I'm 69 years old and I've owned about a dozen RV's, half of them new ones. My advice... Go to Wally Mart and buy a tent, then take all the cash you saved and burn it at your nightly camp fire. It's less stress, more cost effective, much more reliable and a better return on your investment with the heat and ambiance it provides. Than toss the tent and everything else in the dumpster on your way out. Repeat as necessary. You will be $$ ahead and happier with the experience. JMHO... --gary
I have owned several RV's and still own one. You need to be handy and plan to repair something when you least expect it. Still I would never be without one, and all my tools.
My mom & dad had one, dad could fix anything on it. And he did, every year, he was fixing something. If he didn't know how to do the work himself, it would've been a real pain for them.
Totally agree. Nothing in a rv should be hard to fix or replace. If you are not a handy person, don't buy an RV otherwise you may be waiting months for a factory warranty repair on a 15.00 part and 20 minutes labor. I've owned 3 RVs over 25 years and have never had it into the shop but stuff breaks every single year. I've fixed everything from leaky showers to shattered windows, so far nothing was not a simple DIY project. Ever on my brand new RVs, anything that breaks is a DIY.
When a friend tells me they want to buy an RV, I am honest with them and say, "RVs come from the factory broken, you need to be ready to repair them." The upside, is, they have a high-level of parts compatibility across brands, so getting parts is usually easy.
Ain't that the truth. I keep a good supply of pex fittings and hoses in my 5th wheel along with a considerable tool box. I enjoy living in my camper but it's not for everyone. 21 years of OTR truck driving has made me comfortable with the concept. I would suggest the people who watch tiny home shows on HGTV and think it looks fun stay away from RVs.
One thing no one ever mentions about RVs...they have zero sound proofing. Not knowing this fact will result in entire campground knowing unusual details about your love life.
I always thought that was the kinda sexy, kinky appeal. You should see the looks I get from the ladies while drinking coffee under the awning next morning. And then there's the ones from the men my wife gets! We feel like prom King and Queen again!
I live full time in my camper. I wouldn't be though, if I wasn't my own mechanic. I'm constantly fixing either my truck or my camper. If I had to rely on dealerships, I simply couldn't afford to live like this.
Do you have fun living in it? I am going to go travel on the mainland for 6 months to a year for my 1st trip. I want a Bambi but thinking seriously about a tab 400.
@@seannamikel3444 There are things I definitely like about it. Yes, I have fun! I only posted my original comment to let people know that it can be an expensive lifestyle, just because of maintenance...and lately, gasoline.
As a happy RV owner this is pretty good advice. This isn't like owning a car and you want to know what your getting into. You also need to be prepared to do some repairs yourself. Rent an RV. Talk to owners. Do your research. I think the reason many people end up unhappy is because their expectations are not aligned with reality. I grew up trailer camping and am very happy to be making the same memories with my kids. Our decision to buy has been a great one for our family. But our expectations were aligned with reality.
That’s what we do whenever we want to have a boat ride for the day. So nice to pull up to the dock and just get out and be done with it. Plus, we can rent a way nicer boat than we could afford.
In my particular area I could rent a small TT for about $115 per night. Let's say 15 nights per year for the next ten years. That's $17,250. The same TT right now are going for over $20,000. So yes, total cost is lower for sure. Like renting a house or apartment, someone else is realizing the equity of the property. If that's worth anything at all is a slightly different story.
Great story Steve, I have a travel trailer and what it comes down to is you need to become an RV technician yourself and learn how to repair your own RV. I was one of the lucky ones that I have a mechanical background and learned the ins and outs of camper repair. Yes, it's a lot of work maintaining it and even set up to camp.
Steve, all good advice. In general people are so happy to find an RV they think they like that they just lay their cash down with a huge smile. Right now RVs are scarce and campsites are over crowded. But if people can wait about 1-2 years all those Rvs that have been purchased in a fever will be back on the market at bargain prices. If people think they want to live full time in an RV or run a business out of an RV they can at least attempt their dream at a reduced cost.
I am 77 and still tent camp. Have had month long trips with my sons, and have camped in many many national parks, and other amazing places. We camp to get away, not haul all our crap all over the US.
I have several relatives who are 150 - 300 miles away from me. I have a van-size RV. It's wonderful having my desk, bed, TV, and everything else right there with me - I can stay for a week without interrupting their lives, and with minimal interruption to mine. Everybody's got their reasons 😁.
I'm a single lady, I'm having a hard shell around me at night and a kitchen for when all you tent campers smell the coffee & baking going on you all seem to appriciate the camper then. Or when I put on lion king ect on the big screen and all the kids shut up an go sleep in my porch. LOL Nobody can be this grumpy about other people loving RVs can they? Seripusly?
Long-time RV owner here. I concur with every point you made. Even with all of the hassle, I wouldn't trade the experiences we've had while RVing, good and bad, for anything. One additional point that new RVers sometimes overlook, seriously research the payload and towing capabilities of your tow vehicle and understand clearly what you can tow safely. Many folks out there are overloading their tow vehicles, putting themselves, their families, and others on the road in danger.
Troubleshooting Rv issues is one of the things that I enjoy most as a camp host. It helps build community. It’s like the old days when somebody would open the hood of their car on our block. Sometimes people need a tool. Sometimes it’s information. We were usually able to come up with both.
I bought my gently used class A RV during Covid lock-down last March and I went into the purchase with my eyes wide open and lots of solid research under my belt before plunking down the cash. Other than replacing the RV fridge with a residential unit, I have had zero issues thus far. I do live in my rig full-time too and absolutely love it! But yes - DIY repairs are always creeping in, but I use TH-cam to figure things out (like replacing light fixtures, tank cleaning, etc) and I enjoy being able to get repairs done using my own brain and skills. This lifestyle is not for everyone, but if you enjoy being self-sufficient and are handy with tools, then you should be alright. And Steve is right - do NOT buy a new RV - let someone else deal with repairing all of the inevitable defects from the factory, as well as the massive $$$ depreciation hit. The new RV's are being cranked out with almost no oversight or quality control in place, so You, the owner, are forced to deal with dealerships that DO NOT CARE about you after the sale is final, and will let your precious $$$$ RV languish on their dealership lot until your warranty has expired and you are left holding the bag.
@@jackyandell2489 Generally, the only people I encounter who say that either bought the wrong boat, bought one on a whim and lost interest, or couldn't afford the lifestyle. I've got two boats (one big, one small) in two covered slips and wouldn't change a thing. It's expensive. Life is short. Enjoy life while you can.
