Don't Buy An RV! - The Podcast And Video

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto) 08/20/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

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Don’t buy an RV. No matter how tempting, don’t do it. Or, at the very least, know what you are getting yourself into.

Recreational vehicles are an odd thing. Often more expensive than a house, they roll down the road (often under their own power) but are not covered by most lemon laws. So, what do you get for all that money?

It’s a good question. And judging from all the people I’ve spoken to who have bought defective RVs, one might want to do a little more homework when buying one than say what you might do when you buy a car or a house. After all, an RV is kind of like a car/house, but without lemon law protection. Did I say that already?

Look, I know that people are still going to buy RVs. Just educate yourself before you take the plunge. And don’t complain to me later about how you weren’t warned. You were. In audio form here:

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And in video form here:

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This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.

Photo by Paul Brennan.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:06

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The way I see it, is, if you’re going to spend RV amounts of money, why not get a classic GMC Motorhome or self-propelled Airstream or Winnie (top dollar in its day, in other words), or a bus, and pay your favorite mechanic to go over it and your favorite cabinet/handyman guy for a remodel? You get a handcrafted personalized ride for a fraction the cost. Expensive, but barely as much as even the cheapest new Fleetwood.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:18

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Buying a brand new RV is like buying a brand new supercar: dumb.

SteveLehto > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 08/20/2015 at 09:19

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A very good analogy.

smobgirl > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 08/20/2015 at 09:22

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Was thinking that myself - who would actually buy them new? Obviously someone has to or there wouldn't be a used market but I can't think of a worse way to spend money.

MrBlah > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 09:24

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slideouts are why, they sure make it nice

deekster_caddy > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:24

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The other thing most RV drivers need is some commercial driver training! There are NO requirements besides a standard drivers license to operate one of these machines! NONE! It’s amazing that there aren’t more accidents in them. Fortunately, it’s usually just damage to the RV itself from taking a corner badly or an overhead clearance problem. But any RV is BIG, and it would benefit any driver to take a few classes in truck driving.

Griznant > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:25

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If people who bought RVs really saw the factories and methods used to construct that RV, they would never buy an RV. Do not go into it thinking they are constructed using the same level of engineering, logic, or methods used to build cars. Not even close, and yet, they are allowed to share the same roads.

Rufus Sickbeard > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:26

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My parents are on RV #2, they use theirs quite a bit, but they are also retired and not really tied to anything. Its the biggest money pit I’ve ever seen, my father manages a complex scheme of gift card purchases to get fuel points to use at Kroger......plus, it seems like there is a $3-$5k repair bill every summer.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:27

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When I was a kid my parents rented a motorhome for us to use on a two or three week road trip / camping trip. One night it rained and I woke up with my sleeping bag soaked. The next day I climbed up on the roof and saw a gaping hole in the sealant on the seam above the bed. Luckily we had a roll of duct tape and I put a big patch over the messed up area. It rained a few more times during the trip but I never got wet again. I wonder how long that patch got left on the motorhome, because lets be honest, nobody checks the roof on those.

I miss the days of RV’s that had windows in the front of the upper bunk. My uncle had one of those and as kids we’d lay in the top bunk watching the world go by the few times I rode in it.

SteveLehto > Griznant 08/20/2015 at 09:28

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Nor are the units built to housing standards either.

Peptide > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:29

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The key point that RV purchases are not subject to many of the same protections as automobile purchases is largely overlooked by prospective buys is SPOT ON. Even the most expensive RVs are much more poorly built than even the most meager car, with electrical and secondary systems often cobbled together in a way that would shame a Geely. The same is true for boats, and people need to be made aware of this...

damnthisburnershitsux > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:30

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I argue that most people would be better off with a travel trailer and a tow vehicle than a traditional self driven RV, unless you’re planning to see the whole country over a year’s time frame.

With a travel trailer you are buying just a big aluminum or fiberglass box with stuff inside. It can all be easily inspected and tested. They tend to hold their value pretty stable after initial depreciation as long as they’re not live in. I suggest starting with a used one in the $7-10k range. If you love it, then the sky and your tow vehicles’ capacity are the limit. I’ve seen 5th wheel travel trailers that are every bit as nice as full sized RVs.

