Posted on 04/06/2019 4:29:58 PM PDT by N. Theknow
Wife and I are now officially retired. Looking at RV's to allow us roaming on our schedule. We have made an "Our Turn" list of things/places we want to do/see.
After years of caring for ailing parents, divorced siblings who sent their children to be raised by us along with our kids and all the activities requiring Mom and Dad taxi service, working our butts off making our small business thrive (which it is still doing as a nice tax write-off) it is Our Turn and we are getting ready.
TAKE YOUR TIME. A couple of months now will make you happier in the long run.
I highly recommend you rent for a trip or two to make sure that is what you want to do. RV’s don’t hold their value at all, and there are retirees who sink their money into one only to realize they don’t enjoy it as much as they thought they would, but they are stuck with it unless they take a huge loss. I have heard people say a boat is a hole in the water you throw money into, an RV is the same thing. Things break, you make mistakes, upkeep to keep it on the road, they cost quite a bit of money. The other neat thing about renting, you will find what is important to you in amenities. I am on my third fifth-wheel and still hate that I overlooked problems in the floor plan that don’t suit us.
There is also the issue of how you want to live, those 45’ motorhomes can’t get into a lot of campgrounds, but you give up a lot of comfort with some of the smaller ones.
I love traveling with our trailer, we always have a place to sleep and can eat food we prepare, but travel times are extended and it can be difficult to get around sometimes.
In that case, a high quality durable Class A motor home should do the job. Minimum 35-40 feet with 3-4 slide outs. Buy used, but get it inspected by an independent inspector. Based on what you are wanting to do, make sure it is a diesel.
First don’t listen to the RV sales people.....they won’t tell you what you see is what you get. The hitches, tubes, hookups etc. will be added expenses....... And those sales people likely have never bought one themselves so they can’t truthfully answer your questions..... Do your home work because you won’t get an instruction booklet specific to the model you buy, just a generic booklet.
There’s lots of videos on how to buy and what to watch out for on you tube........so just be informed before you go buying.
BTW Know that they move around their lots frequently so just because you don’t see the one you saw before doesn’t mean it’s still not there...
A lightly USED one.
Tiffin makes the Allegro our friends just bought.
Awesome house on wheels! Got a button for everything.
Been looking at both Class A gas and diesel.
Also wondering about towing a small car with us.
A lot of people buy these and then hardly use them. So then they sell them.
You can save a ton of money by buying a used one in good shape like that rather than buying new. You might save 10’s of thousands of dollars.
I don’t know where you live, but if you’re close enough it is worthwhile to visit Tiffin Motorhomes in Red Bay, Alabama and you can even custom order an RV with exactly the layout you want
It’s fascinating watching them being made
And declare it your primary residency.
Yep. Just myself and my beloved.
It really depends on what you want to do, where you want to go and how much you want to spend. We had a 27 foot travel trailer for many years, with lots of bells and whistles in it. It suited us, as we had a big Tundra truck to attach it too. In hindsight, we would have purchased an Airstream. They are around and the vintage ones are great.
After 4 hurricanes through Central Florida in 2004 and two evacuations.......we bought an RV to bug out in, but haven’t had a hurricane go through since.........
We always towed......our best trip was 3 months out West
Caveat!.....Things can and do break......it helps to be a bit mechanical minded
Buy used. Depreciation is YUGE!
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WHAT HE SAID... I’m in Florida ... lots of boats and RV’s with little usage bought by people in your situation for sale here... I’d say to make sure it’s for you before you dive in ... and then buy at an auction or estate sale in Florida...
First, what is your budget?
We have had a fifth wheel, 34 ft. Montana, for five years. Really have enjoyed it. It has a stainless steel residential fridge, electric fireplace (really will warm the whole camper) A/C front and back, tons of storage in the camper and underneath, computer desk, four burner gas stove, oven and combo microwave and convection oven. Four slides. Our only regret is that we have a king bed instead of a queen. The queen would give us more “walk around” room. Very roomy bathroom and shower. We tow it with a 250 Ford diesel. Well balanced and easily towed. MR. RR even lets me drive it.
We usually leave this cold climate and spend two or three months each year in Arizona. Very comfortable living.
I agree and it helps to have ready capital.
My late wife’s Uncle was wealthy. One day we were visiting them and he had an almost new motor home. He never did tell us what he paid but a woman had become widowed and offered it to him at a price he could not turn down.
We all went out and sat in it and boy it was nice.
Going those distances I would definitely go with some kind of 5th wheel camper.
By the way, short trailers like 20-24 feet are a difficult unit to backup...over-correction is a bitch.
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