Once Again We Didn't Find The Right Class A

Well we spent the better part of 8 hours hunting for the perfect Class A. No love again today. So, the search continues. I will post again once we are ready to restart the search.

"Once More, Into the Breach" - Heading Out To View More RV's

Today we are headed toward Springfield, Mo. to look at RV's.  We've found several we are interested in. The bonus is that we found a Tiffin Allegro Bay that is priced reasonably. We really like Tiffin but financially they've been out of reach.  While we are in Springfield we will also look at a Gulfstream Crescendo and a Damon Ultrasport.  Wish us luck and stay tuned.

2007 Tiffin Allegro Bay

We'll also be viewing a Gulfstream Crescendo and a Damon Ultrasport that both seem to fit what we are trying to find

2007 Gulfstream Crescendo

2000 Damon Ultrasport

Went RV Shopping Today - No Love

We went to three RV Dealers looking for "the one" today. Our hopes were to find a used 2009-2010 Forest River - Georgetown 373 in good condition. We did find one but it was in really bad shape. The faux leather seating on driver, passenger, euro recliner and couch were all in deteriorating condition. This was something we have found in two cases now. Fit and finish in these units is also not good. So, scratch these as a candidate for full timing at least for us.

The first dealer Coachlite RV Sales turned out to be a complete bust for us. We found the Georgetown which we quickly dissed as poorly built. The second RV was a Newmar Canyon Star toy hauler that I wanted to see but couldn't get in. I walked to the office and asked for sales to meet me at the RV I waited 20 minutes and nobody showed up. When leaving I saw a sales person and said out loud "excuse me" and he stopped, turned to look at me and then turned on his heels to talk to a friend in a car and never made an effort beyond looking at me. That's no way to treat a customer. We left.

The second dealer Colaw RV sold RV's on salvage titles, they buy them with repairable damage from insurance losses at auction and rebuild them. I decided that a salvage title might not be best as we will have to finance and I really don't want to jump through those hoops.

The third dealer Consignment RV Sales had several we were interested in but pricing wasn't where we wanted them and the owners weren't likely to come down in pricing.

During the day we once again eventually realized that we still were leaning toward a Gulfstream Sun Voyager 8389 and have decided to divert the search to finding this particular unit (for the moment).

We still have time. We are looking to purchase prior to the last week in November so that we can use our reservations at Ft. Pickens National Park in Pensacola during the first two weeks of Decemeber.  Wish us luck.

It's final - The car has been sold - Let the search begin

It finally happened. The Optima sold 35 days after starting our advertising blitz! Yay, us.   Now the fun/work begins in earnest. We have to locate the models we've settled on and view them to see what condition they are in. We still have the goal of having all of this done and the unit purchased prior to the end of November.

To add to the confusion we've now started considering certain Gas powered Class A's.  Martha has taken a liking to the Forest River Georgetown Model 373 which has a three zone plan. The front of the coach is living space with couches and or recliners, a proper TV location and on board fireplace/heater and mid entry, The second zone is the kitchen with table and chairs adjacent to the counter top/kitchen.  And lastly the bathroom and bedroom.

Today, we are heading to Carthage, Missouri to view the model depicted below. It is a consignment unit so I will have to be diligent with my inspection and if it meets my expectations I will be making an offer. We'll see how this goes. More later.

Georgetown 373

Almost ready to pull the trigger

Those of you that are following this blog know that I have been trying to accomplish a few things prior to purchasing our RV. The biggest thing for us is selling our nearly new Kia Optima. I am almost certain it's sold now. We've got earnest money with the potential buyer coming Monday comin on October 17th to verify the condition of the vehicle and hopefully drive away with it.

We are excited to say the least (well, me for sure).

Like the Three Stooges said in "Gents without Cents,"  "Slowly I turned. Step by step, inch by inch."

After quoting the Stooges, I had to search for the scene. Amazingly I found it on Youtube.  You will enjoy this if you like slapstick comedy).

If things fall into place tomorrow, maybe this weekend we will find an RV we can live with. Wish Us luck.

My Favorite RV Vlogers - Vlogers I Follow Daily

Snake River Canyon & Shoshone Falls

How To Eat Cactus & Not Get Stuck 

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Drivin' and Vibin'

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Less Junk, More Journey

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My Favorite RV Vlogers - Vlogers I Follow Daily

Nomadic Natives

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Drivin' and Vibin'

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Less Junk, More Journey

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Waiting Is Hard To Do - An update on our future purchase

We have patiently viewed RV after RV online and in person. This process was necessary to identify our needs and enabled us to figure out what class RV we needed.  We've decided on purchasing a Class A manufactured between 2003 and 2006. These seem to fit our proposed budget. With that out of the way we started looking at what amenities we wanted aboard our RV.

In no particular order, this is what we decided to look for.

