CaptainJoe Posted January 12, 2015 #26 Posted January 12, 2015 If you've already got your mind(s) made up just skip this.(you won't hurt my feelings cause I won't know ) Problem: You need to get away from someplace that's cold in the winter and taxes are high. Possible full time RVing. Large RV's: Very expensive to buy and operate. They are vehicles, and depreciate accordingly. Knew a US Marshal that paid $100K for one. He used it four years and would gladly have taken 50k (not a big market). How many of you have insurance on a 100K vehicle? They consume copious amounts of fuel. Some even have hydraulic lift to raise your RSV(frame connection required) Tires are expensive and need to be raised off ground and protected from the sun or they will dry rot(normal for tires to go bad before the tread does) Most drive like a tractor trailer and are intimidating for the wife to drive. Most drag a small, gas efficient car behind. this is out as your going to pull a trailer with motorcycles. I will buy a cabin in WV? and fix up the inside. The tax will be a lot lower than my current home, plus I will always have a home base... Buy a 36'? Fifth wheel trailer. 1/3 the cost. Popouts. Easy to sell. Can get some real deals in Florida if you look around. Rent a lot in Florida (for the winter) then figure out where I want to live (buy a lot) Friend of mine did this very thing. When he died, his wife was very glad they had the foresight to keep a home base and moved back home. Over a 15 year period all of their Florida friends(actually snowbirds) died off. Don't mean to Gloom and Doom you. Just go into this with both eyes open...
SilvrT Posted January 12, 2015 #27 Posted January 12, 2015 You will only be happy twice with a motorhome.. The day you buy it and the day you sell it. seems you said the same thing when I bought my boat! LOL
ragtop69gs Posted January 13, 2015 Author #28 Posted January 13, 2015 If you've already got your mind(s) made up just skip this.(you won't hurt my feelings cause I won't know ) Problem: You need to get away from someplace that's cold in the winter and taxes are high. Possible full time RVing. Large RV's: Very expensive to buy and operate. They are vehicles, and depreciate accordingly. Knew a US Marshal that paid $100K for one. He used it four years and would gladly have taken 50k (not a big market). How many of you have insurance on a 100K vehicle? They consume copious amounts of fuel. Some even have hydraulic lift to raise your RSV(frame connection required) Tires are expensive and need to be raised off ground and protected from the sun or they will dry rot(normal for tires to go bad before the tread does) Most drive like a tractor trailer and are intimidating for the wife to drive. Most drag a small, gas efficient car behind. this is out as your going to pull a trailer with motorcycles. I will buy a cabin in WV? and fix up the inside. The tax will be a lot lower than my current home, plus I will always have a home base... Buy a 36'? Fifth wheel trailer. 1/3 the cost. Popouts. Easy to sell. Can get some real deals in Florida if you look around. Rent a lot in Florida (for the winter) then figure out where I want to live (buy a lot) Friend of mine did this very thing. When he died, his wife was very glad they had the foresight to keep a home base and moved back home. Over a 15 year period all of their Florida friends(actually snowbirds) died off. Don't mean to Gloom and Doom you. Just go into this with both eyes open... Thanks Joe, I want to hear the bad stories too. A small cabin as a home base is an option we have talked about. Could be with one of the lots we buy. Who knows we may end up in Arizona or somewhere out south/west . Eyes open , FOR SURE,,, that's why I started this thread.
Eddie Posted January 13, 2015 #29 Posted January 13, 2015 Im sure you could ask Gary N . He spends his winters this way. He has a big MH and pulls a trailer with a car and bike in it.
BlueSky Posted January 13, 2015 #30 Posted January 13, 2015 You could have bought a vacation home in FL for $50k in 2009! That place was hit hard with foreclosures.
djh3 Posted January 13, 2015 #31 Posted January 13, 2015 Market is still soft here in Highlands county. They say its back on the rise, but you couldnt prove it by me.
Brake Pad Posted January 13, 2015 #32 Posted January 13, 2015 still cheap, friend just bought a condo, for 26K, last month, Im heading over this week to revise the unit
ragtop69gs Posted January 13, 2015 Author #33 Posted January 13, 2015 I dont think condos and us would get along too well. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2
midnightrider1300 Posted January 13, 2015 #34 Posted January 13, 2015 Sick of the Snow and cold weather, bad roads, high taxes... move to Alabama.... that will fix most of your problems
Money Venture Posted January 13, 2015 #35 Posted January 13, 2015 We just sold our Class A this past fall. Had it 19 years. Loved every minute of it. Family grew up and we didn't use it anymore. I'm on my third boat. Bought this one in 2004. We'll keep it a while longer as we are still having fun with it. Good Luck on your purchase.
djh3 Posted January 13, 2015 #36 Posted January 13, 2015 Found this one sort of local. (85 miles) Dont see many like it.
