What sends RV's to Junk Yard

[newbe1]

I notice a severe drop off of RV's (Class A) over 15 years old that are for sale. I am curious, if this is because homes of this age end up in the junk yard or are just not on the market because it is cheaper to just hold on to them.

Also, what is the primary problem that sends an RV to the junk yard. Most of them are built on chassis/engines that should still be still going strong 20-30 years?

Thanks

[Carl Bice]

being a newbie myself, I am no expert, but it seems to me that it would be because of depreciation, older rigs are , or seem to be built better, but do not seem to hold their value, compared to these newer rolling mansions which are available now. I currently have one that is about to turn 40, and it is still in very usable shape, it just doesn't look like a new unit anymore.although I feel it outperforms many of the newer updated models. Plus it is much easier to work on my older unit. And you also have to add in the fact that there are not many who would take on a project of such magnitude when there are so many newer MH's for sale. And although the big lot's which sale MH's don't generally like to try to sell older units, due to the profit margins, they are still in fact loads of them available, if you look really hard, and stop and ask when you see one.. I got mine when I stopped to look at another TT the guy had for sale, we didn't like the TT, and he was asking a bit too much for it anyway, but our Sportscoach was sitting towards the back of his lot, and he had figured to just junk it. I offered him 500 for it, and after a new battery and some fuel, i drove it home?? So they are still out there. Good Luck..And Keep The Shiny Side Up..

[RustyJC]

Other than the obvious damage from a collision, the greatest enemy of an RV is water intrusion and the resulting rot, delamination and other damage. The risk of water intrusion increases with age as sealers age, harden and crack, roof materials age and crack, etc. That's why RVers must be religious about monitoring the condition of external surfaces and sealants and repairing/renewing them when necessary.

Rusty

[Horizonchase]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Other than the obvious damage from a collision, the greatest enemy of an RV is water intrusion and the resulting rot, delamination and other damage. The risk of water intrusion increases with age as sealers age, harden and crack, roof materials age and crack, etc. That's why RVers must be religious about monitoring the condition of external surfaces and sealants and repairing/renewing them when necessary.

Rusty

Thanks Rusty, being a newbie I will remember that!

[njs42]

This will do it, parked there since 1998.

[trainsktg]

Originally Posted by njs42

Attachment 22945

This will do it, parked there since 1998.

There's one just like that down the street from me. Sad. I'll get a picture in a few.

Keith

[Davdeb1]

I think there are more of them laying around in backyards and behind garages. Something broke, they parked them with intentions of fixing, and they just start disintegrating.

[TXiceman]

Some are hauled/dragged out to a lake lot or hunting lease and there they set never to roll again.

Ken

[B Bob]

IMO the reason for fewer 15+ year old coaches for sale is that you can't get enough for them to make selling them worth the trouble.

The biggest killer of RVs is lack of use. Then you don't notice the leak and you have all kinds of rot. The seals go bad because they have not been used and so on. All RVs have strong and weak points. I do not agree that old RVs are better. I had a GMC motor home for 1975 for quite a while and the to do list just never got smaller. That thing ate money. I would say that there has been extreme pressure on motor home makers to cut costs in the last five years. Without a doubt that means quality will suffer.

[kat_nda_sand]

I would also say that people change or get newer motorhomes depending on how they intend to use it and family size / age. Our class C was great with young kids but with my 16 year old being more like a grown adult and hubby's shoulders going from bed to ceiling in the bunk above the cab, it was time to change to a class A for us. We do like the newer amenities (side by side fridge, shower you can use as a shower & not just for storage, all the outdoor storage, slide, dual A/C) in the newer class A as well.

[Mr_D]

Gets pretty expensive to keep and older rig on the road. Our DSDP is 10 years old and tires, wheels, refer cooling unit have been replaced to to tune of about $5,000. Now the satellite dish appears to have quit, will be testing more this weekend. If it's bad then there's another $2,000. We also just replaced the couch and chair with three new La-Z-Boy recliners. Luckily they were on sale for only a little over $1,600. Now I need to get busy and polish the Alcoa wheels an the full body paint. Almost forgot the two new flat screen TV's. It actually cost me three TV's as I knocked one over and it skidded out the door, scratching the face up.
Guess flooring will be next although I'd like to change the window shades.
After a while I suppose it just gets too much for some people and they park it rather than continuing to fix it.

[ahicks]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Other than the obvious damage from a collision, the greatest enemy of an RV is water intrusion and the resulting rot, delamination and other damage. The risk of water intrusion increases with age as sealers age, harden and crack, roof materials age and crack, etc. That's why RVers must be religious about monitoring the condition of external surfaces and sealants and repairing/renewing them when necessary.

Rusty

My vote for the #1 killer would be "water intrusion" as well. When you walk into a coach with a sagging ceiling the smell of rot is often enough to have you turning on your heel and walking out. Knowing full well what's involved in resurectiong a coach like this is another reason to have one turning on his heel... That thing could have 5000 miles on it and it would STILL be headed for a junk yard.

[sc3283]

Norcolds fridges have put their share of RVs in the bone yard

[4Knights]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Gets pretty expensive to keep and older rig on the road. Our DSDP is 10 years old and tires, wheels, refer cooling unit have been replaced to to tune of about $5,000. Now the satellite dish appears to have quit, will be testing more this weekend. If it's bad then there's another $2,000. We also just replaced the couch and chair with three new La-Z-Boy recliners. Luckily they were on sale for only a little over $1,600. Now I need to get busy and polish the Alcoa wheels an the full body paint. Almost forgot the two new flat screen TV's. It actually cost me three TV's as I knocked one over and it skidded out the door, scratching the face up.
Guess flooring will be next although I'd like to change the window shades.
After a while I suppose it just gets too much for some people and they park it rather than continuing to fix it.

Sounds like you just need to give yours to me and I'll give mine to someone else, that way we all get newer rigs!