Soooo...Who's Good and Who's Junk? (Used) - RV-Dreams Community Forum

MidasKnight · RV-Dreams Community Member

Soooo...Who's Good and Who's Junk? (Used)

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you are in the northern part of VA note that in the winter there may be times when the cold will require a lot of propane to keep you warm and the plumbing from freezing.

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sounds like dual pane windows should be on your wish list.

PD CFK · RV-Dreams Family Member

Probably nobody will say that a certain make of RV is "junk", even if they may think so. And even if someone thinks that , there will be others to say that they had one of that type that was a great unit for them. On the other hand there will be many who will say how much they love the type that they have. Most all RVs have problems from time to time. We really like the Carriage Cameo that we have, and we have had a few issues. However my DH is a mechanic and knows which problems to tackle and which to take to a shop. Maybe you could just find one to live in while you are staying in one spot and then look for something later when you can go on the road. Enjoy the hunt.

Pat K

MidasKnight · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hmmm, maybe I should have worded it differently.....

Rather than "junk", let's say, what brands tend to have good durability, and what brands have less than good durability?

My plan is to stay in one spot for the next year. Longer if I get into grad school here. I do want it to be able to move in case we're gonna take a direct hit from a category 3 or bigger hurricane. Going on the road will be many years down the line...at least going on the road for more than a week or two.

I'd like to have double panes, but beggars can't be choosers. I just gotta find the best combination of cheap and in good shape. Dirt cheap is likely to be mighty rough, and really good shape is likely to be too expensive. So I gotta balance pretty tight...lol

Thanks!
Chris

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good luck, Chris. For your budget, you are not going to be able to pick and choose. You will buy what you buy and deal with your problems as they arise. You won't be the first. Lots have done it. Actually, it might be kinda fun. Keep a savings account and a sense of humor.

soos · RV-Dreams Family Member

took a quick look on Craigslist and saw a few that might be worth looking at, if it were me:

2000 cedar creek norfolk.craigslist.org/rvs/5084360016.html

2005 Keystone Zeppelin norfolk.craigslist.org/rvs/5113351248.html

2003 Coachmen (but there aren't any pics of the interior) norfolk.craigslist.org/rvs/5124899274.html

2005 Fleetwood Prowler https://norfolk.craigslist.org/rvs/5100470651.html

Those are some that could have held up ok, as far as I know.
If you have time, it may be a good idea to go look at a few to get a feel for whats out there.

Sue

-- Edited by soos on Saturday 18th of July 2015 01:29:57 AM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Considering you want to have something for all four seasons, Arctic Fox is a pretty good name for that. However, I'm not sure you can find a used one for $6000 or less. One place on RVT.com had a couple under $10,000, but both were closer to $8000 to $8500.

RVT Arctic Fox

Terry

MidasKnight · RV-Dreams Community Member

Yeah, something pretty miraculous would have to happen for me to be able to afford a good Arctic Fox. But, we maybe see 7 nights a year where it gets down below 15 degrees. I'm not too worried there, and hopefully I'm right...lol

Yeah, CL has a bunch. They have some for under a grand that have claims of being in good shape. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. But Craigslist is almost certainly where I'll find the one I buy. If it's all feasible at all. Might even get lucky and find that guy who just wants rid of it so bad he says "50 bucks and it's yours". Doubt it, but anything's possible there. I just don't want to get a brand known for shoddy quality.

A Volvo 780? Dang, Mark, is that for work, or is that what you're hauling your fifth wheel with? 780 is a heck of a machine for fifth wheel pulling. I bet you don't have to downshift going up hills, tho...lol.

Yeah, I'll be pretty limited by selection. And how it was maintained before me will probably be a bigger factor than the manufacturer's build quality. That's ok, tho. I'm just trying to cut out as many variables that can go wrong as I can....and I can't cut many...lol

Thanks!
Chris

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here's a 1993 Nu Wa Hitchhiker for $5k. www.rvtrader.com/listing/1993-Nu-Wa-Hitchhiker-Ii-30rkug-114601426
It's an older model but a very good brand and it looks to be in good shape from the pictures. Plus you will have a little in reserve for the inevitable repairs.

