Community Forums

cucotx · 05-03-2019, 05:49 PM

Wow, lots of great feedback from the great people of irv2.

The DW and I have decided to increase the budget for the rig. What do you guys think I may find with a $75K to $100K budget?

I currently have a nice 2017 Casita travel trailer. I'll sell that and use the money, around $15K most likely, to buy new tires and fix what may need fixing in the used diesel rig before getting on the road. The $15K for service is in addition to the budget above for the RV.

smp005 · 05-03-2019, 06:05 PM

There will be lots of great options with that budget

HJLowell · 05-03-2019, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cucotx

Wow, lots of great feedback from the great people of irv2.

The DW and I have decided to increase the budget for the rig. What do you guys think I may find with a $75K to $100K budget?

I currently have a nice 2017 Casita travel trailer. I'll sell that and use the money, around $15K most likely, to buy new tires and fix what may need fixing in the used diesel rig before getting on the road. The $15K for service is in addition to the budget above for the RV.

Google is your friend.
Ultimately your $$$s
Your decision
Your coach
Your choise

100dreds of very nice coaches in that price range.

Shawn6596 · 05-03-2019, 06:34 PM

Here is mine. I paid $22k.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENFcuIAzKRo&t=104s

cucotx · 05-03-2019, 06:35 PM

So what will most likely need replacing or fixed on an old coach before getting on the road?

Tires and ...

Trying to figure out if a $15K budget will fix it up.

docj · 05-03-2019, 06:40 PM

Now that you have a bit more of a budget, I'd like to raise an issue that is often overlooked. If you look at the "great" DP's of the early 2000's, quite a few of them are powered by "large block" diesel engines. After the recession of 2008 and the bankruptcy of quite a few companies, many of the current DP's are powered with small diesels, in particular the 6.7L Cummins ISB. There is no doubt but that it does the job, but IMHO it's no comparison to powering a coach with a diesel of >12 L with torque in the >1500 ft lb range. Lot's of attention gets paid to HP because manufacturers can play games and raise engine HP, but there's nothing they can do to change low end torque. The good news for manufacturers is that most consumers don't understand torque, anyway. But, take my word for it, there's a big difference.

My suggestion is to buy a high quality MH built by one of the probably defunct companies. Look for one that has been well-cared for and whose owners may have already done some modernization. For example, someone buying our Beaver would get multiple HDTVs, a Trav'ler dish, a residential fridge, real leather Stressless furniture and new deluxe captains chairs. For what you're willing to spend you should be able to choose from quite a few. Just beware of the ones that look like they've sat unused with only minimal modernization. Those are the ones I'd worry as to whether or not the owner did the required maintenance.

With older MH's ask key questions, such as, "is the transmission filled with Transynd or other TES-2995 compatible fluid?" "Have the transmission filters ever been replaced?" "Has the engine coolant been updated to extended life or is it still glycol-based?" "What are the production dates on the tires?" "Are there maintenance records?"

Good luck!

Joel (AKA docj)

Shawn6596 · 05-03-2019, 06:59 PM

In my experience I spent less than $2000 in upgrades on mine. The only thing I had to do was fix a small roof leak. that cost me $75 for a roll of seam tape, and 3 tubes on lap sealant to recaulk the entire roof. Here is a link to the upgrades I chose to make. https://www.facebook.com/pg/Masterso...os/?tab=albums

cucotx · 05-03-2019, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

... If you look at the "great" DP's of the early 2000's, quite a few of them are powered by "large block" diesel engines. After the recession of 2008 and the bankruptcy of quite a few companies, many of the current DP's are powered with small diesels, in particular the 6.7L Cummins ISB. There is no doubt but that it does the job, but IMHO it's no comparison to powering a coach with a diesel of >12 L with torque in the >1500 ft lb range. ...

Joe, thanks for the great feedback. Lots to think about.

I do need to find some of those discussions on 12L vs 6.7L engines.

docj · 05-03-2019, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cucotx

I do need to find some of those discussions on 12L vs 6.7L engines.

