Motor Homes

[beachman46]

Thinking of buying class c used motor home. Because of the virus, traveling would be much safer, especially traveling north. I’m a snow bird.
Any thoughts?

[vintageogauge]

If you are just going to use it to drive down and back it's a waste of money and an older motorhome will have to be winterized if you go north for the holidays kind of defeating the purpose of having a self contained unit. Some newer models have heated tanks and used class C most likely will not.

[peachpit]

Just drove north in my CRV. Love the adaptive cruise control. Stayed in a clean B & B. Distancing, masks, and we had the whole upstairs. No other guests. Also stayed at a Marriot. Masks & distancing, very few guests. IMO hotel stays were much safer than going in a store. Another added benefit is that the water tanks were full and we didn’t need to empty the sewer!

That being said, try renting a camper locally. There are plenty of short trips you can take from The Villages. This way you can find out if camping is for you before you commit $50,000.

We have owned several RV’s. Great memories, but lots of work.
Hope you are happy with your decision.

[karostay]

Had same exact thought 2 months ago
Now have 2016 class C . Took 2 area trips see what we needed or didn't need now were ready to roll

[BobnBev]

Had same exact thought 2 months ago
Now have 2016 class C . Took 2 area trips see what we needed or didn't need now were ready to roll

Need PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES....Thanks

[beachman46]

I will be using the motor home more than just going north. Exploring great places in Florida and getting together with neighbors who also have motor homes. Someone mentioned to me there’s a village motor home club. If true, that sounds like fun. Thanks for the reply’s.

[John41]

We had a Four Winds 22e class c for about 3 years taking short trips around Florida and Georgia. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately the cap in the cab over eventually leaked and we got mold. Also the synthetic leather on the dinette started peeling. Another issue was the step in the middle of the floor that was easy to trip over. Sold it at a big loss and bought a vacation lake house which we enjoy more. I would go with Winnebago if we were in the market.

[tophcfa]

If you are just going to use it to drive down and back it's a waste of money and an older motorhome will have to be winterized if you go north for the holidays kind of defeating the purpose of having a self contained unit. Some newer models have heated tanks and used class C most likely will not.

My heart has wanted to own a motorhome for a long time, the freedom to travel and stop and sleep somewhat on demand without staying in a hotel seems very appealing. But every time my heart has a talk with my brain, the idea gets thrown out the window. The cost of the motor home, the maintenance, insurance, property taxes, storage, registration fees, winterization, fees to pump out grey and black water, etc...

Once my brain does the calculations, I figure we can stay in nice hotels on our trips for the rest of our lives, with no hassles of maintaining the motor home, and drive a nice car instead of a gas eating and poor handling home on wheels. And at the end of the day, we can stay in nice hotels until we are long since dead, and still safe lots of money.

My brain overrules my heart every time I consider the motor home.

[Jayhawk]

I will be using the motor home more than just going north. Exploring great places in Florida and getting together with neighbors who also have motor homes. Someone mentioned to me there’s a village motor home club. If true, that sounds like fun. Thanks for the reply’s.

There are at least two:

The Villages RV Club (http://www.tvrvc.org/)

The Villages RoVers - Villages RoVers (https://www.villagesrovers.org/)

[manaboutown]

I have owned three motorhomes, two Winnies and a GMC. While they were a lot of fun for family vacations, we drove into Canada and Mexico, visited national parks, lakes, the ocean, my rigs drank gasoline like crazy, 6.5 to 8 mpg. Then once they were set up to camp, all hooked up, leveled and so on, and we needed to go get more groceries or whatever it was a big production to decamp, drive there and back and set up again in camp. Also they need constant and sometimes expensive maintenance. Things get beat to death driving through vibration; connections break, and so on. Water tanks need to be filled and emptied.

At this point in my life I have been there, done that. I will drive my SUV and stay at hotels.

[JimJohnson]

My heart has wanted to own a motorhome for a long time, the freedom to travel and stop and sleep somewhat on demand without staying in a hotel seems very appealing. But every time my heart has a talk with my brain, the idea gets thrown out the window. The cost of the motor home, the maintenance, insurance, property taxes, storage, registration fees, winterization, fees to pump out grey and black water, etc...