Chip

soos · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sushidog wrote:
Here's a 1993 Nu Wa Hitchhiker for $5k. www.rvtrader.com/listing/1993-Nu-Wa-Hitchhiker-Ii-30rkug-114601426
It's an older model but a very good brand and it looks to be in good shape from the pictures. Plus you will have a little in reserve for the inevitable repairs.

Chip

I would agree that HitchHiker is a brand that retains its value, but that rig is in CA and he is in VA. Definitely not worth the trip across country.

Sue

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

How about a 1998 Newmar Kountry Star for $6k? www.rvtrader.com/listing/1998-Newmar-Kountry-Star-34RLCK-114605193

Chip

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here's another one a little closer, a Newmar Kountry Star for $6k in WV. www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Outdoor-Express-RV-768421/listing/1995-Newmar-Kountry-Star-36RK-11514499

It looks like it has some water damage around the door and the slide is a little rusty, so this one will need some TLC.

Chip

-- Edited by Sushidog on Saturday 18th of July 2015 10:16:06 PM

MidasKnight · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys! This is all helping me build a list of preferred makes to keep an eye out for.

Here's a related question that came to me as I was looking at the pictures: What sort of wear and tear is ok, and what should be red flags that I should move on? I mean on units that don't look wrecked or smell like rot to start with.

Thanks!
Chris

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

DRV (aka DoubleTree) has 3.5" walls, while most others have 2" walls.

It won't affect anything, since you are buying used, but not all coaches are warrantied for full-time use. I'd stick to those that are warrantied for full-time use, as they will tend to be higher quality coaches.

Other popular full-time 5'ers are the Heartland Landmark and Bighorn lines. The Big Country is also FT-rated, but seems to be less popular than the Bighorn. Montanas are considered to be the most popular coaches. If you are willing to consider something that isn't made anymore, take a look at a Teton or King of the Road.

Open Range was recently taken over by Jayco. We're looking at the Journeyer 340 TT. That is basically a backwards 5'er, in that the bedroom is at the rear and up a couple of steps. That gives a huge basement. The part that I like most, though, is that it has four 20-pound propane bottles, rather than two 30-pounders. That opens up the possibility of doing exchanges. It also makes for a somewhat lighter lift. That may not be important to you, since you are young, but it certainly appeals to this old man.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

With regards to 20# cylinders and exchanges. Some time back (maybe years), Rhino had special valves in their cylinders and only a Rhino dealer seemed to be able to refill such cylinders. That would be fine if one was assured in their travels that Rhino cylinders would be available everywhere, but I'm not sure that is true.

As for the DRV Suites brands, I think that only the Mobile Suites and Elite Suites still have the 3 1/4" walls. I've not looked at them, but I think the Tradition has a thinner wall and a smaller frame than the Suites brands.

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 22nd of July 2015 08:41:21 AM

PD CFK · RV-Dreams Family Member

Also, Chris. You never pay the full asking price. Should be able to get one for less than that. Maybe 20% less.

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
With regards to 20# cylinders and exchanges. Some time back (maybe years), Rhino had special valves in their cylinders and only a Rhino dealer seemed to be able to refill such cylinders. That would be fine if one was assured in their travels that Rhino cylinders would be available everywhere, but I'm not sure that is true.
Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 22nd of July 2015 08:41:21 AM

They must have changed their design because I've had a Rhino cylinder refilled a couple times recently. One problem I have encountered with Rhino cylinders is poor QC. I've had several of them that had messed up threads and the last one I got had a defective mating surface - it wouldn't seal no matter how much you tightened it, audibly leaking gas! Be sure and test for leaks with a soap solution after filling or replacing any tank. When I get a good one I like to get it refilled rather than replaced, if possible. Not only is it cheaper, but you can squeeze another pound or two in them than they come with from Rhino when you have them filled.

