A motor home is not an investment but entertainment, just like a boat.
There is no way to justify the cost of a motor home by not staying in hotels/motels while traveling, or anything else.
It can be fun and that's that. Like boating, some people don't enjoy it.
2000 Four Winds Five Thousand 28A (Chevy 3500), Master Tow Dolly, 2000 Chevy Venture minivan TOAD
WOW!Thanks for all the responses. Understand the answers except about the inverter. In my work life I've been a service/repair person and have a fair understanding in that regard. I'll assume an inverter for a RV comes in different "sizes" depending on the need. I'll also assume that the "electrics" you casually use at home are realy running of the RVs batteries. If the rngine alternator is NOT charging them as they are being used, what does? The RV generator or a built in battery charger. are there any referances like HOW IT WORKS in a RV.
Another one as I complicate my thinking, during cold weather travel, say the 20-30s what heats the RV? I wouldn't think the engine could heat all that space.THANKS AGAIN. Vic.
The engine will charge the house batteries anytime the engine is running, whether there is a draw on them or not. As long as the outgoing load is less than the incoming charge, the batteries will get charged. If you have a large load (like a coffee maker) then the batteries will discharge. But they will discharge slower if the engine is running.
The batteries also have a converter that charges that batteries when you have a 120v source (generator on or shore power). Exception: some higher end inverters also function as a battery charger, so a separate converter is not needed.
Inverter = 12v DC to 120v AC
Converter = 120v AC to 12vDC
You can use your coach furnace while driving, but you'll have to shut it off when re-fueling (spark source for gas vapors). The V10 can put out plenty of heat, so that will usually be enough to keep the coach warm. There's also optional heat exchangers available that use the engine heat as an optional heat source in the coach as well.
Bryan
2000 Ford E350 DRW Wagon (14-pass all captains chairs)
V10 w/ Banks PowerPack, Diablo Predator, 4.56 LS, 230,000+ miles
Had: Weekend Warrior 41' FSW (still looking for its replacement)
Most of your other questions seem to have been answered. Regarding the inverter . . an inverter "inverts" 12 Volt Direct Current power (what most Automotive & RV electronics use) to 110 Volt Alternating Current Power (what most household appliances use). Inverters are not necessarily standard equipment on RVs and are often installed as an option either directly or indirectly. An example of the latter would be if you get an optional electric hot water heater. Typically then an inverter would be a component of that option.
All RVs have a converter. The converter "converts" 110 Volt Alternating Current to 12 Volt Direct Current. In other words, it makes A/C suitable for the electical system in the RV.
In most RVs, you also have a generator. It is usually an option but almost all I have seen are equipped with it. The generator interacts with the RV electrical system just as if you were plugged in to shore power. In fact, in many RVs, you simply plug the shore power cord into the socket for the generator (others use either a manual or automatic switch). For all intents and purposes you are effectively plugged into shore power (110 Volt A/C) and can use all your houesehold appliances AND your 12 Volt D/C appliances because of the converter and batteries. You can use the generator while going down the highway. In fact, many folks traveling with more then two people in a Class C do that because the dash air conditioner is often not sufficient to cool the house area while traveling.
When you are unplugged from shore power and don't have an inverter pretty much everything works except the appliances requiring 110 Volt. Typically this is only the air conditioner, microwave, and television (and DVD). If you have an inverter then these work too but bear in mind an inverter drains battery power in pretty short order. This is important to keep in mind if, for some reason, you can't get recharged and you have a cold night ahead. Sure . . the furnace burns propane but the fan needs 12 Volt!
Finally, battery charging happens off the engine (charges both coach battery & house batteries), from shore power, or from the generator (same as shore power). Additionally, many folks that spend a lot of time boondocking (remote camping with no hook-ups) go with solar panels to keep the batteries charged.
Hope this is not too much info and helpful.
visch1 wrote: WOW!Thanks for all the responses. Understand the answers except about the inverter. In my work life I've been a service/repair person and have a fair understanding in that regard. I'll assume an inverter for a RV comes in different "sizes" depending on the need. I'll also assume that the "electrics" you casually use at home are realy running of the RVs batteries. If the rngine alternator is NOT charging them as they are being used, what does? The RV generator or a built in battery charger. are there any referances like HOW IT WORKS in a RV.
Another one as I complicate my thinking, during cold weather travel, say the 20-30s what heats the RV? I wouldn't think the engine could heat all that space.THANKS AGAIN. Vic.
In regard to your question about what heats the RV while you're driving; we've never had the need to run the heater in the winter while driving. We're sitting up front and the engine heater is more than we need to be comfortable. Even when we stop for lunch, the coach is warm enough to be comfortable.
Also, we've always been cool enough using the engine air conditioner while driving in the summer, even while stopping for a lunch break.
We've driven in temperatures as low as 25 degrees and as high as 118 degrees.
I thank all of you again. Yesterday turned to spring here on CC and my summer interest is salt water fishing and boating so will do a lot more reading and ask a lot more questions.
I'll ask for one more suggestion. Here in the NE there isn't the # of RV dealers as in other areas. I'm looking for a good quality C around 3-5 years old, and most that look interesting to me are many miles away. Within 10 miles of me are perhaps 5 campgrounds which I think I'll tour in a couple weeks to see if any have for sale signs up. ANY other used RV sources suggested? I'm a bit leery as I assume there are scams out there and visits to see interesting ones can get expensive. BE WELL Vic.
The internet is a great source for RVs. Of course, you have to be aware of scams, but generally, RV owners are a great bunch of people, and won't screw you. You will probably not find what you are looking for in a 10 mile radius of you, but should be able to find something within an hours drive. Hey, you want to invest in a house on wheels...you need to be willing to drive.
Checking out the local campgrounds is a good idea, if for no other reason than to chat with owners, to increase your knowledge of what is what. Most would be happy to talk with you about what they have, and why. Each will have a different reason for their particular model or RV, so you need to try and sort out what will work best for you. That campground on the CC Canal, in Buzzards Bay, is pretty large....not sure where on CC you live. I went to college at Mass. Maritime Academy....just down the road....a beautiful area!
The class "C" is basically a large van. I sometimes forget that I'm driving something this big (31') when I'm behind the wheel....not much different than my wife's mini-van. Of course, a semi-truck blasting past will bring you back to reality really quick! Ha Ha!!
Have fun,
Bill, Claudia, and the Paps
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008 The Pets
Quote: Finance it for 40 years with as little down as you can.
Probably not a good idea. If you need to sell it in a few years you would probably have to sell it for less than what you would still would owe and you would have to come up with the difference.
But again, if something happened to you it would be the person selling it's problem.
Let them REPO it. If you have to get rid of it.
Isn't that the American way now. (Look at Houses in forcloser)
Captain T. Love (Ret.)
Retired Airline Pilot
CB Chanel 13
AMERICAN AND PROUD OF IT
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK BUY USA MADE
http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm
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