Motorhomes are often bought as a treat for retirement or an alternative to buying a vacation home. After all, with a comfortable motorhome at your disposal, why stay tied to one location as opposed to going wherever you find fair weather and good food? The only hiccup is, I imagine, is after a few months spent owning an RV, do you suddenly realize you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, both in terms of storing something this large as well as managing the driving of a behemoth down the road. Perhaps that’s the reason why this 2000 Four Winds/2000 Infinity 34H listed here on eBay has recorded just 1,440 original miles.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Dave Parker for the find. This is a find I’m surprised we don’t see more often, as you see RVs sitting idle in driveways in practically every community. Of course, they are usually in fairly poor condition, reflecting the fact that many of these vehicles are purchased by second or third owners who fancy the idea of a home on wheels but not necessarily the upkeep that comes with them. Despite utilizing commonly-found engines and other mechanical components, along with cosmetic details like headlights and interior fixtures, everything is larger and heavier on a motorhome – and the longer an RV sits, the more likely it is those components won’t work the next time you fire it up. Basic consumables like tires and propane will sink a cheap purchase in a hurry, too.
The listing notes that this Thor/Infinity 34H has been carefully stored indoors, unlike those pieces of driveway art I mentioned. It seems likely that the RV was stored at a facility dedicated to housing these recreational rigs, which suggests that the RV was costing a previous owner storage fees every month. In the meantime, it was sitting unused, ensuring those couch cushions, carpeting, wood paneling, blinds, and countertops were all staying in mint condition. No gross food stains or long-festering water leaks; no need to rip out the carpeting and replaced waterlogged wood.
The driver’s compartment shows nearly unmarked leather seating surfaces along with a steering wheel with virtually no wear and perfect wood trim around the instrument cluster. It seems like this model was predominantly Ford-powered, but sadly, the seller provides no information on the powerplant. I’ve seen references to the 6.8L gas engine being a go-to, as well as the 8.1L V8 Vortec mill from Chevy. Regardless, the engine itself will have barely been broken in at this point, and for the asking price, it seems like a far cheaper entry into RV ownership than the six-figure price tags most new models seem to command.
It’s a Ford dash and wheel, so Ford chassis and power. At this point in time they all came with the 6.8 V10. For some reason diesel never caught on in the front engine RV’s.
My old man owned an RV service center for years and I liked working there. I used to drive 34′ motorhomes around all the time before I was 20. Like driving a house. This is a nice unit.
We had a class C for many years multiple trips down the Oregon coast to the California red woods at one point we decided to sell it and get a class A we had that only 3 years and decided to sell because we liked the class C better this looks like a nice one not surprised the price has jumped to over $20k
Hi Jeff, nice write up but no mention of price, $24k seems like a great price. The seller put their phone number in the Ebay ad? Now they will get a bunch of junk calls like we all do.
I’d love to have 2 yrs off work and drive this coast to coast. Not breaking the speed limit once. ⛱️ ⛰️ 👋 ⛱️ 🌊 😎 😌
I appreciate that it is “like brand new”, but even well-stored vehicles begin to degrade with time. I expect next owner will spend a lot of time and money on stuff like aged-out tires, leaky seals, degrading plastic, and electronics.
A big issue with older RVs is parts availability. Drivetrain parts are usually OK, but more unique items like windshields are often unobtainium.
Finally, a growing number of RV parks are setting age-limits on vehicles for admission. Apparently to keep out “riffraff”, many set the limit at 15 years, while a few impose 5 or 10 year limits. Some allow exceptions for RVs in excellent condition, while others actually check registration and are strict.
Cam W. You are exactly right! Been there done it with a truck, a motor home could be 10 times worse. Buyer be ware.
You could literally host a cars and coffee from this thing.
The perfect condition of this RV really shows how technology and taste has changed since 2000. RV styling is always a bit of a throwback and this thing really screams mid ’90’s. The textiles, the tube TV, the lack of LED “mood lights”… Its a surprising throwback to an era most of us don’t think about as “old” but it sure does not look modern.
I agree with Cam W, this may have a hard time selling even at $24k given the possibility of a lot of age related differed maintenance that will need to be addressed to make it reliable.
“Age related deferred maintenance” is also how my wife describes me.
