We bought a 2003 Tiffin Phaeton Class A never had a problem with the 10 year rule. It is insured with Good Sams. Solid sturdy construction. We put a fresh coat of paint inside and some other decorative upgrades. Absolutely love it. and no where near the expense of a newer RV
We just purchased a 1999 Class A Diesel Pusher two weeks ago. It is in beautiful condition, super clean, well maintained and we couldn’t be happier! Just over 100,000 miles so it has many, many more miles left to go. The Freightliner chassis is beefy and solid. We think if you can find an older Motorhome in great shape, go for it! We love ours! Oh, and we are living in it full-time as well.
I'm looking to get something similar to what you have gotten but I am worried about roof and other areas of the body leaking etc. Is it true these need to be contstantly maintained?
As with anything else (RV and otherwise) KNOWING yourself and what you want, your intentions and limitations are your first steps. There's at least 5 major systems in every RV: 1) Water/Plumbing, 2) Electrical, 3) HVAC, 4) Electronics 5) Mechanical. If you are unwilling or uncomfortable to build first-hand independent knowledge of ALL these systems (but still want an RV) and think you can buy your way clear of them - BE PREPARED FOR EXASPERATION regardless of how much you paid. Over the past 5 years manufacturers have scaled up production to meet unprecedented demand but all that means is they have to get stuff out faster. About the only place left for manufacturers to lean out production costs is quality control steps - thereby passing the discovery to the dealer. As most dealers have minimal testing facilities this means it's now up to the buyer of a new RV to discover failed components. This vid makes a great point "Where will you be when something goes wrong and you have only a limited availability and locations to resolve these troubles "under warranty." Now, thanks to high-volume (not high-quality) production objectives, warranty servicing is overloaded and you're more likely to be facing long delays, parts shortages and other frustrating limitations. It's a classic case of passing the buck, except in this case it's thousands of bucks ...and buying new means it's all out of YOUR pocket. A used but updated and maintained RV means the previous owner has already found and corrected most of these issues. By buying direct (privately) from the previous owner you can also assess the nature of the individual you're buying from, and most importantly why they're selling. New or Old you're buying problems too, the only question now is how many are now solved with the specific rig you've bought, and how many options are available for you to correct them?
We bought our first RV five years ago. It is a 2006 42' Monaco Dynasty Class A diesel pusher. We thought about going new, but since it was our first RV we decided to go used for a couple of reasons. 1. If we didn't like it it wouldn't cost us as much to get out of it. 2. Our salesman was very honest. He told us that new RV's spend most of the first year in the shop. He said that with a used one the previous owner has worked all the bugs out of it. We have found this to be true. As for the 10 year rule we haven't had an issue. Most parks tell us our motorhome looks new. They ask if we are pulling their leg when we tell them the year. I definitely recommend going used for your first RV.
Happy to hear about your experiences with an older RV. We bought a 20+ year old motorhome because it was cheap enough for us to pay cash and we've put a lot into repairs and upgrades, it was a high end model and in good shape. It's still nowhere near what a new one would cost either. This will last us a good while.
Whether you buy new or used, get the RV inspected BEFORE you buy. I’ve had both new and used, and it just depends on the rig. Two of the same rig (same age, same maker) can be in completely different shape based on how they are used, how careful the previous owner/manufacturer was in maintaining/building the rig. Regardless, they require attention, just like anything else (human body, car, home, relationships). Life and all her bits will always require regular attention.
I've discovered that gently used anything is the way to go. This from someone who used to have more than enough money...until after divorce. In hindsight I see clearly how much money was wasted. Should the good Lord bless me with wealth again, I'd still absolutely go with gently used, hands down.
I have been a subscriber for a long time, watch every video multiple times for tips. I am a 75 year old with a 1995 Monaco which I bought for a ridiculous price a few years ago. Class A diesel pusher with a Cummins engine, not too much different than my Dodge Ram 4500 truck except for being much more accesible. Solid maple wood interior in perfect shape. Changed the mattress and moved in. Thousands of mile later and many adventures I am absolutely sold on the quality and the fun! Thank you for the video
We are not full timers. Our first tv was a older trailer. I was not sure I was into camping but my wife grew up camping. We keep it for over 5 years and doubled our profit and upgraded to a larger. We bought it and it was about 7 years old. It got damaged from a hailstorm and insurance totaled it. Our 3rd rv we also bought used and kept it for about 20 years and just upgraded this last spring. It was still in great shape and we sold it ourselves. We people came to look they could not believe it was 25 years old. It was in very good shape. The wife wanted a bigger trailer since I have retired and are camping a lot more now. I think used is the way to go if you can wait and find what you want it took us about 2 years to find this one. We really enjoy this one.
What you said is all true. Wife and I bought a 2002 Newmar Kountry Star diesel pusher, cummins engine, two slides, four years ago. Everything is manual, except the slide and the electric solenoid on the fuel pump. I do 90% of all the work but when I don't, I go to a frieghtliner shop. In and out normally in one or two days, never to an RV shop. I am the fourth owner, 82,000 miles and $30,000 later it was mine. I allowed $15,000 for new tires, a bumper to bumper check at frieghtliner with all new fluid. In four years I have spent another $15,000, almost new now. We spend three to five months traveling. Is it worth it? Yes. Is it cost effective? I say, what is the value of memories. As seniors with the national park lifetime pass, we stay 50% off. We also dry camp more often now, memories. If you like nature, don't wait. I recommend used class A diesel before 2010, for many reasons. Happy trails.
This video resonates with me. We purchased a 20 year old Fleetwood Discovery diesel pusher with 79K on the odometer. We are mainly weekend campers and maintain a sticks and brick home too. We paid cash and perform most of the repairs and maintenance ourselves. And as you mentioned, the build quality is outstanding. All of our furniture is covered in real leather, and our cabinets and doors are made of real wood.
Some were built better. Look for something that was high end in it's day. There are certain brands and levels of quality that I would stick to. Then have an inspection done by a third party who checks EVERYTHING. Never take a dealer's word for something and never sign on the dotted line until all repairs have been made. Don't think that just because it's a new RV everything is perfect. Quality in the RV industry has gotten very bad. Do your research.
Great video, and its true. I bought a 2002 Holiday Rambler Imperial back in 2007. Its now 21 years old and was built on the Monaco S chassis (Semi Monocoque). We have driven all over the US several times over. My total repairs add up to about $2000 over the 20 years. It now has very close to 200,000 miles and continues to run and drive like a dream. I have had 6 motorhomes before this one, non came close. We have also upgraded the technology, even adding a WiFi connected monitor and control so I can see tank levels on my phone, operate lights and slides. Still looks good and have never been turned away from a campground after inspection.
We bought our first rv last year (2022)and it was 20 years old. My husband is a fantastic mechanic. He has put about 10 thousand dollars in parts and repairs. We plan on retiring next year and traveling more.
Well done!! We bought our first RV (class C) in 1993.. it was 20 years okd and had been a former boss’s (he passed. we bought it from his widow who never went into it ) it was his HUNTING/ FISHING ‘cabin’😜 We had 3 young ones. It was a challenge! It had the true orange SHAG carpeting etc😂 It has been some of the most funny memories our kids have🤷♀️ When baby #4 came along we went to a 36’ TT (no slides) that one I had the most fun in. Blessings on your new adventures!!
Great video! Yup, agree with the pros and cons of new vs. used, pretty accurate assessment guys! In December 2020, literally on the last day of the year, we purchased a model year leftover (2020) Newmar Dutch Star, which we absolutely love. However, the dreaded DEF head failure reared its ugly head shortly afterwards, fortunately while still under warranty, otherwise that would have been a hefty bill. But even going forward, given the highly publicized and well-known high failure rate of DEF heads, the issue is always in the back of my mind. What a ridiculous emissions solution - derate the engine of a 50,000 pound coach down so that it will only go 5 mph in the middle of an interstate highway while surrounded by heavy traffic! The system response to a DEF head failure is worse than the failure itself, people can be killed because of this, absolutely asinine! I have written to local and state representatives about this issue until I'm sure they are tired of hearing from me - GRRRR! But I digress, there are many advantages to buying used, but no matter which way you go, my advice is to ALWAYS hire an RV inspector, even if buying new, heck, especially if buying new!
Agree with you 100% - We have a 2004 40' Newmar Mountain Aire and love how simple it is. If I could have bought one with roll up windows I would have. I got to upgrade all the components with what i wanted. We have been full time in it for 1 1/2 years. Why I choose older: Pre-DEF, issues worked out, upgraded everything with what works for us, Cost (10% invested on what the same model would be new). The 10 year rule has never been an issue for us. We only use campgrounds and typically stay a week to a month. They key is finding one with good bones. Appreciate your videos!
We too bought a 2002 Safari diesel pusher. Solid wood cabinets, built like a beast. We have the CAT engine that can go forever. Sad part is we have to sell due to health. But loved the trips we went on.
Man the safari’s are beautiful and having the cat engine is huge in my opinion. We looked at a few safari’s before ultimately decided with all the modifications we were going to need to make, our current coach was the right decision.
We also have a 20+ year old gasser rv. Our rv sat up several years in overhead storage before we bought it. We had lots of work to do before we could start making trips like complete roof coverage, shower drain leak’s repair, replacing hot water tanks, awning replacement, step motor replacement, leveling fluid leaks and all 6 tire replacements. Yes, the work took over 4 months to complete but she is completely dependable. I just believe that the older models are just put together differently but the newer models have a lot more bells and whistles. Thank you for all your great videos of information and how to do it yourself.
We bought “Lola” a couple of years ago when I was still in competitive horseback riding. I no longer compete but we kept Lola because we love camping. She’s 20 and we just finished interior renovation (had a pack rat 🤬) and took her out for our 1st trip since and she is fantastic!! She’s a coachman 38’ diesel pusher with Solar and all the amenities. We totally agree about the older coaches. Anyone that has worked on her has said the same thing you were talking about in regards to craftsmanship and being well built. They just don’t build them like this anymore. Thank you for addressing the “10 yr rule” we where worried about that. “Lola” looks great and is well taken care of. Thanks for the great videos. We are new to RV life and while we may not be full time we are starting to really enjoy it when we can. Thanks again for all the great tips for us “ newbie’s”
I am SDOOO glad to hear this! I just bought a 2005 Jayco Greyhawk! And, per your recommendation, I am taking the NRVTA training. I am a 60-year-old Nana with a handicapped husband, and we decided to go for it!
I’m so thrilled to hear you aren’t letting whatever is going on with your husband stop you from doing what you want to do. People ask us “what if” & we just say, you work with it & ensure the needs are met. It’s just as easy to take diabetic medication in a RV as it is in a house. Rare that accommodations can’t be made.
Great video. Do you know if trailers vs RVs have the same rule about “age appropriate” in campgrounds? I found a 1972 vintage but after watching your video it made me question if this would be a wise decision for being able to park in RV parks throughout the US. Thank you.
Good for y’all! You’ll have a blast! I just took the NRTVA class for owners, and it was great: you can’t find better people ANYWHERE! I’m 64 and my husband is 76 and disabled, and we will hit the road on Dec 1! God bless y’all!
