Time to educate me once again. Grassroots support vehicle

Well its a banner car week here at the Misfit Toys shop. So I mentioned elsewhere I have my truck up for sale. Its a 93 Chevy 3500 quad cab dually. 175,000 miles on it with a new motor around 90,000. Runs good, not the prettiest thing in the world but not so ugly that my wife cringes when she sees it. Interior is maybe a 5/10. But since our trip down to GRM last year I have driven it exactly twice. It costs me close to $100 a month to have it sitting here insured (thanks NJ) and logically for needing a truck maybe 2x a year it would be cheaper to rent one. So it was up for sale for $3500, a hard sell in todays market with gas prices and all.

The truck:

I have been offered this in trade:

Now obviously we are looking at another vehicle which will sit unused most of the year, except the folks that insure RVs know this about them so the insurance is usually alot cheaper. Unlike most of my hairbrained ideas this one is SWMBO approved because ever since Katrina she has wanted an "evacuation vehicle" for all our pets in case of emergency. Yeah, I know we don't get hurricanes in NJ much but just when I had her calmed down on that we did have an oil refinery fire about 40 miles away and there was talk of evacuating due to the "toxic cloud", luckily the wind shifted. Also we dont vacation much because of our dogs so this might present an opportunity to vaca with the pets.

And although its probably even a harder sell, it does appear to me that this should be worth more than the $3500 Im asking for the truck.

I know to check for leaks and obvious running condition and such, but any other special caveats to consider?

If you decide you want the cash, I will take it off your hands, I have been looking for a good price on an RV for a year now.

Otherwise, is it gas/diesel? Check ceiling for leaks. When was roof sealed? Does the fridge.a/c work? Has it got a generator?

Check out everything electrical. A lot of time, it seems that the basic shell is outfitted with subsystems fairly haphazardly.

aussiesmg wrote: If you decide you want the cash, I will take it off your hands, I have been looking for a good price on an RV for a year now. Otherwise, is it gas/diesel? Check ceiling for leaks. When was roof sealed? Does the fridge.a/c work? Has it got a generator?

I will keep that in mind, I may just resell it unless the wife is serious about wanting an emergency vehicle. Waiting to hear back on the engine, good question about the roof I will ask that. All options work, 4 new tires in the last year and the other 4 are good. New batteries in the camper portion. Here's the list of options and info the seller provided me.

1995 Coachmen Santara Series M-320 FL-FORD - 32'6"

  Mileage: 96,000

  110 Volt - 15,000 BTU (Roof Mount)         
  Furnace (30,000-35,000 BTU)                  
  3-Way Refrigerator                                      
  Flushing Toilet/Holding Tank   
  Microwave/Hood Combo  
  Waste Water Holding Tank  
  Water Heater 10 Gallon Gas/Elec
  19" LCD TV  
  AM/FM/CD Stereo 
  DVD Player 
  TV Antenna w/Booster
  Auxiliary Battery 
  Awning 20' - 22' (Each)
  Cabinetry Upgrade (Deluxe) 
  Cruise Control     
  Driver's Side Door w/Power Window 
  Fiberglass Exterior 31' and Over 
  Inverter (1000 Watt)  
  LPG Gas/Smoke Detector 
  LP Bottles W/Auto Changeover
  Monitor Panel

For exactly the reasons you listed is why we are looking. So if and only if you do decide to sell it I am more than interested.

If everything works it seems like a good deal, especially as you can more than able to repair any mechanical problems that might pop up.

Ask if it was stored under cover, its not a deal breaker but definitely makes for a better condition vehicle

That seems like a no brainer to me.

DILYSI Dave wrote: That seems like a no brainer to me.

Kinda does to me too, but that's why I asked, to make sure I wasn't just being a no-brainer and missing something here.

Guess I'll go pretty up the truck tonite to make the deal happen. I still have a feeling he will change his mind but I'll move forward until he does.

What is it's tow rating? Some of them aren't very high, and could be a deal breaker if you can't tow your race car with it.

sachilles wrote: What is it's tow rating? Some of them aren't very high, and could be a deal breaker if you can't tow your race car with it.

I dont currently tow a race car, it's one of the reasons I was selling the truck in the first place.

But it is not a bad idea to check for future use, thanks for the reminder.

Just heard back from the seller, it is gas, 460 V8

Diesel would have been sweeter but gas isnt a turn off either. And I don't have to worry about my wife and her friends taking it for a Jimmy Buffet tailgate and putting the wrong fuel in it.

It looks like a good deal to me.

Seems like a decent deal to me also. Especially since it is an older model with the 460 instead of the crappy V10.

But I really think you just need an old school bus and convert it......

Ranger50 wrote: But I really think you just need an old school bus and convert it......

If I was actually out shopping for something that's exactly what I'd do, but since the trade offer is on the table this seems much simpler...and SWMBO approved.

Take it for a LONG test drive. RVs often sit much more than they run and odd problems can develop, and there are often overheating issues in the van bodies. Other than that, make sure the floors are solid, no soft spots. It does seem like a pretty good deal.

And perfect for tailgating Parrottheads

Woody wrote: Check out *everything* electrical. A lot of time, it seems that the basic shell is outfitted with subsystems fairly haphazardly.

Check out everything plumbing related too. Leaks suck, and plumbing repairs are less fun than electrical repairs, IMO.

1988RedT2 wrote:

Woody wrote: Check out *everything* electrical. A lot of time, it seems that the basic shell is outfitted with subsystems fairly haphazardly.

Check out everything plumbing related too. Leaks suck, and plumbing repairs are less fun than electrical repairs, IMO.

Especially the ones on the waste water side...ew.

JThw8 wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote:

Woody wrote: Check out *everything* electrical. A lot of time, it seems that the basic shell is outfitted with subsystems fairly haphazardly.

Check out everything plumbing related too. Leaks suck, and plumbing repairs are less fun than electrical repairs, IMO.

Especially the ones on the waste water side...ew.

OTOH, how often is it OK to take a E36 M3 in a vehicle you're test-driving?

AngryCorvair said: OTOH, how often is it OK to take a E36 M3 in a vehicle you're test-driving?

wait...You don't? Maybe it's just me.....

AngryCorvair wrote: OTOH, how often is it OK to take a E36 M3 in a vehicle you're test-driving?

I just had this mental image of cousin Eddie from NL Family Vacation in his boxers and bathrobe walking up to the RV with a newspaper "just gonna take 'er for a little test drive...."

Looks like a good trade. There is a lot of info out there on RVs. Most issues are leaks in the body and the water system. Seems like only the most recent models have diesel options, most Ford versions are 460 or V10. If you do get it, get to know sites like http://www.sanidumps.com/ so you can find where to empty the waste water tanks.

Being that it is a 31' RV, it probably is limited to 3500 lbs towing, maybe 5k if you are lucky.

that thing would look great on some big rims, and limo tinted, lol

Looks like a good deal to me.

Have a good look at the ceiling for evidence of leakage.

That's an awesome deal if it doesn have roof leaks.

My 86 F250 with a 460 would haul anything I could hook to it. We used to tow a small combine on a pretty heavy trailer. Not good gas mileage though.

I think some of the towing limitations have to do with the large amount of overhang relative to the rear axle.

sachilles wrote: I think some of the towing limitations have to do with the large amount of overhang relative to the rear axle.

Yeah, especially on a 32 footer like this, I'd actually prefer shorter. I have other pics and the rear overhang goes on FOREVER.

Still it'd be good for all the reasons stated above and as an emergency doghouse for when I do something to really piss of SWMBO :)