It looks like I'm not the only one dumping low mpg motorhomes in an attempt to downsize. I spotted a mid 80s 6.9 IDI motorhome (probably no turbo) in much better condition in Arizona for $4000. I guess mine is about worth half that, considering the water damage rot and fiberglass wreck damage.
I'm thinking that I wanna part out some of it soon, to squeeze as much money out of it as i can. I can easily sell the upright RV fridge I never use and the Onan genset I almost never use. It's nothing I will miss, even while I keep using the RV in the meantime. It would get rid of about 330lbs of dead weight and put several hundred dollars in my pocket.
Once I get back to my truck, I can begin stripping off more stuff that I want to keep (solar/batteries, turbo kit,deep C6 pan, add-on gauges, electric fuel pump, etc) and just dump what's left for $1500-2000 and be done with it. I'm sure someone would be happy to get a low mileage IDI NA engine and a recently rebuilt C6 spec'd for diesel with a shift kit for a couple thousand. Or even to use for weekend RV use to take a family out to the lake or whatever. They'd just have to fix the exhaust first.
Unless I just keep it parked as a storage shed but that eh, I could sell it and buy an actual storage shed for $500-1000 and put in my mom's back yard, and not worry about code enforcement getting ****** about a "broken down" motorhome sitting there for years. The longer I keep it in non-use, the lower value it's going to become and the more it's gonna cost me.
I spotted a bright yellow 87 Econolione cargo van (6.9 NA, C6) in Kingman AZ for $3500. If I had that kind of money lying around, I'd go snatch that up. Yeah i could probably get a $3500 loan from my credit union again but no, I'm not going to do that. I would like a van more than the truck and slide-in though, in terms of how the living space is in relation to the cab.
Does make me step back and consider trying to get a van of some kind, be it a minivan, IDI van, or just any later 90s Econoline van (for the E4OD mpg). I spotted an ugly paint 97 E150 4.6L V8 standard passenger van (not extended, bench seats in the back --edit: actually it is extended i think!) for $3200 in my mom's city with only 111k. Not sure I like passenger though, so many windows makes it not great for "RV" use, too much heat gets in unless you put up reflectix and foam board insulation over the many windows to block them off and insulate them. I have done that very thing in this RV in fact, due to the massive windows they put.
I suppose I'll see what comes up for sale near Yuma this winter. I could potentially store the motorhome for one summer season (if i can't sell it fast, costs $30/mo storage) and switch to a van of some kind while at the LTVA. Paying on a $3500-4000 loan for 6 months might not be terrible, if my fuel budget is cut in half, and if i can sell the motorhome (mostly in tact, except for solar) and later sell the F250 next year then I wouldn't have to pay it for years. I'd still have the GV kit I could resell for what I have it, which would be a good chunk of cash. Unless I end up putting it on a van with an E4OD, for even better mpg.