Try to find similar/repetitive "request for advice on buying an RV " threads on this and other forums. Don't buy too old or too small/short for your realistic needs and be disappointed. Do your homework carefully and don't buy on impulse and salesmanship.
Pay close attention to the floor plan.
THINK! It may be great when you walk into it, but if you are 50 miles form home, and it rains for three days straight, what will you think then?
IF the damaged rig was repaired by a competent shop (I would want references to prove their competency), I wouldn't be afraid of it. I might want a good warranty on the repair work done, though. If they aren't willing to warrant their work, they probably didn't do a good enough job!
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
Im on the opposite side of renting first. In my opinion, Most class C's dont handle or ride too great in stock form. My first RV brand new off the showroom floor rode and handled terribly. I took it on an 800 mile trip and it wandered all over the place and bounced and swayed. If i had rented, I would have turned right around and turned it in and never RV'd again. But after searching this forum regarding handling and suspension issue, I was able to address those issues with aftermarket add ons and now the coach rides and drives like a suburban. Plus I dont think a rental would have extras like a satellite, or a nicer more comfortable mattress, all things which you dont know about until you get into it and find out what you want to add to the rv to make it right for you. For some, tv etc may not be important, but for me with small kids, we wanted for them to be able to watch sat tv while riding on long trips, and I dont think you'd get that in a rental or even think about it if you only rent once.
At three months, your research has only just started - we spent 6 years (a bit too long, I admit!).
Imagine yourself parking it at home, at restaurants, repair shops, getting gas, and at various destinations. Look at dealers' lots and then look up floor plans, imagining yourselves using it ,orning, noon, and nite.
Do you want a toad, or go MH only? This alters how you camp, but toadless makes travel freer and more spontaneous.
If your wife has strong reasons for something else, listen well (she may know your real preference better than you).
After considering everything small from Class B, Casita TT, and small Class Cs, we ordered our 22 ft B+ sight unseen, and I think our hard research helped guide us to what was probably the most optimal choice for us...
You sure got a lot of responses and here is one more.
Definitely attend at least one huge RV show. You will quickly learn what you like and more importantly, what you don't like.
You are considering very large class C motor homes, so odds are that once you've taken your first trip, you will be thinking about towing a small vehicle to get around with. So be prepared for that.
My thoughts on size....Don't buy something too large, just large enough for your needs. If you have now or soon will have a family, than bigger-is-better. If you plan to spend lots of time with it like for a season at a time, then again, bigger-is-better.
But...
If you are a working couple with limited vacation time with many destinations over 2 to 3 weeks at a time, then bigger-is-not-better. Consider smaller-is-better. Note I did not say tiny-is-better. Just small enough to be very comfortable, yet friendly to get around in.
I just described my wife and me, now empty nesters, doing trips together, 2 to 3 weeks at a time. We are very comfortable with our fully featured 23.5 foot motor home, and even with it's shorter length, we still tow our 4x4 to be more adventurous. The rig and tow together are very friendly in the tightest of campgrounds.
mowermech wrote: Pay close attention to the floor plan.
THINK! It may be great when you walk into it, but if you are 50 miles form home, and it rains for three days straight, what will you think then?
IF the damaged rig was repaired by a competent shop (I would want references to prove their competency), I wouldn't be afraid of it. I might want a good warranty on the repair work done, though. If they aren't willing to warrant their work, they probably didn't do a good enough job!
After 10 years as owners of several RV's I can not agree more! YOU and You alone will determine what is best for you depending on what you are using the RV for! Are you planing to sell your home and live in the RV?, are you retired and planning on long trips away from home in the RV?, or are you going to use it on weekends and vacations??? That is a start on what type of RV and the floor plan you need/want! Some of the Tech stuff may or may not matter, but do you have enough room for your clothes? can you cook dinner and be comfortable in the RV? That will be your determining factor because once you purchase the RV you can not change the floor plan! My first RV was a used Class C that was several years old, it seemed to work for me and I did not have a fortune tied up in it so if it did not work out I was still ok! Good luck and welcome!
I first rented around May/June of last year. The class C I rented handled better than I expected (I was expecting a box on wheels, was pleasantly surprised that it handled pretty well. I then bought a TT because it is relatively inexpensive and can hold me until I can get a decent MH...
My advice -- avoid the trading up route. I learned the hard way that a half ton is great for getting groceries or maybe going off-roading to a hunting campsite. For towing, a 3/4 ton is what one should start off with, if not a one ton, just for all the options available. Same with the trailer. I bought one without slides, and thought it would be OK for just one person. Wrong. A single slide makes a whole lot of difference if rained out, and with families, it will prevent tempers from flaring. If possible, I'd do some research, and visit a number of dealers. You want to poke your head in a lot of rigs to see what you want. You will learn things like a rear bed that has a corner cut off for the bathroom makes it difficult for one person to get to their side of the bed without waking the other up, or that you can't fit into the bathroom comfortably.
Don't forget to budget for a lot of RV accessories. Bedding, hoses, electrical cords, and the other stuff that it takes to stock a home do all add up.
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