The seller finally arrived 50 minutes after our agreed upon meeting time. This is a comprehensive vehicle checklist for prospective Rialta owners. He had changed the locks after his encounter with the guy who bought the vehicle. There were several affordable small RVs for sale in that area which we wanted to check out. He grabbed an oil cap from another vehicle on the lot and soon we were ready to take it for a test drive. I watched out the kitchen window as rain fell in sheets from a gloomy sky. Apparently, they had to move the vehicles around the lot from time to time and sometimes the keys got left behind. The previous owner (Walt) was still listed as the owner of the Rialta. Used motorhomes for sale near me craigslist. Make sure the title is clean. After a few tries, it became apparent that the rig was deader than a doornail. We found a binder with a detailed maintenance history and all the original vehicle manuals. We also belatedly noticed that the black water (sewage) tank was half full. And that, my dear friends, is the of how we went about purchasing a motorhome on Craigslist.
Thankfully we've learned a lot from the experience. I already had several appointments booked, starting with a 2000 VW Rialta on the other side of the state line. I don't have a link to it here because it is in the Rialta Owners of America Facebook Group – look in the "Files" section for a document called "PDI Checklist". "What if we can't locate the original bill of sale? Used motorhomes for sale near me craigslist nc. " It wasn't the end of the world, but it wasn't especially pleasant either. 6 feet long, the Rialta is super easy to drive. I don't profess to be an expert in such matters but I did learn a few things which I'm happy to pass along to you.
You don't want to drive off with a tank full of other people's poo. The next day, I called the Washington State Department of Licensing. If the seller seems shady or if the situation feels off, it might be better to just walk away. The Rialta Owners of America Facebook Group. The next morning, Daniel and I drove to the Portland suburb of Clackamas to view the Rialta. Pre-Delivery Checklist (file on the Rialta Owners of America Facebook Group). Parts are becoming harder to come by since they haven't been manufactured for over 15 years. Used motorhomes for sale near me craigslist seattle. For further reading, check out our experience customizing the Rialta and then embarking on our great America socially-distanced road trip. But they are so cute and easy to drive! Specifically, we wanted a small-ish RV with reasonable gas mileage that we could live together in comfortably. We could proceed if he signed some additional paperwork releasing his rights to the vehicle.
We talked on the phone for an hour and I enjoyed every minute. First off, the paperwork seemed a little fishy. What kind of place was this anyway? The guy who bought the motorhome shorted Walt by over $1400, which Walt didn't discover until arriving at the bank. Unsurprisingly, the seller was not able to produce the original bill of sale. Part 4: Purchasing the Rialta. We emerged a short while later with a new registration, a set of Washington State license plates, and giant smiles.
The seller brought some gas and filled up the tank. I've compiled a list of RV shopping tips and resources at the end of this article to help you avoid the same pitfalls. This guy was knowledgeable about the Rialta, however, and walked us through all the systems and motorhome functions. At that time, RV dealerships had just opened again after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we love our Rialta, they aren't for everyone.
Thank goodness for Walt and his willingness to help a complete stranger when he didn't have to. Here I noticed something a little odd. This is by no means a complete list; be sure to check the Resources Section below for additional resources. Winnebago manufactured these motorhomes from 1995 to 2005 so they are becoming a bit of a rarity these days. We would have to wait until Monday when the banks opened again. We've never owned a motorhome before and had no idea what we were doing.
Part 5: Our Problems Begin. Walt was happy to assist and promised to send them right away. I explained our situation to Walt. The interim buyer also drove off with the Rialta before the transaction was fully finalized – along with some of Walt's possessions. A few days later, a letter arrived with all the necessary documents. Walt inquired about his electric skillet and coffee pot and other possessions.
I'd recently learned about Rialtas and was becoming more than a little obsessed with these compact little motorhomes. What is a Volkswagen Rialta? We handed over the cash, which he proceeded to count carefully, and then he pulled out the title. Sure enough, the minute I contacted the Department of Licensing, I knew we had a problem. They are somewhat rare and so I couldn't wait to see one in person. This checklist on is for prospective buyers of *new* Rialtas. We were lucky in that our Rialta came with a comprehensive binder full of maintenance records (thanks Walt! The nearest branch was in Olympia, so we headed there the following day. It appeared to be in immaculate condition. Our Experience Purchasing a Rialta Motorhome on Craigslist.
Soon I was on the phone with Walt, a lovely 89-year-old retiree from a small town in Oregon. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would be into recreational vehicles, but then what did I know? Sadly, the vehicle was stripped clean except for a garage door opener. He had poured a lot of love into the Rialta and it showed. Our host apologized and confided that another employee had a habit of leaving the keys in the ignition. Walt and his wife had co-owned the vehicle and then released their interest in it. The vehicle was in excellent condition, which we confirmed at a local VW servicing center. The licensing agent explained that there were other options, but they would require some extra legwork on our part as well as reaching out to the original owner. Tips for Purchasing a Motorhome on Craigslist. To make matters worse, there are no branches of our bank in the Portland/Vancouver area. It was a five-hour drive to Vancouver, so we headed down the very same day and spent the night. Additionally, I wondered about the garage door opener which was still inside. Chain link fencing surrounded the property which was filled with motorhomes and other vehicles in various states of repair. This seemed like a good sign.
But this is not how the story begins. Once in Olympia, we found a hotel that was conveniently located right next door to our bank. Check for signs of water damage or previous roof leaks – especially around the skylight (if your vehicle has one). Part 1: The Spontaneous Road Trip. It was Saturday afternoon and all the banks had just closed. But there was more to the story.
We bought the RV from a guy off Craigslist who seemed a little shady. This time, the vehicle started right up after we jumped it. Daniel and I eagerly explored the interior, peeking in cupboards and playing with the gadgets and furniture. We also noticed that the oil cap was missing. For a tour inside our Rialta, check out the following video: Introducing our 2000 VW Rialta Winnebago.
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