We chose an older class A for many of the same reasons you mentioned - Living debt free is important to us, as it is to you, so an older rig allowed us to pay cash for a 2000 Foretravel U320 and leave us enough for repairs and upgrades including 4,7000 watts of solar and large battery bank. Grateful we don't need to plug in, when moochdocking or boondocking... and we can avoid RV parks, 10 year rule or not (though it's never been an issue for us) Thank you for sharing the many benefits of older RV's!
My husband and I both believe that new is not the way to go. Especially after covid. The quality of vehicles, both small vehicles and RVs just isn't what it used to be. We bought a 2017 Tiffin Bus last year. Yes, the price was more than we wanted to pay, but it was exactly what we wanted for his retirement. We will be going full time in 7 months. We couldn't be happier. Hope to see you out there some time!
We bought a 2005 Fleetwood Terra 32' Class A in 2018 due to its affordability. Other than a blow-out (took two 2yo tires with 10k on them) we've experienced what I would consider normal maintenance items. I will say however that it helps to have mechanical/electrical experience as with any older vehicle, PM's are a must. Just sealed all the windows & roof penetrations & am I'm now working on the KwiKee power step having a mind of its own. With the tire blowout ($1500 for roadside repair with 2 new tires!) we're at $400/year for maintenance costs. Not considering the blowout we're at $150/year including new master cylinder, brakes & rear calipers this year. I vote for used as ours will go another 10 years easily with our big gas 8.1L & 44k on the ODO.
We have owned a 1979 Airstream trailer for the past 19 years. Previous owners took good care of it and we continue that tradition. Have been almost coast to coast with it, though are not full timers. There have only been a few times when we have stayed at parks with age limits, and when I told them over the phone that we had a vintage Airstream they said no problem. When we showed up the only inspection given was a quick glance out the office window. State and National parks don't have such rules, and we stay at those a lot. Sometimes they only have electric hookup, but we can deal with that, considering sites are usually generously spaced and there are a lot of trees. Regarding older RVs, over the years I have seen so many, of all types, that looked trashy when all it would take is a few weekends of TLC to get them looking good. Spray paint the rusty hitch, bumper, and wheels. Replace the broken or missing lenses on a few marker lights, give it a thorough wash, and people would be complimenting the owners on their 'restored' classic.
We have a 2007 Exel 5th Wheel and LOVE IT. I am a HUGE advocate of older RVs for the very reason you describe. They were built BETTER. Yes, we are heavier and have less storage in the belly than new 5th wheels, but I have yet to see a floor plan I like better and I am AMAZED by our trailer's beauty and quality every single time we take her out! I LOVE your videos and your RV!
We bought a 24 year old RV and love it! Nothing is really digital, it's been very well maintained through it's life and relatively low mileage. The construction is FAR superior to the new models on the market right now. Kitchen grade cabinetry, solid frame and drivetrain and we need only basic tools to work on it if need be. My advice to any new RV'er is to find an older, more simple model and "train" on that until you really know what you want or need without breaking the bank!
I bought a 5 year old well built 2000 Bounder and kept it for 14 years. My current rig is a 2016 Monaco TREK purchased in 2018. Very well built. I am a solo full timer and have added many upgrades to make my home comfortable and work for me. Good maintenance and full body paint makes it look like a new rig.
I have a 2001 newmar dutch star that i bought in 2005 and I've NEVER had one issue at all. I've replaced tires, batteries and just updated interior. I've never been broken down knock on wood. All my friends that but "new rv's" have nothing but problems so no thank you. Newmar, monaco, holiday rambler you can't go wrong but also have to be properly maintained. Great video and happy for you guys 😊
It would be nice to have full hook up campgrounds that have a lot of trees and remote feel like most national forest and parks campgrounds, and less like a glorified walmart parking lot. They are so rare. One of our lottery dreams lol
I want to comment that the "old RVs are better" rule applies to Class B RVs, too. I bought a 16-year-old Class B, and after seeing so many videos about bad quality in new Class B's, I can attest that, in general, quality was substantially better before 2008. Many of the later problems have to do with the recession, technology, the electronics, and complexity and, in diesels, DEF and other emissions systems. Older RVs are simpler with many fewer potential points of failure. I have had to do some of the expected normal wear and tear repairs but nothing compared to the total failures and disasters of some newer Class B vans. All major components worked perfectly upon my purchase and still do. Even those components, like fridge, A/C, furnace, water heater, etc. were built better back then. The "upgrades" that new RVs have are because those components are cheaper for manufacturers to buy, but the RV manufacturers and dealers make you think the newer components are better. For example, a 12-volt compressor fridge is a fraction of the cost of an absorption fridge, and my absorption fridge works very well and has no moving internal parts. Since RV manufacturers are pushing induction stove tops, they also have to push electric power and, therefore, lithium batteries and solar charging. Propane is a magnificent, clean, safe, efficient, and inexpensive fuel. Propane generators are expensive, so RV manufacturers try to brag about "no generator." With my "old" RV having a propane generator, a permanent propane tank, propane stove, 3-way fridge, propane furnace, propane water heater, convection microwave, and 120V A/C, I'm certain it costed more to build than a new hi-tech RV with lithium batteries, solar panels, compressor fridge, and an "underhood generator." That's what RV manufacturers are going for, the higher profit margin. How else could they start slashing prices by $100,000 at the end of the year? That proves how much people have overpaid. People with money to buy the glamour and glitz can have it as I tool around in my reliable and super-functional "old" RV. I'll give them a lift or jump start any time. People are supporting the corrupt RV industry by being suckers. I got questioned about the age of my RV only once, which became a non-issue after sending photos. I'd like to see how well today's new RVs endure for the next 15 years, or even 10. I bet you won't see many of them on the road.
Used - look for a well maintained low mileage. We bought a 2003 Bounder in 2015 0nly 36,000 verified miles, looked great, no leaks never a mechanical problem and used it for 5 years. We paid a rousing 35,000 dollars, we updated and added items. Storage was great. We sold it in even better condition for 29,000 dollars. We sold it within 2 days of listing it. We did add an Extended Warranty (service contract actually from USAA) never needed it. We did all the upgrades ourselves. We did have a mobile service do our regular oil changes, etc (even though I could have done them, (mechanic for many years) We also found mobile detailing services where we went, so it always looked like new. Met many people who wished they had bought used first, found what they liked before buying new and were disappointed.
We just bought a 2007 Tiffin Allegro Bus. Used is the way to go. It’s our 2nd RV we’ve owned. You’d be surprised how nice the older ones are when taken care of. On both, never had an issue of the 10 year rule.
We also have a 23 year old RV. It's a Tradewinds RV by National that went out of business years ago. My husband is a mechanic so he does it all. The only problem we have is finding some parts that have been discontinued or the the company that built the parts have gone out of business. We just ran into one problem with a plastic cover over the heater core and evaporator core. The cover was disintegrated. The manufacturer that made them went out of business, we tried to go to a salvage yard and they charged $600 for the part because it is now "RARE". My husband then decided to build it himself out of old metal from a furnace that he saved. It took him 2 weeks to make. It is true that our RV is made really well and everything is simple to fix. We have oak cabinets that are real wood and Corian countertops that are original in it and we remodeled it the way we wanted and that's all we need. Love your channel!!!!!
we own a 99' Tradewinds from National and we love the quality of construction. Solid CAT diesel engine with and Alison transmission - sure is fun passing folks on those mountain passes! I agree that being basic even I can work on most things inside with some (TH-cam support of course - Hillbilly RV and AZExpert have been very helpful). As far as the 10yr rule, we too have had very few experiences with that and when we did they only asked for a picture in advance of accepting our reservation - no problem... Have we had break downs? you bet $3k for a broken air compressor line which included a tow but because its diesel a truck repair shop in Quanah Texas (thank you 287 Diesel Service!) quickly had us up and running (3 days whilst we stayed in the rig in the truck yard with power and water) would see that at any Ford dealership.
We went FT 5 years ago in a 99 National Tropical. Buying it was the best decision we ever made. We haven't had any drivetrain problems to date. Sure, we've had many minor issues, but it has never seen the inside of a repair shop as we have been able to fix them all ourselves. Luckily our roadside assistance plan has remained unused so far. It is indeed well made. We have a gasser, so won't be passing many folks in the mountains, but we haven't found a grade we couldn't climb yet - and believe me, we've tried. We like to boondock most of the time and really appreciate the lighter weight of a gasser when taking it down muddy, rutted fire roads, through pastures or across sand washes.
We bought a 2004 Triple E Commander 32' gas. We bought it in 2020 with 38,000 kms on it. We love it and the workmanship is outstanding. We have one 'pass through' bin. Older SOLID units are the way to go. 🇨🇦
I think a determining fact is that the cost of new to newer, those under 5 years old, being as much as a sticks & bricks home. There are a lot of older RVs that have been well taken care of, probably not updated, but that's lipstick & rouge. I've also seen where people are painting & rewrapping the exterior so that it looks newer which makes getting in to age restricted campgrounds easier.
Used. We bought our RV(We are the 2nd owners) in 2016 also. It's a 2003 Newmar Dutch Star DP. It had 45k miles on it. It's a 3803 (39')model with full size bath tub and shower combo. The tub is slightly smaller than our home tub/shower. Being a 2003, no DEF, no DPF(diesel particulate filter) it's has a CAT 3126E 330 HP engine and has plenty of power. We have 2 full pass thru compartments(around 45,"wide, electric Glendenning Marine cord reel, 2 13500 Dometic Penguin Heat Pumps, 10 gallon electric/propane water heater and 40 gallon(32 usable) propane tank, Extra,freezer or refrigerator (12v or 120) located in the 1st bay next to entry door on a slide out. We also have a washer/dryer combo. We love it and Newmar has been a pleasure to work with whenever we need something. Safe travels, love y'all's channel.
All great points and well presented. We're back in the market for an RV and would NEVER consider buying new. Lots of friends have and all of them had huge issues from the jump. At the moment, I'm it borrowed/rented RV now snowbirding at a park in Parker, AZ and talked to them about the age limit. They said the same as you, send pics and if it's nice, you're in. As you suggested, I'll find a 10-15 year old RV that's been well maintained, upgrade to meet our needs and I'm sure we'll be as happy with the choice as you are. Thanks for a great motivational/inspirational vid!
We have really enjoyed your videos and honesty. I love that you’re Dave Ramsey followers with NO debt. That is how we live also and another great reason why we follow you. We watched this video last night and I keep thinking about it and I just opened it up to put a response on here and LOVED hearing everyone sharing their thoughts and experiences also. We have a 2004 Simba Safari Monaco gas 34 ft. It has been GREAT. My husband is about to retire and we are planning on going full time and was really considering to move up to a 2014 or 2017 and after watching and reading these comments it has really made me reconsider. I thank you for sharing this information on your opinion and everyone else’s comments too. We have a 2011 Ford Explorer and we are able to pull it but haven’t done it yet. Has anyone on here have an older RV and pulls something as big as an Explorer. Of course we do cash with everything and we have such low miles on our car we would never get back a good price if we sell it. Anyway, this is a long response from me, but I truly appreciate this video. I hope you do another one like this. I’d love for you to do a meet up with RV owners with older models and we can compare and chit chat about something we all have in common. ❤😊 I’ll see you on the next video or see you on the road 😜
Thanks so much for the comment and for watching! We are planning on selling our Jeep and getting a suburban or Yukon XL for a tow vehicle as our family has outgrown our Jeep. So we will eventually be towing something larger. Maybe we will see you out there sometime! We are working on next summer’s caravan so stay tuned….
