What are you wanting to pay? We picked up a fairly nice 1993 Pursuit 32' Class A for $8K that seems solid after 3K miles. Most any one will suck up $4K plus within the first couple years you own it. For that reason it is better to start with a $10K unit vs. $2K unit because when the dust settles you have something in the 90's with fuel injection and more current technology.
If you are only going to be going to places in a 100 mile range you can get way without fixing them up so much but if you are going to put it over the road the road repairs will kill you which means you need to have it gone through from end to end to increase your odds of success or do it yourself.
Three requirements are a good roof, motor and transmission.
If you will look hard you can find old ones for less than the PO spent on them in the past three years. Some of these can be good values.
Need more info. Do you do your own repairs - do you have mechanical aptitude?
If you don't do any work your self, you will go broke very quick no matter what you buy. If you have moderate mechanical aptitude, I would look at maybe a Barth or Airstream/Argosy. If you have good mechanical ability, you can't beat a Revcon. The reason you need good mechanical ability for the Revcon, is that it uses a custom FWD drivetrain. This mean some shops won't work on it because they have no idea where to get parts. If you do the work yourself, you can either figure it out or ask someone who has been there. Until I replaced my engine I was averaging $1K a year in restoration/repairs. Compared to a thread posted here, the typical outlay to put an older coach in dependable working order ran between $8k to $14K. The higher quality coach you buy, the less your total outlay will be.
BTY: The older Fleetwoods were notorious for delamination. If you find a coach with any delamination, no matter what anyone tells you, walk away
Definitely Barth. The aluminnum-bodied Argosy and Airstream Classics have a devoted cult following; Revcon is another excellent choice. Then there are the GMC's...
Mr. Goate in Sunny California
'05 Airstream Interstate
Suggest getting later model with fuel injection rather than carb, an overdrive transmission over a three speed.
I personally like GM chassis over Ford, but either will do. There are many rigs out there in the early '90s that have good prices.
Watch for de-laminations, patched together roofs ro matter what material.
Hopefully seller has maintenance records.
If I was looking at buying something from the 80's, it would definitely be something that was considered a "high line" motorhome back then. The prices on 20 something year old motorhomes are not that much different between brands, and certain high end models from that era are built extremely well, while others can be falling apart. My parents are now in the process of selling their 1983 Apollo that they have owned for 24 years. It has all steel cage construction and thick fiberglass, including a one piece thick fiberglass roof. All solid wood cabinets, etc. You can definitely see a bid difference in comparing it to a cheaper RV from that time. Other good ones might be Airstream, Sportscoach, Foretravel, etc.
Any RV from the 80's will probably require an owner that is handy and mechanically inclined..
Dan & Tracy
2 kids ages 4 and 6
2003 HR Neptune 36PBD
300 ISB Cummins/5-Speed
Thanks for all the recommendations, I am really trying to stay within budget and it would mostly be used for weekend trips probably not reaching more than 500 miles for the time.
I am pretty capable, although not always knowledgeable, thank whomever you choose for forums. Last year I pretty much rebuilt the 360 in my Ram with the help of forums, if that helps at all with my apptitude.
I would LOVE to get into the 90's or even late 80's but I think the price just might be out of reach for me, maybe it would be best to hold off.
There is an Apollo for sale, seller said the same things, solid wood cabinets, solid frame, ect.
Delamination? Is that the fiberglass peeling away?
1994 Pace Arrow 33L Class A 454 P30 2002 F250 lariet crewcab 4x4 7.3 PSD srw short bed auto 3.73 gears,reese 16k slide hitch,reese brake controller ford factory aic,autometer three guage pod trany temp,pyrometer,turbo boost,banks 4inch monster exhaust,aFe air box,sonnax valve and tri springs,magnafine trans filter,Wicked Wheel,TS flip chip 75/100/125/OMG,03 tt heated/signal mirrors,runningboard leds.Other than that its all stock
2oo4 ground up ridgid chopper 120rwhp http://community.webshots.com/user/oneHD
I personally like the old Airstream aluminum "tubes" like they still have at the cape for the astronauts, and the Argosy's also. I like the carburated versions better than the throttle bodied engines, even with the 3 speed transmission, on the budget you indicate. JMHO....good luck!! and keep us informed.
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