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?

[Jim_Shoe]

I'd bet that almost everybody that camps buys more than one over their camping life. And for a variety of reasons. My parents went from a tent, to a borrowed homemade teardrop trailer, to a TT, a 'C' towing a VW bug, and finally a park model in a trailer park near Cape Canaveral.
After my parents passed away and after I retired, I started with a 'B', and then to my current 'C', pulling a Jeep toad. But I still spend most of my time at home.

[Naio]

rhagfo wrote:

When time came to see if we still would enjoy camping and a 5er we bought a "Disposable" 5th wheel! It was a 1986 King of the Road. Got it for $1,500 and put about $1,500 in to repairs and upgrades. We enjoyed that 5er for three years before we bought the current rig. We sold it for $3,000, about break even, if I could have only gotten $1,500 would not have mattered we got our money's worth and learned what we wanted/needed and are very happy with the new rig!

This is how I buy pretty much everything. Having a background in math, I think of it as 'shopping by successive approximation'. I get a super-cheap version of something, try it out, see if I like the idea enough to get a 'real' one, learn what features matter to me and which don't, etc.

spoon059 wrote:
The best solution is proper research ahead of time. It took me 2 years to figure out what truck I wanted... Then I spent another 18 months researching trailers before we narrowed it down to what brand and what floorplan. Spent a lot of time researching on the internet, went to about 6 RV shows and multiple trips to the dealer before we decided what camper we wanted.

Sure, it takes longer, but we got the camper we wanted the FIRST time and love it.

This is how my sister buys most things. I buy a few, select things via this method -- mostly tools, stuff I have used before and know what I will like, stuff that does not come in a cheap version.

On average, I think both methods cost about the same. The high-research person recycles less stuff, but when they do make a mistake it's expensive. The successive-approximations person has more frequent, small costs.

I have about $5500 into my van, minus the $2000 I sold my previous vehicle for. I think, all the time but idly so far, about getting a real B or a tiny C. We'll see. Meanwhile, I am learning what I like, what I need, what I don't care about, what issues folks have with their rigs that I never anticipated, and having fun!

[spoon059]

The best solution is proper research ahead of time. It took me 2 years to figure out what truck I wanted... Then I spent another 18 months researching trailers before we narrowed it down to what brand and what floorplan. Spent a lot of time researching on the internet, went to about 6 RV shows and multiple trips to the dealer before we decided what camper we wanted.

Sure, it takes longer, but we got the camper we wanted the FIRST time and love it. It is often said; if you fail to plan, you should plan to fail.

[Jim_Shoe]

My first RV was a Class B Roadtrek on a Dodge chassis. Since I'm single, I figured that it would serve my purposes and it does just that for some folks. But in my case, it didn't take long to hate a kitchen that doubled as a shower, a closet that did double duty as a "water closet" (toilet), and a dinette that doubled as a bed, unless you're over about 5'6". The clincher was a Dodge factory recall on the drive shaft universal joint. On my Roadtrek, the grey water tank was beneath the drive shaft and had to be removed to do the repairs. Dodge wouldn't pay to have the tank removed since it was an aftermarket add on. Roadtrek wouldn't pay because there was nothing wrong with the aftermarket add on.
So I paid.
Followed immediately by trading it in on a Fleetwood 'C'. NOW I'm a happy camper.

[Water-Bug]

midnightsadie wrote:
I have a oil well and it ain,t making much money, about $500. per year .

That's about what I spend a year for oil changes. If I quit servicing my vehicles, you probably won't get anything. If you say nice things about me, I'll continue to service my vehicles.

[rhagfo]

I think part of the issue is try to buy to RV of their dreams first time. We had a drop in camper several years ago and enjoyed both with and without the kids.

When time came to see if we still would enjoy camping and a 5er we bought a "Desposable" 5th wheel! It was a 1986 King of the Road. Got it for $1,500 and put about $1,500 in to repairs and upgrades. We enjoyed that 5er for three years before we bought the current rig. We sold it for $3,000, about break even, if I could have only gotten $1,500 would not have mattered we got our money's worth and learned what we wanted/needed and are very happy with the new rig!

[toedtoes]

Colo Native wrote:
One of the big things is we are thinking 5th wheel rather than a MH but that being said I know there are pros and con to all RV's

Does the MH make it impossible to RV the way you want? If so, then you might take a loss now to get out of the MH and then wait until you can afford the 5th wheel. If the MH is just sitting in storage, you're going to lose more money keeping it, than you will getting it gone at a loss.

If you just would prefer the 5th wheel more, than use the MH as much as possible with all its inconveniences and then when what you owe on it levels out to what it's worth, sell it and get the 5th wheel. This will allow you to take the time to understand what you REALLY want/need in an RV and get the right one.

[midnightsadie]

I have a oil well and it ain,t making much money, about $500. per year .

[pnichols]

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

[Colo_Native]

One of the big things is we are thinking 5th wheel rather than a MH but that being said I know there are pros and con to all RV's

[toedtoes]

I believe you can identify the reason you can't sell the MH (owe more on it than you can get for it, MH has issues, etc.) without violating the rule about advertising/selling.

The question is why don't you like it? Is it a basic dislike of a MH? Or is it particular features (size, floorplan, etc.)? Does it stop you from being able to take it out? Or do you just have to make concessions when you go out (having to make the dinette into a bed each night)?

If it's a basic dislike and/or you can't do the things you want with it, then you should re-look at how you're trying to sell it. Maybe you'll have to take a loss on it - at this point, if you're not enjoying it, the money is a loss anyway.

If it's about specific features and/or concessions, then look at how to minimize those issues. You might be able to change out some features (change a dinette to a couple recliners, etc.) or you might be able to change your habits to fit (kitchen too small - bring a grill and cook outdoors).

[3oaks]

I think Ol' yeller makes a good point.

Not quite the same situation, but we have been shopping for a new TT for some time now. We have found nothing that matches the build quality of our 2006 Sunline. We do love our Sunline but would prefer a little more room being we are retired now and travel for months at a time. The manufacturers of Sunline TT went out of business back in 2007. So to purchase a new trailer we must dwell on the positives of different manufacturers rather than what we feel are the negatives.

[hotbyte]

Why is it you don't like it? What about it do you like. Every RV is a compromise of needs/wants vs features/capabilities. You likely will not find one that you like everything about.

[ol__yeller]

To answer the OP's question, I would make a list of everything I like about the RV. I would concentrate on enjoying what I could and not dwell on things I don't like. Life is a big compromise usually and unless you have an oil well somewhere, you have to accept what you can afford. It doesn't sound like what annoys you affects the ability to go places and do stuff. I think you are smart trying to learn to live with/enjoy what you have.

[colliehauler]

You can always trade it in on one you like. Or discount it enough that it sells. Another Option is to change the floor plan to suit your needs