Some tips to look at used rig please

[garage man]

Going to look at a 1997 Monaco Executive 36'. 88000 miles.
Pictures of inside and out look like a new coach. Are there some particular things to check with this model and the age?
No slides to worry about and I have read information on this forum for the last 8 weeks until I am blurry eyed.
Thanks for any info offered. It will all help.
Oh, if it helps, I intend to tow a Jeep Wrangler and I expect to full time for 6 months to a year until the dust settles from a divorce.

[veraken]

This is what I have always posted when asked about buying a used MH

"Once you find a MH you are interested in, get professional inspections done. If you don't do this BEFORE you purchase, you run the risk of spending significantly more AFTER the purchase. If something is found, the inspector should be able to give you an estimate to repair. You can then decide if you want to proceed and can use it to negotiate a better price. You will be going into it with your eyes open. IF nothing is found, GREAT!!

I would suggest that you get an independent certified RV mechanic to inspect all the RV systems, including the roof. In addition I would have the engine, transmission, frame, etc. inspected by a diesel service shop. Having a coolant and oil analysis by a lab (like JG Lubricants ) would reveal any hidden problems.

Make sure everything is in writing!! Any purchase should be contingent upon successfully passing these inspections/tests.

I would do this to any used MH I was looking to buy.

https://www.jglubricantservices.com/
You get a 10% discount if you use "IRV2" as a promo code"

[Rockwood27]

Go online and learn how to find and read the DOT tire date codes if you don't already know how. Regardless of tread depth, they should be replaced after 7-10 years old. Most RV tires will "age out" before they wear out. You will need to replace 6-8 tires at a cost of $250-400 each, depending on size and manufacturer.

[K7JV]

Actually, the tires on a coach like the '98 Exec would cost more like between $650 and $1000 each!

Personal opinion - Big ticket items would certainly be things like the tires, engine and transmission of course, generator, air conditioners or heat pumps, interior heating system, plumbing including gray and black, main awning, roof, glass, leveling system, etc. How you analyze each of these things will depend on whether you get professional help or do it on your own. I would want records documenting the maintenance of the engine and transmission, or would want them truly checked out. Repair or replacement there would likely be a deal breaker.

Things like appliances and accessories shouldn't be financial killers, as replacements or repairs should be in the hundreds instead of the thousands.

Look in the electrical panels and see if they are relatively clean or are they caked in dirt and corrosion? Are the engine, the transmission, generator compartments and fuel tank bay relatively clean? Cleanliness in these areas can be a big indicator of how the coach has been treated and maintained.

How does it drive? Do you like how it looks? Paint? Interior condition? Does it smell like an ashtray or smell like dirty laundry? Those things are hard and can be as expensive to correct as much as major structural items.

That Executive might just be a truly great coach, depending on price, of course. You will need to be at least a little bit handy with tools, mechanical and electrical systems if you don't have a trusted source for that sort of work. But that is even true with brand new coaches. I just re-read your post, and where you are going to probably be a "party of one" for the most part, not having a slide shouldn't be a deal breaker, either. For us it would be, but if it were just "me" and not "we", I'd be ok without the slide.

Good luck on your decision! The Exec should be a great home for several months, if not a year or two or three.

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by veraken

This is what I have always posted when asked about buying a used MH

"Once you find a MH you are interested in, get professional inspections done. If you don't do this BEFORE you purchase, you run the risk of spending significantly more AFTER the purchase. If something is found, the inspector should be able to give you an estimate to repair. You can then decide if you want to proceed and can use it to negotiate a better price. You will be going into it with your eyes open. IF nothing is found, GREAT!!

I would suggest that you get an independent certified RV mechanic to inspect all the RV systems, including the roof. In addition I would have the engine, transmission, frame, etc. inspected by a diesel service shop. Having a coolant and oil analysis by a lab (like JG Lubricants ) would reveal any hidden problems.

Make sure everything is in writing!! Any purchase should be contingent upon successfully passing these inspections/tests.

