What to look for in a RV salvage yard and percentage to pay of new?

[freds]

Kind of short notice but will be visiting an RV salvage yard today. But as a bus nut, what would we use from our sticks and staples brethren?

Also what percentage of new is fair in a salvage yard given the particular item is not some unobtanium item that the seller is aware of?

In my case I am on a shake down trip and my pain points currently are:

1. Bay storage organization
2. Noisy 40 year old air conditioners which I haven't needed yet. But after 40+ years in the computer industry I hate fan noise.

I am currently in Phoenix, anyone know of other RV/Bus salvage yards in the south west that I should visit?

Here's my current list to look for:

//
//   Things to look for at a RV or Semi Truck Salvage yard
//
1. Tilt steering wheel
2. Updated Diesel liquid heater DEFA, VVKB, Webasto and Eberspacher
3. Bad @$# air horns
4. Better drivers seat
5. AC components to switch OTR to R-134a
6. Dish washer (already have)
7. Microwave? (already have)
8. Sliding battery trays
9. Surge tank for hydronics system (Already have)
10. Seat swivel
11. Davco 380 Fuel Pro processor
12. Smart steering wheel with interface box
13. Electric wiper system
14. Fuel totalizer?
15. Cab support airbags to repurpose as noise isolation airbags for the generator

[Busted Knuckle]

Looks like you already have a great list of "look for items" and I can assure you if you're like the rest of us as you dig through the rigs you'll find other must have items "that scream I could use that for....."

As far as salvage pricing 50% of new is the standard price most of the time. But beware they KNOW what the prices are and on the most sought after items they will demand as much as they know they can get and won't budge! Items that hardly ever get asked for they will almost give away.

I NEVER pay over 50% of what an item costs new and many times when buying multiple items you can get a break, but again if most of your list is stuff they get asked for all the time they usually hold firm on the price they have already set!
   BK 

[6805eagleguy]

That's a nice list, only thing I would think of would be fridge/cabinet latches.... but those are pretty cheap new

[Busted Knuckle]

OH yeah by the way of you EVER call Sam Caylor of Caylor Supply in Rantoul, KS whatever you do DON'T TRY TO DICKER WITH HIM ON PRICE! That last one part ever known to mankind will break as it hits the floor when he slams it to the ground, when someone tries to dicker with him!
  BK

[uncle ned]

Spent a day with Sam Caylor at the first Blytheville rally.

One of the best days of the trip.

Ever one else and half of Blytheville was with Tom going to see Elvis.

uncle ned

[chessie4905]

I was at one in Elkhart Ind. Several years ago. Outfit had many sofas odds and ends and piles of decals. Prices on anything there wasn't worth buying imo, because anything interested in was wrong color, style, too expensive. It was 02 or 08, don't recall anymore.

[freds]

I visited Arizona RV Salvage today and was not impressed with what was in the show room and the prices on the items.

They don't let anyone into the storage yard, so you can't have your imagination perking away as you look at stuff.

They did have a cargo tray slide; but it is a bit undersized for what I need. It is a fair price that I am considering, but it will be five days before they can get it dismounted. Not sure I want to hang around Phoenix that long.

However they did give me a lead on a Prevost that is a similar vintage as mine; that is being scrapped.  Going to go take a look at it in the morning and see if it has stuff that I can use.

[dtcerrato]

We made three full extension cargo tray slides that have a 500Lb capacity per pair. They are standard full extension KV slides @ 3' long but you can make the tray longer which we did.
one is capacitated @ 500Lbs and works great then there is 300Lbs of group 31s battery bank on another and a third general storage tray. NO more climbing into the bays! 
Google KV 500Lb full extension slides - they're reasonably priced.

[Tedsoldbus]

Fred,
I worry about my 1980 shorty Prevost. Mainly about a texter hitting it. Being that I am only 35 feet, they probably won't see me as they thumb pump their phone while driving. If you have belly space to cart them home and can snag a bay door or two (if they are in great shape), might be worth cluttering your garage when you get home. I bet Prevost is out of them for our year group, and I hear it is pretty hard to carve one. Getting hard to find a guy that even knows how to rivet stainless steel...
Just a thought.
Ted