small motorhomes for sale

[cookiedough]

been 'just looking' for now, but am wondering why so many I see used in that 21 to 27 foot range (small to medium sized tops) good for 2-4 people are asking dirt cheap as compared to say just a hard sided camper only model being only slightly bigger and newer.

Basically,  I know of 2 locally both 21 foot long (good for 2 adults) in very good condition minor usage with around 35-40K miles on the triton V10 ford engine in that 1998-2001 year range for say 12-18 grand.  Most campers (no engine)  in that 25 foot range are asking just as much used. 

I mean an 18 foot full sized truck with 40K miles goes for well over 20 grand and you do not get inside a bed, bathroom, TV, kitchen, storage, generator, etc..... as these motorhomes have.  Am sure though a 10 cylinder ford engine in motorhome will only get 10 mpg vs. a  V8 truck near 17 mpg.

Are smaller motorhomes not very popular sellers seeing as how I see so many not used much with lower mileage going for what I consider a decent asking price?

If I was closer to retirement I would be considering one although unhooking a camper only model from my 1/2 ton truck once arrived at destination is slightly easier to navigate traffic being 18 foot vs. 21 feet in a motorhome, plus even pulling a 25 foot camper with my V8 truck am sure would get over 10 mpg (guessing 12 mpg tops though) but once unhooked,  back up to 17 mpg.

[f6john]

Never owned a motor home of any size so no help there. But no way I would consider pulling a camper of any reasonable size with a half ton. I be been moving my household stuff 200 miles in a small enclosed trailer and it works but I don’t like it. If I had any ideas of pulling any significant weight it would be with a diesel in a one ton platform. Same for a motor home, diesel torque or nothing for me.

[Rams]

I believe you will find that operating the V10 powered brick down the Super Slab will tell you precisely why those motor homes are priced where they are.   

Ask the sellers what their average mpg was and ask them to be prepared to prove it.
I pull a fifth wheel RV with my Cummns powered trucks, I always expect my fuel mileage (mpg) to significantly drop when I hook up to that trailer.    Motor homes don't have the option to drop and go, that brick shaped body goes where the chassis goes.

Rams

[Dave Ritsema]

I am a die hard Ford man but that V10 Triton is a pig. My 3.5 eco-boost will walk away from one and the mileage on them is horrible, less than 10 mpg if they are doing any work at all. I am getting 23 mpg on the eco-boost in my 2017 F150 4x4.

As had been said above, if I was entertaining any kind of serious trailer towing it would be at least a 3/4 ton diesel.My F150 is rated to 12,000 pounds and the eco-boost does a great job but if I was buying a trailer it would be a fifth wheel which is just too much for a half ton pick up. In a motorhome itself, there is no way I would buy a gasser. Horrible mileage and they are working too hard with insufficient torque.

[¿spoom]

Conventional travel trailers usually hold their value better than motorhomes because as long as the frame on a conventional one isn't rusted, you can pack the bearings, replace the tires, and be good for the next 5-10 years. With a motorhome, the first thing people assume is that there's something wrong with the drivetrain that will cost more than the actual purchase price to repair. Obviously that's not always the case, but perception is what drives pricing. I've got a  31" Montana RV Trailer that stickered for $38K in 2004, I've seen them going for $10K in good shape now FWIW.

Agreed on the V10 Triton-for what you pay in gas and what you get in power, it's nootz to not get a diesel instead. Nothing against Ford, I have a 5.4 E350 Van right now, and the same setup in a previous F150 Pickup.  Good drivetrain IMHO.

[Jess from VA]

Whenever I've thought about a motor home (not that much), I've always calculated how many motel rooms the cost of one will buy.  That's a lot of motel rooms, which you do not have to maintain like a motor home.

To justify that kind of expense (to buy, insure and maintain), I think you have to be very committed to using it for all or most of your future vacations for a long time.

Now if it will also be used as a mother in law suite while parked next to the house, that can also be a big plus if she visits often.  Putting her in a local motel never sat well with anyone but me. 