Mechanical
Diesel pusher 300-400 hp
Allison transmission
Freightliner chassis (preferably)
5000 pound towing capacity
Preferably recent engine servicing (preferably)
Tires no older than three years
Batteries no old than three years (house and chassis)
Working leveling jack system

House Systems
10 Gallon hot water heater
Preferably whole house water filter
Working water pump
Working furnace
Working AC units
Working exhaust fans
Working Stove
Working Microwave/convection oven
LED light conversion (not a deal breaker if not)
Working Washer/dryer
Working Refrigerator
One slide in the basement
Large water and waste tank capacity

Amenities
Table and chairs (no dinette)
TV not mounted up front (not a deal breaker)
King bed (not a deal breaker)
Room kitchen counter
Four door fridge with ice maker
Leather couches and euro recliner
Leather swiveling driver and passenger seat
Mid entry
Dining room (similar to Gulfstream Sun Voyager 8389 see photo below)

Condition
Used but in above average condition
No water damage anywhere (this is a deal breaker)
No smells (this is a deal breaker)

We've still got some work to do before we purchase. I have a 2015 Kia Optima that is for sale at the present time. We will finally be able to purchase the RV once the car has been sold.

Motorhome Purchase - New or Used? - Well Maintained or Not So Much?

Moving onto to the next phase prior to purchase

As we go forward with finding and purchasing an RV you should by now have identified the type and class RV that best fits your requirements. To get to this point you should have been searching dealers lots, dealer websites, manufacturers websites, RV Trader, Craigslist and others.

Assuming you have done your homework you should now know which class, make, model, year, mileage, and years that will fall within your target budget and specific needs.

For instance if you are buying a used unit and have $50,000 budgeted, you should know now that you are looking at motorhomes in the following categories (based on 2016 prices):

2001-2006  - Model Years
Diesel - 50K-150 miles (mileage won't as much of a deterrent on a diesel)
Gas - 50K to 65K miles (fewer miles will be a fresher engine)
Slides - 2-3
Older - tires
Older - batteries
Worn carpet
Dinette instead of table and chairs (not always)
Front TV, Bedroom TV (both likely older and clunky)
Coach equipment getting older - think pumps, faucets, microwave, refrigerator and movable parts

Should I consider paying more or less up front to insure I get what I want?

After deciding on a budget and knowing what you can expect to see in an older coach you need to make a final decision. Do I want to just load and go?  Or, do I mind renovating the inside of the coach?

Which is right for me?

The first consideration here is how handy are you? Can you rip out stuff without damaging the coaches wiring, plumbing, heating or sewage systems? Are you a Klutz?  Because if you are you might want to buy a coach that is ready to roll.

Should I Purchase a "read to roll" RV?

There are dealers like Johnson RV  (no I am not affiliated) that completely recondition coaches and replace things that need replacing prior to even listing them on their websites. You will of course pay for this convenience and reliability.

Should I Purchase an RV that potentially requires some systems updated?

If you have done your homework you should be able to inspect your prospective coach (less the engine mechanical systems) by visiting RV dealers and private sellers in your city, town or surrounding area and be confident with the condition of the coach.

Should I Purchase an RV that has a good body, chassis, engine and transmission but lacks TLC otherwise?

You found a 2005 coach that was lived in. It wasn't moved for several years and lived in an RV park. It hasn't been maintained properly because the owners were older and unable to do the work. You inspect it and find that the batteries are shot, the tires are dry rotted and way past their build date. The engine runs but could use filters, oil change, perhaps the manifold or another part of the engine has developed an oil or water leak due to age and lack of exercising the engine.

Should you buy it?  Well that depends. Can you buy it cheap? Will the outside clean up by removing oxidation and waxing?  How many tires need replacing? How about belts and hoses? You will need to find our how much the tires cost per unit.  You need to replace the batteries, how much will that cost? Maybe an A/C unit is on the fritz, how much will it cost to service or replace?

Again, if you are handy, resourceful, don't have a hard departure date and are determined to "make a silk purse out of a sows ear" for the price of a song, then this may be the route you want to go.

Before even making an offer on these type rigs run the amenities through NADA. Be careful to read the notes in NADA on that coach. In general you will learn what was standard equipment and that will give you a base price. Then add in the options that the coach had installed at the time of sale.

Now add in tires, engine work, replacement of flooring, repair of systems, and the total estimated cost of getting the coach back into the type of condition that will make it reliable on the road or in the RV park.

All of this should be done PRIOR to making an offer. If the coach is too valuable to the owner and they will not negotiate walk away and don't look back.

Should I purchase an RV that is ready to roll and go?

For me I want to load and go. Why? I am retired and don't want spend six months, gutting, upgrading and getting the coach ready to roll. I want to get on the road. Besides, I am older and some of the work I can no longer do.

Is there a universal answer to these questions?

You're kidding right?  No, absolute answer is available. Do your homework, figure out the cost of replacing and renovating as opposed to a well maintained coach at the time of purchase.

