I have a ten year old travel trailer (yes, I know it's not a Roadtrek) but many of the parts are the same. An older vehicle WILL have mechanical issues. I know, I just bought a 2003 4Runner. Secondly, RV parts are pretty much poor quality stuff. Stuff in my travel trailer started failing right after I bought it brand new.
Hi. All the parts I updated in the "house portion" of the Roadtrek worked just as they had throughout its life. I replaced them with the updates because those performed more efficiently than the originals. Unfortunate that your experience has been what it has been.
I have reservations re: buying a RV (ANY RV, regardless of class) as old as these. PARTS would be my main concern, aside from the condition of the body/frame (rust/corrosion and such). For example, I DO like the even older RVs such as the Class A motor-homes like Argosy, Airstream, FMC, Revcon, Travco, Vogue (not TOO big but quality-built in their day, NOT seen much nowadays in new RVs) -- yes, they go WAY back (1960s/70s) so anything 1990s is definitely newer -- but how would I keep even a 1990s RV running with OEM parts? Like the STILL very popular GMC motor-homes: How much longer can you get a Toronado front-end /chassis parts? Or how many times can you rebuild a Oldsmobile 454 engine -- IF you can find a decent engine block? Who makes all the rebuild parts for those old RVs. Or even those (once ubiquitous) 1960s split-window VW vans? Are there NEW parts to rebuild the old 1200cc or 1600cc VW air-cooled engines of that era? Not to mention rubber parts that even if they're NOS (NewOldStock) are probably dry/brittle by now -- useless -- even if still sealed in their original OEM/factory packaging. Are "newer" 1990s RVs that much better off re: parts and such? Where do you get yours? So if I wanted a Roadtrek Class B, I'd likely look at the new (current production) ones -- "Roadtrek Rebooted," if you will -- but would hope THIS time Roadtrek stays in business (and feel the same way about Indian motorcycles). ;-) -- BR
Hi Bill. I've refurbished, rebuilt, restored, maintained, repaired and operated vehicles since I was 14. For me, the "how would I" or "where would I" was answered a long time ago...I just do it. That's not the average person. The admission price is a factor. A much newer unit is going to have an admission price near or in most cases over 100K dollars. With interest rates the way they are, I'm not sure, but I can check, the down payment, taxes and fees would pretty much cover the price of one of these older ones. Ongoing, a person would have a monthly payment. Between 8 and 10 years, with interest, they would have purchased the vehicle twice, have one, and it would have gone through it's depreciation cycle during their ownership. Vehicles do have parts. Hard parts and soft parts. What do I mean? Soft parts are things that are designed to be replaced. It's rare to encounter a soft part that isn't available or can't be fabricated. Hard parts have long life spans. On these vehicles, 100-200K or more. They are commercial chassis...beefy. As far as a class B "house portion", the "rv" part, in the one I drive, I've updated every component that existed in the original to modern, contemporary features. Solar, compressor fridge, webasto style furnace, batteries, lighting, low start up air conditioner, generator, "composting" toilet, etc. It is possible to have the same style of comfort without the cost. But I understand when a person has the perception that buying something "newer" is going to somehow "buy" them security and peace of mind. If a person is relying on others to provide them with the needs their vehicle has, then their costs are going to be monumentally higher. Are there costs to owning an older vehicle? Of course. My experience is that they are for different things and lower. For me, with my life experience, the reward versus the risk is greater than the differential in price between the current average asking prices of 24K for an older one versus 100K for a newer one. Time is my friend. The average asking price for the vehicles I listed is more than I paid for my Roadtrek. Will they sell? In the car biz, there's an old saying, "there's a (you know what) for every seat...just wait". Like I say in some of my videos, I don't give advice, I just tell people what has worked for me. We all have different ideas and thoughts about things and I appreciate you discussing the concerns you have. Thanks Bill.
What about Barth's, Bill? Homes and dressing rooms of movie stars out on those "on location", "cowboy movie" movie sets? They even made small diesel pushers and pullers...I came very close to buying one, once upon a time.
