Tell me why I don't want one of these

[-Twitch-]

I was looking at these motorhomes and they seem pretty reasonable priced and I was considering buying one.

Please tell me why I shouldn't

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/rvs/3208666132.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/rvs/3129381636.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/rvs/3204120590.html

I know nothing about motorhomes. We had a trailer when I was a kid.

I have to tow my 4runner and dirt bike on a 16 foot trailer behind it (guessing around 6000lbs). I live in CA so pretty much every were we go is up hill.

Open to any other suggestions. I don't want to spend anymore then $15k.

[Back Woods]

460 gasser

[Beat95YJ]

You will be fine, a v10 gas engine puts down a lot more useable power.

If you do plan to tow, make sure the rear frame extensions are beefy.

[-Twitch-]

Originally Posted by Back Woods

460 gasser

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

You will be fine, a v10 gas engine puts down a lot more useable power.

If you do plan to tow, make sure the rear frame extensions are beefy.

what about a 454?

[-Twitch-]

And what do you guys think about buying a used motorhome that old?

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by -Twitch-

what about a 454?

should be fine, but I always thought the ford chassis was nicer.

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by -Twitch-

And what do you guys think about buying a used motorhome that old?

If it looks well maintained, go for it.

Realize any motor home new or old will have quirks that need addressing.

[wahlstrom1]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

should be fine, but I always thought the ford chassis was nicer.

^ what he said... The twin I beam setup up front on the E-350/450's holds up much better then normal IFS as well in my experience...

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by wahlstrom1

^ what he said... The twin I beam setup up front on the E-350/450's holds up much better then normal IFS as well in my experience...

Those should be f53's or f59's as they are class A's. Beam front axle.

[-Twitch-]

What about MPG from what I read that 460 gets like 6mpg they say the 454 is better like 8-10mpg

[Beat95YJ]

My 8.1 super C got 7 mpg, 4 towing the F100, F150 or jeep fwiw.

Any class a is going to get poor mileage.

[shortbus4x4]

Originally Posted by -Twitch-

What about MPG from what I read that 460 gets like 6mpg they say the 454 is better like 8-10mpg

It gets pretty damn good mileage for a house.
Any gas motor home is going to get in the single digit mpg's, add a trailer and stuff and it will go down even more. But not too much more. If I was buying a motorhome mileage would be way down on my list. A good roof, walls, and floor with no rot would be my number one concern. After that would be the mechanical condition of the chassis. I have worked on a few motorhomes in my professional career and the Ford F53 chassis would be my number one pick on a budget. Stay away from IFS/TTB frontends on class A's, more stuff to wear and go wrong. I have seen a few of the Chevy P30's have the beam style front axle but they seem to be fewer than the Fords.

[wahlstrom1]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

Those should be f53's or f59's as they are class A's. Beam front axle.

My bad... Should have actually opened the links....

[angryblack]

Get on top and walk the roof..Check for any lifting sealer or polish style repairs..If you find any go inside to the same spot and see if the area is soft..What will appear to be a small 1 sq ft area of softness will be 50% of the coach..Im not bullshitttin you here..same goes for soft spots in the floors..If you need proof google some camper restos and rot repiars..

Stay away from the 454 units as most ive seen are just tbi unless its the later 8100s or the late vortecs..Fords 460 gets you into multiport efi although i think its still batch fire.

Again feel it and look it over carefully..Those things are made damn ner entirely from the cheapest wood they can buy..Any water gets in they start to mold and make you sick. then they start to fall apart.

[Squarebody4x4]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

My 8.1 super C got 7 mpg, 4 towing the F100, F150 or jeep fwiw.

Any class a is going to get poor mileage.

As said, the 2 best days of RV ownership, the Day you bring it home, and the day you sell it if you can.

Be sure to buy one right and cheap that you can get out of if you decide you want to sell it and pass the headache. We he had a 32 foot Class A. 454/Th400/4.10 gears. It got 5.5mph towing nothing and was good for about 60-65mph. It was an 88 model. So have plenty of fuel cash, and don't be in any hurry where ever you're going. We bought it with just over 40,000 miles on it, and it was Sold for a loss well before it hit 50,000 about 3 years later. We had decided to just leave it where we used it most out at family property instead of commuting with it. Pro and Cons as with anything. The amenities are nowhere near as durable as regular home units, so maintaining it is a constant battle. And when it come to a repair or replacing something, take the same type item for your home, multiply that x3 and that's pretty much going to be your cost.

Not wanting to be the negative guy and talk you out of it, just telling you things from first hand experience, and the things that a seller isn't going to tell you. The biggest pro is, you don't have to unload and unload your gear everytime you go out. If you're parking it in a good area where you don't have to worry about thieves then most of what you spend time gathering up to go can stay on the rig, then you just have to replace your consumables as needed. That part is great. Noone likes taking 2 hours to gather up all your gear before going out for a weekend of fun, then when you get back and wore out, you have to unload it all and put it away. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

[Jeep07]

On class a gassers from that era research the big hydraulic drum brake that is on the driveshaft. It's what emulates the parking paw on a normal trans and keeps the rig parked when in park. They tend to have issues and aren't cheap to replace.