When I was 22 I went to a boat show with a friend and cosigned on a loan for a boat. Less than a year later I get a call from the bank asking for a payment so tell the bank I'll call ya back. I call up the person who had the boat and said "I got a call from the bank. I get one more I come down, cut the chain, take the boat and take u to court for ownership because if I'm going to make payments, I'm gonna own/use the boat. He thought I was bluffing so I had my lawyer call his family lawyer and no more payments were late. Moral of the story: When your lawyer is also a powerful politician you won't lose
@@jasonbourne1596 ,To an extent, yes. However it is often the case that you can't always drive to every location around said lake, but you can sail there.
@@chevyon37s It's not comedic. It's actually extremely offensive. A lot of people, like myself, have decided to sell their "stuck in one place" house to buy one that can go anywhere. I'm not saying this fool can't say whatever they want. But there's no comedy here. Just a perpetuation of old myths.
I worked at a Freightliner dealership where we worked on the driveline and chassis supplied to the coach builder. Because we were able to give them a repair date in the current millennium they would expect us to work on the coachwork. We were not able to help them in most cases.
Loooonnnng time RV'er - lived in various Class A's for total of 7 years off-and-on. Now that the kids are out off the house, getting ready to go on the road again. In a 5x10 Cargo trailer conversion. Yep. Tiny. No driving issues. No stuck-in-traffic-in-Albuquerque problems. No brakes-fading-in-Nevada, no drive 3 miles for turn-around spot. People get RVs the size of Greenland and then complain there isn't enough camping resorts to stop in. This 5x10 can go ANYWHERE, weighs less than 2,000 lbs, has diesel heat for winter, solar for power, and bare-minimum water. It's called CAMPING folks.
"See a motorhome you like? Ask the owner about it. WIND HIM UP AND WATCH HIM GO!" Cracked me UP! You could swing your stuff into an awesome character as a stand up comedian.
Since you appreciate comedy: my wife and i just had our 21st anniversary. I told her we're drinking tonight our marraige is 21, old enough to drink. She looked at me and said "it's been old enough to drink for a while now."
@@rudymcqtriii4509 I've never done stand-up though I do have a BS in theater. I turned 50 last year...the craziest year of my life I turned half century...and I spent the year building material by watching idiot after idiot citizens, public officials.... George Floyd and protests....CRAZY! I was already watching Steve but from advanced guidance from pro stand up friends he actually seems a natural comedian. He nails many key points for developing comedic character. So he's kinda an inspiration in that strange way.
Excellent advice, Steve. I am a trailer technician. All of the points you raise are spot-on. From predatory salespeople to supply chain issues causing months long repair delays. Additionally, RVs are not very good at quality control and often we are finishing the manufacturing at the dealership, often after the unit has been sold and the customer has taken delivery. "We sell happiness." was the phrase used by our former GM. We delivered frustration. Caveat emptor!!
@@johnp139 i can see that travelling with lots of people and overnighting at a WalMart or two. I was thinking more along the lines of the retirees. With two people in a giant gas guzzling vehicle, driving around the countryside.
I have a 36’ + class A and you couldn’t be more on point. I love it! Bought it used and avoided a lot of the up front depreciation. If you are going to buy an RV be prepared to either keep a nice amt of flexibility and $$ on hand for the inevitable repairs or be a cross between McGuyver and Mr. Fixit. Also pay for an RV inspection before purchase.
Minivan (30mpg hwy) + tent works for me. With most minivans, you can fold down the seats and create a flat area where you can put in a bed platform and mattress. So the tent is the living room/bathroom and the minivan is the bedroom where you can sleep comfortably and secure. I can see the draw to RVs but operating and maintaining them seem like too much of a hassle. Not too mention the horrible fuel mileage.
I totally agree with the rent before you buy advice. Also, if you arent going to be using it more than maybe 4 weekends a year it would be way cheaper to just rent one whenever you want to use one. I tell people the same thing about motorcycles, boats, 4 wheelers, and snowmobiles. After maintenance, depreciation, and storage you really need to use recreation vehicles a bunch to justify the cost.
Read dealer reviews on google. Many times people will discuss name brands they’ve had issues with. Also join every rv forum you can, read what owners are saying. I bought an Avenger brand camper one issue since new 2013, not well known brand. More popular may not be best to buy. Great video Steve.
I worked at an RV dealership in my teens and eventually became a licensed RV Mechanic still in my late teens and through my early 20's. I worked there for years and yes they can be problematic just like any vehicle "BUT" there is much more to be concerned with aside from the mechanical parts. 12v/110 volt systems, plumbing, hydraulics, propane, appliances, HVAC etc. The more advanced things become the more problems you'll have, this being in anything.
That's true with cars and trucks already, they're rolling computers now and people don't realize that vehicles are a harsh environment for computers with high heat, extreme cold, constant vibration.
Yes, I am going to design my own solar system and do a few upgrades to the water & bathroom facilities. I would never trust my life to a piece of equipment that didn't understand how to troubleshoot and hopefully foresee any possible weak linjs in my sysyem. I'm also very big on Plan B & occasionally Plan C, like extra heater, water & plenty backup power just in case I I don't want to go yet. Hahahaha
I saw that article the other day. Good read. I own a travel trailer. Yes, it's work, but I don't mind because it's nice having our own bathroom when camping.
Good information. We have owned RV’s for 40 years and are about to purchase another. We love the lifestyle and have traveled all over this amazing and beautiful country. Here in CA we do have “lemon laws” that protect consumers of RV’s. That said I am a mechanic (retired) and having this skill along with metal fabrication, woodworking skills, and tools for these types of work are all incredibly valuable simply because you will need them. If you are a person that is not hands on and do not care how various RV systems work (as long as they do) then prepare to be extremely frustrated and without your RV for extended periods. Do your research and like our favorite attorney says rent first.
If you are a handyman at home, it's a home on wheels. If you hire people to mow your lawn, unplug a sink or fix an electrical outlet STAY AWAY from RVs. Otherwise, you'll be living an episode with the Griswolds
Loved this video. We started with a Motorhome that was gifted to us by a relative from Florida. We flew to FL and drove it home to Utah. To get it licensed in Utah it had to be inspected. It FAILED and it cost me almost $10K to get it passed! So much for FREE. Then I traded it for a 5th wheel which was great, except when one for the Corian counter tops cracked soon after we bought it. It took 3 months to get a replacement counter top, then the one the factory sent did not match the other counters in the kitchen. Finally they had to replace ALL the counter tops to get a matching set. That took a couple months more. Then we still had not learned our lesson and traded for a newer and bigger 5th wheel! On our first cross country trip, when we were hundreds of miles from home in rural Nebraska, the bedroom slide refused to come in after spending the night in an RV park. That meant we could not drive anywhere with the slide sticking out. We had to call a mobile RV repairman and pay out of pocket, then file for reimbursement later. That took months to get reimbursed. The mobile repairman got the slide to come in so we could travel, but could not fix the problem that caused it to get stuck out. Then we stopped at a big RV dealership in Iowa that carried the brand of trailer we owned to get a final repair done. They refused to work on our unit! They said "we are way too busy keeping up with all the repair work needed on the units we sell, we cannot provide you service since you did not buy your trailer from our dealership"! We got that same response from other dealerships in other areas as we traveled. We had to wait until we got to Georgia to finally find a dealer that would agree to work on it. I am fed up with RVs.
