First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006

[JohnnyT]

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, and enlighten us. If all you have to offer is criticism with no corresponding constructive comments, no one besides yourself will benefit from the experience. So please improve or expand on this post in a constructive way.

The issue at hand is how to select the coach that best matches your wants and needs and offers the most promise of not being a perpetual headache.

I think there is an order to thinking through selecting a motor home that best maps to your wants, needs, and pocketbook. There are a lot of issues to get at and understand. Going about the process out of sequence will circumvent some critical steps and increases the potential that in the end you will not be as satisfied with what you buy as you could have been. I've heard it said that nothing can be seen until seen in a form that you're looking for. You give yourself the edge by determining your wants and needs first, letting them guide you to the make and model of motor home. Focus on deal making after your prioritized wants and needs have lead you to the type, make and model, and level of fit and finish that best fit your pocketbook.

BUDGET
I believe the first step for most will be to establish a framework relative to cost: decide how much you want to spend, how much you can spend, and how much you are willing to spend. For the most part you can count on spending more that you initially thought. Knowing what the max you can spend is a place to start.

While the initial cost is a lot more than the tip of the iceberg, the cost of ownership and operation bear some thought as well. Gain some insight into annual insurance cost, maintenance, and storage fees. Start making a list of items that will be purchased to support the RV. Don't forget the dingy and associated costs if you're planning on dragging one around, tow bar, braking system, car insurance and registration. Think about chemicals, hoses, adaptors, critical spares, tools, as well as outdoor furniture, grill, mats, and kitchen gadgets, cleaning supplies, hooks, and toilet paper holder! Then add on the operating costs: fuel, camping fees, charges for radio, television, and telephone, etc.

I personally think it's a mistake to go into the process thinking you can always trade in or up. It's a costly strategy. Try to get it right the first time. For many, the choice will boil down to compromising what they want to fit with what they can afford. All the more reason to spend the time and energy to figure out what you want and need and then prioritize your selections to get what you can afford.

Once you have established a framework for purchase budget and ownership cost, use that frame work to construct the best coach that will fit into it. At this point in time you may have a gross idea of size diesel pusher or gas... new versus used. You may even have a specific manufacturer you're interested in. These choices, especially the make and model, ought to flow from your wants and needs.

WANTS AND NEEDS
Go to work figuring out what you want in terms of livability and travel-ability. A good place to start is deciding if you're going to be a parker or a driver. Most motor homes are better suited to one or the other. Coaches with lots of slides are terrific when parked, but coaches with fewer slides may seem roomier when driving down the road with the slides in. Things to think about if you're a driver include how much room there is to move around with the sliders closed, and access to such things as storage areas and facilities like the washer/dryer.

The next and crucial step is to figure out what you think you want for power train, chassis, floor plan, features, amenities, and gadgets. Look at a lot of coaches, even trailers, and see what combinations seem to fit your lifestyle the best. As you get immersed in the process, I think you will find some of your original thoughts will change. The following checklist will give you some things to consider. Keep in mind that the right coach is out there; it just takes hard work to find it.

Will you spend more waking hours driving or parked?
What features need to be accessible while driving?
How many people do you need to sleep?
Is a queen-sized bed appropriate?
How long will you be using the coach at a stretch?
(weekends versus long trips)
How much storage will you require?
How fussy are you about the quality of workmanship in furnishings?
How much counter space do you want in the kitchen?
How often will you use an oven or washer/dryer?
Will a dinette or table and chairs suit you best?
How much privacy do you want for the bathroom?
Does anyone require upgraded seats or bed?
Will you tolerate losing speed on hills?
Are you concerned about miles per gallon or emissions controls?
How far do you want to be able to travel between fuel stops?
How much capacity do you want for water, black, and grey tanks?
Do you require pass-through storage for long items?
Do you want basement doors that open in a specific direction?
(to the side or up like a bus)
How important is soundproofing or insulation?
How important is entertainment, inside or outside?
How many televisions, and where?
Speakers or refrigerator in basement to use when camped?
Can you find the features you want in a used coach?