BlueSky Posted January 13, 2015 #37 Posted January 13, 2015 Wow! I never saw one with a loft before! A toy hauler wouldn't work for me because the wife will always be complaining about the gas smell from the toy.
ragtop69gs Posted January 13, 2015 Author #38 Posted January 13, 2015 move to Alabama.... that will fix most of your problems Ya never know..... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2
Prairiehammer Posted January 13, 2015 #39 Posted January 13, 2015 still cheap, friend just bought a condo, for 26K, last month, Im heading over this week to revise the unit I dont think condos and us would get along too well. Indeed. My brother has a condo near Pelican Bay (FL) and another near Melbourne Beach (FL) and he STILL doesn't have a place to work/play with his Harley. And believe you me, if one owns and rides a Harley, one should have a place to work on it. I built a 'shop' to do cabinet making, woodworking and motorcycle storage/maintenance. If I had a condo, where would I do all those things?
BlueSky Posted January 14, 2015 #40 Posted January 14, 2015 I worked in Homestead, FL just south of Miami from Jan 2010 to Aug 2013 and it was tempting to buy something there because it was so cheap with the foreclosures. However, the crime was high and if you didn't live in a gated guarded subdivision your home would be burglarized on a regular basis. It's really easy to get a carry permit there. I think they want the law abiding citizens to all be armed. I was ex-military so I didn't have to take a course and got my permit in less than 2 weeks. And the HOA fees were really high to cover the security and everything else. Plus, with the HOA came all kinds of rules about parking boats, etc. So, we didn't buy there. But I do love the weather there. The water is crystal clear and the fishing is good! Homestead is probably the worst for burglaries in FL.
baylensman Posted January 14, 2015 #41 Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) I haven't read all the post so if I repeat I'm sorry. Your first thought "Class A diesel" So many have gone through the van, conversion,van, class c, class A gas, Class A small, its the way Big RV dealer's make money$$$$$$$$ every time you trade up the take a bite out of you on the trade, and they soak the next guy coming Along by waxing them up cleaning the interior and throwing on tires. Gas may be cheap but I've seen the big v-10 and v-8's boggin down going over the rockies, some even turning around and detouring 100's of miles to find a lower pass. CLASS A DIESEL PUSHER, PREFERABLLY WITH A FREIGHTLINER FRAME AND POWER TRAIN. I've heard some folks rave about Allison trans with CAT motors under the awnings at night. Follow the recommended service intervals and 300K + miles without a rebuild is common, You want a drivers exit door, hydraulic leveling, on board generator at least 13KW, Basement style storage, Minimum of 32 ft with at least 1 tip out/slide out, three is better yet. The CUTE area over the drivers head as a bed is worthless it will quickly become attic storage! The longer you are gonna use it (weeks per year) the smaller it will become, trust me. There are several "rear Porch" models that have a storage area behind the living quarters, that is only accessible from outside with room for a few bikes depending on what size some are even enclosed now almost like a shed or small garage. Several of the folks here in the local park, tow a pickup behind the R/V which allows two or three dirt bike or 2 quad runners, in the pick up. one guy has two dirt bikes with a rack over the pickup holding a 16ft aluminum boot! as far as trailers, most folks seems to hover around 24ft beaver tail models, for towing toys. A few locals have 32ft trailers tricked out to match the RV, the problems there are ground clearance and turning circle, not backing up! You gotta find what works for you. Your list of possible toys to take along is impressive, I've seen folks do it, mostly those who drive from here in the winter to somewhere else in the summer and stay put. Folks that really travel cut way back on the toys, One good touring bike, on the Rig, towing a car is in my opinion the best. Believe me when you are 150 miles from nowhere in either direction, waiting for Good Sam to bring a tire, a second car to haul the tire your self will feel so much better. (6 hours sitting a rest stop is not restful!!!) Do a lot of looking and tire kicking, DON'T RUSH INTO IT!!!!!! Edited January 14, 2015 by baylensman can't spell worth a darn!!
