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Topic: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270 (Read 2588 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Hate to say it but I see a reality check coming up.

Pierce, I hope you are wrong, but you may be spot on.

If I was going to have to pay a shop to do all the work the buying decision would be different.  As it is, I would rather do the work and know how it's done. 

As to corrosion free, if it's not I will just walk away.
If the motor or transmission doesn't check out I will walk away.

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #21 –
At 21 years old a 1996 coach can almost sport antique license plates!

This may seem slightly off topic, but based upon comments it got me thinking.

How is anyone going to find that fabulously maintained, well kept and updated Foretravel if current owners aren't willing to put the money into either their current unit, or one they are about to buy?  If everyone keeps expecting to reap the benefits of someone else's time and expenses, then these coaches are going to spiral into decay and disrepair.

Due to age at some point working with these old units crosses the line from buying a used RV because it's a less expensive alternative, to restoring a classic RV because you like it and it's still a solid unit.

Lots of people enjoy restoring classic cars.  The same negatives can be said for them in terms of costs, effort, return on investment, etc.  But people do it because they enjoy it.  And by and large people love seeing old, and unique, vehicles on the road in good shape.

How much sense does it make to pay $7K-$10K for an old worn out Airstream, and then sinking $40-$50K into gutting and restoring it?  That's as much as a lot of our coaches are selling for!  But people do it for themselves, and people love seeing them on the road.

People loved seeing the old Flexible Flyer that Gadget Guru purchased.  That old coach didn't get that way by everyone waiting for the next guy to do the work.

Chris

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Numbers –
At 21 years old a 1996 coach can almost sport antique license plates!

This may seem slightly off topic, but based upon comments it got me thinking.

How is anyone going to find that fabulously maintained, well kept and updated Foretravel if current owners aren't willing to put the money into either their current unit, or one they are about to buy?  If everyone keeps expecting to reap the benefits of someone else's time and expenses, then these coaches are going to spiral into decay and disrepair.

Due to age at some point working with these old units crosses the line from buying a used RV because it's a less expensive alternative, to restoring a classic RV because you like it and it's still a solid unit.

Lots of people enjoy restoring classic cars.  The same negatives can be said for them in terms of costs, effort, return on investment, etc.  But people do it because they enjoy it.  And by and large people love seeing old, and unique, vehicles on the road in good shape.

How much sense does it make to pay $7K-$10K for and old worn out Airstream, and then sinking $40-$50K into gutting and restoring it?  That's as much as a lot of our coaches are selling for!  But people do it for themselves, and people love seeing them on the road.

People loved seeing the old Flexible Flyer that Gadget Guru purchased.  That old coach didn't get that way by everyone waiting for the next guy to do the work.

Chris
There is one right here in the classified, as far as a 1996 coach. You're forgetting that most classic car owners and old coach owners do take pride in what they have and put the money and labor in them to keep them that way. And eventually they sell them. The idea is to buy their coaches and old autos not the ones that were run into the ground. You won't find a many 1957 T-Bird's or '66 Corvette's that aren't already in good shape. The same goes for most of the coaches on the Forum. Sooner or later we sell them or our heirs sell them if we drive them to the grave. 

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #23 –
Spot on Chris...my 57 Chevy.  It was never about how low could I go but how much would I have in enjoyment and pride of owning what in my opinion is as classic as an Airstream.  Great analogy.

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #24 –
All good advice, do you want to spend next twelve months working on it or actually using it ?
Even a well cared for coach from a forum member will have some maintenance expenses over the next year .
Good luck

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #25 –
It's likely that some of the restoration that you do now will need restoring again before you retire and put your prize on the road.  If you really like doing that kind of work and spending money, I've got a boat that would give you lots of joy.


wantabe

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #26 –
Quote from: wantabe –
It's likely that some of the restoration that you do now will need restoring again before you retire and put your prize on the road.  If you really like doing that kind of work and spending money, I've got a boat that would give you lots of joy.


wantabe
So something that has found it's way to 20 years old won't last 5 years post restoration?  I don't buy that.  I had a gas coach that went 10 years after restoration, ran well, and everything worked when I sold it.  Yes I did maintenance but.......

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #27 –
Quote from: mattschilds –
If the motor or transmission doesn't check out I will walk away.
If your are going to purchase a coach with electronic engine/transmission controls, make sure to check for active and archived codes as they can tell the dates, length of time, type, etc. of the event(s). The shop or PO can erase the codes so you do have to watch for that. The read out will also be able to tell you the gallons burned and mpg since new. A forum member that has the same model is very good to hire to help inspect for items a prospective owner would normally miss. Nice even for an present owner, imperative for a newbie.

