Looking at 2 RV to purchase my first. Which is best?

[DaisymayH]

We are looking to get our first RV. Can't get a new one so looking at 2 older ones.
First one is a 2004 Itaska Sunrise with 81000 miles. $18,000. For and the second is a 2002 Winnabago Winnie Drop. 31'000 miles. For $7,900. Both claim to be in perfect condition. Haven't seen in person yet because they are both in Georgia and I am in Alabama. Waiting to complete the sell of my house and get funds in hand. Hopefully next week. Just wanted to get input on good and bad of both.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

The Winnie Drop is a travel trailer while the Sunrise is a motorhome. Apples & Oranges.

Don't be in a rush - buying an RV is at least as serious and complicated decision as buying a home. Deciding whether you are best served by a trailer vs a motorhome is one the the big, upfront decisions.

 

[Isaac-1]

Inspect, Inspect, Inspect, there is no such thing as a 20+ year old motorhome that is in perfect shape, by the very nature of their age there will be worn components, this is coming from the owner of a 2002 model motorhome, which I have owned for the last 9 years. I try to keep it maintained, this year alone I have spent something over $2,000 in parts alone going into it, $1,200 of which are sitting at my house waiting for the weather to cool down before I install them (mostly steering linkages). Even after that I know there will still be to do items that will likely be bumped back to next year, and there are many more things that are showing their age and I know will have to be dealt with at some point, for example mine still has the original propane water heater, it works, but I have certainly noticed an increase in rust on it in the 9 years I have owned the coach, and know it is just a matter of time before it fails.

 

[DaisymayH]

The Winnie Drop is a travel trailer while the Sunrise is a motorhome. Apples & Oranges.

Don't be in a rush - buying an RV is at least as serious and complicated decision as buying a home. Deciding whether you are best served by a trailer vs a motorhome is one the the big, upfront decisions.

Oh wow the picture they posted is not the same as the description. I sure am thankful you told me that before I drove to Atlanta to see it. Probably some type of scam. This is the pic they posted.

 

[uchu]

Oh wow the picture they posted is not the same as the description. I sure am thankful you told me that before I drove to Atlanta to see it. Probably some type of scam. This is the pic they posted.

That's a Winnebago Brave, and by looking at the pic, it's possibly a 2004 .

Certainly a scam alert

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

The chassis matters irrespective of mileage. Once they hit about 20 years old getting service and parts becomes difficult, and for some, impossible. So don't let condition or mileage lull you into false confidence. A unicorn like an oshkosh or workhorse will be a giant PITA to fix unless you enjoy scrounging salvage yards or in some cases making parts. And I don't care who made it, how well it runs or how lovingly it was cared for, all metals corrode, plastics get brittle, rubber gets hard and crumbles. An old RV will require a lot of intervention to keep going and if you're not "handy", a large repair budget will be needed. Depends a bit on what you expect it to do (traveling vs parked) but know that there's a reason $200,000 RV's turn into $20,000 RV's after 20 years. It's not as much about outdated styling or old technology as it is the things are decomposing in place and it's crazy money, time and work to keep them together.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[TheBar]

The chassis matters irrespective of mileage. Once they hit about 20 years old getting service and parts becomes difficult, and for some, impossible

That is true for many if not most Class A models. Not just the chassis, even the cab parts like light and wiper switches and door handles may be of unknown origin.

If you are going to buy something older a Class C is definitely the best choice. It is based on a van chassis so all the drivetrain and cab parts are standard items available anywhere. Even when 40 years old. Most mechanics even in small towns can work on one. All parts, oil changes, and new tires are a fraction of the cost.

 

[Kirk]

There has been some very good advice given but I'll add a couple of points. You are looking at RVs of 20+ years age and even the very best RV can be turned into a money pit in a few years of neglect or abuse. Once you reach 10 years of age the condition becomes far more important that the make or model. There is no RV manufacturer who has no unhappy customers and none that have no happy customers. While the brand name does have some importance when new, each year of age makes that less so. Used RVs of the age you suggest do not have any warranty, although some dealerships will offer a short one, it is of very limited value. For any novice RV buyer, it is wise to get a professional inspection before you buy, either by a certified, pre-purchase RV inspector or at least by a mobile RV technician. A complete inspection will cost at least several hundred dollars, but it could save you thousands. You should also know that it is very difficult to find financing for any RV that is more than 10 years old and if you do it will be short term.

I suggest that you start by visiting an RV show or two and so learn just what is available in modern RVs and to get some ideas of what you get for what cost. The more than you lean before you shop, the less likely you are to regret the purchase.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Oh wow the picture they posted is not the same as the description. I sure am thankful you told me that before I drove to Atlanta to see it. Probably some type of scam. This is the pic they posted.

The circa 2004 Winnie Brave in that photo is a sister to the 2004 Itasca Sunrise, so from that perspective the two are equivalent. But if the description calls it a Winnie Drop, it's pretty clear the seller just made the story up. Better look somewhere else.

Others have given excellent advise about age, mileage, and cost. There are 20+ year old RVs out there that are cream-puffs, but they take some searching to find and an RV newbie is naive and easily misled. Go slowly, ask questions, and get help.