Looking for our first RV and suggestions ...

Hello All,

We are looking to purchase our first RV here in the next few months, well next spring sometime.

We are going to start out with just driving short distances within a 4 state area in the Pacific Northwest states. Weekend and maybe a week long stays here and there through out the Summer.

We do have a Winter home that we go to in the Winters but thinking possibly maybe we may want to travel some in the winter time down south and see some National Parks. Since we are unsure how much we are going to be RVing. We may decide its not for us and then again we may find that we want to do it full time. We are open for anything!

So with that being said I think our first RV should be a used one and we are putting in a budget of $15,000 this way if its not something we want to do for longer term then we did not dip into our nest egg too deep.

Been looking at Rv's on craiglist for now just to get an idea.

A couple questions for you long timers..

~ We are looking at Class C's and Class A's. I like the layouts in a Class A's better as I like that the seats swivel and give you added room in the **** pit but then from what I have been reading on the internet seems Class A's are harder to drive and cost more for maintenance.

Does this seem to be the case for the most part? Are Class C's easier to drive and less expensive to maintain? I told hubby that I would drive also so that he would not be the one doing all the driving.

~ We are thinking of finding one 30 feet of shorter so that we can get into most State and National parks without much problem and we may on occasion tow our boat or vehicle.

But from what I have seen for used ones on craigslist in our price range they mostly are Class A's and over 30 feet. Seems there are more Class A's for sale then Class C's. Wonder why this is???
Most used ones for sale in our price range do not have slides and if they do have slides they are 34 foot or longer and Class A's. They look nice just do not think we need anything that long.

Are Slides a great perk or not really necessary for weekend and/or occasional week long stays? Most used RV's in our price range and length we are wanting do not have slides. So been thinking of a non slide unit to start with. Anyone have any comments or suggestions please feel free to response any input or just your personal opinions are welcomed.

~ Why are used RV's so much more expensive in the Northwest then in the South? Seems all used RV's in our area are are a few thousand more then in the South. Have no idea why that is just seems odd.

Seems there is nothing newer then year 2000 in our price range of $15,000 but when I look at ads down south I see tons in our price range and newer. In our area they are all older 1980's up to the year 2000 and this is both at dealerships and or by private owners. :E

Any pointers and tips ya'all could give would be appreciated. :)

MsLaurie
Explorer
Dec 30, 2017
Matt_Colie wrote:
Now, you are saying that you will stick to four local states. Would you care to place a bet on that??
When you find out what traveling in your own coach is like, you may even consider getting one for Hawai'i. (Naw, you can just about walk anyplace you want to go there.)
Matt

For now yes 4 states we are only around in the Summer month for about 20 weeks. We do have family in Idaho so we will be camping with our grown children and grandchildren locally. We would venture off on our own within the 4 state area. Down the road when we sell our home in Hawaii and no longer plan to go there for the Winters. If we find we do like to have an RV. Then we would upgrade our RV to one that we may like to travel in full time during the Winter. For now just looking for something used and on the smaller side so that we can test the waters.

Getting one (RV) for Hawaii not many on island for a reason, termites, salt ocean air tons of rust and also reeks havic on anything electrical or mechanical. That part is crazy living in the tropic's. They should only sell things made of plastic, resin, bamboo or teak on the isle. Those types of materials are what we look for when purchasing anything that is going to be outside for any length of time. Purchased a really nice BBQ grill one time and within 12 months it was so rusted it was ridiculous (and we did have a nice cover for it). Now we only purchase $99 BBQ grills. :S
ppine
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2017
There is no perfect RV. Most people go through a lot of them over the years. Buying used is a good idea. I have never owned a motorhome because of the cost and the amount of repairs that may be required in an older one. They sit a lot.

There is more risk involved than in buying a trailer or truck camper. Get a mechanic to look at a used one before committing to it.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Dec 17, 2017
Ms Laurie,

I have had just about one of everything. We now have a very small A that we love.

Now, you are saying that you will stick to four local states.
Would you care to place a bet on that??
When you find out what traveling in your own coach is like, you may even consider getting one for Hawai'i. (Naw, you can just about walk anyplace you want to go there.)

Now, what has not been addressed at all here is WINTER.....
Getting the chassis serviced is essential, but during the winter is when most coaches are damaged by a lack of understanding of both the nature of the coach and the required care of the engine.

