Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-16-2018, 09:02 AM
oldsinner111's Avatar
lied to for years
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 6,249
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.

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-16-2018, 09:34 AM
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 11,216
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.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-16-2018, 09:40 AM
JB3 JB3 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RI
Posts: 7,246
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
__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Last edited by JB3; 05-16-2018 at 09:52 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-16-2018, 09:51 AM
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 11,216
Quote:
Originally Posted by JB3 View Post
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.
Good advice, unless you have shorter trips as in 500 mile average, with long stays.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-16-2018, 10:13 AM
oldsinner111's Avatar
lied to for years
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 6,249
Problem with a trailer,is buying a tow vehicle.
__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-16-2018, 10:21 AM
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 11,216
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldsinner111 View Post
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.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-16-2018, 11:18 AM
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 11,216
Oldsinner how come you have no private message availability?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-16-2018, 11:26 AM
Diseasel300's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 6,030
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.
__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-16-2018, 12:41 PM
oldsinner111's Avatar
lied to for years
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 6,249
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
__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-16-2018, 12:46 PM
Posting since Jan 2000
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,166
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.
__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-16-2018, 12:57 PM
Diseasel300's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 6,030
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldsinner111 View Post
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
$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...
__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-16-2018, 01:51 PM
oldsinner111's Avatar
lied to for years
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 6,249
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%.
__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-16-2018, 01:57 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
dieselarchitect
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,626
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.
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-16-2018, 06:25 PM
A Talent for Obfuscation
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: In the Deep State
Posts: 17,009
Which raises the question: If you go the trailer route, do you already own a competent towing vehicle?
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-16-2018, 07:57 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
dieselarchitect
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,626
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.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page