Wrong Motorhome

[Colo_Native]

How many have bought a MH only to find out they don't like it for one reason or another and then tried to sell it and could not. How do you get yourself to like the one you have?

[wbwood]

toedtoes wrote:

wbwood wrote:
We always tell new RV'ers to not expect to get "The One" Rv on your first try and to not go into serious debt with it either. Reason being is that RV'ers change. They change the type of RV they want/need...they change the size, the options, the style of camping. We started off in 2000 with a pop up. Had it for several years and then sold it because we were not able to use it. In 2010 we jumped into a 31' TT with a bunkhouse. After a few years, decided the setup was a waste to us and we would really like a motorhome. Traded it in after 3 years and got a Class C motorhome (31'). Now we are deciding we really don't need all that room and a smaller motorhome might make more sense for us. So we are now toying with the idea of a smaller Class C or Class A. And we are even considering dropping what we pay for it down also.

If you bought something that you owe more than what it's worth, then you either hold on to it until you even out, or trade it in and take the loss.

But we never have bought an Rv that we didn't like. We've changed our style of camping and needs/wants over the time. My boss is on his 4th RV (motorhomes) in about 3 years.

For me, buying 4 RVs in 3 years is more about not knowing what I want than about changing styles. If you can afford to buy and sell (even used) that often, then go for it and don't worry. But for me, that's money and effort that I didn't want to give up. I put all my effort into the research beforehand and bought twice (first was an extremely cheap TT to determine if I even wanted to RV camp, then was the RV that met my needs).

Yeah I threw that in there to show that some people really have no idea what they want and often jump at the first one they see. I kid him about it all the time. The first two were Class A's. After a couple months with the first one, they decided it was too small for them and grand kids. So they went from a 29' to a 34'. Had it not long maybe 6 months and his wife was going to have to go through a series of surgeries. So they consigned it out as they didn't know if or when they would be able to use it again. Might of been money, but that was the story I was told. Had it about a year and traded it in on another 31' class c of a different brand. The new one is laid out better and has a lot more options and upgrades. Of course it came with a $25-30k higher price tag.

Needs and wants change.

[toedtoes]

wbwood wrote:
We always tell new RV'ers to not expect to get "The One" Rv on your first try and to not go into serious debt with it either. Reason being is that RV'ers change. They change the type of RV they want/need...they change the size, the options, the style of camping. We started off in 2000 with a pop up. Had it for several years and then sold it because we were not able to use it. In 2010 we jumped into a 31' TT with a bunkhouse. After a few years, decided the setup was a waste to us and we would really like a motorhome. Traded it in after 3 years and got a Class C motorhome (31'). Now we are deciding we really don't need all that room and a smaller motorhome might make more sense for us. So we are now toying with the idea of a smaller Class C or Class A. And we are even considering dropping what we pay for it down also.

If you bought something that you owe more than what it's worth, then you either hold on to it until you even out, or trade it in and take the loss.

But we never have bought an Rv that we didn't like. We've changed our style of camping and needs/wants over the time. My boss is on his 4th RV (motorhomes) in about 3 years.

For me, buying 4 RVs in 3 years is more about not knowing what I want than about changing styles. If you can afford to buy and sell (even used) that often, then go for it and don't worry. But for me, that's money and effort that I didn't want to give up. I put all my effort into the research beforehand and bought twice (first was an extremely cheap TT to determine if I even wanted to RV camp, then was the RV that met my needs).

[wbwood]

We always tell new RV'ers to not expect to get "The One" Rv on your first try and to not go into serious debt with it either. Reason being is that RV'ers change. They change the type of RV they want/need...they change the size, the options, the style of camping. We started off in 2000 with a pop up. Had it for several years and then sold it because we were not able to use it. In 2010 we jumped into a 31' TT with a bunkhouse. After a few years, decided the setup was a waste to us and we would really like a motorhome. Traded it in after 3 years and got a Class C motorhome (31'). Now we are deciding we really don't need all that room and a smaller motorhome might make more sense for us. So we are now toying with the idea of a smaller Class C or Class A. And we are even considering dropping what we pay for it down also.

If you bought something that you owe more than what it's worth, then you either hold on to it until you even out, or trade it in and take the loss.

But we never have bought an Rv that we didn't like. We've changed our style of camping and needs/wants over the time. My boss is on his 4th RV (motorhomes) in about 3 years.

[tatest]

I haven't, but four different members of my RV club have, their solutions varied.

One bought a Damon Challenger that was too big for what he wanted to do, but kept learned to live with it, kept it until he died.

One bought a Damon Daybreak, it was also too big for just the two of them, and their kids didn't like using something that big. They liked my C so they traded the Daybreak on a Sunseeker with similar floorplan. That turned out to be not as comfortable or usable, so the traded the Sunseeker on a Winnebago 29B Outlook that was essentially the same model as my 29B Spirit. They used that for the next five years until one of them died.

A bus driver in our group bought a 38 foot Beaver, used it for a couple of years until they figured out they didn't really like RVing. They sold the motorcoach and used the proceeds to go one cruises, something that turned out to be what they really liked to do with their vacation time.

