Evaluation thus far

So I'm now over a year into owning an RV. Would I have purchased an RV again?

Yes. However, I most definitely would not have purchased this RV. 

The lesson learned here is to inspect the RV you may be about to purchase thoroughly. Pay attention to any and every problem. Pay special attention to any symptoms of water leakage. If you see any signs of water leakage at all walk away.

The question then becomes what do I do at this point?

I basically have two options. Option one is to cut my losses and sell it for whatever I can get for it. Option two is to invest the time and money into it to fix it up.

I have already invested a significant pile of dough into repairing the mechanical problems that the RV had. Those problems are now for the most part taken care of. It still has a power steering leak and could use a new water pump and belts and hoses. It will need two more tires in the rear and the cigarette lighter does not work.

I can do most if not all of that work myself a relatively low cost. One nice thing I see about this RV is that I don't have to hack it up to get underneath it to work on it. It sits so high off the ground I can easily go underneath it.

That is the mechanical portion. Then there is the water leak problem. The question here is how much water damage has been done and is the structural part of the RV damaged?

The worst case scenario is that it is completely rotted and will have to be completely replaced. If that is the case then it still will not cost a tremendous amount of money if my family and I do the work ourselves. I see no reason that we cannot do this work as it is basically the same as doing work on the house. It does not involve the specialized tools and training that mechanical things involved.

Add the above to the fact that I can't really get anywhere close to what I have into this thing out of it nor can I buy another RV in any better shape for that money and the conclusion becomes to keep the RV. I estimate that I will probably have no more than $15,000 into the RV by the time all is said and done. $15,000 seems to be about what it takes to buy a good RV of this size. In my case I believe the massive expenses of maintaining this thing are done with. I anticipate keeping in about another 10 years so hopefully there are many miles that won't cost so much left in this thing.

I look forward to working on it in the spring.

Frozen hot water heater and covered storage

It came in early bout of bad weather this year and I got caught without draining the hot water heater. The water heater froze and was probably damaged. However, I think judging by the water stains on the insulation that it was damaged previously. After the thaw it appeared to be leaking.

I got the system drained except for the hot water heater and filled full of RV antifreeze again except for the hot water heater. I took the drain plug out of the hot water heater and it has been well above freezing for about a week now so the hot water heater is most likely completely drained. I expect to have to replace the hot water heater.  

The RV is now in the covered storage. The storage place does not have sufficient room between the fence and the garage to easily put the RV in it. Took me a long time to get the RV into the tight space.

This project is likely mothballed until spring.

The picture below is water that leaked from the roof onto the bed.

Covered Storage

Yesterday I arranged for renting a coverd parking spot for the RV. There is no way I can complete the repairs needed to get the RV in good enough condition to sit in the weather all winter before it gets too cold to work on it. The spot will be $51 a month. It is good that I reserved it when I did as they are now out of coverd spots.

At this point I would sell the RV if I could get what I have in it out or even close but with the newly discovered water leaks and damage there is only one way to go. It will be done right when it is finally done.

Adventure always has its ups and downs. Stay tuned as this adventure continues.

Cab Bunk Layer Cake

Somebody went nuts with the glue and staple guns putting this thing together.

Rain at the worst possible time

It seldom rains here but has rained for three days. Three days that I have been insanely busy. 

Here is what I saw when I checked on the RV tonight.

The plywood is soaked, the seats are wet. This is going from bad to worse.