We bought a 2006 Country Coach Inspire, absolutely LOVE it. Purchased from Premier Rv of Oregon, best place for service and purchase. Unit has a Cat C9, tows a F150 with no problem.
Used all day long. Having a NRVIA Inspection is a must before purchasing though. Bought a 2005 Itasca Class-A Gasser June of 2022, and like you said, have not run into any weight issues even with full tanks and towing a car. Storage is different then the pass throughs, however, we are not even close to maximizing our open space. Finally, you can update the Chassis, Electrical, Entertainment and Living area's however you want and not have to worry about re-sale values. We have a quote for full body paint ($18k). Even with that expense, we will be under $60k in total dollars invested. That's the same amount of money that 30 monthly payments of a 15-year loan (180 months) will run you for a similarly equipped brand new Class-A coach. ;-)
My buddy bought an RV brand new, nothing but complaints and problems. I advised him to rent one for the ONE trip a year but he insisted on getting his own. Noises, problem with the finish, software issues, hassle with the shop and dealing with the warranty... I actually said I told you. Old stuff is better.
Excellent presentation, 100% agree with your Old vs New thinking. To expand on the warranty thing, not just time and / or travel to get it done, but with the supply chain still messed up, you could wait weeks or even months for the parts. As an example, two of my Wife's recent vehicles (2017 Taurus and 2018 F150) had touchscreens go bad. Could not adjust the HVAC at all other than fan speed. Took weeks to get the displays and then have them installed and programmed. Last November, my 2018 Transit 250 was ready to retire (I spend an inordinate amount of time on the road). With a similar replacement looking like 50 or 60 grand, I decided to go back to my roots, and kind of paralleled what you did. Found myself a 1986 Chevrolet P32 Stepvan (Same chassis as was used on the Motor Homes of the day). It was in outstanding condition from a body standpoint, did a really good inspection of the major systems, and bought it. I knew what was good, what would need attention in the near future , and what needed immediate attention. I have a fully functional service vehicle, and I'm only into it for $10,000. That includes new tires and rims, a tuneup, and a Carburetor and manifold swap. No emissions equipment to maintain whatsoever, not even Catalytic Converters. I'm installing many of the same things you spoke of as time / money allow. Dual battery system, 12v a/c , power ports, etc. Maybe even EFI. If you can find them, and do a thorough evaluation yourself, great. If not, have a competent mechanic you trust go over it. No guarantees that there won't be problems, but those that do crop up won't cost you nearly what the new stuff will.
First I want to thank you for your channel. My husband and I purchased a used 2006 itasca Cambria 2 years ago and paid cash. We needed to make some repairs normal wear and tear, generator tires. Our girl runs fabulously and is this perfect size for the two of us and our 17 pound Havanese. I have been watching your channel the past few weeks in preparation for a 2 month trip this spring. I figured full timers would give me an idea of what I can expect and know how to pack. thank you for the great ideas. I am enjoying your channel. Happy travels. Hope to see you on the road.😎
We bought a Newmar MountainAire 2000 with under 30,000 miles last year. Added the features that I wanted, did not pay for 'pile on' options. Solid construction and quality materials were the reason that we chose to buy this unit. Got a great deal on the price as well.
I agree with you, I think the quality was better years ago. We've owned 2 class A's a class C and we bought a travel trailer in 2020. The best was the used class C that we bought, no problems! The dealerships don't do warranty work very promptly or very successfully.
We bought a 2000 fleetwood southwind 34n We paid 14k. for it. Some things where upgraded some not. It sits on a f53 chassis it is gasoline. It is however a V10 so sometimes she takes a bit to get there on hills but she flat scoots. What weve had to fix and upgrade one was the kitchn faucet. It dripped no matter what we did to it. I even put new seals in it. So we went to walmart and bought a wand style faucet. Wife loves it. The door switch on the microwave went out. So we decided to go convection up graded the size as well. Front ac compressor went out. Bought a new unit (So far the most expensive) bought the same unit and then bought soft starts for it and the rear unit. While we where at it we checked the rear unit and it was replaced last year by the codes on it. Weve owned this rig since labor day weekend. There are a lot of things we want to do to our rig. Thanks for the 40 item must haves. Oh yeah first tjing we did was put a real mattres in the bedroom. Tjis our full time home.
agree, in 2015 we bought our first class A to replace our 17 year old Pop up camper that we used and abused to total destruction with our 8 kids. The Class A was a 1998 Winnebago Luxor, Winnie's attempt to enter the high end luxury RV market in 95 to 98. Yes very well built. But fix, fix, fix. when the walls started to come off the frame I gave it to my daughter and spent 3 years trying to find something smaller than a 40' Diesel pusher. Finally bought a 2019 Jayco Seneca on the Freightliner S2RV chassis. bought it with 11,000 miles on it last year and now 33,000. The quality of the chassis alone makes it worth it. the interior, beautiful but of course under the varnish, cheap cheap wood products. But we love it. wanted pre covid manufacturing . very happy with it except of course the ride, (gravel truck) and the noise of the engine, and when the fan clutch kicks in , what a joke. But we think for now its the best of both worlds.
Completely agree 👍 with buying an older Motorcoach, yes. Husband and I own an "oldie but goodie" Newmar Dutch Star Motorcoach and couldn't be happier. We looked at many before buying and quickly saw the quality of construction being better than the newer ones. We also own a Vintage 19ft Airstream bumper pull travel trailer. Both have been "GEMS 💎 " providing years of enjoyment for us.
Great advice and insights! Used is the way to go - warranties a pain to use and buying used helps to have the previous owners deal with the initial issues that occur with most RVs. I bought a 2008 fifth wheel and although it looks dated, it's pretty solid and built a lot heavier than a lot of the newer, lighter fifth wheels.
I bought my 1st rv 2 years ago , it's a 1997 dolphin (Ford chassis) I really like my rv, yes it has some problems, so it needs some maintenance. I don't mind nothing crazy expensive , it's paid for and I work on it in my spare time. Too bad the manufacturer went out of business in 2009. It is always good to find good sources of help. Stay safe on the road.
We bought a 2006 Fleetwood Providence 39L last winter after losing our home in Ft. Myers due to IAN. We have never RV'd ...but why not...so over the past 7 months, we have been rehabbing, learning etc. And we paid cash!!! So we are off to Ft. Myers in November to start the adventure!! Hopefully to the Keys next season!!! Great Channel!
Thanks for this! The more videos I watch of other people buying older RVs the more confident I feel about buying my first one, which is going to be used. :)
You nailed it… with a used one, either the problems will have already been fixed or they will be painfully obvious. With new, they WILL have problems, you just don’t know where and when and how bad they will be. AND who knows if the problems will even rear their heads before the warranty is up?
I LOVE my 1998 C class! I'm not a full timer and primarily use it when I race on the weekends. At my leisure I completely renovated the interior and friends with newer RV's prefer set up. The only thing left to do is to paint the exterior so it looks as good outside as it is inside!
We live full time in a 26 year old class A and started 2 years ago. Paid 10K cash and still going strong. Our coach gets by the 10 and 20 year rules because it is in great shape and maintained. Sometimes they request pictures and that works.
We purchased a 2002 Fleetwood Bounder 39Z diesel pusher almost 3 years ago. It had problems from sirring because the former owner had cancer for a while. We puchased it from a familt friend and love it. It was inexpensive, but then we have put in over $20k in repairs and upgrades. Love it not having to deal with the DEF issue. Plus ours is built on a Freightliner chassis.
I bought a new 2004 Winnebago but that is when they made them well. Today would buy used. Owned it 20 years now and have had almost no issues with almost a 100K on it with lots of miles left in it.
We bought a 2005 Newmar and have had endless problems. It was a great deal, we thought. I can say we've had no problem due to the age of it when staying at campgrounds. They ask for pictures and it's been no problem.
we bought a used motorhome also and have to this day not regretted it. Of course, there was upgrades to be made as well. But the expense as DIY. Our coach has well worth the expense of the upgrades and has made it our home away from home.
I am getting ready to venture into the RV Lifestyle. I have already purchased an older 1991 Fleetwood Flair 22 foot long Fully Self Contained Class A Gas Motorhome, with no slides. The Coach has the Ford 460 Engine, and it only has 18,000 miles on it. It has a 4000 Watt Onan Gen Set, which only has 79 hours on the hour meter. I found the Coach locally within a 30 mile radius of where I live, and the price I paid for the Coach was $2,500.00. It does need a bit of repair work, but overall, at the end of the day, it was a once in a lifetime deal that will never come along again. The Coach does not have any current leaks in the roof, but it does have a small bit of leak damage inside, which is currently being repaired. The other repairs it needs are just your typical items that do require periodical replacement. Belts on the engine, a bit of brake work from the Coach having been sitting unmoved for the past 9 months, and maybe a tire or 2 here, and there. It has a 50 gallon fresh water tank, and both the black, and gray water tanks are 37 gallons each. The fuel tank is 38 gallons. The Gen Set also runs off the fuel from the main fuel tank. Interior features include a single drop down bed above the front driver/passenger area.. Ahuge dinette that also drops down into a double bed, a full kitchen, with a stainless steel double bay sink, a 4 burner propane kitchen stove with oven, a convection microwave oven, and a huge fridge /freezer. It also has a full bathroom, with a Shower, and a double corner bed in the rear. There is also a huge wardrobe Closet next to the bathroom, which I plan on rebuilding into a Pantry/Closet Configuration. Last, but not least, the Coach has a 30 amp electrical system, and a rooftop a/c unit.
In 2016 we wanted to try RVing for dog shows. Bought a quality 20 year old class A gas. Enjoyed it until we constantly ran into the problem with obsolete parts. After four years we sold it and moved up to a 2013 class A gas. We picked 2013 because it was before schwintek slides and computerized lighting controls; love simpler things like regular old switches. No warranty or service plans for either rig. The 1996 is a much better build than 2013. I would never buy new because I want to spend more time camping and not be in for repairs. No one is building a quality class A that is simple. We like our propane fridge and old fashioned wall switches. We will keep ours another ten years minimum - until parts are obsolete. 😊
After having bought a new gas Class A in 2017 and spent a substantial amount in upgrading the chassis I would now rather buy a used Class A Diesel or if available a gas RV with liquid springs. That said, we will keep our Newmar Canyon Star as Long as it lasts as it has given us little headache and now drives great.
We bought a new Dynamax REV, went through warranty nightmare, had fun and learned alot; sold it at peak for same amount 2 years later. Now have a class C 2005 29ft Bigfoot motorhome, they don't make the MH anymore; it is incredibly well built 4 season and work on it our own or use RV techs. Like you, we have done a lot of mods- yes Victron and 824 amp hrs, we love Sasquatch. Would love to have full body paint.
