Warming the globe 1 mile at a time

[Ripsnort]

It's tough to turn down a divorce sale. Used 1990 Jamboree by Fleetwood 27 ft with 460 ci (Just like my 4x4), but with 46,000 miles and a clean interior, it was too good of deal to pass up. Bye bye Truck Camper!



I'll be picking this up Friday and using it Sunday for the first football game of the year at our stadium!

[john9001]

why can't i find deals like that.

[SpazMan]

Good deal, will work great for tailgating.....

[Ripsnort]

why can't i find deals like that.

They're out there. I've been patiently waiting for 5 months now, searching Craigslist, noticing signs up for sale when driving around. I must have looked at over 100 Class C's and test drove about 20 of them. This one was a score, although I did pay low bluebook for it.  (by "score" I mean immaculant condition, both engine and interior/exterior)

It's amazing that sellers think they should get almost as much for their RV as THEY paid for it.  Hasn't anyone ever heard of depreciation? 

[midnight Target]

Rip, check the plumbing. If they used cpvc work on changing it out to pex as soon as you can. Many of the RV's made back then used substandard pipe and they have a habit of leaking... especially in cold weather.

[Ripsnort]

Rip, check the plumbing. If they used cpvc work on changing it out to pex as soon as you can. Many of the RV's made back then used substandard pipe and they have a habit of leaking... expecially in cold weather.

Good to know, Midnight. Thank you. The one thing I did not do is crawl under and check the piping from the underside. No soft spots in the floor though. Other places to check the plumbing? Under sink I suppose?

I'm not sure what you mean by changing it out to pex.  Do you mean change out all the plumbing pipes (Grey, black and fresh water) pipes to that type?  If so, that would be one helluva expensive job if I took it to an RV shop, no?  We DO plan on using it for overnighters in winter for skiing, but no more than one night or two nights...

[midnight Target]

Drain lines (gray and black) should be good to go. Look at the fresh water pipes that are close to the floor or subject to extreme weather. It is pretty simple to swap out cpvc for pex in accessible areas. I guess if everything still looks solid and dry leave it alone.

I also recall some fresh water pipes that used a gray flexible line. That stuff was junk. It usually had brass elbows and joints.

One more thing, All RV's made before 1996 did NOT require a smoke detector or a CO detector. Best to get one of each.

[boxboy28]

OK RIP  one thing ya gotta do now.

Get your self a copy of "Winnabago worrior"  by "The dead Kennedys"    ands blast it as loud as you can as you drive that big beautiful beast home.


WINNEBAGO WARRIOR - lyrics...

Roughin’ it in the great outdoors / Guidebooks tell us where to go / Winnebago Warrior / Slow down traffic climbing hills / 30 gallons to the mile / Honey, quick, the Polaroid / Chorus: Winnebago Warrior / Brave as old John Wayne / Winnebago Warrior / A true yankee pioneer / Stop at Stuckey’s for a meal / Blab all day on the CB / Winnebago Warrior / Littered campground, folding chairs / Feed Doritos to the bears / Honey, quick, the Polaroid / (Chorus) / Kill some fish down by the creek / Hand their picture by the sink / Show your grandson who’s the boss / Tie your two tote-goats to the front / U-Haul trailer full of souvenirs / that you buy along the way / (Chorus)

[Ripsnort]

Drain lines (gray and black) should be good to go. Look at the fresh water pipes that are close to the floor or subject to extreme weather. It is pretty simple to swap out cpvc for pex in accessible areas. I guess if everything still looks solid and dry leave it alone.

I also recall some fresh water pipes that used a gray flexible line. That stuff was junk. It usually had brass elbows and joints.

One more thing, All RV's made before 1996 did NOT require a smoke detector or a CO detector. Best to get one of each.

Thanks Midnight. Great info. This was does have a Gas detector and shuts it off ICOE, but I will be sure to pick up both smoke and CO detector. Should I get the hard wired type? Or Batt/Hardwire type?



LOL Boxboy!

[Maverick]

Rip,

Either or will be fine. The hard wired type will draw the batteries down in the rig. For part time use the battery powered will do just fine. Follow the instructions in placement, smoke up high, propane detector low in gas area (kitchen) since propane is heavier than air.

[midnight Target]

Yep, forgot to add LP detector to that list.

LP detectors, 4 to 12 inches off the ground. I always used the hard wired 12v type. You should NOT be able to turn this off.

Smoke detectors and CO can both be battery op. Hard wiring them both would be a pain due to the required locations.

[Ripsnort]

Thanks guys, you ROCK!

The unit has a stock LP detector.

I'll pick up the smoke and CO2 detector.

[Maverick]

Due to the age of the unit I wouldn't put much confidence in the propane detector. They do get wonky. I've already had to change mine in our 3 year old rig. It didn't make it 2 years before it went over sensitive. The model I have in our rig costs over $70.00.  In order to test them for calibration and function they have to go back to the factory.

[Ripsnort]

Thanks Mav. Noted!

Now that I've actually written out the cashiers check, here is the whole story after searching for months for a used motorhome. I shopped around for a very long time. . The owner of this particular RV restores cars and has his own machine shop. His son plays in the same conference as Gordon's football team (Sumner Wolfpack!) Trevor (the owner) is getting a divorce and selling all his toys except his $60k 1967 Ford Fairlane with a 523 ci (probably why his wife divorced him!)  He has to split all the earnings 50/50 with his soon-to-be-ex-wife . Trevor was originally was asking $11,200.00 . It sat on the market for a couple weeks and he then lowered it to $10,800.  I thought that was a good time to go and talk to him. I went over and checked it out for a close up inspection . He hooked it all up and we went back before football practice the same day for a "wet" test and drive.  It drove extremely well ! (only 46,000 miles on a Ford 460ci) and all appliances/A/C checked out.  The interior is immaculant, very well taken care of. Everything works (Furnace, A/C, Fridge, shower, toilet, hot water, 5000 watt generator, manual leveling jacks, 6-CD changer, etc.)
 
A few minor things like a missing running light cover, and a 6" hole below the rear bumper that was patched over with fiberglass did not kill the deal. The roof was in excellent condition as its always been covered.  It has a full shower on one side of the RV and a bathroom opposite on the other side. The downside of this bathroom arrange is that you sacrifce the couch. The wife would rather have a separate large shower and private bedroom than the big couch. Twin beds in back, and a queen over the cab. Huge dinette and two couch chairs with a table.

One other downside is that now the kids are no longer within "back hand" distance with they're getting out of hand on trips, as they'll be seat belted in too far for me to reach.

[lazs2]

On a side note..  MY dad showed me two RV's that were pretty much the same and in very good condition that I could get for almost nothing.. both were "bounders"  very large and well equipped.. one he could have for free from a lady he does handyman work for and the other was for sale for $3000 but the guy would take $2000.

If I had a place with some acreage I woulda took em both as guest houses.

They have either big block chevy or big block ford motors in em which I coulda pulled out and used for something good someday.

lazs