My grandmother was a Snowbird. Seattle in the summer, Arizona in the winter. She and her husband looked into an RV to make the trip back and forth in. Then she calculated how much it would be to just buy an economical car and stay in motels. It cost a third as much as the RV. People also don't realize how much gasoline it costs to haul a can of Pea Soup across the country 14 times.
Great video, as usual. With Covid, I see all these people on social media who bought an RV without a clue. I spent yrs looking at them while asking questions. I knew what I was getting into. The dealers still piss me off. Lucky for me, I am very handy and I can fix most things myself. We really enjoy our RV and with Covid we used the crap out of it. A lot of people think and salesmen imply that RVing is cheaper than a regular vacation. It is not. The RV becomes a fixed cost you pay for all yr, taxes, insurance, storage, and financing if you did not pay cash. A regular vacation is a variable cost you only pay for while on vacation. The reason we like it is because we can stay in state and national parks. If we did not have the RV, we would have to stay outside in a hotel and drive everyday into the parks. It is also nice having your own bed, bath, and kitchen.
My folks bought an RV before they could be warned. It's been nothing but problems. There's nowhere within an hour of where they live in Des Moines to even park the thing. Now that they're in their 70s, the burdon of maintenance and winterizing has fallen upon me, their only son. Just storing it for the winter in the county fairgrounds (50 miles, 2 counties over is the nearest affordable covered storage) is such a pain.
I bought a new RV close to 15 years ago it had all the newest stuff in it. The salesman advised me to look at used but newer models. I asked the salesmen why and he said people buy an RV then certain features or layouts don’t work for them! I found out he was 100% correct we traded that one in on a other RV that worked for us and we still love RVing! It’s was still in good shape and wasn’t outdated we’ve stayed in it 100s of times over the years. Traded it in a few years ago for a travel van and we now love it! The travel Mercedes Sprinter van will fit in most parking spots when traveling! Until you own one you may not have it figured out! We lost some money but not enough to hurt us but we lucked out and bought and sold at good times! Rent one or used the first time wouldn’t be a bad idea!
My Aunt learned the gas price leason... or atleast she likes to complain about it often. Cost her over $900 in gas to go from Ohio to Florida on her "free vacation".
I like how so many people get into rv's and trailers thinking they're houses on wheels. Glad you covered the construction bits that get lots of new buyers unhappy when that joy wears off. It's an rv, not a house. And you'll want to learn how to work on stuff too, yeah that light or mounted piece of woodwork should be covered under warranty but what's worse just fixing it yourself and eating the cost, or bringing it in 2x or 4+ weeks so the warranty would cover it...
Bought a travel trailer/toy hauler to use in retirement. Since my work life was heavy with building and vehicle maintenance, I now see it as a project as I rebuild and or replace the cheap construction with higher quality materials. Watching Utube videos on trailer repairs and maintenance is helpful, the reason being it will absolutely show the complications of owning and maintaining a RV/TT. "Landfill" Mike
RV owner here. I would recommend anyone who is thinking about buying to watch this video. Steve lays out very concisely (pretty impressive for an attorney 😉) what potential buyers need to consider before taking the plunge. The only thing I'd do differently than what he says is I wouldn't deal with a dealership unless absolutely necessary. The only good thing a dealership does is a couple times a year, they put their inventory on display at an RV show. That is an excellent opportunity to look at features you're going to want. Once you've figured out what you want, look for those features from a private seller or as we did, a credit union repo auction. Our RV is a 2017 model we bought in 2018 for less than half of MSRP invoice. We bought as is; I've learned a lot and we have a very reputable private RV mechanic here in town who does great work for reasonable (Not inexpensive) prices.
When I was a kid my parents had a cabin in the mts about 60 miles from home. We did not camp at all...we went to the cabin. Years later later Iam married and the wife wants a RV. We purchase a Dodge (used) with a diesel. Then we get a used 30 foot bumper pull RV. So we make reservations for nice RV parks and the adventure begins. We load up the rv for the next days departure.....hit the road for the RV site. Stressfully I back the rv into a tite spot ( while a group of people are watching) and level the rv. Set up the camp site and all that goes with it. Fellow campers 10 feet away from us on both sides with yappy kids and yappy dogs.....ahhh camping is so fun. Stay a few days..... load it all up and drive home. Get home and unload the rv. This was not fun for me at all. Now.....the Dodge is gone and the rv is gone. We thought it would nice to have the rv around the place for company to stay in on acasion. Problem is family members wanted to come live in it.....rv is gone. I did not like any aspect of rv camping. So....you want to buy a rv?.....watch the Lucile Ball Desi Arnes movie The Long Long Trailer. I know many who have rv's and love everything about it....it just wasnt for us.
I was the director of training for the largest RV dealer consolidator group in the nation. Even the factories don't have the replacement parts needed for repairs. They only cared about the new products getting ready for shipment. Older models had parts discontinued with no alternative so are also a huge risk to purchase. Many of the used RVs had so many issues, that is why they discourage or deny test drives.
I've had 2 travel trailers in my lifetime. 28' (used) and 33' (new) with bump-outs many amenities etc. In my experience it wasn't so bad because Im a handyman/general contractor and fix and modify everything myself. Replaced A/C units on both, a fridge in one, water heater in another. Bunch of little wear and tear annoyances here and there. Leaks from windows and roof. Resealing the windows every few years. Resealing all the roof vents and seams and applying rubberized paint every 2 or 3 years is a must. I eventually got rid of the new one 8 years later. It just became another house I had to constantly fix. If you are handy It's not that bad and you're better off fixing the stuff yourself instead of waiting. If you can definately buy a used one to start off with.
I love my RV. We're spending a month in the Pacific Northwest this summer. They are not a good idea for those who are not mechanically inclined. My RV is parked in my huge metal building behind my house.
