjk]

I wish I still had my already fixed one to sell you cheap. I drove it 5000 miles in one summer.

I would commit to looking at 10 for sale. If you keep that in mind you won't get exhausted and have it lead to a mistake. Don't buy anything "squishy" unless you plan to replace everything all the way through from the outside to the inside.

[toedtoes]

Matt - don't forget the American Clipper class C - all fiberglass, very well constructed, on a Dodge chassis (and some Ford chassis from 1978-1980).

[Matt_Colie]

Allie,

If you are seriously considering buying a vintage or classic motorhome, there are only a very few worth considering and they are those that are all metal or fiberglass. That would make a bus build, a Travco (Dodge RV chassis), Revcon (are not bad, but they can have so strange things like 10.00x16.5 rear tires) and Clark/Cortez.

Before you buy anything old, take time to go on the web and find out what kind of support level is out there.

Oh, I forgot GMC, but they are too strange and there isn't anybody close to Ann Arbor to work on it. (I won't work on others for money, but I do help friends.)

Matt

[ol__grouch]

Allieloopy wrote:
Just got back a little while ago. It is the one in Saline 🙂 The engine sounds really rough and misses and ticks loudly. Like I said the interior didn't matter to me but lets just say a lot of it is original! Does need new tires, steps, brakes and lots of water damage. There was a bent place on the outside corner, I put my hand inside and it was soaked. The young man was very honest and helpful, he even mentioned going down on the price. But he also mentioned the word carburetor and we would have to get new rims to get new tires.
Soooo, it is not the right buy for us right now. He was understanding and if anyone else is interested he seems honestly willing to discuss the problems. And it is a steel frame.

If anyone needs a hunting TT or something to use close by this would be great.

The good news is that I have a place to go for expert and friendly opinions and we know what size we are looking for too. And my husband is totally into it and not treating it like one of my Lucille Ball ideas. So we are going to keep looking, there is one in Walled Lake that looks good...
LOL! I have a feeling that no matter what we buy it will turn into some kind of money pit but, we have wanted to do this for a long time and I am tired of tents!

Good thing you passed. Engine tuneups are so easy to do, if it's ticking and missing, that engine needs serious attention. My lady friend isn't happy with my B but I'd expect any prospective buyer (she hasn't gotten me to sell it yet) to have a mechanic check it out. I can even suggest a couple that I trust to find flaws.

[loulou57]

Even if it was going to sit in the back yard my hubby would have me committed if I brought the unit home. If the roof is saggy or you can "feel" water anywhere just politely walk away. It is nice the guy was being honest, however, even with his honesty I would not be surprised to see the unit sitting in the same place next year. Keep looking, you will find something that will only need minor repairs. Good luck on your move.

[Allieloopy]

Oh yes, the ceiling. It was definitely saggy in places, but then again, the owner was very forthcoming and seemed happy to discuss the faults. I would go for it if I didn't have to go across a few states in a few months from now! I thought it would be perfect for short Michigan trips.

[Allieloopy]

Just got back a little while ago. It is the one in Saline 🙂 The engine sounds really rough and misses and ticks loudly. Like I said the interior didn't matter to me but lets just say a lot of it is original! Does need new tires, steps, brakes and lots of water damage. There was a bent place on the outside corner, I put my hand inside and it was soaked. The young man was very honest and helpful, he even mentioned going down on the price. But he also mentioned the word carburetor and we would have to get new rims to get new tires.
Soooo, it is not the right buy for us right now. He was understanding and if anyone else is interested he seems honestly willing to discuss the problems. And it is a steel frame.

If anyone needs a hunting TT or something to use close by this would be great.

The good news is that I have a place to go for expert and friendly opinions and we know what size we are looking for too. And my husband is totally into it and not treating it like one of my Lucille Ball ideas. So we are going to keep looking, there is one in Walled Lake that looks good...
LOL! I have a feeling that no matter what we buy it will turn into some kind of money pit but, we have wanted to do this for a long time and I am tired of tents!

[bdpreece]

Bought a travel trailer with what looked like a small amount of water damage one time. Towed it about 30 miles home, by that time one of the corners had opened completely up and you could see daylight through it. If this coach has wood framing which I believe it does, the framing will just disintegrate if it has had much water damage. Look it over good.

[Bumpyroad]

insane, if the shoe fits.
bumpy

[dalenoel]

If that is the one in Saline I'd check the inside ceiling very good. none of the photos show the ceiling but all of the floor coverings look worn.

If the ceiling has been repainted or there are signs of a leak I'd run from the deal.

[midnightsadie]

this is a money pit, you need to RUN FAST, now all these fine people gave you great advice ,USE IT!!

[Allieloopy]

thanks so much for all the great advice! I do tend to want a new project here and there so once we get to FL no big deal. BUT, the engine will be our biggest problem I bet. The seller mentioned that he just put on a new rubber roof before it was "stored." Well, I will get my husband to go underneath and poke around. He is probably just putting up with this to get me to go in and finance one at Camping World! Come to think of it, I don't think I would be happy with a 1974 car or van so thanks for that perspective! I will chime in tomorrow to let you know what is going on!
But with all the advice I think that I will not jump into anything too quickly now!