Looking for advice ...where do sick motor homes go????

[dtm-FUN]

We have been told that the bottom side of our 2005 Holiday Rambler Vacationer is very rusted .....hence now looking for a fifth wheel.  I know we can use it as a trade-in, but was wondering is there another option?  The interior and exterior are in really good  shape, and still runs without issue,,,,just no confidence in it.  It would be a great home if someone wanted to park it and live in it......is there any place I can get information on this?  Thank you, this forum is so helpful!!!

 

[SLOweather]

We fully equipped our Suncruiser a couple of Decembers ago, and, through a local non-profit, gave it away to a homeless vet, wife, and daughter.

 

[Phil-T]

Also,several medical personell looking for a "home away from home" even if it is just parked in their driveway.

 

[whiteva]

Had a friend with rusted out storage compartments on his Winnie (from cold country where they use salt). Rather than replacing the rusted walls and floor of each compartment, we used pressure treated plywood to make a slide in box bolted to what good metal we could find. 5 years later and it still works. Had to make adjustments and used better gaskets for the doors to be water tight but it works and from the outside it looks original.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Just put it up for sale. If asked about the condition, be honest, giving both the good parts and the not-so-good.  A statement like "underside needs attention due to rust" covers it and it's up to the buyer to either walk away or assess the risk vs the price.  A lot of buyers are looking for bargains and aren't much afraid of flaws.


Who is the source of this rust comment?  It's not necessarily a well-informed opinion, even if it came from an RV dealer or shop. Of course a 15 year old vehicle was rust underneath, whether from highway use or metallic corrosion.  It could be anywhere from cosmetic to severe damage and could be repairable with time & effort by someone with handyman skills.  Lot's of people don't mind getting their hands dirty.

 

[scottydl]

The first two words I thought of was "Second Opinion" before make any new purchases or assume your RV is junk. The information should not be implicitly trusted if it came from someone who was either (a) trying to sell repair services, (b) trying to sell you a replacement item, or (c) has no significant experience with RVs.

I'd have a frame shop look at it. Someplace that does repairs & welding on heavy machinery and knows when metal is strong or weak.

 

[winniman]

My friend bought an 03 National Tropical that had pretty severe rusts problems in the lower compartments. The rest of the rv was in great shape, but he got it for about 60 percent of its value due to the rust. All the basement compartments were only hanging on 1 inch box tube, and had rusted badly. The waste tanks were literally hanging by a thread. For a few thousand dollars, and a couple weekends with a welder, he chopped out all the rot, and replaced it with new and heavier steel. He is laughing all the way to the bank. He now has a better than new basement. The actual frame of the rv was in perfect condition because it was hidden inside the basement. Are you sure the actual frame is rotted, or just the basement compartments.

 

[Lou Schneider]

There's a guy in the Northeast on YouTube that does the same thing with classic VWs and Toyotas that have frame and body rust from the winter road salts.  He buys them cheap, then repairs the rusty parts.  Look for videos by Mustie1