Hi all, and thanks. I have read several posts, and some of my questions are unique and I would appreciate opinions and advice. We decided earlier this week to sell our boat and buy an RV. So we know absolutely nothing about them. Started looking yesterday and was a bit overwhelmed What we do want is either the Class C or Class A. We will be buying used, as our budget will be between 30k and 35k. And this is not for full timing, just here and there when we want to get away or take a cross country vacation. We are trying to educate ourselves so we can make a good purchase. Some of our questions. We want something that is in good shape, good quality, and will last.
1. Obviously and has been asked many times, but how do the brands of Class A stack up..best and so forth and then the Class C, same thing. And I suppose I should add, that looking at them from the used standpoint...maybe from 1995 on..not sure if what you think is best was best since then, is what I am saying.
2. Along with that questions, I have found as would be expected, newer Class C's cost more than older Class A's. So would like thoughts on that...If can get a 199x or 2000 for less than a mid 200x Class C, what would you advise?
3. Another question, is there a difference between Ford, Chevy, etc?
4. I would assume that mileage on these is not like a car. So how many miles would be considered too much?
Those are our main thoughts for right now and any input would be appreciated!
Thanks...tim
GENECOP said
02:54 AM Sep 19, 2013
Ford Chevy.....Apples Oranges.....i would not let that make or break a deal......A or C Size and Storage of an A VS Reliabilty and ease of maintenance of a C.....hit a few shows, start looking, you will quickly start to discover what you like......welcome to the Forum.....
Terry and Jo said
04:30 AM Sep 19, 2013
Welcome, Tim.
As Gene suggested, take in dealerships and RV shows just so you can get an idea of floorplans and systems on the RV's that you might find that you want to make sure you have on your RV. Read a lot here on the forums in the "Buying an RV" category to learn even more. As you have questions, ask them. Check out the "Search" function int the blue bar at the top of the forums to find threads that are related to your interest at the time.
As for engines, a diesel engine will have more torque than a gasoline engine and it will last for a lot more miles when they are taken care of. When looking at used RV's, see if you can find a maintenance record for the RV. The more you read and ask questions, the more you will find that you become comfortable with choices and options.
Good luck with your research and planning.
Terry
SnowGypsy said
07:55 AM Sep 19, 2013
We just purchased a copy of "Buying A Used Motorhome" from Amazon and it came in the mail yesterday. It would be an excellent resource because it is so simple and to the point from someone that has bought and sold a few motorhomes. When we started RVing we had bought an old pop-up from someone in the neighborhood which we thought was the best thing on 2 wheels. We drove by a dealer and he had an old Minnie Winnie and we stopped to "just look". So, it had over 90,000 and mice had nested in the engine at one time but it was the best thing on 4 wheels. We had no idea what we were doing when we purchased but we ended up being lucky with several minor repairs and drove it many miles on vacations and used it when relocating. Even if someone is buying a new unit, it really pays to understand used units. It is an education in itself to go through several used units especially of those manufacturers that you might be interested in because you will see the difference between "abuse" and some that just fall apart. The book gives a checklist of things to look for in the right motorhome and helps you sort out which would be the better fit.. The author seems to have no bias when discussing the choices and lists both pros and cons. He also lists resources for finding a used RV, advice on feeling out a scam, figuring out what a unit is worth and making the offer. I was impressed and, frankly, not much impresses me anymore. Easy read and also available in a Kindle version. I wish I could find an equally good book for trailers.
Edit by moderator: Cleaned up link to Amazon. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 19th of September 2013 10:46:47 AM
RN on the road said
01:16 PM Sep 19, 2013
When Linda and I started camping some years ago (45 plus) it was hard to find a broad spectrum of rental units. Today I would suggest visitin shows and renting a few units for trips...see what fits you and your lifestyle. As for new vs used, another personal call based on available funds, but remember, with used its not how many miles, but how was it built ( many companies are now out of business and for good reason) and even more important, how it was used and maintained. Patrick
Lucky Mike said
03:17 PM Sep 19, 2013
Good ...Better ...Best...Worst!!!
Get out the easy chair, plenty of Coffee and a good set of glasses because this is one of the dreaded million answer forum questions.......there is no right answer some will have bad others will have good all on the same type..
you have to go out there and find something that fills your needs....See it ,Feel it, Imagine what it is going to be like in the long run......lay down ....sit....stand in the shower.....look in cabinets.....start it... drive it....tow it ...Rent it ...borrow it...look for another just like it, change your mind and look for another nothing like it and do it all over again!!!!
What makes me happy does not in most cases make you happy.....
and if it wasnt for opinions....the Bible would not have over a hundred versions
Lots of looking....shows , rallies , dealers....private sales....and in the end , a good education as you pull off on your first journey!!!.........it has to be all you want, you will know it when you see it!!