djh3 Posted January 14, 2015 #42 Posted January 14, 2015 Bluesky: thats kind of why I am looking at ones that the storage area is somewhat seperated from sleep/common area. Atleast that one the "main" bedroom is up front and secondary is rearward and could be aired out. I dont think if you didnt have something stored for a couple weeks or something like that it wouldnt be to smelly. For me I think it would only have the bike in there a day or 2.
footsie Posted January 14, 2015 #43 Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) This my rig I was tell you about. I bought it last year it is a 1995 model, had fairly new tires on it. 7500 kw onan diesel gen set, I prefer diesel over propane and one 12 ft slide. auto leveling system It has a ton of basement storage, a Spartan chassis, dual gas and electric water heater, and everything is automatic. Full bath and queen bed in rear. Got it $10,000 cash from an individual. The tires on these are high dollar and really when they get past 6 years old you need to start thinking about replacing them, if they throw a cap it does a lot of damage to the coach. One of my valve extensions came loose and leaded down the tire ran slack and ruined it, did not come apart luckily, $434 for toyo 22.5. I also disagree with the statement about 2 happiest days, the day buy you and the day you sell. People that make that statement did not really want one when they bought it, or bought the wrong type for their use. We have had a motorhome for 20 years, pull type before that, and have enjoyed all, but this diesel pusher is the best. And a slide makes all the difference in the world. Gregg Edited January 14, 2015 by footsie
ragtop69gs Posted January 14, 2015 Author #44 Posted January 14, 2015 I haven't read all the post so if I repeat I'm sorry. Your first thought "Class A diesel" So many have gone through the van, conversion,van, class c, class A gas, Class A small, its the way Big RV dealer's make money$$$$$$$$ every time you trade up the take a bite out of you on the trade, and they soak the next guy coming Do a lot of looking and tire kicking, DON'T RUSH INTO IT!!!!!! We did the conversion van & popup thing for many years and miles when the kidz were younger, we enjoyed almost every minute and mile. We have watched several friends do like you said, trade up,,, trade up,,, trade up I'm not going there. Our last trip west in a 36' Diesel pusher towing a 26' enclosed trailer with 4 touring bikes did teach me that I want at least 400Hp to pull those rocky mt. grades, the 300hp did it , barely Won't be an easy find but there's a rig out there somewhere with our name on it.
Snarley Bill Posted January 14, 2015 #45 Posted January 14, 2015 the motor home is the cheapest part.
footsie Posted January 15, 2015 #46 Posted January 15, 2015 Mine does alright with the 300hp, but now I drive very easy in the mountains. stay at or below the speed limit. I have already had the displeasure of being in a semi in the mountains with the brakes failing, because of the fellow driving was too lead footed to be driving a loaded semi in the mountains. Did fine going up hill but was completely stupid on the downhill side, let 80,000 pounds get to 70 mph in 50 mph area got the brakes hot and looked at me and said what do i do. up the escape ramp we went. Gregg
BlueSky Posted January 15, 2015 #47 Posted January 15, 2015 Mine does alright with the 300hp, but now I drive very easy in the mountains. stay at or below the speed limit. I have already had the displeasure of being in a semi in the mountains with the brakes failing, because of the fellow driving was too lead footed to be driving a loaded semi in the mountains. Did fine going up hill but was completely stupid on the downhill side, let 80,000 pounds get to 70 mph in 50 mph area got the brakes hot and looked at me and said what do i do. up the escape ramp we went. Gregg Geez! I bet you had to change underwear on that one!
footsie Posted January 15, 2015 #48 Posted January 15, 2015 Underwear and blue jeans, and was ready to kill, just glad that we were as close to the runaway ramp as we were. But yes can we repeat a line from Dr Mccoy, there were casualties, my wits as in scared out of. Therefore I take easy in them there hills. Gregg
ragtop69gs Posted January 15, 2015 Author #49 Posted January 15, 2015 That didn't sound like any fun at all. At times we were only going maybe 30 mph , I felt like we were in the way and dangerous to other drivers being that slow.
rickardracing Posted January 15, 2015 #50 Posted January 15, 2015 Jay, I would not sell the primary residence. One thing to keep in mind...if something should happen to you, what is Jeannie going to do? Will she be able to handle driving the rv? Would she be willing to live in it without you? Just something to consider. I know someone that sold their house and bought a big rv. He ended up passing away and she could not drive it. Their daughter ended up flying to the location and driving it back. Then the wife took a major loss on the rig trying to sell it to get someplace to live. Food for thought my friend.
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