Topsblades
Southeast US
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Joined: 03/10/2012
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I think!
I bought it about a month ago from a local used car lot. I ended up paying $3,700 for it. It was a 1992 Coachmen built on a Ford E-250 chassis. It has 37,000 miles on it.
Before I bought it I took it to an RV Repair Service and was told that it would cost me $3,200 to fix the RV systems. The estimate was kind of a wild guess. I paid $140 for it and don't feel like I got what I paid for.
I found another RV Repair Service, Backroads RV out of Auburn, AL. They helped me get my RV on the road.
Here is what I have done so far:
Replaced tires with 10 ply commercial Uniroyals. $640
Replaced the Onan Generator with a rebuilt one in Atlanta. $800
Replaced the Dometic A/C unit with a new Dometic. Both the inside and outside units were replaced. I also added the heat strip. $800
Replaced the shower faucet. $25
Replaced a circuit panel to repair the inverter.
Rebuilt the front end of the transmission and added a heavy duty torque converter. $800
Replaced the throttle switch and had a major tune up, cap, rotor, wires, plugs. $700
Now I have to replace the front shocks and the steering stabilizer.
So for less than $9,000 I have a road worthy Class B. I plan on making several short 200 to 500 mile trips in the next few months. If all goes well I will get serious about a trip from Alabama to Alaska. I love the idea of parking my B along a stream, fishing for salmon.
This could be the trip of a lifetime. I love the idea of the Class B and the ability to travel with a open schedule. If I see a nice place to pull over and spend a night I'll do it.
I am hoping to get at least 14 miles to the gallon. I will spend as much time as possible on backroads and off of the interstate. While I am on the interstate I will trail big rigs so that I can get the benefit of drafting off of them.
I am grateful for the information and guidance that I've been given on this forum.
Thanks,
Rick
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ennajean
Wisconsin
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Joined: 05/19/2006
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Welcome to the B world and happy travels.....
Anne and Dick
DABEE a 2006 Ford Sportsmobile Penthouse top.
States we've camped in.
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gbopp
The Keystone State
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Joined: 08/03/2008
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Thank you for your service to our country.
Enjoy your travels, you have earned it.
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PSW
Oklahoma City
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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Rick, you have been busy! That Coachman is really a good looking machine. Sounds like you are ready to go have some fun. Enjoy the journey.
Paul
PSW
2007 Roadtrek 210 Popular
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goreds2
OH H ..... EYE OH !
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Joined: 09/01/2008
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Topsblades wrote:
I am hoping to get at least 14 miles to the gallon. I will spend as much time as possible on backroads and off of the interstate. While I am on the interstate I will trail big rigs so that I can get the benefit of drafting off of them.
I am grateful for the information and guidance that I've been given on this forum.
Thanks,
Rick It sounds like you have a great life ahead of you. Last year, my boss mentioned the trailing big rigs so that he could get the benefit of drafting off of them for better MPG. I had no idea of this benefit! How far behind a rig do you have to be?
I have also heard the magic number to max out the miles per gallon is 60 MPH or below.
See Picture In My Profile
1990 Dodge XPLORER RV Van- Purchased 10/15/10
Chick Magnet !
* Sportsman GEN154 2000 Watt 80cc Portable Generator *
XM Satellite Radio since 12/25/2004
Sold my Class C 1976 Dodge TEC Motor Home 9/25/10
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Joined: 03/20/2002
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Have you ever seen a tire come off a big rig? Not something I would want to hit me at 60 mph. I stay back a good safe distance from 18 wheelers.
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Horizon170
Jefferson, GA
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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Hey TOP, since I want to see you continue posting I strongly suggest that you rethink the part about drafting 18's.
Marvin
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PSW
Oklahoma City
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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I'll join the crowd: I never get any closer to those big rigs than I absolutely have to and that is to get around them. Or, I just drop back as far as possible. Hot pavement = hot tires = blown tread = a real disaster if you hit a chunk of one of those things. Drive any interstate particularly in the hot days of summer and look at the chunks of debris all over the road or moved to the shoulder.
It ain't worth a (maybe) quarter of a mile per gallon increase in fuel economy. Funerals are really higher than a show dog these days.
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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I think you'll find that, the above valid safety concerns aside, the "cat's paw" batting back & forth you'll take in the truck's wake to be extremely unpleasant.
Jim, "Old fishermen never die, they just smell that way."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory') www.tigervehicles.com
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WilliamKorn
Reno Nevada & Dallas, Texas
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Joined: 05/20/2002
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I was going to scold you about "drafting" but I see that you may have heard enough. So I won't give you the 20 or so reasons not to "draft" 
William Korn
Out West!
williamkorn@msn.com
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