My brother told me to buy an ancient Winnebago with a big honkin 454 in it.  But only the engine was to be considered the important thing, the rest could be rusted junk. 

[Gavin_Sons]

Whenever I've thought about a motor home (not that much), I've always calculated how many motel rooms the cost of one will buy.  That's a lot of motel rooms, which you do not have to maintain like a motor home.

To justify that kind of expense (to buy, insure and maintain), I think you have to be very committed to using it for all or most of your future vacations for a long time.

Now if it will also be used as a mother in law suite while parked next to the house, that can also be a big plus if she visits often.  Putting her in a local motel never sat well with anyone but me. 

My brother told me to buy an ancient Winnebago with a big honkin 454 in it.  But only the engine was to be considered the important thing, the rest could be rusted junk. 

Hey, i had a 1987 Winnebago 37' with a 454 in it. i was remodeling the inside and then lost interest so it sat for a year then i sold it. I never want another camper or motorhome as long as i live.

[Pete]

Not sure about the V10, but the previous 460 V8 used in a motor home was about a 60,000 mile engine before replacement.  

[Cracker Jack]

With a motorhome, you know who slept in your bed last night. You also know what may have been  in your coffee pot before you showed up.

[¿spoom]

With a motorhome, you know who slept in your bed last night. You also know what may have been  in your coffee pot before you showed up.

Maybe...

[¿spoom]

Talk about knock on wood;
Heard a little clunk when coming to a stop sign this morning (after bragging on my sweet E350 5.4L Ford van. Kept listening for it and eventually about 8 braking cycles later, there it was again. IWhen I got home, I took a quick 15 minute "break" to jack up the corner and remove the wheel to check out the calipers and suspension, rubber bushings, etc. Brakes on the front driver's corner where the clunk was are fine. Play in the ball joints seemed bad news. I swung by the dealer and told them about the clunk but not that I'd done any investigation. They couldn't look at it until later but I was willing to leave it and catch a free shuttle ride home. Hadn't been home an hour when the service writer calls and says, "top & bottom ball joints on both sides are SHOT" no kinda, no bring it in someday when you need something else.
Only 44.5K miles on it. Brakes have plenty of life left, who builds a van that needs ball joints before front brakes?   

[cookiedough]

Talk about knock on wood;
Heard a little clunk when coming to a stop sign this morning (after bragging on my sweet E350 5.4L Ford van. Kept listening for it and eventually about 8 braking cycles later, there it was again. IWhen I got home, I took a quick 15 minute "break" to jack up the corner and remove the wheel to check out the calipers and suspension, rubber bushings, etc. Brakes on the front driver's corner where the clunk was are fine. Play in the ball joints seemed bad news. I swung by the dealer and told them about the clunk but not that I'd done any investigation. They couldn't look at it until later but I was willing to leave it and catch a free shuttle ride home. Hadn't been home an hour when the service writer calls and says, "top & bottom ball joints on both sides are SHOT" no kinda, no bring it in someday when you need something else.
Only 44.5K miles on it. Brakes have plenty of life left, who builds a van that needs ball joints before front brakes?   

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Yah,  now I can see why the motorhomes are pretty cheap in my local area, thinking they are good buys but if the V10 Ford only gets 10 mpg tops,  then that is not good either.  I just thought with such low 40K mileage even if 2001 model year was a good buy at 12 grand.

I would not hesitate to pull up to a 25 foot travel trailer with my 5.7L V8 since I think most are around 5-6K lbs.    Much over 7K lbs. though and agree,  a 3/4 ton diesel is the way to go.   They say 1/2 ton trucks can tow 10,200 lbs. (give or take depending on mfg.), but we all know that much weight is NOT recommended for any 1/2 ton truck.   Loaded down my 23' enclosed trailer with ATVs inside is about 4500lbs. and have no issues but know it is back there for sure getting 13.5 avg mpg vs. normally 17 mpg.  NO matter how I babied it will never get over 15 avg mpg even doing 55 mph speed limit loaded down vs. near 19 mpg if doing just 55 mph unloaded.