You can then buy a truck or SUV to tow it and be fully protected by auto laws and also have something to daily drive. Not to mention something to drive when you park the trailer at the camp site. Likewise a truck or SUV will maintain more value much better with a wider potential buyer pool.

Mike Ramsey > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:33

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I could see renting one of these monsters but I can’t ever see wanting to buy one. It’s like having a boat x1000 and we all know boat stands for bust out another thousand.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MrBlah 08/20/2015 at 09:33

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Slideouts *are* nice, but for what I seem to recall is the entry level for one with a good slideout, you could almost put one into an old Flxible or New Look.

Granted, I’m looking at this from the perspective of an engineer who wouldn’t farm out the *design cost*, so take that with a grain of salt.

Griznant > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:36

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This, is completely true.

I don’t typically put all my floor covering down (linoleum, tile, carpet, etc.) BEFORE I build the walls on top of it, but I’ve watched these guys do it. That was an eye opening day for me.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan, M.D. > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:36

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Sweet Honda Odyssey headlights, bro.

SteveLehto > Mike Ramsey 08/20/2015 at 09:36

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I recommend that at the end of the podcast. Rent one and get it out of your system.

Sneaky Pete > damnthisburnershitsux 08/20/2015 at 09:39

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That’s what my parents did. Another thing with buying a self-powered RV, if you want to do any kind of exploring when you get to your destination, you’ll need a car that you’ll have to tow behind your RV. Ironically, you’ll see a bunch of these 6 figure RVs towing an old POS Saturn or something similar.

If you bought a trailer, then you drop it wherever you’re staying and use your tow vehicle to go exploring.

55_mercury > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:39

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My dad is a sucker for big toys: campers, boats, etc. he's also like most people who buys stuff like this: it seems like a good idea at the time but in reality the camper and boat gets used maybe a total of two times a year. In the meantime leaks develop, engines have problems and they massively depreciate. The experience taught me it's probably better to rent one of these items versus buying one.

I Always Forget My Account Info > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 09:43

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I am shopping for an RV for my family to road trip in, but my eyes are on a stripper Sprinter fully customized by me. I’m no engineer, but I did live in Brooklyn for a while so I am a freakin’ bearded pioneer! Point is, anyone with a desire for an RV kind of thing should consider a Sprinter since they are real cars and not rolling trailer parks.

nchockey > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:44

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My parents had a 1992 Class C Rockwood when I was a kid. There were so many strange (non) safety measures...you couldn’t open the window in the dining area while driving because of the exhaust pipes being right there. You weren’t supposed to have the top (over-cab) bunk down, much less anyone else up there. Granted, my parents were also 1950s conservative squares and swore you weren’t supposed to drive it any faster than 55mph.

Phil_L > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 08/20/2015 at 09:44

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Water is the ultimate enemy of all RV’s...

Hirsch > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:46

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Last summer my dad wanted to take the men in the family(me, my brother, nephew and assorted step-brothers and their sons) on a guys trip to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. Because I’m the only one in the family with recent experience driving big vehicles I got the job of finding, securing the rental of and driving a 35ft Class A motorhome. We ended up with an almost new 2014 Hurricane(named this, I believe, because it sounds like a hurricane while you’re driving down the highway.). It was built on a Ford chassis, Triton V10 and 4spd automatic. It couldn’t hold 65mph uphill without downshifting twice and got about 8mpg.

One plus. As I was checking the RV out before I returned it I found a small nylon bag containing cash. Quite a bit of cash. I asked the rental company if the previous renter has reported anything lost. They said no, then asked me what I found. I told them if anyone could describe what I found, I would return it. In the meantime I tuned the cash over to the local police, who called me 30 days later to say that no one had claimed it and I could come it.

These things are not fun to drive, they wander all over the road and when it downshifted twice it sounded like the valves were dancing on top of the valve covers.

I’ve seen a couple new Sprinters done up as RV’s and they look much easier to drive and maneuver.

Years ago, when I was a little kid dad bought a Midas Mini, built on a Dodge Tradesman van chassis. We took it on a month long road trip across the county and back. Dad managed to sell it after we got back, and aside from the down payment, he never made a payment on it.

