Anybody else have a motorhome/trailer?

[Brewtal66]

Just curious if anybody else does. I bought a 1991 Pace Arrow about 6 months ago, and have been fixing it up the last few weeks. Boy, tires are EXPENSIVE on that one! Once I get it cleaned and polished up I'll have to snap some photos.

[Jakespeeds]

Sold my 94 Holiday Rambler Aluma-lite just awhile ago. Its was a 36 foot diesel pusher on a Spartan Chassis. I love going out with he motorhome. Got to see a lot of stuff in comfort without having to think about a hotel room. There is no way I could get my wife to camp so the motorhome was a must.

Now I am shopping for a new one. I look forward to getting back into it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Jake

[SSLance]

We are currently in Motorhome shopping mode as well. I go back and forth between buying new or nearly new...or buying older well kept and retrofitting newer better bits and pieces onto it.

It's a learning experience for sure... I'm excited about it but trying to make a prudent choice the first time around just the same.

[hp2]

I had an '89 Pace Arrow class A for a while. It was an entry unit for us just to see if the family would enjoy it. Overall it was decent, its appearance was really good for its age, but it seemed like I was constantly tinkering with it to get another aspect of some system functional. It was a 454, 3 spd auto combo. It was screaming about 3500 rpm down the highway and averaged 8-10 mpg. I had to reseal every window, rebuild the furnace, replumb the bathroom, isolate the shower from the plumbing, plus other odd and ends mechanically and electrically. We used it for several years and decided we used it enough to justify selling it and upgrading a couple of decades.

We now have an '01 Coachman class C. V10, 4 speed auto. Much nicer condition, much improved systems, and repairs/updates have been significantly reduced and over all we are much happier. It averages 10-14 mpg highway. It does not have any slide outs, although we did look at some that did and decided for these early version silders, the added weight and complexity were not items we wanted to risk dealing with. I did have a lavatory sink leak I had to fix on our last trip and a hail storm this year necessitated I replace all the vent domes, other wise its just been regular oil changes. We also are pulling a 2000# boat with this one that we were not doing with the Pace Arrow. Came with factory air bags for the rear suspension that we alter based on if we have the boat going with us or not. Plus it has loads of under floor storage, whcih is nice for keeping the inside of teeh coach cleared of travel stuff and kids items.

I have not towed a car with it, nor taken it to the track yet. Given the GVWR, I think I would need to unload most my stuff from the coach to be able to pull my car trailer with the car on it. So, it may be a two person deal to tow the car with my truck and take the mtorhome for between round relaxation.

I'd recommend driving a few different classes to see what you like. The Class C feels much more comfortable driving than my older Class A. This could strictly be dealing with the age difference and advances in suspension tech, but I never felt real confident driving through the mountains in the A compared to the C. Test all the systems or have them demonstrated, or have them inspected. When I sold my A, I gave them a detailed report on what I had done, not done, and what needed to be done. Their inspector verified all that and they buyers were happy for the verification. When I bought it I got suckerd in by the looks and didn't verify all the systems, plus the seller had it plugged in, so I never caught some electrical items I would have found otherwise.

[Brewtal66]

Sold my 94 Holiday Rambler Aluma-lite just awhile ago. Its was a 36 foot diesel pusher on a Spartan Chassis. I love going out with he motorhome. Got to see a lot of stuff in comfort without having to think about a hotel room. There is no way I could get my wife to camp so the motorhome was a must.

Now I am shopping for a new one. I look forward to getting back into it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Jake

Thanks! We plan on it. My wife likes camping...but when we use to camp inside an enclosed trailer, she didn't like that there was no bathroom or shower. Those were her two necessities. I grew up camping in motorhomes - about once a month my parents would grab us kids and head somewhere. So to me, camping is the ultimate relaxation.

My two boys (ages 3 and 1) are at that perfect age too. Old enough to really walk around and have fun.

We are currently in Motorhome shopping mode as well. I go back and forth between buying new or nearly new...or buying older well kept and retrofitting newer better bits and pieces onto it.

It's a learning experience for sure... I'm excited about it but trying to make a prudent choice the first time around just the same.

I'd vote nearly new. These things depreciate so much the second you drive them off the lot. Just doesn't make sense. Of course, I'd probably never buy a new vehicle either, for the same reasons.

I had an '89 Pace Arrow class A for a while. It was an entry unit for us just to see if the family would enjoy it. Overall it was decent, its appearance was really good for its age, but it seemed like I was constantly tinkering with it to get another aspect of some system functional. It was a 454, 3 spd auto combo. It was screaming about 3500 rpm down the highway and averaged 8-10 mpg. I had to reseal every window, rebuild the furnace, replumb the bathroom, isolate the shower from the plumbing, plus other odd and ends mechanically and electrically. We used it for several years and decided we used it enough to justify selling it and upgrading a couple of decades.

We now have an '01 Coachman class C. V10, 4 speed auto. Much nicer condition, much improved systems, and repairs/updates have been significantly reduced and over all we are much happier. It averages 10-14 mpg highway. It does not have any slide outs, although we did look at some that did and decided for these early version silders, the added weight and complexity were not items we wanted to risk dealing with. I did have a lavatory sink leak I had to fix on our last trip and a hail storm this year necessitated I replace all the vent domes, other wise its just been regular oil changes. We also are pulling a 2000# boat with this one that we were not doing with the Pace Arrow. Came with factory air bags for the rear suspension that we alter based on if we have the boat going with us or not. Plus it has loads of under floor storage, whcih is nice for keeping the inside of teeh coach cleared of travel stuff and kids items.

I have not towed a car with it, nor taken it to the track yet. Given the GVWR, I think I would need to unload most my stuff from the coach to be able to pull my car trailer with the car on it. So, it may be a two person deal to tow the car with my truck and take the mtorhome for between round relaxation.

