Theo is that you? I've been looking for so long...

I took a drive to Nevada today, to see an RV that belongs to a friend of a friends' parents.


I'm afraid I have fallen in love.

She's a 1989 Shasta Reverie E350. She's got a 460 engine with 57,000 miles.

Both the cab


and the living area look brand spanking new.


There's a bed


and bath

in the back.

My friend was laughing at the mauve interior. Sooooooo 1980's. I informed her that it was NOT mauve. It was dusty rose, and as long as it wasn't white I sure didn't care!

The owner wasn't sure if she was 22 or 23 feet. The body is faded, but without dents or rust. All manuals and maintenance records are intact.

She's got an Onan 4.0 generator and a Norcold 3-way fridge. There's a heavy duty tow package installed and she comes with a cargo carrier.

I looked underneath and there was definitely a drip, that had stained the ground below :( The owner mentioned a long time power steering fluid leak that he just always kept extra fluid available and filled it as needed.

A friend of mine is going to check out the leak. The hoses are as old as the vehicle, so I am hoping that's the problem.

I'll know more after that.

I hope the sellers don't read this! if they find out I am already hooked, they may up the price!

1984 Itasca Sundancer 24RC

$5000.00
I went to look at this Class C yesterday. Joe, the gentleman who is selling it just traded it for another vehicle. He has no knowledge with regard to it's history. It does come with all it's manuals and receipts for all kinds of maintenance and work, prior to 2000. So it looks like it's had only two owners, before Joe.

It's got a 350 Chevy engine with 77,000 miles. It's 23 feet, sleeps 5 and has a bed and bath in the rear. The vehicle also has an OnanRV 4.0 generator, installed. The engine is clean and the fluids look good. It seems like the vehicle was cared for, meticulously.



It needs 6 new tires, an AC roof cover and ceiling vent cover, and at least one battery. Although everything seemed to work on shore power the Itasca was just about out of gas and out of propane so that still needs to be checked. The water wasn't hooked up to see how the plumbing worked.

I looked online for comparable vehicles and at NADA and I think the Itasca is over-priced. Plus, I want to look at one in Nevada, that's a few years newer, has 15,000 less miles and the same or less in price.

For those of you also looking, Quartzsite and Yuma are supposed to have some serious deals. I did see some interesting vehicles on Craigslist.

1993 LAZY DAZE 26 FT Class C for $12,000.00, in Yuma.

hmmm...there was a RoadTrek, too...must have sold it.

What DO I want?

Yup, that's the vehicle of my dreams. That and a couple of mules.

And here's a more modern version.


So, the better questions would be, "What do I need?" I have three main concerns: room, ease of driving and safety. I'd like enough room for myself, one or two dogs, and an occasional guest. I'd like to feel comfortable driving it in, even in congested traffic. I want to be able to pull over, whenever and where ever, to rest without having to "set up." I also would like to be able to drive away, without having to get out of the trailer and into another vehicle. I'd like to have enough room for an occasional guest.

I ruled out Class A's, pretty much right off the bat. Although, If I found a smaller one, I would certainly go look at it.

Class B's? Too small for myself and two dogs. And there is no room for guests. Again, if the right one crossed my path, I would consider it.

Travel trailers? I had intended to purchase my home last year, to take to the east coast. When I couldn't find the motor home I wanted, I ended up buying a small pick up truck. The truck is too small to pull anything but the lightest of travel trailers. Again, I'm not ruling them out. I love the Burros, Scamps, Casitas, and Shasta's I especially love the retro TTs. But a travel trailer doesn't meet even my bare bones criteria. I'd probably hold out, unless someone gave it to me!

Class C, it is then.
I haven't any preferences, when it comes to make and model, yet. I'm emotionally invested in Ford products, but the make of the vehicle would never be a deal breaker. I lived in a 24' travel trailer, for a year and a half, and found the space to be quite adequate. So, something between 21 and 26 feet, with the bed in the back (if there is extra sleeping space) would work.

Also, the vehicle should have a big enough engine to tow my Ford Ranger.

Of course, I would like it to have all the necessary power sources: generator batteries. Solar panels, too, would be a bonus. Anything that's already installed is going to save me money, in the long run (I would hope.)

Price range? I learned a long time ago never to be the first to reveal your budget in negotiations. She who reveals last, wins.

Today's Finds

1987 Tioga Arrow class C motorhome motor home - $3000







1987 Tioga Arrow, 26' It has a 460 motor with 93,000 miles runs & drives great, sleeps 6 with a rear bedroom , it has new refrigerator and 6 new tires. onan generator. new battery lots of cabinet space & very clean


1982 Lazy Daze Class C motorhome - $4500
This has it all! It's a lot older than I'd like, but still worth a look-see.









1982 Lazy Daze Class C motorhome
23' , 30 K miles on 350 cubic inch Chevrolet engine,
dual exhaust , tilt steering wheel , cruise control , radar detector , CB radio , tires like new , new spare in continental kit on rear never been on ground
40 gallon gas tank, 10 gallon propane tank, new plastic water tank ,
pop up room on roof, dash AC, 13,500 BTU roof AC, auxillary swamp cooler,
4 burner cook stove with oven, microwave,
two way refrigerator could use a recharge ,
no generator - set up for solar power with converter and invaerter
one engine and two house batteries, rear air bags
heavy duty rear step bumper with 2" receiver hitch,
queen bed over cab, rear sofas / twin beds convert to a king size bed,
rear dining table expands from one leaf to three , double ceder closet,
bathroom with stand up shower no tub
upholstery in excellent condition, carpet could use a cleaning or replace with tile/ wood, rear ladder with storage , aluminum sheathing- not fiber glass .