On the forums I occasionaly read that a specific RV is not so rated. Is this rating a formalized, structured, legitimate rating system, or merely accepted, common knowledge amongst the more knowledgeable RVers?
We've not yet taken the plunge but continue to talk about it.
TIA
Frank
bjoyce said
10:26 PM Aug 16, 2013
That is a rating from http://rv.org/, where a full time rating means the RV can be lived in all year in all 48 lower states, winter and summer. Most full timers are in "snowbird" rated RVs, which are not made to handle cold winters and hot summers. We are in a snowbird rated RV.
There are some brands that are not warranted for fulltime usage, which is different, but also a consideration. In about every case I have heard of, these are cheap RVs that fall apart if used heavily.
frankphelps said
10:47 PM Aug 16, 2013
That helps, Bill. Thanks. We won't be needing FT rating, for sure. I get your difference between "rated" and "warranted" for FT useage. I'll try to avoid the cheapies!
Frank
GENECOP said
11:51 PM Aug 16, 2013
Some companies throw that term around a little to much...
frankphelps said
12:51 AM Aug 17, 2013
I can believe that! Heck of a sales pitch.
Terry and Jo said
02:25 AM Aug 17, 2013
Yeppers. Four season in Florida is a whole lot different that four seasons in Oklahoma. The last couple of years, we had temperatures range from a low of 14 degrees all the way up to 115 degrees and more here in Oklahoma City.
With regard to the "warranty for a full time rig," insist on seeing their warranty in writing. I even had factory representative (that didn't warranty full-time use) tell me to "just not mention that we lived in it full-time" if we needed warranty work. I left that dealership area in a hurry because I just don't think I can trust them to honor something that is NOT in writing.
Terry
frankphelps said
05:08 AM Aug 17, 2013
Thanks, Terry. There's so much to learn, it's scary!
Terry and Jo said
09:10 AM Aug 17, 2013
Frank,
I apologize for not welcoming you to the forums. At times I can be a "rotten" host as a moderator. You've not used the "Introduce Yourself" category of the forums yet to introduce yourself, so we don't know what kind of plans you have, nor how much time you've got before "biting the bullet," so allow me to say that these forums at RV Dreams are a good place to start with the learning process, if in fact, you are just starting. Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind about RV's and the RV lifestyle. I've heard a number of folks say that this is the friendliest site with regards to RV forums.
Don't get the idea that all this is "scary" to learn. (If it gets scary, it may be time to back up and slow down the process of "picking a date" for the new lifestyle.) The research for choosing an RV is mostly a process of learning by reading and asking questions. You will get a lot of recommendations for brands and models, but you are looking for an RV for "YOU," so take their recommendations into consideration, but look for what it is that you want for your RV lifestyle.
To aid yourself with the research, be sure and use the "Search" function in the blue bar at the top of the forum pages. I do advise to use as few words as possible as search phrases so that you don't get "pages and pages" of information that really isn't related to your questions.
If your idea is selling your home and living full-time in your RV, look for something that meets your needs and is solidly built. I've stated it a number of times, but the very foundation of an RV is made up of the frame, suspension, axles, wheels and tires. That is one area where I paid a lot of attention with regards to the construction as we no longer have a house, but live in our Mobile Suites while we are still working.
Good luck with your research and planning, and again, welcome to the RV Dreams "family."
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 17th of August 2013 09:13:46 AM
kb0zke said
11:30 PM Aug 20, 2013
Frank, we started discussing going full-time about three years ago. We spent most of that time figuring out what we actually wanted to do, where we wanted to go, etc. I called it our mission profile. That helped us determine what sort of RV we needed. It turned out that what we needed wasn't what we originally thought it would be, so don't lock yourself into something just because you've always wanted one like that, or a friend has one, or anything else. Let your mission profile determine the type of coach you need. While you are working on that, of course, you can start looking at various brands and floor plans. Since there are only so many ways to arrange the space inside of an rv, it really doesn't matter at first whether you are looking at a million dollar coach or the cheapest thing on the lot. If the floor plan won't work for you you won't be happy with it.