Once my brain does the calculations, I figure we can stay in nice hotels on our trips for the rest of our lives, with no hassles of maintaining the motor home, and drive a nice car instead of a gas eating and poor handling home on wheels. And at the end of the day, we can stay in nice hotels until we are long since dead, and still safe lots of money.

My brain overrules my heart every time I consider the motor home.

You just made it clear to me why I have been avoiding the purchase of an RV.
:bigbow:

[mp.scanland]

If I were considering this I would research one way rental for trio North and drop off there, if any companies do that. Get the practical experience of using before you commit to purchase

[villageuser]

We bought a New Class C Motorhome. Wish i had followed my own rule about always knowing the cargo and occupancy capacity. The salesman threw me off carrying on about the load capacity; i figured if one is good, so should the other. No. After spouse, I and animals are in the RV, we can only safely add another 150 pounds. And for anyone who wants to tell me i can go higher than that, the insurance will not pay for an accident if you are over that rated capacity. So, we treat it as a traveling home that allows pets. But only stock it with 2-3 days of food and not much extra.

[wachteldepew]

I have a class A motorhome which we drive down and store at a self storage facility while down there. Traveling has never been better. Less stops, no need for a hotel and just much more comfortable.

[Down Sized]

I received my 23’ 2021 class B Pleasure-WAY motorhome last week. Was ordered around 6 months ago. A Mercedes chassis with 3 solar panels. A diesel that gets around 15 miles per gallon. No crowds, hotel rooms, indoor restaurants for us during this epidemic for the next year or more.

[soniak4@gmail.com]

I am selling a 2019 Class C, Forest River Forester. Contact me if you want more info and pictures.

[thevillager1988]

We just bought our 2nd RV. But it's more of a van ... a class B. We started out renting and have rented all types. We bought and loved a C. The only issue for us is that we enjoy the journey more than the camping. We rotate staying in hotels some and camp grounds some. We sold the C with the plan of buying a B for our next set of adventures. We like the agility of the B {easier to drive and park}, being able to take our party with us and having a clean, ready bathroom. We can party a small crowd, tour 4-6 and sleep 2. We believe size does matter and in this case, less is more. But as you can see from all the responses to this thread, it's a very personal choice and everyone has a different perspective. The other common thread is rent first. Totally agree with that!

[Girlcopper]

My heart has wanted to own a motorhome for a long time, the freedom to travel and stop and sleep somewhat on demand without staying in a hotel seems very appealing. But every time my heart has a talk with my brain, the idea gets thrown out the window. The cost of the motor home, the maintenance, insurance, property taxes, storage, registration fees, winterization, fees to pump out grey and black water, etc...

Once my brain does the calculations, I figure we can stay in nice hotels on our trips for the rest of our lives, with no hassles of maintaining the motor home, and drive a nice car instead of a gas eating and poor handling home on wheels. And at the end of the day, we can stay in nice hotels until we are long since dead, and still safe lots of money.

My brain overrules my heart every time I consider the motor home.

Totally agree. Definitely something to think about. Traveling should be fun, not work.

[ljoro]

Good luck! That’s what my husband and I have been looking for. There just not out there and the one’s that you do find, the price is almost the price of a new one!!

[USMAREP]

My wife and I will travel north but not in an RV. We always take our own pillows and after a night's usage, we spray them with straight rubbing alcohol. We think that is sufficient to deter the COVID-19.

[SuzyQtoo]

Thinking of buying class c used motor home. Because of the virus, traveling would be much safer, especially traveling north. I’m a snow bird.
Any thoughts?

Make sure you know what you're getting into. It's all fun and camping 'til something breaks down and you're unprepared.
We've been RVing for 11 years. It's getting harder and harder to find a convenient camp spot in northern states with a shorter season and specially this year after covid.