Good luck

Sorting Out Puzzle Pieces

Purchasing a Class A RV is an expensive proposition. Make sure that your credit is ready for the hit

As you have read in our other posts, there are many pieces to this puzzle. The biggest obstacles for most people is reducing debt load.  For instance paying off car loans or selling a car will reduce your debt load. Additionally paying down or paying off credit cards will also result in a reduced debt load.

For us we sort of get a "two for," because we just paid off my wife's car which will become our "toad" and my car is now up for sale because we simply won't need two cars when we hit the road.

Other potential problem areas for credit score problems is too many inquiries into your credit. Each inquiry can reduce your total credit score by as much as 100 pts. The moral of the story here is to not ask a potential debtor to run your credit until you are sure you are going to buy whatever it is you're interested in purchasing.

There are many resources online to help you figure out how best to reduce your debt load and raise your credit score. Find one that makes sense to you, read it, follow it and enjoy the results.

Charlie

Selling Your Stuff - Part 2

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Where the heck to I begin?

As you begin to categorize the things you no long need you will have to make some decisions on how to get rid of them.  For us it's easier because for the last five years we have been paring down for the final purge.  However, when you think you are ready you may still have too much stuff. What to do with it?

Identify items that will be incorporated into your RV

The first step is to identify what you need for use in your RV. Do you need an electric frying pan, blender, toaster, specific electronics, warm weather clothing, rain gear, etc.? Keep the list for when you sort things for sale.

Identify items that you want to sell that are the more valuable items 

Make a list of what you know is good enough and valuable enough to sell and bring top dollar. Our list includes the following items.

42" Flat screen TV
Pots and pans
Glassware
Flatware
Dishes
Lots of storage type shelving
Work Bench
Weed eater
Unused tools
Art and portraits
Home style Propane Grill
Kitchen table and chairs
Water cooler
Extra Appliances

Items for storage, or not?

Consider your upcoming RV life. Will you be gone for six months, a year or forever.  Do you want to try the lifestyle and then make a decision whether it fits you permanently?  Do you want to eventually get off the road and go back to sticks and bricks?

The following are items that you will want to store if you aren't sure what your RV life will be like.

Bedroom and living room furniture
Keepsakes
Important papers that do not need to be on your RV
Garage items that could be useful if you go back to living in a house or condo
Organizing shelving
Book shelving
Office furniture
Important memorabilia
Extra clothing

How to sell these items

Consider the following ways of selling items

Ebay - Sell more valuable things here. Either use "Buy it Now" or place a reserve on the item (if it is valuable enough) and then auction it. Protect yourself and open a PayPal account.

What do you do about all of that extra clothing? 

Sell them or give them away

Craigslist - You can sell all sorts of stuff here. Beware of scammers, don't take checks, money orders or promises. Cash only and make the buyer pay the postage on large, heavy or bulky items.

Garage Sale - Sell your knick knacky stuff, outdated or ill fitting clothing, extra glassware, flatware and dishes. If you advertise it right you may do quite well. Expect to be bargained with. Expect the people that visit to be quite cheap and wanting things for pennies.

Give them away - Offer them to friends and family first.  If that isn't fruitful there are all kinds of community venues such as Good Will etc. This is a worthy cause and if you have a LOT of stuff you can ask them for a receipt so you can use it at tax time.

If you know of other venues to get rid of your stuff please leave a comment.

Plans To Sell Your Stuff -Part 1 - Radical Downsizing - The Conundrum

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How do I make a plan to downsize when I don't know where to begin?

How on earth do you figure out how to sort, use, sell or give away stuff you've been lugging around for 25 years. We are good at ridding ourselves of "stuff," We've moved multiple times during our time together and as we move we tend to pare down more and more each time. However the task of finally purging our stuff seems overwhelming right now.

We've decided that now is the time to organize and categorize the stuff in our life for stowage and use on the Class A.

I never realized how attached I've become to some of the material things I own. So, starting early is a must for me. Not so much for Martha.

Our grand scheme to go on the road will be started as a sort of "sabbatical." We plan to give ourselves a year on the road and reevaluate whether the lifestyle suits us at the end.  Initially we will be storing our good furniture and other items.  At the end of the year, we will either sell it or lease another home and reuse it. Time will tell.

We've sort of loosely categorized things into groups and are still identifying what goes into each category.

Keep it with us
Some dishes, Flatware, linens, some glassware, spices, pots and pans, certain appliances, clothing, certain electronics
Throw it away
Broken stuff, unwanted memorabilia, unneeded paperwork, half or non-used toiletries
Sell it
out of style or non-fitting clothes, unneeded appliances, left over or mismatching glassware, flatware and dishes
Give it away
out of style or non-fitting clothes, left over or mismatching glassware, flatware and dishes, some furniture
Store it
Furniture, electronics, refrigerator, washer dryer

RV Loans - Are you Impatient To Move The Process Along? - Stay On A Steady But Sure Path Forward Toward Paying down Debt

                                         Please feel free to post comments and questions at the bottom of this post. 