I'd strongly suggest that you plan on buying a used coach. Many people go through two or three coaches in a fairly short period of time before they get it right. You WILL take quite a financial bath if you buy each of those coaches brand new. Also, you will be better off buying a somewhat older, but higher quality, coach than a lower quality new one. Some friends of ours bought a new motor home for full-timing, and quickly discovered that it wasn't up to their quality standards. They traded it for a 10-year-old Foretravel. Adding what they lost on the first one to what they spent on the Foretravel would have gotten them a fairly new Foretravel at first.
Take your time and learn all you can. Above all, make sure that your wife is in agreement on EVERYTHING. "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" isn't just a cute saying. Figure out your own mission profile, then decide what sort of coach fits that profile, find a floor plan that works for you, and buy the highest quality coach you can regardless of age. Be sure to keep some money back for repairs and upgrades to make the coach fit you.
On the forums I occasionaly read that a specific RV is not so rated. Is this rating a formalized, structured, legitimate rating system, or merely accepted, common knowledge amongst the more knowledgeable RVers?
We've not yet taken the plunge but continue to talk about it.
TIA
Frank
That is a rating from http://rv.org/, where a full time rating means the RV can be lived in all year in all 48 lower states, winter and summer. Most full timers are in "snowbird" rated RVs, which are not made to handle cold winters and hot summers. We are in a snowbird rated RV.
There are some brands that are not warranted for fulltime usage, which is different, but also a consideration. In about every case I have heard of, these are cheap RVs that fall apart if used heavily.
Frank
I can believe that! Heck of a sales pitch.
Yeppers. Four season in Florida is a whole lot different that four seasons in Oklahoma. The last couple of years, we had temperatures range from a low of 14 degrees all the way up to 115 degrees and more here in Oklahoma City.
With regard to the "warranty for a full time rig," insist on seeing their warranty in writing. I even had factory representative (that didn't warranty full-time use) tell me to "just not mention that we lived in it full-time" if we needed warranty work. I left that dealership area in a hurry because I just don't think I can trust them to honor something that is NOT in writing.
Terry
Frank,
I apologize for not welcoming you to the forums. At times I can be a "rotten" host as a moderator. You've not used the "Introduce Yourself" category of the forums yet to introduce yourself, so we don't know what kind of plans you have, nor how much time you've got before "biting the bullet," so allow me to say that these forums at RV Dreams are a good place to start with the learning process, if in fact, you are just starting. Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind about RV's and the RV lifestyle. I've heard a number of folks say that this is the friendliest site with regards to RV forums.
Don't get the idea that all this is "scary" to learn. (If it gets scary, it may be time to back up and slow down the process of "picking a date" for the new lifestyle.) The research for choosing an RV is mostly a process of learning by reading and asking questions. You will get a lot of recommendations for brands and models, but you are looking for an RV for "YOU," so take their recommendations into consideration, but look for what it is that you want for your RV lifestyle.
To aid yourself with the research, be sure and use the "Search" function in the blue bar at the top of the forum pages. I do advise to use as few words as possible as search phrases so that you don't get "pages and pages" of information that really isn't related to your questions.
If your idea is selling your home and living full-time in your RV, look for something that meets your needs and is solidly built. I've stated it a number of times, but the very foundation of an RV is made up of the frame, suspension, axles, wheels and tires. That is one area where I paid a lot of attention with regards to the construction as we no longer have a house, but live in our Mobile Suites while we are still working.
Good luck with your research and planning, and again, welcome to the RV Dreams "family."
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 17th of August 2013 09:13:46 AM
I'd strongly suggest that you plan on buying a used coach. Many people go through two or three coaches in a fairly short period of time before they get it right. You WILL take quite a financial bath if you buy each of those coaches brand new. Also, you will be better off buying a somewhat older, but higher quality, coach than a lower quality new one. Some friends of ours bought a new motor home for full-timing, and quickly discovered that it wasn't up to their quality standards. They traded it for a 10-year-old Foretravel. Adding what they lost on the first one to what they spent on the Foretravel would have gotten them a fairly new Foretravel at first.
Take your time and learn all you can. Above all, make sure that your wife is in agreement on EVERYTHING. "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" isn't just a cute saying. Figure out your own mission profile, then decide what sort of coach fits that profile, find a floor plan that works for you, and buy the highest quality coach you can regardless of age. Be sure to keep some money back for repairs and upgrades to make the coach fit you.
Have fun!