NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!


Mr. Young

New Member
Hello all,

I have been sneaking around this forum obtaining knowledge and insight for a couple of months now.I finally registered today because I would like some opinions from the RV vetrans.

I will try to make this as short as possible and get right to the point.

I have been interested in obtaining a Class A RV for the last severeral month's ,prices have fallen drastically(too affordability).I have been looking everywhere and today I ran across a 1978 GMC ELEGANZA II with 75,500 miles on the Oldsmobile 403.

It has been sitting for about 2 years and has water damage ,ceiling falling and rear bedroom floor is rotting. I don't think it's all that bad,it is otherwise a very clean rv ,but what do I know I am a "NEWBIE". I inspected the vehicle and it seems to be otherwise sound.The body is in awsome condition for a 78 and I noticed the roof looked its has been repaired sloppy. The cabinets are still in very good condition no warping or swelling from water and appliances seem to be in working order. I would strip it out and salvage as much as possible. I know I can do a far better job in sealing and waterproofing than previously done. I have several friends who are mechanics and I am pretty handy myself when dealing with the cosmetics.

I guess what I am trying to say is I am not worried about the mechanical part, that can be handled by the power of "COLD BUDWEISER".

I need to know what a fair price to offer is,I don't like to offend anyone,But I know it's not worth $4k to me when he told me that's what he wanted,I told him I am not a player for this price and he asked what would I pay?

"THAT'S WHY I AM HERE, Can someone give me an idea what it's worth, knowing it's not road ready and not gonna be cheap to get it road ready!

This will be a project vehicle that I can work on with my 5 boys and get some quality time in and make it our tailgate vehicle...GO CARDINALS ! (Not a NEWBIE with them :laugh: ) .

I guess I am really strong on this because of how immaculte this Rv's interior was and how his home and yard and just the overall character of this guy,I give alot of points to first impression. I think him getting older is what happened to the rv.

SoRRy for rambling,

Just wanna be one of the boys on the road, all advice accepted,

Thanks in advance,

Frank
 

TexasClodhopper

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

Oh boy!

Frank, I find your user name here way to offensive for a family forum. I'll be glad to help you when you change it.
 

Mr. Young

New Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

TexasClodhopper - 3/11/2009 8:52 AM

Oh boy!

Frank, I find your user name here way to offensive for a family forum. I'll be glad to help you when you change it.

First, I would like to it is not my intentions to offend or disrespect anyone...See above...that is what my post is about how not to offend the owner of RV when offering him a fair price.

Secondly, I have been using that user name for the past 6 years and it actually is a nickname that a gave my younger son , because each time I picked him up as a baby,he use to pass gas or poop so we called him POOTAH for the gas and the BROWN is for the #2 part...POOTAHBROWN!

Now if there is something that you know negative associated with that name that I am not aware of PLEASE! let me know and will not only change my username on everything,I will stop calling my 6 yr son that as a term of endearment.

Finally, if you have prejudged me by my username and I am not welcome on this board,my apologies, let me know and I will move on!

I am not here to cause anyone discomfort by any means my apologies if I have done so.


Frank
 

TexasClodhopper

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!



Frank, I didn't say you were a bad person. I grew up in south Texas, and this word is a derivation of a Mexican word with four letters. You will understand by following this link to the four letter word that it references.

Your post has everything in it that we really like to see here, but your user name doesn't fit a family forum. IMHO.

So, now you know.
 

Mr. Young

New Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

O.K thank you! I honestly did not know that. Now! how do I change the user name?
 

TexasClodhopper

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!



Frank, we all believe you didn't know.

Send a private message (PM) to ' cinnister ' on this forum.
 

Pancanbob

Senior Member
RE: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

I think it was in 1962 that Chevrolet came out with the Nova. :) :)
Anyway, they tried to sell it in South America; they almost couldn’t give them away. :( :(
They couldn't understand why :dead: , so the asked people that were trying to sell them. :question: :question:
In Spanish “Nova” would be said as “No Va” or No Go, would you buy a car with a name of “No go”. :question: :question: :laugh: ;) :laugh:
Chevrolet changed the name and was able to then sell them. :approve: :approve:
So it happens to the best of them. :clown: :clown:
No, I’m not saying that Chevrolet is the best. I’m not going to open that can of worms?
Do I do like the smell of diesel smoke.. :laugh: :laugh: ;) :laugh:
We will be looking to see you post under a new name. :) :) :) :)

In the mean time, it is hard to say what something it worth. :bleh: :bleh:
I asked my high school auto shop teacher (many, many years ago) what (my) 53 Pontiac Cup was worth his answer was, “are you buying or selling?” :eek: :eek: :eek:
I would look on “Craig List” to try and get a feel for what they are selling for. Just remember it is a buyer’s market. :approve: :approve: :laugh: :laugh:

Good luck in getting your kids to help, I had a few projects like that with my 2 boys, I ended do about 75% of the work :( :( . They would help for 10 min. then remember that they had something more important to do :angry: :angry: . The time we did spend together, made it worth effort. :approve: :approve:
Good luck
:clown: :dead: :question: :shy: :approve: :bleh: :cool: :laugh:
 

utmtman

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

For the 78 in the condition you mention I would suggest no more than 2500. I bought a 74 Winnebago some 10 years back and only paid 3000 for it.
 

