1000 questions !!!

That's a LOT of questions! Sent you a PM.

After reading you posting it does bring up a 1,000 questions. You might want to see what interests you in this "stickey".
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/264829.cfm
When we first got into it, we soon learned that RVing was like any other thing. It's own terminology and learning curve.

bjsketti44 wrote:
My husband I want to sell our home and buy an Rv to retire at the coast in. We have an idea of the floor plan we want. But there are a million questions now in my mind. LOOKING FOR ALL ADVICE AND EXPERIENCE. :)

From you veteran RV retirees....what advice would you give on deciding what kind of (we want a 5th wheel) RV to buy? Decide how you are going to use it. Park for a week or more at a time or move every day or two? What problems have you had? What good results have you had? What brand do you recommend?Again, this depends on how you intend to use it.

We hope to be able to pay cash...what experiences have you had with warranties? used RVs?? things I might not think about? lol What do we have to have to pull it with? Weight problems? Septic problems? Electrical? Budget? You will usually get more with a TT, a little less in a fifth wheel and a lot less in a motor home for any given $$$

Does anyone have experience with putting their RV on private property, vs. in a park? What do I need to know about park leases?

Insurance? replacement parts and repair? etc...Too many variables to really give you much here. Age, condition have a lot to do with it.

Please...we need all the help we can get!!

Thanks so much.

First of all, decide how your going to use it. Second, get to a RV show and visit as many floor plans and as many brands within the type YOU think you will be happiest with.. Each of you take notes on likes and dislikes paying particular attention to brands YOU like best. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT BUYING. Next, start shopping both online and at local dealers for the floor plans that you feel fit your dreams best. Finally after all that start shopping for the best deal you can get on what you want.
Best thing we ever did was once we found a floor plan we thought we could be happy with we got rid of the salesman and played house for a half hour or so. We make believe we were taking a shower, using the toilet, sleeping, making a meal etc etc. At the end of the day we eliminated a couple of brands because they did not have a place for a garbage can in the kitchen, and steeled on the one we current are living in. This trailer is 9 years old and still fits our needs perfectly.

I think you should first decide where you want to go in your RV and how you want to use it. We went full time and then bought a small place in La Paz. We park our RV at our house here and continue to use it but integrate it with our home. Then, we travel throughout the US during the summer months in our 5th wheel.

So our specifications for an RV were based on the fact that we wanted something sturdy, but not necessarily new and something we could travel safely on mountain and narrow roads - especially where we go in Mexico. We also didn't want something too big because it limits the parks we can go to and the places we can boondock.

So first think about where you want to go and what you want to do. That will dictate size, new or used, floor plan, whether you need some extra money for solar (if you want to boondock), etc.

Do you also want to be able to haul bicycles, kayaks, or some other small toys? What hobbies will you engage in after your go full-timing that might dictate size, construction, extras, etc.

Good luck!

thank you! good points :)

Are you planning on moving around in the RV, or just parking it near the coast? If you aren't planning on moving around, then look at park models.

Some of the lower end 5ers have some great floor plans, but very poor insulation and quality. R-value and build quality took priority on our list. Then came comfort and other residential features.

We like Suites (this is our 3rd one) because we customized it. Each year they add a few features as standard. Those built after ours have even more features in the pkg.

I agree 1st decide how your will "RV". If you'll be stationary more than rolling do not buy any type of motorhome, go with a trailer or any size that suits you.

After that big choice looks for the price and floor plan you like.

You also could try looking for a centrally located SRV RV lot thet has all the hookup for a RV/Fifth Wheel. I am considering one such lot in the Star Valley Wyoming area. Prices range from $18,000-$32,000. You will also have to pay a monthy Maintenace fee due to the resort setting, and the price can vary. You can find the information on-line through the area Real estate companies listings, that's how i discovered the information. It should be similar in the States you are interested in, and the price maybe more/ less.
Do a lot of reasearch on line before you decide what to do. Best of luck in your search.
Scott

We retired,sold the money-pit and never looked back!!!

-Go fifth wheel and DON'T skimp on the truck (I recommend Dodge diesel dually four-door with an 8' box), with coaches your at the mercy of rv dealers (YUK!!) but your big-three trucks cost the same to repair weather an rv is attatched or not also with a coach you'll need a toad (a second car) so that's double the insurance/maintenece/plates/e-test and such,,,

-Buy the biggest fiver you can that way you'll avoid two-foot-its! We own a 38' Cedar Creek Daydreamer, absolutely great fiver(Cedar Creek's after-the-sale customer support is the best in the industry hands down)It's got the perfect amount of space for us but has tons of out-side storage which I couldn't do with out. also look for a household refrigerator, ours is an Amana 18 cubic ft. residential with an icemaker, this is a must! Also due to it's layout there are two real separate zones that with the door closed it allows Frau Blücher and I to get some personal space which really takes the edge off of living in small quarters.

-Buy used, this is gonna' sound lousy but there often are great combo units out there for sale because the husband passed and such, it's the reality of life and you can save tons!

-Our extended warranty was useless,don't wate you dough!

-Our insurance company took great care of us and our rig but be careful NOT to tell them you living full-time in it,they might not cover you also if you have kids rent their basement off the and call it a Granny/Grandpa aptartment and insure it and call it your permanent residence that way your home-owners policy will cover you rv and golf cart and shed and so-on,we saved a small fortune that way and all your licence/passports and the like are all from the same place which looks good at the border!

-Be your own service/repair tech!! Learn about your rig and its systems, with the help of the internet,other RV'ers and this forum and the manufacturers them-selves you can diagnose/fix just about everything your self and save a bundle!

-Depending how you want to travel is up to you, as Frau Blücher and I were already "well travelled" we stay in Ontario for the summer and Florida for the winter and have permanent site in both places which works for us.

Mostly you need to relax, let things progress and not sweat the little things, I you don't like where your at,,leave but most of all HAVE FUN!!!