Looking for Clipper to buy-I'm in Pleasant Hill, OR

[dianabelstar]

Looking for Clipper to buy-I'm in Pleasant Hill, OR

Please let me know if you have or know of a Clipper for sale in OR, WA,CA,ID,NV as I am willing to drive to buy the right one.  I also have a 2002 Oldmobile Alero GLS 4dr sedan with a blue book value of $3500 plus as a potential trade if anyone is interested in a trade for their Clipper.  I love my Alero and it has rebuilt brakes still under warranty.  I've had it for 6 years and am second owner.  I am a writer and want to do some full time RV travel/living for a couple of years.  I've researched small RV's and love the Clippers.  I would like to get my hands on one and remodel to my taste as a writing retreat on wheels. I do prefer the models with a tub.

My brother might also be looking for a Clipper to buy for cash.

Thanks for any help with my search!

Diana-Future Clipper Owner

[Clipper Joe]

Hello Diana,
I Is Nice That You Are Wanting To Buy I Think, One Of The Best RV's Ever Made, The Clipper Have Been Made To Last If Taken Care Of.

First Off You May Get Lucky To Make A Trade, But What I Have Seen Most Times It A Hard Sale, Most Just Want The Money, You Want To Have The RV Checked By A Good Mechanic, Or Friend Or Person Who Has Owned A RV Or Trailer.

You May Want To Check Craigslist I Have Seen That Is A Starting Point.

Then Check With Local RV Dealers In Your Area. Sometimes Our Site Has Owners, Who Have Out Grew Them Or Have Lost There Storage Place or Mostly Have Grew To Old To Maintain A Clipper.

The Year,Condition, & Price Is The Key Factors,
A Well Maintained Clipper, Rebuilt & Newer Interior, Brakes & Well Running Can Go Up To $6,500.00
There Are A lot From $ 2,000-$4,000.00 But Not Get A Good Service One.
It Is All About Home Work, These Are Old, But Can Give You Years Of Enjoyment if You Find The Right One, They Are Out There, Ask Our Web Master, Toedtoes She Has Hers, Looking Cute,

So Good Luck In Looking For The Right Clipper & Feel Free To Ask Questions, There Is A Lot Of Support From Fellow Clipper Owners & Remember To Join This ACOC After You Get Your Clipper, To Get A Lot Of Tech Support Or Just A Place To Learn About RV'en.

Hope This Helps & Feel Free To Chat,

Joe

[wackyman9183]

Hello,
Just saw this add pop up today near Sacramento. Even has a rear bathroom with a tub. Take care.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/rvs/4581958313.html

[dianabelstar]

Thank you both very much!  I appreciate your time trying to help me.  I contacted the owner of the Clipper near Sacramento and will see what they say.  There is a Clipper here in Prineville, OR that I found on Craigslist and the owner is interesed in doing a trade but he lives near Portland and having a hard time arranging a time with him to meet at his uncles's shop in Prineville to make the trade.  Still haven't given up on him as it's in very good condition and with his uncle a mechanic he's done a lot of work on it.  Fridge is new, at 1991 and the Clipper is a 1979 side kitchen.  I love the idea of having a tub in my small RV so the those models with tubs would be my first choice!  It will just be me and my dogs travelling so plan to do a lot of work remodelling and checking everything possible before going on the road. I love the club forum and the support I see for other Clipper owners.  It's wonderful to have such a great little RV at such a reasonable price.  I plan to repaint inside and out and replace fabrics, floor, etc on whichever Clipper I end up with.  I think i will pint the outside  light metallic silver gray, no stripes or other graphics, just polishing every bit of chrome and metal.  Inside I think a butter yellow for the walls, wood floor, white enamel paint for the cupboards, yellow and white stripe fabrics and some gray and silver accents. I notice from photos on the forum that most owner do very little remodeling and most have original paint colors and paneling.  Does anyone have photos of a clipper that has been painted inside or out?  I would love to see them and get more ideas for my Clipper, which I WILL have one day soon even if it's not one of these two.  Thanks so much to you all for your help!

