I'm in the process of buying the above mentioned Class A, it has only 14,000 miles, but a few questions...

1) It has an Onan MicroQuiet 4000 generator; that looks like it runs on gas? How do these things work? I never had a generator.

2) How much propane capacity does a small Class A generally take?

3) Looks like the electric step is stuck open; is that a hard or difficult fix?

4) It has a big ol' TV right up front; if I take it out, will there be both AC and DC hook ups in back? Are these TVs specific to RVs, or just regular TVs?

5) It has a full size RV cover in the trunk; very nice, but it is heavy, takes up a lot of room, and I will probably not use it, as I will be living full time. Are these things hard to sell? Same with the TV. Is there some forum or a real life RV swap meet, where I could sell some of this stuff?

6) It has 2010 tags. I don't want to spend the $$$ to register it in California, but go straight to Nevada, and register it there. (No need to double spend!) Any ideas on what I can do? (Perhaps the GMAC insurance guy can help me on this one...)

Any other insights or wisdom concerning the Fleetwood Fiesta will be much appreciated!  It is generally in good shape, clean and cute, with a lot more storage space than I have now.

 

 

My experience is there is more phantom 12volt load in a motorhome than a trailer, so your batteries will drain a bit faster when boondocking. Also remember you have a battery for the engine and some number of batteries for the coach, probably 2. Somewhere on the dash you should have a battery boost switch which hooks the engine and coach batteries together, it is spring loaded so you have to hold it on. If your engine doesn't start because the engine battery is down, use the boost switch to start the engine. You probably have a cheap converter to charge your batteries from shore power or generator, it won't charge your coach batteries very fast. You might need to plug your shore power plug into a plug to use the generator, or you will have an automatic transfer switch (black box) that will switch to generator when it is running. You can't use your generator immediately, it needs a couple minutes before it puts out electricity. Also when turning it off, shut off all the appliances and wait 30 seconds, it is hard on the appliances to lose power quickly and also hard on the generator to be shut off with much load on it. A generator that size probably uses about 1/2 gallon of gas an hour, about $2 a gallon at today's prices.

If its from a dealer, they should provide temporary 45 day out of state papers, but you must have out of state DL to get those. If you're financing w/CA DL then you pay CA taxes, or higher interest rates for full timers. At least that is my understanding. Check it out to confirm.

Sherry

I am stuck here in California til I get new wheels, so no Nevada license, and I know these guys are not going to go to Nevada with this RV to register it. So I will be stuck with the tax, but if I take off right away, I can probably just get it registered in Nevada.

I can accept the tax, but just want to get it registered and licensed in Nevada (why pay to have it in California for like a week or two?)

Yeah, that Patriot Act thing... it's a good thing I started the loan with the Springdale before I left my last "sticks and bricks", and it's working out that I already have a foot in the door... the gal that does the loan paperwork was concerned about a utlity bill, that they won't do loans without some sort of utility bill. Also, I got a $1,000 line of credit started with the truck, and even though I have been at Wells Fargo forever, they were insisting on a paycheck stub... well, I was getting direct deposits to Wells Fargo, that didn't count, the company I worked for was too cheap to send out paycheck stubs, and they were insisting I go in on my day off, and get one. I refused, because I actually made more on my home business, and I insisted that they give me the line of credit based on my small business income. I brought in my tax returns for the previous year, and they were acting all amazed and suspicious because I had a lot of royalty income! What do you get royalties for!? Umm, for books and music? I actually had to explain how and why I make a modest living off books and music. Well, I did get that loan, based on my own entreprenurial spirit and hard work! I have seen news lately that self employed individuals are way, way down, like by 25%. It seems like it's almost illegal to do anything but collect a paycheck, rent and pay bills!

That's the problem, the corporate world has taken over the government regulation world, and is basically dictating in some way that the only people who can get credit are people collecting paychecks (not self employed) and are sticks and bricks, either renting or mortgage, and are paying utility bills. Self employed, RV, or "living off the grid" don't count, and almost make you a "person of interest".  I have even heard a radio commercial here, for a guy who may be able to get you qualified for a home loan, if you are self employed (with a 25% down payment).

So, there is a "sold" sign on the Fleetwood Fiesta, and I am anxiously awaiting the "totalled" verdict on the Ford, so I can move forward. Visualizing interior design and storage, planning a trip route, and also, lightening the load even more! So I still probably have a month here.

Any tips on driving a Class A?  This is a smaller one, 26', no slide. I don't have a toad. (This will be my home and my only set of wheels!  At least until I get to Nevada, then I may get a small car there).