Two years ago i read that the RV market increased 700%, its estimated that it will double or triple by this video. thus, your video is excellent advice and i would to add several more issues to check before the purchase. 1. most buyers never test the tires and axles, most owners and dealers will never go to the trouble of service, and when you pull out and need tires or your axles begins to smoke, consider this a horrible day! 2. Test all of the DSI (digital spark ignition) equipment, these devices i.e., AC (not DSI), hot water heater and refrigerator are powered by both, test them fully, repairs or replacement will also make a horrible day and ruin the trip! 3. Even thought the new 20 year rubber roofs may not leak, and most won't test, and if the previous owner walked on part not supported by the roof trusses (there about 12" apart), they can rupture, and eventually break down. If repairs or replacement are required, the buyer will surly experience a heart attack! Test, if unable to visually walk the roof, hire a trained tech, its well worth the small fee. Steve thanks for you channel, please share with the viewers if you agree?
I’m a retired painter. Cleared everything out of my econoline paint van., put in insulation, paneling, shelves, composting toilet, bed platform. All for under $1000. Materials. Travel all over. Keep it simple. Us Americans think we need to bring our whole house.
If you plan on storing your RV in your driveway, be sure to check local ordinances. My city has an ordinance that says RVs in your driveway must be 20 back from the sidewalk. My trailer just barely fits. You don't want to buy an RV and find out later that you cannot park it in your driveway. RV storage facilities are surprisingly expensive!
So true. Very good advice. I have never bought a new rig. Currently driving a 2004 National Sea Breeze that cost over $100,000 new, purchased for $27,000 and have put over $10,000 in upgrades and maintenance. $180 a month for storage and we use it two months a year to get away from the Florida heat and visit friends/family up north. Thank God I can afford it. Steve you are the best. Keep up the good work.
My In-laws bought a used, Craigslist motor home. They paid about $10,000 more than what it's worth. They have put about $5000 into it. And, it's back in the shop. The didn't consult anyone. They just blindly jumped in. It's a huge, broken box that you just waste money on. Rent one. Go to a hotel. Consult someone with some experience before doing something stupid like they did.
My wife and I lived in an RV trailer for 4 years to save money in a VERY high rent area. We did a LOT of homework before we bought, and we talked to a lot of people beforehand so we had an idea of what we were getting in but we STILL learned things the hard way. We still mostly enjoyed our time but once we were done, we were happy to sell it and never deal with it again. I have zero disagreements with anything you've said in this video. There are a LOT of problems with RVs and a LOT of people go into this blind, realize all the problems, and end up never using it and wasting a LOT of money. So buyer beware
Yep, My grandparents spent their entire retirement traveling North and Latin America in their RV. Anytime they had an issue which was covered under warranty, they would drive to Georgia where the factory was located to get it fixed and stay for a month while they waited. That is no joke. The warranty on an RV is a joke.
@@davexb6595 LOL...I do not think they made it that far south. I believe the lowest was panama. So my south America was completely accurate.... But good point. Luckily for them their coach never had major equipment failures but rather wear of use items. Later... Thanks for the reply.
@Steve Lehto: This was classic...I started this video and the first ad that showed up was an RV ad for Consignment in Arizona....that was just pure good timing.... heheheh
Kudos to you and Denis. Sound advice. I forgot about the first & second year depreciation. I just assumed there was no resale market as I view an RV like an American car - disposable. Not quite as well built as a mobile home. BTW some RV folks get free parking for being "the on site rep" for the state camp ground. Yes this included the 30Amp connection. As for the electrician - Homes in 1974 were built to N.E.C (national electric code) standards. However the aluminum wiring earned a bad reputation. That has been resolved with copper clad aluminum and special electrical pastes. Still sleeping around the "light weight" but safe wires would be unnerving.
I think an enclosed utility trailer of your choice fixed up much like an RV works very well. Just add what ever you want. It may not look fancy but a lot less problems then an RV. Just hook up to a pickup of the right size to tow the trailer you selected. Plus a Berkey water filter. But like you say do your home work.
I'd stay clear of that advise. Too many people can't even drive a van, let alone drag a trailer safely. Too many people don't understand their vehicles weight limits, and overload them. On top of that, they don't even know how to properly tow down the road or back up. A trailer is more dangerous than an RV, especially to those inexperienced.
We bought a 1966 Serro Scotty in 2008...still own it. No complicated systems. Can be repaired at home. Some folks take damaged ones and rebuild in their garages....
Thank you for the insight because I was thinking about buying one. I am a handyman that works on just about anything residential, commercial and industrial, electrical, plumbing, painting, drywall, cabinetry, ect. I do not work on the mechanical like the engine, transmission, ect. I doubt if I could ever afford to buy a new RV so I would have to repair what has not been repaired. But new or used, you would almost immediately get repairs done by a good handyman. I do not know about warranty issues but they never have to know that it happened. And spending a couple of bucks to get your stuff repaired immediately is priceless. Any dealership for RVs or cars are going to charge a hundred times what a repair is worth. That is how they make a profit. Sometimes you do not need exact OEM replacement parts. Would you spend $20 to have an outlet replaced or $50 to have a toilet repaired? And get it back sometimes within 30 minutes or while you wait? Sure there are some repairs that a handyman could not do and I am sure the manufacturers would not send parts to a handyman. But for some repairs, there are options.
a good friend of mine just recently bought a camper. he asked me about it, I immediately told him to watch your videos on the matter. he said he went to a dealership and found a camper he liked and asked about out the door cost. one was a 1400 dealer inspection charge. I told him to leave and go somewhere else and he did. he did find one used only 4 times and the owner was selling it due to an accident that left them too handicapped to get in and out of the camper.
@@mtradz thank you. also he seen a salesman tell a woman that her minivan could pull a 10000 lb bumper pull camper when his f150 is only rated for 8500 lbs. he quickly warned her the salesman lied about how much weight she can tow behind her minivan and she left also. I had warned him before about to be careful and not get one too big for his truck and told him where to find the vehicle rating on his truck
We bought a trailer. Every word Steve says is true. We got a deal on one from a dealer. Yes there are pros and cons. We seldom use ours. Our kids have used it too though.I suggest getting one multiple families can use.
My experience with RV's is limited. When I was a kid in the mid 70s my dad bought one and we went on a 4 week cross country trip. After the trip dad sold the RV before he ever had to make a payment on it. A few years ago dad rented one(I did all the transport, dad paid) and we took a guys trip to The Henry Ford museum. I did all the driving and after 500 miles I would never buy one.
@@hillie47 the one we rented a few years ago was $110k. If I'm going to drop $110k on something with wheels it's going to have a Porsche or Mercedes badge on it!
