Looking to buy Class C under $5k - am I nuts?

[mittelst]

Hi -

Brand new to RVing, although have been doing some research.

I'm anxious to get going quickly - so I've got a price point of about $5k. Is it possible to get a late-model class C under 25ft that isn't a "project" for that amount?

I'm obviously willing to make some compromises on interior styling and condition, and some creature comforts. But the engine and mechanicals need to be sound.

Am I on a fools errand?

[Papa Foxtrot]

Welcome to IRV2 - I thing you're being more than a bit optimistic - unless you're budgeting another $5K for repairs, upgrades and deferred maintenance items.

[aether_one]

RVTrader has 20 units nationwide under $6000 between 20 and 40 years old. What do you think?

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by mittelst

Hi -

Brand new to RVing, although have been doing some research.

I'm anxious to get going quickly - so I've got a price point of about $5k. Is it possible to get a late-model class C under 25ft that isn't a "project" for that amount?

I'm obviously willing to make some compromises on interior styling and condition, and some creature comforts. But the engine and mechanicals need to be sound.

Am I on a fools errand?

Anything selling for $5000 or less will be junk. $15,000 might get you an older unit or something with over 100,000 miles on it. Figure on needing tires and batteries. If you don't it's spare cash.

[DoC808]

If you're new to rving do a lot of research. Also hire somebody to do an inspection for you. I asked questions on this form for six months before I bought mine and I paid a lot for it. And I'm looking at about $5,000 worth of repair in the first three months. And that was me paying more thinking that I would get a better coach. Wrong! You're buying a used car somebody got tired of fixing it all the time and either sold to get out, or bought up. The five to $10,000 to get it working where you can rely on it and get to know it is very realistic. I can give you some of my experiences through a personal message if you like.

BTW, the one most important thing that I've learned as a new rver for the last 3 months is that every RV is a project. Even the brand new

[Traxless]

Originally Posted by DoC808

You're buying a used car somebody got tired of fixing it all the time and either sold to get out, or bought up. The five to $10,000 to get it working where you can rely on it and get to know it is very realistic.

$5000 for a RV with a motor ... oh yeah. Plan on spending another $5000 or more. The RV market place isn't a candy store.

[DoC808]

Originally Posted by Traxless

$5000 for a RV with a motor ... oh yeah. Plan on spending another $5000 or more. The RV market place isn't a candy store.

In my case I paid way way way too much for it. But that's only my opinion. I see them for sale for much more on RV Trader. But I have to fix every little thing now just if I want to sell it in 3 to 5 years. So I think of it as an investment. Kind of like putting it on an indoor storage instead of leaving it out in the storage yard. The hard part about it is living out of it when you need to make repairs. My Enos hammock has come in handy many nights. For one week I had to rent a car and I boondocked out of it. But it was also pretty nice cuz I could tear it up down dirt roads that I would not take my RV down.

[JONWisconsin]

Good luck! It seems you need to start reading about RVs in this forum and others. Nothing worth it even close.

[Isaac-1]

It really depends on what your goals are, and if you get a lucky find. Even with luck, and lots of shopping a $5,000 motorhome will have issues, these are often called hunters specials, meaning that they are money pits, and not worth fixing up, but do still have some useful life left in them such as being driven to and from a nearby hunting lease, lake, etc. often for the season, and the owner does not mind the cosmetic condition, structural rot, and often some non functional major appliances (furnace, air conditioner, water heater, generator, ..).

I started my own shopping looking at such a money pit, the asking price was $6,800, the seller was down to $4,900 and make offer when I walked away, in the end I bought the same brand, and same model / floor plan, just 15 vs 20 years old for $20,500, and have managed to spend near $7,000 on it in the last 9 months on maintenance, updates, etc. and I likely have another $2,000 or so to go before I get it in the condition I want it. Of that $7,000, only about $1,500 was stuff that needed to be addressed (mainly brakes, and dash air conditioner), the rest were updates and upgrades (shocks, LED headlights, suspension bushings, full fluid flush and fill, SeeLevel 709 tank monitor, GPS, TPMS....)