Not knocking the 3.5L ecoboost twin turbo since they do have great acceleration and mpg, but not so sure on reliability in the long run of turbo power.   This is the trend though of all vehicle mfgs you see nothing but turbo, turbo, turbo coming out on all mfg. vehicles both cars and trucks.  I am not a fan of turbos though since reliability overall is not as good say after 70-80K miles. 

[..]

Having driven a 42ft RV for a couple of years. About 15,000 miles I know I will never buy one.

Sucked diesel, tires were $800 each installed. Hassle filling with water and then getting rid of the grey and black waste.

Cleaning the roof so mold didn't grow and caulking for leaks. Etc.

Rent one a few times and see if it's something you really want to do.

[scooperhsd]

I wouldn't say that ....

I have 2 VW TDI (diesels) that are both turbocharged, the newer one (a 2015 Golf) has 80k miles, the older one (2000 New Beetle) has 368 Kmiles. I'd depart tomorrow for a 49 state driving tour in the Beetle with every confidence I'd complete it in the original vehicle - getting 44-46 MPG or better the entire trip.

I'd have to agree about wanting a 3/4 ton truck pulling a loaded trailer over a 1/2 ton , even if both were diesel and the load was within rated capability of the 1/2 ton. Sounds like a diesel might be the better way to have a motorhome as well.

[Rams]

I'd have to agree about wanting a 3/4 ton truck pulling a loaded trailer over a 1/2 ton , even if both were diesel and the load was within rated capability of the 1/2 ton. Sounds like a diesel might be the better way to have a motorhome as well.

Having the experience of fifty years of pulling fifth wheels and goosenecks (along with more bumper pull trailers than I could count), I encourage anyone considering towing an RV to seriously consider stepping up to the next sized truck.   Just because the RV is within the truck's towing capacity, doesn't account for environmental factors and emergency situations where the heavier suspension makes a huge difference.   

Ever observed the convoys of RVs traveling with significant side winds?   Pay attention to how the 1/2 ton trucks versus the 3/4 or 1 ton trucks handle the different challenges.      Big awkward (not very aerodynamic) trailers being pulled by lesser vehicles are definitely affected by outside factors more so than the heavier suspensioned vehicles.     I'm not saying  1/2 ton can't pull a RV, you're just asking for more potential problems regardless of the engine providing the go power. 

Having said that, I'm definitely a Cummins fan.

Rams

[czuch]

I once bought a 36ft motorhome. Then after lubin it up and some other stuff, drove 2400 miles.
Had a great time except when it broke at Wall Drug. A high plains pirate tried to tell me the cam had a flat lobe. It has a new target motor. That's why I bought the coach.
The ignition module was toasted. $25.00 at NAPA, and a day wait while it came in from Nebraska, back on the road. Blew a muffler at I-90, mile 155, in South Dakota. I drove on to Chicago sounding like  a hotrod.
Rent a gas sipper, stay at motels.
I have a low milage 454 Goodwrench in a nice storage shed.

[cookiedough]

I hear yah on the potential STRONG side winds.  I was pulling my 23' enclosed trailer EMPTY only weighing say 3000 lbs. with my 1/2 ton truck with STRONG say 50 mph winds ONLY ONCE.  WOW,  what a wake up call I thought something was seriously WRONG with my steering having to steer with both hands jerking my truck to and fro side to side every so often.  Was a weird feeling but slowed it down some to keep it from drifting into oncoming traffic.

[Leathel]

My parents spend about half the year tripping around in their converted bus, 7.5 ltr rear engine diesel bus they got gutted, I painted it for them once built.. They love it, use it to visit friends all the time as you take your own bed.

They tow a Suzuki when on long trips for day outings or just push bikes for towning around.





It's also great for taking the whole family to wineries etc as Dad doesn't drink

They now rent their house out and live in a converted shed when not traveling

(they have had smaller but love this size)