So my wife, son and myself fly to Dulles on Monday. We are scheduled to look over the 23a we reserved for purchase at Cruise America in Manassas.It is potentially our first motorhome purchase. I plan to look it over very well before we agree to buy it/walk away.If purchased, we will drive it back to Vermont which is about a 10+ drive. We intend to drive half the distance, camp at a Walmart and finish the rest off the next day. We have the whole week if needed, so we won't rush out of the dealer.I'm trying to figure out what I bring in my luggage to help aid in inspection of the rig, and what is wise to bring with me to drive it home. There is a harbor freight tool, walmart and most of civilization to purchase stuff on site if it makes more sense than putting in my luggage.I plan on purchasing a bottle jack, and 4 way lug wrench(anyone know the lug size off the top of your head) at harbor freight, as those will live in the motorhome. Might buy a cheapo tool kit to live in the motorhome as well. Buy some pillows locally.I plan to bring from home.Phillips and regular screwdriver.multi bit screw driver.Short pry bar.LED drop lightHead lampdebating bringing my impact gun and few sockets.Breaker barOBD2 toolvice gripsSleeping bagsShop ragsPrint copy of the rental manualSocket set/ratchetPyrometerVoltmeteradjustable wrench, large and small.Air pressure gaugeMini air compressor.mini jump packAC and DC phone chargers/batteriesWe have two free bags per person on the airline. So we have the capacity to bring stuff.I'm of the mind that if I bring it, I won't need it.What else?Thank you.

I would say hire an inspector before you fly in.. I had found a MH in TX (not terribly far from Dallas) and considered flying out to get it or look it over. I hired an inspector for less than the cost of a flight and rental car to get to MH. Turned out the seller was misrepresenting the MH. Pictures were all 4-5 years old, from when it was new. It was scratched, needed recaulking and had several issues that needed attention, indicating it had not had all the preventative maintenance it needed. That money I paid to the inspector was well worth the cost. He was great and really walked me through his report.

stickdog wrote:Road service and credit card.Check and checkadded my RV add on to AAA last week or so, so it will be valid.

x2 on the inspector can,t buy anything better, and leave most your list at home. road side service a must call coach net and tell them what your doing and want to be covered when you leave the dealer. p.s. dealers will tell you anything to make a sale .they don,t know anymore about a used rv than you do,they just trade them in hope somebody buys it. and if you see a water stain????? run .

Howdy, sounds like a great adventure. I always dreamed of buying a rig far away (where there is no rust) and buying some stuff and driving it home with my son. Found my last rv in a neighboring state but it was still fun to pick it up with him. It sounds like you know what your doing. (heck you listed a VOM in the tools...) Sounds like you have a good contingency plan and planned plenty of time. Its gonna be great... Just a vote of confidence here from me. It is a little scary buying a vehicle far from home but I have done it a couple times and it worked out really great for me. Take a little time to enjoy the journey.

Fly and drive tool kit, picking our new to us CA 23A

stickdog
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
Road service and credit card.
wannavolunteerF
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
I would say hire an inspector before you fly in.. I had found a MH in TX (not terribly far from Dallas) and considered flying out to get it or look it over. I hired an inspector for less than the cost of a flight and rental car to get to MH. Turned out the seller was misrepresenting the MH. Pictures were all 4-5 years old, from when it was new. It was scratched, needed recaulking and had several issues that needed attention, indicating it had not had all the preventative maintenance it needed. That money I paid to the inspector was well worth the cost. He was great and really walked me through his report.
sachilles
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
stickdog wrote:
Road service and credit card.

Check and check
added my RV add on to AAA last week or so, so it will be valid.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2018
x2 on the inspector can,t buy anything better, and leave most your list at home. road side service a must call coach net and tell them what your doing and want to be covered when you leave the dealer. p.s. dealers will tell you anything to make a sale .they don,t know anymore about a used rv than you do,they just trade them in hope somebody buys it. and if you see a water stain????? run .
fourthclassC
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
Howdy, sounds like a great adventure. I always dreamed of buying a rig far away (where there is no rust) and buying some stuff and driving it home with my son. Found my last rv in a neighboring state but it was still fun to pick it up with him. It sounds like you know what your doing. (heck you listed a VOM in the tools...) Sounds like you have a good contingency plan and planned plenty of time. Its gonna be great... Just a vote of confidence here from me. It is a little scary buying a vehicle far from home but I have done it a couple times and it worked out really great for me. Take a little time to enjoy the journey.
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2018
You're buying directly from CruiseAmerica, right? I don't think an inspector is quite so necessary in that case, at least from what I've heard; they're generally pretty good at making sure at least the basics are good to go. (They have practice doing that for vehicles still in their rental fleet, after all).