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What should I do prior and until my RV Purchase? 

Personal finances, loans and other stuff to consider.

If you are like us and have decided to full time RV then you have a lot on your plate to consider. Yes, I am impatient but my wife puts things into perspective ever time I express my displeasure in waiting for a bit.

Consider your personal finances. I maybe know one or two couples that could purchase an RV outright for cash. I am certainly not one of them.  To that end my wife and I are proceeding in a logical progression of knocking down dominoes one by one.

How do you create a better credit score to insure you will get that loan?

Sometimes this is something that can be very hard to do. But consider this, lenders will give you better rates and longer terms with a better credit rating. It isn't just as simple as that rating. First you want to have 100% on time payments to any account you currently have. Next your debt ratio needs to be in the average to excellent range.

If your Debt ratio (credit used) is in the 60% range you are below average. If you want an excellent rating you want to keep your debt in the 30%-35% range.

What does this mean to me when getting an RV loan?

Lenders look at the following things on your credit rating:

On time payments
Your oldest credit line
Your percentage of credit used
Recent inquiries about your credit
New accounts recently activated
Your total available credit

In order to have the best available chance at getting a loan and getting a loan with a good interest rate is of course to pay down your debt.

Paying down debt in preparation for full time RV'ing

Consider your loans and your debt. Which of the loans you currently have can be paid down quickly?

Think about what you will take with you in an RV. What do you really need?  You need clothing, household items, linens, tools and electronics. Your RV will have appliances, entertainment systems, beds, furniture and places to store the things you will be taking along.

That leaves a lot of things you don't need. Do you have a loan for furniture? Pay it off.  How about a second car? Sell it. A revolving charge such as Paypal. Pay it off.

The idea is pay down your debt.

I hope this helps anyone that read this, and I hope you meet your goals so you can get on the road.

Are You Anxious To Find "The One?" - Searching For Your RV - How Best To Do That?

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Ready to RV hop

After figuring out what you really want in an RV you get to move to the next step. Go physically look at RV's. Look at new ones, look and used ones, look at cheap ones, look at expensive ones. All the while you are looking take physical notes, photos and discuss the attributes or lack of for each one you view. The more RV's you look at the easier and more apparent it will become to you what features are "must haves" what features are "nice to haves" and what features "don't have a place" in your RV.

Starting your search. Our methods may not fit you personally but I suggest that you start using the internet. For instance your search terms may be "Used 2003-2005 Class A diesel pushers with three slides"  Sample Search Term - CLICK HERE TO GO TO GOOGLE SEARCH

This search may not target exactly what you are looking for but it will give you a good start.

How to deal with finding an RV on line?

First your search will undoubtedly give you dealers, private sales, bank repo's, and a few shysters along the way.  You will be faced with auctions on Ebay, dealer tactics like no pricing on an add, or dealers that have high prep and destination fees. Don't let these shake you up. Just go with it.

What do I mean "go with it?" read on.

Dealers

Well first most dealers without pricing on a unit want your name and contact information. Just do it, sometimes it is worth talking with someone that can steer you into the right direction. Give them your needs and wants list and let them provide you with the units that fit your ideal RV. Never discount a new unit missing your budget. Just let them give you an entire list.

After you have seen what they have to offer and the pricing it is time to get specific with them. Give them an entire list of what it is that could be a deal maker and what may be a deal breaker for you. For instance, in my search these are the parameter that I give sales people:

Diesel - 300-330 HP
Mileage 75K-175K (diesels at 75K have barely been broken in)
Freightliner Chassis
No dinette - table and chairs only
Leather upholstery
King Bed
No Smells (I tell them it is a deal breaker period ie: cats, dogs, mildew, smokers)
Newer tires (when you look there will be four oval windows on the side wall the last is the week and year the tires were made - 0213 means second week of 2013)
Newer Batteries
My not to exceed budget
Don't discuss finances until it is unavoidable

Will the dealers sales people bug you? Not usually unless the sales person is really good at what they do. Let them call you but when you provide contact information give the a cell number. Why? it is easier to block a number from your cell phone.

Dealing with asking prices

They are "asking" prices period.  Dealers usually mark up units between 22%-35%  Yes, really. Obviously they have a lot of overhead, flooring (interest for bringing units on the lot until they sell) and prep costs (putting things together that were not together from the factory).

Tell the dealer you are only "looking" and will purchase at a later date after you've explored your options. Let them show you units that fit your list of wants.

Take cell photos of them as you walk through. Make sure you look into all of the storage bays and in every nook and cranny of the RV. Let him quote you a price. Write the price down and reference it with the dealer stock number of the unit (important because after looking a while all of the units start running together, the stock number makes it easier to be specific about a unit you're interesed in).