HP governs the speed you can maintain going up a steep grade. Low end torque governs how fast you get moving from a stop. Our somewhat overpowered MH drives more like a car than most people can imagine. I find it a lot of fun to drive.

guardrail53 · 05-03-2019, 10:50 PM

Do some research, and find the top of the lineup for each manufacture. Like for Monaco, the Signature and Executive, Newmar, London Air and Mountain Air, etc. with all the high end manufactures!
These MH's will have the big block motors and transmissions, the big diesel generators, Aqua Hot or Oasis endless hot water systems and heated floors, on and on!
Take your budget, go to RVTrader.com, RVT.com, enter your search, be specific for what you are looking for, save the search, and get email notifications when new one's come up!
Also, for craigslist, use searchtempest, that way you can search different regions of the US, makes it easy to find what you are looking for, just beware, if it sounds to good to be true, and only has 1 or 2 pic's, keep looking!
Motorhomes of Texas has a lot of very nice units for sale, and they have a great reputation and present the MH's very well!
And remember, floor plan is very important! Enjoy your search! Rail!

saddlesore · 05-03-2019, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail53

Do some research, and find the top of the lineup for each manufacture.

Motorhomes of Texas has a lot of very nice units for sale, and they have a great reputation and present the MH's very well!
And remember, floor plan is very important! Enjoy your search! Rail!

X 2 for MOT..
AND It will be WELL WORTH Your Time to take a trip to Nacadoches, TX..
They even have a few Foretravels well within your budget.. but then again I am a bit partial to the Foretravel brand...

Ivylog · 05-04-2019, 12:34 AM

For FT $100K will let you find a upper level 03-05 DP with a 500HP/1500 ftlb engine with 4 slides and 3 AC units. Hopefully the TVs have not been upgrading because for $1000 you can put larger smart LED TVs on the face of the cabinet, not in it. Would not repair a roof Sat dish...buy a portable “Dish” Sat dish for $500.

Not sure how you could spend $15K in upgrading having recently spent $5K on our “new” Navigator...TVs, 900W solar, 900A AGM batteries, 2nd sliding basement tray, and 2 new front tires plus 70 LED bulbs for $100.

cucotx · 05-04-2019, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail53

Do some research, and find the top of the lineup for each manufacture. Like for Monaco, the Signature and Executive, Newmar, London Air and Mountain Air, etc. with all the high end manufactures!
These MH's will have the big block motors and transmissions, the big diesel generators, Aqua Hot or Oasis endless hot water systems and heated floors, on and on!
Take your budget, go to RVTrader.com, RVT.com, enter your search, be specific for what you are looking for, save the search, and get email notifications when new one's come up!
Also, for craigslist, use searchtempest, that way you can search different regions of the US, makes it easy to find what you are looking for, just beware, if it sounds to good to be true, and only has 1 or 2 pic's, keep looking!
Motorhomes of Texas has a lot of very nice units for sale, and they have a great reputation and present the MH's very well!
And remember, floor plan is very important! Enjoy your search! Rail!

Excellent guidance. You're absolutely right. The top of the lineup from each manufacturer and my budget decides the approximate year for the coach. Then, we just check the floor plan we want. That is the best recommendation for anyone looking for a used coach.

Thanks.

cucotx · 05-04-2019, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlesore

X 2 for MOT..
AND It will be WELL WORTH Your Time to take a trip to Nacadoches, TX..
They even have a few Foretravels well within your budget.. but then again I am a bit partial to the Foretravel brand...

Foretravels have always been my favorite RV MH. I would love finding one with the floorplan that I like.

Theater seating across from TV, booth dinette, king size bed, bath and a half, 40', washer/dryer, Aqua Hot, best transmcission possible, and as much torque as I can get.

And yes, DW says, no carpet. She also prefers the lighter inside colors. She's not into the woodsy brown or dark colors of most typical RVs from years 2000- 2010. Foretravels do have some super nice interiors with lighter colors. Year 2004 Foretravels go for about $100K, so that is one option.