I have had rv’s for 20 years. I always bought used. We have had a wonderful time! They always have something to repair. If you dont like this please dont get one. Rving is an absolute blast! I am going again this week for a week. Toyhauler 5th wheels are a super blast.
I’m glad not everyone watches your videos, I want to buy an RV ( and yes I’ve lived life on the road ) and I can’t wait till the market is flooded with used RV’S 🚍
We have a travel trailer and also look forward to the market flood coming in the next year or so and the opportunity to upgrade. He's correct though, know what you are getting yourself in to. If you're not handy with tools and like doing your own repairs, you probably have no business owning an RV.
Steve great advice, buy a used RV not a new one.When buying a used one you also get all the accessories" they". buy and you save alot of money on that alone.Keep up the good advice.
Former RV trailer owner. Surge in RV sales but not an increase in parks and resorts to use them! Reservations often are 12 mo out....where are you going to go?
Steve, listen up.... The RV market has been red hot! New prices are WAY up (some from demand, some from material shortages). Used prices for something up to 10 tears old, can bring what new prices were 15-18 months ago. New RV buyers are being waitlisted up to 18 months... Thanks for the show. Love it, it's helping me impress my (retired judge) father-in-law...
We bought a used fifth wheel from friends last year. It’s been great. The one thing I tell people is that it really costs the same as other vacation options. When you add up the costs, you could fly to a resort and stay in a hotel. Still, it’s a good experience and a different way to vacation.
You are so correct, Steve!!! RVs are junk. I’ve owned four. Winnebagos, Jaycos, you name it. They are so horribly made that they have problems everywhere. These things are moving earthquakes that leave the factory built poorly... We love RVing so we have learned to tolerate the failures and fix them ourselves. Warranties are not honored at RV dealerships where you didn’t purchase the RV. You can get some of your money back but it’s hard. Dealers do not schedule service very well and you can’t pin them down to a date to get it fixed. Several weeks to repair an RV is common; you’re correct. If you sell an RV whereby you still have warranty, it’s not transferable. If you don’t know how to do things; electrical, mechanical and HVAC, don’t buy one. We now have a good RV because I have repaired every water leak (almost every PEX connection!). Two toilet water valves, two ignition controls on the water heater, bathroom fan, door adjustments, patched stupidly large 3 inch holes to run one piece of Romex wire, replaced every cabinet slide (made from ply board and staples) and on and on... all the windows leak air. Had to fix those too. Now the nose cap has faded (one year old!). Being replaced under warranty - two months now waiting to get approved! Still... crickets. Wait until the slides don’t come in! What a mess when you are at a CG. Had a 45 foot Jayco NorthPoint Luxury fifth wheel that this happened to. Even the dealer couldn’t fix it. I towed the behemoth back to the dealer with the slide out! We now have a great RV because we repaired everything on it, no kidding, even some interior lights and shades! I have so much time and better quality parts in it you couldn’t afford to buy it - kid you not. But I now have a good RV... I would join a big class action against these manufacturers. They need a big slap for turning this kind of junk out into the marketplace. They know they are producing garbage. They clearly know it. Winnebago will not even return calls. Jayco is no better. And yes, the electrical systems are fires waiting to happen; none of them would ever pass the National Electrical Code. I have pics of them all. Rats nest wiring... looks like spaghetti, nothing labeled, crimps for wire-nuts. Go into a Tiffin Tag axle motor coach for $500K. They are no better. Some of the same equipment and material as used in my Jayco Fifth wheel. And they were just purchased by Thor. Junk just got worse. Want an airstream. Think again, thin skin junk that you almost can’t repair and yet both cost so much. We’ve had them all and we heavily maintain our RVs because we camp year round. We still enjoy RVing but make sure you can afford it, pay cash, be able to do things and make your own repairs and get used to this industry being as crappy as it is. And don’t be fooled by a salesman pitch of how much better one RV is over another; this is simply not true. Absolutely great video, Steve! Spot on.
As a new RV owner, all your points are spot on. The only thing I dislike is "It is just one more thing to care for". You have to wash, wax, do preventive maintenance and load and unload between trips. On top of that, you have insurance and gasoline cost. I figured about 3-4 years to break even from costs of hotels and dining.
Many of the factory service centers are booked 6 months out. We have a 45 ft diesel pusher but we had it well planned where we drive and park it. We also paid extra for a "factory pick-up" and had a tech assigned to us for 4 days and did a lot of repairs. Only a few manufacturers have that opion. The benefit for us was we've had very few problems with it in 3 yrs.
Great video totally agree tent camping is so much funner and so much easier and so much cheaper if the tent rips and I have a problem I just go buy a new one at a much cheaper price...
I did the sell-the-condo travel around trick a few years ago. It worked up until this year when, at 78, my doctors say stay in one place with one set of doctors. I just sold the RV and bought a condo. (I coulda paid cash, but 3% mortgage? Had to.) No problems with service on my Winnebago Revel ever. It sold in days.
I was a mechanic back in the 70's and 80's. Mostly heavy equipment and trucks. I was the designated "RV guy" at the truck shop, because I was good at electrical and plumbing. After the last shop, I started my own mobile truck service. My advice? RV's are either for the very rich and very willing to spend money, or for the very handy, or for the very poor who don't care if they run or not (I have repaired a lot of electrical systems in RV's on blocks parked on the back 40). It was a good living, but I decided I had had enough of driving a big truck, and I decided to go into the shop, and build cabinets and store fixtures.
Our current Travel Trailer is a 2017 unit we purchased new. It's a 35' triple slide "couples coach". Our bathroom has his and her sinks, full shower and is big enough for both of us to use it at the same time. This is our fourth trailer we have had in our life time. We are currently thinking about upgrading to a Class A motor home. Just like anything else you own and use you will have to do some repairs from time to time. Same could be said for your home. I know there are people that prefer to rent and let the landlord take care of it. I can't relate to that because I have never paid rent for a place to live. I purchased my first house at age 20 moving from my parent's house to my first house. Truth be told, we have been paying rent since 2015 when we purchased a 27" travel trailer. It was just too big to keep in the driveway, so we rented a place in a secure lot to park it when we are not using it. When we retired is when we got the 35 footer which we love. Since we have had this one 4 years we are thinking about upgrading to a Class A Motorhome. The things we have been able to do and the great memories we have made have been priceless. When the pandemic hit last year we were able to take our "mobile bubble" out to the woods and get away from the craziness. I plan to keep taking multiple trips every year until I am no longer able to do it. We started out in a tent in the mid 70's. We have been camping for as long as we have been married (going on 46 years) I don't expect to stop anytime soon. Worth every dime I have ever spent on it.