[Toedtoes]

Welcome to the world of clippers! 

As Clipper Joe mentioned, from what I've seen with pricing, if you spend more than about $4000 for the clipper, it should be properly functioning under the hood AND all the appliances.  From about $2000 to $4000, you will likely have to do some "catch up" on maintenance issues with possibly replacing certain parts.  Under $2000 and you will be putting a lot of attention in the mechanical areas.

Painting: 

Outside, most have stuck with the original orange and brown stripes, but there have been some who changed to blue stripes or just went with the solid white.  It will be interesting to see one painted silver.

Inside, there was one owner who did the walls in an orange fabric.  I haven't seen any painted.  Most folks have followed with the brown-beige-neutral color schemes that are so common in RVs and have kept the wood paneling.  SFine was going to do wallpaper in his clipper, I'm not sure if he's done so yet.

For me, I've tried to have fun with my clipper.  The upholstery is done in dark brown and the wood paneling is still all over, but I've added lime green, bright orange, and "Sun Records" yellow throughout with bedding, pillows, towels, dishes, etc.  Even the dog toys are green and orange.  I also added tassel trim (in a soft gold shade) around the ceiling shelf, the cabover ceiling vent, and the overhang above the house door.  It's a work in process and at some point, I'll replace the carpet with flooring and find a fun print for the upholstery.  I like that the orange and green keep to the 70's feel of the clipper but makes it my own.

[Toedtoes]

And instead of a curtain over my portholes, I used window film.  For the door, I even cut out a smiley face in the orange film.  For the portholes at the front, I used green film - haven't figured out a cut out yet, so they're just plain.

[paulnmelody]

nice toedetoes that clipper on cl is just like mine kinda cool

[dianabelstar]

Nice!  I really like the smiley face window film!  I might copy that idea with yellow film! I will use stained glass for the front portholes and if I don't copy your smiley face idea for the entry pothole I'll put stained glass there as well.  I am looking forward t finally getting my Clipper and starting the remodel!  The owner in Prineville sent me interior photos today and is still interested so hopefully we can make the trade this weekend.  It looks great inside and out, he has added a microwave and special microwave shelf in the kitchen and he installed the new fridge, new battery, front end alignments and some other repairs and replacements.  It needs the cab A/C and cruise control repaired and the radio repaired or replaced.  I will replace with a nice sound system and hopefully the Cab A/C and cruise control will not cost a fortune to fix.  At least the roof A/C works.  It's in EXCELLENT shape inside and out from the photos and only 66,000 miles on it.  My brother will be here mid-august and he will help me with the remodeling and painting.  He's a California licensed Class A General Contractor and Construction Engineer so all of the aesthetic remodel will be professionally done:)  The mechanical issues I have a good mechanic in Eugene, next town over from me, who can fix and won't rob me. I can't wait to get my hands on this RV!

[Toedtoes]

Feel free to borrow the smiley face.  I wanted to do stained glass, but as I looked into it, I just realized I didn't want to work that hard for it.  I started looking for a patterned stained-glass look film, when I found a place that sells different solid colors.  They have opaque (which is what I used so folks can't see in) and sheer (that you can see in and out of).  The smiley cut out just came to me as I looked at the orange circle.  I made a paper template on the computer and printed it out so I didn't have to try to do it by hand (I am NOT an artist).

Some of the older club members have stained glass portholes with clipper ships on them.  Apparently one of the members (since passed away) did stained glass and made them for folks.

My mechanic told me not to bother trying to repair the cab A/C on my clipper.  He said the cost wasn't worth it because they just don't repair well.  Same thing with the cruise control - the cruise control gets the speedometer cable all twisted up and then it breaks; you replace it and in a short time, it gets all twisted up again and breaks.  I ended up bypassing the cruise control completely.  You can get aftermarket cruise control from Camping World.  I haven't heard if they work much better than the original.