I had a nice long chat with the seller back on the 19th. Seemed like a genuine, salt-of-the-earth type of guy; typical Clevelander. Said his dad picked this up new at the factory in Indiana, but shortly thereafter started experiencing a series of health issues, and eventually dementia. Since they own the climate-controlled building it’s kept in it didn’t cost them anything to keep it, so they did. Claims it was run a couple times a year but never driven.
My RV-knowledgeable friends all say I’d have to be crazy to attempt a 1,300 mile drive in something like this. OK, but if the price comes down, say, ten grand or so, I might just throw caution to the wind…
Maybe one of the few times you might not feel like running a black light over the interior.
I’d like to know the story on this one. Wonder why it wasn’t driven. You see plenty of these on the highway cruising along at speed but you don’t know what it’s like to drive one until you drive one. True story: My friend’s relative from a northern state came down to Georgia to buy a motorhome. I didn’t meet them and don’t know why they came down here to buy it. Notice the long rear overhang on this one. They didn’t notice it apparently, and the first time they drove it to a gas station to fill up they turned to quick when leaving and.the rear hit the gas pump and damaged it and the vehicle. They had it towed to a repair shop and never drove it again, and got rid of it immediately. It didn’t take them long to experience “RVing”. I had a Winnebago at the time and enjoyed it when I had it.
5 MPG going downhill with a tailwind. Thousands (many) to initially purchase and more to maintain. Unpleasant to drive, and even more unpleasant for those caught behind you. Storage when not in use? Won’t even get into how hard these are for the environment Please explain to me how this is so much better then a cozy hotel with a great diner, after cruising the day in a wonderful car that puts a smile on your face..
I agree Curt. May as well light a smoldering $24k fire in the back yard.
Or you could make crystal meth.
I am not into motor homes but have a fifth wheel and if you ever take a black light to your cozy hotel you might appreciate that I bought mine new and know who slept in it and what happened to each their own but mine has heated and massage recliners that are awesome after a long drive
You are absolutely right. Besides knowing the history of your accommodations you are in charge of your own time. The environmental argument against RV’s is just grandstanding to push a self serving narrative.
Steve R
In the early 80s, I went with some other people from Mn. to the West Coast in a new 26′ motorhome. Taking turns driving, we all noticed that it seemed to pull left enough to keep pressure on the wheel to keep it straight.
This was April and on the way home we were being chased by a big snowstorm and beat it home.
I later found out the front tires were down to the cords on the inside due to misalignment.
Can you imagine one of those blowing out at 70mph?
That amount of money will buy a LOT of Hotel stays.
Very nice, the Ford F53 is about as sorted a chassis as there is out there in Class As, and is almost certainly the V10. No end of mods available to make it easier to hang on to on the highway. Dated interior and surely the plastic is degrading, doubtless would be chasing details for a while, especially if it’s going to be used regularly. Pics underneath would be imperative before heading to Ohio. I have a 36′ Winnie, 2001, 145k miles, it’s still going strong!
I wonder how much these cost new?
Last night, I saw a Southwind come up on a 1985 episode of The Price Is Right. At 35K, Bob said it was the biggest prize they had ever offered on the show up to that point. The person didn’t even come close to winning it.
The problem with this rig is the fact that it’s a THOR. I HAD a 2018 class A THOR and it was the biggest piece of junk ever. Had to put 17k into it just to keep it on the road.
Stay away from THOR.
I would say that there was some differences in quality between the older Thor stuff and the more recent, which in the arenas I follow do not have a great rep.
Quality wise, in RVs, there is a big difference 2008 and before vs newer RVs. The Great Recession hit the RV industry hard.
I owned a ’16 Class A. My wife was focused on our forever RV. I wanted an older Class A near the bottom in depreciation, instead of spending almost $90K on a 5 yr old vehicle with 5500 miles, I expect everything to function on a vehicle that new. I was pissed to spend just as much time on a 5 yr old RV as if I was bringing a 25 yr old RV up to snuff to be able to drive it cross country and live in it for 4 months. Spent the Summer in it in Yellowstone. With my bad attitude toward it my wife was in agreement to sell it and we sold it the next year.
We did the same thing,our’s had 8500 miles on it and something broke every time we took it out.
Couldn’t get rid of it fast enough.