Community Forums

Skipper Tom · 02-18-2016, 10:23 PM

We are thinking of doing a makeover our 2003 Fleetwood Expedition. I know that what we do we would never recoup in a sale but when I went to a repair shop not see if I could get a sense of how much it would cost, everyone said don't try it. They said I would be pouring thousands into it for nothing. The general consensus was that I should find an RV that has what I want and trade ours in.

Has anyone here taken on a major remodel/update? Were you happy with the results or do you wish you had just looked for a different RV?

alvo · 02-18-2016, 10:52 PM

If you can do the work yourself, you don't have labor costs to worry about, just materials. I have a 1986 Winnebago 27RT, runs well, needed tires and pretty much everything decorative.

This is mine: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f65/de-rv...ss-272911.html

Costs:
Paint $150
Carpet $150
Laminate Flooring $150
House water pump $75
House batteries, inverter, transfer switch $700
Maple plywood (shop grade) $100
Window coverings/blinds $300
Refrigerator $125
Cabinet hardware $75
Slylight $300
LED bulbs/replacement fixture lenses $75
Safe $75
Furniture $200
Tires $1600

With the initial purchase price of $1800, it's around a $6000 investment, which is probably around what I could sell it for. I'm not losing money on it, and it's been done the way I want it to be rather than something I would be settling for.

barmcd · 02-19-2016, 06:11 AM

I think most of the work to remodel a motor home is fairly low tech and doable by most owners. If you are going to hire it out, then it could get expensive quick. Sounds like you are game so I'd say go for it.

Ludmilla · 02-19-2016, 06:18 AM

I would really look at the costs before deciding to trade it in. You may not get the money back when you sell it, but you pay a lot of money to get a different coach. We went through that process recently and it is cheaper to remodel the coach than buy a newer one. We are going to do what we can ourselves. A lot of the work is labor that you can do yourself. Do what you can. For example, the flooring. You can rip out all the old floor yourself. If you are not comfortable laying down a new floor, have a local flooring guy do it after you have taken out the old floor.

If you like your coach, then keep it and do the upgrades over time using your own labor as much as you can.

Arch Hoagland · 02-19-2016, 06:26 AM

What is it you had in mind to change or upgrade?

Skipper Tom · 02-19-2016, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

What is it you had in mind to change or upgrade?

We are considering flooring, backsplash, shower, dinette, driver's seat, passenger's seat, couch, and lighting.

vettenuts · 02-19-2016, 10:57 AM

I tend to think sales tax on a trade, at least where I live, would cover most of the materials for your proposed upgrades.

mhbell · 02-19-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper Tom

We are considering flooring, back splash, shower, dinette, driver's seat, passenger's seat, couch, and lighting.

Here is a breakdown of my costs. A lot of the work I did myself.
1. Cheap Handling Fix $78 for bushings *DWM

2. Replaced all of my Interior Light bulbs with LED's $32 for bulbs *DWM

3. 2ea LED Light fixtures $99 *DWM

4. Had all cushions on Dinette recovered got 3 bids $600 to $1,000 It pays to shop $600

5. Front looking Camcorder wiring and camera $80 *DWM

6. Steer Safe done at Steer Safe factory in Deming New Mexico $495 including installation.

You can probably do the floors and back splash yourself. The drivers and passenger seats, you would probably be better off buying new and not recover. $395 to $,2000
each depending on brand and where you get them. A neo angle shower with glass door and base about $600 including fixtures if you don't go High End. The flooring and back splash can be as little as $300 depending on type of flooring and if you have to make repairs to floor.

There are plenty of people on the internet who have done their own work.
Mel

*DWM = done work myself

Johndale · 02-19-2016, 02:53 PM

If you like your unit and it is paid for why get rid of it for payments. I have got the bugs out of mine and now I am upgrading it. My last upgrade will be the wrap of new colors.

Johninar · 02-19-2016, 05:54 PM

I did complete flooring in our 2008 Fleetwood Excursion 40x.
If it's done right it's not a do it yourselfer for most people. All three slides had to be pulled out (almost removed) to get to all the flooring. It was not cheap and although I'm pretty handy, I don't have the skills or inclination to pull slides.

I am so glad I did the flooring. We love our coach and intend to keep it till we win the lottery.

jacwjames · 02-19-2016, 06:34 PM

Most of the things you list that you want to upgrade you could do yourself at a very reasonable cost.

I replaced the carpet in both of the RV's that we've owned, probably less then $250 per rig. I used a laminate flooring as we wanted it to hold up to the traffic and ease of maintenance. I did our current coach almost 7 years ago and it has held up well.

Except for the shower the rest of the items are just remove & replace.

I would get price estimates for everything and then decide what you want to do. You can spread it out to limit your financial burden.