TEOSC said
01:28 AM Sep 20, 2013
Hi and thanks for the great advice and thoughts. I have made many notes here.
my lady hates camping..real camping, but is open to an Rv. And we won't be doing it full time. Just a vacation here and there, or if a couple of her girlfriends come over and that want to get away by themselves for a day or so. So it will really only be here and there. We figure we will use it more than we are the boat.
We have settled pretty much on either an A or a C.
And thanks for the book recommendation. I just ordered it!
Thank you so much for all your detailed and caring posts! And we will kick a lot of tires and are not in any rush. Just trying to get started and you folks have been wonderful in that endeavor!....t
kb0zke said
02:16 PM Sep 21, 2013
Welcome, Tim. Only you can pick the right RV for you. Since there are so many available it would seem that picking the right one would be easy. It is, and it isn't. The easiest way is to try to focus on what you need and want first, looking at how you will use it (full-time, several months at a time, weekends, one two-week vacation per year) and whether you are going to be moving from place to place fairly often, or whether you are going to settle in for months at a time. You have already taken some of those steps, so on to the next section.
ANY motor vehicle, whether a car, truck, RV, boat, or airplane, needs to be used frequently. That doesn't mean firing up the engine once a month, letting it idle for five minutes, and shutting it down. It means driving it until it has reached operating temperature. That exercises not only the engine but also the transmission and suspension. Same with the generator - run it under load.
Unless your plan is to drive to a campground and stay at the campsite until you pack up to go home, you are going to want to drive around a bit. That means towing something behind the motor home, either a car/truck of some sort or a trailer with motorcycles. At this point you are going to need to start checking the weight information on the rigs you are considering. Many Class C coaches are close to their gross weight even without much stuff in them, and the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is pretty close to the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The difference between the GCWR and GVWR is what you can tow. GVWR is the most the rig can weigh, including people, food, water, pets, tongue weight of the trailer/toad, etc. Just because there is room to put stuff doesn't mean that you can carry it.
We settled on a diesel pusher (DP) motorhome, so we didn't spend much time looking at the Class C rigs. High quality DP coaches include Bluebird Wanderlodge, Foretravel, Newell, Prevost. Tiffin and Newmar are also mentioned, but we found them to be somewhat below the four others. Others will disagree. Yes, all motor homes like fuel. Some of the smaller and lighter Foretravels are getting 12-14 mpg. We get 7-8, but that's with the generator running. 'Birds usually are getting 5-6 mpg.
If you are looking at gasoline-powered rigs you can generally figure that it ought to show 5-10,000 miles per year. Less than that and it has been sitting too long. Seals will have dried up and you will spend lots of time fixing small things. More than about 150,000 and I'd start to get worried. Coaches with diesels in them have engines that are designed to run for many hundreds of thousands of miles. Again, low miles are more of a concern than high miles. No matter what, maintenance is the key. You want something that has been cared for properly.
SnowGypsy said
01:10 PM Sep 22, 2013
David, kb0zke: I wanted to say that is an excellent post. I am the one that recommended the book and your writing is along the same line, basic and to the point. So many people need just that, something without a lot of technical jargon just so they can get out there and look. You can always have someone look it over for you for the more technical aspects once you find what you are looking for or get a detailed buyer's checklist to use yourself but it is that just locating what you might be interested in and that might work that most initially need some guidance on.
Hi all, and thanks. I have read several posts, and some of my questions are unique and I would appreciate opinions and advice. We decided earlier this week to sell our boat and buy an RV. So we know absolutely nothing about them. Started looking yesterday and was a bit overwhelmed What we do want is either the Class C or Class A. We will be buying used, as our budget will be between 30k and 35k. And this is not for full timing, just here and there when we want to get away or take a cross country vacation.
We are trying to educate ourselves so we can make a good purchase.
Some of our questions. We want something that is in good shape, good quality, and will last.
1. Obviously and has been asked many times, but how do the brands of Class A stack up..best and so forth and then the Class C, same thing. And I suppose I should add, that looking at them from the used standpoint...maybe from 1995 on..not sure if what you think is best was best since then, is what I am saying.
2. Along with that questions, I have found as would be expected, newer Class C's cost more than older Class A's. So would like thoughts on that...If can get a 199x or 2000 for less than a mid 200x Class C, what would you advise?
3. Another question, is there a difference between Ford, Chevy, etc?
4. I would assume that mileage on these is not like a car. So how many miles would be considered too much?
Those are our main thoughts for right now and any input would be appreciated!
Thanks...tim
Welcome, Tim.
As Gene suggested, take in dealerships and RV shows just so you can get an idea of floorplans and systems on the RV's that you might find that you want to make sure you have on your RV. Read a lot here on the forums in the "Buying an RV" category to learn even more. As you have questions, ask them. Check out the "Search" function int the blue bar at the top of the forums to find threads that are related to your interest at the time.