[JC and John]

We own a 2016 class C. We enjoy the freedom to travel with our pets. We thought long and hard about buying an RV. I am a city girl who quit Girl Scouts because I didn’t like camping. My other half grew up camping in a travel trailer. Buying a motorized RV is a huge investment to be sure. Rent before you buy is the best advice and do your homework. Take heed of what others have posted on this site. It’s not just gas and oil you need to concern yourself with. Also, consider how you are going to get around after you have parked and set up camp as mentioned above. You can unhook and drive the RV, tow a car or rent a car to go get groceries or visit your destination. LOTS of things to consider. Again, do your homework! If not, then buying an RV especially now in a very hot market could cost you basically pennies on the dollar on your resale should you not like RVing. On the other hand, dealers are clamoring for used RVs now because of the market. Just a thought, used RVs are not like used cars. I am sure there are great deals to be had but know this, new or used RVs have plenty of things that can go wrong and yes, your brand new RV can spend weeks in a service bay. Ask around it happens more than you know. Did I mention homework and rent? We chose to RV because of our pets. Could not imagine going away for a month or longer and leave our pets in a kennel. The best take away is that camping (Glamping) is quite social, meeting fellow travelers, making new friends and seeing our great country. There is no right or wrong here. It’s all a personal choice. Good luck and safe travels,

[llmcdaniel]

We are on our 4th rv over 44 years together. We absolutely love spending six months of the year visiting areas of the US new to us. We also have relatives in Oregon who are unable to travel due to illness, so it gives us the opportunity to spend time with them each year. Rv’ing is NOT cheap. Diesel, insurance, campground fees, laundry costs, and repairs all add up. We have always looked at the extra costs as being our second home with all the costs that ensues. We’ve been snowbirds for the ten years we’ve lived in The Villages, and when my time on this Earth ends, I can smile knowing we enjoyed everything here in the continental US that we wanted to see. We have a 44’ 2020 toy hauler with our dune buggy in it. Sand, desert trails, and mountain passes open up so much enjoyment for us. When my husband no longer feels safe driving it, we’ll sell the toys and play more here in TV.������

[Tsalla Apopka]

If you spend a bit more money, or get a good deal, on a used RV, it won't be hard. Our last RV was a 30' Class A and it was fully self-contained.
We could pull in to a camping spot, a rest area or the Walmart parking lot, push a button to open the slides, push another button to start the generator, another button to turn on the A/C and never have to step outside.
If ground not level, another control dropped down the hydraulic jacks and leveled the coach. Still not having to open a door.
A horse boarding client of ours once said she traveled in an RV "because when she went to the bathroom she knew who sat there last."

[Rsenholzi]

Where is a good place to rent one

[dmcguff33]

Rent one first and try it. It's fun but you will almost always gave an issue. Good to be mechanical minded. Requires lots if pre planning. Campgrounds fill up early. And ni way can you park at a Walmart and put out your slides. If you can deal with aggravation you just might love it!!

[Jerry Leinsing]

Rent one first and try it. It's fun but you will almost always gave an issue. Good to be mechanical minded. Requires lots if pre planning. Campgrounds fill up early. And ni way can you park at a Walmart and put out your slides. If you can deal with aggravation you just might love it!!

Don’t understand what was meant by “And ni way can you park at a Walmart.”
Had a Class C streamlined unit 34’ for 6 years. Seldom stayed in a campsite if stopping for a couple days. Went north to New Hampshire several times a year. Once there, we would usually stay at York Beach Maine for several weeks and then head back.
You have to have a special mentality to own an RV. Need to be mechanical, creative, patient, adaptable, flexible and willing to put up with the larcenous dealers, have time to enjoy the trip, stop and see things, willing to meet people.
WE loved the life but hated the incompetence of the manufacturers and dealers. We had leaks in the roof over the cab that had to be fixed twice with full cabinet replacements each time (under warranty).

A few years back we stayed at a Sam’s parking lot for the whole summer while dealing with a serious family problem and the store manager said that because they closed at 8PM, we were there when the weren’t so we were welcomed to stay. God bless that man and Sam’s. We were there 7 weeks. Imagine the cost of the hotels and restaurants.

