We’ve all seen adorable vintage campers on blogs and RV forums. Maybe you’ve even dreamed about buying one for yourself and fixing it up! The internet is full of inspiring DIY transformations where people turned a vintage motorhome into a cozy home away from home.

Even though this may seem like fun, the process is much more complicated than it seems. There are certainly a lot of benefits to buying an old motorhome and fixing it up, but there are plenty of risks as well. Today, we’ll cover the pros and cons of renovating a vintage motorhome so you can decide if the dream is really worth the reality.

Pros of a Vintage Motorhome

Freedom to Redesign

Of course, one of the biggest benefits of any renovation process is the freedom you have! When you own a motorhome, you’re welcome to do anything you want to it. Repaint the walls, replace the floor, install new appliances, etc. Renting doesn’t give you this freedom, and many people are nervous to mess with a fancy new model. Vintage motorhomes are just begging for some TLC, so you can fix them up and create your dream design.

Cheap to Buy

It’s no secret that new motorhomes are incredibly expensive. Standard models tend to go for $100,000 or more, so even if you buy one, there’s not much room left in the budget for personalization.

Vintage motorhomes have often seen a lot of wear and tear, so they’re much cheaper. You can find them for extremely affordable prices at used car lots or from forums where people are buying and selling their old models. Keep an eye on your local Facebook groups and Craigslist for things like this!

Classic Vintage Motorhome Appearance

The appearance is one of the biggest appeals for these motorhomes. Many of them have distinct colors and shapes that are hard to find on the market nowadays. They have a certain style that is considered charming and “retro” now. Even if you change everything inside, the outward appearance is something you’ll probably want to keep.

One-of-a-Kind

Another benefit of vintage motorhomes is that each one is likely to be unique. The older they are, the fewer there are in circulation. In a lot of cases, you’ll be able to find a one-of-a-kind motorhome. Nowadays, a lot of campers look the same, but you can claim that you truly have something unique.

Cons of a Vintage Motorhome

Black Streaks and Delamination

Although the exterior is often one of the most appealing parts of a vintage motorhome, you’ll have to be prepared to deal with things like black streaks and delamination.

If these campers were left outside for long periods of time, they may have permanent marks from dirt, UV radiation, and other debris. Sometimes these issues can’t be fixed without completely replacing the exterior, which can cost a lot of money.

Water Damage in a Vintage Motorhome

Water damage is the enemy of RV owners everywhere. It’s especially dangerous in older models where the damage may have been left unchecked for months or years. If the damage is bad enough, it can lead to rotten wood, mold growth, and destroyed walls and floors.

Once again, you need to be prepared for a total renovation if you find severe damage. Even minor issues can take a lot of time and effort to resolve.

Structural Weakness

Water damage, poor storage conditions, or just the age of the vehicle can lead to structural damage and weakness. The camper might not be able to hold the weight of passengers and appliances comfortably.

Be sure to thoroughly test the limits of your camper before you consider taking it out on the road. If the damage is bad enough, this may have to be a yard-bound RV because no amount of money can make it road-worthy again.

Mechanical Failure in A Vintage Motorhome

Renovating a vintage RV can also be hard because it’s difficult to find the exact parts you need. Sometimes the manufacturer is no longer in business, or maybe they just don’t make the specific items you need anymore. You may have to compromise and use parts that aren’t exactly right. This leads to other issues down the road.

In addition, motorhomes are a combination of a living space and a vehicle. Trailers are somewhat easier to restore because they just need to be towed, not driven. If a motorhome won’t run, though, that’s a problem that’s hard to overcome.

Outdated Fixtures and Furniture

Finally, vintage motorhomes are just that: vintage. They’re old and not up to today’s standards. The appliances will be old and may not function anymore. Many of them won’t have modern conveniences like running water and bathrooms. The furniture will likely be extremely unfashionable and out of date!

Of course, some of these problems can be fixed by replacing the appliances and furniture. However, sometimes you have to face the fact that you can’t fit everything you want into an old motorhome.

Get tips from other RVers

Vintage motorhomes are a lot of fun to look at. You may even fantasize about owning one! However, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of this ordeal before you commit to it. If you bite off more than you can chew, you may end up with a real money pit.

On the other hand, there are lots of people that love their renovated RVs and can’t wait to do it all again. Just think carefully before you make your decision.

One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and more.

