Buying a used RV

[Surewhitey]

The 2 best days of your life...the day you buy, the day you sell...
My boat was a money pit and I think about the $50 / night to park an RV (just raised in Cali) and the gas it will be guzzling...not for me. I'll take a Hotel or camping over that any day.

That's what I think of when someone says RV, boat, etc.

[Lisa99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Anyone who knows beans about RVing knows there is no "good financial reason" to own a rolling residence. Outside full-timing and not owning/renting a sticks & bricks location, RVing is like almost every other true hobby - you have to pay to play.

It is super important to know how you're going to use an RV and why you want to do it. Answering those two questions will help direct you to the right vehicle for you.

Full-timing is exactly what we plan to do and while we have our sites on a very nice diesel pusher, it will cost half of our sticks and bricks house....and of course it will be purchased gently used so the first owner gets the first few years of depreciation hit.

[powerplay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmloki Saw this ad - dang hippies! Might make some overhangs a bit dicey. 2 Story School Bus Conversion!!

OMG, that could only be Eugene.

[Nuiloa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koolau Nuiloa, perhaps you have stated elsewhere why you are considering an RV (adventure, money savings on travel, "life-style", "full-time", etc.) If not, I do hope that you know yourself well enough to at least be able to answer that "why" question for yourself. Have you experimented with the life style (rented or previously owned an RV? - again, perhaps you have already answered this elsewhere). If I ever considered RVing, I would have to spread-sheet it very carefully to see if it was affordable and sustainable.

All good and valid questions. I have been camping for 45 years - we used to spend every summer at a campground, from late June to September. I bought my first trailer 6 years ago and spend at least 6 weeks every summer at the beach. To me, that is "home". I'm never happier than when I'm camping.

I passed on the 2005 RV. My brother and his friend (a heavy-duty mechanic) had a look at it and told me it was garbage. However, they recommended an older model that was on the same lot. This thing was pristine and had all the bells and whistles, including a satellite dish. I had a full mechanical inspection done and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the thing. It's a 1998 Winnebago Chieftain - 34 feet.

Driving it was something of an adventure, but I'm ready to go next June when I finally quit w*rk.

[Nuiloa]

Forgot to mention.... I paid under $30K for the unit, which was about $30K less than I had budgeted. I figure that extra $30K will pay for a lot of gas and repairs.

My pension will give me about $3K net every month and I have no debts. Although I won't be living high off the hog, I think full-timing will work out just fine.

Thanks all for caring

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuiloa . My pension will give me about $3K net every month and I have no debts. Although I won't be living high off the hog, I think full-timing will work out just fine.

From what I've seen on a number of RV discussion boards, you should be able to live very comfortably on that income - provided you have the health insurance nut covered.

[Nuiloa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo From what I've seen on a number of RV discussion boards, you should be able to live very comfortably on that income - provided you have the health insurance nut covered.

Yup - I live in Canada. Although I'll have to pay for coverage, it will be about $75 a month for medical, hospital care, prescriptions, eyes and dental. And Pharmacare kicks in after I've spent $1,000.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuiloa Yup - I live in Canada. Although I'll have to pay for coverage, it will be about $75 a month for medical, hospital care, prescriptions, eyes and dental. And Pharmacare kicks in after I've spent $1,000.

IOW, you'd have to be loonie not to have it made!

[Nuiloa]

LOL

[SteveR]

Nuiloa,

Congratulations on the new to you RV. Despite all the negative costs associated with ownership I still enjoy mine. We are right now in Park City, UT for a few days followed by Salt Lake City for a few days to see family and then back home for a month. Then off to California for a week.

If I had my druthers, I would be full time and not have a stick house. However, DW can't so that. We tried for 5 months and she got so "house" sick she could not wait to get back to the stick house. I would have been very happy to not have seen it again for 5-10 years. We know a lot of people living full time and I envy them. Maybe in a few more years when we downsize again we can try it again for awhile.