Chip

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

kb0zke wrote:
Open Range was recently taken over by Jayco. We're looking at the Journeyer 340 TT. That is basically a backwards 5'er, in that the bedroom is at the rear and up a couple of steps. That gives a huge basement. The part that I like most, though, is that it has four 20-pound propane bottles, rather than two 30-pounders. That opens up the possibility of doing exchanges. It also makes for a somewhat lighter lift. That may not be important to you, since you are young, but it certainly appeals to this old man.

The only problem with the Journeyer 340 with all this storage space is it lacks sufficient CCC for fulltimers - 2,677 lbs before you start adding options (like their sweet patio option which reduces their CCC to only 1,891 lbs), whereas the Journeyer 337 has 3,925lbs of CCC, yet lacks the huge back storage area and has two 30lb tanks instead of four 20 lbers.

Two of the Open Range Roamer fivers (the RF346FLR and the RF376FBH) have huge basement front and rear storage areas with the center kitchen area being of a sunken design. The fivers have considerably more carrying capacity too, to make use of all this extra storage space. http://www.highlandridgerv.com/roamer/fifth-wheel-floorplans.php

Chip

hasanchez · RV-Dreams Family Member

My apologies........I'm new here............"CCC"??

Henry

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Henry,

"CCC" is an abbreviation for "Cargo Carrying Capacity." When an RV comes from the factory, it has a "dry" weight, meaning just the trailer as ordered without water in any holding tanks, LPG in their cylinders or tanks, and nothing in the way of someone's personal belongings. Then the CCC is determined by subtracting that dry weight from the factory's GVWR for the RV.

Terry

LoverMusic2416 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I completed my Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology in December, 2013. The entire program was online through Walden University. Each course is 8 weeks long, with the program running continuously for 24 months from start to finish. During the two year period, there were multiple long weekend camping trips with my husband and extended family. With each trip, my laptop, hotspot wireless internet device, and program materials went with me. Most weeks, I did school work 6-7 days a week, in part because I am driven and a perfectionist. There was only one campground which was a challenge for wireless internet connection, otherwise I found it easy to prepare my discussions, write papers, read all of the reading assignments, search online library sources for references, and complete evaluations.

The point I am trying to make is you can complete a graduate degree at a reputable online university and travel full time in your RV at the same time. In addition to Walden University, these other online institutions of higher learning may offer the program you are looking to complete: University of Phoenix, Liberty University Online, University of Maryland - University College, Pennsylvania State World Campus, Regis University, Capella University, and Kaplan University to name a few.

Best of luck with your graduate program and RVing.

MidasKnight · RV-Dreams Community Member

In some fields you can do that. It's a lot harder in research fields. For studying the early Atlantic World with an emphasis on material culture (architecture in my case), there's not really chance of an online course that any employer (museum, CRM, or university) would take seriously. Online grad programs are much more suited to professional as opposed to research degrees. Academics can be pretty elitist about where you went to grad school.

And I personally do much, much better with the structure of having to be in a classroom. I'm a face-to-face kind of guy. I hated the online course I took in community college.

I appreciate the suggestion. I really do. It's just not a good fit for me, my needs, and how I do things.

Thanks!
Chris

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LoverMusic2416 · RV-Dreams Community Member

That's why there are plenty of options available for grad school, to accommodate different programs of study, and the personal preferences of grad students. In my particular situation, to get a master's degree in instructional design would have required a 3 hour round trip commute each class day had I chosen to attend a traditional, face-to-face graduate program. The two local universities offering master's degrees did not have a program in instructional design.

Best of luck with your plans for grad school and rving.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

localrving wrote:
If you are still looking to buy try looking at this website- www.Localrvs.com.

Caution on this site. I've tested this website and found that it couldn't find anything in two searches that I did for specific locations and brands that are known to be in stock at said locations.

Terry