First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
This post is intended to be helpful to the first time buyer of a motor home. For those of you who don't fall into that category or believe this post is incomplete or off the mark, do us all a favor, a...
Forum Discussion
Wow, nice write-up.
As you can see I am new to this forum, in fact we haven't even taken delivery of our motorhome yet. Hopefully this Thursday or Friday. I know, I saw the part about avoiding Friday delivery, but we are buying from a private party, and have already spent two days with them going over the entire coach and walked through the procedures for getting up, going, parking, leveling, fresh water fills, black and grey water dumping practical exercise etc. electrical hookup, generator operations, tire maintenance, other systems maintenanance and operations. Our sellers are very helpful, even going so far as to give us tips on where to refuel, dumping etc. water conservation and holding take conservation based on their experiences. We are getting a 2005 Expedition 34H DP.
DP how about that, don't even own it yet and I already know one abreviation.
A little about myself, I retired from the Military in July 2000 having been an Army Aviator for just over 30 years, and because of strict saving and investing we are able to live comfortably, own a nice home in Enterprise, Al, a rental in Clarksville, TN and in just two days now a motorhome. I was 49 when I retired, and I mean RETIRED. No second career for me.
The real saving came when both our sons joined the Military, so the college investments were suddenly all ours now, they will have most of their higher education covered by the GI BIll. The eldest has been in the Air Force 10 years and hopes to go to 20. The youngest did 4 years in the Army, he turned 21 in Iraq in 2003, but made it out in one piece. He got out in August this year, has now completed his Para-Medic licensing, and will continue school to eventually become a Physicians Assistant.
We have been traveling around the country for several years starting with a 2001 Chrysler T&C then got a 2005 T&C because we put so many miles on the 2001. We put 35,000 miles on the 2005 van the first year of ownership. The only States we haven't driven to since retirement are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, North Dakota, and I think we somehow missed Iowa.
Our excuse for traveling is that we are looking for our ultimate retirement home. Come to think of it, I think we are about to take possession of it. It was just a fluke that this opportunity to purchase this particular motorhome came about. The price was right, the sellers purchased it new in May of this year, and only put 6000 miles on it. They needed to sell due to unfortunate circumstances that caused their construction business to partially fail. They needed to reduce their outflow of cash, and we were able to get a good deal on an almost new motorcoach.
So here we are, about ready to enter the world of RV traveling. I am all ears, so from time to time I may ask some questions on how to avoid trouble and hope that maybe somebody out there has some words of wisdom for a newbie.
If we have the title, registration, and insurance completed by Friday of this week, we plan on traveling to RI to visit my wife's family for Thanksgiving. We are planning on using Wal-Mart, Crackerbarrel, truck stops and other such places for free overnight parking, (we are figuring 3 1/2 days to do the 1250 mile trip) and restroom facilties to conserve fresh water and holding tank capacities. I'm figuring,(hoping), to get about 7 MPG,(CAT C7 300 HP engine) so about 180-190 gallons of diesel at an average price of 2.55/gal should cost us about $459 - $500 for fuel costs one way. We normally budget $1000.00 per week for lodging, food, and fuel when traveling in the mini-van. So we are thinking we are going to spend about the same amount for diesel fuel and the few meals we will eat when we get tired of fixing our own in the galley during this first trip.
Barring any unscheduled maintenance, does this cost sound about right for this trip mileage? Am I just being hopeful on the 7 MPG from the C7 engine?
One last question, any other Corvette people out there, do you tow your Vette?
What is a good tow method for a vehicle such as the T&C mini van, dolly or trailer?
Thanks in advance!
Stan and Karen Kennedy
2005 34h Expedition DP
2005 Chrysler T&C
2002 Corvette Z06
2000 Chevy S-10
As you can see I am new to this forum, in fact we haven't even taken delivery of our motorhome yet. Hopefully this Thursday or Friday. I know, I saw the part about avoiding Friday delivery, but we are buying from a private party, and have already spent two days with them going over the entire coach and walked through the procedures for getting up, going, parking, leveling, fresh water fills, black and grey water dumping practical exercise etc. electrical hookup, generator operations, tire maintenance, other systems maintenanance and operations. Our sellers are very helpful, even going so far as to give us tips on where to refuel, dumping etc. water conservation and holding take conservation based on their experiences. We are getting a 2005 Expedition 34H DP.
DP how about that, don't even own it yet and I already know one abreviation.
A little about myself, I retired from the Military in July 2000 having been an Army Aviator for just over 30 years, and because of strict saving and investing we are able to live comfortably, own a nice home in Enterprise, Al, a rental in Clarksville, TN and in just two days now a motorhome. I was 49 when I retired, and I mean RETIRED. No second career for me.
The real saving came when both our sons joined the Military, so the college investments were suddenly all ours now, they will have most of their higher education covered by the GI BIll. The eldest has been in the Air Force 10 years and hopes to go to 20. The youngest did 4 years in the Army, he turned 21 in Iraq in 2003, but made it out in one piece. He got out in August this year, has now completed his Para-Medic licensing, and will continue school to eventually become a Physicians Assistant.
We have been traveling around the country for several years starting with a 2001 Chrysler T&C then got a 2005 T&C because we put so many miles on the 2001. We put 35,000 miles on the 2005 van the first year of ownership. The only States we haven't driven to since retirement are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, North Dakota, and I think we somehow missed Iowa.
Our excuse for traveling is that we are looking for our ultimate retirement home. Come to think of it, I think we are about to take possession of it. It was just a fluke that this opportunity to purchase this particular motorhome came about. The price was right, the sellers purchased it new in May of this year, and only put 6000 miles on it. They needed to sell due to unfortunate circumstances that caused their construction business to partially fail. They needed to reduce their outflow of cash, and we were able to get a good deal on an almost new motorcoach.
So here we are, about ready to enter the world of RV traveling. I am all ears, so from time to time I may ask some questions on how to avoid trouble and hope that maybe somebody out there has some words of wisdom for a newbie.
If we have the title, registration, and insurance completed by Friday of this week, we plan on traveling to RI to visit my wife's family for Thanksgiving. We are planning on using Wal-Mart, Crackerbarrel, truck stops and other such places for free overnight parking, (we are figuring 3 1/2 days to do the 1250 mile trip) and restroom facilties to conserve fresh water and holding tank capacities. I'm figuring,(hoping), to get about 7 MPG,(CAT C7 300 HP engine) so about 180-190 gallons of diesel at an average price of 2.55/gal should cost us about $459 - $500 for fuel costs one way. We normally budget $1000.00 per week for lodging, food, and fuel when traveling in the mini-van. So we are thinking we are going to spend about the same amount for diesel fuel and the few meals we will eat when we get tired of fixing our own in the galley during this first trip.
Barring any unscheduled maintenance, does this cost sound about right for this trip mileage? Am I just being hopeful on the 7 MPG from the C7 engine?
One last question, any other Corvette people out there, do you tow your Vette?
What is a good tow method for a vehicle such as the T&C mini van, dolly or trailer?
Thanks in advance!
Stan and Karen Kennedy
2005 34h Expedition DP
2005 Chrysler T&C
2002 Corvette Z06
2000 Chevy S-10