Livability... Casual Use to Full Timing

RESEARCH
Buying a motor home is easy... the hard part is selecting the one that will best fit your needs. Do a lot of looking and as much research as you can. Take notes about what you like and dislike in each coach you see. Do not accept that what you want is not available. After our first month of looking, we had a floor plan we liked but everything else was wrong. We almost bought that floor plan because we were beginning to think what we wanted was not available or economically attainable. Any fool can buy a motor home; the trick is not to be foolhardy about the process of selecting the one. Some people are smarter than we are; it took us months of intensive research, giving up every week end visiting dealers, hours of reading magazines, exploring all the internet sales sites, and forum surfing. In the end, we looked at 26 different models from 12 different manufacturers, and test drove most of them. We also visited a multitude of factories and found people to discuss ideas and assumptions. One thing to keep in mind, make sure that you adopt your own ideas and make your own priorities for features and functions. Others will have valuable insights, but those insights and perspectives will reflect their own priorities. As you listen, try to understand not only what they think is important, but also why. Get as many variant opinions as you can in arriving at your own conclusions. What's perfect for one can be a horrible mismatch for another.

There is no substitute for spending time in a prospective coach, visualizing daily routines in terms of workability and comfort and convenience... sit in every seating position, open and close everything that will do so, adjust anything that has an adjustment, especially the driver's and passenger's seats. Lie down on the bed, open up any convertible couches and test them for comfort. Walk through meal preparation and maneuvering around in the coach with a full complement of people and pets, both with sliders in and out. Go through the exercise both indoors and outdoors. Open the sliders and the awnings at the same time to check angles and clearances. Think through loading and unloading: is there enough space and is it easily accessible? See how cords and hoses roll in and out.

Do not expect that what you will get is any better than what you see in the showroom. So many times I got that response to an inquiry about a noticeable defect in terms of fit, finish, or operation. As you are deciding on the coach and examining the details of fit and finish, do not limit you looking to the interior. Look hard in all the equipment bays and in the engine compartment. A lot of unnecessary breakdowns are set up when the coach is mated to the chassis, look for hoses and wiring too close to heat source or that will rub, abrade, or get pinched, look for lapses in sealing seams. In other words, fit and finish has two flavors: cosmetic and functional. If what you can see looks slipshod, then what you can not see is not going to be any better.

Choosing Gasoline or Diesel Powered?

SELECTING THE DEALER
It seems that a lot of dissatisfaction that people experience lies at the doorstep of the dealer they choose. In other cases, I think some buyers have unrealistic expectations about how the dealer will react to their concerns and problems. Thorough vetting out of the dealer is of utmost importance. Talk to as many people as you can who have done business with the dealer. Also have some very frank discussions with your perspective dealer, starting with the salesperson, and then a review of your expectations with the salesperson and the sales manager together. Be specific, give examples, and require specific responses. Do not accept "You're in good hands All-State" responses.

TAKING DELIVERY
When you go to pick up your coach from the dealer have a thorough checklist of items to check. Do the inspection systematically. There are several lists already created that you can use as a starter. Here are a few thoughts.

„« Do not schedule your pick up of your new motor home on a Friday or a day before a holiday. That way the pressure to get it done will be lessened and there will be time for corrections to be made. Have extra time built into your schedule. Have a place to stay so there is no need to rush the inspection if you're picking up your coach remotely from where you live.

„« Make sure that all the documentation and manuals are present. Do an inventory and do not forget to get a list of all the serial and model numbers for all the warrantee registration. It's the job of the dealer to provide that.

„« Operate and test everything. Make sure you can do it yourself... and then do it, and have your companion do it. We got the in motion satellite and the home entertainment system; I am still the only one who can operate them...

„« Take notes of what you see that bothers you or questions that come to mind. If you don't get satisfactory answers to your question, just ask them again and again until you're satisfied. You have paid a lot of money for those answers.

„« Question anything you do not understand. Make sure you and spouse do not leave with any unanswered question... Nothing worse than to discover something and then hear the words, "I was wondering about that."


„« Do not assume anything has been checked or is working properly. Check them yourself, especially fluids and tire pressures... which means bring a suitable tire gauge. It would also be useful to have one of those indoor/ outdoor thermometers with a remote sensor to check air conditioner and heat performance, including the dash air.

„« If at all possible, go through the manuals and documentation before you do your acceptance inspection. Just take a couple of hours off in a corner; you will be amazed at the questions that will pop up. It's better to do that before you do your walk through.

„« Use one of the many cookbook PDA lists that are around. The best one I found was at http://www.rversonline.org/ArtFactoryPickup.html There is also a special section on air brakes on the rversonline site.

„« Do a test drive that will approximate how you will drive your motor home.