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The Pros And Cons Of Renovating A Vintage Motorhome appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

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Mobile RV Tire Replacement: A Practical Review

June 4, 2023, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: Man Rescues Corvair UltraVan Motorhome Owned By His Parents 30 Years Ago

≪ Previous: The Pros And Cons Of Renovating A Vintage Motorhome

Eight Michelin tires on a mobile RV tire replacement truck ready to be installed. — *The mobile installation truck filled with new Michelin tires*

In partnership with MotorhomeTires.com

Here’s How The Mobile RV Tire Replacement For My Coach Went Down

Having a motorhome is great, but it can get expensive. I’m awfully protective of our coach as well, so I do everything I can possibly do on my own to save costs and heartache. Putting on new tires isn’t one of them, but through MotorhomeTires.com, I was able to do the next best thing: have them replaced at my home where my coach is parked, courtesy of the mobile RV tire replacement that Motorhome Tires provides with every installation.

Almost a full year after I decided my motorhome needed new tires, I finally got it done. We didn’t travel as much last year as I had hoped, and I reached a point this year where I could not in good conscience roll on the tires I had, with a date code from 2014.

While cost is always a factor when making any decision on the coach, this was a safety choice. When I initially thought about new tires, I hadn’t even considered mobile RV tire replacement. My assumption was that my lovely coach would be taken to some corner of a big 18-wheeler shop and presumably roll back with new rubber and no damage.

I had already had a bad experience with my local heavy chassis shop scratching the fiberglass rear cap on my coach. Though it was near the bottom and easy enough to touch-up, it was about a foot long and easy to see. I was hesitant to return there. Fortunately, I had learned about Motorhome Tires and their mobile RV tire replacement.

Preparing for a mobile RV tire replacement

In preparing to get eight new tires on the coach, I had very little to do on my end, other than ensuring I had at least three feet of clearance on either side of the coach. On the concrete slab I have, we actually have four feet on either side, so I was good to go. The real work came from the team at Motorhome Tires. They warned me there would be a lot of communication—and there was. Emails, phone calls, and text messages kept me apprised of the status of my tires at all times.

The new tires were shipped directly to the installer, as were any additional parts—in this case, valve stem extenders and balance beads. This was all communicated to me regularly as needed, so I never had to wonder exactly where I was in the process. The day before the mobile RV tire replacement, I removed my tire covers. I had already removed my TPMS sensors the last time I parked it earlier in the year. They had advised me that the installers would call me around 9:00 a.m. the following morning.

Installation day

The next morning, I unlocked the double-gate and moved the Jeep to ensure the mobile installers could back up to the coach as closely as they needed. At 9:03 a.m., the installers called and said they were on their way, even asking in a friendly way, “Are you ready for some new tires on your coach?” It’s a little thing, but it already felt like they really cared.

The installers arrived a bit later, laden with eight fresh new tires. In order to facilitate the mobile RV tire replacement, they had me raise the front end slightly with the leveling jacks, just enough for the wheel well to clear the tires, as the airbags were depleted, of course. This also made it easier for them to get their jacks and safety stands under the motorhome. I would do the same for the rear later.

Their first course of action was to unload the new tires. The new 275/80R22.5 Michelin Xline Energy Z 16-ply tires weigh about 110 lbs each, so having a lift on the truck was essential. The truck the guys brought with them was typical of what you would expect to see on the side of the highway fixing an 18-wheeler flat, only carrying a lot more tires!

The mobile RV tire replacement

The actual installation of all eight tires took a while, about three and a half hours. Throughout the process, I tried to get some pictures, a few which you see here, but I also didn’t want to be in the way.

There is no tire machine like you’ll find at your local automobile tire store; these guys have to break the bead and pry the tires off with long tire tools. They laid down rubber mats on the concrete to protect the wheel when doing this. There is no balancing machine either; the installers dumped a 10.5 oz bag of Magnum Plus balance beads into each tire.

Rear tires removed from a motorhome. — *Empty rims await new tires and installation back on the coach*

Tire inflation fine-tuning

After the mobile RV tire replacement was complete and the technicians were on their way, I washed each tire and wheel and set the inflation levels I knew were appropriate for my coach, using a Michelin inflation chart. I’ve weighed my coach three times, each time fully loaded, and my numbers were consistent. My required psi remained unchanged, in that my two front steer tires required 105 psi, while the six rear tires all settled in at 90 psi, though in truth I could run them with less than that, and I could safely push them down to 85 psi for a bit softer ride.

When using inflation charts like this, it’s important to take your time and make sure you are looking at the right tire size with the correct load range. There is a lot there, and it’s easy to look at the wrong column. As always, I recommend a TPMS system to always be tracking your tire pressure. Aside from a direct puncture, most tire failures occur due to underinflation and thus overheating. Correct tire pressure is critical.

Rating the mobile RV tire installation

With mobile RV tire replacement, there is no better way to get new tires on your coach. Nothing happens behind the scenes where you can’t see it, and you don’t have to take your coach and hang around a truck stop or tire shop for four hours.