[Waiter21]

Can you find something, yes, but they are rare and don't stay on the market long.

I paid 5.5k for a 21ft Toyota Dolphin in 2011. We spent probably 2k to make sure everything was road worthy, drove it to Alaska, then two years later sold it for $7k

Alaska | Alaska Trip Log

..

[tugboatterry]

Hey Ya'll, I'm brand new to this site but I thought I'd reply to give some perspective on what you're asking for. I've been wanting a Class C RV for about 20 years. I never had the resources to justify owning one. Well My in-laws felt sorry for me and recently gifted my wife and I a 1992 Tioga Montara with 27,000 miles. Their thinking was "son-in-law is pretty handy, any issues he has he can straighten out". I also want to state that this is not a rant. I love my RV! It's the best thing that I've owned and I've had a lot of toys. The Camper was in great shape. BUT:

The roof was shot. Thank goodness we caught it before anything rotted. $1000.00 in total material to put on a new TPO roof, new vent covers, fixed my broken antenna, remove the front fiberglass and allow over-cab plywood to dry out and re-glue and seal everything up. Labor was me and my Dad working in my great uncles 30X40 shop with a 16' high roof. I also had to burn 1 week of vacation. It took 5 full days for my retired father and I to do this.

New awning material for RV, $80.00 and installed with help from my Dad.

The original coleman a/c was not working. $600.00 on a new Dometic 15000btu brisk air II with optional heating coil. Did it myself.

The van's AC wasn't working. $300.00 to have the leak diagnosed and repaired.

Transmission filter and fluid change, $100.00

New mattresses for the rear bed and over cab, $200.00

The coach rectifier fan was seized up causing unit to overheat. Repaired the unit myself with no parts needed. (cleaned fan, polished rotor shaft, repacked bearings with grease, re wired melted primary xfmr wiring and rectifier wiring and tested on my work bench) New Coach battery $100.00 installed myself.

Replaced broken shower head myself $30.00.

Fixed leaking kitchen sink, myself no cost.

Repaired broken cabinet door mirror. $15.00 mirror, cut out and replaced myself.

Winegard TV antenna rebuilt. $30.00 parts and re-built myself.

Marker lights not working, removed paneling and cleaned terminations from interior of coach myself.

Replaced right Rear brake and turn signal light housing myself $20.00.

Van alternator went out driving home from my uncles shop where I put the new roof on, $280.00 alternator. $100.00 battery. installed myself.

This winter I plan to change the engine water pump, hoses, and drive belt. Next year the tires will be 7 years old and according to the RV sites and advice from my friends, should be changed. estimating another $1500.00 dollars on this. I would also like to reupholster the cushions. No idea what this will cost.

So, within the first year of ownership, I will have spent close to $4500.00 and lot of my time and time from my father. You never know what will fail next but I enjoy fixing things myself and getting this beautiful camper back to being in top shape. The craftsmanship put into this RV was pretty darn good when they built it so it's nice to feel like what I am doing is not wasted time and money. Plus my wife, young daughter and I have already really enjoyed camping in our own camper! If you've got the time and budget for it then do it. If not, save your money and buy one that is newer with fewer problems. I hope this helps you and good luck!

[GoneToTheDog]

Originally Posted by mittelst

Hi -

Brand new to RVing, although have been doing some research.

I'm anxious to get going quickly - so I've got a price point of about $5k. Is it possible to get a late-model class C under 25ft that isn't a "project" for that amount?

I'm obviously willing to make some compromises on interior styling and condition, and some creature comforts. But the engine and mechanicals need to be sound.

Am I on a fools errand?

In a word.......yes.

[NLOVNIT]

Late model? No way, unless it was totaled for some reason. A search of rvtrader.com found 4 Class C's under $5k:
2 1990
1 1989
1 1985

You will need to have deep pockets for any issues & either be handy enough to fix things or be willing to pay someone who will.

Good luck.

Lori-

[JONWisconsin]

Here is one

https://racine.craigslist.org/rvs/d/...256449285.html