Advice on buying a used RV

[Big Mama]

Wife and I will be unofficially retired at the end of July and are looking for a used RV around $30k. We’ve got a place in Mexico and family in California so we’ll be making that trip from Virginia 3-4 times a year.

We’re undecided on class A or C but want to stay around 30-33ft. Diesels are hard to come by in that length and most have the Ford Tritan V-10.

Any experienced advice whether as an owner or as a mechanic would be great. The internet is full of articles and tips but they often contradict each other and prices vary wildly based on location. I’m looking for overall info including makes but not necessarily any particular model.

Thanks in advance.

 

[exp500]

The older Monaco's are pretty good. None are great. All advertising. A diesel pusher, 30-36 ft, no slide outs (they leak). And test everything! Prefer one that hasn't been molested by a Previous owner, especially wiring. Get full service manuals/wiring diagrams with it. The older the better on engine and trans, Pre-2002 I think it is. Avoid the dealerships. And this is one of the best in RV forums-Monaco Owner's Forum - iRV2 Forums

 

[OR VietVet]

At one time I did write service for Monaco, here in Harrisburg, Or. I have written service for the biggest of the big Prevost motorhomes/busses all the way to 2 axle 5th wheel towables. I have seen lots of problems over the years. The Class C with the Ford V-10 is a well known F53 chassis and may even have a Mor-Ride suspension at the rear, especially if it has a tag axle. If you are just a "sometimes" RV'er instead of a full timer, then, IMO, the gas engine Class C will be fine and easier to work on if you have to and easier to get parts for. Most used rigs will need steering and suspension work, it is what it is. You can also tow a small/light rig behind it. The 5th wheels do have their own set of problems and if I had a big 3 axle set up I would get a minimum 1.5 ton to 2 ton tow rig. You will need the tow rig brakes too to slow all that down sometimes. Slideouts do tend to leak and eventually the motor will go bad and leave the slideout out one of these days. Whatever you decide, have fun and have a great retirement.

 

[TollKeeper]

Another one I am at the complete opposite end of the spectrum on. I guess I just dont get the RVing life..

30-40k buys a lot of 5 star hotels for MANY years with dinners. Then add in the fuel, insurance, breakdowns that require a special (and expensive) wrecker..

I personally would buy a new Suburban/Yukon XL/Escalade ESV Diesel, and go tour the country, and when you are done with the tour that day, find a hotel, take a shower, eat dinner, go for a swim, and go to bed. No low bridges to worry about. No low overhangs at the gas station. No low trees bashing the corners of your RV.

That just sounds so much more like relaxing, then finding your camp site, getting it backed in, getting it leveled, getting it set up, hoping the shore power/water/waste are ok. Getting in the RV only to find a tree took out a side/front window. Go make dinner only to find that your out of gas. Not feeling well the next day? To bad, the site is already booked to someone else, and you gotta leave (granted, this also happens in hotels, but not nearly as often).

As I said, I really dont get the RVers life.

 

[Fless]

If you can wait a year or two there will be some recent buyers that will want to sell theirs, finding out that they don't use it that much and are averse to the storage fees.

Have heard some really bad things about General RV (in Utah, especially) of late. Deceptive loan practices, mostly.

 

[drakon543]

as i used to work on them im honestly with tollkeeper here. too many stupid things can go wrong for stupid reasons. alot of which require a shop who knows how to fix that stuff or just the ability to fix that stuff. most of the times ive seen the plastic pipes or fittings break in the dumbest spots and you wont even know where until it starts flooding the floor. everything used in them is designed to be super light so the wood basically gets destroyed instantly. regardless i am just against them

 

[OR VietVet]

I want it to be known that I am on the side of @TollKeeper and @drakon543 and think I would get me a big highway rig, like a Suburban, and travel in style. I shared info only as that, info, and am not trying to push you that way. I was around all the problems of RV'ing. Look at it this way, "Driving or towing and RV down the road is like putting your house/home thru an earthquake every time you take it out". Things are gonna shake, rattle and roll doing all that. I know that sometimes it is nice to drive someplace and then just lay down and sleep but the PITA that RV'ing can be is something to think about. Plus, I could get comfortable in the back of a Suburban with the right lady.

 

[Bill 1960]

Pffft. Suburbans and Tahoes are not traveling in style. That’s what gets towed behind LOL.

As for the OP, unless your budget for repair is another $30k, I advise you to not get a DP. At that price point it’s going to be a rehabilitation project and/or not reliable for repeated cross country trips. A gas class A maybe. The Ford platform is very reliable and has nowhere near the potential expensive repairs you can get into with a diesel.

Your best opportunity will be a class C in a motorhome. And if I had a budget of $30k that was inclusive of repairs and maintenance in the initial term of ownership I’d be looking at towable. There’s a big downside to used motorhomes in that your living quarters are inseparable from the vehicle. When stuff breaks you’ll either find yourself living in a hotel or camping in a repair shop. (And yes, it happens with new ones too. BTDT)

My perspective is from 40 years owning truck campers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes.

Good luck and if you haven’t yet, check out some of the RV forums.

 

[Stbentoak]

After pulling my bigger boat around a few times and driving with a half puckered you know what, worried about every corner and up coming intersection…
I don’t think I’d survive RV’ing very long. Too nerve wracking….

