Thinking of buying a fixer upper RV

[johnny chimpo]

Guy down my street is selling a POS RV, looks like a Winnebego and is self contained. It has a shower, shitter, kitchette, etc. Says it has a Chevy engine with 44,000 (1980). Think it would be a fun project to work on, if it is mechanically sound, and I can get a good price on it. I would use it for tailgates and short camping trips, not live in it like Cousin Eddie..

Question is, who can I send the RV to in North Austin area that can give me the honest good, bad and ugly before I buy the heap?

 

[zzzz]

Crestview has locatons in Buda and Georgetown.

They have a service department. You might pay them to inspect it and give you a list of needed repairs.

They also buy and sell used RVs. You could take the RV to them and express your interest in selling it. To talk you down in price they would likely point out everything that is wrong with it.

The Link

 

[AUinAustin]

You might also look at the DIY network site. They did a Winnebego restoration a few years ago and might have the gotchas on their website.

 

[coachkiss]

The biggest thing to check for is water damage ANYWHERE. The biggest problems that many of them have is the seals on the roof/seams leaking, causing many more problems in the future. If it has set in a garage it will have problems being that old. If it has set outside, it's a real problem.

Factor in a cost of a reseal unless it has been done by the owner in the last few years.

The engine is the next thing. If it is in good shape, go with it. The carpet, fixtures, furniture, and upholstery can be changed out easily these days at a fairly low cost. The outside may always be ugly, but the inside can look nice.

By the way, every RV is a fixer-upper from my experience, even one you buy new.

 

[Summerof79]

I too would pay special attention to any potential water damage!!! It's a fairly common malady for RVs and Campers.

 

[accuratehorn]

Keep in mind the RV has everything on it a vehicle has, and everything in it a house has. All of which can give problems.
The engine is going to be a 454 Chevrolet, and you will get about 6-7 mpg with it. A lot of RV's have low mileage, because they sit a long time, then go on one or two vacation trip per year. But the engine can get rusted up inside, and the carb can get gunked up, if they didn't regularly start the thing.
Make sure the engine doesn't smoke when you drive the RV.
Make sure the brakes feel like brakes.
Then there is the generator, which needs some maintenance, the refrigerator, which is special for RV's, the stove, the heaters, good luck getting them to work. Stuff breaks and falls off these things at an unbelievable rate.
The good news is the frame and engine are basic Chevy units that should be long lasting simple truck parts.