After your finished, let them know if you are interested in a particular unit and leave the dealership (don't worry, if it sells there are lots of others).

Your next step is to consult a NADA RV Pricing Guide. Plug in all of the information regarding the unit you liked so that you can get a determination of what the unit is worth. Be honest about what equipment and amenities are included.  If the number is far below the asking price you have two options, walk away or shoot the dealer an offer lower than NADA. Always, always know what the unit is worth or you will get screwed. Also be aware the unit may be on consignment and the owner has to have a specific amount to pay it off.

These units are easy to spot after a bit of practice. For instance you are looking a a 2003 Winnebago Journey DL. It may be priced at $75,000 at the dealer and when you book it in NADA you may find that the unit should bring closer to $50,000 or even below depending on the condition.

Down payments and loans

If a dealer wants 15% down take a walk, there an abundance of dealers out there.

There are a lot of other dealers around each of them is betting your credit will be marginal to mediocre. They have lenders make agreements with the dealer. That agreement means that the lender can quote you with higher interest rates for less than perfect credit. That in turn will net kick back to the dealer. You have to weigh what your personal situation will accommodate financially and if you can live with extra finance charges to get what you want.

Dealers have quoted us anywhere from $500-$15,000 down. A little out of whack eh?

My advise is that if you need a loan get pre-approved for a loan. That way you can deal with a credit union or a bank of your choice. You can also google "RV finance sources."

Private sales

I cannot stress enough to do your homework. Know in advance what to inspect for when viewing an RV offered by an individual.  For instance, we found a really nice 2003 Newmar coach. When I started looking closely I found the outside slide out kitchen wall separated at the sides and the outside top. It had been neatly caulked but was structurally iffy.  When I looked in the engine compartment I saw two RATS.  Rats chew wiring. I walked away.

If you see an ad on Ebay or Craigslist book the unit prior to going to view the coach. Know what it is worth in "fair, good and excellent condition."  If you are interested in purchasing the unit drive it, run the generator, make sure everything works on shore power and on generator power. If it has solar panels insure they are working and ask how to make the on board conversion from shore/generator power to solar. Check the tires and batteries. Check stoves, ovens, microwave, refrigerator (make sure that electric and propane both work), look for discoloration or delamination in walls and ceilings and outside fiberglass exteriors (indicates moisture problems). If at this point you still think you might want to purchase the RV have an RV inspection service check it out for you and give you a report. It may save you thousands.

Bank Repossessions

Yes they are out there. Dealers usually handle these for the banks. Obviously the dealers make a percentage of the sale. Again know your units price. Offer substantially lower than the dealer is asking. All they can say is no.

Purchasing older with the intent to remodel

Buying a older unit or a beat up unit can be an option. You can find all classes of RV's in this category. You need to be confident of your skills, have sources for replacement parts and have a lot of time on your hands. Most cabinetry is custom made in an RV so that in itself can be problematic. Just be aware that you will have a lot of work ahead of you.

Additional Puzzle Pieces - What Considerations Need To Be Made Prior To Hitting The Road? How Do You The Pieces To Fit Together?

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So, now you've determined what Class RV, what engine we want in the RV and now we a general feel for which RV's will provide us with the amenities we desire. So what else needs to be done?

Possible puzzle pieces that may need to fit into the overall puzzle?

1. Sell my car because we won't need two and hers is smaller and lighter for towing

2. Try to figure out which finance companies offer the best RV interest rates

3. Get pre-approved for an RV loan

3. Gather the down payment

4. Locate and purchase the RV

5. Purchase RV peripherals such as a portable waste tank, sewer hose, water hoses if not included in the purchase

6. If required make necessary repairs or mods to the RV

7. Purchase a car hauler and car hold down straps for Martha's car and my motorcycle 

8. Establish a domicile address and/or a mail forwarding service (UPS ?)

9. Sell or get rid the stuff we won't need in the RV

10. Store the stuff we want to save for at least a year

11. Figure out what paperwork (past taxes, important papers, etc.) go along with us

12. Sort old photos and decide whether they need to be scanned and saved, just saved and stored or just thrown out.

13. Martha needs to figure out if she will continue to work and if so, what will she do.

14. Look at campground memberships, Good Sams for the towing insurance? Are these worth it?

15. Banking? Keep it where it is now? Will there be extra fee's if we keep our existing?

16. What do we do about having refrigerated medications forwarded through a mail forwarding service quickly? IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT.

What Type And Class RV Will You Choose? - We've decided on a Class A - How To Narrow Your Search

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The search begins

After weeks of painstaking decision making we decided we need a "Class A" RV.  Now to get down to the heart of it. We need to find that RV. You can use what you like from the following information, I am aware that this information will be specific to each potential owners requirements.

We have been to Springfield, Mo., Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fayetteville, Arkansas looking at Class A RV's. I have driven a used 40' footer and have educated myself on what to look for in a diesel rig. At this point I have a good feel for the engine and transmission and the type of chassis.

