thinking about a used RV
 

Can't decide wether a ultra lite trailer,class C or class A. Looking for diesel powered.
Engines looking at are 7.3 ford IDI,5.9 cummins,or Cat.
Maint. is what I want to know how reliable injection pumps,and cost of injectors.Looking at late 80s to 90s.
I read wether you buy a truck and tow,or drive one 12 mpg is about the same,unless mercedes sprinter class B but they are small, and afraid off the limp mode.

How many miles do you expect to put on it? Only reason for asking is the usual class A owner puts on 2-3k miles a year and a gasser would be a better option, from purchase price, unless you plan on logging many miles.

Go trailer, thank me later.

Trailer is easy to maintain, can sit basically forever and be ready to use with some basic bearing/tire maintenance and getting the plumbing going. Will cost you way less on initial cost and long term.

Unless you are planning to drive the RV constantly, no sense in buying a vehicle you have to maintain with a camper you have to maintain grafted to it. Additionally with no driving component, a trailer has a better use of space for the same length as far as amenites, and you can drop it at a campground and use your daily driver to see sights.

The age you are looking you are asking for a lot of trouble with an maintenance nightmare RV thats been sitting for probably decades. Trailer that age is a lot safer choice and will still need work

Good advice, unless you have shorter trips as in 500 mile average, with long stays.

Problem with a trailer,is buying a tow vehicle.

Exactly my reason for going with a class A. Who needs a $40,000.00 pick-up sitting in front of a $25,000.00 camper, and most tow behinds do not have a generator. I have stayed at many rest areas, Walmart lots for an evening, put it in park, fire up the generator if needed, relax. Also on most class As back up into the spot, press the hydraulic leveler button, wait for it to level, then plug in electric, relax.

Oldsinner how come you have no private message availability?

Your usage habits have a lot to do with whether you're better suited to a trailer or a motorhome.

What are you planning to do with it? Are you active? Do you like to travel around once you get to where you're going?

The motorhome has the disadvantage of not being able to detach and drive away. If you wish to travel around your campsite once you park, you either need to have towed a vehicle behind you, or you have to pick up camp and drive the motorhome.

The trailer does require a tow vehicle, but a truck is a very useful thing to have anyway, especially if you're a DIY type of person. The ability to detach and have the vehicle separate from the trailer is a benefit, in addition to having the ability to carry extra stuff in the pickup bed.

The interiors of both a camper trailer and a motorhome are pretty well the same, so it just comes down to propulsion method. For a given "length", a trailer does give you more living space since there are no driver's seats and no drivetrain to fit into the chassis.

Growing up, we had both a 21' ultralight trailer and a 25' class C motorhome. The trailer won hands-down. Would comfortably sleep 6 and we towed it with a '96 Ford Exploder.

my budget is small, I can swing $15,000 and no more.I can shop,then set up camp,on BLM land.Love ghost towns

Keep in mind that a motor home chassis is FULLY LOADED every mile it travels. This causes many used motor home buyers to be fooled. They buy what seems like low mileage, and it is, but those are tough, loaded to the max miles. Keep this in mind when selecting a motor home.

$15K should get you a pretty nice late-model trailer and still leave room to source a pickup. If you get an ultralight, you could even tow it with something like a Chevy 1500 or an F150 which are dirt-cheap second hand.

On the other hand, $15K will buy you a pretty dumpy motor home of any flavor. If you're looking at Class A's or 25'+ Class C's, you can expect a serious money pit that may not even be roadworthy.

Things worth keeping in mind...

found a sprinter for $14000 120,000 miles,but a bluetec.I don't know if you could remove filter,and cat,and not use urea.Don't trust that crap.I'd want to blend with waste oil up to 20%.

I have been recreating for 40 years and have considered a MH more than once. We always have come back to the tow vehicle plus trailer. For $5 to 10 you can buy a good used truck or trailer. Then you can upgrade either the truck or trailer if need be based on your usage.

Which raises the question: If you go the trailer route, do you already own a competent towing vehicle?

There is a trailer towable by some vehicle no matter how small if you look for it. I once saw a VW air cooled beetle in Switzerland towing a 16' trailer. 'course they build the trailers very lightweight over there...maybe half here.