CherokeePilotWhiskey > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:46

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The way I see it you can get an RV and then tow a vehicle; or you can get a nice truck and tow a fiver. I’ll go with the truck, had several and one fiver so far. Great experience.

ANONSASS > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 09:46

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My tent doesn’t have any plumbing problems. It’s a Marmot and cost $220 on sale.

My parents have a 30 foot trailer because my Dad doesn’t want engine/trailer in the same unit. He’s not afraid to pull apart the trailer and work on it and has several mechanic friends for the vehicles.

My grandparents had all kinds of issues with their Motorhome, despite spending $90k+ on it. Plumbing issues, electrical issues and it took a ton of oil (and fuel, natch). Didn’t realize the lemon law aspect of this.

ANONSASS > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 08/20/2015 at 09:47

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Or a boat

smobgirl > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 09:47

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We had a GMC when I was a kid - I think my dad still has it. That’s one solid RV. In 8 summers of driving around the country I think we only had one repair that required a shop and it has none of the build problems a lot of more modern RVs have.

SteveLehto > Hirsch 08/20/2015 at 09:48

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Yes, renting one is a great way to get a feel for one of these. And probably to get the urge out of your system.

Jefffthereff > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:49

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While I can understand the desire for somewhere dry and comfortable to sleep, I would never buy an RV. At most maybe a pull behind trailer. I’ve done a bit of travelling and have stayed at some beautiful campsites in tents and never understood the desire to drive for 1000 miles to sleep in a parking lot with a hundred other buses.

Also, can I leave the greys?

KremerK3 > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:49

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NO

YES

nermal > Griznant 08/20/2015 at 09:50

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Right. The majority of RVs are manufactured in Indiana, by drunken morons that were too drunk and moronic to work for one of the automakers in Michigan.

SteveLehto > Jefffthereff 08/20/2015 at 09:50

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I always thought it was odd that people called that “camping” as well. You’re sleeping in a mobile home. It ain’t camping.

That Guy > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:51

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Steve,

Too late. About six weeks ago I bought a brand new 27’ (30’ tongue to tail) Dutchman Aerolite Travel trailer to replace my older 22’ toy hauler. I was well aware that they throw these things together with the lightest cheapest materials and that the parts they use one week could be different from the last. Yes, the warranty stack for all the individual components is plentiful. Yes, I realize that I bought new and the depreciation hit on an RV is ridiculous. Why new this time? Buying used is always a crap shoot. Used comes with worse lingering smells than a used car. Buying used almost always means you are buying someone else’s issues... Meaning leaks due to the lap sealants drying out from being out in the sun. Here is the other thing - Because they batch build these on the same line, your quality can vary depending on whether they built the trailer January during the first production run or July during the second run. This is why you could find two same year models of the exact same trailer that have different style windows, different AC vents, etc.

Last weekend we spent four nights at Grayson Highlands State Park in VA. Were only 1 mile from the trail heads of three of our favorite hikes. The family memories we built last weekend were priceless.

I spent $25k. That was more than I ever thought I’d be willing to spend on an RV but the design was right and the space it gave us was right.

Our dealer is a good one. Very large, lots of service bays. So far so good. I’m also handy. Most systems on a travel trailer are pretty brain dead simple to troubleshoot and fix if you understand wiring to some degree. As for motor homes, my parents had two they bought new. They never had an issue getting the drive train serviced properly or in a timely manner as it was a ford chassis. They just pulled into the local ford dealer where ever they were.

Anyway, great podcast and everything you say is true. It does take a special type of person to buy or risk the purchase of an RV.

That Guy > MrBlah 08/20/2015 at 09:52

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THIS right HERE. Slideouts are so worth the risk of mechanical difficulties with them.

SteveLehto > That Guy 08/20/2015 at 09:53

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Cool. It CAN work out but you just have to be very careful AND know what you are getting into.

signinsrlame > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:54

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I miss my westy but they’re long of tooth now. I hem and haw about what I want to build a camper out of but I think in the end it’ll be a sprinter which is as “rv” as I’m willing to go.

KentB27 > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:54

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My parents are on their second RV. They both are Jayco trailers and while they look pretty nice, unless you pay a shitload of money for the top rung model families, they’re all built like shit. They have very cheap components that aren’t made well because they need to be both lightweight and cheap at the same time. RV’s are a lot of fun but the ones they make these days have about the same build quality as a Yugo and are not built to last.

