bsiemens
Hellen GA
New Member
Joined: 03/25/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
DW and I will be retiring in 3 more years. We think we want to try full-timing but know that our 27 foot 5er will never do. Is it within reason to think we could purchase a GOOD used Class A for $50,000? If so what should we look out for when looking at them.
Thanks for any advice you have to offer.
|
edbehnke
Northern Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 12/13/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
i don't own one but i think the Alpha is great. also, the discovery.
enjoy.
eddie and sandie
3150 Montana
2500HD
|
Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/03/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Since you're going to full time, you'll want to pull a toad and have as much room as you can since you can't have too much room in your coach. The largest Class "A" is 45 ft diesel powered coach. To stay at $50K, you'll have to look at rigs that are over 10 years or so old. Several slides would be an excellent option, but they are seldom available in diesel rigs that are old enough. If you go with gas, length is limited to about 38 feet and weight limits could be a concern, especially with several slides and towing a car. Check out PPL motorhomes in Texas for ideas on what's available in that price range.
Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Hummer, and Honda VT1100C Shadow
|
hallock5
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 01/30/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
If you are not in a rush, they will surface. Had a chance to get a Bounder Class A MH gasser with 30K miles on it, 2006, for $26K. Guy had paid $39K for it year before (showed me receipt) and had a major heart attack right after buying it and did not want to get far from his cardiologist.
2008 Jayco Eagle Superlite 28.5RLS
2002 Ford 4x4 SuperCab 7.3 (Jr International) Diesel
Sad to say, time to sell to a good home.
|
bsinmich
Holland, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 11/18/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Online
|
edbehnke wrote:i don't own one but i think the Alpha is great. also, the discovery.
enjoy.
If you are referring to the Alfa See Ya they have been a problem MH with the walls and a lot of expensive repairs. There are many others out there for the $50K area. Keep reading on here and find out who makes the best from the reports people make about service or lack of. My vote is for Newmar for tops but we have only had 4 mhs.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, 2008 Saturn Vue, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
|
|
|
rr2254545
Minnesota/New Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 07/12/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
edbehnke wrote:i don't own one but i think the Alpha is great. also, the discovery.
enjoy.
Many problems, there is a reason they are so cheap.
2012 Winnebago Journey 36M Cummins 360
131 Campgrounds since we retired in July 2009
|
ConnieAndMike
Northern, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/18/2004
View Profile
|
Get yourself a 90-93 Beaver Marque, Monaco Windsor or better. I'm kinda partial to the Beaver. That should set you back 30k or less for a 40 footer.
You want a very high end coach for cheap money. 100k is ok on the mileage but you may find someone with much less. These older coaches where just plain built with better quality material and labor.
But you need to check everything out or have someone who knows do the checklist. You need to also go over all the equipment with the owner so you get a handle on how everything works. Remember to check the dates on the tires. Over 6yrs and figure on replacing them.
Ask any and all questions. Drive it. Do not be scared to ask to drive the coach. If the owner bawks, he is probably hiding something. Take it up a hill and use the jake/pac brake.
My coach was built in the 90's and the fridg, stove, hot water and furnace still work flawlessly. That is 22 years and the new ones have trouble with 22 days/ LOL, please don't flame me.
Mike
91 Holiday Rambler Imperial 37
F460 G-hog
Toad: 2up Toyota
Northern Illinois
Our Travels and Tips Blog
|
RFCN2
MT
Senior Member
Joined: 05/29/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
$50,000 is likely not enough. Your budget should be in the range of 90-100,000. But go look and see what you can find. Be sure you look at "full time" coaches though. Those are the ones with heavy duty construction designed to be lived in full time. I agree with the previous poster about Beaver and Monaco. But IMHO you need to go to the late 90s or early 2000's and get at a minimum one slide. Two is better.
RFCN2
Country Coach
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
|
lj2654
weeki wachee, florida
Senior Member
Joined: 01/26/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
Look,Look and Look! There are many MH's in this range of $50,000...
Iv'e seen some here locally in Florida in the $45000 to 60000 and years 2003-2006...even some diesel pushers in this range. I use Craigslist a lot and see them all the time.....
Good Luck!
2001 Beaver Contessa Naples 40
2005 Honda CRV Toad
retired AirForce
|
Billieg2
Gone from this forum
Senior Member
Joined: 02/28/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
ConnieAndMike wrote:Get yourself a 90-93 Beaver Marque, Monaco Windsor or better. I'm kinda partial to the Beaver. That should set you back 30k or less for a 40 footer.
You want a very high end coach for cheap money. 100k is ok on the mileage but you may find someone with much less. These older coaches where just plain built with better quality material and labor.
But you need to check everything out or have someone who knows do the checklist. You need to also go over all the equipment with the owner so you get a handle on how everything works. Remember to check the dates on the tires. Over 6yrs and figure on replacing them.
Ask any and all questions. Drive it. Do not be scared to ask to drive the coach. If the owner bawks, he is probably hiding something. Take it up a hill and use the jake/pac brake.
My coach was built in the 90's and the fridg, stove, hot water and furnace still work flawlessly. That is 22 years and the new ones have trouble with 22 days/ LOL, please don't flame me.
Mike
The reason you like yours so much is because it's a HR Imperial. We had a 1990 and it was built really well BUT a gasser that old has no slides and will not make it over the mountains pulling a toad. You can't find parts for it (try finding a A/C control, alt or regulator) and at 100k it's ready for an engine rebuild and major suspension work.
If all you can afford is 50k then I'd just buy a nice 5th wheel and enjoy the room and not worry about it.
* This post was
edited 06/13/12 02:14am by Billieg2 *
In my life I've spent my money on women, booze, Harleys, guitars and traveling, the rest I just wasted...
2007 Ford F-350 diesel/dually & Sunnybrook Titan KSRV 39-1 Toy hauler 5th wheel hauling my custom Harley
|
|
|