The engine, transmission and chassis

I've settled on search for a coach with at least a 330 hp ISC engine and a 6 speed Allison transmission on a (preferably) Freightliner chassis.

If you research the differences between and ISB and a ISC engines will find that an ISB engine can make 200-325 HP depending on the application while an ISC engine will make between 260-350 HP depending on the application.

The ISC is most often used in buses and motorhomes because they produce more torque while the ISB is most often used in Dodge Trucks (2500, 3500 etc).

Therefore my preference will be a ISC engine.

What year coach can we afford?

To meet our budget of $40-$50K we've necessarily narrowed the search down to 2003 - 2005 coaches.

What kind of mileage is on 2003-2005 coaches?

Mileage totals on these coaches vary widely. We've seen coaches that range from as low as 25,000 miles to as high as 175,000 miles. The differences are quite a lot. I am guessing that the lower mileage units were used by snowbirds who left their coaches stored in their winter locations while the higher mileage coaches were used by people like us who want to travel.

What am I looking for as far as systems maintenance in these coaches?

In either case there are pros and cons. For instance, if the coach set static for large periods of time I would be worried about engine seals, gaskets, tires and belts drying out an in need of replacement. I would also be concerned about batteries being at the end of their useful lives due to lack of proper maintenance.

On the flip side, the high mileage vehicle may have the same issues from constant use. However, batteries and coach systems may be in better working order due the necessity of daily use.

When inspecting the inside of the coach what are we looking for?

Lets go for the obvious first, we need to insure the coach is water tight and not water damaged

1. No sign of previous or present leaks - Inspect for wall or ceiling discoloration in the entire coach
2. Look for interior de-lamination of wall panels or ceilings throughout.
3. Walk the entire coach and make a point of trying to find a springy spot in the floors.
4. Make sure you look for springy floors at each slide out where the slide outs meets the stationary walls
5. Look for water damaged floors near showers, washer/dryers (hookup leaks)
6. Look inside the coach where you see vents on the outside of the coach. These frequently leak.

Inspect for the not so obvious

1. Look inside the coaches electrical breaker box. Insure that it is the amperage listed on the advertisement ie: 30 or 50 Amp. Also inspect for cobbled up wiring entering the box.
2. Insist that the sales person run the slides in and out (all of them). Look for misaligned slides (look at them slid in and slid out to insure there is a proper seal in both positions and that the slide isn't crooked in either position (think sliding the room out and hitting a tree or moving the RV and without retracting the slide).
3. Try the vent fans insure they work
4. Try the AC units insure they work.
5. Try the water pump insure it works
6. Try the heater and insure it works.

Inspect the coach to insure that the floor plan meets your personal criteria

Living in an RV is going to be less spacious. Make sure you try to hit about 75-80% of your must haves in a coach.

No compromise items

Leather furniture in good shape
Above average counter space
Refrigerator with ice maker
Stove with oven or microwave with convection oven
At least one recliner
Large bath (I'm large) Split bath a +
Opposing slides in the living space to create a feeling of spaciousness
NO FREAKING DINETTE table and chairs only.
Washer/Dryer
No previous owners smells, no smoking, no pets, no mold, no musty smells.
Electric steps
Diesel
Large basement storage
Good canvas on all awnings
New or newer tires all around

Flexible items

TV placed in a logical position instead of having to break your neck to watch it.
Carpet but we prefer hard surfaces
King bed but we would adjust to Queen
A dedicated space to work from (preferred for Martha)
If necessary a dinette will be accepted but torn out for replacement table and chairs
Older batteries if the price is right
Canvas can be old with UV damage to be replaced later
Older tires that are unchecked from UV

Our preferred Motor Coaches in order

1. SeeYa by Alpha (We've eliminated this RV from our list due to lack of manufacturers support)
2. Latitude by Winnebago
3. Journey by Winnebago
4. Ambassador by Holiday Rambler
5. Allegro by Tiffin

The above coaches meet our personal criteria for layout and amenities. Our search will continue with the above list as our targets.

Choosing An RV Type And Class - RV Type Comparison Pros and Cons List - What We Considered When Choosing The Type OF RV We Want - Will Your Requirements Be Similar?

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The things that should be considered when deciding which type of RV would fit you

Class B RV's

At this point we knew we wanted an RV but we had some conflicts about what Class RV we should be looking at. To compound the decision we knew we had to decide whether we wanted to continue overseas travel or not and do we want to enhance our travel within the United States by virtue of staying longer in one place than we have in the past and do this in our own RV?  

We decided that a combination of the two was required and set off looking for a Class B van.  

We traveled to Springfield, Missouri (Reliable RV), Covington, Louisiana (Berryland RV) and to Ramsey, Minnesota (Lake Region RVs) to specifically see the best in Class B's and hopefully find a used one we could afford.  