Hirsch > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 09:55

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My dad had been considering buying one, until he spent several hours riding in this one!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > smobgirl 08/20/2015 at 09:58

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An RV built like a car by a car company that can buy a chassis at cost and doesn’t have to scrimp on materials or QC is solid? Who’da thunk it?

That Guy > deekster_caddy 08/20/2015 at 09:59

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I tend to agree and I’m a travel trailer owner. Been towing shit my whole life and have driven some pretty long box trucks.

Biggest thing with RV owners? Take your fucking time. I towed my rig up and down two mountains last weekend. I wasn’t in a hurry and stayed well within the safety envelope for braking and stress on the tow vehicle. I see people towing above the speed limit all the time in conditions not optimal for safety. I see people towing their trailer at 70-75 MPH on shit trailer tires rated for 65. Meanwhile the trailer is 33-35 foot and they are towing it with a 1/2 ton. No good can come from that.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:01

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Even brand new they rattle going down the road. I also did some work fixing a friend’s Class A Winnebago, and that was eye opening, with the construction shortcuts and all.

If they (Winnebago) ever bothered to do it right, it would cost over a half million, weigh close to 35-40,000lbs, have no chance of any state/province allowing it an RV exemption for licensing and registration, the IFTA/IRP guys would love it (their exemptions would go away too), and the owners would now be paying for apportioned plates and filling out their quarterly logs.

And that’s for a Class A 28 footer. A full diesel pusher with slides would really start packing on the pounds and fees/taxes for apportionment.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > I Always Forget My Account Info 08/20/2015 at 10:02

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I figure if I need/want something house sized, it’s Flxible time.:

jayzdatass.jpg

ivan256 > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 08/20/2015 at 10:03

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Except the RV will depreciate faster.

MP81 > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:06

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Best. RV. Trip. Ever.

I Always Forget My Account Info > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 10:06

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SLUMINN, lol

shitheelandtoe > damnthisburnershitsux 08/20/2015 at 10:06

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Plus those Airstreams are beautiful!

picoFarad > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:06

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Put a cot in a used uhaul truck. Way cheaper.

move-over-peasant-I-have-an-M5-in-the-shop > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:07

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I’d treat an RV purchase like a boat purchase.

That is: find someone with money to burn who will buy one and let you use it occasionally.

dagibby > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:07

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There are RVs and then there are RVs- making negative absolutist statements about a market so varied is idiotic.

move-over-peasant-I-have-an-M5-in-the-shop > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 08/20/2015 at 10:09

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This is what peasants say to justify their inability to buy nice things.

That Guy > Sneaky Pete 08/20/2015 at 10:11

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Here is the rub with that one. My parents spent several years pulling a trailer after retirement. Your tow vehicle chews gas whether you are towing or not. They actually found that by buying a motorhome and towing a ford focus behind it that they were saving a heap of gas every year. Now the motorhome was more expensive than the combined tow rig and trailer, but for them it was worth it.

GrannyShifter (don't judge my Hofmeister kink) > nermal 08/20/2015 at 10:12

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Right. The majority of RVs are manufactured in Indiana, by drunken morons that were too drunk and moronic to work for one of the automakers in Michigan.

I don’t know about that. I worked with several manufacturers in Elkhart and I spent a lot of time at the Winnebago plant in Iowa. I don’t know that I would describe them as ‘drunk morons’, but most of the workers are Amish. They are mostly farmers that work in the RV factories in their spare time, commute via horse and buggy, and use a minimum of technology though.

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:13

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You’re sleeping in a mobile home. It ain’t camping.

I think that’s an important distinction, one that needs to be made before the shopping phase. What is the customer looking for?

If they want to travel in comfort, hotels offer a much better night’s stay than a cramped RV. But if one wants to go “camping”, that calls for a tent, not an apartment on wheels.

That Guy > smobgirl 08/20/2015 at 10:13

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I just bought a new one. :) Why? I knew the pros and cons and have previously owned one I bought used. If you take your time you will find the rare used cream puff RV that was stored under a cover of some sort or in a pole barn. Those are the ones worth waiting for where the sun hasn’t been beating down on them 24/7 for 5+ years. Where do I keep mine when it isn’t staging for a trip at the house? Under covered storage.

