New member, considering a 1982 280 Turbo Diesel

[swanky]

Only money is an issue, otherwise we love it. Well maintained and nicely re-done. Recently rebuilt engine. Lots of nice cosmetic touches like upholstery, woodwork.
We'd need to get several sets of seatbelts installed, there appear to be belts only on the front couch, not on the dinette or back couch. Also looks like the window gaskets/seals are a bit iffy. Any idea on how much to have the windows done to make sure they are water tight? How about seatbelts, two at the dinette, two or three on the back couch. We have four kids, two in carseats, so we'd even like those bracket things if possible. Who does that sort of thing?
More issues: How hard will it be to get used to driving? What can we tow (Dodge Caravan maybe?). Do you need an oven, this only has micro. Does anyone ever use the icemaker or drink the water?
Are we insane? Four kids, ages 3m, 2.5y, 8y, 11y. All boys. And us. Are we nuts? We just really like the idea of traveling in an RV, not having to do the whole fast food, hotel chaos with our big group. Then we saw this Airstream and it went from liking the idea to loving the rig. We feel the seller is asking the right price, we just need to find the cash and figure out how much more it's really going to cost to be up and running (seatbelts, windows, and if we get into cosmetics, those colored stripes that encircle the rig are peeling and the spare tire cover is faded).
Any advice, suggestions, admonitions, warnings, you name it, we'd love to hear it.
Hope to be joining as an owner soon. Thanks.
Swanky

[85MH325]

Hi Swanky! Welcome!

We plunged into a low-mileage '85 325 a number of years ago, and had it for about three years. We loved it. It was a money pit. They all are. Nothing is inexpensive. The P-30 chassis is a commercial truck/motorhome chassis that uses truck tires and wheels. There's nothing that will cost you less than $200/pop. Just be prepared. And you need to replace the tires (all of them) every five years or so... regardless of tread wear.

The window track felt is replaceable, the front side windows are difficult to source if they break these days. There are other items that are difficult to impossible to locate on the coach now too...

I'm not sure about the seat belt issues... our 325 had barrel chairs in addition to the couch, so we had plenty of seating. I don't know how you'd anchor seatbelts in the dinette, but it can probably be done.

Other than the chassis, the coach is pretty much a standard airstream trailer...

If you can swing it, buy it. You'll never regret it.