"Don't Buy New"

Lantley wrote:
Terryallen I enjoy reading of your camping style. I'm a full amenities guy, but I like the challenge/peacefulness of a more basic approach to camping. Honestly I could do it without issue but my kids no way!
Anyway the thought of just chilling at Big Meadows appeals to me.
Then again. I'm not sure what to do if my 50 amp cord is not plugged in!

Do what we do. Last weekend on the BRP. We sat by the fire until we just couldn't keep out eyes open, and the next day. We went into Blowing Rock, picked up a Tervis. Then we rode back down the parkway to the CG. Had dinner. (For OLD Southern folk. Dinner is at 12:00).

then I put my recliner under the awning, and read until I went to sleep. Around 4 I woke up COLD. But the worst part was. Every one told me I slept thru the Deer walking right by me. Why didn't they wake me? Was afraid they would scare the Deer. Then we cooked Pintos and had supper. Sort of did some more nothing, and started the fire, and sat, and talked with the camper neighbors until once again we couldn't stay awake.
I can't in any way explain how really quiet it is in the NP CGs on the BRP. So quiet that hushed voices carry over 100 yards. And dark at night. When no one is speaking. All you hear is the crickets, and the Coyotes in the distance. Think about it. No street lights, No camper lights, no lanterns, Moon behind the clouds. So dark you can't see your hand in front of your face.

Sound boring? Not really. The most relaxing camping trip we have had in a long, long time. No phones, no radios, no TVs. only light was the fire, and a propane lantern that stayed off most of the time. Good food, and new good friends. And well, maybe a couple new pounds. And snuggling down under the blankets in mid 50s temps in the middle of summer. No better camping in the world.

BTW it was so cool. We filled the cooler with ice Friday, and Sunday, the cooler was still full of ice, not cold water, but ice.

Terryallen I enjoy reading of your camping style. I'm a full amenities guy, but I like the challenge/peacefulness of a more basic approach to camping. Honestly I could do it without issue but my kids no way!
Anyway the thought of just chilling at Big Meadows appeals to me.
Then again. I'm not sure what to do if my 50 amp cord is not plugged in!

Compared to many, I am very simplistic in my use of my clipper. No generator, no microwave, no built in inverter (have a portable power pack to charge cell phones, etc.), no hookups, no toad, no television, etc. Part of that simplicity is that I do cook in the clipper - I don't want to have to drag out a grill/stove and set it up, when I have one ready to use inside. I also enjoy stretching out on my couch for a good read (I've been known to spend an entire 4-day camping trip reading).

I think a major part of my enjoying being inside my RV is that there is a large window at the back over the kitchen (with the door at the side), a large window on either side of the RV, and the windshield at the front - I have a 4-way view while sitting anywhere in my RV (except the bathroom). Most newer RVs I see have smaller and fewer windows - to the point that you can't really enjoy what's outside while being inside. So, for me, I understand both sides of the argument.

tomman58 wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
Buy new and don't cook in it so you don't stink it up??? Why even bother leaving the house?

Because we CAMP. We do NOT RV. We cook out side, because that is what you do when you camp, after all that is what camping is all about. Being outside. Especially in BEAR country. Cooking in the TT in bear country just invites them to try to come in. Which they CAN do.

Better question. IF you are going to do all your cooking in the RV, and sit in the RV. Why do you bother to leave the house?

We cook outside sometimes but why leave home? Mainly because I don,t want to live in Michigan in the winter. My trailers have had thousands and thousands on miles on them and never seen snow. Heck my trucks never see snow. Heck again, I see snow on the mountain tops and that is enough.
Cooking isn't the qualifier for camping or RVing, having a good time is what they mean to me. I can be in Maryland one day and a week or so later be in Las Vegas. different strokes.

for us the TT is just a place to sleep at night. We spent last weekend dry camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Friday morning to Sunday noon. When we hooked up to come home. The battery was only one mark from full on the gage. So 2 1/2 days, and 2 nights on battery only. Pretty good I think. But that is how we camp.

Terryallan wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
Buy new and don't cook in it so you don't stink it up??? Why even bother leaving the house?

Because we CAMP. We do NOT RV. We cook out side, because that is what you do when you camp, after all that is what camping is all about. Being outside. Especially in BEAR country. Cooking in the TT in bear country just invites them to try to come in. Which they CAN do.

Better question. IF you are going to do all your cooking in the RV, and sit in the RV. Why do you bother to leave the house?

We cook outside sometimes but why leave home? Mainly because I don,t want to live in Michigan in the winter. My trailers have had thousands and thousands on miles on them and never seen snow. Heck my trucks never see snow. Heck again, I see snow on the mountain tops and that is enough.
Cooking isn't the qualifier for camping or RVing, having a good time is what they mean to me. I can be in Maryland one day and a week or so later be in Las Vegas. different strokes.

I didn't have a problem with any odors when I bought my Starcraft. Maybe that's because I could put my arm through the siding on the kitchen wall and see the pavement if I opened the sink cabinet. :B

A total restoration is something most folks wouldn't tackle so I can't recommend it but it got me the type of trailer and construction detail I wanted.

I'm now considering another restoration but that would either be gifted to my kids or sold for a profit.

jplante4 wrote:
Buy new and don't cook in it so you don't stink it up??? Why even bother leaving the house?

Because we CAMP. We do NOT RV. We cook out side, because that is what you do when you camp, after all that is what camping is all about. Being outside. Especially in BEAR country. Cooking in the TT in bear country just invites them to try to come in. Which they CAN do.

Better question. IF you are going to do all your cooking in the RV, and sit in the RV. Why do you bother to leave the house?

Buy new and don't cook in it so you don't stink it up??? Why even bother leaving the house?

Buy what you can afford. Whether it's new or used, cash or credit, big or small.

The best way to buy is to buy what you can afford AND what you will use. If buying new means you can't afford the fuel, then buy used. If buying used means you can't enjoy being inside the RV, then buy new.

There is no overall BEST way to buy an RV, but there are many individually wrong ways to buy an RV.

wbwood wrote:

davosfam wrote:
We bought used for our first five trailers (tent, egg and three TT). When we decided to purchase a "keeper", we bought new. We looked at several used FW and they all smelled like a nursing home or perfume. We were told to just let it air out. Couldn't do it so we bought new. Our FW stays on our lot, will have a cover over it and is not towed from place to place. Should last a couple decades in that case.

In about 10 years when we are ready to start traveling around the country, we plan on buying a mid-sized TT. If we can't find what we want used, we will buy new again.

This reminded that I actually fibbed in my previous posting. We did buy a used pop up a couple years ago. we were going to use it locally and keep the TT we had at the beach and use it there. The previous owners of the pop up stored it with a lot of moth balls inside. We "aired it out" for days. Removed all instances of moth balls. Removed all the fabric items we could and washed them, but it still smelled like moth balls. Had it for a few weeks. Never used it. traded it in with the TT on our motorhome.

But every used unit on the dealerships lots smelled really bad. One reason we will not hardly cook inside ours. It's obvious that others did cook extensively in theirs. Wasn't a smell that you could just air out either.

We cook in ours. The FWs we looked at didn't stink of food smells. They smelled like a nursing home or perfume. If all they needed was to be aired out, why don't they do that before they sell it? We were very discouraged and decided to up our budget and get a new one. When we purchased used TT in the past, we only worried about leaks, soft spots, etc. None of them ever had bad smells like the used FWs we looked at did.