As for engines, a diesel engine will have more torque than a gasoline engine and it will last for a lot more miles when they are taken care of. When looking at used RV's, see if you can find a maintenance record for the RV. The more you read and ask questions, the more you will find that you become comfortable with choices and options.
Good luck with your research and planning.
Terry
We just purchased a copy of "Buying A Used Motorhome" from Amazon and it came in the mail yesterday. It would be an excellent resource because it is so simple and to the point from someone that has bought and sold a few motorhomes. When we started RVing we had bought an old pop-up from someone in the neighborhood which we thought was the best thing on 2 wheels. We drove by a dealer and he had an old Minnie Winnie and we stopped to "just look". So, it had over 90,000 and mice had nested in the engine at one time but it was the best thing on 4 wheels. We had no idea what we were doing when we purchased but we ended up being lucky with several minor repairs and drove it many miles on vacations and used it when relocating. Even if someone is buying a new unit, it really pays to understand used units. It is an education in itself to go through several used units especially of those manufacturers that you might be interested in because you will see the difference between "abuse" and some that just fall apart. The book gives a checklist of things to look for in the right motorhome and helps you sort out which would be the better fit.. The author seems to have no bias when discussing the choices and lists both pros and cons. He also lists resources for finding a used RV, advice on feeling out a scam, figuring out what a unit is worth and making the offer. I was impressed and, frankly, not much impresses me anymore. Easy read and also available in a Kindle version. I wish I could find an equally good book for trailers.
Edit by moderator: Cleaned up link to Amazon. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 19th of September 2013 10:46:47 AM
Get out the easy chair, plenty of Coffee and a good set of glasses because this is one of the dreaded million answer forum questions.......there is no right answer some will have bad others will have good all on the same type..
you have to go out there and find something that fills your needs....See it ,Feel it, Imagine what it is going to be like in the long run......lay down ....sit....stand in the shower.....look in cabinets.....start it... drive it....tow it ...Rent it ...borrow it...look for another just like it, change your mind and look for another nothing like it and do it all over again!!!!
What makes me happy does not in most cases make you happy.....
and if it wasnt for opinions....the Bible would not have over a hundred versions
Lots of looking....shows , rallies , dealers....private sales....and in the end , a good education as you pull off on your first journey!!!.........it has to be all you want, you will know it when you see it!!
my lady hates camping..real camping, but is open to an Rv. And we won't be doing it full time. Just a vacation here and there, or if a couple of her girlfriends come over and that want to get away by themselves for a day or so. So it will really only be here and there. We figure we will use it more than we are the boat.
We have settled pretty much on either an A or a C.
And thanks for the book recommendation. I just ordered it!
Thank you so much for all your detailed and caring posts! And we will kick a lot of tires and are not in any rush. Just trying to get started and you folks have been wonderful in that endeavor!....t
ANY motor vehicle, whether a car, truck, RV, boat, or airplane, needs to be used frequently. That doesn't mean firing up the engine once a month, letting it idle for five minutes, and shutting it down. It means driving it until it has reached operating temperature. That exercises not only the engine but also the transmission and suspension. Same with the generator - run it under load.
Unless your plan is to drive to a campground and stay at the campsite until you pack up to go home, you are going to want to drive around a bit. That means towing something behind the motor home, either a car/truck of some sort or a trailer with motorcycles. At this point you are going to need to start checking the weight information on the rigs you are considering. Many Class C coaches are close to their gross weight even without much stuff in them, and the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is pretty close to the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The difference between the GCWR and GVWR is what you can tow. GVWR is the most the rig can weigh, including people, food, water, pets, tongue weight of the trailer/toad, etc. Just because there is room to put stuff doesn't mean that you can carry it.
We settled on a diesel pusher (DP) motorhome, so we didn't spend much time looking at the Class C rigs. High quality DP coaches include Bluebird Wanderlodge, Foretravel, Newell, Prevost. Tiffin and Newmar are also mentioned, but we found them to be somewhat below the four others. Others will disagree. Yes, all motor homes like fuel. Some of the smaller and lighter Foretravels are getting 12-14 mpg. We get 7-8, but that's with the generator running. 'Birds usually are getting 5-6 mpg.
If you are looking at gasoline-powered rigs you can generally figure that it ought to show 5-10,000 miles per year. Less than that and it has been sitting too long. Seals will have dried up and you will spend lots of time fixing small things. More than about 150,000 and I'd start to get worried. Coaches with diesels in them have engines that are designed to run for many hundreds of thousands of miles. Again, low miles are more of a concern than high miles. No matter what, maintenance is the key. You want something that has been cared for properly.