Shopping for first RV...need guidance

Phydeauxman wrote:
Thanks for the replies. @ ReneeG...you say you admire me for doing the 5th wheel first...why? I am trying to read into what you mean by that. I thought they were easier to tow...am I wrong about that? Are there reasons why someone should consider a Tow Trailer first before a 5th Wheel?

I grew up farming and towed enough trailers that, when we decided to buy an RV, I knew from jump that I would not even consider a travel trailer and I didn't want a motor home. Everything is a learning curve, no matter what you decide to get, so don't let that deter or intimidate you. There are so many resources out there that you just have to search them out to find what you need. Don't be afraid to take time to select the right RV for you, you'll be glad you did.

You =are= going to run into weight issues with a 3/4 ton truck and the size RV you're looking for. Not that there aren't plenty that will fit the bill, but you're likely to have to sacrifice on some things that you might want to stay within your limits. I was totally clueless when I bought my FW and, even my single-slide, low-profile FW pretty much maxes out my 2002 D'max because it's simply =heavy= and my truck is wimpy compared to today's trucks. Depending on the age of your kids (assuming the other 4 are kids), you've got a couple choices. You can forego a free-standing dinette in lieu of a booth that converts to a bed or you can go for a bunk house model. Both have their ups and downs, though the BH will allow you to have a dinette, if you want it.

Read, read, read, and visit lots of dealers. Don't be afraid to go outside your area, but know that RV dealerships are NOT like auto dealers. They have absolutely zero obligation to service your RV in a timely manner (sometimes not at all), if you didn't buy from them. You'll read many comments where people had to call the manufacturer and get a mobile RV service to do warranty repairs when a local dealer for that brand wouldn't fix their issues. When you're on the road, it can become a real issue. Again, something I didn't know at the beginning.

When shopping, you'll find that completely identical RVs can have wildly different "retail" prices. Basically, the mfrs seem to set a "target" MSRP and let the dealers just sort of make things up as they go. No matter what, find the lowest MSRP for the same model, no matter where it is, then take that to your local dealer and see if they're willing to come close, or beat it. The general "rule" these days seems to be about 30-35% discount from "retail", which shows you the true value of RVs. Even after that discount, dealers =still= have to be making double-digit margins, or they wouldn't survive.

Good luck in your search.

Lyle