Well, this morning we drove down to Albuquerque to Rocky Mountain RV and looked at a couple of used RV's. The one we liked best was:
2003 Winnebago Sightseer 30 feet long. It was a Class A, which is shaped and looks like a bus (minus all the windows of course) - I'm sure you've seen them on the highway. They are like a land yacht!!! We have pretty much settled on a Winnebago as they are perhaps one of the best made RV's and have represented quality for many, many years. Most all the components are fabricated in house and parts for any RV they ever built are readily available. Additionally, Winnebago as a company is extremely solvent - which in this economy is very important as many RV manufacturers have gone bankrupt!
Keep in mind that we will be living in this RV full time for most likely the better part of two years - maybe even longer. The floor plan was very workable and one that we liked very much.
There are a lot of things to think of when buying a used RV. Lots of folks think that a used RV with very low mileage is a good thing. Perhaps if the RV is 1 or 2 years old that is true. However the rule of "USE IT OR LOSE IT" applies. If an RV or any other motorized vehicle is not used, things like seals, belt, gaskets, hoses, transmissions, etc etc dry out and when started to be used again, lots of leaking fluid can occur. On average, RV's do not get a lot of mileage compared to the family car but one should look for 7,000 - 10,000 miles per year. So a 2003 RV should have about 56,000 - 70,000 miles. Rv's being self contained carry a lot of "stuff" plus just the weight of the RV itself, tires are an important issue. Once tires reach 7 years old, REGARDLESS of the tread remaining, must for safety sake be replaced! The age can be determined by some of the digits after the DOT code.
The smartest thing a buyer can do is to have a qualified RV inspector check out the components of the RV. Much in the same way people have a home inspected B4 buying. Additionally, the engine components should be checked both visually and via computer by a qualified mechanical technician. Both of these inspections cost about $350 each and by all means should be done!
There are many, many, many other concerns regarding buying a used RV, way too many to include in this post. I've been researching RV's for almost a year now and believe me I've got a long check list that I will make sure the RV inspector and the Mechanical inspector use in conjunction with their check out procedure.
House has not sold yet, so the visit today was informative in nature as well as giving us a sense that we are still players in the search for our RV.
