I am looking at buying a 1996 Shasta 25' class C on Ford E-350 frame with 7.5L engine. The vehicle has only 22,000 miles on it.
I have rented a motorhome before but have never owned one, but am somewhat mechanically inclined. I checked it out today and from a layman's perspective it looks fairly good for a 12 year old vehicle. The engine could probably use a tune-up and the current owner has owned it for 2 years and 2000 miles and did not do any maintenance.
I think I can get this for $10K. A few questions:
1) From what I can tell on the various RV for sale web-sites, that looks like a pretty good deal. Is it?
2) What specific potential problem areas should I be looking for? I looked around ceiling and walls to find signs of leaks and found one small one. Is that a big deal? What is a big deal in terms of repair costs on these vehicles?
If it were me, I'd pay a local RV dealer/repair facility to take a moisture meter and check all around the unit, especially where you suspect the leak. Then, have them do a SealTech (or similar) check. Then you'll know where you stand. A leak (especially if it's been leaking for a time), is not something to take lightly. Don't ask me how I know.....
Where it is a good deal or bad deal most often is not known until 90 days after purchase. The 460 is a good engine and if not removed and replaced expect one or more exhaust manifold bolts are broken and maybe a warped exhaust manifold. That issue is on the 460 and 454 are as common as snow at Christmas in MI.
All leaks are a big deal until they are fixed but with Eternabond so far all of ours have been fixable with little cost. The leaks will stop when you fix the right spots. Actually most of us shot gun it by doing all the common seams and leak points. Leaks seem to take more time to locate than shops seem to want to take in my experience. Check out your overhang as a common leak/stress region.
You could have brake and other issues duing to having been parked most of its life. If you do not have to get new tires or a transmission then $3K in parts and service over the next year or two should cover getting it ready for a trip across the US and Canada.
Being handy is good and almost a requirement when owning and old rig especially the has been let go. There is a good chance the brake and transmission fluid have never been changed for example.
1) The tires are new. The owners had to replace it very recently because of dry rot.
2) The couple is selling because the man now has Parkinson's, is on disability, and they can no longer afford to maintain it or even really to use it. They have put on less than 2,000 miles in two years. I met the man in person today and verified the story (his physical movements resembled Muhammed Ali's). Why all that is important is because it's less likely that they are selling it because it's a piece of junk and because of their life situation.
3) It sounds like it would be a good insurance policy to get it checked out at an RV service center for leaks, mechanical issues, etc. How much should I expect to pay for that?
Thanks.
* This post was
edited 09/28/08 10:34pm by an administrator/moderator *
Check the tire pressures and oil, then take it for a test drive on a 4-lane amongst fast-passing trucks. See if it tracks reasonably well thru their wind wake, or makes your knuckles turn white. If you can do this with a full fresh water tank to help simulate a full travel load, so much the better.
Jim, "Be the 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')
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