ISO- 1986 Itasca sundancer.

[Wanderrig]

This might be a long shot but I’m hoping you all can help keep a look out for a 1986 Itasca sundancer model 424rc that’s in good condition. I’m a handy single mama looking to get on road with my daughter and I like that this model has a seat and a window behind the passenger seat which would be perfect for my daughter.

If anyone has one for sale
Please contact me @

[email protected]

Hope you all have a great day!

 

[SeilerBird]

Calling it a long shot is putting it mildly. You are searching for a 37 year old specific RV that is in good condition, priced reasonably and close to your location is almost impossible. RVs of that vintage are rarely usable. Most of them have suffered through years of abuse without any type of maintenance. There are many RVs with a seat set up as you want. My advice is to do a lot more shopping and find something newer. Old RVs are a money pit no matter how handy you are. And putting your email address in a post is inviting all the email harvesters to put you on their spamming lists. I wish you luck in your search.

 

[Wanderrig]

Thank you for the response I appreciate the advice. I know it would be a challenge but I actually found a garage kept sundancer with less than 50,000 miles, owners manuals, original everything in good condition and it was $6000. The seller was an older fella who said it’s been in his barn but he couldn’t wait for me to get there and sold it.
Heartbreaking.
I like the charm of the older rv models.
The new ones are too modern for my liking haha.
I’m a patient girl. One day I’ll find her.
To anyone reading this I am more than willing to go across the country if I find one that’s worth the trip.
Oh and that email isn’t my personal email.
Thank you regardless.

 

[TheBar]

My old RV was a success story but 95% are horror stories. Old RVs are only appropriate for camping close to home. If you are looking to "get on the road" you are looking for disaster. Unless you have tons of money in the bank you'll end up abandoning it alongside the road and hitchhiking home.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Yes, you need to ask the moderators to remove your email address. Someone can contact you thru the forum private messaging system. Otherwise your "throwaway" email box will fill with thousands of emails every day.

Old class C RV's, never buy one with the window on the front of the over cab bunk area, they ALL leak and are rotted out, requiring extensive rebuild. Never buy one so old that it has a carburetor on it, they will require rebuild or replacement at considerable expense while electronic fuel injection just runs and runs pretty much trouble free. Expect to spend $1500 on a new set of tires, and hundreds if not thousands more to replace belts, hoses, coolant, filters, batteries, molded and mildewed upholstery etc. The list goes on and on. Its not a matter of being handy, its a matter of money you have to spend on parts. Stuff has become stupid expensive lately. I paid $28 to get a transmission pan gasket the other day.

 

[Isaac-1]

I hate to sound like everyone else, but even a barn find 37 year old RV is going to be a money pit if the seller has not been constantly maintaining it, and is likely to need a near complete rebuild due to components (many of which are hard / impossible to find) have aged out, rotted, etc. and need replacing. This ranges from fuel lines, to shower liner.

 

[Wanderrig]

Guys I’m not alone. I have a team of family members professionally qualified for a full rebuild and yes they’re on board. I’ve been very blessed and have worked hard to save for a project like this for a while. This isn’t a camper i’m planning on selling. It’s something I want to make my own and keep until my last days. It’s a dream project. Thank you for all the advice I truly do appreciate it and you all have made me add new requirements to my search. I’m not as naive as some may think I just really like old things.

 

[Wanderrig]

You guys are Definitely right about prices but I’m a strong believer that prices are never getting lower ever again so my time is now. Hahaa

 

[LarsMac]

Well, good luck on your quest. I hope it doesn't take too long to find your rig.
I hope to hear how the search goes.

 

[Wanderrig]

Thank you for the well wishes
I’ll be sure to update!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Seems to me you are adult enough to make your own decisions about your email privacy and the kind of RV you want. Finding that particular RV is a long shot to be sure, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained". And as you say, they aren't gonna get cheaper or the condition better by waiting.

I wish you luck in your search and please let us know if you find a candidate. You'll likely get a lot more "gloom & doom" responses when you do, but there will be some gems mixed in too.

 

[Wanderrig]

Seems to me you are adult enough to make your own decisions about your email privacy and the kind of RV you want. Finding that particular RV is a long shot to be sure, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained". And as you say, they aren't gonna get cheaper or the condition better by waiting.

I wish you luck in your search and please let us know if you find a candidate. You'll likely get a lot more "gloom & doom" responses when you do, but there will be some gems mixed in too.

Thank you Gary!
Your well wishes made my day
I thought I’d update on this thread and show an Itasca I found a few days ago. It isn’t the layout I’m looking for but for a 37 year old rig it was very well taken care of!

 

[Isaac-1]

Those photos make it look good, but are there signs of wood rot around the over cab window, what does the roof look like, how about underneath, is the floor rotting out, etc.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Really nice looking. But of course all the usual RV 'caveat emptors' apply, so do your due dilgence. You will be hard-pressed to find an '86 in perfect condition, so the question becomes what problems can you fix (or live with) and what's the price?

 

[SMR]

Best of luck on your search, sounds like you have the perfect team to support you. Of course when you find it and you will, start a post on the rebuild with lots of pics!