I bought a 1978 Nomad 22' travel trailer. It was only $300 and I figured for that money, if all i get is trailer and tin and have to build a brand new RV on the trailer, I"m ahead of the game. That is indeed all I got as once the walls came out it, it became apparent that the frame was sawdust and it collapsed. I have since built a brand new to my specifications RV on the trailer and wrapped it in the vintage tin. Once I fabricate wheel covers and paint it, it should look fantastic on the outside, which is really what those parks care about. Inside, we're talking a little sci-fi space ship interior. I'm an engineer, so I was able to build in an obscene amount of technology and make sure everything was functional specifically for ME. I don't think I have another ground up build in me, but this was fun and it's comfy to live in. My youngest is coming out this weekend to help me calibrate the sonar sensors. :-) Whenever I travel (post paint), I'll tell the people it's a 2022 Nomad - because IT IS!
14 years ago, I bought a 2000 Tioga c class 24 footer, from the old couple that bought it new. 18,000 miles at the time. Now has about 42,000 on it. I don't travel too far, to use it. I'm into dirt bikes, so I take it on less than good roads, but take it easy. I tow a 16 foot box trailer with bikes and tools, etc. It has no slides, or fancy electronics...not even a TV. I maintain it myself, and it is pretty straightforward, for a gear head. Never had a breakdown, or problems with it. I have many friends who have opted to buy newer, fancier units, and they are constant money pits. Older, simpler units, that have been maintained, and stored properly, are gold. I have been offered twice what I paid for mine, multiple times, by people who fell for the new gadget traps, and regret it. Can't stay in the 10 year rule campgrounds, and I'm not interested in staying there anyway. Lots of snobs, and phonies flexing about how much they spent for their gadgets. To me, RVs are about getting away from people, not hanging out in a country club. Find a nice old RV, and enjoy a campfire, instead of satellite internet, and rich douchbags. 😀
My class C is almost 25 yrs old and still doing great. Ive never had an issue getting in a park. Its been well maintained and kept clean. I almost sold it right before covid started to get a newer one . After seeing the problems with covid era rv's I'm sure glad I didnt do it.
we have a 2010 Coachman Mirada 36DS and...we adore it. We've been able to make changes in it, like building a workspace with computer desks and it's been a fantastic RV, we had a newer one and didn't like it anywhere near as much and we even have TWO bathrooms in this RV!
Great video. I wholeheartedly agree with buying used, and from a private party. Any way to avoid the dealer is the way to go. I agree with your warranty argument. The warranty is only as good as the company backing it up and how the service gets delivered.
Over the years I have owned both class C and class A motorhomes and have always bought used and never even considered a new RV as they lose so much value in its first ten years of aging. Also as far as manufacturing issues let the original owner deal with the headaches of getting all of the bugs worked out and honestly I really have not had many major issues out of the used RV's I have owned. Now I will say that all of the units I owned were gas powered as the diesel powered pushers although desirable were at a price point above where I wanted to venture and all RV's I owned in the past would be over 20 years old currently. I had a Pace Arrow class A that was really nice but honestly I can say that not camping with pets or kids that I enjoyed the maneuverability and ease of availability of smaller campsites for the class C the best. Also in my younger years I was a pretty capable wrench and able to pretty much take care of any needed repairs or maintenance whether it be in the drivetrain or the house including electrical and plumbing issues which is a big money and headache saver and also eliminates some of the fear of owning an older unit. And as far as the campgrounds that are more interested in banning a RV based on the year of manufacturer rather than the condition of the actual unit those types of places I would happily avoid as they probably cater more to those I would have little in common with and not the types of folks I prefer to be around anyway.
2000 Fleetwood American Dream, so far it has surprised me as to how solid its built. The used market has surprised me a lot. Keep them up and maintained and it will be in high demand.
We Have a 19194 Odessa Custom coach with an 8.3L Cummins paired with an Allison 6-Speed world Transmission and we have very few problems! It rolls down the road like Thunder!
Great video I can’t agree more with everything you say. We bought 8 years ago gulf-stream 04 BT cruiser. Outside it needing a slight detailing which I do on side it came back to brand new. It only had 26k miles on it and on e 450 v10 Only issues we had were calipers which froze and I myself took towed car and bought them at auto parts and changed them myself in parking lot where they froze up . I carry tool and electric impact wrench with 12 bottle jack. Using generator impact wrench spins off wheels I can change a dually tire in 15 min if need be. But all the years we had her that’s only issue we had . The inside of coach was a nice factory inside but I upgraded a lot to make it a real upgraded leather coach. Wood floors which I added heat under them plus 500 watts solar and many more. Plus when not used it’s garaged. This coach inside and out is a show piece it’s a hobby for me to keep it new looking it’s never dirty even on the road. We have same story with that 15 year rule and when I pull up at campgrounds and they see it I always hear its cleaner olthen most newer ones. The money we saved and the fact I and I keep it well maintained We retired 2 years ago and buying it when we did and all the upgrades we safely go anywhere for as long and can Boondock as well. Buying used and the older units like you say are way better made with better materials a lot if solid oak I even added granite countertops. She’s a show piece that has saved us thousands verse buying new. She only has 45k miles and have many years of adventures.
My dad told me don't buy anything that you can work on, my 5 th wheel is a 2005 we just put in a new slide floor, and I have fixed about everything on it. So your on the right path. 👍👍
Bought our 2013 used tiffin allegro open road red and love it. We actually have lots of cabinets throughout with 4 slide outs. I sell Tupperware and have plenty of under bay storage too. Making a few cosmetic changes but love it. Enjoying our travels.
We are still driving a 1990 Fleetwood Limited (top of the line in their day), and it has been my hobby. I'm an old hot rodder! All oak cabinetry and 1st class construction you won't find in the new ones. We bought it second hand in 1997 from an old couple who barely used it. We've crossed the USA 5 times in it. Then, one day, I decided it needed more power. So out comes the gas guzzling EFI Ford 460 big block and in goes the 396 cu in turbo diesel. Basically it went from 220 hp to 450 hp as the short version. 6 mpg to 14 mpg. It's only 18K lbs.... I am about to do a wrap on it to modernize the exterior after I finish the inside upgrades. It will rival a $1M rig when I'm through. It would be nice to upgrade to a 2007 with slide, but since there are only 2 of us and it's got all we need, I'm sticking with this one. There are too many mods to list.
I personally prefer used, and can remodel.went with friends to travel in brand new fifth wheel their mini mansion 😊 once we setup at campground, opened up slides ready to relax turn on the fireplace just for ambiance ,from the travel it shifted and came out of wall.eek.then a window in slide-out was not sealed. Just was not built so great. I had a 24ft old Shasta (my childhood camper purchased from parents).loved, loved it..
We purchased a 2003 class C three years ago and have never regretted it. Not only were we able to pay for it in cash because of its age the insurance is much, much less and the licensing is 1/38th of what our neighbors just paid to put a plate on their brand new C class. That’s a lot of fuel that has allowed us to use and enjoy our motorhome. We did some upgrades like a memory gel mattress, an electric awning, TPMS and backup camera and then hit the road. It’s just the two of us so the size is not an issue. We did encounter one campground that specified no exceptions to an “eight year rule” but had no problems finding another campground that welcomed us just miles down the road. These rigs do not appreciate in value over time so why lose more of your investment than you need to?
I bought a 32 ft 2002 National with 11k miles and a Ford V10. Love it. Have never regretted getting it. Tilly, my tiltin Hilton has taken me 12k miles in the past 2 winters snowbirding. 😊
We just bought a 2005 30k mile, Winne. I can relate to everything you say here. We currently have it in an RV shop getting a thorough checkup. New tires, and all the systems checked. This is our starter Motorhome, and we are in it at a reasonable level, enough so that we can put some money back into it. The worry is what we don’t know, but baby steps!
We have owned both. 2 new tt and 1 used c class. Currently in the c class. Used money goes father. New units clean and fresh. Both require maintenance. Very happy with all 3. Use requirements was a deciding factor.
USED!! My mom and dad had a $100k motorhome and kept it in their pole barn. It was immaculate and when they sold it after 20 years it looked brand new! The new owners were AMAZED at the condition. ALSO: you can cruise the Palm Springs and Palm Desert area and find motorhomes for sale at very reasonable prices. Sadly, when an old person dies and the spouse is left behind they sell the motorhome at a very good price when the living spouse just wants to sell all of it off and fly home.
We love our 17 year old Bounder 35 E ! We are super fortunate the former owners took very good care in maintaining it. While I'm not a skilled mechanic , with help from You Tube , a very knowledgeable and friendly lead tech who seems to always have time to give suggestions , and a bit of reasoning on my own , I fix most all our problems. As to quality of older over new , I must agree with you. Having walked through a number of models built after 2020 , I am surprised by the general decline in attention to detail and quality of materials. Just my two ( four if you tack on inflation ) cents worth. Love all your videos. Happy trails to the Grateful Glampers !
There seem to be two main camps of Rvers- those who would never consider used, are afraid of anything being out of warranty, and those who are looking for the best bang for the buck. Considering there's a 20-30% depreciation hit when you drive a new one off the lot, I would suggest a quality used unit is the way to go. Whether new or used, having it inspected by a third-party RV expert will be the best money you ever spend.
I have had and am on my fourth Bounder, and mine is 20 years old but it has low miles, and is in great condition and the reason I keep going back to Fleetwood and Bounder is because of just how amazingly well built they are for an RV. Of course nothing is perfect, these are all made by humans but when you walk in my Bounder compared to my 2019 Jayco you can immediately tell the difference in build quality. Besides maybe Newell’s, and other high end rigs I feel like RV’s built in the early 2000’s up until 2008 when the recession hit are the best built rigs out there!
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We bought a 2003 Tiffin Phaeton Class A never had a problem with the 10 year rule. It is insured with Good Sams. Solid sturdy construction. We put a fresh coat of paint inside and some other decorative upgrades. Absolutely love it. and no where near the expense of a newer RV
We just purchased a 1999 Class A Diesel Pusher two weeks ago. It is in beautiful condition, super clean, well maintained and we couldn’t be happier! Just over 100,000 miles so it has many, many more miles left to go. The Freightliner chassis is beefy and solid.
We think if you can find an older Motorhome in great shape, go for it! We love ours! Oh, and we are living in it full-time as well.
Awesome!
I'm looking to get something similar to what you have gotten but I am worried about roof and other areas of the body leaking etc. Is it true these need to be contstantly maintained?
As with anything else (RV and otherwise) KNOWING yourself and what you want, your intentions and limitations are your first steps. There's at least 5 major systems in every RV: 1) Water/Plumbing, 2) Electrical, 3) HVAC, 4) Electronics 5) Mechanical. If you are unwilling or uncomfortable to build first-hand independent knowledge of ALL these systems (but still want an RV) and think you can buy your way clear of them - BE PREPARED FOR EXASPERATION regardless of how much you paid. Over the past 5 years manufacturers have scaled up production to meet unprecedented demand but all that means is they have to get stuff out faster.
About the only place left for manufacturers to lean out production costs is quality control steps - thereby passing the discovery to the dealer. As most dealers have minimal testing facilities this means it's now up to the buyer of a new RV to discover failed components. This vid makes a great point "Where will you be when something goes wrong and you have only a limited availability and locations to resolve these troubles "under warranty." Now, thanks to high-volume (not high-quality) production objectives, warranty servicing is overloaded and you're more likely to be facing long delays, parts shortages and other frustrating limitations. It's a classic case of passing the buck, except in this case it's thousands of bucks ...and buying new means it's all out of YOUR pocket.