Don’t buy anything with out first going to Senior Vs. Crime, the Better Business Bureau, and talking to the people in waiting rooms and parking lots of the dealers. Believe me, the dealership sales people are not your friends. This is a 4 hour conversation about this stuff.
This year we are renting a standard Class C from Cruise America in Oviedo (not from an individual owner) so we can get trip maintenance and coverage if something goes wrong. Plan to be out 39 days, sleeping in our own stuff and eating our own food. Estimated cost on the high side is approx $8600. That is far less than we lost per year when we sold our Beautiful Class B/C to a local renamed dealership.
Nice thing is after 39 days, hand over the keys and say thank you for the memories.

[baw_48@yahoo.com]

We just finished what you are asking about, bought a class C motor home to travel up north for the summer. We bought used but still have close to $60,000 invested after taxes, license and insurance. Right now used class Cs are at at premium because a lot of snowbirds are doing what you are thinking about doing. We found very few class C RVs on dealer lots through Florida. We got lucky when we went to General RV in Ocala to look at a new model just to get ideas as to what we wanted in a used RV. They had a used 2020 as close to what we wanted as we had found throughout Florida. This saved us close to $20,000 over buying new. I have driven 30 ft trucks in the past but still had some reservation about it. Turned out the driving came back pretty quickly and was not bad at all. Big semis still push you around when they pass you and they do pass you a lot. We studied You Tube videos for weeks before we were to travel. There are many Dos and Don'ts as well as how to videos out there so take advantage of other peoples knowledge. We traveled about 1300 miles and used 174 gals on gas at and average of $2.05 a gal. We use two RV camp grounds (with booked reservations) for two overnights for about $120 total. That comes out to $475 cash outlay for the trip. I read somewhere that driving your RV down the road at highway speeds is like being in a class 5 on the Richter scale earth quake. I don't think it is that bad but you have to be prepared for things to shake loose. In our case the toilet had a small leak at the floor seal , towel racks came unfasten and a kitchen draw has problems staying closed. These were not major problems but keep in mind our RV is only one year old. Now that we are back up north and my wife was very adamant about me driving and towing a car behind, us we are faced with the problem of only one car. So golfing , shopping , church volunteering , lunch with the girls (and guys) etc.. will be a problem and may involve getting another car (more expense). So bottom line is it worth it to buy a class C motor home? We travel with a dog and two cats. Motel stays were always a hassle and something we did not want to out up with in this age of pandemic out breaks. Hopefully we can take a few trips around our state to see friends and family and keep social distancing at a minimum. Looking forward to maybe going to California to see son and grandchildren. So even if we decide RVing is not for us we are not out $60,000 as we can sell it (great used market out there) and recoup some of our money. We think right now it was a good decision for us and look forward to some fun times with our RV. You have to weight the pros and cons for yourself. Good luck with your decision and safe travels.

[Bikeracer2009]

I've always wanted a class B. The Mercedes Sprinter chassis is a V6 diesel and gets over 20 mpg. It's a van conversion so no worries about leaks, gel coating care, easy to park, easy to drive, last forever and hold a decent amount of resale value.

I've traveled America twice, once on a bicycle and once in a Ford F150 with my son. When I went into Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks they were always crowded and parking was a problem. A motorhome would be hard to manage on trips with multiple destinations. You really have to plan every movement.

Good luck with your search and safe travels!

[tophcfa]

If I were considering this I would research one way rental for trio North and drop off there, if any companies do that. Get the practical experience of using before you commit to purchase

Looked into that. Three problems. First, good luck finding a rental that will allow a dog. Second, price skyrockets for a one way. Third, strict mileage restrictions on RV rentals, with very expensive fee per mile over the limits.

[LynnWM158]

Love my motorhome. Have owned 8 in various sizes over the years. I bought my third, and final one in November. Have boondocked and also camped in resort type parks all over the country and loved every minute of it. Renting a camper would probably be your best bet to see if you like it before you purchase. Camping clubs are a great way to learn the ropes. You will meet new best friends along the way as RV'ing is. Life is short - have fun

[Sue Eytalis]

We have been RVing since 1998. We are on our 5th Motor home. At this time we own a 2017 24’ class C with a Mercedes diesel. You should know Mercedes diesel requires 5% bio-diesel or less only (read owners manual) It will operate on above 5% but if you have engine trouble Mercedes will not honor warranty. Most diesel pumps are labeled if they contain above 5% diesel. Ford, Chevy or Dodge diesel can use any diesel. With gas cheap now buy a gas Class C.