As we looked we became convinced us that the van wouldn't provide enough space for each of us to have some private space and that the Class B's in general were enormously expensive per square foot.  As we mulled our possibilities and our budget we came to the conclusion that if we were going to consider $125,000 for a Class B Van then we should consider an older RV of some type and gain some space and amenities while saving some money.

Now that we eliminated the Class B's entirely, what RV will fit the bill?

Going from knowing exactly what we wanted to what the hell do we want (again) set us back in the uncomfortable but necessary position of comparing the advantages and disadvantages of towing or driving our next home. We are methodical people so we decided to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each type of RV that we would consider. Below you will see our Pros and Con's list.

In order to figure out which trailer, fifth wheel or motor home we should consider we had to look hard at our budget and ultimately settled on a not to exceed $40,000 target. This took into consideration our budget at that time. It presupposed that with our payments at the time that we would be able to purchased the RV and still pay all of our bills. 

As you read this you will see that some of these considerations are purely personal due to our finances.

Our comparison list

Fifth Wheel Trailers

Pros

Better and more choices on interior layout

Good weight distribution

Slide outs

Trailer brakes

King Beds

Better separation of living and bedroom space

Larger Baths

No toad necessary (towed vehicle)

Leave the rig parked when you leave

Basement storage is large

Con's

Have to purchase an expensive tow vehicle

We have to trade both vehicles in to afford the tow vehicle

The entire rig length and weight would dictate a diesel vehicle

Specialized hitch required

We have to trade both vehicles in to afford the tow vehicle

3 season rigs, meaning winter use at below freezing would be iffy

Most do not have generators

Two loans - trailer and truck

Selling or trading Chucks care (upside down) will require a small personal loan

Total costs will likely exceed $95-$100K

Pull Behind Trailer

Pros

Better and more choices on interior layout

Good weight distribution

Slide outs

Trailer brakes

King Beds

Better separation of living and bedroom space

Larger Baths

No toad necessary (towed vehicle)

Leave the rig parked when you leave

Basement storage is adequate

Con's

Have to purchase an expensive tow vehicle

We have to trade both vehicles in to afford the tow vehicle

The entire rig length and weight would dictate a diesel vehicle

Specialized hitch required

3 season rigs, meaning winter use at below freezing would be iffy

Most do not have generators

Water, black water and grey water tanks are smaller

Two loans - Trailer and truck

Selling or trading Chucks care (upside down) will require a small personal loan

Total costs will likely exceed $75-$85K

Class A Diesel Motorhome

Pros 

Leave the rig parked when you leave (with toad)

Good interior floor plan layouts

Bus chassis often with air ride

Large basement storage

Often only queen beds are available

Good separation between living and bedroom 

Medium to large baths, often split baths

Keep our Kia Rio (paid for)

Large diesel engines with more torque for mountains and towing.

Most have heated basements allowing for four season use

Generators

Water, black water and grey water tanks are larger

Con's 

Large diesel engines suck more fuel (8-10mpg)

To afford one we have to be in the 2003-2005 range with 150K+ miles and $35K-$40K price range

Because tanks are larger you are hauling more weight.

Two Loans - RV and Car Hauler

Selling or trading Chucks care (upside down) will require a small personal loan

Total costs will likely exceed $55-65K

As you may be able to see, the Class A wins for a full time endeavor. Especially given our finances and that we ultimately need the space and amenities that Class A provides for personal comfort. After all, this will be home.

The "Process" - How We Arrived At Our Decision - Where We Are In The Process - Are Your Circumstances Like Ours?

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Owning and living in an RV - Are you ready?

So, if you are like us (new to the full timing world but not RVing) or, if you preceded us in the process of getting out of home ownership and going on the road full time, some of what you will read will be new or redundant depending on your personal situation.

We don't expect everyone to understand our need to let go of a physical address but we hope to at least make sense of it for you if you need roots.

How did we come to the decision of transitioning to full time travel without the need of a full time address?

For us it was the process of never having enough time to spend in any one place. We have had many great vacations over the years. but we are migrants by heart and tended to move every 5 years or so through out our marriage.

As time went on we began wanting to move on to other places. We wanted to learn their very unique local cultures. The problem for us was and is, we don't get to stay in on place long enough to really get to know it. We had to go back to work. Being realists we also knew that after a month in one place we would quickly become bored and want to move on.

So, a plan was hatched to someday go on the road permanently so we could keep those experiences coming and to appreciate the very act of traveling, scenery and people.

What factors did we consider to make this idea into reality?

First it makes it easier for us to do this because I am on a fairly comfortable fixed income. This makes it easy to manage our monthly expenses.  Additionally, our youngest son just graduated from college and has essentially flown from the coup and our expendable income has risen as a result.

Other deciding factors were my other adult children and grandchildren. They all live in a large city and are working their way through the corporate and business ownership maze. We don't see any of them often so going on the road is feasible. In fact, we may actually get to visit them more often.

