Craig95005
California
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Joined: 08/17/2005
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I for one applaud your initiative. Most people don't reach for the stars.
Some years back I thought about buying a railroad car and with my cabinetmaking skills gutting the interior and turning it into a showpiece. It would have been hideously expensive to buy, remodel, and especially to hook up to railroad trains for travel, but I kind of wish I'd done it anyway.
Good luck, and let us know if you run with it.
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tatest
Oklahoma
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Joined: 05/14/2005
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Slideout rooms started to become normally available as a feature on premium-priced motorhomes in the middle 1990s. At that time, motorhomes large enough to carry slides looked pretty much like they do today, not artistically on a par with a VW Thing, a schoolie, or antique Winnebago.
For mid-90's motorhomes with slideouts, prices run in the $30K to $80K range for large gassers and modest diesel pushers. Prices go up from there for large premium motorhomes of that vintage (Newell, CountryCoach, BlueBird), but premium coaches were slower to adopt slideouts.
There are firms that will add slideout rooms to RVs that did not have them originally. Whether or not the job can be done, and how much it costs, depends on the construction of the vehicle. It is a lot easier to do slideouts after the fact on a framed plastic box, than a stressed skin metal structure. Look to spend at least $10K per slide, maybe as much as $30K, to add one.
If I were looking for something "different" to renovate I might consider an old Bluebird Wanderlodge; this one is a 1972:
 .
Other artistic RV things people have done include, beyond coach conversions, include conversions on transit vans of various sizes (low floor lines), and step vans.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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Quote:Is anyone aware of a how to find a wrecked/leaking/damaged MH?
I understand your passion, even though you're a glutton for punishment, but having said that, search these forums for some threads on adding a slide. I remember at least one long discussion and names of companies who do them. Also yours or another insurance company can provide you with some names as to who buys their total losses, which is next to no damage if it's old enough. Thing is, you'll probably end up with a salvage title and may have to have some inspecting done before you can get it back on the road. Doesn't look like you're interested in any future resale value , so no problem there. You may want to check these out also.
Salvage
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal, with a tag axle and one slide, on a 1997 P32 Chevy chassis....7.4 Vortec Engine
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BobR
Aurora, Illinois
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Joined: 12/07/2001
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Occasionally a coach is put up for sale that is fire damaged. That would be one way of customizing to suit your tastes and style.
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tatest
Oklahoma
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I've been in a couple different RV wrecking yards. Most of what gets there, is there because it is way past being technically reparable, and very little of it is there simply because it is too old to be economically repaired. Salvage yards, at least the ones I've been in, tend to skim the cream off the top, late model stuff with valuable parts to be stripped.
Most of the older, not in use but potentially restorable, RVs I've seen have been sitting alongside farmhouses or barns, or alongside someone's shop in a small town. Like the old cars and trucks, antique tractors and farm equipment, these things can often be bought if you ask, but are not being actively sold.
I suggest some long drives through the countryside.
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tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
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This company that does slideouts just popped up in another thread. Check it out at....
http://www.morrisonsvipcoach.com/
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decan9
Oceanside, CA
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Joined: 01/26/2008
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I saw a '97 winne with 20,000 miles on it on Ebay, think it went for 15,000. .good place to look...that one was in sokuth Dallas.
Bonnie and me and Casey makes three!
Staying warm in Southern California
FMCA #402157
W9NCR
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buchrob
Stanstead QC
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Joined: 10/10/2002
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We all have our visions of the dream.
Keep your eyes peeled on eBay. There is probably no shortage of rigs that need more than just a little tender loving care.
And every now and then, you will find some Dymaxion-like contraption that will warm the artistic part of your heart, though not your bank account.
Good luck.
'99 Glendale Royal Expedition 24' Class C
2003 Subaru WRX wagon as toad.
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tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
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There's a GMC classic over on Cranky Ape that has 0 bids, so far. They might even give you something to take it off their hands.1977 GMC Eleganza
Seems that the link doesn't bring that coach up, so ya might have to click on RV's or do a search for
Unit # 10579 once you get there to find it.
* This post was
edited 09/17/08 02:49pm by tropical36 *
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pfunk
Shelby Township, MI
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Joined: 08/12/2008
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Man, I was looking at something like that a while ago. I found a full body, 2 slide gasser that was in the process of being built, It was brand new ford v10 coach no paint or anything (I think it needed the windshield all for 12K
2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor
300 Cat 6spd Ally
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