A used but updated and maintained RV means the previous owner has already found and corrected most of these issues. By buying direct (privately) from the previous owner you can also assess the nature of the individual you're buying from, and most importantly why they're selling. New or Old you're buying problems too, the only question now is how many are now solved with the specific rig you've bought, and how many options are available for you to correct them?
We bought a 2005 RV Diesel Pusher. My husband is a diesel mechanic. He wanted pre-def. We paid cash, too.
We bought our first RV five years ago. It is a 2006 42' Monaco Dynasty Class A diesel pusher. We thought about going new, but since it was our first RV we decided to go used for a couple of reasons. 1. If we didn't like it it wouldn't cost us as much to get out of it. 2. Our salesman was very honest. He told us that new RV's spend most of the first year in the shop. He said that with a used one the previous owner has worked all the bugs out of it. We have found this to be true. As for the 10 year rule we haven't had an issue. Most parks tell us our motorhome looks new. They ask if we are pulling their leg when we tell them the year. I definitely recommend going used for your first RV.
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@GratefulGlamper Hey love your dog!
Happy to hear about your experiences with an older RV. We bought a 20+ year old motorhome because it was cheap enough for us to pay cash and we've put a lot into repairs and upgrades, it was a high end model and in good shape. It's still nowhere near what a new one would cost either. This will last us a good while.
That is awesome!
Whether you buy new or used, get the RV inspected BEFORE you buy. I’ve had both new and used, and it just depends on the rig. Two of the same rig (same age, same maker) can be in completely different shape based on how they are used, how careful the previous owner/manufacturer was in maintaining/building the rig. Regardless, they require attention, just like anything else (human body, car, home, relationships). Life and all her bits will always require regular attention.
So true, thanks for watching
Big Bo down there at Ringold Georgia's tell ya folks you gonna have maintenence no matter what ya buy😆
@@ronmoore3987 Im in Dalton Georgia, is Big Bo someone i should get to know.
I've discovered that gently used anything is the way to go. This from someone who used to have more than enough money...until after divorce. In hindsight I see clearly how much money was wasted. Should the good Lord bless me with wealth again, I'd still absolutely go with gently used, hands down.
I have been a subscriber for a long time, watch every video multiple times for tips. I am a 75 year old with a 1995 Monaco which I bought for a ridiculous price a few years ago. Class A diesel pusher with a Cummins engine, not too much different than my Dodge Ram 4500 truck except for being much more accesible. Solid maple wood interior in perfect shape. Changed the mattress and moved in. Thousands of mile later and many adventures I am absolutely sold on the quality and the fun! Thank you for the video
Thanks for being a long time viewer! 💙
We are not full timers. Our first tv was a older trailer. I was not sure I was into camping but my wife grew up camping. We keep it for over 5 years and doubled our profit and upgraded to a larger. We bought it and it was about 7 years old. It got damaged from a hailstorm and insurance totaled it. Our 3rd rv we also bought used and kept it for about 20 years and just upgraded this last spring. It was still in great shape and we sold it ourselves. We people came to look they could not believe it was 25 years old. It was in very good shape. The wife wanted a bigger trailer since I have retired and are camping a lot more now. I think used is the way to go if you can wait and find what you want it took us about 2 years to find this one. We really enjoy this one.
What you said is all true. Wife and I bought a 2002 Newmar Kountry Star diesel pusher, cummins engine, two slides, four years ago. Everything is manual, except the slide and the electric solenoid on the fuel pump. I do 90% of all the work but when I don't, I go to a frieghtliner shop. In and out normally in one or two days, never to an RV shop. I am the fourth owner, 82,000 miles and $30,000 later it was mine. I allowed $15,000 for new tires, a bumper to bumper check at frieghtliner with all new fluid. In four years I have spent another $15,000, almost new now. We spend three to five months traveling. Is it worth it? Yes. Is it cost effective? I say, what is the value of memories. As seniors with the national park lifetime pass, we stay 50% off. We also dry camp more often now, memories. If you like nature, don't wait. I recommend used class A diesel before 2010, for many reasons. Happy trails.
Thank you I’m looking for one now
GOOD JOB! From a 22 YO Beaver Patriot THUNDER owner! I Can't agree more about that warrantee Thing! Buying an older RV is definitely the way to go!
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This video resonates with me. We purchased a 20 year old Fleetwood Discovery diesel pusher with 79K on the odometer. We are mainly weekend campers and maintain a sticks and brick home too. We paid cash and perform most of the repairs and maintenance ourselves. And as you mentioned, the build quality is outstanding. All of our furniture is covered in real leather, and our cabinets and doors are made of real wood.
I never felt very secure in older rvs until you said they're just built better. And that changed how I feel. Thank you❤ 😊
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching
Some were built better. Look for something that was high end in it's day. There are certain brands and levels of quality that I would stick to. Then have an inspection done by a third party who checks EVERYTHING. Never take a dealer's word for something and never sign on the dotted line until all repairs have been made. Don't think that just because it's a new RV everything is perfect. Quality in the RV industry has gotten very bad. Do your research.
Of course they're better. ALL the old stuff is BETTER.
Great video, and its true. I bought a 2002 Holiday Rambler Imperial back in 2007. Its now 21 years old and was built on the Monaco S chassis (Semi Monocoque). We have driven all over the US several times over. My total repairs add up to about $2000 over the 20 years. It now has very close to 200,000 miles and continues to run and drive like a dream. I have had 6 motorhomes before this one, non came close. We have also upgraded the technology, even adding a WiFi connected monitor and control so I can see tank levels on my phone, operate lights and slides. Still looks good and have never been turned away from a campground after inspection.
Nice!
Wow, 2grand , onlyfor all those years cousin, that's hard to beat!
We bought our first rv last year (2022)and it was 20 years old. My husband is a fantastic mechanic. He has put about 10 thousand dollars in parts and repairs. We plan on retiring next year and traveling more.
Safe travels and thanks for watching
Well done!!
We bought our first RV (class C) in 1993.. it was 20 years okd and had been a former boss’s (he passed. we bought it from his widow who never went into it ) it was his HUNTING/ FISHING ‘cabin’😜
We had 3 young ones. It was a challenge! It had the true orange SHAG carpeting etc😂
It has been some of the most funny memories our kids have🤷♀️
When baby #4 came along we went to a 36’ TT (no slides) that one I had the most fun in.
Blessings on your new adventures!!
You have the BEST WARRANTY= HANDY HUSBAND:)
Great video! Yup, agree with the pros and cons of new vs. used, pretty accurate assessment guys! In December 2020, literally on the last day of the year, we purchased a model year leftover (2020) Newmar Dutch Star, which we absolutely love. However, the dreaded DEF head failure reared its ugly head shortly afterwards, fortunately while still under warranty, otherwise that would have been a hefty bill. But even going forward, given the highly publicized and well-known high failure rate of DEF heads, the issue is always in the back of my mind. What a ridiculous emissions solution - derate the engine of a 50,000 pound coach down so that it will only go 5 mph in the middle of an interstate highway while surrounded by heavy traffic! The system response to a DEF head failure is worse than the failure itself, people can be killed because of this, absolutely asinine! I have written to local and state representatives about this issue until I'm sure they are tired of hearing from me - GRRRR! But I digress, there are many advantages to buying used, but no matter which way you go, my advice is to ALWAYS hire an RV inspector, even if buying new, heck, especially if buying new!
Agree with you 100% - We have a 2004 40' Newmar Mountain Aire and love how simple it is. If I could have bought one with roll up windows I would have. I got to upgrade all the components with what i wanted. We have been full time in it for 1 1/2 years. Why I choose older: Pre-DEF, issues worked out, upgraded everything with what works for us, Cost (10% invested on what the same model would be new). The 10 year rule has never been an issue for us. We only use campgrounds and typically stay a week to a month. They key is finding one with good bones. Appreciate your videos!
For sure - thanks for watching
We too bought a 2002 Safari diesel pusher. Solid wood cabinets, built like a beast. We have the CAT engine that can go forever. Sad part is we have to sell due to health. But loved the trips we went on.
That's what we had safari chetta 05
Know we have 04 gas georgie boy love it 30ft
Man the safari’s are beautiful and having the cat engine is huge in my opinion. We looked at a few safari’s before ultimately decided with all the modifications we were going to need to make, our current coach was the right decision.
What does a 2002 Safari diesel pusher go for and what are the miles?
We also have a 20+ year old gasser rv. Our rv sat up several years in overhead storage before we bought it. We had lots of work to do before we could start making trips like complete roof coverage, shower drain leak’s repair, replacing hot water tanks, awning replacement, step motor replacement, leveling fluid leaks and all 6 tire replacements. Yes, the work took over 4 months to complete but she is completely dependable. I just believe that the older models are just put together differently but the newer models have a lot more bells and whistles. Thank you for all your great videos of information and how to do it yourself.
Thanks for watching and sharing!!
Yep I bought a 2000 Monaco Dynasty in 2017. I still live full time in it from 2019 and still love it.
We bought “Lola” a couple of years ago when I was still in competitive horseback riding. I no longer compete but we kept Lola because we love camping. She’s 20 and we just finished interior renovation (had a pack rat 🤬) and took her out for our 1st trip since and she is fantastic!! She’s a coachman 38’ diesel pusher with Solar and all the amenities. We totally agree about the older coaches. Anyone that has worked on her has said the same thing you were talking about in regards to craftsmanship and being well built. They just don’t build them like this anymore. Thank you for addressing the “10 yr rule” we where worried about that. “Lola” looks great and is well taken care of. Thanks for the great videos. We are new to RV life and while we may not be full time we are starting to really enjoy it when we can. Thanks again for all the great tips for us “ newbie’s”
Thanks for watching
I am SDOOO glad to hear this! I just bought a 2005 Jayco Greyhawk! And, per your recommendation, I am taking the NRVTA training. I am a 60-year-old Nana with a handicapped husband, and we decided to go for it!
Awesome, welcome to RV life.
I’m so thrilled to hear you aren’t letting whatever is going on with your husband stop you from doing what you want to do. People ask us “what if” & we just say, you work with it & ensure the needs are met. It’s just as easy to take diabetic medication in a RV as it is in a house. Rare that accommodations can’t be made.
Great video. Do you know if trailers vs RVs have the same rule about “age appropriate” in campgrounds? I found a 1972 vintage but after watching your video it made me question if this would be a wise decision for being able to park in RV parks throughout the US. Thank you.
Warranty is a joke
Good for y’all! You’ll have a blast! I just took the NRTVA class for owners, and it was great: you can’t find better people ANYWHERE! I’m 64 and my husband is 76 and disabled, and we will hit the road on Dec 1! God bless y’all!
We chose an older class A for many of the same reasons you mentioned - Living debt free is important to us, as it is to you, so an older rig allowed us to pay cash for a 2000 Foretravel U320 and leave us enough for repairs and upgrades including 4,7000 watts of solar and large battery bank. Grateful we don't need to plug in, when moochdocking or boondocking... and we can avoid RV parks, 10 year rule or not (though it's never been an issue for us)
Thank you for sharing the many benefits of older RV's!