BLOZUP > Rufus Sickbeard 08/20/2015 at 10:14

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Cheaper than property tax!

That Guy > Jefffthereff 08/20/2015 at 10:15

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A pull behind trailer is also an RV.

dagibby > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 10:15

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The Bluebird Wanderlodge can be had, with surprisingly low miles, for around $15k or less. They’re built like tanks and will hold 75 mph all day. A little interior and electronics updating might be warranted if you wanted to but most have been babied.

MrBlah > Sneaky Pete 08/20/2015 at 10:15

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the towed vehicle gets the crap beat out of it, nice cars get stuck in tow behind carhaulers

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ANONSASS 08/20/2015 at 10:16

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There are two things that consistently annoy me about tents - one is roof height (I like to be able to read something while camping, out of reach of bugs), and the other is noise level (rain, wind, etc.) I’m a light sleeper, so Rain Noise Concentrating Devices are not my favorite, though I’ve done my time in them. Agreed on trailer being the right choice a lot of the time.

move-over-peasant-I-have-an-M5-in-the-shop > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:19

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god I hate this concept of “camping”. My father in law just bought a big tow-behind trailer, so of course we get invited to go “camping” frequently. I’ve gone once. The bed was miserably uncomfortable and about a foot shorter than what I would find useful, there’s no space to move around with more than one person inside (but it sleeps up to 10!), the wastewater tanks back up after a day of use.

Next time, he wants to bring us, our toddler, my wife’s brother and his wife, their two toddlers, plus a few dogs. I said there’s no way I was going to do that. I told my wife that next time we get invited to go camping, with the five of us, I’m just bringing a tent.

Camping to me means a backpack and a hike through the woods as far as you can go. A popup tent or poncho if the weather gets bad. I'm not sure what I call this campground thing, but the combination of screaming kids all over the place, blaring music, golf carts, and redneck domestic disputes is not camping.

PeteRR > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:19

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A good friend of mine owned one. He used it to travel to SEMA and the NASCAR races in Vegas and SoCal. The problem with them is you pay for them every month, but you only get to use them a few times a year.

Jefffthereff > That Guy 08/20/2015 at 10:19

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Technically, yes. Up here, and I suspect in most places, the common usage of RV refers to a driven vehicle rather than a trailer.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > dagibby 08/20/2015 at 10:19

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Very nifty. A lot of old school class, even if not streamliney like I like best. Aren’t most of those Bluebirds on a GM drivetrain? I know GM kept up production of the truck 427 big block into the 90s for the use of Bluebird and several others.

That Guy > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:19

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Well... If you aren’t staying in one of those massive snowbird RV parks in TX, AZ, or FL it can indeed be camping. :) We just stayed in our trailer at a beautiful state park. Ok, so maybe it isn’t camping in the sense that we are in a tent - call it glamping. At our age with a kid, tents are a pain in the ass. I spent years and years tent camping. I never have to worry anymore about setting up in the wet or setting down in the wet... or a rainy weekend sucking. We still get the campfire, I still do all our cooking outside... So yeah, it is more comfy... and we go camping more often.

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:23

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RVs are not very good apartments. They’re also not very good cars. RVs are compromises.

They’re the worst car you’ve ever driven, and the worst apartment you’d ever had. They offer limited storage space, requiring the traveler to make tough decisions about what to bring along. A vacation can be conducted with the use of hotel rooms, or tents, if one intends to “rough it”.

But RVs can still serve a purpose. There are some unique situations that RVs are good for. Most of these situations are of the “mobile office” variety. Artists on tour, politicians on the campaign trail, movie-makers on-location... The RV can be accompanied by a support crew carrying additional equipment and able to perform repairs if necessary, avoiding the need to take it to a shop, unless for significant chassis-related repairs.

That Guy > BLOZUP 08/20/2015 at 10:24

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Depends where you live. I pay yearly property tax on RV’s here in NC and that is on a pull behind trailer.

west-coaster > deekster_caddy 08/20/2015 at 10:33

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Some old assclown with Washington plates was trudging up the Sepulveda Pass in the late morning (still part of “rush hour” traffic-wise) yesterday in his huge RV. Towing a CR-V, and using the #2 lane out of 5.

