Owners of older MH's. What are you missing compared to newer ones?

[jimbo2013]

Well said....

[spritz]

Our 33 year old MH has nothing fancy. We get complimented all the time on how nice it looks.
Sorry but I prefer older than new. I can't afford new or even slightly used.
She get us where we want to go and everything still works on her.
JMO,
Tim

[Arizona]

King size bed. Can't upgrade ours, not enough room. Lots more of the new ones have them.
Good hunting!

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by ssignor

Seeing I a champagne taste on a beer budget, what would I miss either functionality, drive-ability, features (safety/bells and whistles) if I was to purchase a 2007 or so MH compared to a 2014/15/16? I am wanting a DP 40+ with good amount of room to swing a dog over my head :-)

Thoughts?

The MORTGAGE!

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Oh, I forgot to mention I don't miss the DEF, the overweight front axle common to some new coaches, the advanced emission control systems, the Sales Tax, the ruinous annual licenses and insurance, the look of a French Wh . . . . .well, the look of a "Casino" with mirrors on the ceilings etc.

Lets see, our 15 year old coach had from the Previous Owner:

New tires all around, Dec 2014
New Splendide Washer dryer, Aug 2014
New Samsung Residential Fridge, Aug 2014
New exterior professional paint job 2013
New roof by Newmar factory in 2010, it had experienced minor hail damage.
New mattress Sep 2014 (we did put on a 3" eggcrate covering)


Things I've done since we purchased in April 2015:
Roadmaster spare tire carrier
Mounted the unmounted spare that came with the Coach (manufactured 42nd week of 2014)
Flat Screen TV's front and bedroom
New front windshields, chipped, one cracked shortly after we purchased,
KY State, ZERO $ deductible on the glass!
Changed the bag on the installed Vacuum system
New Belts (side radiator, so that was simple)
Oil changes
Fuel Filters
still need to do desiccant dryer, just to establish a baseline

Things on DutchStarDon's list:

Foggy windows, nope, never had an issue, still look new
Old furniture, nope, looks like new!
Used Toilet, I believe these can be cleaned?
Worn out tires . . . You didn't check the date codes when purchasing?

We're just not one of those couples who have a couple of hundred extra grand laying around that we want to gift to a salesman!

We also wanted to start using our Coach immediately and not run the risk of it spending 3 to 6 months having the dealer/manufacturer do warranty work to correct stuff that should have been caught by Manufacturer Quality Control people!


None of the other problems present on DutchStarDon's list. We looked the coach over pretty thoroughly, had all maintenance records from PO's, and STILL had it inspected prior to purchase . . . .Doesn't everyone?

[Dutch Star Don]

"B Bob"......You proved my point and your statement is exactly why I made my snarky post. People buy used and then criticize those who buy new. What if I said that you were a loser in life and all you could afford was some old motor home, including an old Country Coach. You wouldn't like that statement, yet you and others have no issue criticizing those who buy new.

My point......if you bought used.....great. Just don't criticize those that buy new.

I previously owned a nice 22' runabout that I purchased new and kept for 15 years. I'm now interested in buying a nice pontoon boat to take the grandkids out. I will look for a good used one because I intend to use it infrequently and beat the heck out of it by running it up on shore, something I couldn't do with my last boat. More importantly, I don't have the money to spend on a new one. See how simple that is to say!

[Papa_Jim]

I would like to think that I'm not critical of anyone that decides to buy a brand new motor coach. In fact, if no one bought the brand new ones, there would be no used motor coaches for guys like me to buy.

I also think that whether you buy a brand new motor coach, or a used motor coach, either way you're going to experience the same amount of pleasure. Other than electronic stuff, I don't think motor coaches have really changed much in the last 20 years.

That brings me to talking about our own motor coach. It's 20 years old, soon to be 21 years old. It does not have any slides. We bought it in 2008, totally renovated it in 2009, and we feel that it's every bit as good as any brand new comparable coach.

I'm a retired diesel engine mechanic and machinist, so anything mechanical on this coach of ours is a treat to work on for me, especially considering that the engine is the old mechanical fuel injected diesel engine. If you're mechanically inclined, then an older coach can be a good choice. I do not think that this would be the best solution for everyone.

I think that if you're not mechanically inclined, and are fortunate to have the kind of money it takes to buy a brand new coach, then that's the right thing for you to do.

I think that if you have general handy man capabilities and need to save some money, then a slightly used coach can be an excellent choice for you.

Occasionally I browse through the used motor coach for sale listings, and drool over real nice 12 and 13 year old motor coaches. Maybe someday I'll update to one of those.

Jim

[89sandman]

Missing thinking why did I spend so much money for something I use a few times a year

[Thunderfoot]

The title of this thread and question posed by the OP refers to "Owner's of older MH's..."

I'm curious why anyone with a "newer" MH would be so defensive and think they've been personally targeted plus feel the need to respond to a thread that clearly excludes them. I'm reminded of the Carly Simon tune "You're so vain". It is amusing to read the opinion that used buyers lack the resources to buy new if so desired. In this day of cheap money and terms longer than I'm likely to live statistically, nearly anyone can buy a new coach so what's the point?

