Community Forums

Bgonzo · 01-20-2019, 02:57 PM

I'm looking for some advice in purchasing a used class A with a budget of 25K.

Back story:
I live in Alaska and our home room some damage during the 7.0 earthquake on November 30th. My home is going to be under repair for 4-6 mo and the insurance gave me money for living expenses. Renting a home really isn't an option because we have 4 dogs.

My questions are: what is my best option in that price range? Workhorse chassis vs Ford? Realistic mpg between the V8 and V10 (I'll fly to the lower 48 and drive back what I buy). Are there any manufacturer I should stay away from? What issues should I be looking for?

I want to consider resale as well. Any RV goes for a premium up here, the local dealer had a 2006 (don't know the mfg) Hurricane with 48k miles, it was reduced from 79,998 to 54.995. I'm not looking to rip anyone off, just would like to know what would hold its value better than another.

I know that's a lot of questions and if anyone would like to take the time to answer I'd appreciate it. I dont want to make a mistake considering the shortest distance from Portland, Oregon to here is just shy of 2300 miles and buying something in Florida and driving up is a but intimidating not knowing what I'm getting in to.
Thanks

lrsses · 01-20-2019, 03:17 PM

I have the Workhorse classic 33.6 feet Allison 1000 8.1 Vortec 2004 my average at 65 MPH is 7.0 to 7.5 new plugs and wires. It has 91000 miles on it. National SeaBreeze LX8321.

eyeeevin · 01-20-2019, 03:34 PM

The workhorse chassis rides better than the F53. I was able to drive a Winnebago Adventurer 35U with dual slides, basement ac, fiberglass roof before it was sold from under me and it was a way nicer ride than the pace arrow vision I have now. If you can, search from Sacramento down to San Diego for one. The market seems to be holding steady at around 20-25k on "high end" class a's with low mileage between 1999 and 2004. That adventurer was going for 24,500. I picked up my Pace Arrow Vision 36B for a hair under 20

lrsses · 01-21-2019, 04:49 PM

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1851...66149600377203

Bgonzo · 01-22-2019, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrsses

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1851...66149600377203

Thanks for the tip, just joined. 👍

Bgonzo · 01-23-2019, 01:07 AM

Just did a long distance purchase of a Forest River Georgetown 340TS SE, flying down to Orlando first week of February to begin the drive back to Alaska.

twojayhawks · 01-23-2019, 08:22 AM

Looks like a great coach! Enjoy your maiden voyage.

lrsses · 01-23-2019, 09:10 AM

Good looking coach is it the Workhorse or Ford

lonfu · 01-23-2019, 09:25 AM

First of all stick with a gasser, they just cost less. Maintenance is like 40% less too. Ford is still being produced, work horse is kaput and parts, well, you know how that story goes... Resale value???hahahahaha....cough.. cough... cough....

RV's break down, get use the idea, it is the nature of the beast

.... it starts the day the are driven off the assembly line.....

4 dogs, living in an RV?? it will be worth less when you are done with it unless you sell it to your kids... RV's interiors are not as durable as a house is, sorry..

but they sure do beat paying rent for some ones else's house... I'd look at a trailer as you will loose less$$ when you resell.

AKIQPilot · 01-23-2019, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrsses

Good looking coach is it the Workhorse or Ford

Looks like an F53 chassis.

I would budget 7mpg for an average from Florida to AK.

The shortest route from Orlando to Anchorage is about 4800 miles. That is close to 10 days on the road. This time of year there will be very few campgrounds open north of I 20 so you should just plan to stay at Walmarts or truck stops and rack up the miles. If you drive hard for 12hrs per day you should be able to get 650 miles a day in. That puts you at about 7 days on the road.

Budget at least $3.50 per gallon for the trip. Obviously fuel will be less in the US but way more in western Canada. Plan on spending $2500 on fuel.