Huge gap in front of him; oblivious look on his face as I finally got past him. Everyone else was passing him on both sides as well, yet he never wavered in his commitment to staying in that lane. The double gravel haulers in the slow lanes were going faster than he was.

Future next gen S2000 owner > deekster_caddy 08/20/2015 at 10:34

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There is a specific reason for that. Back when big RVs started coming out, the RV industry realized that requiring higher licensing requirements would hinder sales. They hired lobbyists......

dustynnguyendood > MP81 08/20/2015 at 10:37

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I bought my ‘87 Bounder not long before Breaking Bad started airing. 7 MPG on a good day - 100 gallon tank @ $4.50 a gallon made for not too many trips in it, besides it serving paddock duty at several 24 hours of Lemons races (what happens in Lemons campers *stays* in Lemons campers). Sold it several years ago because we just didn’t use it enough. Kinda wish I still had it - I so want to race a Pontiac Aztek in Lemons with a “Braking Bad” theme - pizza box on the roof, Bounder in the paddock...

west-coaster > Mike Ramsey 08/20/2015 at 10:39

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Yep. And there was an article in Westways (AAA magazine) some years ago that talked about how cheap it is to do one-way rentals with RVs, as the companies need to move them around occasionally. You’re basically getting it for free, just paying for the fuel and your plane trip the other direction.

fawgcutter > That Guy 08/20/2015 at 10:39

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+1. Most of the 2 vehicle motorcycle fatalities in Alaska and the Yukon are between them and motorhomes. That was a sobering fact that Dr. Frazier made in one of his tour guides. Something about “I didn’t see him...” Most of the drivers I spotted there are white-haired and can’t/won’t turn their heads around to check while making lane changes.

Bikers: stay awaaayyy....

Mr Clutch > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:41

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Spaceball One they’ve gone to plaid.

west-coaster > Urambo Tauro 08/20/2015 at 10:41

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Yes, this. I have a friend who defines camping as “the hotel doesn’t have room service.” Another variation is, “the hotel’s shampoo and conditioner are in the same bottle.”

KnotThatBusy > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:41

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My bro just bought. But he can fix anything with an engine.. Loves it so far so he bought a trailer and built his own trailer mover. Regular jamokes like me should stay far away from them. See ya at Road America for the Indy Car race next year!!

Slave2anMG > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:43

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RV = Ruined Vacation.

That is all.

west-coaster > Griznant 08/20/2015 at 10:44

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Or just drive by the scene of a major accident involving one. Lots of paper-thin metal, styrofoam, etc. Yes, quite scary.

BLOZUP > That Guy 08/20/2015 at 10:45

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Drats! And here I thought there was an area politicians hadn’t thought of taxing.

VoltRon > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:47

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Are there any RV companies that do NOT operate the way you describe? And if not, then it seems to me that there is a niche in the market that someone could exploit if they wanted to bring the whole operation in house. It would be more expensive that way, but it also might not be so crappy and such a depreciation pit.

fawgcutter > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:48

2

Tee hee the closed captioning on the video has you saying “Murder homes.” Flash player has a long way to go!

shop-teacher > damnthisburnershitsux 08/20/2015 at 10:49

3

Agreed, especially the part about starting with a used one. I will add that when you’re shopping for a used trailer, take the time to find one that was really well taken care of. They’re all built like garbage, and they will absolutely fall apart if not cared for.

Qwagmire > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 10:50

18

I’m probably in the minority here for loving my RV, but then again I worked 20+ years as a mechanic, and very capable to fix any electrical/plumbing/vehicle problem, and I did 17.6 metric shit tons of research before I bought. I also was driving mule tractors and trailers in a shipping yard when I was 14 and have an extensive experience driving trucks on the road.

I bought a year old model, yes new, but 35% off the price of the current model year. I got it from a dealer with a good history for fixing warranty items and I inspected the heck out of it. Nice big punch list there.