Thanks for watching and sharing about your rig!
My husband and I both believe that new is not the way to go. Especially after covid. The quality of vehicles, both small vehicles and RVs just isn't what it used to be. We bought a 2017 Tiffin Bus last year. Yes, the price was more than we wanted to pay, but it was exactly what we wanted for his retirement. We will be going full time in 7 months. We couldn't be happier. Hope to see you out there some time!
We bought a 2005 Fleetwood Terra 32' Class A in 2018 due to its affordability. Other than a blow-out (took two 2yo tires with 10k on them) we've experienced what I would consider normal maintenance items. I will say however that it helps to have mechanical/electrical experience as with any older vehicle, PM's are a must. Just sealed all the windows & roof penetrations & am I'm now working on the KwiKee power step having a mind of its own. With the tire blowout ($1500 for roadside repair with 2 new tires!) we're at $400/year for maintenance costs. Not considering the blowout we're at $150/year including new master cylinder, brakes & rear calipers this year. I vote for used as ours will go another 10 years easily with our big gas 8.1L & 44k on the ODO.
We have owned a 1979 Airstream trailer for the past 19 years. Previous owners took good care of it and we continue that tradition. Have been almost coast to coast with it, though are not full timers. There have only been a few times when we have stayed at parks with age limits, and when I told them over the phone that we had a vintage Airstream they said no problem. When we showed up the only inspection given was a quick glance out the office window. State and National parks don't have such rules, and we stay at those a lot. Sometimes they only have electric hookup, but we can deal with that, considering sites are usually generously spaced and there are a lot of trees. Regarding older RVs, over the years I have seen so many, of all types, that looked trashy when all it would take is a few weekends of TLC to get them looking good. Spray paint the rusty hitch, bumper, and wheels. Replace the broken or missing lenses on a few marker lights, give it a thorough wash, and people would be complimenting the owners on their 'restored' classic.
We have a 2007 Exel 5th Wheel and LOVE IT. I am a HUGE advocate of older RVs for the very reason you describe. They were built BETTER. Yes, we are heavier and have less storage in the belly than new 5th wheels, but I have yet to see a floor plan I like better and I am AMAZED by our trailer's beauty and quality every single time we take her out! I LOVE your videos and your RV!
Thank you!
We bought a 24 year old RV and love it! Nothing is really digital, it's been very well maintained through it's life and relatively low mileage. The construction is FAR superior to the new models on the market right now. Kitchen grade cabinetry, solid frame and drivetrain and we need only basic tools to work on it if need be. My advice to any new RV'er is to find an older, more simple model and "train" on that until you really know what you want or need without breaking the bank!
I bought a 5 year old well built 2000 Bounder and kept it for 14 years. My current rig is a 2016 Monaco TREK purchased in 2018. Very well built.
I am a solo full timer and have added many upgrades to make my home comfortable and work for me. Good maintenance and full body paint makes it look like a new rig.
I have a 2001 newmar dutch star that i bought in 2005 and I've NEVER had one issue at all. I've replaced tires, batteries and just updated interior. I've never been broken down knock on wood. All my friends that but "new rv's" have nothing but problems so no thank you. Newmar, monaco, holiday rambler you can't go wrong but also have to be properly maintained.
Great video and happy for you guys 😊
It would be nice to have full hook up campgrounds that have a lot of trees and remote feel like most national forest and parks campgrounds, and less like a glorified walmart parking lot. They are so rare. One of our lottery dreams lol
I want to comment that the "old RVs are better" rule applies to Class B RVs, too. I bought a 16-year-old Class B, and after seeing so many videos about bad quality in new Class B's, I can attest that, in general, quality was substantially better before 2008. Many of the later problems have to do with the recession, technology, the electronics, and complexity and, in diesels, DEF and other emissions systems. Older RVs are simpler with many fewer potential points of failure. I have had to do some of the expected normal wear and tear repairs but nothing compared to the total failures and disasters of some newer Class B vans. All major components worked perfectly upon my purchase and still do. Even those components, like fridge, A/C, furnace, water heater, etc. were built better back then. The "upgrades" that new RVs have are because those components are cheaper for manufacturers to buy, but the RV manufacturers and dealers make you think the newer components are better. For example, a 12-volt compressor fridge is a fraction of the cost of an absorption fridge, and my absorption fridge works very well and has no moving internal parts. Since RV manufacturers are pushing induction stove tops, they also have to push electric power and, therefore, lithium batteries and solar charging. Propane is a magnificent, clean, safe, efficient, and inexpensive fuel. Propane generators are expensive, so RV manufacturers try to brag about "no generator." With my "old" RV having a propane generator, a permanent propane tank, propane stove, 3-way fridge, propane furnace, propane water heater, convection microwave, and 120V A/C, I'm certain it costed more to build than a new hi-tech RV with lithium batteries, solar panels, compressor fridge, and an "underhood generator." That's what RV manufacturers are going for, the higher profit margin. How else could they start slashing prices by $100,000 at the end of the year? That proves how much people have overpaid. People with money to buy the glamour and glitz can have it as I tool around in my reliable and super-functional "old" RV. I'll give them a lift or jump start any time. People are supporting the corrupt RV industry by being suckers. I got questioned about the age of my RV only once, which became a non-issue after sending photos. I'd like to see how well today's new RVs endure for the next 15 years, or even 10. I bet you won't see many of them on the road.
Used - look for a well maintained low mileage. We bought a 2003 Bounder in 2015 0nly 36,000 verified miles, looked great, no leaks never a mechanical problem and used it for 5 years. We paid a rousing 35,000 dollars, we updated and added items. Storage was great. We sold it in even better condition for 29,000 dollars. We sold it within 2 days of listing it. We did add an Extended Warranty (service contract actually from USAA) never needed it. We did all the upgrades ourselves. We did have a mobile service do our regular oil changes, etc (even though I could have done them, (mechanic for many years) We also found mobile detailing services where we went, so it always looked like new. Met many people who wished they had bought used first, found what they liked before buying new and were disappointed.
We just bought a 2007 Tiffin Allegro Bus. Used is the way to go. It’s our 2nd RV we’ve owned. You’d be surprised how nice the older ones are when taken care of. On both, never had an issue of the 10 year rule.
We also have a 23 year old RV. It's a Tradewinds RV by National that went out of business years ago. My husband is a mechanic so he does it all. The only problem we have is finding some parts that have been discontinued or the the company that built the parts have gone out of business. We just ran into one problem with a plastic cover over the heater core and evaporator core. The cover was disintegrated. The manufacturer that made them went out of business, we tried to go to a salvage yard and they charged $600 for the part because it is now "RARE". My husband then decided to build it himself out of old metal from a furnace that he saved. It took him 2 weeks to make. It is true that our RV is made really well and everything is simple to fix. We have oak cabinets that are real wood and Corian countertops that are original in it and we remodeled it the way we wanted and that's all we need. Love your channel!!!!!
we own a 99' Tradewinds from National and we love the quality of construction. Solid CAT diesel engine with and Alison transmission - sure is fun passing folks on those mountain passes! I agree that being basic even I can work on most things inside with some (TH-cam support of course - Hillbilly RV and AZExpert have been very helpful). As far as the 10yr rule, we too have had very few experiences with that and when we did they only asked for a picture in advance of accepting our reservation - no problem... Have we had break downs? you bet $3k for a broken air compressor line which included a tow but because its diesel a truck repair shop in Quanah Texas (thank you 287 Diesel Service!) quickly had us up and running (3 days whilst we stayed in the rig in the truck yard with power and water) would see that at any Ford dealership.
We went FT 5 years ago in a 99 National Tropical. Buying it was the best decision we ever made. We haven't had any drivetrain problems to date. Sure, we've had many minor issues, but it has never seen the inside of a repair shop as we have been able to fix them all ourselves. Luckily our roadside assistance plan has remained unused so far. It is indeed well made. We have a gasser, so won't be passing many folks in the mountains, but we haven't found a grade we couldn't climb yet - and believe me, we've tried. We like to boondock most of the time and really appreciate the lighter weight of a gasser when taking it down muddy, rutted fire roads, through pastures or across sand washes.
We bought a 2004 Triple E Commander 32' gas. We bought it in 2020 with 38,000 kms on it. We love it and the workmanship is outstanding. We have one 'pass through' bin. Older SOLID units are the way to go. 🇨🇦
I think a determining fact is that the cost of new to newer, those under 5 years old, being as much as a sticks & bricks home. There are a lot of older RVs that have been well taken care of, probably not updated, but that's lipstick & rouge. I've also seen where people are painting & rewrapping the exterior so that it looks newer which makes getting in to age restricted campgrounds easier.
Used. We bought our RV(We are the 2nd owners) in 2016 also. It's a 2003 Newmar Dutch Star DP. It had 45k miles on it. It's a 3803 (39')model with full size bath tub and shower combo. The tub is slightly smaller than our home tub/shower. Being a 2003, no DEF, no DPF(diesel particulate filter) it's has a CAT 3126E 330 HP engine and has plenty of power. We have 2 full pass thru compartments(around 45,"wide, electric Glendenning Marine cord reel, 2 13500 Dometic Penguin Heat Pumps, 10 gallon electric/propane water heater and 40 gallon(32 usable) propane tank, Extra,freezer or refrigerator (12v or 120) located in the 1st bay next to entry door on a slide out. We also have a washer/dryer combo. We love it and Newmar has been a pleasure to work with whenever we need something. Safe travels, love y'all's channel.
Thanks for sharing and watching. Safe travels
All great points and well presented. We're back in the market for an RV and would NEVER consider buying new. Lots of friends have and all of them had huge issues from the jump. At the moment, I'm it borrowed/rented RV now snowbirding at a park in Parker, AZ and talked to them about the age limit. They said the same as you, send pics and if it's nice, you're in. As you suggested, I'll find a 10-15 year old RV that's been well maintained, upgrade to meet our needs and I'm sure we'll be as happy with the choice as you are. Thanks for a great motivational/inspirational vid!
We have really enjoyed your videos and honesty. I love that you’re Dave Ramsey followers with NO debt. That is how we live also and another great reason why we follow you. We watched this video last night and I keep thinking about it and I just opened it up to put a response on here and LOVED hearing everyone sharing their thoughts and experiences also. We have a 2004 Simba Safari Monaco gas 34 ft. It has been GREAT. My husband is about to retire and we are planning on going full time and was really considering to move up to a 2014 or 2017 and after watching and reading these comments it has really made me reconsider. I thank you for sharing this information on your opinion and everyone else’s comments too. We have a 2011 Ford Explorer and we are able to pull it but haven’t done it yet. Has anyone on here have an older RV and pulls something as big as an Explorer. Of course we do cash with everything and we have such low miles on our car we would never get back a good price if we sell it. Anyway, this is a long response from me, but I truly appreciate this video. I hope you do another one like this. I’d love for you to do a meet up with RV owners with older models and we can compare and chit chat about something we all have in common. ❤😊 I’ll see you on the next video or see you on the road 😜
Thanks so much for the comment and for watching! We are planning on selling our Jeep and getting a suburban or Yukon XL for a tow vehicle as our family has outgrown our Jeep. So we will eventually be towing something larger. Maybe we will see you out there sometime! We are working on next summer’s caravan so stay tuned….