Do not try to use a trap for a cover. Any cover at all is often more of a problem than it is value. If you can find or build covered storage, you will extend the life of the coach a great deal.

For the engine, find someone locally that knows how to put a boat "to bed for the winter". This is a relatively simple and inexpensive process. It is little more than adding a stabilizer to fuel in the tank, "fogging" the engine to prevent internal corrosion and disconnecting the batteries if full time shore power is not available.

Winterizing the coach is a standard practice. There are two ways and both work to protect what is there.

Best of Luck

Matt
drsteve
Explorer
Dec 17, 2017
Bumpyroad wrote:
bobxAdz wrote:
again...apologies to all. I can think of a thousand ways to NOT be "snippy", if my response was lacking "decorum". It appears that the "senior members somehow enjoy the power-trip. His response was rude. If you disagree,ok. There was simply no reason to greet a new member that way, irrespective of how many thousand "responses" you may pride yourself in. "newby"? wow,as he says.This appears to be a good time to dis-enroll, as Ive successfully raised all the kids that I am obligated to. sad. Later my "friends" I suppose you "win"(?) Hope this is close enough to a paragraph to be legible and coherant

with your attitude, don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out.
bumpy

LOL butthurt much? Your nopology tells everyone all they need to know. Getting upset because someone asked you nicely to make your posts easier to read is ridiculous.

"Wow, please try using paragraphs in future posts." is not rude by any stretch.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Dec 17, 2017
bobxAdz wrote:
again...apologies to all. I can think of a thousand ways to NOT be "snippy", if my response was lacking "decorum". It appears that the "senior members somehow enjoy the power-trip. His response was rude. If you disagree,ok. There was simply no reason to greet a new member that way, irrespective of how many thousand "responses" you may pride yourself in. "newby"? wow,as he says.This appears to be a good time to dis-enroll, as Ive successfully raised all the kids that I am obligated to. sad. Later my "friends" I suppose you "win"(?) Hope this is close enough to a paragraph to be legible and coherant

with your attitude, don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out.
bumpy
bobxAdz
Explorer
Dec 17, 2017
again...apologies to all. I can think of a thousand ways to NOT be "snippy", if my response was lacking "decorum". It appears that the "senior members somehow enjoy the power-trip. His response was rude. If you disagree,ok. There was simply no reason to greet a new member that way, irrespective of how many thousand "responses" you may pride yourself in. "newby"? wow,as he says.This appears to be a good time to dis-enroll, as Ive successfully raised all the kids that I am obligated to. sad. Later my "friends" I suppose you "win"(?) Hope this is close enough to a paragraph to be legible and coherant
bikendan
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
Bumpyroad wrote:
bobxAdz wrote:
bikendan....sorry,wont happen again. Perhaps I forgot that everyone cannot connect-the-dots in this world.

you also forgot not to get "snotty" with valid polite recommendations/suggestions.
bumpy

I know. Brand new member and gets rude right off the bat, when I simply was trying to suggest how to make a newbie's first post easier to read.:h
MsLaurie
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
I do have to say that "bobxAdz". What you said is basically the same reasons we are looking for a smaller motorhome and you do make some valid points. We have no problem buying used and both hubby and myself are mechanically inclined both in mechanics and in carpentry (we are fixers persay). We would have a RV mechanic look over anything we considered for purchase though prior.

I do think we may go up to a 26-30' foot though as we do not want to have to make a bed each night meaning tear down a table or couch. Most under 26' do not have a dedicated bed unless it is the one over the cab and being seniors we do not want to climb up in the bunk every night or have to crawl over each other when we get up.

I have seen smaller 22-26' where we could alter and remove the table and add in a twin bed opposite of the sofa. This way there would be two twins but then no dinette which is fine with us. Eating can be done outside and I don't mind reading, watching TV or messing on computer from laying in bed.

We would only be RVing/clamping within 4 states around us in the Northwest mostly Washington, Idaho, Montana and Northern Cali. and for 3 night to week long periods at a time.

Getting excited for Spring so we can get serious about looking for our cabin on wheels. :)
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
bobxAdz wrote:
bikendan....sorry,wont happen again. Perhaps I forgot that everyone cannot connect-the-dots in this world.

you also forgot not to get "snotty" with valid polite recommendations/suggestions.
bumpy
drsteve
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
bikendan wrote:

Wow, please try using paragraphs in future posts.:R

X2. Makes posts much more readable.