”Remember, its fun, we’re having fun”. Famous Homer Simpson quote….

 

[adventurenali92]

Another one I am at the complete opposite end of the spectrum on. I guess I just dont get the RVing life..

30-40k buys a lot of 5 star hotels for MANY years with dinners. Then add in the fuel, insurance, breakdowns that require a special (and expensive) wrecker..

I personally would buy a new Suburban/Yukon XL/Escalade ESV Diesel, and go tour the country, and when you are done with the tour that day, find a hotel, take a shower, eat dinner, go for a swim, and go to bed. No low bridges to worry about. No low overhangs at the gas station. No low trees bashing the corners of your RV.

That just sounds so much more like relaxing, then finding your camp site, getting it backed in, getting it leveled, getting it set up, hoping the shore power/water/waste are ok. Getting in the RV only to find a tree took out a side/front window. Go make dinner only to find that your out of gas. Not feeling well the next day? To bad, the site is already booked to someone else, and you gotta leave (granted, this also happens in hotels, but not nearly as often).

As I said, I really dont get the RVers life.

I mean this works. Until you’re on a trip like what I just did. camping at the beach for a surf camp and the state beach we go to camp at is a half hours drive from anything. So I could drive back and forth after a whole day of learning how to surf everyday and be exhausted and have to sit in traffic on the freeway to get back and forth to hotel, or I could have an RV put at our campsite with everything I need right there each day and not have to drive anywhere at the beginning g of the day, or the end of the day.

 

[Big Mama]

Thanks all. This forum is always good for different perspectives, which is what I’m after. All good points and I’ll check out the RV forums. We’re thinking MH so we can move about during long days on the road and so the babies (2 Shitzus) can come as well as having our own stuff with us.

Our house in Mexico is on a beach so we have to consider the roads and access. Which also means if something breaks down there I need to be able to find parts and fix it, hmmm. Lots to think about. Keep it coming please.

 

[bigdog9191999]

i had wanted to to a class c Mercedes/sprinter type chassis. as size would be manageable still and they seem to get about the same milage as a suburban anyway. reliability seems to be there with as many are delivery type, just not sure on price


but i could be way off so ehh??


in my price range i want to do a toy hauler or build one from an enclosed trailer so i can take my wing, and mybe her bike. we could base camp from it but due to some pain issues she has ( or weather) we could still unhook and just take the truck if needed.

 

[Big Mama]

Good thinking Bigdog, mileage is something to consider. We’re about 2300 miles from the place in MX so every mile costs us. If we could do a towable we’d probably go that route for shorter, easier trips but that’d mean another rig to tow with. Please keep it coming.

 

[bigdog9191999]

Good thinking Bigdog, mileage is something to consider. We’re about 2300 miles from the place in MX so every mile costs us. If we could do a towable we’d probably go that route for shorter, easier trips but that’d mean another rig to tow with. Please keep it coming.

Another thought is you could keep the RV out west and just drive out and back then tow the trailer once there. Or drive if an RV.



Some have found it cheaper to keep a small car or something at a second home, ( or somewhere that someone let's them keep it) and fly and drive your second car .


Others that have a second home and or a second car is to have the two seperate places and drive a rental back and forth, they find it cheaper, usually better on fuel depending on what they own, and keeps miles and maintenance off thier own vehicles.

 

[Big Mama]

Good points again. We’ve got an old Camry we may leave in MX that’s so beat up no one would steal it...........I hope.

 

[TollKeeper]

Good points again. We’ve got an old Camry we may leave in MX that’s so beat up no one would steal it...........I hope.

CAMRY! ON A GM BOARD!! BAN HIM!!! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!



I did the spare car thing with a Pontiac I used to own. It does work. The only real catch is that the battery may be dead. The other thing to keep in mind is that if I am remembering correctly, Mexico still uses leaded gasoline, which could be bad for the Catalytic Converter.

Another thing to consider.. You could always do the "America rents RV" thing. Couldnt go to Mexico with it.. But could rent as you need, and not worry about maintenance, or upkeep. Someone elses problem.

 

[OR VietVet]

Some people have no shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stonefort]

I neat idea might be to rent one for a trip and get a feel for what it's like.

 

[Big Mama]

CAMRY! ON A GM BOARD!! BAN HIM!!! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!



I did the spare car thing with a Pontiac I used to own. It does work. The only real catch is that the battery may be dead. The other thing to keep in mind is that if I am remembering correctly, Mexico still uses leaded gasoline, which could be bad for the Catalytic Converter.

Another thing to consider.. You could always do the "America rents RV" thing. Couldnt go to Mexico with it.. But could rent as you need, and not worry about maintenance, or upkeep. Someone elses problem.

more good points and something to consider. Mexico, at least on the Baja side has unleaded fuel but it’s not very good. I add stabilizer to every quad, gas can, and truck.

 

[Big Mama]

I neat idea might be to rent one for a trip and get a feel for what it's like.

I’m going to look really hard at this for a trip we take in the US. We’re going to MX in late September and plan to take my wife’s RAV4 so there’s no rush. I’ve been looking on CL all over the country and Arizona has an abundance of RVs so I’m going to check some out there.