Thinking of getting an RV - lots of questions

[rvnoob]

Hi folks. As the title suggests we are thinking of getting a RV and have tons of questions. Hoping some folks will actually read all this and maybe offer some advice 🙂

We want to travel, but having dogs makes it tough, we don't want to leave them in a strange kennel full of fleas or guilt friends/family into dogsitting (thus making us have to return the favor!).. and they're our kids so of course we want to bring them too. We probably won't go out camping so much as use it for road trips and not needing to get a hotel. Also I run a company on the side and would like to use it to attend conventions where hotel rooms are really expensive, but parking is cheap.

We don't need one of those big busses, but we do want something that's real nice (not luxury, but nice). Looking around a lot of manufacturer websites I think something in the 30 foot range would be good. I like the idea of the kinds that have bunk beds off to the side.. we'd use the bottom bunk for our dogs and the top probably for storage. One floor plan I really like is the new winebago brave 31 foot version that looks like it isn't out yet. I think I just like that the TV is actually in front of the sofa instead of making you look sideways to watch it like every other RV. I also like the minnie winnie with the bunk beds. There's a place nearby that rents RVs so I thought we'd try renting one for a weekend to see if we like it. It's called cruse america, are they any good?

Anyway... about the class C vs A.. I'm guessing it means with a class C I just need a normal class C drivers license and it's a lot like driving a big van? But for class A I need a class A license and it's like driving a bus or big truck? I just have a normal driver's license, is it more based on the size and weight and I'm going to need to get a truck driver's license? I kind of don't want to, but if I have to, I can... So if we went with a minnie winnie or similar, I could use my standard license, but a Brave or similar I'd need a new license?

Do RVs get hot in the summer like a car does? We require air conditioning and lots of it 🙂 The AC runs off of your generator (or your truck engine?), and heat runs off of propane? Or can propane also power stuff? We have a backup generator at home for when the lights go out, that runs off our household propane tank.

Say we wanted to leave the RV and go see a movie or a museum or casino or whatever, and we're going to be gone for a couple of hours when it's 98 degrees outside.. Can you leave your generator going 24/7 even if you're not there so the dogs will be ok? I imagine it's a really bad idea to leave anything running in your RV unattended.. or would it be ok?

Also about generators, just from average use how long can they last on a full tank? Do they use your RV gas tank or do they have their own? If you're out "boondocking" but you want to watch tv at night and run the AC, can you run your generator 24/7 or is that just asking for it to have a short life span?

I watched a youtube video where a young couple was raving about their composting toilet.. are they any good? I'm not looking forward to the idea of pumping a weeks worth of poo into a teeny hole in the ground, but I guess it's a necessary evil. For your average use in most 30 foot style RVs how long can 2 people and a couple of dogs go on a full tank of water and stuff, just taking a quick daily shower and general use? We'd like to be able to go off the grid for a few days at a time, without having to leave to refill anything half way through our trip... though for really long trips I imagine we could go a few days in the wild and then hit a RV camp sight to refill and do laundry for a day and then go back out?

Do you always have to have dinette? Every single RV seems to have them. I usually carry 8 or 9 spare tires with me everywhere I go, it's hard squeezing into some restaurant booths so I doubt I'd fit into any RV dinette. I do kind of like the idea of a front seat that spins around and there's just 1 bench for the other side of the booth, but there doesn't seem to be too many RVs like that, not that I've seen anyway.

When you buy a RV, is it basically the same process like buying a car? I hate haggling 🙂 Is it true you can write off some of it on your taxes since it's treated like a home? And if I use it for my business, can I write off stuff for that too, like it was a home office that happens to have wheels too so I could also write off gas and stuff? When you get a loan, is it more like a car loan where it's just around 5 years? Or long like a mortgage?