Home ownership is something we bailed out on about five years ago. We owned a lovely home in Holiday Island, Arkansas. I am getting older and there was a three and a half story rear facade on our house that I would periodically have to maintain. Older + thirty five feet in the air + plus old legs = a recipe for a bad accident. So, mutually we decided that we would sell and lease a home instead.

Leasing a home lends it self very well to being nomadic. But since our youngest son was still in college we decided to stay put to provide support (read: $$$) for him while he was still in school and also to give the peace of mind that we would be available for council and support. Now that he is done we intend to not to renew our lease next June 2017.

This also will be the month we are aiming at to start our full time experience.  By then we hope to have purchased a used Class A Motorhome, sold the things we aren't storing and packing up and getting the heck out of town.

Now you know the "who, what, why, when" (we are still working on "where.")  What's next?  Stay tuned to our next blog entry.

Why An RV? - Do You Have a" Family Tradition" Of Family Camping? - Will Your Obsession Take You In The Direction Ours Did?

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 The Family Obsession

"How can we know who we are and where we are going if we don't know anything about where we have come from and what we've been through, the courage shown, the costs paid, to be where we are?" (Davide McCullough)

To answer this question I have to go back a long way to my childhood.  As a child I grew up with camping. My parents, brother and I camped nearly every weekend.

We started in a canvas wall tent that didn't have a floor. It was Army Surplus purchased by my Dad at an Army/Navy surplus store. I was very little maybe five but I do have one vivid recollection camping in that tent in very bad thunderstorm. My Dad put the tent bad location (in a gully). Late at night the storm raged and the rain was relentless.  I woke up to my mother screaming and silhouetted by a lighting flash just just in time to see her floating floating away under the walls of the tent on an air mattress. My Dad was laughing uncontrollably. It's a memory I will never forget. My Mom, well she didn't share the humor of the situation

I don't remember the whole story but I do remember that the next time we camped it was in an Umbrella Tent with a floor. 

Around 1962 my parents gave up on tents and bought a Forest River Shasta 16' pull behind trailer. It was plush compared to the tents.

But as a family we quickly outgrew it and Dad purchased a Forest River Comanche which they kept until the early 70's.

The Obsession Continues

After I left home for and returned from the Army I married my first wife. As is the case with young families I wanted everything. I specifically wanted a camping trailer and couldn't afford one on an apprentice carpenters wages until I found the Appleby Trailer company and bought my first trailer a Pop up.

As the saying goes I was "Shi__ing in tall cotton." However like all cheap trailers this one quickly degraded and was sent to the junk heap.

The Family Obsession endures

After meeting Martha in the 90's we bought a really large tent which was used for one or two outings until we recognized the "hard work" that was tent camping. 

From there we went without a tent until the nineties when we bought our first RV. It was a 1979 Class C Honey Princess.  All systems worked but the engine was a problem from the day we bought it. 

I can say without doubt or hesitation that this was the ultimate in beach RV's. We visited Bay St. Louis, The Florida Keys and all points in between with this rig. We loved the old coach because it was rough around the edges, we didn't have to worry about sand getting inside and it provided tons of fun. 

But it too died a slow methodical death hastened by engine problems.  Ultimately, it sent to a hunting camp in Louisiana to retire. 

At the time we lived in Louisiana and deemed it necessary to have a Hurricane escape vehicle and purchased a Forest River 32 foot pull behind about a year before Hurricane Katrina. 

We kept this RV until we arrived in Arkansas and sold it shortly after and have been trailer-less since.

As you can see we are not strangers to the RV and camping experience. Some of our most meaningful and deep conversations have come sitting around the campfire. We are anxious to continue the tradition.

"Wandering Toes" Join Us For Hints And Tips About How To Transition From A Physical AddressTo Life In An RV !

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This is an invitation to follow us as we transition to no permanent address and take to life on the road in an RV.  Our intention for this blog is to share our process and hopefully provide some information that will help people like us making this transition and we hope to make you laugh at our mistakes and entertain you at our expense with our future experiences.

I suppose a short introduction is in order. I am Charlie and I've been retired for quite some time now. I am 66 years old soon to be 67 (Sept 17th).  My beautiful and talented wife Martha is my soul mate and life partner. Martha (for lack of better terminology) is a "career academic." She has two PhD's and so many extensions behind her name they won't fit onto a business card.

   

We have dreamed for the last 25 years about seeing the United State and being able to stay for more than a couple of weeks at a time. We've always felt cheated out of getting to truly know a location and what's available to do in the areas we've vacationed in.  We believe there is no real way to get to know these things without an extended stay.

So, it finally seems the right time for us to get serious and purchase our Class A RV and hit the road, follow us as we prepare to get ready for the great adventure ahead of us. There will be helpful hints, comparisons and other helpful information to help you get underway.