In the Phoenix area, have been doing engine and generator services going on 32 years , mostly warranty work , it’s amazing how much damage is caused by Rodents, rust, moisture, and overloading, and how few hours are on the engine, generators, and tires. Broken slide outs are a big item to . Depreciation is another, maybe more financially responsible to buy a summer home and do day trips in a car. If your into national parks , learn the max size is allowed , understand that you may not be allowed to leave your pets inside your R/V , or even have them walk the trails . Maintenance cost and requirements, storage cost , insurance , tires going bad from age , flat spots, body jacks that won’t retract --- list goes on. Financial time bombs . Most are used the first year, then sit to rot for 5-7 years and sold for 1/4 the original price or less .
If you could get anywhere near decent RVs, selling for 1/4 of what it cost five years ago, you would be quite wealthy. Since you could flip them and double your money all day, every day. There are people that are getting NADA retail PLUS 25% at the moment, for private sales. As for buying a summer home. I'm a retired builder who specialized in vacation homes. Much like RVs, it's another amazingly stupid way to waste your money. I've seen people lose $50K on a modest$150K vacation home, that they sold after a few years, for a bit more than they paid. The $50K was in furnishing, maintaining, taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, dues, realtor fees, and other huge drains on the wallet. In my market it was easy to spend 7-10% of the market value of the place, per year, just to keep the thing going. That doesn't include actually using the place, just owning it.
@@kerrykerry5778 no here in Arizona, Southern California, Utah, or New Mexico. There are massive R/V shows and depending on model can still be found quite cheap. California property values stagnated in many areas , but Arizona property values too a huge increase , and area of northern Arizona have almost doubled , especially the ones on 25-40 acres . If you get on RV trader in Arizona they are not commanding high prices - but our homes are by percentage.
I'm surprised you don't have more viewers Steve. I may have seen nearly all of your videos for the past few years. Great content,. Thanks for uploading ❤️
The only happy RV buyer is one who knows how to fix all the shit themselves. My dad is one of those people. If he doesn't know how to fix it, he knows who to hire to get it fixed. He doesn't rely on warranties for his RV's. I learned recently from SmarterEveryDay that RV owners would be right at home on a nuclear submarine. Short showers and water conservation are the norm. I grew up going on vacations with my parents in RVs. I never want to own one though.
Same with me, I had some warranty work done and it took forever. Learned to do it my self faster and cheaper. Also watched tons of TH-cam vids and learned a lot. All Steve says is good advice.
I'm an RV service tech and full time RV living. I love it and love the industry. Love your points. And one of the other comments on here. If your handy fixing things and maintenance RV's are great. If you have to hire someone for even minor repairs then RV is probably not for you. In my 10 years experience of RV repairs I can say for sure they are getting cheaper (Build quality not price) It seems the manufactures are producing them as fast as they can and push them out the door. And letting the dealerships catch (mostly ignore) the small details. People ask what brand is best.... Ive seen all brands have issues and some cheap brands be good. Like every product they have good and bad. The factories have good days and bad days. They are mostly built by hand. The best advice here is do research, start small and talk to real owners and if you can make contact with a good service person get their advice. If buying used, which I think the best rigs were made 10 yrs or so ago, get a 2nd opinion inspection. Test EVERYTHING ! Look everywhere, under, over, inside....... Cheers :)
Don’t forget that if you live in it full time and happen to get into a crash (even a fairly minor one) you’ll likely end up homeless for months waiting for them to assess and repair it.
I'm retired and over the last eight years of RV snowbirding, and traveling in our motorhome, my wife and I have met many people who have wasted spectacular amounts on RVs. Bottom line for us is that you never borrow a dime at this stage in life. If you are retired and have mortgage like monthly note, on a depreciating liability, like a motorhome, you are in trouble. You might not know you are in trouble, or you may be too arrogant to acknowledge the fact, but odd are, you screwed up.
If you are handy with repairing and maintaining your RV life is better...research brands and models. A $ 200k model can and will have the same problems as a $40k RV. Owned 5 different ones, finely found a good one...am a full timer. Living in it 6 months out of the year when at sea working. This video is on point....good advice
I'm 69 years old and I've owned about a dozen RV's, half of them new ones. My advice... Go to Wally Mart and buy a tent, then take all the cash you saved and burn it at your nightly camp fire. It's less stress, more cost effective, much more reliable and a better return on your investment with the heat and ambiance it provides. Than toss the tent and everything else in the dumpster on your way out. Repeat as necessary. You will be $$ ahead and happier with the experience. JMHO... --gary
Another very true post on the subject!!
And it took you 12 times to figure it out, lol.
@@codyway7424 better late then never. Hotels do all the work for you. It would be way cheaper to stay at a motel tip the people really well.
@@codyway7424 Married, only got a 49% vote. It's only $$ 8)
So did you buy a boat too? 😉
Also, make sure the dealer doesn't change your paperwork from 240 months to 119.
With 1 🎈
That is fraud.
I have owned several RV's and still own one. You need to be handy and plan to repair something when you least expect it. Still I would never be without one, and all my tools.
My mom & dad had one, dad could fix anything on it. And he did, every year, he was fixing something. If he didn't know how to do the work himself, it would've been a real pain for them.
Totally agree. Nothing in a rv should be hard to fix or replace. If you are not a handy person, don't buy an RV otherwise you may be waiting months for a factory warranty repair on a 15.00 part and 20 minutes labor. I've owned 3 RVs over 25 years and have never had it into the shop but stuff breaks every single year. I've fixed everything from leaky showers to shattered windows, so far nothing was not a simple DIY project. Ever on my brand new RVs, anything that breaks is a DIY.
When a friend tells me they want to buy an RV, I am honest with them and say, "RVs come from the factory broken, you need to be ready to repair them." The upside, is, they have a high-level of parts compatibility across brands, so getting parts is usually easy.
Yeah if you can’t fix most things yourself, you’re going to be frustrated, delayed, and possibly endangered.
Ain't that the truth. I keep a good supply of pex fittings and hoses in my 5th wheel along with a considerable tool box. I enjoy living in my camper but it's not for everyone. 21 years of OTR truck driving has made me comfortable with the concept. I would suggest the people who watch tiny home shows on HGTV and think it looks fun stay away from RVs.
One thing no one ever mentions about RVs...they have zero sound proofing. Not knowing this fact will result in entire campground knowing unusual details about your love life.
😆
The bigger ones are quiet. The small and/or cheap ones are not insulated well!