H2H1

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

Hey Frank AND welcome, but I really think you may be getting into something that may be a money pit. For a RV or any other motor driven vehicle to be sitting that long isn't good for it. I would suspect that most all the gasket and seals are dry rotten and the rings may be stuck. I bet the tries are dry rotten as well. I apologize if I demised your adventure, but you asked for opinions and I know mine wasn't in favorite. But I do wish you well in your adventure if you do decide to buy. Also keep us posted on the progress and take pictures and post on the forum album.
 

rjf7g

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

Frank-
Don't buy this RV unless you want to worry whether or not it will fall apart every time you drive it down the road. I bought a 1992 Fleetwood Tioga and didn't find the water damage until I was the proud owner. If it has been sitting for two years, it hasn't passed inspection either. My water damaged Tioga also cost $2,000 to pass inspection...and that doesn't count the tires.
 

LEN

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

Tex I must disagree on this one, Just because one small ethic area thing, is not the world. I was on a board once when a host booted a guy, who's name and he used it was Jesus, repeatedly because she was a narrow minded religious zealot. I'm not calling you narrow minded just giving an example.

And as above I think the OP is big trouble with that damage.

LEN
 

TexasClodhopper

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

It sounds like Frank has made up his own mind having become educated to the definition. I'm pretty sure that now he won't be calling his son that name either.

I really wouldn't have objected if his username was something on the lines of 'Jesus'. I'm pretty sure you would object if I started posting here by the name that that word means. It's extremely derogatory to women.

We're not a bunch of teenyboppers where stuff like that doesn't bother us. We have Spanish speaking folks that get on here, and they do know what that means, but they would never object. That's just their nature.

But, Len, you know what? I appreciate your opinion, too. It doesn't bother me one bit for you to express it. We're all friends here, and we don't expect everyone to agree with us about everything.
 

Mr. Young

New Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

TexasClodhopper - 3/11/2009 8:53 PM

It sounds like Frank has made up his own mind having become educated to the definition. I'm pretty sure that now he won't be calling his son that name either.

I really wouldn't have objected if his username was something on the lines of 'Jesus'. I'm pretty sure you would object if I started posting here by the name that that word means. It's extremely derogatory to women.

We're not a bunch of teenyboppers where stuff like that doesn't bother us. We have Spanish speaking folks that get on here, and they do know what that means, but they would never object. That's just their nature.

But, Len, you know what? I appreciate your opinion, too. It doesn't bother me one bit for you to express it. We're all friends here, and we don't expect everyone to agree with us about everything.

With all due respect,yes I have made up my mind and due to the definition I have decided to cease the use of that user name and no longer will I use that as a term of endearment toward my son.

I know I am NEW to this forum,but I would like to request that you not turn my post into something NEGATIVE based on my user name.

FYI , I have requested a user name update and if you can post something POSITIVE it would be greatly appreciated as I respect your opinion as well.

Thanks in advance,

Frank
 

H2H1

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

hey Frank take it with a grain of salt, we are friends on this post and some are very opinionated but we all get along. So please ask any and all the questions you have and I bet you will get some good answers and some outta space one . we all kid and joke with one another. I hope you hang around and join in.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

very true hollis ,, and i hope he does stay around ,,, we need more poeple on here ,, call it the rv answer stimulus package ,, and also ,, not poking at u Len ,, but me used to,,, living in a mostly mexican area ,, jesus ,, is also refered to as ,, ok don't laugh at how i try to explain it ,, but here goes ,,,,, :laugh:
Hey Zuse ,, i would put the hyphin on it ,, if i could ,,but i hope u get the meaning ,, and i am sure ,, Tex will correct me on the spelling ,,, he always does ;) :laugh: :laugh:
 

Mr. Young

New Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

H2H1 - 3/11/2009 11:23 PM

hey Frank take it with a grain of salt, we are friends on this post and some are very opinionated but we all get along. So please ask any and all the questions you have and I bet you will get some good answers and some outta space one . we all kid and joke with one another. I hope you hang around and join in.

Thank you much,would love to hang around and thanks for the heads up!
 

brodavid

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

Go with the flow, hang around, and learn alot, I get pick on alot mostly by Tex and 730, but I love picking back , and by the the I sign MY RV, you know that I get nowhere fast
and Frank welcome to the forum,
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

now ,, dave we know u have a blower and nitros on that wheel chair ,, so don't go telling everyone here u can't get around ,,, u can run circles around all of us ,, and that is just in low gear ,, and to all ,,, Dave has a slide out on his wheelchair :eek: ,, yep sure does ,,, with a grill also ,, so who said he aint rving ;) :approve: :approve: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 

SnowbirdInFlight

Senior Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

Hey Poo welcome to the forum! Sounds like you got your work cut out for you with the RV you've chosen. Just remember you can always go up on the price you offer but you can't go down. ;)
 

campers4u

New Member
Re: NEWBIE on board ! PLEASE HELP!

the 78 GMC Motorhome,,, I do know a few things about that unit,,, My Dad was the GMC motorhome dealer in Des Moines Iowa, they are highly sought after units with a big following , look on the net under GMC motorhome clubs, these units restored will bring big bucks , 15 to 60k+, parts are still available . check the air bag suspension, front drive train, windsheild ( $$$)

went on many vac. in a GMC motorhome and have many dealer items, pins,gold diecasts, sales items, and a 76 Eleganza 455 olds. ,1 owner .... offer him less all he can say is no,,,
 
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