Posted on 08/17/2015 4:00:09 PM PDT by Randy Larsen
I'm trying to find a used Class C RV that I can use for traveling during my retirement years.
Re #7, RV like a boat, hole in the water that you pour money into. Add small plane to that list. I’m so dumb I have all 3. Oun a 40ft MH, 20 ft boat, and a Piper Archer 180 hp airplane. Keeps me lite and fit, at least in the wallet.
Thats a GMC. There’s quite a few for sale out there. Refurbs can get real pricey.
Me first. I’m in the market for a 35 foot or bigger. There is a local guy who hits up repo auctions who has some really great deals. I keep posted with craigslist.
Number one thing I look for is the ceiling corners. If there is the tiniest hint of water leakage I leave immediately. Not even worth hearing the excuses “Well we fixed it right away.” Interiors are God awful ugly. I don’t know who picks the floral print that pollutes RVs. Have a mechanic go check out the engine and chassis.
Good luck.
bkmk
Another thought.....
Where on the west coast. Buy in Oregon. No sales tax, no smog, low registration costs. That alone could be worth getting an Oregon residence for a few weeks.
It was called a Winnebago in the movie, but it was really a modified GMC. Funny enough, the GMC motorhomes fetch a pretty penny these days. They were front-wheel drive with usually an Oldsmobile 455 with transaxle. In the end of its production, they were powered by the 403. The rear suspension did not encroach into the living space with a hump, and they were close to the ground for easy ingress/egress.
Check this link for more information on them: http://gmcmotorhome.com/
Thank you for the link. Will read later.
To the teeth...
We had a 35’ Winnebago gas motorhome. Had to sell it because we were moving and didn’t have a spot to park it in the interim. It was comfortable to vacation in, but it was noisy on the road and very unforgiving to drive.
We missed RVing, so decided to get back into it with a lightweight trailer. We did a lot of research and settled on a Lance 25’ travel trailer. It was time to replace our SUV, so we bought a Chevy 1500 truck (souped up) and we have a nice rig set up now. It’s a dream to drive and ride in the truck and the RV is great for vacationing, although it’s way too small to live in for more than a few weeks at a time.
If you settle on a Class C, look at the Winnebago line. There are Winnie dealers everywhere, so no matter where you are on the road, you can find someone around who can service it for you.
Go to RV dealers and look around. Also check out rv.net. It’s a great resource for information about all aspects of RVing.
Check your local Craigslist and ask a mechanic to look it over if you get serious about buying something. In particular, look for leaks and check the undercarriage for rust. If it’s been driven in the winter in areas that salt roads, the undercarriage will be rusting.
If you’re near either Phoenix or Tampa, check Lazydays. They’re the largest RV dealer in the country and have both new and used models for sale.
If you have a motorhome, you’ll want to tow a vehicle. Otherwise, you’ll have to unhook water, electric and waste hoses every time you want to leave the campground. That’s a tremendous pain. With a tow vehicle, you have to consider whether it can be flat towed or whether you’ll need a dolly or trailer for the vehicle. Consider the cost of those items.
My recommendation would be to price out a truck/trailer/fifth wheel combo and compare it to a motorhome/tow vehicle combo. Having had both, my preference is the truck/trailer. You’re looking at only one motorized vehicle instead of two and it’s much cheaper to maintain a trailer. If I were going to spend a lengthy time in a rig, I’d look at a diesel truck/fifth wheel rig.
We’re able to tow our Lance with a 1500 gas truck just fine, but if you get a heavier trailer or a fifth wheel, you’ll definitely want a ¾ ton diesel truck.
Thank You for your perspective. All ideas are welcomed and appreciated very much!
I need all the help I can get.
Craigslist? Use the searchtempest site to search multiple craigslistings in diferent cities.
I would love to travel to the areas where Trump and Cruz are holding their great speeches but I know this is impossible for me.
We bought our first class C last November to haul a couple of German Shepard hound dogs to obedient and agility competitions. Bought an older 97 absolute cherry Winnebago and to be honest we like it better than the class A’s we have had in the past.
Check out Phoenix for a good used one also because a lot of snow birds head down there for the winter and find out the RV life is not for them. They sell them fairly quickly down there and take the plane home.
Great idea, Thank You.
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