For anyone getting an RV some words of advice: If you can not store it at your house, expect to spend at least $5 per foot for storage per month. Expect 4mpg gas and 7mpg diesel. Yes you will get much better on the road, but for every minute you are cruising at 65 you are stuck in Houston Hell at 5mph for 4 hours getting no miles per brain aneurysm. Nail everything down because an RV is essentially a rolling earthquake. You will never be comfortable moving, your family will be even worse, so if little Jimmy gets carsick rent before you buy. Whatever something costs in the real world, double it, and make it extremely user unfriendly to install. Taking walls apart and putting them back together is essentially a 3D puzzle with instructions written in every language you don’t speak. Tow vehicle? IF (very big IF) your car can be towed, expect to drop $4000 into a tow rig setup. DO NOT SKIMP or you will end up seeing your car pass you on the highway.

Don’t get enamored with Horsepower (yes I know I’m posting this on Jalopnik). My rig has 340, while I would like 600 that extra engine size costs another $125k (unless you buy used). I made it up the Grapevine on I5 in Southern CAL at 45mph towing a car. Yes faster would have been better, but it costs money. Also at 40ft I’m nearly too big for most parks, and the bigger engines are usually in the 42 to 45 foot models (some exception). You might need a different license for those in your state. Research floor plans like you are trying to break into Fort Knox. Go to several RV shows and see what works for you. You will never find a perfect one, its all a compromise. Rent one to check out how things work for you.

In fact, renting before you buy should be a mandated requirement. The big issue is people buy above what they can afford, then it sits because by the time you get it out of storage, fill it, go on a long trip, come home, get it back into storage, its $1k a shot. It’s a lot of work and likely will need to be your main hobby. And like most things if you don’t use it, crap goes wrong with it.

We basically got it because my wife had never left CA and I’m dragging the kids away from their electronics. Trust me, its fun if you use it, but many people wont use it. We did 8000 miles last summer (Disney World, DC, Niagara Falls, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Custer’s Battlefield, Yellowstone, Vegas) and we are going to do 5000 miles this December (Disney World, again, HELP ME!!!!) Locally I have several military bases between San Diego and Lompoc where I can park on the beach for $30 a night, and we use it once a month just to get out of the house.

For those who I haven’t bored shitless so far, I ended up getting a Winnebago Forza 38R which has bunks beads and can sleep me, the wife, my 2 kids, and at least 4 others before I start tossing sleeping bags on the floor. Two bathrooms were a requirement (I would have paid for three after the first trip with 7 of us in there) and a washer/dryer. The dryer is a MUST for beach/pools, You know how many friggin towels 5 kids can go through in 20 minutes? At least 15, cause they emptied the towel basket.

Lots of cool stuff to see and do in our great country, IF YOU USE IT, but as the manager in Mr. Baseball once said “It’s gonna cost you, Chief!”

deekster_caddy > west-coaster 08/20/2015 at 10:56

0

Sometimes the drivers are scared to change lanes for fear of getting caught in a lane that ends or having some other issue changing lanes. (I’m not defending them, just thinking that’s why they are not wavering from their poor lane choice)

deekster_caddy > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/20/2015 at 10:57

1

Yup. That doesn’t make it right though. It’s amazing that there aren’t more accidents.

BigBlock440 > Urambo Tauro 08/20/2015 at 10:58

1

The problem with that is, the hotel room doesn’t come with you so you’re stuck in a car for 12 hours. I’ll take an RV over a hotel room, especially when the hotel room’s the same size. Though the RV I’d be taking would be closer to Torch’s than to the one above.

dagibby > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 10:59

0

Here you go... No, most of the later ones were Cat diesels with Alison transmissions. Chassis built in house by Blue Bird, originally used for school buses.

zim > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 11:07

1

This is the RV to have:

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Urambo Tauro > BigBlock440 08/20/2015 at 11:09

0

The problem with that is, the hotel room doesn’t come with you so you’re stuck in a car for 12 hours. I’ll take an RV over a hotel room, especially when the hotel room’s the same size.

