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We are planning to try the full time RV life style next year. We have decided that we are going to buy now and have found a strong candidate rv that we want to purchase. Its a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 36A Gasser with $36k miles
Our plan is to go with a gas RV for our first year and see how it goes. If we love it we can move to a Diesel later.
Upon inspection I Have found some issues that I plan to negotiate into the deal :
1.New tires - $3,000
2. Two new windshields to replaced nicked ones $1,200 ???
3. slide out awning covers -$300
4. replace worn sway bars - $350
5. 3 new batteries $275
$5,125 total to be included
Are there any other things that you would ask for to be included knowing the age of this RV?
The dealers is asking $49,995 and has a better chance getting hit by an asteroid than getting that from me. NADA is $36,500 I am thinking $40k but include all of the above. Are there any suggestions pro or con on this strategy? Anything to add?
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Mike and Barb
2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod
I would specify the brand of tires you want or the dealer might put on Chinese tires. Same goes for batteries, but most use interstate from my experiences.
Double check the odometer. Father-in-law almost bought a Class A from a well known dealer with a broken odometer. Fortunately couldn't get a loan on it because of the odometer. Then he bought another one from same dealer. There was a hole in the floor near the toilet. Someone had shoved a wash cloth into it but dealer should have found it when they did their cleanup.
Thanks for the suggestion. I did check the Odometer and did a good check on ceiling and floors and have had the rv up on the rack to check for under carriage rust etc....I also had a friend mechanic come by who has an RV that is a heavy truck and equipment mechanic and he did a check as well. I am also paying for a local person for an inspection. Hopefuly that will cover it and at least let me sleep at night a little better.
But...its a used older coach and I expect it to break. Just want to try and eliminate the "Big things." Budgeting about $5k for "fix its."
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Mike and Barb
2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod
Thanks for the suggestion. I did check the Odometer and did a good check on ceiling and floors and have had the rv up on the rack to check for under carriage rust etc....I also had a friend mechanic come by who has an RV that is a heavy truck and equipment mechanic and he did a check as well. I am also paying for a local person for an inspection. Hopefuly that will cover it and at least let me sleep at night a little better.
But...its a used older coach and I expect it to break. Just want to try and eliminate the "Big things." Budgeting about $5k for "fix its."
UPDATE
I made a low ball offer to the dealer. After a short exchange small haggle on $ I agreed on a price and got them to include everything on the list above. I feel pretty good about it and will have an RV that will be ready to hit the road in the spring. Thanks for the suggestions and help.
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Mike and Barb
2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod
Let the good times roll. 5k is a decent fund to set aside for "fix-its" as you say. Add to that 100-200 per month (from what I have read, that seems to be a reasonable amount) for a maintenance budget and you should be good to go... YMMV as they say. If you never spend it, it could easily assist with a down payment on the next rig if there is one.
We have. 1999 Pace Arrow Vision 34C on the Chevy P30 chassis. If this model is the Chevy chassis have someone check the brakes since they are noted to have trouble with the brake calipers locking up from sitting. We have had the brakes go out 3 times due to this. Also, if this model has "Auto Park" which provides the parking brake and park using a brake drum on the drive shaft, have it checked. If it fails you will either get stuck in place or if it fails while driving you end up with no parking brake. If it has the Ford chassis you are likely in good shape. In either case we like our Pace Arrow.