The tire technicians that came to my house were friendly and knowledgeable and prepared for anything—broken studs, valve rebuilds—whatever they needed. Motorhome Tires has tapped into some secret sauce here, and I’m happy to say I’m good to go for another seven years or so.

Mobile RV Tire Replacement: A Practical Review appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

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Man Rescues Corvair UltraVan Motorhome Owned By His Parents 30 Years Ago

July 28, 2015, 3:32 am

≫ Next: Young Couple Reveals Top 3 Mid-Size Motorhome Picks Under 30 Feet

≪ Previous: Mobile RV Tire Replacement: A Practical Review

Imgur user Jaygryph started his personal RV journey on a quest to find and restore a special RV owned by his parents.

I don’t just mean one like it, I mean the Corvair powered Ultravan his family had owned almost 30 years before. In fact, so the story goes, he owed his origins to a trip to Canada in that very RV.

This is a Corvair powered UltraVan. Around 400 of these aluminum and fiberglass egg shaped RV’s were built in the 60’s and early 70’s. Each is numbered, like Airstream trailers, and this one is #307. Fairly sure the number means #7 of the 300 series. 30 years or so ago my parents owned this RV. Dad did much work to it and made many improvements. (Apparently I exist because of this monster and a trip to Canada…)

The Corvair UltraVan is a quirky American classic.

The RV had long since vanished, but then fate stepped in. A seemingly random call from the UltraVan fan club (a club historian was looking for his parents and details on the van’s history) put Jaygryph on the hunt.

A few months ago a random phone call from the historian at the UltraVan club caused the RV to once more surface. They were looking for info on it’s history for the club roster and my parents were the oldest recorded owners. Dad helpfully filled them in on it’s history and I inquired if the thing was still around. Turns out it was, and it had been for sale for most of the last decade as it sat mostly hidden in a fenced storage lot.

The UltraVan, waiting for rescue in a storage yard.

After a quick flight to California, he found the largest Corvair ever made nestled between a dead Ryder moving van and a Chevy lowrider truck. After another month of negotiations, he struck a deal and made the purchase over the phone.

Next up, the 1,500 mile journey home – back to its former owners.

Here’s a good view of the UltraVan’s egg-like shape.

The original design of the UltraVan combined the aerodynamics of an Airstream trailer with the convenience of a self-propelled vehicle. The Ultravan is 22 feet long and weighs in at 3,500 pounds, not much for a vehicle of that size.

A rear-mounted six cylinder Corvair engine, beefed up to 140 horsepower, sits under the master bedroom floor in the back of the vehicle.

The UltraVan’s bedroom, with a custom aluminum floor and motor hatch.

Close-up of the dual carburetor Corvair 140 engine.

Years ago, Jay’s father had replaced the old plywood flooring with aluminum panels, making the engine much easier to access – which was good – because it needed quite a bit of work.

The UltraVan’s kitchen, on an odd angle to accommodate photography in the small space.

Much of the interior was still in usable condition. The front seats were replaced for safety reasons and the old carpet was taken out. The kitchen, including fridge and stove were still serviceable. With some help from a member of a local Corvair club chapter, he got the motorhome running and on the road.

1,500 miles later, with a couple of roadside break downs thrown in for good measure, the UltraVan was home safe and sound.

Taking a well-deserved rest in its new home.

What a cool way to bring RVing back into your life!

Man Rescues Corvair UltraVan Motorhome Owned By His Parents 30 Years Ago appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

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Young Couple Reveals Top 3 Mid-Size Motorhome Picks Under 30 Feet

August 3, 2015, 6:42 am

≫ Next: 1968 Travco Needs Some Work, Is It Worth Saving? One Buyer Thought So

≪ Previous: Man Rescues Corvair UltraVan Motorhome Owned By His Parents 30 Years Ago

The decision to purchase a new motorhome can be a tough one: so many models to choose from, the fear of picking something you’ll regret later on, and not to mention – they can cost a lot!

One young couple has helped take a bit of the unknown out of your motorhome purchase by reviewing three well-known motorhome models, and giving their opinion of each.

(Source: Gone with the Wynns)

Besides the big brands mentioned in this video, other manufacturers make smaller motorhomes that might be right for you. Born Free for instance has several models that might fit your needs.

Also, while the motorhomes in the video still have that “new car smell” you might opt to purchase a used model, saving significant money in the process. MHSRV is one of the largest dealerships in the country and has many used motorhome models for sale. It might be helpful to peruse their listings to get a feel for the pricing and options in the used motorhome market.

Young Couple Reveals Top 3 Mid-Size Motorhome Picks Under 30 Feet appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

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