That should do it for now, I'm sure I'll have tons more questions later. Thanks for reading this far 🙂

[kalynzoo]

Wow you are new to RVing. But that's OK, we were all new at one time or another and we all had similar questions. I started some 35 years ago with a 28ft Class C. The term Class C comes from the construction, it is a "cut away" from a truck body. It in no way defines a level of superiority to a Class A, for the right motorhome is determined by your individual need. The Class C usually permits a Queen size bed in the rear and a Queen or double over the cab. Additionally the couch or dinette can be made into a smaller bed. Many motorhomes are now being presented with a table and chair instead of a dinette. Personally I like the dinette, remember it would be rather unsafe to sit in a freestanding chair without a seatbelt while traveling. I am in the process of purchasing a new RV now, some did not have the dinette I wanted. My research shows that a custom dinette of your choice can be fabricated by the many custom shops that advertise in RV magazines for about $3500. Just putting out some numbers for you.
Better made (reads more expensive) RVs tend to have more insulation. Even so the roof air in an RV will keep you really cool just about anyplace (except Las Vegas in the Summer). At 30ft or less one a/c unit is customary, larger rigs will have two a/c units. In a full hookup campground you can plug in and run your electricity all the time. We have often been to places where we have run our generator all daylight hours since we were not plugged in. The generator is rated for continuous use, but the oil level needs to be checked periodically. Propane is usually used as a heating fuel, cooktop, heater, water heater. Since we like warm weather camping a tank will last us for a year or more, as we plug in for electric water heating, and only use our 20 gal of propane for cooking.
Get Motorhome magazine and see if any of your friends get FMCA magazine or check FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) on line. Also go to some of the many RV shows sponsored by the dealers in your are.
When you decide to purchase, since it is a big ticket item, it is just like purchasing a car...or even a house. Prices are negotiable, but personally I don't like to haggle either, negotiation is something a little different. The dealer needs to make money, that is his business and he supports an employee base. I need to get a far price. Given research and an understanding of what you can afford I think an agreement can be accomplished without too much anguish.
Good luck, and keep asking questions.

[darsben]

rvnoob wrote:
ok cool, just did a quick google and there's some self storage places around here that take RVs.. sent some emails out asking for prices. One of them had inside storage so maybe that would be good for the winter.

What about buying used? I usually like to buy new cars, even though used is a better value... is it the same way with RVs? For our first RV would we be better off looking for something that's just a year or 2 old and if we decide we really love RVing we can upgrade to brand new a few years later?

or is used not a good idea because you're buying someone else's problem and there's no way to know if they really took good care of it? I'd hate to inherit a secret mold problem or something like that.

Actually for your first rig the used route is usually great. RV prices take a big hit in the beginning.

[rvnoob]

ok cool, just did a quick google and there's some self storage places around here that take RVs.. sent some emails out asking for prices. One of them had inside storage so maybe that would be good for the winter.

What about buying used? I usually like to buy new cars, even though used is a better value... is it the same way with RVs? For our first RV would we be better off looking for something that's just a year or 2 old and if we decide we really love RVing we can upgrade to brand new a few years later?

or is used not a good idea because you're buying someone else's problem and there's no way to know if they really took good care of it? I'd hate to inherit a secret mold problem or something like that.

[darsben]

WyoTraveler wrote:
They have storage yards where you can park your RV. Some of the yards you can plug them in and others you can't. the pros or cons about the those storage yards can be many on both sides. I hated them. In CA they were in industrial areas. If the insurance company knows it is stored in an area different than your residence it could change your insurance rates. If you can't park an RV at your residence I would check out the storage yards first. Some get filled up fast and there is a waiting list others easier to get into. Make sure you can get one fairly close to your home.

and since all things are negotiable put in the contract that dealer will store it for first winter.

[WyoTraveler]

They have storage yards where you can park your RV. Some of the yards you can plug them in and others you can't. the pros or cons about the those storage yards can be many on both sides. I hated them. In CA they were in industrial areas. If the insurance company knows it is stored in an area different than your residence it could change your insurance rates. If you can't park an RV at your residence I would check out the storage yards first. Some get filled up fast and there is a waiting list others easier to get into. Make sure you can get one fairly close to your home.

[darsben]

rvnoob wrote:
Thanks for the info

yes that's what I was afraid of, I wouldn't want the generator to stop and it suddenly gets hot in there. Or ice cold if it was winter. So in that case I guess it's best to tow a car and always stay in a rv park, so the AC would run off of the hookups and we could drive somewhere in the car if we had to?

is that 30% off manufacturer price or 30% off the dealer sticker price? Would I be better off starting at like 40% off or more, and trying to settle at 30?

