To commit or not to commit

[Brian Lindsey]

Sorry this is a little lengthy but I want to explain fully.

 

Problem.  Love old campers and bus conversions.  Love (although at times, when right in the middle, hate) doing it myself.  I never hire anyone to fix anything except new computerized cars.  

Had a 69 Bluebird Bus conversion, loved it.  Sold it to buy a 67 Alglas Convertible Sedan boat. (Lived near the coast and loved tinkering and "camping" on the water.)  Moved to dry ground sold the boat and bought a chain of newer campers which is now a 2003 24ft. Jayco fifth wheel.  It is okay but has the newer, cheaper construction and recently I have discovered a hidden leak has destroyed the core of the back wall as well as the flooring up to the axles.

Question.  My mind is thinking if I have to do a total rip and rebuild shouldn't it be an older camper that when I'm done is worth all the pain?  I just keep going back to the idea that when I'm done with the Jayco all I will have is a run of the mill, middle aged Jayco, but then I think of the fact that I'm going to take a hit on the Jayco because I can't sell it without telling the buyer about the problem.  Anyone want to chime in?

[Lakota Wolf]

The NEWER RV's just aint built like the old ones. Thats why there is a love for the classics... Built to last, (as long as they are taken care of). And if not,,, thats where a lot of us oldies lovers come in. We rescue them, baby them, pour our hearts (and wallets) into them to bring em back to life. Then we show it off,, Well,, yea, we have to, its a guy thing (and wimminz to). Telling everyone,, YUP !!!!  I rebuilt it,, upgraded it, customized it, even put on fully chromium plated fully aluminumated genuine accessory chrome wheels, and the up graded the sink faucet.. The 2003 will be an old RV someday, but anytime soon. BUT here is a breath of good news, (yes I said GOOD NEWS). You can repair and upgrade, or go retro with ANY RV. Try a different WILD CHILD Paint scheme, Go all physco-delic on the interior,, Throw down some Avacoda green or harvest gold carpet if ya really want to go physco-billy crazy,,,,, (I prefer ya didn't,, we had to suffer those colors growing up in the OLDEN Days, (as my kids call it).  Your RV is YOURS,,, and you don't have to make it look like everyone elses. Its a statement of who you are. Let your mind wonder, ( but not to far,, I did that once,, took awhile to get it back from the lost and found). Look online at different paint schemes,, even on here, there are some really AWESOME, paint schemes. Heck, be bold,, Throw a hello kitty graphic on it. (ok, I was just kidding with hello kitty,, really I was).  You can always keep the 2003 the same, just repair it and enjoy it, and maybe find a diamond in the rough RV just waiting for you to adopt it and take it home and bring it back to life.     The Fun of restoration, is, #1. Keeps ya busy,, #2 gets ya outta the other halfs hair, (excluding Super bowl Sunday).#3  You bring back a piece of history,,#4.. when your all done (which is neverrrrrr,, cuz ya always find sump[in else to do with it).  You can stand back and say,,, I did that with my own hands, sweat and blisters, and its, MINE,MINE,MINE. (Don't touch).

Even tho, this is Good Old RV's,,, doenst mean ya have to have an OLD RV.. Everyone is here to enjoy the builds,upgrades and info.

Hope that helps with your dilema... and BTW,, Welcome to GORV.. sit a spelll enjoy the conversation.

[Rich Thomas]

Yea, what Lacota said. "here's where your supposed to picture a 58 year old fat man with the gansta arms wrapped and the fingers contorted in what ever that twisted finger thing is supposed to mean these days." Go for the rebuild and make it better than it was. Heck you might just fall in love with it and inspire some one else to figure out they want to do that too.

[Lakota Wolf]

If it aint rusty, it aint trusty, kinda thing.  Or,,,, If its OLD,, it's Gold. Ok, nuff of the cheap one liner Punz.  Had to run with it for a minute.

[Brian Lindsey]

My gut thinks the pocketbook will be ahead if I fix the Jayco for now.  I will never recover the labor but the materials will probably be less than the hit selling it damaged.  Lakota is right, I used to love the old bus and showing it off.  Often a stop for gas would result in a tour request and out of pride I posted pictures in Bus Conversions here about 3 years ago.  It is a "man thing."  

Fix the camper I have then start looking for the perfect rusty stuff.  The problem is I can't keep from looking now and I get distracted.  Like right now I'm typing but my eyes keep drifting over to the classified section.  

I'm guessing I'm probably not alone in fighting this type of addiction?  Do we have a therapy section?

[Lakota Wolf]

I think we ALL need some therapy.. LOL... I have had my 1985 Funtime 5th wheel going on 30 yrs.. And during that time, I have owned newer ones but always kept the ole 85, because is was custom built, and built like a TANK. Yea its heavy, close to 7500 lbs  which is heavy for a 24 footer, Have been loaded with 9000 lbs several times. But the double axles and good quality tires hold her up and she toodles down the highway. It goes where ever I tow her, and I probly wont give her up,, will have to pass it down to the Grand kids.

I find myself L@@king all the time, Mostly for a restore for a vet, but have lately for myself for a project to keep me busy. I figure if I accomplish something,, then I did good,, Plus my co-pilot (rescue dog), is watching and supervising,, then she thinks its a good excuse for more treats and Road trips.