We bought a 2006 Country Coach Inspire, absolutely LOVE it. Purchased from Premier Rv of Oregon, best place for service and purchase. Unit has a Cat C9, tows a F150 with no problem.
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Used all day long. Having a NRVIA Inspection is a must before purchasing though. Bought a 2005 Itasca Class-A Gasser June of 2022, and like you said, have not run into any weight issues even with full tanks and towing a car. Storage is different then the pass throughs, however, we are not even close to maximizing our open space. Finally, you can update the Chassis, Electrical, Entertainment and Living area's however you want and not have to worry about re-sale values. We have a quote for full body paint ($18k). Even with that expense, we will be under $60k in total dollars invested. That's the same amount of money that 30 monthly payments of a 15-year loan (180 months) will run you for a similarly equipped brand new Class-A coach. ;-)
My buddy bought an RV brand new, nothing but complaints and problems. I advised him to rent one for the ONE trip a year but he insisted on getting his own. Noises, problem with the finish, software issues, hassle with the shop and dealing with the warranty... I actually said I told you. Old stuff is better.
Excellent presentation, 100% agree with your Old vs New thinking. To expand on the warranty thing, not just time and / or travel to get it done, but with the supply chain still messed up, you could wait weeks or even months for the parts. As an example, two of my Wife's recent vehicles (2017 Taurus and 2018 F150) had touchscreens go bad. Could not adjust the HVAC at all other than fan speed. Took weeks to get the displays and then have them installed and programmed. Last November, my 2018 Transit 250 was ready to retire (I spend an inordinate amount of time on the road). With a similar replacement looking like 50 or 60 grand, I decided to go back to my roots, and kind of paralleled what you did. Found myself a 1986 Chevrolet P32 Stepvan (Same chassis as was used on the Motor Homes of the day). It was in outstanding condition from a body standpoint, did a really good inspection of the major systems, and bought it. I knew what was good, what would need attention in the near future , and what needed immediate attention. I have a fully functional service vehicle, and I'm only into it for $10,000. That includes new tires and rims, a tuneup, and a Carburetor and manifold swap. No emissions equipment to maintain whatsoever, not even Catalytic Converters. I'm installing many of the same things you spoke of as time / money allow. Dual battery system, 12v a/c , power ports, etc. Maybe even EFI. If you can find them, and do a thorough evaluation yourself, great. If not, have a competent mechanic you trust go over it. No guarantees that there won't be problems, but those that do crop up won't cost you nearly what the new stuff will.
First I want to thank you for your channel. My husband and I purchased a used 2006 itasca Cambria 2 years ago and paid cash. We needed to make some repairs normal wear and tear, generator tires. Our girl runs fabulously and is this perfect size for the two of us and our 17 pound Havanese.
I have been watching your channel the past few weeks in preparation for a 2 month trip this spring. I figured full timers would give me an idea of what I can expect and know how to pack. thank you for the great ideas. I am enjoying your channel. Happy travels. Hope to see you on the road.😎
Thanks so much- maybe we will see you out there
We bought a Newmar MountainAire 2000 with under 30,000 miles last year. Added the features that I wanted, did not pay for 'pile on' options. Solid construction and quality materials were the reason that we chose to buy this unit. Got a great deal on the price as well.
I agree with you, I think the quality was better years ago. We've owned 2 class A's a class C and we bought a travel trailer in 2020. The best was the used class C that we bought, no problems! The dealerships don't do warranty work very promptly or very successfully.
We bought a 2000 fleetwood southwind 34n We paid 14k. for it. Some things where upgraded some not. It sits on a f53 chassis it is gasoline. It is however a V10 so sometimes she takes a bit to get there on hills but she flat scoots. What weve had to fix and upgrade one was the kitchn faucet. It dripped no matter what we did to it. I even put new seals in it. So we went to walmart and bought a wand style faucet. Wife loves it. The door switch on the microwave went out. So we decided to go convection up graded the size as well. Front ac compressor went out. Bought a new unit (So far the most expensive) bought the same unit and then bought soft starts for it and the rear unit. While we where at it we checked the rear unit and it was replaced last year by the codes on it. Weve owned this rig since labor day weekend. There are a lot of things we want to do to our rig. Thanks for the 40 item must haves. Oh yeah first tjing we did was put a real mattres in the bedroom. Tjis our full time home.
agree, in 2015 we bought our first class A to replace our 17 year old Pop up camper that we used and abused to total destruction with our 8 kids. The Class A was a 1998 Winnebago Luxor, Winnie's attempt to enter the high end luxury RV market in 95 to 98. Yes very well built. But fix, fix, fix. when the walls started to come off the frame I gave it to my daughter and spent 3 years trying to find something smaller than a 40' Diesel pusher. Finally bought a 2019 Jayco Seneca on the Freightliner S2RV chassis. bought it with 11,000 miles on it last year and now 33,000. The quality of the chassis alone makes it worth it. the interior, beautiful but of course under the varnish, cheap cheap wood products. But we love it. wanted pre covid manufacturing . very happy with it except of course the ride, (gravel truck) and the noise of the engine, and when the fan clutch kicks in , what a joke. But we think for now its the best of both worlds.
Completely agree 👍 with buying an older Motorcoach, yes. Husband and I own an "oldie but goodie" Newmar Dutch Star Motorcoach and couldn't be happier. We looked at many before buying and quickly saw the quality of construction being better than the newer ones. We also own a Vintage 19ft Airstream bumper pull travel trailer. Both have been "GEMS 💎 " providing years of enjoyment for us.
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Great advice and insights! Used is the way to go - warranties a pain to use and buying used helps to have the previous owners deal with the initial issues that occur with most RVs. I bought a 2008 fifth wheel and although it looks dated, it's pretty solid and built a lot heavier than a lot of the newer, lighter fifth wheels.
I bought my 1st rv 2 years ago , it's a 1997 dolphin (Ford chassis) I really like my rv, yes it has some problems, so it needs some maintenance. I don't mind nothing crazy expensive , it's paid for and I work on it in my spare time. Too bad the manufacturer went out of business in 2009. It is always good to find good sources of help. Stay safe on the road.
We bought a 2006 Fleetwood Providence 39L last winter after losing our home in Ft. Myers due to IAN. We have never RV'd ...but why not...so over the past 7 months, we have been rehabbing, learning etc. And we paid cash!!! So we are off to Ft. Myers in November to start the adventure!! Hopefully to the Keys next season!!! Great Channel!
Thanks for this! The more videos I watch of other people buying older RVs the more confident I feel about buying my first one, which is going to be used. :)
You nailed it… with a used one, either the problems will have already been fixed or they will be painfully obvious. With new, they WILL have problems, you just don’t know where and when and how bad they will be.
AND who knows if the problems will even rear their heads before the warranty is up?
I LOVE my 1998 C class! I'm not a full timer and primarily use it when I race on the weekends. At my leisure I completely renovated the interior and friends with newer RV's prefer set up. The only thing left to do is to paint the exterior so it looks as good outside as it is inside!
Nice!
We live full time in a 26 year old class A and started 2 years ago. Paid 10K cash and still going strong. Our coach gets by the 10 and 20 year rules because it is in great shape and maintained. Sometimes they request pictures and that works.
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We purchased a 2002 Fleetwood Bounder 39Z diesel pusher almost 3 years ago. It had problems from sirring because the former owner had cancer for a while. We puchased it from a familt friend and love it. It was inexpensive, but then we have put in over $20k in repairs and upgrades. Love it not having to deal with the DEF issue. Plus ours is built on a Freightliner chassis.
I bought a new 2004 Winnebago but that is when they made them well. Today would buy used. Owned it 20 years now and have had almost no issues with almost a 100K on it with lots of miles left in it.
We are part time campers and I love it, sometimes I wish we could go full-time but it is not possible now considering our age
We bought a 2005 Newmar and have had endless problems. It was a great deal, we thought. I can say we've had no problem due to the age of it when staying at campgrounds. They ask for pictures and it's been no problem.
we bought a used motorhome also and have to this day not regretted it. Of course, there was upgrades to be made as well. But the expense as DIY. Our coach has well worth the expense of the upgrades and has made it our home away from home.
I am getting ready to venture into the RV Lifestyle. I have already purchased an older 1991 Fleetwood Flair 22 foot long Fully Self Contained Class A Gas Motorhome, with no slides. The Coach has the Ford 460 Engine, and it only has 18,000 miles on it. It has a 4000 Watt Onan Gen Set, which only has 79 hours on the hour meter. I found the Coach locally within a 30 mile radius of where I live, and the price I paid for the Coach was $2,500.00. It does need a bit of repair work, but overall, at the end of the day, it was a once in a lifetime deal that will never come along again. The Coach does not have any current leaks in the roof, but it does have a small bit of leak damage inside, which is currently being repaired. The other repairs it needs are just your typical items that do require periodical replacement. Belts on the engine, a bit of brake work from the Coach having been sitting unmoved for the past 9 months, and maybe a tire or 2 here, and there. It has a 50 gallon fresh water tank, and both the black, and gray water tanks are 37 gallons each. The fuel tank is 38 gallons. The Gen Set also runs off the fuel from the main fuel tank. Interior features include a single drop down bed above the front driver/passenger area.. Ahuge dinette that also drops down into a double bed, a full kitchen, with a stainless steel double bay sink, a 4 burner propane kitchen stove with oven, a convection microwave oven, and a huge fridge /freezer. It also has a full bathroom, with a Shower, and a double corner bed in the rear. There is also a huge wardrobe Closet next to the bathroom, which I plan on rebuilding into a Pantry/Closet Configuration. Last, but not least, the Coach has a 30 amp electrical system, and a rooftop a/c unit.
Best wishes and safe travels!
In 2016 we wanted to try RVing for dog shows. Bought a quality 20 year old class A gas. Enjoyed it until we constantly ran into the problem with obsolete parts. After four years we sold it and moved up to a 2013 class A gas. We picked 2013 because it was before schwintek slides and computerized lighting controls; love simpler things like regular old switches. No warranty or service plans for either rig. The 1996 is a much better build than 2013. I would never buy new because I want to spend more time camping and not be in for repairs. No one is building a quality class A that is simple. We like our propane fridge and old fashioned wall switches. We will keep ours another ten years minimum - until parts are obsolete. 😊
Used! Most of the bug are out. We have a 2008 Big Sky 5th wheel. Love it!
Used for sure!! 2003 Fleetwood American Dream Motorcoach. Completely solid and built very well
Nice rig!
After having bought a new gas Class A in 2017 and spent a substantial amount in upgrading the chassis I would now rather buy a used Class A Diesel or if available a gas RV with liquid springs. That said, we will keep our Newmar Canyon Star as Long as it lasts as it has given us little headache and now drives great.
We bought a new Dynamax REV, went through warranty nightmare, had fun and learned alot; sold it at peak for same amount 2 years later. Now have a class C 2005 29ft Bigfoot motorhome, they don't make the MH anymore; it is incredibly well built 4 season and work on it our own or use RV techs. Like you, we have done a lot of mods- yes Victron and 824 amp hrs, we love Sasquatch. Would love to have full body paint.