On the radio, I wanted to keep the original radio for aesthetics, so I just had them disconnect the antennae from it and then install a new stereo system in the glove box.  I did add speakers - one on each door and a box speaker behind each cab seat.  I also tend to listen to my mp3 player, so I have a docking station set up on the doghouse and plugged it into the stereo.  I can reach my mp3 player while I drive and I control the volume at the mp3 also.  I do have a remote control for the stereo also.

Oh, and instead of using the cab stereo system for when I'm parked, I set up my own "home stereo system" in the house using a second docking station, powered computer speakers, surge strip, and "floating book" shelves.  I plug into an outlet when I'm connected to shore power and use an inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter socket under the couch when I'm on battery only (no generator).  Cost me about $30 total (not including the mp3 player).  The docking station has a remote control so I can adjust volume, etc. even from the cabover bed.

[dianabelstar]

Excellent info on the A/C Cruise Control and stereo idea!  Thanks again.  There is an excellent glass arts school here in Eugene that does stained glass/blown glass, and many local stained/leaded glass artists so I should be able to get some excellent custom glass work done at a reasonable price.  I love to support starving artists having been one myself!   I spend a lot of time on my netbook writing so will need to create a good writing/desk space somehow.  I like to listen to music while writing so a good sound system is important.

Fingers crossed this  Clipper in Prineville is the one for me and that I don't drive 6 hrs round trip just to have the owner change his mind on my trade car.  I sent 16 photos of inside and out, and it's a great little car.  I hope he's satisfied with my car, and the Clipper is all it appears to be.

[dianabelstar]

Still looking for a Clipper.  Found a 1974 rear kitchen model in WA that looks nice and someone contacted me about a 1977.  Anything in particular about the 1974 model that I should look at when I see it and test drive it?  Any info appreciated!

Thanks,
Diana

[Clipper Joe]

Hi Diana,
I Would Try & Go With The Later Year Clippers, Like 1977-1980.
Mostly For improvement's Made Over The Years.

It Would Be Great To Have A RV Or Mechanic Check It Out First, Sometimes A Family Member Who Can Help You With Dealing With The Price Also.
What I Would Look A First, Is The Clipper In Good Shape, Does Everything Work, How Old Are The Big Stuff, Tires, Engine Condition. Belts Rubber Stuff. Radiator, Bumpers, Ladder, Roof & Vents, How Is The Electrical Power Center. Fridge Does It Work On LPG. 110Vac, & 12 Vdc. Kitchen & Bath & Cabinets Etc.

There Is A lot To Consider, Do Your Homework, Make A Fair Offer If It Is A Real Nice Low Mileage Clipper, Or One That Someone Has Taken Care Of.

It Is Better To Wait For The Right One, Than To Have To Pour A lot Of Time And monies, & Not Be Happy 

Hope This Helps,
Joe

[Clipper Joe]

Hi Diana,

If You Can Find A Real Nice 1974 Or 1975, & Is Close To Where You Live.
You May Make Out A lot Better, & Can Put The Money You Save On Long Travels. Put In Your Newly Owned Clipper, & Make It Fit How You Like It.

I Know In My Other Post To Go With A Newer On, Kindly I Have A 1977.

Also Forgot, You Want To Make Sure It Drives Nice & Stops Well. There RV's Have A lot Of Weight To Them.

Joe

[Toedtoes]

There are very few 74 c;lippers out there - only 31 were made.   They had green stripes and sliding windows. 

Model year 1978 was the first year they offered the side kitchen model.  I know you prefer that floorplan, so keep that in mind.

As to which one to get, go with the one in the best shape.  As to work to be done, 5 years isn't going to be a big difference in what you may have to put into it.  Rubber (hoses, belts, etc.) will need to be carefully checked and possibly replaced; Fuel lines (gas and propane) will need to be checked for leaks; etc. 

I agree with Clipper Joe - don't rush into one just because it's available.  Make sure it's what you want and in the condition you are comfortable with (you don't want to have to spend doing work you aren't comfortable doing).