30% off sticker but stickers are different for the same brand/model at different dealers. Recently here someone pointed out a $10,000 difference in sticker between different dealers.
You can do as I do "do not dicker"
Make sure your offer is fair. Take a business card with you or at least your name, address and telephone number. Say the following words to the salesman.
"Hi I want to buy this rig. MY offer to you is $xxxx.xx plus tax, title and plates only out the door price (some dealers are trying to add lots of fees on to price) here is my name etc. I will wait here while you go check with whoever. Be aware that it is a take it or leave it offer. If the answer is no I will be leaving". You may have to leave but if your offer is fair they will call you. Make sure your life partner does not fall in love with a particular unit because salesman can smell that I think.
Now when it comes to the actual contract terms remember if it is not in writing it does not exist. You want in the contract that final payment is not due until after the unit passes a predelivery inspection. Horror stories a bound of people paying first nad then having to leave the new rig at the dealers for 30 - 60 days waiting for repair. In the meantime payments come and go and you do not have you rig. If there is a problem before you pay you will go to the head of the line so the dealer can get paid.

[rvnoob]

Just remembered another bunch of questions.. Where do we keep the RV when we're not using it? We don't have the space at the house (teeny driveway, teeny back yard), so I was assuming we would have to find a camp ground or something like that where we can park it when we don't use it, for a (hopefully) small fee?

I read somewhere that you should keep it plugged in so the batteries don't die, but if it's parked at a park for a couple months on end, I can't really have it plugged in, or do parks offer that? .. would a solar panel be needed for that so it's always charging up the batteries a little each day if we're not there? If so, how much would something like that cost?

And we probably won't be using it at all in the winter months, we sometimes get a lot of snow here and we hate snow. Would I have to drive to wherever it's parked and shovel the roof? Like could all that extra snow weight cave in it? And do you have to keep the little roof vents open all the time so it can air out?

And I'm assuming, if it's parked for a few months or all winter long, would we have to empty out all tanks (fresh/gray/black water)?

[rvnoob]

Thanks for the info

yes that's what I was afraid of, I wouldn't want the generator to stop and it suddenly gets hot in there. Or ice cold if it was winter. So in that case I guess it's best to tow a car and always stay in a rv park, so the AC would run off of the hookups and we could drive somewhere in the car if we had to?

is that 30% off manufacturer price or 30% off the dealer sticker price? Would I be better off starting at like 40% off or more, and trying to settle at 30?

[azdryheat]

darsben wrote:
ordinary drivers license is fine for all RV's in your state.
Your DOGS could be a sort of problem as some parks have breed restrictions and limits on the number of dogs (usually 2) just so you are aware.
Leaving the generator running some places is not allowed as some federal, state and local parks have generator use hours and a few actually ban usage. It is also a bad idea when you are gone if the dogs are in the rig. Genny stops dogs cook

A MH is a treated like a home for Tax purposes and loans can be 15 years.

The process of buying a MH is a topic unto itself and if you are shopping new the thinking is you should be looking to get about 30% (thirty) off list. List price for the rig can vary among dealers for the exact same unit so be careful.

Wrong! You may need special licensing based on the weight of the rv.

Quoted from PA DMV website, Non-commercial driver's licenses:

"CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds)."

"CLASS B (minimum age 18): Required to operate any single vehicle rated in excess of 26,000 pounds. Example: Motor homes rated at 26,001 pounds or more."

[darsben]

ordinary drivers license is fine for all RV's in your state.
Your DOGS could be a sort of problem as some parks have breed restrictions and limits on the number of dogs (usually 2) just so you are aware.
Leaving the generator running some places is not allowed as some federal, state and local parks have generator use hours and a few actually ban usage. It is also a bad idea when you are gone if the dogs are in the rig. Genny stops dogs cook

A MH is a treated like a home for Tax purposes and loans can be 15 years.

The process of buying a MH is a topic unto itself and if you are shopping new the thinking is you should be looking to get about 30% (thirty) off list. List price for the rig can vary among dealers for the exact same unit so be careful.