[Nuiloa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveR Nuiloa, If I had my druthers, I would be full time and not have a stick house. However, DW can't so that. We tried for 5 months and she got so "house" sick she could not wait to get back to the stick house. I would have been very happy to not have seen it again for 5-10 years. We know a lot of people living full time and I envy them. Maybe in a few more years when we downsize again we can try it again for awhile.

I never seem to get home sick. Where I am is where I am. I'm hanging onto the condo for the future though. It's paid in full and the strata fees are reasonable. When I get too old to drive, at least I'll have a roof over my head - plus I figure it'll pay for a nursing home someday

[Helen]

So, Nuiloa where will you travel with your new rig?

[Nuiloa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helen So, Nuiloa where will you travel with your new rig?

Well, the plan right now is to drive to Ontario by way of the USA, beginning next June.

My brother, who has an end-stage lung disease, is hoping to be well enough to join me. He has always wanted to travel in an RV, and he has always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore. So, we're going to hit the road and go where the wind takes us.

I also want to do some historical touring - I find US history fascinating.

I'll be wintering in the Southern US or Mexico.

Or else, if I find I hate driving, I'll sell the rig and move to the Cook Islands

[Koolau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuiloa Or else, if I find I hate driving, I'll sell the rig and move to the Cook Islands

Small thread hijack: Have you been to the Cook Islands? I have not, but my best buddy here in Paradise has and he believes it is BETTER than Hawaii. He sited lower costs, less hassles, virtually no crime (except an occasional alcohol induced incident), even friendlier people and more perfect weather. My only major concern would be that I find the islands (other than Oahu) too laid back for my tastes. Still, I have put a visit to the Cook Islands on my bucket list. Gotta see for myself a more perfect place than Paradise.

Returning you know to our thread on used RVs. So glad you found what you are looking for. Best of adventures to you and may the wind always be at your back (saves fuel)

[Nuiloa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koolau Small thread hijack: Have you been to the Cook Islands? I have not, but my best buddy here in Paradise has and he believes it is BETTER than Hawaii. He sited lower costs, less hassles, virtually no crime (except an occasional alcohol induced incident), even friendlier people and more perfect weather. My only major concern would be that I find the islands (other than Oahu) too laid back for my tastes. Still, I have put a visit to the Cook Islands on my bucket list. Gotta see for myself a more perfect place than Paradise. Returning you know to our thread on used RVs. So glad you found what you are looking for. Best of adventures to you and may the wind always be at your back (saves fuel)

Aloha,

I've been to the Cooks (Rarotonga) 3 times, Tahiti 4 times and Hawaii at least 15 to 20 times (Oahu and once to Maui). Although I love Hawaii, I would agree with your friend that Raro is heaven on earth. The weather is outstanding, the water is pristine (and warm) and the people are very friendly. It is also very, very clean. Because it's so remote, they haven't been as spoiled by tourism as many other places, although I've noticed a difference even in the past decade. The pace of life is slow to the point of catatonia. There is very little crime, although even that has changed. You now have to lock your doors because young people have started stealing. TV comes on at 5 p.m. and ends at midnight and there are only a couple of channels. Most people have DVD players now, which I think has helped to change things - kids are fatter, aren't interested in learning the old traditions, aren't interested in learning Maori or learning the dances. People are no longer wearing just sarongs and flowers but are going for shorts and t-shirts. It's sad to see a culture dying.

It is very laid back and there is absolutely NOTHING to do, nowhere to go, nothing to see except jungle and ocean. There's only 1 road and no traffic lights. The NZ dollar is worth only about $.75 Cdn/US, but costs are high for both staples and the cost of gas is nuts (about $10/gallon).

I would very happily live there the rest of my life

[Helen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuiloa Well, the plan right now is to drive to Ontario by way of the USA, beginning next June. My brother, who has an end-stage lung disease, is hoping to be well enough to join me. He has always wanted to travel in an RV, and he has always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore. So, we're going to hit the road and go where the wind takes us. I also want to do some historical touring - I find US history fascinating. I'll be wintering in the Southern US or Mexico. Or else, if I find I hate driving, I'll sell the rig and move to the Cook Islands

Sounds like a good plan, but I am very sorry to hear of your brother's health.