@@RoadtrekRich Well, you got me there: I've only worked on cars since I was 16 (1966). But they're more complicated nowadays (PC chips). However, the mechanics are pretty much the same -- chassis, brakes, etc. And the electrical/plumbing an RV has -- have done that in homes during my life as well. I'm a "Renaissance Man" of the Handyman world (if you will) so I'm not concerned about that. Nor the tools (I still have for various trades as I used to build houses for Habitat for Humanity). I'm just saying I had personal experience with an older vehicle I had to give up on (after keeping it 32 years) because I couldn't get parts for it. Even tune-up parts. So it was over (my BEST car ever, too). As for the high prices of RVs -- what vehicles are NOT high-priced nowadays (as the pickup truck makers)? Even the Crap-Makers (Coachmen, Forest River to name 2) overprice their crap RVs. But that's just how it is, ESPECIALLY for Class Bs that have ALWAYS been overpriced -- even the old Roadtreks were outrsageous cost-wise. But any RV I get NOW would have to be my Daily Driver to make sense paying big $$ on it each month -- so it'd have to have an engine! Better yet, I LIVE in it. But as an expensive "option" when I already have a Daily Driver? Something to be used only occasionally and stored MOST of the time -- like most people do with their RVs? Don't think so, it has to be my one-and-only vehicle and/or I need to live in it. I could even afford a pretty serious $400-500K Class A in that case (but they're too big, and have other issues I don't want). No, right now I have a Jeep (Gladiator) and it can tow a small TT easily and still have carrying-capacity left over (I insist on that). But were I to sell the Jeep, I'd likely buy a "non-full-amenity" Canadian Class B such as the well-made (and pretty decent warranty) -- two things American RV makers fail to accomplish -- and that'd be a Pleasure-Way Tofino. Again, it'd be my Daily Driver (and do some other things for me) and wouldn't cost much more than my Jeep did. Wouldn't need to LIVE in it though as I'd have an apt or house to live in. But to LIVE in, I'd need a "full-amenity" Class B at the very least. Not likely though as I'm not a "nomad" type, so wouldn't like living on the road. But something like a Tofino (reminiscent of the old VW camper-vans, which weren't "full-amenity" either) is a reasonable possibility. UNLESS I Move to The Villages (Florida) and can get by with just a golf-car, for ALL my needs there. Not possible anywhere else in America but done there in The Villages by thousands of residents daily. But then there's moving back to CO as an option, too -- so I'll need my Jeep. Decisions, decisions... -- BR
@@RoadtrekRich Yes, Barth for sure...didn't name them ALL Rich. How about Beaver motor-homes? Yes, "those were the days." -- Mary Hopkins TODAY though you have to get a Prevost Marthon to be in the same quality ballpark those old ones were. Sorry, but I haven't been able to find $1M+ change in my couch cushions thus far. Don't think I ever will. -- BR
I have a 2007 RT 190 Popular 4x4. It is the Quigley conversion offered as an option by RT, all Chevrolet parts. If you ever run across 4x4s please publicize them as people are always asking about mine and where to get one.
I don't know where you are but here in California, the 4X4's are everywhere. Even in such a small town, we have at least two conversion companies building them. I don't know if they start with a 4X4 chassis...I haven't done research on that. I have a different use case so... But I can post a list of them for sale here in the area next time I'm looking around on the classifieds.
I have a ten year old travel trailer (yes, I know it's not a Roadtrek) but many of the parts are the same.
An older vehicle WILL have mechanical issues. I know, I just bought a 2003 4Runner.
Secondly, RV parts are pretty much poor quality stuff. Stuff in my travel trailer started failing right after I bought it brand new.
Hi. All the parts I updated in the "house portion" of the Roadtrek worked just as they had throughout its life. I replaced them with the updates because those performed more efficiently than the originals. Unfortunate that your experience has been what it has been.
I have reservations re: buying a RV (ANY RV, regardless of class) as old as these. PARTS would be my main concern, aside from the condition of the body/frame (rust/corrosion and such). For example, I DO like the even older RVs such as the Class A motor-homes like Argosy, Airstream, FMC, Revcon, Travco, Vogue (not TOO big but quality-built in their day, NOT seen much nowadays in new RVs) -- yes, they go WAY back (1960s/70s) so anything 1990s is definitely newer -- but how would I keep even a 1990s RV running with OEM parts?
Like the STILL very popular GMC motor-homes: How much longer can you get a Toronado front-end /chassis parts? Or how many times can you rebuild a Oldsmobile 454 engine -- IF you can find a decent engine block? Who makes all the rebuild parts for those old RVs. Or even those (once ubiquitous) 1960s split-window VW vans? Are there NEW parts to rebuild the old 1200cc or 1600cc VW air-cooled engines of that era? Not to mention rubber parts that even if they're NOS (NewOldStock) are probably dry/brittle by now -- useless -- even if still sealed in their original OEM/factory packaging.
Are "newer" 1990s RVs that much better off re: parts and such? Where do you get yours?
So if I wanted a Roadtrek Class B, I'd likely look at the new (current production) ones -- "Roadtrek Rebooted," if you will -- but would hope THIS time Roadtrek stays in business (and feel the same way about Indian motorcycles). ;-)
-- BR
Hi Bill. I've refurbished, rebuilt, restored, maintained, repaired and operated vehicles since I was 14. For me, the "how would I" or "where would I" was answered a long time ago...I just do it.
That's not the average person.
The admission price is a factor. A much newer unit is going to have an admission price near or in most cases over 100K dollars.
With interest rates the way they are, I'm not sure, but I can check, the down payment, taxes and fees would pretty much cover the price of one of these older ones.
Ongoing, a person would have a monthly payment.
Between 8 and 10 years, with interest, they would have purchased the vehicle twice, have one, and it would have gone through it's depreciation cycle during their ownership.
Vehicles do have parts. Hard parts and soft parts.
