Advice on class C RV

Not all extended warranties start when the factory warranty runs out , like Bordercollie mentioned "loop holes" !
A lot start the day you drive off the lot so that so called 5 year extended warranty is really only good for 2 years , hence the factory warranty being a 3 year 36K miles warranty ..

Read the small print and get it in writing when the salesman/finance person says sure its a 5 year warranty or 3 or ?? year warranty !! Have them put it in writing that it starts when the factory stops....

If a person is even thinking of buying the extended warranty .
And yes it is just as negotiable as the sticker price of the vehicle is...

Man we could start a whole new thread on warranties lol..

Extended Mechanical Warranties- If you buy a new or used rig from a dealer, they may offer to sell you a warranty contract. Most of these are money makers for the dealer and insurance company. They are full of loop holes, exclusions and requirements for keeping records of period inspections and servicing of appliances and chassis. New rigs have chassis warranties and individual appliance, etc., warrantees. Add-on warranties don't take effect until after chassis and appliance warranties run out. Better to anticipate expenses for tire periodic tire replacements, maintenance, repairs and upgrades, parts and labor, and maintain a "Pearl Harbor" savings account for when/if you need it.

OFDPOS wrote:
I'll add another thing to mine and a couple others about sleeping arrangements !
If they have any issues at all whatsoever with health problems backs, knees, hips ? Try to get one with a walk around bed or at least one side you can !
We started with the short 23Ft with jacknife couch , dinette , and over head bunk.
The dinette was too short for me , the jacknife couch folded out was terrible and having had back surgery made it hard to climb up and down to the overhead bunk.

So thinking a bed in the back (corner bed ) would work ,we sold the 23ft and bought a 25ft with the corner bed .. Found out its a pain for me to crawl in or slide in on the bed .

If I had to do it over which it still may come to that , I would want a walk around or at least one full length side where I can sit on the bed and straight board lay down on the bed..

Just thinking out loud again ;)

Ditto X10 on the queen walk around bed!

If there is ONE bit of advice worth giving on buying an RV is if you can DO get a walk around bed.

The corner beds are a real pain for two people. Some one has to crawl over the other to get in and out! :B Also making the bed is near impossible without having gymnastic talents!.

BTW: Not being sure when I went Full-Time if I would like it. I choose to buy a used MH instead of going in debt on a new one. I bought a couple years old 31 ft Class C for $25,000, low miles in excellent condition. Buying used the first owner gets to go thru all the shake down of a new unit that needs to go back in for repairs. You the second owner gets to enjoy the ride worry free.

That MH gave me the best maintenance free experience of RV'ing. Good used ones are out there. You just have to keep looking until you find just the right one for you. IMHO Buying new is not what it is all cracked up to be. :W

I'll add another thing to mine and a couple others about sleeping arrangements !
If they have any issues at all whatsoever with health problems backs, knees, hips ? Try to get one with a walk around bed or at least one side you can !
We started with the short 23Ft with jacknife couch , dinette , and over head bunk.
The dinette was too short for me , the jacknife couch folded out was terrible and having had back surgery made it hard to climb up and down to the overhead bunk.

So thinking a bed in the back (corner bed ) would work ,we sold the 23ft and bought a 25ft with the corner bed .. Found out its a pain for me to crawl in or slide in on the bed .

If I had to do it over which it still may come to that , I would want a walk around or at least one full length side where I can sit on the bed and straight board lay down on the bed..

Just thinking out loud again ;)

If you are looking for a good used RV with maintenance records and with in an affordable price range you might look at the Ex Rental market as I did. When all I could find in the private market was ones that were used up or not taken care of.

Read the Thread in my signature about buying a rental, to give you some other options.

For 20-25K you can get a used rig and begin to experience the lifestyle. Build in some $ for maintenance. Once they try things out they can start thinking about a newer more expensive rig. All they can lose is the 25K.Until you actually begin travel in the rig, it's hard to know what you want. Our LD is our 3rd RV and the charm.

Todd
'99 Lazy Daze Rear Bath
'02 Honda CRV

More advice/opinion: Roof AC units, furnaces, fridges, converter/chargers, house and starting batteries, and RV generators, fresh water pumps and awnings MAY start to require expensive repairs/replacements when 10 years old. Tires that are older than 5 years old by DOT date codes may not be safe to drive on if they have sidewall cracking regardless of tread depth or appearance. These potential cost items are common to all brands of motorhomes as the same brands of appliances are used in most all motorhomes. Get written estimates for any repairs/replacements needed from qualified sources before deciding to buy a used rig.

Here are some CL examples locally:

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/5207266222.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/5250112732.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/5249862059.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/5249850723.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/5249813016.html its golden!

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/5249372710.html 10 YO!

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvd/5213346343.html dealer for comparison

http://tucson.craigslist.org/rvd/5206005173.html another dealer

We too are looking for a higher end C. Triple E and Bigfoot are 2 that easily match LD quality. Watch out for rot on LD's. Lots of wood in their construction. Often the sellers are full timers. The miles will be low but the interiors and appliances will show their age.

Moisheh

Lazy Daze rigs in good condition hold their value better than most. Finding one for 25K that has the length and floor plan that satisfies their needs may not be as easy as finding one in another brand. I advise beginners to look at 26-27 footers if they might have any problem sleeping in the overhead bed. People with arthritis, etc. may not be able to climb a ladder and get into bed with a partner and may not be able to get out of bed without waking the other in the dark when they have to go to the bathroom. With 27 footers, you can have a rear bedroom with RV queen size bed and much more storage and cabinet space than a shorter 22-24 foot rig. Beginners are often overawed by longer rigs and soon wish they had bought a longer rig with bed and bedroom in the rear. Sleeping on jackknife sofa or convertible dinette cushions ain't the best either. That said, some love their short Class C's. Short Class C's may be OK for a "spry" couple, not great with a couple of kids and dogs.