Pierce

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #28 –
For the budget I want to assume I am paying someone else to do the work.  In reality I will do some of the work myself

When I replied to your original post My response was for if you were paying someone else to do your work. If this is something that you are going to invest sweat equity into yourself then it might be a worthwhile project. I am doing the same to my 91. But I own a buttload of tools and I have been working on mechanical stuff since I was a preteen. Plumbing ,elect,mechanics ,etc pretty much at some point in my life so far I have done some. I'm not trying to make it the Taj Ma Hilton, just a good dependable comfortable RV which it is and use. So far in 2.5 years we have put about 15k miles on it and I have only spent about 16k total including buying it.
I feel i am still a little below what I could sell it for so that makes me feel like I have a tiny bit of equity in it if I should have to sell it. But in reality I couldn't buy a good used pop up tow behind for what i have tied up in this, Plus it's just Kool!! 8)

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #29 –
Without demeaning others abilities and wormanship in coaches I prefer to start with everything worn.

When I looked at our 97 I assumed every Mechanical and electrical system was bad until proven otherwise.

As was posted here some like to do these.

If used up pay a used up price.  I am at $20k and probably have another $10k to go. 

Knock wood.  Never let us down.

Even stupider.  I hardly carry tools.  Trying to rebuild everything in advance.  Proactive not reactive.

Like airplane stuff I used to build

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #30 –
Very Interesting points of view here. As a person who is currently trying to sell a 36 U 270, I feel like throwing my 2 cents in. My coach is listed in the forum classifieds and if you read it you will see that most of the things that go wrong with these coaches have been addressed, and all of these things that I have done will need to be addressed on any coach of this age. Without any disrespect to any one I would not even consider buying a coach from most people who say the have done all the work them selves (you notice I said most). I have been in the high end diesel business as a factory rep for a large part of my career and I have seen a lot of work that has been done by owners ( Most substandard) so I would have a hard time buying a coach that has been rebuilt by most weekenders, Please don't misunderstand me I SAID MOST. Also with that said I have seen mind boggling botched jobs done by RV Dealers as well. Almost all of the work that has been done on my coach has been done by a high end motor home service center.
      I have spent well over 70K on this coach (over what and above what I paid for it) and 3 years of use and forum guidance, to get it to the point that it is now. with that said maintenance issues never stop, so you will not have to be concerned about repair work or having to work on your coach it is on going. There are some who say they bought there coach and have had to do very little to it, well at some point it is coming. Just remember the old adage, for the most part....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. I say this with sincerity, For those of you who are looking for that perfect coach, good luck. I have found over the years that even when buying a new coach there are compromises made.

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #31 –
Quote from: barndog –
Very Interesting points of view here. As a person who is currently trying to sell a 36 U 270, I feel like throwing my 2 cents in. My coach is listed in the forum classifieds and if you read it you will see that most of the things that go wrong with these coaches have been addressed, and all of these things that I have done will need to be addressed on any coach of this age. Without any disrespect to any one I would not even consider buying a coach from most people who say the have done all the work them selves (you notice I said most). I have been in the high end diesel business as a factory rep for a large part of my career and I have seen a lot of work that has been done by owners ( Most substandard) so I would have a hard time buying a coach that has been rebuilt by most weekenders, Please don't misunderstand me I SAID MOST. Also with that said I have seen mind boggling botched jobs done by RV Dealers as well. Almost all of the work that has been done on my coach has been done by a high end motor home service center.
      I have spent well over 70K on this coach (over what and above what I paid for it) and 3 years of use and forum guidance, to get it to the point that it is now. with that said maintenance issues never stop, so you will not have to be concerned about repair work or having to work on your coach it is on going. There are some who say they bought there coach and have had to do very little to it, well at some point it is coming. Just remember the old adage, for the most part....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
And if I get a chance I will most probably buy it.

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #32 –
My coach is still for sale Matt mistook my coach for another one.

Re: Help on budget to renovate a 96 36' U270

Reply #34 –
One more thing, I don't want to offend any one with my remarks on fixing or repairing your coaches, I know that there are many that are capable on this forum, and that have those skills....keep on fixing. However the message still holds true for the many who are not , but do it themselves any way.