Check under the yellow pages or similar and find "mobile or rv mobile repair services" or call some of the local rv parks and ask for numbers of mobile rv repair people. They will and do , do inspections, go over, check em out etc, for people. Course you understand they charge for that service. Hard to beat though, they see every kind and every problem.
BarbaraOK wrote: If you are set on just fulltiming for 2 years, you aren't really fulltiming - just on an extended vacation. Barb
You mean to tell me I wasn't a full-timer until I had 2 years under my belt? I wasn't aware Barb that there was a set time limit for one to qualify as a full-timer? If you are on the constant move traveling the country so see all the sites isn't that form of extended vacation in itself?
To the OP, if you shop carefully there are a lot of good used rigs out there. Some are sold at greatly reduced prices due to illnesses and other financial reasons. Take your time and shop carefully. In regards to condition, just be sure to have a rig checked out thoroughly before purchase. Not everyone who full-times is in a new rig. I've met many full-timers in good quality used rigs and doing quite well. The way I look at it is even if you buy a new rig the minute you pull off the dealers lot it becomes a "used" rig.
Thanks for the comment firedude. The thread is about the feasibility of finding a suitable rig in the price range the OP wants, not whether he fits the "definition" of fulltimer or not. . .
Dale
Dale Pace
Wife to Terry (Teacher's Pet)
Mom to 2 rescued Scotties
Bailey and Neal
2006 Tiffin Phaeton 40' QSH, 4 slides (Phaeton Place)
2003 Sport Trac Toad
Fulltiming since retiring in 2005
To the OP... Back in the mid 90's I obtained a 30' Winnebago MH that was like new both in and out and mechanically. it was a 1984 if I remember right. People used to comment on that fact other than the obvious body style it looked new. That being said I put one heck of a LOT of miles on the thing traveling all over the pacific northwest. It only had 38K on it when I got it. Out of all the RV's I've owned it was the most dependable being I didn't have any, I mean zero problems with it at all. Good deals are out there to be found. Take your time and look and look some more. Don't just jump into the first thing you might find.
Depending on where you find a rig then start looking for a reputable RV Tech and mechanic to check the rig out. There are some great deals to be had. You just need to be patient and look. For anyone telling you that you need a new or newer rig or one just a couple years old to full-time is ludicrous. Just do your homework as you are here and you'll find something. Remember many of us who bought NEW rigs like myself 7 years ago are doing just fine in rigs now 7-10 years old! Would be kind of hypocritical for someone like me with a 7-10 year old rig (or older if in good condition) who is full-timing just fine to tell you it couldn't be done unless it was newer lol. Best of luck and have fun when you are ready to shop!
We found the dealers wanted quite a bit more for similar units compared to private sellers. Not that the dealers are doing anything wrong, they have to make a profit or they go away, but they wanted 40-70% more and we were looking at a cash purchase. For a few thousand savings, we felt it worth surfing the web and going to look at a few units.
We have a brother-in-law who's good with this kind of stuff and went over the unit with us. Even if you are buying from a dealer, I would want an independent review.
Once you have an RV tech review it, the dealership's warranty doesn't offer much value. If you are saving $5-10k by going private sale, you can pay for the inspection and some fairly substantial repairs that likely would more than offset the dealers warranty (yes, there will be individuals who make out better with the dealer. There are also people who win the lottery, but that doesn't make it a good retirement plan.).
If you find a good deal at a dealership, great, but I would spend my effort on the private sale market.
Tammy Mike & the Bilge Rat (AKA: Diego)
Ford F250 7.2L
1997 Sunnybrook 27' 5er
1995 Gemini Sail Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and 5er
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I wasn't aware Barb that there was a set time limit for one to qualify as a full-timer? If you are on the constant move traveling the country so see all the sites isn't that form of extended vacation in itself?
