25k or less - is it possible?? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

25k or less - is it possible??

Dcrum · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are hoping to go full time, but once our house sells we will only have 25K to work with. Is it possible to find an RV for full time living for that price? Obviously used, and we want a motorhome. Suggestions welcome! Thanks.

Dcrum · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW! Thank you Mike - there is hope after all! Both of those look terrific. I especially like the "heated basement" idea And features on that '99 But they are both good possibilities. They ARE what we will be looking for! Sure wish I had the money right now, I would go for it. Come on home buyers! Thanks for your offer, too - when the time comes we just might take you up on it! When do you head south?

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sometimes buying an older high end motorhome can be a great way to go. Lots of Foretravel, Newell, Wanderlodge and other brands out there from the 80s and 90s that are still in great shape, have many years & miles ahead of them and can be had in your price range.

Just be sure to budget in the maintenance on whatever you purchase. Motorhomes are heavy duty machinery. For instance, if you overheat a diesel engine - it can easily be a 5-figure repair bill. We just went through a rebuild ourselves on our bus conversion, and has some friends who bought a mid-90s Foretravel who also needed an inframe rebuild this summer. (It can happen to a rig of any age however, not just older ones).

Best wishes in your shopping!

- Cherie

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Donna I will be heading south in the begining of November . I will be coming back and forth all winter for medical reasons and Attorneys........it might be to your advantage because I am planning on winter quarters in St. Augustine Fla. so you could also include some in that area.

When your ready let us know we can help you in finding a good deal and starter unit.....in the mean time just visit a few dealers and get a feel for what you want , there are some good deals out here!!.....just have to sift thru them and look carefully

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Keep in mind motorhomes have drivetrain components that are the same as used on commercial vehicles. These components are designed for lots of trouble free mileage. Most with expectation of at least a 300,000 to 500,000 mile service life.

So when you think of a car with 100,000 miles it's got a lot of miles and is near end of life. A motorhome with a 100,000 miles still has a lot of life left as long as it has been cared for.

Dcrum · RV-Dreams Family Member

"An...inframe...rebuild." I don't have a clue what that is, but it sounds scary-expensive! Thank you all for your posts. Technomadia, I watched your streaming program about about the "myths" of RVing and found it very enlightening. These forums as well as other blogs, books, etc, are really helping. We have been to a couple of dealerships, we went to the show at Hershey. We are doing our home work! and trying to be patient. You all are so generous in sharing your wisdom, experiences, and time. Thanks all!

CurveCarver · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the lead as examples of what can be found in your area. My son lives in the Concord area

and I forwarded him the links to help inspire him to head South, or better yet Southwest for the winter.

Enjoy your insight and posts that add some rich flavor to the forum brew.

Take care, stay well.

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

25 grand is definitely do-able; mine is a 2004 26' Fleetwood Fiesta Class A, with 14,000 miles, paid $24 grand. Everyone always ohhs and aaahs over it, and thinks it's new. But it needed new tires ($2,000) and it had a steering problem from sitting in storage (lubricant dried out, $2,600) For a used travel trailer or 5th wheel, you could get something very nearly new. You might need a few thousand for fix ups, especially if it is a motorhome (more things to go wrong)

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just in case someone wanted to know what a inframe...rebuild is, it's a engine being rebuild still in the truck, they rebuild the engine without pulling it out of the truck.

Lonney

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

We paid $25,000 for our Foretravel. After checking truck prices, we couldn't afford a 5'er, since the truck would have taken most of the budget. We might have been able to afford an Airstream TT since it wouldn't have required as heavy a truck. We're in the process of turning our two cars into one toad now. Friends from church are going to look at one of the cars tomorrow.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here in Eugene, Oregon, we often drive by a consignment dealer asking for $16,995 for a Bluebird Wanderlodge, so there are deals out there. (It could be a piece of junk, but the bones should still be good.)

Dcrum · RV-Dreams Family Member

So good to know there IS hope. When I say 25K, I mean that's ALL - nothing left over for repairs. So that means I need something for even less, doesn't it? Okay then.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Heres a couple more for you Donna

nh.craigslist.org/rvd/4119306909.html

nh.craigslist.org/rvs/4150461602.html

nh.craigslist.org/rvs/4124294981.html

nh.craigslist.org/rvd/4143371276.html