What do I mean?
Soft parts are things that are designed to be replaced.
It's rare to encounter a soft part that isn't available or can't be fabricated.
Hard parts have long life spans. On these vehicles, 100-200K or more.
They are commercial chassis...beefy.
As far as a class B "house portion", the "rv" part, in the one I drive, I've updated every component that existed in the original to modern, contemporary features. Solar, compressor fridge, webasto style furnace, batteries, lighting, low start up air conditioner, generator, "composting" toilet, etc.
It is possible to have the same style of comfort without the cost.
But I understand when a person has the perception that buying something "newer" is going to somehow "buy" them security and peace of mind.
If a person is relying on others to provide them with the needs their vehicle has, then their costs are going to be monumentally higher.
Are there costs to owning an older vehicle? Of course. My experience is that they are for different things and lower.
For me, with my life experience, the reward versus the risk is greater than the differential in price between the current average asking prices of 24K for an older one versus 100K for a newer one.
Time is my friend. The average asking price for the vehicles I listed is more than I paid for my Roadtrek.
Will they sell? In the car biz, there's an old saying, "there's a (you know what) for every seat...just wait".
Like I say in some of my videos, I don't give advice, I just tell people what has worked for me.
We all have different ideas and thoughts about things and I appreciate you discussing the concerns you have. Thanks Bill.
What about Barth's, Bill? Homes and dressing rooms of movie stars out on those "on location", "cowboy movie" movie sets?
They even made small diesel pushers and pullers...I came very close to buying one, once upon a time.
@@RoadtrekRich Well, you got me there: I've only worked on cars since I was 16 (1966). But they're more complicated nowadays (PC chips). However, the mechanics are pretty much the same -- chassis, brakes, etc. And the electrical/plumbing an RV has -- have done that in homes during my life as well. I'm a "Renaissance Man" of the Handyman world (if you will) so I'm not concerned about that. Nor the tools (I still have for various trades as I used to build houses for Habitat for Humanity).
I'm just saying I had personal experience with an older vehicle I had to give up on (after keeping it 32 years) because I couldn't get parts for it. Even tune-up parts. So it was over (my BEST car ever, too).
As for the high prices of RVs -- what vehicles are NOT high-priced nowadays (as the pickup truck makers)? Even the Crap-Makers (Coachmen, Forest River to name 2) overprice their crap RVs. But that's just how it is, ESPECIALLY for Class Bs that have ALWAYS been overpriced -- even the old Roadtreks were outrsageous cost-wise. But any RV I get NOW would have to be my Daily Driver to make sense paying big $$ on it each month -- so it'd have to have an engine! Better yet, I LIVE in it. But as an expensive "option" when I already have a Daily Driver? Something to be used only occasionally and stored MOST of the time -- like most people do with their RVs? Don't think so, it has to be my one-and-only vehicle and/or I need to live in it. I could even afford a pretty serious $400-500K Class A in that case (but they're too big, and have other issues I don't want).
No, right now I have a Jeep (Gladiator) and it can tow a small TT easily and still have carrying-capacity left over (I insist on that). But were I to sell the Jeep, I'd likely buy a "non-full-amenity" Canadian Class B such as the well-made (and pretty decent warranty) -- two things American RV makers fail to accomplish -- and that'd be a Pleasure-Way Tofino. Again, it'd be my Daily Driver (and do some other things for me) and wouldn't cost much more than my Jeep did. Wouldn't need to LIVE in it though as I'd have an apt or house to live in. But to LIVE in, I'd need a "full-amenity" Class B at the very least. Not likely though as I'm not a "nomad" type, so wouldn't like living on the road.
But something like a Tofino (reminiscent of the old VW camper-vans, which weren't "full-amenity" either) is a reasonable possibility.
UNLESS I Move to The Villages (Florida) and can get by with just a golf-car, for ALL my needs there. Not possible anywhere else in America but done there in The Villages by thousands of residents daily. But then there's moving back to CO as an option, too -- so I'll need my Jeep.
Decisions, decisions...
-- BR
@@RoadtrekRich Yes, Barth for sure...didn't name them ALL Rich. How about Beaver motor-homes?
Yes, "those were the days."
-- Mary Hopkins
TODAY though you have to get a Prevost Marthon to be in the same quality ballpark those old ones were. Sorry, but I haven't been able to find $1M+ change in my couch cushions thus far. Don't think I ever will.
-- BR
@@billredding2000 Time marches on. We'll see what the future holds when we get there.
I have a 2007 RT 190 Popular 4x4. It is the Quigley conversion offered as an option by RT, all Chevrolet parts. If you ever run across 4x4s please publicize them as people are always asking about mine and where to get one.
I don't know where you are but here in California, the 4X4's are everywhere. Even in such a small town, we have at least two conversion companies building them. I don't know if they start with a 4X4 chassis...I haven't done research on that. I have a different use case so...
But I can post a list of them for sale here in the area next time I'm looking around on the classifieds.