Re: [A/S] Lots of questions. :)

["Greg Creech" <caservice@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Barry,
In Oct. 1999 I bought a 73-31 foot A/S for $4,000. I probably paid a little
too much but it was what I wanted.  Center bath, rear twins. gray water tank
is original. The A/C didn't work. The old man (96 yo) I bought it from said
he would have every thing else working before I picked it up. Wrong!  The
furnace blew air but wouldn't heat. The rv tech I later found said the
furnace was kaput mostly due to being jerry-rigged. The following all needed
to be replaced: all of the weather stripping around all the windows and
door, most of the nylon guides that hold the windows up, all of the rubber
gas lines and the gas regulator (they leaked like a sieve), the interior
walls need to be repainted due to heavy smoke stain that will not come off
even with heavy chemical cleaners, the toilet seat was cracked ($25 for just
the seat but hey, I found one), the tires are unsafe to use, the front couch
needs new foam and covers, the curtains all need replacing, the carpet needs
replacing, all of the faucets needed rebuilding, the valves on the gas tanks
needed replacing with new ones, all but one light cover needed replacing,
the exhaust fan in the bath doesn't work, dent in belly pan in front from
turning too sharp, repaired crease in rear corner roof from a tree. The
exterior could use a stripping and polish. It's a work in progress but it is
usable now. By the time I have everything fixed including new cushions,
carpet, paint, exterior polished, etc. I figure I'll have close to $8-9,000
into it. At that point I doubt I would take less than $15,000 for it.  Our
pastor towed it to our lot for us with a Ford 150, 350cc. He said he hardly
knew it was behind him. That was 60 miles in flat terrain at 70mph. If you
are camping with kids very much I can't see anything smaller but a lot of
people do it.  Try to string the seller along and then start looking real
hard. Check the want ads, dealers, U-Sell-It lots, trailer parks, etc. Tell
your friends you are looking and ask them to keep their eyes open for one
with a sign on it. If it is not the floor plan you want then don't buy it,
keep looking. Good Luck and welcome.
Greg
caservice@Qwest.net