I always thought that was the kinda sexy, kinky appeal. You should see the looks I get from the ladies while drinking coffee under the awning next morning. And then there's the ones from the men my wife gets! We feel like prom King and Queen again!
Yes, I here neighbor’s coffee stir spoons every morning.
I think when they watch me lead the wife through the RV park on a collar and dog leash they will get a clear enough picture of that 😝
😳
I live full time in my camper. I wouldn't be though, if I wasn't my own mechanic. I'm constantly fixing either my truck or my camper. If I had to rely on dealerships, I simply couldn't afford to live like this.
I hope everybody reads your post and let's it sink in..
I definitely live less expensive (full time in my truck with a rooftop tent) than I do at home. But being your own mechanic is definitely a huge help.
@@mtradz What is that suppose to mean?
Do you have fun living in it?
I am going to go travel on the mainland for 6 months to a year for my 1st trip. I want a Bambi but thinking seriously about a tab 400.
@@seannamikel3444 There are things I definitely like about it. Yes, I have fun! I only posted my original comment to let people know that it can be an expensive lifestyle, just because of maintenance...and lately, gasoline.
As a happy RV owner this is pretty good advice. This isn't like owning a car and you want to know what your getting into. You also need to be prepared to do some repairs yourself. Rent an RV. Talk to owners. Do your research. I think the reason many people end up unhappy is because their expectations are not aligned with reality. I grew up trailer camping and am very happy to be making the same memories with my kids. Our decision to buy has been a great one for our family. But our expectations were aligned with reality.
I live in Utah. I would love to buy an RV, but unfortunately the local dealer has issues with getting smudges on the finance paperwork.
I saw that story just another example of the RV dealership swindlers out there..
I saw that. That really gives RV dealers a bad rep. We have to know that it is true for some, but not all.
For Years camping world had the same smudge on dozens of contracts. Those alleged criminals are perhaps getting a few dozen years in jail.
Just smudge the final payment to 0.
I also live in Utah. There are many other more reputable dealers, but definitely stay away from "that" dealer. I would also be cautious with Paris.
My wife and I will rent an RV every time we go camping, which is about 3 times a year. The best way to go, in my opinion.
That’s what we do whenever we want to have a boat ride for the day. So nice to pull up to the dock and just get out and be done with it. Plus, we can rent a way nicer boat than we could afford.
@Danger Bear we only go twice, maybe three times a year. I'm sure we don't spend near what we would if we bought one.
Same with a boat. Rent one
In my particular area I could rent a small TT for about $115 per night. Let's say 15 nights per year for the next ten years. That's $17,250. The same TT right now are going for over $20,000. So yes, total cost is lower for sure.
Like renting a house or apartment, someone else is realizing the equity of the property. If that's worth anything at all is a slightly different story.
@@codeman99-dev you don't think you could sell that TT at 10 years?
Great story Steve, I have a travel trailer and what it comes down to is you need to become an RV technician yourself and learn how to repair your own RV. I was one of the lucky ones that I have a mechanical background and learned the ins and outs of camper repair. Yes, it's a lot of work maintaining it and even set up to camp.
Steve, all good advice. In general people are so happy to find an RV they think they like that they just lay their cash down with a huge smile. Right now RVs are scarce and campsites are over crowded. But if people can wait about 1-2 years all those Rvs that have been purchased in a fever will be back on the market at bargain prices. If people think they want to live full time in an RV or run a business out of an RV they can at least attempt their dream at a reduced cost.
It’s already starting to happen.
I am 77 and still tent camp. Have had month long trips with my sons, and have camped in many many national parks, and other amazing places. We camp to get away, not haul all our crap all over the US.
I have several relatives who are 150 - 300 miles away from me. I have a van-size RV. It's wonderful having my desk, bed, TV, and everything else right there with me - I can stay for a week without interrupting their lives, and with minimal interruption to mine.
Everybody's got their reasons 😁.
@@PsRohrbaugh, yep class b's are the way to go, love ours.
I'm a single lady, I'm having a hard shell around me at night and a kitchen for when all you tent campers smell the coffee & baking going on you all seem to appriciate the camper then.
Or when I put on lion king ect on the big screen and all the kids shut up an go sleep in my porch. LOL
Nobody can be this grumpy about other people loving RVs can they?
Seripusly?
I love having my awesome crap with me!
Long-time RV owner here. I concur with every point you made. Even with all of the hassle, I wouldn't trade the experiences we've had while RVing, good and bad, for anything. One additional point that new RVers sometimes overlook, seriously research the payload and towing capabilities of your tow vehicle and understand clearly what you can tow safely. Many folks out there are overloading their tow vehicles, putting themselves, their families, and others on the road in danger.
Troubleshooting Rv issues is one of the things that I enjoy most as a camp host.
It helps build community.
It’s like the old days when somebody would open the hood of their car on our block.
Sometimes people need a tool. Sometimes it’s information. We were usually able to come up with both.
I bought my gently used class A RV during Covid lock-down last March and I went into the purchase with my eyes wide open and lots of solid research under my belt before plunking down the cash. Other than replacing the RV fridge with a residential unit, I have had zero issues thus far. I do live in my rig full-time too and absolutely love it! But yes - DIY repairs are always creeping in, but I use TH-cam to figure things out (like replacing light fixtures, tank cleaning, etc) and I enjoy being able to get repairs done using my own brain and skills. This lifestyle is not for everyone, but if you enjoy being self-sufficient and are handy with tools, then you should be alright. And Steve is right - do NOT buy a new RV - let someone else deal with repairing all of the inevitable defects from the factory, as well as the massive $$$ depreciation hit. The new RV's are being cranked out with almost no oversight or quality control in place, so You, the owner, are forced to deal with dealerships that DO NOT CARE about you after the sale is final, and will let your precious $$$$ RV languish on their dealership lot until your warranty has expired and you are left holding the bag.
The second best day of my life was when I bought my RV. The best day of my life was the day I got rid of it.
5/18/21....SAME with a boat!
Same goes for a boat
@@jackyandell2489 Generally, the only people I encounter who say that either bought the wrong boat, bought one on a whim and lost interest, or couldn't afford the lifestyle. I've got two boats (one big, one small) in two covered slips and wouldn't change a thing. It's expensive. Life is short. Enjoy life while you can.
When I was 22 I went to a boat show with a friend and cosigned on a loan for a boat. Less than a year later I get a call from the bank asking for a payment so tell the bank I'll call ya back. I call up the person who had the boat and said "I got a call from the bank. I get one more I come down, cut the chain, take the boat and take u to court for ownership because if I'm going to make payments, I'm gonna own/use the boat. He thought I was bluffing so I had my lawyer call his family lawyer and no more payments were late.
