To first time buyers of a Motorhome

[-Gramps-]

Its the same ole argument here..gas or dp. I think you should think about something else first.


New or used a motorhome owner has to have a different attitude than a trailer owner or a stick house owner.

If you are thinking that owning a MH is going to be fun and exciting you are right...more exciting than fun maybe because the thing that makes you excited might not be a good thing.

Think about it...the bottom half is designed to move, it needs to be driven. If it sits for long periods of time things go bad, things rot. The tires, the fuel, and anything depending on those two things.

The top half is "designed" to a point to move, but not really. How would your stay in one place house fair if it were subjected to a 70 mph wind and a 5.1 earthquake at the same time? Not so good I bet.

What I am trying to say is if you want the fun of owning a coach but you don't like problems, things breaking, needing replaced or repaired and you don't want to spend money for the above, you might as well want to climb Mt Everest and not like or want to get cold.

Now if you can understand the above and are mentally prepared for it than you can look a little closer at what is out there.

A low mileage used coach may have an interior that is in better shape (it might have been owned by one of those silly people who never used the bathroom because it might affect the resale value of the coach...but that is another topic that I will hit on later)

A low mileage used coach also has a higher price tag, but that is misleading, as I said a coach needs to be driven a minimum number of miles to keep its moving parts in good order so if the average is low..look at it with your eyes wide open or maybe look at a different coach.

A high mileage coach has a smaller price tag but comes with its own set of problems...lots of loose screws in the house and other things like that. It is usually an older coach so the TV may not be digital, and some of the other essential things might be manufacturer discontinued, so ask the seller if he has contact info for parts (the manuals) and do a bit of research...online maybe.."if this page can't be displayed" shows up for a bunch of sites...maybe you should look for a newer model.

I think you get my drift....

Now if I have not scared you off then owning a MH is a very wonderful thing...it helps to make friends, lots of them. You may not be around them for long in one place, but you may see them again. The view outside your window changes every now and then, the frequency of that change is up to you. You will learn to be a more patient and hopefully kind person because you will need help one day to fix a problem you have or you will get the opportunity to help someone else. That's just the way it is in our world, a world that my wife and are are full time residents of.

Its an adventure for sure, and if that is what your crave, adventure, then I hope you find the MH of your dreams, better yet find a good one new or used because they are not necessarily the same coach.

Fuel is cheap now....take advantage of it!

Gramps.

ps...my wife loves the interior of our coach, I enjoy driving it...miracles do happen.

[-Gramps-]

We sat on the side of I-40 near Statesville NC for 12 hours waiting for Good Sams's RSA to send a tow truck. At the end the tenth hour they said sorry no can do, call the State Police. The State Police did come by, just before I could call them and the officer sat behind us and called a tow company in North Wilkesboro to come get us. Our rig was towed to Greensboro, Terry Labontes truck service. We spent the night in their parking lot and the next four days with my Mom and Dad while our fuel pump was replaced.

[infogeek]

They are money pits. 🙂

Every trip I wonder what thing will break this time? This trip (just returned from several weeks in FL) was a cracked windshield (thankfully the opposite side of the one that cracked last year!) and a broken generator dash switch.

And I still need to fix the dang water heater bypass valve.

But I love the stupid thing and plan to drive it until it dies or I finally decide to stop putting money into it.

[Dutch_12078]

smlranger wrote:

Actually, we probably could have gotten our coach out of the shop every evening, slept in it, and taken it back the next AM. However, this particular shop (only good choice in Kerrville, TX) does not allow customers to stay in their RV's on their property. Plus, they are working on the diesel engine and had to gain access to it from the hatch in the bedroom. I did not want to ask them to put everything back together every night (assuming I could drive the coach). I want them to concentrate on getting it fixed. It is taking 4 days.

It is surely an inconvenience but one that any motorhome owner must realize can happen.

If you can't afford a several day stay in a motel, then it's pretty likely you can't afford to fill your RV's fuel tank either. We've been fortunate that we've been easily able to stay in our RV's over the years during engine, transmission, and rear end swaps, but we're well aware that it might not always be possible, and are prepared for that.

[smlranger]

Effy wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:

smlranger wrote:
Agree. Motorhome ownership will provide opportunity for a lot of enjoyment along with frustration. For example, in spite of the fact that I tend to over maintain my coach, we are nearly 2,000 miles from home staying in a small motel room with our two dogs since our coach is in the shop with an engine issue. Not sure when we will get it back.

