RV's under $3,000

[urbanhermit70]

I need some RV advice. Can anyone suggest a  used class A,B,C RV or travel trailer under $3,000?  Year 1970-19999. I am doing research.

 

[Gary68]

if you go to the bottom of the forum in the trading post section you can see examples of what can be had on craigslist,the trick is finding one thats not rotten in the roof and be patient,there is a steady stream of stuff that hits the market

 

[offroad]

just remember that RVs are going to get around 5 MPG worst case, and not much better even running well. You may want to look at the VAN alternative that can get from 10 MPG to 15 MPG.

Alternatives after that get a whole lot more creative to gain MPG.

15,000 miles in a year (assuming some long trips and some daily movement) will cost $6000 per year at $2 a gallon. So $16.4 per day.

Yes you can cut your driving down to 5000 miles a year, which is $2000 per year gas cost.

 

[Almost There]

Taking into consideration your other post on the old thread about not driving and having someone else move whatever you buy for you, you'd be far better off IMO to be strictly looking at travel trailers.

There's so many reasons why a travel trailer would be better suited than a RV - cost of maintenance, insurance, ease of moving, more living space amongst the top of the list.

You can also buy a better/newer travel trailer within that budget. An RV under 3 G in good running condition with the house components also working will be a fairly rare bird. You're more likely to get something that needs a ton of money and work poured in to it if you go the RV route.

 

[Patrick46]

where are you located?? (geographically)

I'm not gonna look out here if you're over on the 'other' coast!

 

[eDJ_]

Almost there makes a good point about the travel trailer.

I've wondered about it myself.  I see these pick up trucks around the U-Haul places that can be rented $20 a day.   I don't know if they can be rented "one way" or not.   But if that were the case and the pickup trucks
were up to towing a small trailer such that you could park the trailer for a couple weeks in like a National Park
camping ground....then a person could have a moped on the back of the trailer to get around on and when it's getting time to move call and reserve a pickup  truck to tow it with.  Ride the moped to the U Haul and then put it in the bed of the truck to drive back to the trailer.  

Just a thought.

Some people are buying these bicycle motorizing kits off eBay to motorize a bicycle.  They are a one speed
(in or out of gear) with manual clutch release.  But there are those with centrifugal clutch and recoil starter for
a few bucks more.

For under $130 to 150 bucks you can outfit a yard sale bicycle as a moped.  Most states see mopeds as having  pedals or they see it as a bicycle with a helper motor of less than 1 horse power.  These can get over 100 mpg.

 

[urbanhermit70]

where are you located?? (geographically)

I'm not gonna look out here if you're over on the 'other' coast!

I live. In California.

 

[highdesertranger]

if you really shop around and are patient. you can get a killer travel trailer for that price. you could also get a cargo trailer and build it yourself. highdesertranger

 

[sephson]

Since you're in research mode rather than purchase mode, you really have no limitations on what you can look at. Poke around on Craigslist for your local area. Have a peak at rvtrader.com. Do a general google search for travel trailer California. Feel free to look outside your price range, then scale back. Also, if you're in Southern California in mid October, you might want to check out the big RV show in Pomona. Granted, this will be largely new RV's and trailers, well outside of your price range, but it will give you an opportunity to actually poke around inside trailers and RV's of different sizes and floor plans and see what might be a good fit for you. Then, when you start seriously looking to buy, you can look for a size and layout similar to what you liked at the RV show in in the under $3000 price range.

 

[highdesertranger]

sephson has a good point shop around. I went to the rv show last year in so cal. and I learned something, most new rv's are junk. but it does give you ideas to work off of. highdesertranger

 

[DannyB1954]

There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of RV. On trailers there are tow behinds and fifth wheels. If you don't plan on owning the tow vehicle, there are more trucks with ball type receiver hitches than there are with a fifth wheel hitch. Finding someone that can move you may be easier with a tow behind.

 

[urbanhermit70]

I narrow down 2 RV that I like so far.

Class A Fleetwood Southwind 1980- whatever
Class C Fleetwood Iioga 1980 -whatever

hopefully 2016 or 2017, i can find one of these RV in my budget range. me and my boyfriend can't wait to travel

 

[urbanhermit70]

Does anyone own a class B Chinook Concourse?

 

[urbanhermit70]

I am looking for more advice on this topic. How to buy a RV for $3000. or less?

Choice

1 Class C (27 feet-31 feet)
2. buy a mini van & travel trailer

 

[Wanderer]

Well, quick perusal is not anything interesting for $3K right now...

3 weeks ago, there was quite a few RV's...

You can easily BUY one for $3K or less, the issue is "It's more likely ready for the junkyard"

Very few of them...(Oh hell, NONE) of them will be in great or even good shape. By the time they are selling'
for $3K or less, means that there's about $3-$7K worth of repairs needed....

 

[ZoNiE]

Having gone from an old Motorhome to a travel trailer, I can concur, the trailer is the better deal. You don't have engine, transmission, etc. to worry about, but most do have electric drum brakes, which require a controller in the truck, something a U haul will not have. U haul also usually charges mileage. Budget, Enterprise, etc. typically don't charge miles, but their half ton's also don't have brake controllers. They require you to rent a 3/4 Ton at a much higher price.

All that said, trailers have low cost axles, and tire selection is not great, and tires that sit, rot and blow out.

I take my trailer camping at least once per month, and still, one of the 2 year old china bombs blew yesterday... on US 93 north of Wikeup, out of cell range, and my brand new spare wheel had the wrong bolt circle. Gonna be visiting the idiots at a particular discount tire today about that. :dodgy:

If you can afford a good pickup and a trailer, that route is much smoother.

 

[highdesertranger]

this might be off topic but I have had so much bad luck with Chinese trailer tires that I will not run them anymore. trying to find US made trailer tires is like pulling hens teeth. so I run made in USA LT tires. no more problems. highdesertranger

 

[steamjam1]

I need some RV advice. Can anyone suggest a  used class A,B,C RV or travel trailer under $3,000?  Year 1970-19999. I am doing research.

Finding an older RV under 3G's thats in atleast OK shape is EASY out here on the left coast. General rule the bigger/older the RV, the cheaper it is. RV's like the old uber ugly, but for some reason looks cool at the same time Winnebago Brave.. I see these all the time for 2-3G's...

 

[shadow]

I need some RV advice. Can anyone suggest a  used class A,B,C RV or travel trailer under $3,000?  Year 1970-19999. I am doing research.

Look on Craigslist, you can find older rv`s, trailers, or campers for under $3000 dollars, and some are pretty nice, and some will need a little work.

 

[johnny b]

When looking at RVs in the lower end of the price range, the real question becomes..."how good are your (& partner's) mechanical, plumbing, electrical and woodworking skills??"
If you are going to pay for the repairs/upgrades needed in a low budget motorhome, then that $3K can become 5, 7, 10K real easy and real fast.
Something else to think about with old motorhomes is the cost of a tow when broke down.

I'd go with a tow behind camper and pickup truck/van if I were looking for cheapest way to start out.