„« Go into the process expecting to have glitches and some your expectations not to be met. Focus on resolutions instead of recriminations. Don't let someone else's ignorance spoil what should be a very special day!!

OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
From my own experience and what insights I have gained from private discussions with a number of first time buyers, the really tough issue is nailing down your wants, needs, and priorities and then overlaying the price one will have to pay. In our case we spent more than we originally set out to spend, but less than I could have. Deciding which manufacturer was not the starting point, it was the place to end...

Here are some of our answers to the questions I posed above:

Will you be a driver or a parker... In our case we are drivers. We tend to drive a lot and never stay in one place for very long while others will pick a destination, go there and plant themselves for a period of time, then return home. We wanted the maximum of space in the coach when the sliders were closed which was a governing factor in determining floor plan and the number of sliders. We also wanted certain key storage areas accessible and wanted access to the washer/dryer with the sliders closed. We wanted to maximize the kitchen counter space and be able to use the seating area and table while underway or for those times we stop in route. So we opted for a dinette which has the advantage being able to convert into a sleeping position (albeit for a short person). We also preferred not to deal with the chairs while underway which have a tendency to want to move around if not securely strapped down.

In terms of the bathroom, we wanted the toilet area separate from the shower and sink. We wanted to be able to separate the bathroom from the bedroom and the living area for those times when there would be others on board besides my wife and me.

We also chose to eliminate the up-front TV for increased visibility and to avoid a source for bumping heads. We wanted it placed elsewhere in the coach and at eye level so we wouldn't crane our necks up to watch.

We needed a floor plan that would comfortably sleep 5.

How far do you want to be able to travel between fuel stops... how much capacity do you want for water, black, and grey tanks... These are good issues to raise on forums; you will get a wide variety of answers. We arbitrarily decided we wanted a 1000 miles for fuel, and 3 to 5 days capacity for water and holding tanks.

It helps to be reasonable and recognize that it's better to start with the minimum you are willing to settle for and then the maximum you're willing to pay for. Be conservative in your estimates.

We wanted to have pass-through storage in the basement as well as sliding drawers, which eliminated some coaches including one that had our favorite floor plan in it. While you're thinking about storage, keep in mind there are different options for the type of doors used on basement storage. Aside from the conventional, there are bus style doors that cantilever up and out of the way, as well as side opening doors. Our coach has all three types.

We put a premium on insulation and the soundproofing of the coach when parked, so we paid attention to the specs and tested the noise level in the coach in terms of isolating the inside from the outside. We were focused on not being disturbed and not disturbing our neighbors. We wanted the coach to be as quiet as possible on the road as well as when parked.

We opted not to buy used, although there are many compelling reason to do so: initial cost and the potential that new coach bugs would be worked out. Part of our criteria was to bypass anything that had not had continual use, since disuse often accelerates the deterioration of such things as seals, hoses, belts and the like. In the end, we concluded we were unlikely to find a match for our wants and needs in a used coach and focused on going the new coach route. Once we decided we wanted a new coach, we soon discovered that it was going to require us to order one to get exactly what we wanted and would fit into our budget.

So we began to reduce the number of potential manufacturers from 12 down to 3 since the others did not offer what we wanted or their level of fit and finish wasn't acceptable to me. Having said that, I believe that with minor exceptions many of the manufacturers we deselected would have worked for us, had their offerings been a match to our wants and needs.

We placed a priority on which manufacturers would give us the most flexibility to make minor alterations to their standard fare; that got the list down to 2. In the end, we chose the one that gave us the most flexibility. Their reputation for warrantee support was also a determining factor, but any of the final three would have given terrific support based on their reputation.

In our case, we did not place a high premium on after sale dealer support. This is not a course I would recommend for every one but our situation was such that we were comfortable in taking on the responsibility of managing our service needs. It did take some work to establish a network of support once we bought. We have been fortunate to have had only one coach related issue, which was very minor. Other problems we have had were with the generator and our satellite system, where we dealt directly with the manufacturers with satisfactory results. We found both the coach manufacturer and the manufacturers of the specific components were very helpful in answering any questions that popped up.

When our coach was being built, I visited the factory to follow progress on the construction, timing the visit so I would be able to inspect what I was expecting in terms of wiring, plumbing, and interior construction. I was able to see our coach and other coaches down the line so I inspected each step of the build process.

This post will raise more questions than it answers which in part was the intent, and the offer up a process to get the answers...