I would do this to any used MH I was looking to buy.

https://www.jglubricantservices.com/
You get a 10% discount if you use "IRV2" as a promo code"

IMO the OP needs to read this ^^^^^^^ twice

[saddlesore]

Just My 2 cents worth..
1st.. View the "tag" lines at the bottom of the responding posters..
To give you an Idea of where they are coming from and the equipment they have.

Keep in mind..
You Do Not Know......What You Do Not Know..

Your 1st coach is simply a learning tool..
When You tour/view "In Person" any perspective coach..
View it First with all slides retracted, then shuck your shoes and do a dry run in the shower, sit on the throne (AND Close the door!), lay on the bed,study the galley(enough counter room/pantry space/pots & pans storage?) Do You have access to all these with slide retracted???
If the coach is fully usable without the slides extended, then give it a second look.
(Think wally-docking,rest areas,truckstops...any where that you cannot/do not have room for the slides to be extended)

BUY USED! & buy one with everything you "think" you want and will need..
IF the perspective coach seems a bit small but still "DO-Able" .......REMEMBER!!!
What seemed small... becomes unbearably TINY after being Coop'd up" for a week or more due to weather...
(AKA.....Cabin Fever)
A coach that is "Too Big" lasts for a week or two..One "Too Small" lasts forever.

And.... You WILL make mistakes and have booboo's We all have.....
Within a year or less, you will discover..about the RV

What you love about the RV...
What you can kinda-sorta tolerate with the RV..
And what you absolutely hate about that !@#$%^%$#@! RV.
Then you can go get what you should have gotten in the first place..
Happy Hunting

[garage man]

Originally Posted by RobRoy

IMO the OP needs to read this ^^^^^^^ twice

Trust me, I have read all answers more than once.
How do best find someone to do inspections?
I am 5 hours away from the coach and still working full time. I assume an RV inspector would go to the coach but someone would have to take the coach somewhere for a mechanical inspection.
Tire date codes I understand.

[Roy-c]

You are talking about a large dollar investment. Take the time off and be present for the professional inspection. Make sure everything works. Even down to the reading lamps by the bed. Water, heat, air conditioners, EVERYTHING. Leave no stone unturned. Spend the time now or the money later.

[Winemaker2]

For any and all starting to look I strongly recommend writing down how you intend to use the MH first.
Then develop the list of Musts and Wants
Then start looking, talking to others, etc always comparing possibilities vs your lists.
For those with DW, SO have them do the above exercises separately first and then compare and compromise (just do it her way!) to get to one list.

[TXiceman]

That age coach can turn into a big money pit in a hurry. Get the RV checked by a 3rd party professional inspector. Also have the chassis inspected by a chassis specialist.

Some of the costly issues that can hit you are:
Tires
Brakes,
Belts and hoses,
refrigerator,
A/C and heat,
Roof and leaks,
Engine,
generator,
Suspension

Make sure the owner can provide you with the maintenance records on the coach and that they we performed on a regular basis.

We have friends that bought an older American Tradition and I warned them that it could be a money pit. They had it checked...AFTER PURCHASE, and the first year of ownership was to the tune of a bit less than $10,000 to keep it going. After that, it was a pretty decent coach.

So proceed with caution and a careful eye.

Ken

[Fffrank]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

We have friends that bought an older American Tradition and I warned them that it could be a money pit. They had it checked...AFTER PURCHASE, and the first year of ownership was to the tune of a bit less than $10,000 to keep it going.

I'd go into this understanding that is a very real possibility even with a good inspection report. That's the nature of buying anything 20+ years old.

[MSHappyCampers]

Ask the seller for maintenance records!

[bpu699]

When you buy a 20 year old toy, youre going to have repairs. Figure $10,000 to make things right, and you won't be upset.

Tires are a big ticket item, but to think a seller will discount $7000 due to tires being due is a fallacy... I know I wouldn't.

You have to buy new tires? Great! Youre going to have use of them for the next 6-10 years, seller isn't...

[DerekF]

Originally Posted by garage man

Trust me, I have read all answers more than once.
How do best find someone to do inspections?
I am 5 hours away from the coach and still working full time. I assume an RV inspector would go to the coach but someone would have to take the coach somewhere for a mechanical inspection.
Tire date codes I understand.

google "rv inspections" include zip code of where it is located to find someone close.