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Hi everyone. The house isn't a done deal yet but I am brushing up on my rv education and looking at different models online to get an idea. I don't want to spend all of my money on the rv but want a used Class B with a slide. My question is how much should I think about age. Say if an rv is 10 years old with low miles, well maintained and passes rv inspection, should I think about metal fatigue, not driven enough? Things like that. Or am I over thinking it?

Most Class B's are motorhomes built into the footprint of a van. Some have the roof raised. I would think they would be less likely to leak than a Class C which is a box built onto a van chassis. Older Class C's are notorious for leaking. Class B's cost more new and seem to hold their value so the price of a used one is still going to be more. A lot of the used ones I have seen have high milage. Maybe because they were used as a second or only vehicle. Every once in a while someone will find a good deal on one. You are going to have the usually maintenance as with any vehicle. How well a used one was maintained would make a lot of difference. I guess it would be what your comfort level is traveling in a vehicle with high milage. My motorhome is 14 years old and has 80,000 miles on it. I don't think I would go to Alaska in it. I think about traveling on holidays or Sundays and at night. If I have trouble I would like to be able to get help.

At 10 years old you could be looking at the refrigerator going out. Mine went out 2 years ago. I bought my motorhome when it was 4 years old with 17,000 miles. I had brake problems because it had been just sitting for a couple of years. You want to be sure the tires are almost new.

Martha

Thanks Martha. I have seen quite a few with low miles and no they are not cheap. I just don't like that big overhang on the class C and they are notorious for leaks especially in the overhang from what I have read. I don't want anything too large, especially starting out. Still sometimes think about a trailer so that I have a car to explore. I will figure this out as I know that nothing is going to be perfect either way. Plus and minus's to each. Thanks again.

You might think about a B+. They are a little bigger but a little less expensive than a B and don't have the front overhang. Be careful if you get something too old with low mileage because that may mean it was rarely used and that isn't always a good thing. You will want to test every system. If you find one you really like you may want to hire an RV inspector to go over it thoroughly. A lot also depends on how well it was maintained.

Thanks, I will definitely have it inspected no matter what it is. This will be an interesting adventure just finding one at the right price, size and features important to me. I am taking the list from this forum with the recommendations on what to look for.

My motorhome's 21 yrs. old, in excellent shape mechanically and all systems work as they should, had 34K miles. I just bought it last year, from a private party who were it's second owners. First owner maintained it meticulously. You have to do some searching, but they are out there.

I bought my Roadtrek on line, sight unseen, from Vantastic Vans in Albuquerque, NM. It was a 1999 with 100,000 miles on it BUT I would be only the 2nd owner and ALL the maintenance records came with it. Yes, I had to replace the frig rather quickly but the motor, which was a big Dodge motor, was in great shape. I put another 60,000 miles on it and never had a mechanical problem and no leaks ever. The upside to a B is that since it is basically just a van, you can disconnect and use it to sightsee during the day. Be sure you go inside one and make sure it isn't too small. I like it fine since it was just me and my 3 dogs. I also took a friend on a couple of trips and have to admit it was pretty cramped with two people and there's no privacy. I also had a 30' class C but HAD to have a car to tow for sightseeing, grocery shopping, etc. I much preferred the B.

I have a '03 Pleasure Way Class B built on a '02 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis. That is supposed to be a really great engine but I have found even with that and a low mileage of 62,000 when I purchased it, I have had to do multiple repairs. It looks like new inside and out although now having paint peeling off issues. It was in my price range but if I were to buy again I would look for something no more than 6-8 years old. This one has no counter space, and the air bags are not the newer kind that sense your size. I am extremely thin in my upper body and worry about the danger of the older style. Also I would look at a class B+ as the bathroom in the PW is so small that an average sized person would have difficulty getting off of the stool without the door being open and I'm not sure I could take a shower without sitting down. So if you plan to boondock or like me prefer not to use the campground showers you will want a bit more space. So bottom line, I think 10 years is too old but everyone has different experiences. I would hire an outside person to do a complete inspection both on the engine and the chassis of whatever you decide to purchase.

Thanks again for all of your comments. I think that I just need to find the right one at the right price, inspected as well as possible. I am thinking B plus so that i have a little more room for my crafts and my dog. I am exhausted right now with the contract on the house and trying to get more done. The good thing is that if this goes through, I can stay here for a short time to rest and look more. They don't need the house right away. We shall see if this works. Details are in progress. Have a Happy 4th everyone. I am staying home. Things to do.

Look at both B's and C's.

I thought I wanted a B in 2009 when I was shopping but I fell in love with a 15 year old Class C.

I kept looking at rigs and thinking "6 months from now this rig will make me crazier..."

When I saw this C, it was old and needed some work, didn't realize how much until later, but anyhow, I looked at it and knew that I would be happy in it for a long time. The layout was just so livable for my particular lifestyle.

Over the years, I have made it more comfy and customized.

Well here it is 2016 and I've repaired and upgraded this and that, and I am still in it, and I am still very happy!

So keep on looking, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find the prince.

More about my rig on my daily blog.