If you interest is in Buying A Used Motorhome Here are Some Thoughts For First Time Buyers

Good luck in your odyssey it's a worthwhile journey.

JohnnyT

[69RoadRunner]

I've talked with 2 Newmar dealers so far about ordering a 2009. This means all they have to do is place the order and do a PDI with me. It won't sit on their lot costing them interest.

One only wants to give 17% off and said he'll work with me.:R I can send him other quotes I get and then he'll go to his boss.

The other dealer is a little better on price and is also willing to negotiate.

I guess I need to turn the tables and offer 32% off and see what they say.

[MN_Ben]

Thats the deal of the century.:D

[Gale_Hawkins]

Great going Grunt.

[Grunt50]

To any first time buyer, pricing can be very confusing. I have spent several months doing research and determined that the discounts from MSRP range from a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 38%. When shopping, if you decide to make an offer and have not done any research, I would suggest offering about 30-32% off the MSRP to see the dealer's reaction. Do not settle for less than 25% off.
Do your research online. I found many RV dealer sites that display the MSRP and also show their discounted prices. Also check eBay as many sellers show MSRP and a "Buy It Now" price. I started a journal showing the brand, MSRP, discounted price and percentage of discount. After about 8 months I felt confident that I had found the best pricing available so that I could use that information to negotiate the best price on my selected unit.
Using this information, I found the unit I wanted on eBay, but 2000 miles away. There was a "Buy It Now" price that represented a substantial discount. I located an identical unit at a dealer that was only 75 miles away and went to look and negotiate. I offered him the eBay price, and he responded with a price $15,000 higher. I was willing to pay $3000 more rather than travel to purchase, but this dealer insisted that there was "NO WAY" a dealer could sell for that amount. He was right! I called the dealer that was 2000 miles away and offered $10,000 less than he was advertising, and bought it at that price. I now own a new 2007 Gulfstream 38' diesel pusher with 3 slides, MSRP of $186,000, purchased new for $116,000

Research pays off.

[fourfurz]

I would like to add our experience.

We searched for a MH for about three months. During our research, it seemed like the average time of ownership was about two years, and after that time the coach was traded in on a larger and more elaborate unit. We decided that instead of going through several iterations of upgrades and all the cost that added, we'd opt for the largest and most elaborate unit we could find.

A full timer friend had cautioned us that some state toll booths (notably Ohio) had scales, and units over the max gross could be fined or even forced to lighten the load if overloaded. The Coach Carrying Capacity (CCC) is very important and those who haven't considered it before should check the weight sticker in every unit that details the various weights before deciding on which unit to buy. Salespeople are very cagey about this topic and we found that it was difficult to talk with them about it on units with a low CCC.

We decided that the unit had to have a tag axle as the larger single axle units had very little CCC, some on the order of 1500-2000 lbs, way too little for all the stuff we wanted to carry. Tax axle units had an average of 4000-8000 lbs. of CCC, so that seemed a lot more reasonable.

After test driving both tag axle and non-tag axle models, it was a no brainer. Tag axle equipped units simply handle much better, especially in windy weather or when being passed by 18 wheelers.

We really liked the Travel Select, Travel Supreme model, it had everything we wanted and at a reasonable price. We were all ready to purchase a brand new unit from our local dealer when they did a bait and switch, price wise and upped their spoken price by $25,000 when we got a written contract. That really annoyed the heck out of us so we pulled out and started looking again.

We looked at a couple of used TS's and were seriously considering one of them, they're prices were reasonable and all, but it was a problem of who had owned it before and lack of warranty that held us off.

We were kind of stuck in a neutral when my wife browsed E-Bay and found a 2007 Mountain Aire 4528, a unit we loved but always thought was beyond our price point. This was a used unit, for sale nearby that we could drive to see easily. The price was on the unbelievable side but since it was within a couple of hours, worth going to see.

After a 3 hour drive we got to see and touch the unit, it was nearly perfect, had low miles and the only negative was unusually high hours on the generator. It had been used by a construction company for the owner while at job sites, or that's what we figured. The only damage was a slightly pinged awning, which made it sit just oh so slightly low on one side. I guess a wind must have done it.

All in all, it was a perfect fit for us and we got it at about $50k below blue book. Essentially we got the 2007 4528 Mountain Aire with a one year warranty, used, at the price of a new 42 TS. Easily a good deal.