So, it is essential to be prepared for trip interruptions and other inconveniences when you own one of these beasts.

With any luck the people that said that it was impossible for anyone to be stranded while their motor home was being repaired will now get a dose of reality.
When a new buyer was looking for the true cost of ownership, it was suggested that he budget money for just such an occasion where he has to abandon his coach and pay for not only the repairs, but full accommodations, and maybe travel expenses for his family, back home. There were several that said that this just would not happen and that every service facility will allow you to camp in your coach while it was being repaired. Those of us that travel know that being stranded MAY happen and that most repair facilities do not have facilities for you to stay in your coach during extended repairs. Sometimes stuff happens and you must find a way to pay for it.

Isn't that what RSA is for? I know coachnet will not only pay for my hotel, but a car and even air fare under certain circumstances.

We have Coachnet. Their plan offers 'emergency trip interruption' which will pay up to $2,000 for lodging, meals car rental only if your coach is disabled due to a 'collision'. No similar coverage if you cannot use your coach due to mechanical repairs.

Actually, we probably could have gotten our coach out of the shop every evening, slept in it, and taken it back the next AM. However, this particular shop (only good choice in Kerrville, TX) does not allow customers to stay in their RV's on their property. Plus, they are working on the diesel engine and had to gain access to it from the hatch in the bedroom. I did not want to ask them to put everything back together every night (assuming I could drive the coach). I want them to concentrate on getting it fixed. It is taking 4 days.

It is surely an inconvenience but one that any motorhome owner must realize can happen.

[Effy]

rgatijnet1 wrote:

smlranger wrote:
Agree. Motorhome ownership will provide opportunity for a lot of enjoyment along with frustration. For example, in spite of the fact that I tend to over maintain my coach, we are nearly 2,000 miles from home staying in a small motel room with our two dogs since our coach is in the shop with an engine issue. Not sure when we will get it back.

So, it is essential to be prepared for trip interruptions and other inconveniences when you own one of these beasts.

With any luck the people that said that it was impossible for anyone to be stranded while their motor home was being repaired will now get a dose of reality.
When a new buyer was looking for the true cost of ownership, it was suggested that he budget money for just such an occasion where he has to abandon his coach and pay for not only the repairs, but full accommodations, and maybe travel expenses for his family, back home. There were several that said that this just would not happen and that every service facility will allow you to camp in your coach while it was being repaired. Those of us that travel know that being stranded MAY happen and that most repair facilities do not have facilities for you to stay in your coach during extended repairs. Sometimes stuff happens and you must find a way to pay for it.

Isn't that what RSA is for? I know coachnet will not only pay for my hotel, but a car and even air fare under certain circumstances.

[rgatijnet1]

smlranger wrote:
Agree. Motorhome ownership will provide opportunity for a lot of enjoyment along with frustration. For example, in spite of the fact that I tend to over maintain my coach, we are nearly 2,000 miles from home staying in a small motel room with our two dogs since our coach is in the shop with an engine issue. Not sure when we will get it back.

So, it is essential to be prepared for trip interruptions and other inconveniences when you own one of these beasts.

With any luck the people that said that it was impossible for anyone to be stranded while their motor home was being repaired will now get a dose of reality.
When a new buyer was looking for the true cost of ownership, it was suggested that he budget money for just such an occasion where he has to abandon his coach and pay for not only the repairs, but full accommodations, and maybe travel expenses for his family, back home. There were several that said that this just would not happen and that every service facility will allow you to camp in your coach while it was being repaired. Those of us that travel know that being stranded MAY happen and that most repair facilities do not have facilities for you to stay in your coach during extended repairs. Sometimes stuff happens and you must find a way to pay for it.

[smlranger]

Agree. Motorhome ownership will provide opportunity for a lot of enjoyment along with frustration. For example, in spite of the fact that I tend to over maintain my coach, we are nearly 2,000 miles from home staying in a small motel room with our two dogs since our coach is in the shop with an engine issue. Not sure when we will get it back.

So, it is essential to be prepared for trip interruptions and other inconveniences when you own one of these beasts.

[ArchHoagland]

Good post. I agree.

[enblethen]

You have told it like it is!