Everyone loves the idea of a bargain on wheels, but a motorhome that sells for almost nothing usually comes with a reason. So when one man’s winning bid on a Georgie Boy motorhome came in at just $225, he had to ask the obvious question.
The buyer, one half of a pair of rebuilders who post as @NikoBrothers, says that number plus fees bought him a Georgie Boy Pursuit sitting at a salvage auction yard in Indiana. It was a good eight-hour drive from home.
He says that kind of price is usually what parts buyers pay, not people planning to fix something.
“Nobody else wanted this thing. Why?”
A $225 Georgie Boy Motorhome, Up Close
Walking around it, he finds plenty of small problems. The front glass has damage, one wiper is gone and a mirror is missing. Fortunately, he brought a spare mirror. Inside, there is mold on the fridge and some torn-up upholstery, but the floor feels solid, the roof looks good and the layout includes bunk beds.
Underneath, the driveshaft is hanging loose. After a search, he finds the missing cup and bolts tucked inside, although a few small rollers are gone. He cleans and greases what he has and gets it back together.
It Fired Right Up
Next comes the power. At first, the batteries seem to be missing, until he finds them hiding in one last compartment. With a jump box connected, the dash lights up. The odometer shows 48,000 miles. Then he turns the key.
“Wow, it fired right up.”
Then comes the twist. When he checks the fuel gauge before leaving, the tank is full. He figures that much gas is worth roughly $200 to $240, about as much as he paid for the whole motorhome.
“the crazy part is full tank of gas.”
The Long Drive Home
While the engine warms up, he also walks past several newer motorhomes listed with water or burn damage, a few of which he thinks came from dealers. Some look nearly new inside, but most have no power at all. He suspects electrical trouble on a few of them, which makes his old Pursuit look even better by comparison.
He admits he expected trouble on the way. A patched-up driveshaft and an unknown history are not a great mix for a long trip. Still, once it has warmed up, he decides it looks good enough to try.
With the glass taped and the borrowed mirror in place, he points it toward home. About four hours in, he notes, they had burned through half a tank. Even so, the lights worked, it drove straight and the trip ended with no breakdowns.
Back at the shop, the checks continue. The generator starts and shows 984 hours, although it is not yet powering the coach. The slide-outs work, and the steps and awning are manual. He plans to clean it thoroughly before deciding what comes next.
What To Check Before Bidding On A Cheap Motorhome
A cheap motorhome can be a great deal or a money pit. Here is what we took from this one:
- Look for water damage first. Soft floors and stained ceilings are expensive to fix.
- Check under it for loose or missing driveline parts before you try to drive it far.
- Bring basic spares, such as a mirror, tape and a jump box, if you plan to drive it home.
- Find the batteries early, because a motorhome often has more than one.
- Budget for tires, fluids and a generator service, even if it runs well.
Where Things Stand
The Georgie Boy is home, running and driving, and the slides work. The generator still needs attention, and the cleanup is just getting started. When he asks viewers whether it was worth the money, he answers his own question.
“I got to say, for this price, not too bad.”
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