We've put quite a few miles and several months of camping since taking ownership of the unit and we have been absolutely happy with it. Newmar has been great with the minor problems we've had, I would recommend them to anyone considering buying one of their products.

In summary, I would say to make sure to check the CCC of any unit you're planning on buying and consider what you'll want to carry. Also, get the largest unit you can afford, if you don't, you'll be trading it in on a bigger one before you know it. All those trade in's will certainly up the cost of ownership when you finally get one you can live with...

[countcoup]

JohnnyT;

I am getting ready to purchase a class A and have followed your comments on this subject. Thanks much for them, they have been helpful. I see by your post and profile you purchased a Travel Supreme, I think all electric. I am looking at a Select. Have you been satisfied with the MH, service, etc? Are you happy with the all electric? Bye the way, Travel Supreme has stopped making new class A's, are in the process of being sold, according to one of their sales people I spoke to today.

Chuck Keil

[Mr_Mark1]

Safarilover, it doesn't matter what kind of motorhome that you have, it MUST be able to stop without the jake brake. Take it in the shop to be evaluated!

My Dynasty will stop just fine without the 'engine brake'...but, I just have to press harder on the pedal.

MM.

[safarilover]

Hi, I have a 2001 Safari Panther and I was just wondering if anyone out there is having a problem stopping. Do I always have to have my jake brake on? Please respond. From concerned

[Gale_Hawkins]

Randy seldom will you find a worn out MH at least from the chassis side of the coin. If the running gear (chassis) is solid then getting new rubber an important thing to consider. Next is the roof. If you like the floor plan OK and the chassis is in good shape then you can coat the roof (depending on roofing type) and get more years out of it or you have have to do some roof repairs if a leak as occurred. Even a 15 year MH could provide another 10 years of good service after you addresses the needs that will pop up in the first couple years of ownership. Just look at some of the rigs owned by rv.net posters. If you are putting 15-30K miles a year on one then that is another story but for the 5-10K miles per year user a 15 year old unit can be just as dependable as a new unit. Motor homes are more like trucks and tractors. With reasonable service and repairs they can just keep on going and going. Personally I like to buy solid used vehicles and get the issues like belts, hoses, brakes, bearings out of the way when the engine and transmission seem to perform as expected. Of course with an RV you have to have a solid roof (non leakier) or you can loose the house in short order just like with a stick built house. I hope these thoughts are in line with what you were asking.

I think for $15K you can have a motor home as dependable as one selling for $300K but putting $30K can buy one maybe 15 years of good service instead of 10 years as mentioned above. I really do not see knowing my needs beyond 10 years for a MH so buying one to last 25 years just does not seem best in my case. You hit the nail on the head about life style. That varies from person to person and it seems to me happiness is more a state of mind vs. state of one's toys. 🙂

[FLTravelman]

Hi,
I really liked your post. It certainly covered a lot of the questions and many I did not even think of. The one down side for me is that I am nor do I ever plan to buy a new coach. My budget and lifestyle does not allow me to ever buy new. Most of what you wrote applies to buying a NEW MH. What can you tell those of us that are not buying a new one but plan on buying 5. 10 or 15 years old?

Thanks
Randy

[MagillaGorilla]

Here’s a thought on buying your first RV with a different twist on it. For years now I have been telling my wife that I want to retire into an RV and spend our retirement seeing the country. I’ve been telling her this for 20 years now and she aint buying. We once had a TT in York Beach Maine and she liked that because it was more like hoteling than it was camping. In the 20 years I have been pitching the RV idea she has always had it in her head that it meant we would be camping and she is a hotel girl.

Recently we road tripped in our car. We did 17 states on the eastern seaboard. During this trip we stayed in many hotels. As you can imagine some were nicer than others. The not so nice ones worked out very nice for me. After the trip I convinced her that if we had an RV we would never have to stay in another dirty hotel. I explained that she would always have her own bed linens and her own bathroom. She was now nibbling at the bait.
I took her to look at some RV’s while in Florida. I’ve been trying o get her in one for years and she wanted no part of it. Now that she looked inside one she liked what she saw. We looked at quite a few but could not buy one because it meant she would have to drive our car back to New England while I drove the RV. No sale!

When we got home I new I had to reel her in quickly or I would loose her again. I also knew that if I went to look at new RV’s she would never bite. The price was to high for something that she was only mildly interested in. So I started to look for a nice used RV. Sounds easy but its really not. There is a lot of junk out there. There are also some nice rigs but the prices were to high. I needed something for a moderate price if I was going to make this happen.