I bought a 1978 Nomad 22' travel trailer. It was only $300 and I figured for that money, if all i get is trailer and tin and have to build a brand new RV on the trailer, I"m ahead of the game. That is indeed all I got as once the walls came out it, it became apparent that the frame was sawdust and it collapsed. I have since built a brand new to my specifications RV on the trailer and wrapped it in the vintage tin. Once I fabricate wheel covers and paint it, it should look fantastic on the outside, which is really what those parks care about. Inside, we're talking a little sci-fi space ship interior. I'm an engineer, so I was able to build in an obscene amount of technology and make sure everything was functional specifically for ME. I don't think I have another ground up build in me, but this was fun and it's comfy to live in. My youngest is coming out this weekend to help me calibrate the sonar sensors. :-) Whenever I travel (post paint), I'll tell the people it's a 2022 Nomad - because IT IS!
14 years ago, I bought a 2000 Tioga c class 24 footer, from the old couple that bought it new.
18,000 miles at the time.
Now has about 42,000 on it.
I don't travel too far, to use it.
I'm into dirt bikes, so I take it on less than good roads, but take it easy.
I tow a 16 foot box trailer with bikes and tools, etc.
It has no slides, or fancy electronics...not even a TV.
I maintain it myself, and it is pretty straightforward, for a gear head.
Never had a breakdown, or problems with it.
I have many friends who have opted to buy newer, fancier units, and they are constant money pits.
Older, simpler units, that have been maintained, and stored properly, are gold.
I have been offered twice what I paid for mine, multiple times, by people who fell for the new gadget traps, and regret it.
Can't stay in the 10 year rule campgrounds, and I'm not interested in staying there anyway.
Lots of snobs, and phonies flexing about how much they spent for their gadgets.
To me, RVs are about getting away from people, not hanging out in a country club.
Find a nice old RV, and enjoy a campfire, instead of satellite internet, and rich douchbags. 😀
My class C is almost 25 yrs old and still doing great. Ive never had an issue getting in a park. Its been well maintained and kept clean. I almost sold it right before covid started to get a newer one . After seeing the problems with covid era rv's I'm sure glad I didnt do it.
we have a 2010 Coachman Mirada 36DS and...we adore it. We've been able to make changes in it, like building a workspace with computer desks and it's been a fantastic RV, we had a newer one and didn't like it anywhere near as much and we even have TWO bathrooms in this RV!
We bought our first and only TT 12 years ago. We are happy with it even though it s not perfect, but it’s paid for. 😊
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Great video. I wholeheartedly agree with buying used, and from a private party. Any way to avoid the dealer is the way to go. I agree with your warranty argument. The warranty is only as good as the company backing it up and how the service gets delivered.
Right on!
Our Motorhome is a 1999 we have never been turned away as long as it looks good well maintained there wont be any problems
Agreed, we bought a 17 year old Holiday Rambler , Scepter, been living in it full time since may 1 this year , works awesome !
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Over the years I have owned both class C and class A motorhomes and have always bought used and never even considered a new RV as they lose so much value in its first ten years of aging.
Also as far as manufacturing issues let the original owner deal with the headaches of getting all of the bugs worked out and honestly I really have not had many major issues out of the used RV's I have owned.
Now I will say that all of the units I owned were gas powered as the diesel powered pushers although desirable were at a price point above where I wanted to venture and all RV's I owned in the past would be over 20 years old currently.
I had a Pace Arrow class A that was really nice but honestly I can say that not camping with pets or kids that I enjoyed the maneuverability and ease of availability of smaller campsites for the class C the best.
Also in my younger years I was a pretty capable wrench and able to pretty much take care of any needed repairs or maintenance whether it be in the drivetrain or the house including electrical and plumbing issues which is a big money and headache saver and also eliminates some of the fear of owning an older unit.
And as far as the campgrounds that are more interested in banning a RV based on the year of manufacturer rather than the condition of the actual unit those types of places I would happily avoid as they probably cater more to those I would have little in common with and not the types of folks I prefer to be around anyway.
2000 Fleetwood American Dream, so far it has surprised me as to how solid its built. The used market has surprised me a lot. Keep them up and maintained and it will be in high demand.
We Have a 19194 Odessa Custom coach with an 8.3L Cummins paired with an Allison 6-Speed world Transmission and we have very few problems! It rolls down the road like Thunder!
Great video I can’t agree more with everything you say. We bought 8 years ago gulf-stream 04 BT cruiser. Outside it needing a slight detailing which I do on side it came back to brand new. It only had 26k miles on it and on e 450 v10
Only issues we had were calipers which froze and I myself took towed car and bought them at auto parts and changed them myself in parking lot where they froze up .
I carry tool and electric impact wrench with 12 bottle jack. Using generator impact wrench spins off wheels I can change a dually tire in 15 min if need be. But all the years we had her that’s only issue we had .
The inside of coach was a nice factory inside but I upgraded a lot to make it a real upgraded leather coach. Wood floors which I added heat under them plus 500 watts solar and many more.
Plus when not used it’s garaged. This coach inside and out is a show piece it’s a hobby for me to keep it new looking it’s never dirty even on the road.
We have same story with that 15 year rule and when I pull up at campgrounds and they see it I always hear its cleaner olthen most newer ones. The money we saved and the fact I and I keep it well maintained
We retired 2 years ago and buying it when we did and all the upgrades we safely go anywhere for as long and can Boondock as well. Buying used and the older units like you say are way better made with better materials a lot if solid oak I even added granite countertops. She’s a show piece that has saved us thousands verse buying new. She only has 45k miles and have many years of adventures.
Awesome!
My dad told me don't buy anything that you can work on, my 5 th wheel is a 2005 we just put in a new slide floor, and I have fixed about everything on it. So your on the right path. 👍👍
I love my 2000 class C it’s built like a tank, I feel so safe in it.
Bought our 2013 used tiffin allegro open road red and love it. We actually have lots of cabinets throughout with 4 slide outs. I sell Tupperware and have plenty of under bay storage too. Making a few cosmetic changes but love it. Enjoying our travels.
Safe journeys and thanks for watching
We are still driving a 1990 Fleetwood Limited (top of the line in their day), and it has been my hobby.
I'm an old hot rodder!
All oak cabinetry and 1st class construction you won't find in the new ones.
We bought it second hand in 1997 from an old couple who barely used it.
We've crossed the USA 5 times in it. Then, one day, I decided it needed more power. So out comes the gas guzzling EFI Ford 460 big block and in goes the 396 cu in turbo diesel. Basically it went from 220 hp to 450 hp as the short version.
6 mpg to 14 mpg. It's only 18K lbs....
I am about to do a wrap on it to modernize the exterior after I finish the inside upgrades. It will rival a $1M rig when I'm through.
It would be nice to upgrade to a 2007 with slide, but since there are only 2 of us and it's got all we need, I'm sticking with this one.
There are too many mods to list.
Sounds like You’ve made your self a very nice rig! Thanks for watching and for the comment,
I personally prefer used, and can remodel.went with friends to travel in brand new fifth wheel their mini mansion 😊 once we setup at campground, opened up slides ready to relax turn on the fireplace just for ambiance ,from the travel it shifted and came out of wall.eek.then a window in slide-out was not sealed. Just was not built so great. I had a 24ft old Shasta (my childhood camper purchased from parents).loved, loved it..
We hear these stories all the time about new RV owners with quality issues, the older ones do seem to have the kinks worked out. Thanks for watching
I'm guessing they didn't have a certified inspector checking it out first?
We purchased a 2003 class C three years ago and have never regretted it. Not only were we able to pay for it in cash because of its age the insurance is much, much less and the licensing is 1/38th of what our neighbors just paid to put a plate on their brand new C class. That’s a lot of fuel that has allowed us to use and enjoy our motorhome. We did some upgrades like a memory gel mattress, an electric awning, TPMS and backup camera and then hit the road. It’s just the two of us so the size is not an issue. We did encounter one campground that specified no exceptions to an “eight year rule” but had no problems finding another campground that welcomed us just miles down the road. These rigs do not appreciate in value over time so why lose more of your investment than you need to?
Exactly our thoughts and feelings as well. Thanks for watching
I bought a 32 ft 2002 National with 11k miles and a Ford V10.
Love it. Have never regretted getting it. Tilly, my tiltin Hilton has taken me 12k miles in the past 2 winters snowbirding. 😊
Love the name!
We just bought a 2005 30k mile, Winne. I can relate to everything you say here. We currently have it in an RV shop getting a thorough checkup. New tires, and all the systems checked.
This is our starter Motorhome, and we are in it at a reasonable level, enough so that we can put some money back into it. The worry is what we don’t know, but baby steps!
So exciting! Welcome to the RV community!
Thanks, trying to decide if I want to purchase a new RV, slightly used or a 15 year old RV. I think a 06-08 Monaco Dynasty is the way to go.
That year range of Monaco’s are built very well!
We have owned both. 2 new tt and 1 used c class. Currently in the c class. Used money goes father. New units clean and fresh. Both require maintenance. Very happy with all 3. Use requirements was a deciding factor.
What about rust in the frame. Air bag replacement. Suspension replacement, drive shafts, steering components and ball joints
USED!! My mom and dad had a $100k motorhome and kept it in their pole barn. It was immaculate and when they sold it after 20 years it looked brand new! The new owners were AMAZED at the condition. ALSO: you can cruise the Palm Springs and Palm Desert area and find motorhomes for sale at very reasonable prices. Sadly, when an old person dies and the spouse is left behind they sell the motorhome at a very good price when the living spouse just wants to sell all of it off and fly home.
We love our 17 year old Bounder 35 E ! We are super fortunate the former owners took very good care in maintaining it. While I'm not a skilled mechanic , with help from You Tube , a very knowledgeable and friendly lead tech who seems to always have time to give suggestions , and a bit of reasoning on my own , I fix most all our problems. As to quality of older over new , I must agree with you. Having walked through a number of models built after 2020 , I am surprised by the general decline in attention to detail and quality of materials. Just my two ( four if you tack on inflation ) cents worth. Love all your videos. Happy trails to the Grateful Glampers !
Thanks!
I just bought my parents 30-year-old pop up and I'm super excited!
There seem to be two main camps of Rvers- those who would never consider used, are afraid of anything being out of warranty, and those who are looking for the best bang for the buck. Considering there's a 20-30% depreciation hit when you drive a new one off the lot, I would suggest a quality used unit is the way to go. Whether new or used, having it inspected by a third-party RV expert will be the best money you ever spend.
Used for sure. We have a 20 year old Monico love it bullet proof
I have had and am on my fourth Bounder, and mine is 20 years old but it has low miles, and is in great condition and the reason I keep going back to Fleetwood and Bounder is because of just how amazingly well built they are for an RV. Of course nothing is perfect, these are all made by humans but when you walk in my Bounder compared to my 2019 Jayco you can immediately tell the difference in build quality. Besides maybe Newell’s, and other high end rigs I feel like RV’s built in the early 2000’s up until 2008 when the recession hit are the best built rigs out there!
For sure, thanks for watching