Depends on the room; depends on the RV.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 11:12

1

As someone who has worked on RVs, they are as much of a nightmare for the mechanic as they are for the owner. Every component, sometimes even within the same subsystem is made by a different company, who always seem to have gone out of business or been bought out six times since the RV was made. Trying to order parts or get info means an entire day on a wild goose chase of phone calls chasing down nonexistent shells of businesses.

damnthisburnershitsux > shop-teacher 08/20/2015 at 11:13

1

No doubt like anything you should look at a bunch so that when you find a well taken care of one it will be obvious. Major items to look for; stored with an appropriate Tyvek cover, lift/on screw the covers under the seats and bunks to check for mice infestation, look at ceiling for warping and staining (although some warping around the A/C is pretty normal), check underneath for gaps that have not been fixed as they lead to mice infestations, smell for musty odors, check hot water heater and finally check the drains for the fridge and water system to ensure it has been drained for storage. I’d even ask to put some water in the tanks and run it through.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > dagibby 08/20/2015 at 11:15

0

Matsayz > dagibby 08/20/2015 at 11:17

0

I saw a few of these at the overland expo south of Tucson a few years back. WOW. Now if I could only find that $350k I put somewhere...

Pixel > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 11:25

2

My mother & her husband bought a used Class A when they retired so they could tour the country. It had a constant problem with the self-leveling jacks failing . One or more jacks would regularly fail & not retract. They’d have to have someone come out and either replace the jack or manually retract it so they could get home. Over the ~2 years they had it the jack controller and all the jacks had been replaced more than once.

They decided they were tired of this, and spent a *lot* of money on a brand-new Class A. Which turned out the be the most unmitigated pile of crap ever. In the ~1.5 years they had it, it never completed a single trip somewhere & back without a breakdown or fault. Engine problems, transmission problems, brake problems, electrical problems... You name it, it broke. At one point it was yet-again at the dealer, and the dealer decided they couldn’t fix it. So it was shipped back to the manufacturer in IN, where a thirty seven page work order of repairs was done. While it was being driven back to CT by the manufacturer’s transport company, it broke down. It then went back to the manufacturer, who did more repairs.

It finally made it back to CT just in time to use it to transport my grandparents to FL for the winter. They loaded the whole thing up the night before, and her husband decided to start it up “just to make sure” at which point the diagnostic screen threw up multiple errors including “engine communication failure” “transmission communication failure” and “brake communication failure”. He promptly shut it down and called the manufacturer to come get their POS out of his driveway.

Fortunately he’d saved every receipt & invoice, printed off every email, and any time they had promised him something he’d made them email that in writing to him, which he also printed out. So he showed up at his lawyers with a 2” binder full of paperwork in chronological order. End result was they bought it back for what they’d paid, less depreciation for the mileage they put on it, and he bought a pop-up top tow behind the jeep they’d previously towed behind the motorhome.

Pixel > dagibby 08/20/2015 at 11:27

1

Dammit. Now I have another thing to add to my “Stuff I have no reason in the world to want, but do.” list.

ANONSASS > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/20/2015 at 11:29

1

My only complaint is noise level—other than sleeping, we don’t ever really spend time in the tent. We’re usually off hiking/swimming/etc. We were camping in July (w/our four year old) and some baby on the campsite next to us woke up at like 6am and woke everyone up. That was annoying but the spaces were pretty close together. Ours is a four person and is perfect for the three of us plus some luggage.

SteveLehto > VoltRon 08/20/2015 at 11:30

0

Kind of. The ones that cost $250K+ - but then the question is whether they are worth it.

Jason Spears > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 11:31

1

...or heaven forbid, a Toyota.

I bet there’s a story or two there.

SteveLehto > fawgcutter 08/20/2015 at 11:31

0

Weird. At least I got the caption right that I typed in.

fawgcutter > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 11:38

0

It’s not you, it’s that durned voice recognition system they’re using. Still amusing though.

SteveLehto > fawgcutter 08/20/2015 at 11:41

1

I know. Maybe I talk too fast? (And it probably uses some sort of logic filter and thinks “homes” is more likely to follow “murder”?)

BJS > SteveLehto 08/20/2015 at 11:45

1

My parents have had two Roadtrek RVs, which are pretty small. Those things have so many systems packed into the small package that it is an absolute nightmare to work on. And it breaks every single trip they go on. Some pump, or circuit, or compressor, or generator...something is going to break. They also have a trailer they tow behind as a fifth wheel, which is much better.