It's intimidating, but go ride in them then drive them. Cheaper class As wonder around on the road from my exp and I wasnt interested in white knuckling every drive/vacation we took. With an Rv you will always be chasing down roof leaks etc. it's just the way whitebox rvs are. I opted for a ford class c in your era. It's been a great Rv and my family has really enjoyed it. I flat to my wrangler behind it and have towed my buggy.

Class c's use common parts so working on them isn't so expensive. I felt a c was much easier to drive and really like the floor plan on them. We have lots a family camp with us so extra sleeping room is really nice.

Just for reference I went with a 96 tioga montara 29' on an e350 chassis with an efi 460 and e4od. I did add large active trans coolers to help the trans out some. I get about 6-7 mpg no matter what it seems which is fine considering what it's doing. We bought it 4 years ago and this is the first summer we didn't use it because we did different vacations this year and had commitments on the weekends.

[Mope]

Never owned a class A, but have ridden in them with the different options. IMO the Ford V10 is the best powerplant in one of those. They are heavy, and the engines rev a lot to move them around. The V10 loves the revs. It has been the best performer in my opinion.

[AZLugz]

I tow 5vers so have not owned a Class A but my parents have had several and I have driven most. The V-10 Bounder they had drove the best but they also had another older Bounder with the 460 and same in a Southwind and both were nice and drove good but a bit slower in the mountians and a little hungrier on fuel. They only had one GM chassis rig and they didn't care for it and it was not near as nice diving. The GM seemed stiff and harsh on the ride. That was also the one that seemed to wander the most. The 460 southwind had a steering issue that caused it to wander at first but found a rod end that had been hit by something, fixed it and all was good.

There 454 and 460's all seemed to get around 6-8 depending on terrain and temp, the v-10 seemed to get 6-10. 6 in the hills pushing it to keep speed up but up to 10 on the flatlands. If she drove it nice in the hills she could pull 7-8. They always towed a car behind their rig too, but it was a flat tow and the las was a Malibu Max, prolly maxed at 4K loaded with junk.

Bounders are nice coaches too, not top of the line, but most are above middle and have nice features.

[-Twitch-]

Originally Posted by Mope

Never owned a class A, but have ridden in them with the different options. IMO the Ford V10 is the best powerplant in one of those. They are heavy, and the engines rev a lot to move them around. The V10 loves the revs. It has been the best performer in my opinion.

Originally Posted by AZLugz

I tow 5vers so have not owned a Class A but my parents have had several and I have driven most. The V-10 Bounder they had drove the best but they also had another older Bounder with the 460 and same in a Southwind and both were nice and drove good but a bit slower in the mountians and a little hungrier on fuel. They only had one GM chassis rig and they didn't care for it and it was not near as nice diving. The GM seemed stiff and harsh on the ride. That was also the one that seemed to wander the most. The 460 southwind had a steering issue that caused it to wander at first but found a rod end that had been hit by something, fixed it and all was good.

There 454 and 460's all seemed to get around 6-8 depending on terrain and temp, the v-10 seemed to get 6-10. 6 in the hills pushing it to keep speed up but up to 10 on the flatlands. If she drove it nice in the hills she could pull 7-8. They always towed a car behind their rig too, but it was a flat tow and the las was a Malibu Max, prolly maxed at 4K loaded with junk.

Bounders are nice coaches too, not top of the line, but most are above middle and have nice features.

So that's two people that like the V10. Anyone else own a V10 and want to put in there two cents.

I think I will definitely stay clear of the GM\454.

[BIG-O]

Is that the triton (spark plug shooter) v10 you guys are talking about?

[-Twitch-]

Originally Posted by BIG-O

Is that the triton (spark plug shooter) v10 you guys are talking about?

I have read these stories too. But then you have guys that swear by the v10... I guess their spark plugs just haven't launched YET

[crashnzuk]

I think I would get the v10 given my good experience with my personal 4.6 mod motor. I think the spark plug thing has a lot to do with who is installing the plugs. I talked to a guy camped next to me at the races last year. He had a Bounder with a v10. He said he damn near got rid of it not long after purchase because the mileage was so bad (neighorhood of 6 as I recall). He said he put a full banks kit on it, tuner, intake plumbing, long tube headers, full exhaust, etc and was getting something like 9 or better after install. He said it had a ton more power and was a lot cheaper to operate. I don't think it would take long to recoup your investment in efficiency parts with that big of a mileage jump. I'm not saying to buy Banks, it's just what he used. Just my hear-say .02
Travis..

[-Twitch-]

Thank you everyone for the input. It is very helpful.


SECOND QUESTIONS:

What the deal with the dual rear axle vs a single rear axle, other then having to pay for tires when you replace them.

Example:

http://susanville.craigslist.org/rvs/3138019299.html

Any major advantages or disadvantages ?

Thank you again.

[AZLugz]

The second rear axle, tag axle, is just to take some of the weight for the longer heavier coaches

[dragr1]

At $15k leave some room for repairs/upgrades-they will add up fast. Be prepared to go slow in the mountains, but they will make it.