A widow in our group bought a Dynamax Isata because she thought it would be easier to drive now that she was alone, but found the floor plan unlivable after a year of trying. She traded it on a BT Cruiser that was arranged in such a way that she could strip out the furniture she wouldn't use (foldout bed) and replaced it with a recliner she would sleep in. She used that BT Cruiser regularly until she died, about eight years.

Count me as number five. My Spirit 29B was ideal for the way my wife and I were using it, it is way too big for the way I want to use it, but it is usable and paid for. I'm just not using it much because RVing without my wife hasn't been comfortable, let alone fun. Same options: keep it and use it; trade it for (or sell it and buy) something more suitable if I can figure out what that is; quite RVing and do something else with my time (been doing that anyway, three cruises and three escorted tours since my wife died).

What is common to all these cases is that all of us (4/5 retired and on fixed income) got into RVing without overextending financially. This keeps options open, something we tend to do when old, because we know that illness can change everything in an instant.

So the answers are: keep it and learn to live with it; sell it and get something more suitable, if you can figure out what that is; or sell to give up on RVing.

If your question is really about how to get out of a financial situation, been there too. When overextended on debt, I've drastically cut back my lifestyle for several years to pay down the debt, so that the bulk of my income would no longer be going to pay interest on all the stuff we bought that we didn't need and didn't use.

[Colo_Native]

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
Funny that you want to get rid of your MH for those things that you don't like -- I am looking at buying a similar floorplan, and then changing the same things. I can buy a slightly used MH in this floorplan and change bunks to office/craft room and accept that changing jacknife to sofa/loveseat with recliners is likely, and still stay within my budget and get a MH for fulltiming that suits MY needs/wants.

PM me and see what we can do

[bsinmich]

I know this doesn't help you but I had a 38' Mountain Aire that we loved. When DW passed away I had a problem with the 6 steps going up into it. I then bought a Roadtrek from my neighbor that is in great shape. I went for a few days and it was too small so I got a hotel. While in the hotel I looked at craigs list and found a GMC that I bought. Don't feel confused. I did sell the Mountain Aire before buying the GMC. I will be using the Roadtrek until I get the GMC in shape. I think I will be happy with the GMC. Hopefully!

[timmac]

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
Funny that you want to get rid of your MH for those things that you don't like -- I am looking at buying a similar floorplan, and then changing the same things. I can buy a slightly used MH in this floorplan and change bunks to office/craft room and accept that changing jacknife to sofa/loveseat with recliners is likely, and still stay within my budget and get a MH for fulltiming that suits MY needs/wants.

Yea I sort of wished I had bought a bunk model motorhome to make it into a small room/office/craft room, etc, I am happy with mine now and not changing but sure would like a little room like that, I know you sacrifice in the bathroom area sometimes but its a trade off.

[wannavolunteerF]

Funny that you want to get rid of your MH for those things that you don't like -- I am looking at buying a similar floorplan, and then changing the same things. I can buy a slightly used MH in this floorplan and change bunks to office/craft room and accept that changing jacknife to sofa/loveseat with recliners is likely, and still stay within my budget and get a MH for fulltiming that suits MY needs/wants.

[nevadanick]

I have found there is no right rv.

[timmac]

Here is a link to your floor plan
http://www.rvguide.com/specs/fleetwood/class-a/2008/fiesta-reg/34b.html

1st off remove the bunks and make that into a computer room, reading room, etc, replace the jack knife couch for a better one with recliners, do other upgrades to make it as you want, as to the shower not sure what you can do there but just think outside the box it can be done and than you will have a custom motorhome..

You will miss traveling in a motorhome when you get to backing in that 5th wheel in a tight campground..

[toedtoes]

Looking at the floorplan, what if you removed the bunk beds and move the jackknife sofa there (or a new different sofa) - that would give you a place to sit and read, etc. Then in place of the sofa in the living room, put in a pair of recliners?

Or you could replace the lower bunk with a desk and chair, and retain the upper bunk for storage?

With the shower, it looks like you could enlarge it a few inches by extending it to the wall with the door - maybe make it more rectangular at the same time.

[Naio]

Colo Native wrote:

pnichols wrote:
What don't you like about your Fleetwood and it's towed vehicle?

We don't like the shower, couch is a jackknife and the bunks don't get used only for storage

The last two sound super easy to change. The shower, a bit more work but it could be done.

[Colo_Native]

pnichols wrote:
What don't you like about your Fleetwood and it's towed vehicle?

We don't like the shower, couch is a jackknife and the bunks don't get used only for storage it is a little long but a FW and TV would be about the same as now 55'.

[toedtoes]

Both those methods work because you do the research BEFORE you put in a large investment.

If you're not sure you will enjoy camping, then buying something cheap to test the waters while you do your research on what you will want/need, is a smart move. But, if you already know you love to camp, then buying something cheap will often just result in your disappointment and an immediate upgrade.

My rule is: if I buy the cheap version first, I don't upgrade until it breaks, etc. and I use it as much as possible. I did that when I decided to get into photography again - rather than buying an expensive dSLR and multiple lenses only to find I didn't enjoy it, I bought a P&S with manual setting options. I used it every single day until it broke. THEN I moved up to the dSLR and lenses knowing I'd enjoy it. During the time I had the P&S, I researched the dSLR and lenses so that when I did upgrade, I knew exactly what I wanted and needed. I have not regretted a single purchase.