I'd recommend driving a few different classes to see what you like. The Class C feels much more comfortable driving than my older Class A. This could strictly be dealing with the age difference and advances in suspension tech, but I never felt real confident driving through the mountains in the A compared to the C. Test all the systems or have them demonstrated, or have them inspected. When I sold my A, I gave them a detailed report on what I had done, not done, and what needed to be done. Their inspector verified all that and they buyers were happy for the verification. When I bought it I got suckerd in by the looks and didn't verify all the systems, plus the seller had it plugged in, so I never caught some electrical items I would have found otherwise.

Sounds like you've had quite the experience! I've always been a fan of Class A motorhomes. When I was real young we had a Class C, then my parents had Class A ever since. I prefer the open feeling of the Class A. I like them better.

This Pace Arrow I picked up is a 33 foot 1991, with a 454 and three speed. It does have a gear vendors unit which I was told works, but I have to figure out how to get it to work. The engine and trans run/shift perfectly. This rig is fully loaded too, with hydraulic levelers and such.

I bought this unit off a good friend of mine. I only paid $800 bucks. He just wanted it off his property. After I went through and inspected everything, it needed: roof, tires, shocks, steering column fixed and a new fridge. I knew that even in the condition I bought it I could have easily sold it for 3-4K, so I was sitting good.

It's pretty weathered from sitting outside, but overall its in really great shape. It's been used enough that everything isn't breaking from use, but not beat to death either. The previous owner had everything gone through and fixed about two years ago, so that doesn't leave much for me to fix from here on out.

[Jakespeeds]

Having owned an older motorhome I would also recommend something. If you are going to buy older buy something there is a lot of. Something like a Bounder motorhome. The 94 I had was not made in a large amount. It was impossible finding parts. Even as something as simple as the automatic stair mechanism turned out to be a headache. There were tons of things I had to completely tear out and retrofit in newer systems because when motorhomes go obsolete they really mean it. Also if you are going to buy an older unit make a not of the date codes on the tires. Even if they look in good condition do not buy something with the date code expired. If they are not stamped with a date code then know they are cheap tires and probably not up to the job.

Jake

[SSLance]

It seems like 2008 really changed the RV landscape. Lot of manufacturers went under or were bought up. Thor and Jayco seem to be the big dogs in the market since. You can read every bad thing you can find about those two manufacturers...yet you see TONS of them on the road and for sale everywhere.

I'm drawn toward a Super C, in particular the Four Winds by Thor. It's built on the F550 chassis with the diesel engine. What I can't figure out is relative depreciation on these as they just haven't been built and on the market for very long.

I'm also looking at the Greyhawk Class Cs and Precept Class As by Jayco. The Cs have more tow capacity but have the smaller V10s which confuses me... The As have a bit more room inside but feel like what would be weird to drove compared to a C. I like the idea of a driver and passenger door on the Cs.

My next step is to head back to our dealer and test drive some different types to get a feel for them on the road. I KNOW I'll love that F550 chassis but I'm really trying to not spend that much money.

[Brewtal66]

Having owned an older motorhome I would also recommend something. If you are going to buy older buy something there is a lot of. Something like a Bounder motorhome. The 94 I had was not made in a large amount. It was impossible finding parts. Even as something as simple as the automatic stair mechanism turned out to be a headache. There were tons of things I had to completely tear out and retrofit in newer systems because when motorhomes go obsolete they really mean it. Also if you are going to buy an older unit make a not of the date codes on the tires. Even if they look in good condition do not buy something with the date code expired. If they are not stamped with a date code then know they are cheap tires and probably not up to the job.

Jake

Oh yeah. Tires were on the top of my list. Not only was the DOM for the tires about 10 years ago, the cracks in the sidewalls were fierce. I bought new tires last week, going to get them mounted up this week.

It seems like 2008 really changed the RV landscape. Lot of manufacturers went under or were bought up. Thor and Jayco seem to be the big dogs in the market since. You can read every bad thing you can find about those two manufacturers...yet you see TONS of them on the road and for sale everywhere.

I'm drawn toward a Super C, in particular the Four Winds by Thor. It's built on the F550 chassis with the diesel engine. What I can't figure out is relative depreciation on these as they just haven't been built and on the market for very long.

I'm also looking at the Greyhawk Class Cs and Precept Class As by Jayco. The Cs have more tow capacity but have the smaller V10s which confuses me... The As have a bit more room inside but feel like what would be weird to drove compared to a C. I like the idea of a driver and passenger door on the Cs.

My next step is to head back to our dealer and test drive some different types to get a feel for them on the road. I KNOW I'll love that F550 chassis but I'm really trying to not spend that much money.

Those Super C's are pretty awesome. I was drooling over a Chevy version last year at the beach. I think it was a 5500 or something. That's one C class I'd take in a heartbeat. But I'm sure it was 100K+, mine was $800 lol. Hard to beat that.

I'm just happy to have my own rig. My kids will love it and I don't have to worry too much about getting a scratch or getting it dirty. I figure in 3-5 years I'll sell it and get something much nicer and newer.

[JB64CHEVELLE]

I worked on motorhomes and trailers in the collision industry for ten years and there is one thing I can say is, they all leak in one form or another. You need to be ready for a lot of maintenance work on these things. The roof and windows should be checked once a year min. for areas that water can enter. Most are kept outside year round and the UV eats them up. You also have a few batteries to keep up. I have seen some really bad things when you don't Winterize the rig as well. I would recommend if you are only going to use it a few times a year RENT ONE and save yourself a lot of grief. Knowing how the house portion of these rigs were built I would never own one. :underchair: