Epic Trip, for a Horrible Purpose! Planned New RV turns Remorseful…

[Pullstart 67,544]

45 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Kevin,   it occurs to me that the pendulum has swung about as far as possible in a few short months. When you bought the gooseneck trailer you were going to mount a pop-up camper body on the upper deck and rough it.         Now you have gone to a mansion on wheels.

 

 

Dear Mr. Richard,

 

I am sure that you know by now, that marriage is a give and take dance.  There are days, when I can have my ideals.  Then there are days when we have our ideals.  I’m sure you understand.  

 

Signed,

Pullstart

[squonk 44,281]

50 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Kevin,   it occurs to me that the pendulum has swung about as far as possible in a few short months. When you bought the gooseneck trailer you were going to mount a pop-up camper body on the upper deck and rough it.         Now you have gone to a mansion on wheels.

 

He's gotta keep up with the high rollers!

[SylvanLakeWH 29,089]

9 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

 

Dear Mr. Richard,

 

I am sure that you know by now, that marriage is a give and take dance.  There are days, when I can have my ideals.  Then there are days when we have our ideals.  I’m sure you understand.  

 

Signed,

Pullstart

Two words all happily still married husbands know and understand deeply:

 

Yes Dear.

 

[WHX?? 52,416]

Hate to say I told you so bro but I told you so. 

Couple of years ago a buddy ... Dammit Dale ... bought a motor home for shows. It was older ... not quite vintage but was in really good shape & well taken care of. He got a deal at 14K for it.  We all took short hair tours and he did get a bargain other than the Ford gasser

 

. The idea is to pull a trailer to shows so only one trip. Easier loading tractors ...lots of other pros with the whole idea. Cons as well. 

Since my camper is a POS & most others I decided to start looking into them. Just 'cause a guy ain't hungry don't mean he can't look at the menu. 

 

 Then Dan's nieces' husband got it in his craw to go the coach route. Ther was a couple of big ones set up next to us at Burnett show One was a 500K jobby! We looked but it seemed the all owners talked about was what they got into it in the way of maintenance. 

Batteries to replace,  chassis work , slide outs, TIRES & little stuff going bad. 

Still I got on MP & CL and looked. Many at decent prices but most listings had all the work done on it. Least sellers were being honest. 

I also lurked on the forums to learn about them. 

In the end I decided not to go that coach route. Maybe if I was younger??? Or a smaller class B or C like Special Ed's. 

Couple things I did learn ... yes a diesel pusher with a Cummings. Freight liner chassis are the best. Allison six speed minimum.  Good service history with a paper trail. 

We all like staying in your hauler and remember what Achto says ... never went camping and wished I woulda spent more time in the camper. 

The bright side Kev you'll have a good memory of the trip home and stories to tell yer grandkids. 

Edited September 24 by WHX??

[Pullstart 67,544]

3 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Achto says ... never went camping and wished I woulda spent more time in the camper. 

[Pullstart 67,544]

14 minutes ago, squonk said:

He's gotta keep up with the high rollers!

We’ll never have the perfect camper.  There is none.  We get that, but we are planning ahead in a way.  The truth is, we do tractor shows twice, maybe three times per year.  We camp much more.  The toy hauler would be great if we bring a golf cart, or the motorcycle with us, but even then the room it requires to have the toys inside is a great deal.  13’ of 40’ is nearly 1/3, eh?  We can be further ahead bringing a toy trailer when needed.  Also, I love driving Norman.  That feeling of jamming gears never gets old.  But I know that Norman won’t last forever either and is only rated to pull so much.  We thought about a smaller 5th wheel camper and pull a trailer behind that, but PA doesn’t allow doubles.  This will allow us to camp when we want, and pull toys when we need.  Eventually.  This idea anyway.

[WHX?? 52,416]

1 minute ago, Pullstart said:

We’ll never have the perfect camper.  There is none.

True

 

2 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

We camp much more.

True

 

2 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

but PA doesn’t allow doubles

True ... see that alot around here. Dan's brother does it. 

[953 nut 61,288]

25 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

 I’m sure you understand.

Words to live by;

[Handy Don 14,396]

A top-end coach or trailer has something in common with a yacht--if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it. 

Edited September 24 by Handy Don

[oliver2-44 10,879]

19 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Words to live by;

True, but a guy sure has to watch what tone of voice he says it with

[Handy Don 14,396]

5 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

True, but a guy sure has to watch what tone of voice he says it with

SO, SO TRUE! 😁

 

It’s not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it.

[Pullstart 67,544]

We drove 250 miles total yesterday and looked at a few different busses.  We had to know: A: do all busses of this era need major repairs in this general price bracket? and B: Would we be best off trying to make a project to salvage this dream?

 

There’s a real nice one in Kalamazoo.  It was taken very good care of, but the roof is terrible and the floor is wet in numerous areas.  The owner is sadly in a physical state that he cannot keep up on the coach.  We thought about making an offer, but Mrs. P does not love it.  She would rather keep the toy hauler on the road for now.  That’s always an option.  Otherwise, we’re best off keeping what we have for now.

 

I found a local RV parts supply that is currently E-commerce only, during their move.  Eventually, they will allow local pick up after an online order.  No storefront if you will.  $51, and the track bar bushings I need so badly will be here today.

 

 

 

Pictured is the good side, or what is left of that!

 

 

[WHX?? 52,416]

37 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

do all busses of this era need major repairs in this general price bracket?

Pretty much yes. I found that most in the 90-95 years were trashed and they were giving them away. Harleys in the same year range the same. One could buy a full bagger in running driving for a couple of grand. Much like our tractors worth more in parts.

Not to say one wouldn't happen to get lucky and find one that was well taken care of but also a lot of tire kicking and boots to the ground to find it. 2000 -2010 yes higher in price but it seemed these years were being taken better care of. I've seen ads where they were touted as being kept or wintered inside. Dan keeps his pop up camper inside and is in excellent shape for the year. 

There again I found late models that were trashed ... people with too much money and not enough know how? 

52 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Would we be best off trying to make a project to salvage this dream?

That hinges on many things ... mainly how much does she like it? How much does it need. Does it have good bones? Are you willing to have another money pit? Are you going to just run local RV parks, campgrounds and shows or need to have a reliable rig to see national parks nation  wide?  

Pretty much only you and T can decide. 

[WHX?? 52,416]

I liked the vid and alway thought those old retired fogies rollin down the highway with a chase vehicle getting 4 MPG belching black smoke were freakin nuts. Now I get it being older and can't do it on a bike with a trailer no more. Good times with the better half ... 

Edited September 25 by WHX??
speeling

[Pullstart 67,544]

11 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I liked the vid and alway thought those old retired fogies rollin down the highway with a chase vehicle getting 4 MPG belching black smoke were freakin nuts. Now I get it being older and can't do it on a bike with a trailer no more. Good times with the better half ... 

 

7.9 mpg going through the mountains and plains home including 10 hour genny time didn’t seem terrible to me.  Slow to 62-65 from 70, and I bet I’ll get pretty good (relative) mileage anyway!

[Horsin'round 313]

Glad you made it home safely!

 

I can't imagine anyone more capable of rehabbing that rig, if you decide to. Patiently awaiting the video of your adventure!

[Horsin'round 313]

Better day than that guy!

 

When you look back,  you will always have good stories,  and great memories.  

 

 

[Racinbob 12,117]

The thing that totally pizzes me off about this whole thing is that the seller knew you were coming from a long ways away. They knew you were driving it back, they knew it was basically not roadworthy and dangerous. And yet they didn't say anything and let you hit the road. I would have a hard time letting that go. Fortunately you made it home safely. 

As far as what to do with it. Good or bad you have it. As already mentioned, you are very capable of fixing most anything on it. Personally I would first make it roadworthy. Then attack the other issues as you go. Who knows, maybe somewhere along the road you'll start liking it as you improve things and before you know it you'll become enthused about making it the way you want it. I've had things like that happen to me.

[wallfish 18,507]

1 hour ago, Racinbob said:

The thing that totally pizzes me off about this whole thing is that the seller knew you were coming from a long ways away. They knew you were driving it back, they knew it was basically not roadworthy and dangerous. And yet they didn't say anything and let you hit the road. I would have a hard time letting that go. Fortunately you made it home safely. 

When they said they were leaving to go where they did, that would have been a HUGE red flag to me right away.

[rmaynard 16,486]

After many years of camping, from tent to pop-ups to tag-along 24' trailer, Mrs. M and I decided that the money we would spend on a new trailer or motorhome, along with the fuel and repairs, would be better spent staying in luxury hotels. 

 

 

 

I rest my case....

[Handy Don 14,396]

1 hour ago, rmaynard said:

luxury hotels

Understood.

My spouse was ok on the pop-up camper itself, but never enjoyed the “close and communal atmosphere” of the campgrounds. 

I got the message.

Sold the popup and it’s been “nice” hotels (and an occasional splurge on luxury) ever since!

[squonk 44,281]

RV's are one of the unique things in like that need constant attention whether you use it a lot or not. I spent a week at the Winnebago plant in the 80's. I have seen how they are built. I have worked on the coaches and the chassis.  Some of the stuff they do is pretty scary. They grab stuff out of a box and work on down the line. When that box is empty they grab another. The latches they were installing may be different than the last box. Who cares if there are 2 different latches on the cabinets in the same RV. Let the repair shop worry about it in 2 years. All white wiring under the dash? Looks good from my house!  These things barley survive an RV show with minimal damage. 

 

The good news is you are handy at all sorts of trades. You gotta be a plumber, carpenter and auto mechanic to keep these things usable and keep them out of the weather unless you are using it. And the more bells and whistles you have, is the more bells you'll be clanging and whistles you'll be blowing. I've seen people spend more time fixing stuff at a campsite than sitting around a campfire relaxing. 

Edited September 26 by squonk

[squonk 44,281]

57 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Understood.

My spouse was ok on the pop-up camper itself, but never enjoyed the “close and communal atmosphere” of the campgrounds. 

I got the message.

Sold the popup and it’s been “nice” hotels (and an occasional splurge on luxury) ever since!

I never minded the up close at the campground. We camped with 2 other couples next to us all over my area and had a great time. But I remember the first time I camped with my future wife out in the middle of nowhere in the fall. Got cold one night and ran out of propane. Next time was the spring. Got cold at night and the fuse for the furnace blew. There were 3 fuse boxes and I found 2 of them I had to tear things apart and follow the wires until I found the fuse BEHIND a cabinet. Then there was the time at Pocono when I found out how fast you can empty a fresh water tank with the shower! 

[rmaynard 16,486]

2 minutes ago, squonk said:

 I've seen people spend more time fixing stuff at a campsite than sitting around a campfire relaxing. 

Years ago we met my Dad and Mom at a campground in Southern MD. It took us about 5 hours to drive there, only to find out that Dad's Buick needed a new fuel pump. I never traveled without tools, so when I got there we set up our camper, and headed back 2 hours to an auto parts store for a pump. That was the 1980's, no cell phones or I could have saved 4 hours by picking one up along the way. This happened too many times.

 

@Pullstart seems to me you blew a fuel injection line on your way to the big show this year. All these things which are fairly easy for you now, will become much harder in a few years.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,899]

On 9/24/2025 at 9:32 AM, Pullstart said:

 

Dear Mr. Richard,

 

I am sure that you know by now, that marriage is a give and take dance.  There are days, when I can have my ideals.  Then there are days when we have our ideals.  I’m sure you understand.  

 

Signed,

Pullstart

“Marriage is a compromise;

nobody wins.”

     -  some old geezer somewhere long ago