I've been looking at 2000+ in the 20-30k range I just see way more brands than the ones you listed on your short list
Ideally I want one for
Ideally I would like to get my family out of town regularly instead of spending weekends at home but not sure the $$$ involved
I'm a bus guy as well. I am now the proud owner of a Wanderlodge which some of you guys helped me buy a few months back. Once you have a look at the bus based RV's, the rest of them really don't compare very well at all. I paid $10,000 for a coach that will never leak or need an engine. I got 9 mpg driving it home, which is comparable to most of the big gas pots. It does take a fair bit of room to park, which fortunately I have, and I imagine if I do have to fix something it won't be cheap. Oh, and the street credability is off the scale!
I remember you buying that. I don't remember what year it is or if it was a conversion done right or built as a RV. The older busses like that sure look more classy than a motorhome of the same era
You bought that thing for how much??? You didn't buy it, you stole it-- and 10k fell outta the loot bag during yer getaway 
So something like this is bad from the get go?
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/rvs/3365628008.html#.UKHdUofoSkw
but this one says its on a spartan which is good?
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/rvs/3350621954.html#.UKHdfYfoSkw
and this seems like it has most of the things you advised but its 40ft http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/3305941439.html#.UKHetIfoSkw
Jay_W wrote: You bought that thing for how much??? You didn't buy it, you stole it-- and 10k fell outta the loot bag during yer getaway
You can go to the Wanderlodge forum
http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/
and scroll down to the coaches for sale section. They pop up all the time for very reasonable money. And they are a factory built RV, not a conversion like the MCI's.
The members there call other makes "stick and staple" RV's.
fidelity101 wrote: Get air brakes if you can. avoid full power brake (HPB) Meritor-Wabco system.
airbrakes can in some states put you in a commercial class.
I've owned a couple of Motorhomes.. They are great at the track and wonderful for family vacations. However They are lousy when not in use.. big bulky and won't fit in most garages.. Some cites, communities restrict where you can park them or store them..
A friend in a gated community in California is restricted to 48 hours. So he pays over $100 a month as storage fees..
Now add a fuel bill that will typically pay for a nights stay at a motel. The cost and time of maintenance. And the steady depreciation they go through. The only reason to own one is because they are so handy at the race track..
Now is the time to buy, between now and Christmas. After the first of the year people start to think about winter vacation, snow birding and summer.
One person I know buys rotted, junky RV's and pays as little as $500 for them.. he hauls them home and then converts used Semi's into RV's using the equipment he hauls out of the junker.. Putting some in the sleeper and some into the trailer where the cars are.
He buys good solid Semi's for as little as $7000 and trailers for another $3000 (much under that and they need too much work) He's looking for a Peterbuilt 379 with the Cat 3406 engine.. That engine can get over a million miles on it with very little work..
His advantage with doing things this way is he always can sell them at a profit during the racing season and he can cover his fuel cost by hauling others cars to the track.. (you need a lift gate to make it pay)
His advantage is he's rural, has a shop big enough to fit everything into and has plenty of time to work while his crops are growing. (He's a grain farmer)
one of the best museums i have been too has been the RV/Motorhome hall of fame in Ind. Elkhart i didnt want to stop but was forced and it was well worth it. there was some crazy stuff built back in the day
a friend just bought a airstream like this one. they are really well made
Jaynen wrote: So something like this is bad from the get go? http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/rvs/3365628008.html#.UKHdUofoSkw but this one says its on a spartan which is good? http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/rvs/3350621954.html#.UKHdfYfoSkw and this seems like it has most of the things you advised but its 40ft http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/3305941439.html#.UKHetIfoSkw
The rexhall looks to be a pretty good deal. The "riviera"? I don't know anything about them but it looks kinda cheap, specially the inside shots. Wrong engine too, it's a 5.9 That Beaver is priced a bit proud, but it really is a condo on wheels. If I were closer I'd take a real close look at that rexhall and find out does it ride and stop on air and such...
mguar wrote: I've owned a couple of Motorhomes.. They are great at the track and wonderful for family vacations. However They are lousy when not in use.. big bulky and won't fit in most garages.. Some cites, communities restrict where you can park them or store them.. A friend in a gated community in California is restricted to 48 hours. So he pays over $100 a month as storage fees.. Now add a fuel bill that will typically pay for a nights stay at a motel. The cost and time of maintenance. And the steady depreciation they go through. The only reason to own one is because they are so handy at the race track.. Now is the time to buy, between now and Christmas. After the first of the year people start to think about winter vacation, snow birding and summer. One person I know buys rotted, junky RV's and pays as little as $500 for them.. he hauls them home and then converts used Semi's into RV's using the equipment he hauls out of the junker.. Putting some in the sleeper and some into the trailer where the cars are. He buys good solid Semi's for as little as $7000 and trailers for another $3000 (much under that and they need too much work) He's looking for a Peterbuilt 379 with the Cat 3406 engine.. That engine can get over a million miles on it with very little work.. His advantage with doing things this way is he always can sell them at a profit during the racing season and he can cover his fuel cost by hauling others cars to the track.. (you need a lift gate to make it pay) His advantage is he's rural, has a shop big enough to fit everything into and has plenty of time to work while his crops are growing. (He's a grain farmer)
You are correct in that there is never a solid argument in favour of buying an RV, They are an extravagance pure and simple.
Jaynen wrote: and this seems like it has most of the things you advised but its 40ft http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/3305941439.html#.UKHetIfoSkw
Holy crap that thing is ballin' out of control!!!!!!
Most of the cars we discuss on this forum are an extravagance too :)
Sure you could tent camp. But it's hard to find hotels that are right on the beach, or out in the desert for example.
Track days are bonus if it means you can bring your whole family including the dog and not have to worry about boarding or finding someone to watch them and the wife and kid can entertain themselves while daddy plays with his grown up toys
I have always thought a class B would be the thing for short stays.
If it was just cheap car transport/mobile garage for track days I would totally go that modified box truck route.
iceracer wrote: I have always thought a class B would be the thing for short stays.
The problem with class B's is similar to class C's - running weight and towing capacity. I've been considering that, however, but as a diy conversion to limit the van weight. I've seen beefed up conversion vans tow an enclosed car trailer, but it would be near the limits. The other issue is sleeping capacity. While B's are usually stated as "sleeps 4" in reality, 2 is what they're meant for.
If you were going to DIY convert wouldnt the box truck be a better start? Much better underlying platform? A lot more space no need for a trailer etc?
Plus I am shocked at the prices on those things (cheap)
Jaynen wrote: If you were going to DIY convert wouldnt the box truck be a better start? Much better underlying platform? A lot more space no need for a trailer etc? Plus I am shocked at the prices on those things (cheap)
Possibly. I'd still assume needing a trailer for the car. The problem is I don't have parking for a truck large enough to put a car into the box. Plus, the high load deck and required ramp contraption for loading doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.
In a perfect world, I'd get a Sprinter 3500 Hi-Roof 170WB which has a 7500 lb towing capacity.
Sprinters are pretty awesome
I had a blowout this past weekend in my motorhome. Now I don't trust the remaining tires (date codes in the early 2000's). I'm looking at a $4300.00 bill to replace 6 22.5" tires. I could save $200 per tire by using truck tires but they are noisier and don't handle the UV like a motorhome specific tire. I will also tell you from first hand experience, you don't want a motorhome that leaks. I've had to rebuild 20 feet of one wall in my MH that delaminated from water intrusion. Don't get me started on the depreciation.
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