[beachman46]

Interesting

[beachman46]

After reading everyone’s comments and opinions, I will be looking at the class.B. Smaller, easier to drive, better gas mileage and wife will feel confident driving something smaller.

[rayloyko@gmail.com]

We have a 2019 Class A DP. Yes it is expensive but... I’ve traveled all over the world but RV’ing is so different. We like knowing our “hotel” is clean and fresh each day. We do eat out but cooking in is still fun. With the virus today, it is the only way to travel and be sure of a safe environment. If you are serious, just jump in and do it!

[Nucky]

We've had 5Th wheel trailers for the last 20 to 25 years and got rid of the last one just before we moved here. Sometimes when I have too much time to think I imagine an RV or a Trike. Luckily in a moment of clarity, I surrendered my Motorcycle license and realize that I must face my limitations that goes with all the responsibility of owning another Class A, B, or C.

Topcha said it very well. I think that it's game over for me with camping but if I did do it on the spur of the moment I would love the Dodge Class B. Beautiful and affordable. My memories of camping with the family are just great. Maybe the memories are enough!

[retiredguy123]

I received my 23’ 2021 class B Pleasure-WAY motorhome last week. Was ordered around 6 months ago. A Mercedes chassis with 3 solar panels. A diesel that gets around 15 miles per gallon. No crowds, hotel rooms, indoor restaurants for us during this epidemic for the next year or more.
I really like those vehicles. But, I would be interested in knowing how you were able to negotiate a fair price.

[manaboutown]

I really like those vehicles. But, I would be interested in knowing how you were able to negotiate a fair price.

If it was ordered six months ago the pricing preceded the pandemic panic buying.

[Rollie]

Sounds like your mind is made up already, but his is my perspective. We had a class C on a Mercedes chassis. We just sold it after 4 great years. The reasons for selling=
1. not using it enough to justify after 4 years.
2. the cost of insurance and storage.
3. the cost of campsites keeps going up.
4. traffic seems to be getting worse over the years.
5. upkeep.
6. the stress of all the above.


This all being said we did a 10,000 mile trip out west last year and had a blast. We saw things that we probably would never see without an RV. Good luck with your choice.

Rollie

[Carlsondm]

We did it for over ten years and loved it. I recommend checking out rv.org for their ratings dvd or download on motor homes or fifth wheels. We went the motor home route because I wanted to be able to make a quick getaway at times.

We started with a class C Lazy Daze because of the stability, support, and ease of driving. They don’t have slides though. I and the grand kids loved it. Class C’s are made for families and ours slept 6. We could drive down the road and most any rv park had room for our 27 footer. Traffic jam. No worries .. we had everything we needed!

Reservations were rarely a problem. We also parked free at Walmart’s, Bass Pro, Costco, and camping world occasionally. Usually we were inroute and it was late. We did call ahead or check in. There is maintenance, but no more than a truck. Btw, we had solar panels on the roof, so lights and tv everywhere. We had a Wineguard antenna, boosters, etc. and very good reception most places. Florida was one state that gave us problems, so we bought the booster.

After 5 years we sold Deja Blue and bought a 36 ft Class A (Foretravel). We now had a diesel pusher with slides that slept 2 adults and 2 dwarfs. It was elegant and very few problems. After a decade, and health problems, we decided driving was too much and decided to purchase a home in TV. We will never regret the adventures we had with our motor homes.

If you are simply trying to avoid motels a Class b would allow sleeping, Ac, refrigeration, and pet travel. You might be able to park it at your home and get more use out of it. TV had no place to store near our home, so we sold the Class a.

We found it was a great way to see unusual places, avoid hotels and bed bugs, and travel on our own schedule. Our insulin was safe and we always had a potty nearby. We never changed a tire either. Coach net took care of that for all vehicles.

Did we save money? Sometimes .. if we stayed for a month or more, rates were 20-25% of the hotel rates. Short stays were double the monthly rates, so it was a wash.

[newchapter]

Been there, done that. Too much work. Expensive. Something always breaks. Just rent one and give it back.