Your list of tools is perhaps more comprehensive than I took with my older motorhome to Alaska and back (from Vermont). The only tools I needed to buy on the way on that trip were a drill and a hacksaw...and even those I did not in any way actually require to comfortably finish the trip.

You will sooner or later need a #2 square (Robertson) screwdriver. Get a decent one, maybe even a better than Harbor Freight one. You'll be using it a lot. My list for the initial trip would be something like this screwdriver, a roll of Gorilla tape, a tire gauge, a flashlight, and the Swiss Army Knife that is always in my pocket. If you don't get one with the RV, a fresh (potable) water hose and a sewer dump hose kit would be good to bring.

If you have a decent breaker bar and appropriate sockets, you don't need a separate lug wrench. Also make sure that any inflator you get will suffice for the tires and their pressure; many of them will take a very very long time to bring a LT tire up to 80 psi, especially given their rated duty cycle. For just adding a couple of pounds they might do a bit better, but if only down a couple pounds I'm not sure it's worth too much worry anyhow. There are some much better 12V compressors available...for a cost.
Devocamper
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
I would hope that if the motor home passes your inspection and a test drive then it should make a 10 hour trip home with out having to bring all that stuff with you and as others have said a credit card and a cell phone should get you any help you may require on your trip home. don't see a need to flying all those tools to the coach and the inspector is the best route to take, be extremely cautious with the dealer and sales person, Make them check the fluids and tire pressures while your watching to make sure they check and correctly adjust or fill anything needed related to the normal pre-trip items. you can purchase some bedding at Wal-Mart. When you get home, if you go ahead and purchase the coach then load up all those other items if you feel you need them.
sachilles
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
wannavolunteerFT wrote:
I would say hire an inspector before you fly in.. I had found a MH in TX (not terribly far from Dallas) and considered flying out to get it or look it over. I hired an inspector for less than the cost of a flight and rental car to get to MH. Turned out the seller was misrepresenting the MH. Pictures were all 4-5 years old, from when it was new. It was scratched, needed recaulking and had several issues that needed attention, indicating it had not had all the preventative maintenance it needed. That money I paid to the inspector was well worth the cost. He was great and really walked me through his report.

Good thoughts.
We are going to VA anyway. Cashed in award miles for airfare, and for rental car, and for hotel. Plan B is to make it a vacation visiting DC, exiting by plane if the RV isn't suitable. My son is on vacation this next week, and work schedules work well for this adventure.

I am not an RV expert, and have not owned one previously, however we have one that we use at work, that tows a kitchen trailer. Both are RV type house systems. I'm usually the guy that gets tasked with fixing those.
More curious if there are some must haves, that I've forgotten on my list. Things that are a bit unique to motorhomes, like the square drive bit etc.

I have a cell phone, google and credit card. That will solve most issues.
j-d
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2018
Congratulations and Enjoy! Hopefully it'll be as advertised. People seen to do pretty well with CA units.

Electrical Tape, Repair Tape (like Duck/Duct/Gorilla) and a couple Bungee Cords.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 13, 2018
If you will be using the camper to drive home and you plan on staying in it, you will need, the most important things first: Toilet Paper! Bedding! Dishes, and beer! (you get the idea). More than likely, the camper will be adequate. As stated above, Cruise America services their own fleet and I can't imagine them sending out a broken down unit, even if selling it.

What is more important are all the amenities you'll need for your journey home and any anticipated camping along the way. As stated above, about the only "tool" you'll need is a Robertson head screw driver. Whatever you purchase along the way home, will stay in the camper. So, it's not money lost. But I think you should focus on keeping the family comfortable with personal hygiene items, bedding, and food preparation. And those things you should buy once you get there.

Here again, a good credit card and lots of cash will help you more than anything. Besides, if a tire needs changing, does the unit even come with a spare? So there ya go. You'll need to take it a tire shop anyway! So why the lung nut tool? (get the idea).

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