We were doing our usual drooling over RVs, wondering and dreaming if it will be possible for us to enter that world when we (hopefully) retire in 2012. Came across this fellow 1984 Class C Coachman
NADA gives a lower value; from the markdown at the dealer it appears they want to get rid of it; so we might still dicker. It looks clean and well cared for. Our interest in it stems from a fear that we might buy a more expensive RV and then decide it's not for us, or traveling expenses will become so exorbitant that we'll have to say "never mind" to the whole idea. We're only a few hours from the Smokies; an hour from the Blue Ridge Parkway; about 4 hours from the beach. The rig wouldn't be for any long-distance travel with all the opportunities close at hand. If it appeared that we aren't suited for RV life, we could easily donate the vehicle to a charity.
So, as total newbies and not that mechanically inclined, what should we look for in this model? Any advice; a suggestion that we should steer clear?
Any/all suggestion/tips would be very much appreciated
It looks clean, but it's a Ford so watch out for a bad transmission that could cost you $2800. Have the local Ford dealer go over it before you buy it, then you will know.
Be sure that you're not getting into one like the 'star' of this thread if you're not skilled with tools: www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21535671/page/1.cfm (if the link doesn't work, it's the thread by 'Spectramac', now near the bottom of the 1st page here). Check it out thoroughly, or take it to an RV tech. Also, there are some good tips on buying used in the FAQ's of both this & the Class B forum.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
An 83 or 84 E350 is a very rugged chassis. If the C6 automatic is maintained with fluid changes, it should last a very long time. Same with the 460 V8 it probably has.
Problem with Spectramatic's coach is the house had lots of water leaks. His Dodge chassis is obsolete but he can still get parts and it's fine if that's what he wants. But a water damaged house can be a huge problem. Part of it goes back to construction. The one piece aluminum roof isn't as good a deal as it sounds because it has so much expansion/contraction that leaks easily develop around the edges. Rolled rubber isn't so good unless it is maintained and replaced like a shingle roof on a house.
If the coach house isn't aluminum framed AND there have been leaks, chances are good the wooden framing is compromised and keeping it tight, even with the leak stopped and any skin or paneling damage repaired.
Holiday Rambler built C's with aluminum frames and aluminum roofs riveted and sealed. They also have front and rear end caps which eliminate lots of caulked joints and potential leaks.
Feature wise the one you're looking at is very similar to ours, a 24' Holiday C, 1984. Except that 26 Coachman has a bed down in a corner. In ours, the bed is either the sofa, small and uncomfortable, the the queen-sized over cab bed. That's where we sleep but it's hard to make and climb into and out of. We want to sell ours just to get a bed down.
Those pictures are good for the floorplan, but without a close inspection you can't tell if it's solid, creak- and leak- free.
Look at the construction and condition of the house as carefully as you would the chassis. For chassis, if it isn't being routinely driven and maintained, it'll probably need brake work because components will be stuck. It may need tires due to deterioration even if they don't look worn. This year will use the 16.5" rims which limits tire choices compared to the newer 16" rims.
I'd suggest you verify the basic construction and integrity. Holiday had a model about that size which had a bed down like the Coachmen and I can reccommend that one.
Get a mechanic to look over the chassis and an RV tech to look at the house. Any appliance failure can be expensive. Stove, water heater and furnace a few hundred each. Roof a/c a little more than that. Refrigerator more like a thousand. That's parts price, not labor to replace.
the price is right and it looks good but its the stuff that hidden that you cant see is what you need to worry about,like leaks and rot behind walls ect.i like the fords they have a good motor and the c-6 transmission is a good one if it was taken care of ,i have a 79 holiday rambler i went threw and changed all the hoses and belts went threw it from bumper to bumper and its been a good one,but when you have to have a garage do all your work if any is needed it may get expensive after a while if the owner befor you didnt take very good care of the running gear,have a mechanic check it out see whats needed ,drive it and see how it runs and handles befor you buy.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
Looks EXACTLY like my '83 Tioga Arrow, identical floorplan, identical interior, everything. Other than the fuel delivery problems (noted on another thread here) ours has been very reliable - I think the 460/C6 is as strong a combo as they came.
'83 Tioga 27' Ford E-350 460
'97 Dodge 2500 CTD 4x4 in need of a TC
couple of ratty old well-loved Artic Cat sleds that the kids just can't hurt any further
Anything you buy used (or new for that matter) can, and probably will have some kind of problem. Take it to a mechanic you trust, and have him look it over. As to the "house" part of the coach inspection, taking it to another facility to look it over will only result in them trying to sell you something "better".
If it's what you think you'll like and use, give it a try. As you said, they're not asking too much if you decide you either don't like it, or it has problems that may need fixing. Even a new one could be problematic, and cost you a whole lot more.
I can tell from the pic of the dashboard that this coach has "dealer air" on it which is not the more complex "factory a/c." The "dealer" system will probably work and it will be cold. Ours has been converted to R134A which is a less efficient refrigerant than the R12 it was built for and it's still cold. The downside is its two-piston reciprocating compressor. Squarish looking, made by Tecumseh or York. They last a long time but running the a/c uses more gas than towing a car. There are kits to replace those with modern axial-piston compressors.
I have a 1983 Coachman and your price is better than my price. I like my RV, things to look for go around the inside of the RV and press on the walls adjacent to the roof looking for soft spots (water damp) look inside the closets for water damage. Go up on the roof and check it out. I did do a few things: changed out my refrigerator for a used one, replaced the exhaust, new house battery etc. Just one word of advice get a smog (you watch it get done) and make sure it passes. If costed my $7000 for a head job to get my to smog (CA). Good luck and happy motoring.
Offline
