keiffith
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Re: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
Thanks for all the input. With my budget I am fully aware that i will not get a "tow and go" rig, so I am willing to put in the work. as far as Maint goes, regardless to what i get, a large amount of preventative maintenance will be done. as far as buses go, im not going to buy a bus that is going to need new tires unless The bus is under $2000 and has no other serious issues. I have not completely ruled out a Pickup. I still would go Cummins, I just dont think I can get a decent one cheap enough, BUT i will look for one. This is the best i could find locally. Its definitely a rot box, AND its got a broken Torque Converter. wants $3500 As far as buses go, I only want a Flat front "transit style", and I am considering only getting a "bookmobile" or "mobile clinic" like below that would not require any serious exterior work. This is a 94 8.3 Cummins BlueBird that is a mobile clinic. $4500523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
The Trucks in My area that i could afford are rotted out, have over 200,000 miles on them, and are usually neglected. If i bumped my truck budget to around 3.500, i could get something adequate, but TT's for 2,500 are going to need work of some kind in the near future. I am certain you would not consider a 99-04 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 with less than 150,000 miles on it to be clapped out. The school buses I have been looking at are from 99 to 04, have between 100,000 and 150,000 miles on them, Have the Cummins 5.9L ISB Engine, and cost around $3,000. My Step father is a Master Diesel Mechanic. SO i have access to heavy tools and discounts that most do not. My father has a 50ft long pole barn that gives me a place to convert it with plenty of tools. If neither of these resources where available to me, I would certainly be much better off getting an old 2500 chevy and an old TT.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
first, i would only get a bus with Air ride at least in the rear. the price of a bus doesnt really change due to its features unless its a white "activity" bus. I understand why you would call converting a school bus into a "skoolie" is nothing more than a bunch of hack job hippies when their are builds like this floating around. BUT there are people who build school buses properly, and here is a good example. i doubt many would even think it was a school bus at one time. this is the kind of build i would emulate.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
westend wrote: Right, different expectations. With your budget and needs, I'd suggest to buy a school bus. I took this to heart, and it definitely is my best option. been digging around the "Skoolie" community to see what my options are. The cost of a transit "flat front" school bus is about $3k. that gives me $3k to get everything else, which will HAVE to be second hand or "none Retail" new stuff. The cheapest way i could get both the parts I need to convert the Bus and a trailer to use as a garage would be to buy a sub $1K Trailer and convert it to a utility trailer. My father has a 40ft by 40ft pole barn as a work space, So i think i have a pretty good plan on how to get all this done. thanks to all who responded for the help.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
tatest wrote: The VersaHaul is not likely to carry on the back of most Class C (or even gas Class A) motorhomes, they have too much rear overhang and rather low limits for weight carried on the hitch. If you want to carry two motorcycles, what you need to look for would be a toy hauler, either trailer or motorhome. This puts the living space and garage in a single box, the garage also providing cargo space and usually carrying capacity for your stuff. The problem with these solutions would be your budget, $6000 is not much to cover truck and trailer or a motorhome designed as a toy hauler, the category is fairly recent, so there were not many toy hauler motorhomes built before the late 1990s. Your budget puts you into the 1970s or 1980s for a usable motorhome. I've seen it done, however, with something less roomy that a modern RV. At my last duty station in 1973, five of the troops I worked with had VW Type 2 vans (second generation). Two of these were camper conversions. This was enough to carry everything they owned, and for the two with campers, they could also live in it, more or less. One of the guys with a Sportmobile camper was able to carry his Triumph TR-6 inside; I don't know if that would have worked in the Westphalia version. Another guy in my office converted a 2nd generation Econoline van into a living space that could carry everything he owned, but that did not include a motorcycle, let alone two. But that was the early 1970s, we tended to have different lifestyle expectations and carry around a lot less stuff. I honestly dont have a lot of "stuff". I would use a conversion van if it wasn't for the dillema with 2 motorcycles and a bed. I am seriously considering doing a toy hauler conversion myself with an older class c. I would use the front where most layouts have a dinet / couch. My father has a welder and a pool barn that I could use to complete it. I think the biggest issue for me is how to get a door large enough fitted right.523Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
bikendan wrote: ddndoug wrote: keiffith wrote: bikendan wrote: keiffith wrote: A TT and truck gives me no real options for the motorcycle. you can't put the motorcycle in the truck bed?:h I could. But then any time I would want to use it would require detatching the TT. Not ideal. But once you get to your destination, most people drop the trailer from the tow vehicle. That would allow you to take your motorcycle out of the bed and use it. Doug yea, what situation would you want to use the motorcycle while still hooked up to the trailer? Random rides on the journey. Sometimes thou just see a spot and want to hop on the bike.249Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
bikendan wrote: keiffith wrote: A TT and truck gives me no real options for the motorcycle. you can't put the motorcycle in the truck bed?:h I could. But then any time I would want to use it would require detatching the TT. Not ideal.187Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
Thanks for all the advice. The car is a 92 Chevy beretta, so its not worth a whole lot to begin with, and it has a lot of sentimental value. However, It is clear i can not take it with me without going over budget. My father has a large pool barn that it can stay in. i am perfectly fine with only a motorcycle as secondary transportation. A TT and truck gives me no real options for the motorcycle. I would not get a gasser. I have considered a decent diesel truck, a bed camper, and a small trailer to use as a garage. but this i think is also over budget.186Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trying to find the right Motorhome on a budget
NoVa RT wrote: Not quite sure what the OP means here, but I'd suggest that he not make his motorhome purchase before his employment situation is settled and his budget is clear. I am currently employed, but obviously I will not be once I have everything handled so I can leave. thats the point of the RV. I'm 25, served 4 years in the USMC At Camp Lejeune and came back home to the North, and i seriously miss the South.110Views0likes0Comments
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