Should We Buy a Motorhome With 104,000 Miles On It?

by Keely Stringer
(Colorado Springs)

Should We Buy a Motorhome With 104,000 Miles On It?

Should We Buy a Motorhome With 104,000 Miles On It?

I'm looking at a 1993 Holiday Rambler which is in very nice condition but unsure if its wise to buy an RV with 104,000 miles... I'm going to be touring all thru the U.S. so how many miles does a Rv usually need a new transmission?

ANSWER: Hi Keely, unfortunately, I cannot give you a solid yes or no answer, but here are a few things to consider before making your decision.

Type Of Engine

You don't tell me whether the motorhome you are looking at is powered by a gasoline or diesel engine. There is a dramatic difference between the life expectancy between a gas engine and a diesel engine. On average a properly maintained gasoline engine will make it to 150,000 miles before requiring a major overhaul. On the other hand, a properly maintained diesel engine on average will go to 300,000+ miles before requiring a major overhaul.

So if the motorhome you are looking at is powered by gasoline engine then it could already be 2/3 of the way through its expected lifespan, but if it's a diesel engine you still could have a lot of life left in in it. But all of this really depends on how well the engine was maintained.


I would strongly suggest that you thoroughly review all of the maintenance records for the engine and drivetrain. I would also suggest that if you are not comfortable performing an inspection on the engine and drivetrain; that you get a trusted mechanic to perform the inspection for you.

The Rest of The Motorhome:

Buying a used motorhome
is not like buying a used car; it is more like buying a previously owned house, only this house is on wheels and just like buying a previously owned house; the house portion of the motorhome needs to be thoroughly inspected.

Just like your house, the motorhome has an electrical system, plumbing, gas system, heating, cooling, appliances, etc. If you do not thoroughly inspect all of these items you could end having some very expensive repairs heading your way. After all you are planning to take a trip all around the US and you do not want spend all that time in a repair facility.

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I urge you to visit our Used RV Inspection Pages where I have compiled a checklist of items you should inspect before purchasing a used RV.

The Bottom Line:

The bottom line is based on the information that you have provided me I cannot tell you if the motorhome you are looking at is going to be a great buy or end up being a very expensive mistake, but rest assured that once you have completed a thorough used RV inspection you will have all of the information you need to make an informed decision.

I hope that this helped.

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Happy RVing

RVing Al

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