After much shopping I found two mid 90s class A motor homes. I new I needed clean, roomy, inexpensive and well lit. These were the things that were important to her. For me I knew I needed an on board gen, a decent galley and a bathroom that was bigger than a postage stamp. The two rigs I found both fit the bill.

After much negotiating I was able to use cash as a motivator and bought a 95 Damon Daybreak for short money. Once we got it home and cleaned up the wife was starting to get excited about it. I knew we needed to use it before winter set in or she might loose interest. So we took it out and I brought her to the seafood festival in New Hampshire. She had a ball. After that we went to the Big E in Massachusetts. Once again she had a great time. She loved having her own bed and hew own bathroom.

Right now its winter here in New England and other than going to the last two Patriots Playoff games the camper sits dormant. For 20 plus years I have been trying to get the wife to go to a local RV show and the wants no part of it. Yesterday I mentioned in to her and she could not wait to go. Next weekend we will be at the RV show at Gillette stadium and we will be looking at new RV’s. Now she has the bug.

So the moral of this story is that if you want to catch a big fish, sometimes you have to start small and work your way up. For Me I had to lead her to the water, reel in a minnow and then use the minnow for bait in order to catch the big one.

Magilla

[Mr_Mark1]

Ice-Man, what type of RV were you and your partner considering? Since you will be taking it back to Europe, I guess size would matter as anything over 38-40 ft. would be a little cumbersome to maneuver in downtown London!

I read about RV's for 7 years before I made my purchase, we rented 3 RV's before the purchase, one class-C (31 ft.) and two class-A's that were both 38 ft. long.

I felt buying new was the only way to go since I couldn't even find an existing new unit equipped like I wanted. So, I contracted for a factory order and have been 100% pleased with my decision. I got all the options that I thought we would use and need while traveling. One was getting two Euro recliners across from the sofa rather than having two sofa's. I think this configuration is much more flexible. I did not want a booth dinette, I wanted free standing chairs with a legless table. I wanted an ALL tile living area because the carpet in the rental units got dirty pretty quick.

MM.

[off2glamis]

Johnny T.

Excellent post but I do have to disagree with you on one point.

Buying new for your first RV may be a mistake. Even it you have done all your home work.

The financial hit you will take on a new unit if you find that you bought the wrong RV for you, will be in the thousands or tens of thousands or more depending on what you purchased.

Follow Johnny T's advice to the tee. Except in my opinion buy a used RV first just to make sure you keep your losses to a minimum if what you thought was right for you ends up not being what you expected or it just flat out does not fit your needs.

You can plan and research for years and until you own that RV and hit the road there is no way to tell if all that planning and research paid off.

Worst case depending on how you look at it is after hitting the road and your homework paid off and you did get the RV that fits all your needs then upgrade to a new unit if you even need too.

It's your money do what you think is right for you. I am talking from experience. With all the choices out there it is very hard to pick what works best not just for this year but all the years to come.

Best case again depending on how you look at it is that you bought an RV that does not work out like you had planed after all your planning and research. In this case you saved yourself some big bucks and then go get the new RV that will work for you.

[Ice-Man]

Johnny T

Fantastic - I have been looking into rv's for about 6months as I am planning a 4 year trip in one - starting in New York or Boston(depends who offers the price at the time) Your information has taken some time to read and re-read, but I have read with great interest and the points you raise, some I had already considered, but others I had not. I have visited a few centres here in England and looked at quiet a few already, but not in the detail you have pointed out and of course for me, it will be like buying a home so things do need to be in the right place.

Thanks for your pointers and if you have any specifics that could help, I would be much obliged to you and anyone else out there. In brief, my partner and I will be buying an rv in about 5 yrs time in America and driving it all across the States and Canada then through Europe and Eastern Europe then back into the UK.

Once again, thanks and I look forward to the day I collect my final decission!!

Icey
Brighton, England.

[mcewena]

Gale Hawkins wrote:
Ideally I would remove the plugs and put a couple 50/50 mixture of like motor oil and diesel in each cylinder

I don't know anything about RVs but for old cars I'd add:

While that's soaking I'd have a look at the cooling system as well, looking for cracked hoses etc.. Drain the rad and flushing the cooling system with a garden hose will loosen sediment that's gathered over the years. Probably a proper flush at a shop would be in order after it's on the road.

Some would advocate doing a flush of the brake lines as well.