On topic I purchased my coach when it was two model years old and have enjoyed the past 15+ years without any of the cosmetic or mechanical issues mentioned by some. I can appreciate the new bells & whistles and extravagant interiors the new coaches offer but that's not reason enough for me to make a change. My old coach feels like my favorite pair of shoes; comfortable, reliable, predictable, and I have learned all of it's idiosyncrasies. At this point I'm still very pleased with my old coach and don't miss a thing!

Have fun, be safe, and enjoy your travels!

[ecurb74]

In defense of DS Don (not that he needs any defending) I do see his point. Most of us have told someone to consider buying used and it makes sense for most but if no one bought new then how are we ever going to find our great buys on used coaches? They have to be bought new by someone. Kudos to the guy that bought all of our great used coaches....new!

I don't really think that the majority are down on people that buy new. We are just anxious to help out people and try to get them the best that they can afford. I do see how it comes across as a little condescending when we tell everyone to avoid buying new and how crazy they are for taking the big hicky on depreciation. I wished I could afford new but alas I can't.

Y'all stay safe and enjoy the holiday season coming up. Merry Christmas to those it pertains to! (Or is that allowed now days?)


Bruce & Teresa
2000 Foretravel U320 4010
Cummins ISM 450hp
Allison HD4060R 6 Spd W/Retarder

[Tyler6357]

Leaky roofs--- Check, I had to get up on the roof and coat it with a coat of primer and 3 coats of Liquid Rubber, it came out beautiful, sprayed the inside fabric stains with bleach, great trick, invisible now. Cost was about $500
Musty odors---Check, I spent days cleaning the entire rig inside and out and then I cleaned it again
Old used furniture---Check, old and used but no holes and very comfortable
Worn out drive train---Nope, It had hardly any miles on it
Chipped windows---Nope, Don't notice any chips, but like I said, low miles
Scratched/Faded paint---Check, sun faded and ugly as sin
Bald tires---Check, $2,500 spent for new
Foggy windows---Check, one side window has some fog spots, working on a solution
Old CRT TV's---Check, had to gut the front cabinet and redesign for a flat screen and all new electronics, still working on the bedroom TV
No slides----Check, in this case that's good, slides available in 1990 sucked and leaked after 10K miles, no slides means less weight to lug around
No warranty----Check, it's a 1990
Used mattress----Check, but still too firm for me, I might replace with something softer
Used toilet----Check, what good is a toilet if it is never used?
Archaic propane refer----Check, I had to replace the entire cooling unit ($450) now it works like a charm and is good enough for my uses but no ice maker I'm looking into a portable one
Underpowered engine----I wouldn't call it underpowered, the 454 pulls the light 34 foot coach, with no slides, just fine
Having to make excuses as to why you bought used rather than new---Nope, you see, I didn't buy it. It was willed to me by my father. He bought it new in 1990 to live in after his home was destroyed in a fire while he rebuilt, he kept it for many years and used it seldomly. It sat for many years parked near the end. So I have no excuses to make, thanks dad!
No pride of ownership---Are you kidding me? I've put tons of work into this thing, I added back up and side cameras, TVs, an air compressor, new batteries, new running lights, and I'm putting in a new stereo system. Fixing it up has been the most fun thing ever and everything I fix or improve makes me prouder to own it than I was before. If you can spend $100K to buy a nice rig, you deserve to be proud of yourself for being able to afford to buy something nice. Also, I'm certain you experience pride when you pay someone to fix something on it to get it just as you like it. But there is a special pride you get when you restore something and bring it back to life yourself. This thing runs awesome, and I'm proud as heck to drive down the road in my 25yr old motorhome! My father would have loved to see the old girl now. I'm only 51yrs old and a motorhome is not something I could have really afforded, but the RV experience doesn't have to be just for the 1%. I'm fishing, boating, camping, off roading, horseback riding, tailgating! So the next time you see an old rig with decals fading, or a little dent here and there, don't make the mistake of thinking the driver has no pride of ownership.

[jimbo2013]

Originally Posted by ecurb74

We are just anxious to help out people and try to get them the best that they can afford.

Not all used coaches are based on how much one can afford, it may also be based on what someone wants to invest based on it's limited use.

To me to use a RV a few weeks a year didn't justify a $300K investment, but I could afford it if I wanted to.



.

[ArmandV]

Whether one buys a new coach or a used one, the bottom line is: If you're happy with it and are getting enjoyment out of it, who cares?

I bought new because:

1. I could afford it.

2. I didn't want to potentially "inherit" someone else's problems.

[B Bob]

Dutch Star Don - I did not criticize you. I walk through Dutch Stars at the RV shows we go to and think they are one of the best of the mid priced coaches. Several of my close RV friends have them and say good things.

I like old motorhomes though. Before we had our current rig we had a 1975 Glenbrook GMC motorhome that we lavished time and piles of money on. I washed it and polished it myself dozens of times. We customized the interior and had the tri color paint on the exterior done. One of the stupidest things I have ever done in my life was selling it. I loved driving that thing. I tired to buy it back at least twice and the guy I sold it to just laughed at me and said no.

I guess my point here is that we bought the coach we wanted 6 1/2 years ago. We looked at a number of brand new rigs, but preferred the one we bought. We loved the semi custom southwest interior then and now, plus it was the best driving coach of all I tried out including the new ones. But then again, I never test drove a Prevost or a Newell or for that mater a Blue Bird Wanderlodge.

Any of you who come across a 75 Glenbrook with tri color on the outside and a route 66 interior for sale please PM me. I still want it back.