Looking for advice on RV shopping specs improvement
First here's a little bit of info on my RVing experience:
I used to own a Ford Ranger pickup truck and a cab-over camper that fit the truck. The big problems with that rig were rear wheel bearings burning out, carburetor constantly needing tuneup of one sort or another, and constantly bumping my head painfully on the camper ceiling and door-way.
On advice from a mechanic I graduated to a 1988 Ford F150 -- the first year that fuel-injection was standard for the F150. And I bought a used camper to fit the truck. A very nice thing about the camper is that I no longer have to worry about bumping my head on the ceiling or the doorway. Engine compression was very good (when I eventually tested it, but I had to "guess" to begin with), and, true to reputation, fuel injection has been problem-free. I also like the trouble codes that help me diagnose engine problems like ERG valve issues and vacuum leaks. And there have been several repair issues that I can handle -- water pump and air pump going bad (but not simultaneously), for example. And I have not bothered to maintain the air conditioner due to cost of refurbishment.
Based on what I've seen for sale, drinking-water tanks and water tubing tend very easily to go bad and be a big nuisance to fool with, and I have not bothered to try to refurbish the water system in my camper. I use an easily-maintained 4-gallon "shower bag" mounted in the sink to use as wash water, and I use 1-gallon and sometimes 6-gallon water containers for fresh water.
And I like the fact that I can camp in remote, out-of-the-way, wilderness-like locations with lots of solitude.
But I've been thinking about revising my approach to RVing. I have some ideas (i.e., general specifications) about what I want, but I don't know of any RVs that fit those specs. I'd like to get some advice on improving those specs so that they can match up nicely with what's generally available. So here is a list to begin with:
The rig needs to be easy and economical for a home mechanic to maintain and repair.
Of course, there should be no hazard of bumping my head on the ceiling or doorway.
And it would be nice if the driving experience were nicer. Driving across the Mojave Desert all day on hot summer days between Joshua Tree and Mammoth Lakes, CA, is typically rather grueling with my present rig.
I've been enamored with SUVs with 4WD -- say Toyota 4runners, which Consumer Reports has rated as least troublesome in years past. And the fact that they can get around in remote locations better than a pickup with cab-over camper is attractive. In fact, I used to own and tow a 4WD Suzuki Samurai and take it on some rather primitive backroads. But I cannot easily use those vehicles for camping like I can with a pickup truck and cab-over camper. (However, I have considered perhaps building a small camping trailer that can be towed by a small 4WD vehicle.)
And my cab-over camper is slowly showing signs of structural sag. The cab-over part used to ride an inch above the cab; now it rides on the roof of the cab. And "whacked" camper jacks have also taken their toll on structural damage.
I'm thinking the ideal RV should be a lot like a panel truck or similar van but with windows all around, perhaps something like a VW Westfalia camper. Some vans seem excessively heavy. But my impression is that a VW Westfalia camper does not have the necessary head room; I've looked at one or two a long, long time ago when RV shopping.
And incidentally, when buying a used rig, another advantage of buying a pickup and a cab-over camper separately is that there is a whole lot less to thoroughly check out at one time. I've driven people "crazy" trying to thoroughly check out a complete, integrated motorhome; there are just too many issues to inspect at any one time. And I'm no expert, but still, I have learned a lot.
I used to own a Ford Ranger pickup truck and a cab-over camper that fit the truck. The big problems with that rig were rear wheel bearings burning out, carburetor constantly needing tuneup of one sort or another, and constantly bumping my head painfully on the camper ceiling and door-way.
On advice from a mechanic I graduated to a 1988 Ford F150 -- the first year that fuel-injection was standard for the F150. And I bought a used camper to fit the truck. A very nice thing about the camper is that I no longer have to worry about bumping my head on the ceiling or the doorway. Engine compression was very good (when I eventually tested it, but I had to "guess" to begin with), and, true to reputation, fuel injection has been problem-free. I also like the trouble codes that help me diagnose engine problems like ERG valve issues and vacuum leaks. And there have been several repair issues that I can handle -- water pump and air pump going bad (but not simultaneously), for example. And I have not bothered to maintain the air conditioner due to cost of refurbishment.
Based on what I've seen for sale, drinking-water tanks and water tubing tend very easily to go bad and be a big nuisance to fool with, and I have not bothered to try to refurbish the water system in my camper. I use an easily-maintained 4-gallon "shower bag" mounted in the sink to use as wash water, and I use 1-gallon and sometimes 6-gallon water containers for fresh water.
And I like the fact that I can camp in remote, out-of-the-way, wilderness-like locations with lots of solitude.
But I've been thinking about revising my approach to RVing. I have some ideas (i.e., general specifications) about what I want, but I don't know of any RVs that fit those specs. I'd like to get some advice on improving those specs so that they can match up nicely with what's generally available. So here is a list to begin with:
The rig needs to be easy and economical for a home mechanic to maintain and repair.
Of course, there should be no hazard of bumping my head on the ceiling or doorway.
And it would be nice if the driving experience were nicer. Driving across the Mojave Desert all day on hot summer days between Joshua Tree and Mammoth Lakes, CA, is typically rather grueling with my present rig.
I've been enamored with SUVs with 4WD -- say Toyota 4runners, which Consumer Reports has rated as least troublesome in years past. And the fact that they can get around in remote locations better than a pickup with cab-over camper is attractive. In fact, I used to own and tow a 4WD Suzuki Samurai and take it on some rather primitive backroads. But I cannot easily use those vehicles for camping like I can with a pickup truck and cab-over camper. (However, I have considered perhaps building a small camping trailer that can be towed by a small 4WD vehicle.)
And my cab-over camper is slowly showing signs of structural sag. The cab-over part used to ride an inch above the cab; now it rides on the roof of the cab. And "whacked" camper jacks have also taken their toll on structural damage.
I'm thinking the ideal RV should be a lot like a panel truck or similar van but with windows all around, perhaps something like a VW Westfalia camper. Some vans seem excessively heavy. But my impression is that a VW Westfalia camper does not have the necessary head room; I've looked at one or two a long, long time ago when RV shopping.
And incidentally, when buying a used rig, another advantage of buying a pickup and a cab-over camper separately is that there is a whole lot less to thoroughly check out at one time. I've driven people "crazy" trying to thoroughly check out a complete, integrated motorhome; there are just too many issues to inspect at any one time. And I'm no expert, but still, I have learned a lot.