Winterize the coach before you leave Orlando. Use jugs and bottles of water for the bathroom and drinking. Buy and use 1 gallon of RV antifreeze for every day you will be on the road. You could easily see below zero weather before you get out of the states and if you aren't freeze protected you could freeze the entire coach up and that could cost you thousands. You are gonna want to drink bottled water anyway until you get the coach home and super chlorinated.

Inspect the date code on the tires before you leave Orlando. IF they are 5 years old or older you should consider replacing all of them before you start your trip up. Buy a spare tire. Find a place to keep it. Even if it isn't mounted you need at least 1 spare tire for this trip.

I've made the trip up in an RV many times summer and winter. It's no fun during winter but being from AK you know how to drive. If you run into more than 6" of snow you might as well just find a place to park until the roads are cleared. I've taken my Moho to Arctic Man for 15 straight years. Snow/ice on the road is no fun.

Bgonzo · 01-23-2019, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrsses

Good looking coach is it the Workhorse or Ford

Ford....I couldn't be too picky, I was looking for something in good shape and clean. This had been garage kept, one owner.

Bgonzo · 01-24-2019, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

Looks like an F53 chassis.Why yes it is. 😉

I would budget 7mpg for an average from Florida to AK.

Planning on that

The shortest route from Orlando to Anchorage is about 4800 miles. That is close to 10 days on the road. This time of year there will be very few campgrounds open north of I 20 so you should just plan to stay at Walmarts or truck stops and rack up the miles. If you drive hard for 12hrs per day you should be able to get 650 miles a day in. That puts you at about 7 days on the road.

We're taking a longer route. Stopping in Alabama to see my dad, Kirksville, Missouri to see our son and daughter inlaw, SLC to pick up my wife, Rexburg, ID to see her sister and pick up a few things, then north to Alaska!

Budget at least $3.50 per gallon for the trip. Obviously fuel will be less in the US but way more in western Canada. Plan on spending $2500 on fuel.

✔ Already way ahead of you and you forgot to mention the Milepost 😉

Winterize the coach before you leave Orlando. Use jugs and bottles of water for the bathroom and drinking. Buy and use 1 gallon of RV antifreeze for every day you will be on the road. You could easily see below zero weather before you get out of the states and if you aren't freeze protected you could freeze the entire coach up and that could cost you thousands. You are gonna want to drink bottled water anyway until you get the coach home and super chlorinated.

thanks for the tip on that one👍

Inspect the date code on the tires before you leave Orlando. IF they are 5 years old or older you should consider replacing all of them before you start your trip up. Buy a spare tire. Find a place to keep it. Even if it isn't mounted you need at least 1 spare tire for this trip.

Codes were checked, 2016

I've made the trip up in an RV many times summer and winter. It's no fun during winter but being from AK you know how to drive. If you run into more than 6" of snow you might as well just find a place to park until the roads are cleared. I've taken my Moho to Arctic Man for 15 straight years. Snow/ice on the road is no fun.

Never been to Arctic Man, seen videos though.

I'm planning on picking up a set of dually cable chains. I drove over the road through snow so it's not at all foreign to me.

Bgonzo · 01-24-2019, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonfu

4 dogs, living in an RV?? it will be worth less when you are done with it unless you sell it to your kids... RV's interiors are not as durable as a house is, sorry..

They're never left alone to roam about. They either in a doggy daycare or they're crated when we're gone for short periods of time.

akeagle · 01-24-2019, 12:34 AM

If you're in or near Anchorage (I am too) I highly recommend that you go see Great Alaskan Holidays on Old Seward Highway. Their primary mission is RV rentals, but after three seasons they pull units out of the rental fleet, spruce them up, and sell them for a significant discount from the original MSRP. A year and a half ago we bought one of their Class C Winnebago Minnie Winnie 27Qs, a 2016 model, which was in nearly new condition despite an odometer reading of about 38,000 miles. The original MSRP was just under $90,000 and we bought it for about $48,000. They have models both longer and shorter too. You could also look them up on the internet at greatalskanholidays.com. Again, I highly recommend them.

Sorry, I missed the post about buying a rig from Florida before I wrote the post above.