My GMC has an AM/FM 8 track with CB. Good enough?
My GMC has an AM/FM 8 track with CB. Good enough?
oldopelguy wrote: I've actually been struggling with the opposite problem, how to sell my Dad's vintage RV. It's a Southwind and looks almost the same as the one you pictured, except without the rear bedroom. Here's the issues; Even with new tires and an Onan generator it's barely worth $1200. I could keep the tires for my 1-ton truck, sell the 440/727 as a drop in for a pickup, and keep the roof AC and generator for my old Shasta and I'd be way ahead dollar wise, but I'd be throwing away a perfectly good camper. Seems such a shame.
It seems to me it would be a shame not to part it out. And...to me "a perfectly good camper" is not a valid phrase 
Clem
For Challenge money, go for it as long as it's not showing inside waterdamage. If it falls apart in a couple years, well, what the heck, yopu can prolly get more than challenge money amounts of fun back out of it. But the one i'm shopping for is from the 90's, and rides and stops on air, is motivated by an 8.3 Cummins and an allison 6 speed. Cuz after 19 years of dealing with something similar to this one, IF I replace it, it'll be with something that's much, much more suitable...
oldopelguy wrote: I've actually been struggling with the opposite problem, how to sell my Dad's vintage RV. It's a Southwind and looks almost the same as the one you pictured, except without the rear bedroom. Here's the issues; Even with new tires and an Onan generator it's barely worth $1200. I could keep the tires for my 1-ton truck, sell the 440/727 as a drop in for a pickup, and keep the roof AC and generator for my old Shasta and I'd be way ahead dollar wise, but I'd be throwing away a perfectly good camper. Seems such a shame.
Around here, you can make a little by selling old camper trailers to hunters as deer camp shacks. I dunno about RV's, but it would seem to be the same concept. You might be able to get a couple hundred bucks out of it and know it was at least still being used.
Mongo needs a little buddy at GRM events 
GMC FTW!
My husband and I purchased an 1978 Foretravel who looks alot like the one you are interested in. In the past someone put a Cummins diesel and Allison Tranny in it. The interior is mint condition and we do have a radio with a 8 track tape player. 
Whenever we go camping lost of folks stop by so they can check "Freida" out. The only problem besides affording the fuel for trips is that getting parts is one heck of a hard job. I probably have about $7000 in this old girl including new tires but she is alot of fun. My granddaughter loves camping in Freida! Insurance runs $125 a year and taxes are $3.00 plus tag fee of $20. The people who owned her before us camped a good bit but did not keep up the maintenance so that what we are catching up now.
As a former full-time RVer and having spent a conglomerate of 16 of my 39 years living in one I feel pretty qualified to chime in 
I know you've been told this a thousand times, but I'll say it anyway:
An RV that sits still will probably never leak. Let it sit for 9 years and let the sealants age, then drive it, and the flexing of the chassis will likely make it leak. Leaks are scary, but be proactive and reseal all the seams before its a problem. Foretravel class A's were a fine RV, but double check which chassis it has. Up to about 30 feet used a Dodge chassis - basically a 1-ton truck chassis that is stretched out. Over that length used the precursor to the John Deere Workhorse chassis (the name of which escapes me now.) The Dodge chassis has cheap parts, but its very inadequate. I've owned several and it makes for some white-knuckle driving. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but it really can be. The weekend you plan to get away can turn into a stressful chore in a short time behind the wheel.
Otherwise, expect the typical failures. Most RV parts are expensive but some things don't have to be RV parts. The first thing I would determine is the style of water pressurization. Older RVs used to pressurize the tank with air to push water to the faucets. Modern ones of course use gravity to feed a water pump. If it uses air pressure, expect problems. The tank will be galvanized steel. Even if its not rusty and holds pressure now, it won't later. 30 gallons of rusty water on the floor of your RV isn't pretty. Ask me how I know.
Otherwise, verify that all of the appliances work. RV fridges, water heaters, and A/Cs are insanely expensive. If it were a newer model, you could just order the parts to fix it. Older RVs don't typically have the parts support. For instance, if you have a newer Attwood AT530 water heater and it fails, replace the part for $30. If you have an older, obsolete water heater, you end up replacing the whole thing (and possibly custom fitting it) for $300.
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