Wade LeClair
Ontario
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My father asked my opinion on a 1985 Holiday Rambler, and I thought the best place for a opinion would be right here. It has about 80,000 miles on a Chev engine, I am assuming a P-30 Chassis. It is 33' long with a tag axle. The condition looks fantastic for its age, it is actually in better shape than many newer coaches.
So my question is, should he consider this coach or move on? Would this be a fuel injected engine?
He probably wont be going on long trips, probably 3-4 hrs max,so would this likely be reiable enough for his purpose?
Thanks in advance for your help,we both appreciate it.
Regards, Wade
1996 Newmar Mountain Aire
Ford 460
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robsouth
Near Atlanta, GA
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It depends... Nuf Sed!
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Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
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We previously had a '89 HR Imperial class "C" that was so well built we stayed with the brand and haven't been sorry for our decision. Holiday Rambler made some very nice RVs back in that time period. Our class C even had a tag axle, as the 1985 model you're looking at does. Manufacturers had difficulties finding chassis to handle the weight safely, and some just ignored the weight limits. Holiday Rambler chose to make their rigs safer by adding the tag axle. The house framework was also aluminum to cut down on weight and corrosion. Caution though. Some of the Imperial Class "A"s had weight limit problems on the right front corner.
The biggest question at this point is the quality of the preventive maintenance.
Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Hummer, and Honda VT1100C Shadow
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stevelv
Living on the island
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Check out my thread in my signature. Mine is almost identical I believe to what he is looking at - 35' on a P30 Chevy with Tag - the engine is a 454 BBC with a rochester quadrajet carb.
If after reading my posts he is willing to do a similar amount of work on it then it should be a good buy - remember I paid $2200 for mine as a non-runner - I wouldn't pay more than $4000 unless I was certain that all the work that I'm doing had been done.
Plumbing will be leaking somewhere
Rubber Seals will be drying out
Mastic joints will be dry and may have been bodged with silicon
25 years of dirt and grime
You get the idea 
I'm loving mine but I have the time and inclination to fix her
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hram
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Sounds good for his purposes. Just completed 4000 mile trip with my 89 HR Imperial 35 footer with P30 chassis. Quality built, and the tag axle allows much greater load weights. Supply and demand dictates that you should be able to buy at very reasonable price as well.
Greg
1989 Holiday Rambler Imperial
XS35' P-30 454
Honda CRV toad with Brake Buddy
Baxter riding co pilot with mom.
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Wade LeClair
Ontario
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hram wrote:Sounds good for his purposes. Just completed 4000 mile trip with my 89 HR Imperial 35 footer with P30 chassis. Quality built, and the tag axle allows much greater load weights. Supply and demand dictates that you should be able to buy at very reasonable price as well.
They are asking 12,000 as is, seems a little high but the condition is great.
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bsinmich
Holland, MI
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That sounds high, even for Canada. One warning I heard long ago was never be more anxious to buy than the seller is to sell. That can also be turned around. I don't think they went to fuel injection until the 90's.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, & 2002 PT Cruiser w/Remco lube pump, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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bsinmich wrote:That sounds high, even for Canada. One warning I heard long ago was never be more anxious to buy than the seller is to sell. That can also be turned around. I don't think they went to fuel injection until the 90's.
Id sure shy away from it...especially at that price. Someone is setting themselves up for a lot of headaches
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
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frankdamp
Anacortes, WA
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It all depends on how good a shade-tree mechanic he is (or has access to). Prior to about 1989-1992 (depending on manufacturer), the rigs had carburators and enough anti-smog gear to choke a herd of elephants. The better "old" rigs are pre-about 1975, before that******became so complicated, but so many that old are in sorry shape in the house part.
We had a 1985 Class C with a Ford 460 and the carb and smog gear was a nightmare. After two seasons, we gave up and sold it, losing mucho dinero in the process, but it was worth it to get rid of the damnes thing. I seriously thought of setting fire to it!
We're thinking middle 90's for our next rig, probably about a 26' "C", maybe a Lazy Daze. That way we get at least throttle-body injection and in some cases sequential port injection. With the amount of terrain round here above 3000 ft., a system that does a fairly good job of compensating for air density definitely has advantages. Our old rig got 8 mpg at sea level and about 5 in the mountains.
Frank Damp
Anacortes, WA
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Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
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Wade, it would have to be in totally "pristine" condition to warrant $12,000. It is just too old and will have maintenance and repair costs that could drive the price up much higher.
For $12K, you may be able to find a better deal.
So, keep this in mind when you read my previous post regarding Holiday Ramblers from the 80's.
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