Moral of the story: When your lawyer is also a powerful politician you won't lose
@@jasonbourne1596 ,To an extent, yes. However it is often the case that you can't always drive to every location around said lake, but you can sail there.
My wife and I spend a fortune to live like we’re homeless. The kids love it, it’s worth every dime.
@@jasonbourne1596 ah the comedy is lost on you.
Or trailer trash.
@@chevyon37s It's not comedic. It's actually extremely offensive. A lot of people, like myself, have decided to sell their "stuck in one place" house to buy one that can go anywhere.
I'm not saying this fool can't say whatever they want. But there's no comedy here. Just a perpetuation of old myths.
@@Kahless_the_Unforgettable Idk i thought it was funny... You homeless people must be pretty sensitive
@@fitlobster, That.. was funny. The original comment was not.
I worked at a Freightliner dealership where we worked on the driveline and chassis supplied to the coach builder. Because we were able to give them a repair date in the current millennium they would expect us to work on the coachwork. We were not able to help them in most cases.
Loooonnnng time RV'er - lived in various Class A's for total of 7 years off-and-on. Now that the kids are out off the house, getting ready to go on the road again. In a 5x10 Cargo trailer conversion. Yep. Tiny. No driving issues. No stuck-in-traffic-in-Albuquerque problems. No brakes-fading-in-Nevada, no drive 3 miles for turn-around spot. People get RVs the size of Greenland and then complain there isn't enough camping resorts to stop in. This 5x10 can go ANYWHERE, weighs less than 2,000 lbs, has diesel heat for winter, solar for power, and bare-minimum water. It's called CAMPING folks.
"See a motorhome you like? Ask the owner about it. WIND HIM UP AND WATCH HIM GO!"
Cracked me UP! You could swing your stuff into an awesome character as a stand up comedian.
Sad thing is it's so true. You could throw a politician at an RV park and hit an unhappy RV owner every time!! 8)
Yes, LMAO!
Plumbing codes are different too. Home depot will not fit.
Since you appreciate comedy: my wife and i just had our 21st anniversary. I told her we're drinking tonight our marraige is 21, old enough to drink. She looked at me and said "it's been old enough to drink for a while now."
@@rudymcqtriii4509 I've never done stand-up though I do have a BS in theater. I turned 50 last year...the craziest year of my life I turned half century...and I spent the year building material by watching idiot after idiot citizens, public officials.... George Floyd and protests....CRAZY!
I was already watching Steve but from advanced guidance from pro stand up friends he actually seems a natural comedian. He nails many key points for developing comedic character. So he's kinda an inspiration in that strange way.
Excellent advice, Steve. I am a trailer technician.
All of the points you raise are spot-on. From predatory salespeople to supply chain issues causing months long repair delays. Additionally, RVs are not very good at quality control and often we are finishing the manufacturing at the dealership, often after the unit has been sold and the customer has taken delivery.
"We sell happiness." was the phrase used by our former GM. We delivered frustration.
Caveat emptor!!
Like with timeshares, its often cheaper just to drive/fly somewhere and stay in moderate hotels.
Camping is better with kids.
Depends how you travel...if you cook in the RV then you can save big bags of money 💰 on food, especially with a family of 4+.
@@johnp139 i can see that travelling with lots of people and overnighting at a WalMart or two. I was thinking more along the lines of the retirees. With two people in a giant gas guzzling vehicle, driving around the countryside.
Yeah, if you don’t travel much, flying is the way to go.
I think that is an entirely different experience. And not possible with dogs anyway.
I have a 36’ + class A and you couldn’t be more on point. I love it! Bought it used and avoided a lot of the up front depreciation. If you are going to buy an RV be prepared to either keep a nice amt of flexibility and $$ on hand for the inevitable repairs or be a cross between McGuyver and Mr. Fixit. Also pay for an RV inspection before purchase.
Minivan (30mpg hwy) + tent works for me. With most minivans, you can fold down the seats and create a flat area where you can put in a bed platform and mattress. So the tent is the living room/bathroom and the minivan is the bedroom where you can sleep comfortably and secure.
I can see the draw to RVs but operating and maintaining them seem like too much of a hassle. Not too mention the horrible fuel mileage.
I totally agree with the rent before you buy advice. Also, if you arent going to be using it more than maybe 4 weekends a year it would be way cheaper to just rent one whenever you want to use one. I tell people the same thing about motorcycles, boats, 4 wheelers, and snowmobiles. After maintenance, depreciation, and storage you really need to use recreation vehicles a bunch to justify the cost.
Read dealer reviews on google. Many times people will discuss name brands they’ve had issues with. Also join every rv forum you can, read what owners are saying. I bought an Avenger brand camper one issue since new 2013, not well known brand. More popular may not be best to buy. Great video Steve.
"What kind of milage does this thing get?"
"one highway, zero city."
You can't afford an RV....
I usualy answer with ,,How much mpg does your house get? I like to travel and sleep in my own bed every night so hotels arent my thing,
Don't ask, don't tell.
Do you want ants?
RV fuel economy is usually measured in gallons per mile, not miles per gallon.
I worked at an RV dealership in my teens and eventually became a licensed RV Mechanic still in my late teens and through my early 20's. I worked there for years and yes they can be problematic just like any vehicle "BUT" there is much more to be concerned with aside from the mechanical parts. 12v/110 volt systems, plumbing, hydraulics, propane, appliances, HVAC etc. The more advanced things become the more problems you'll have, this being in anything.
Spot on!!
That's true with cars and trucks already, they're rolling computers now and people don't realize that vehicles are a harsh environment for computers with high heat, extreme cold, constant vibration.
Not to mention that some of those systems (refrigerator, water heater) are duplicated with both an electric and a propane system.
To be an RV owner, you must be a Type-A personality Do It Yourselfer.
Yes
Kind of like home ownership unless you have disposable income to pay someone else for everything needing work or upkeep.
Or a person with a soft head.
Yes, I am going to design my own solar system and do a few upgrades to the water & bathroom facilities. I would never trust my life to a piece of equipment that didn't understand how to troubleshoot and hopefully foresee any possible weak linjs in my sysyem.
I'm also very big on Plan B & occasionally Plan C, like extra heater, water & plenty backup power just in case I I don't want to go yet. Hahahaha
I saw that article the other day. Good read. I own a travel trailer. Yes, it's work, but I don't mind because it's nice having our own bathroom when camping.
So you basically want to bring your bathroom where you go? Haha include toilet in there? Diaper might be cheaper. Lol
@@johnmicheal3547 Ha ha
Good information. We have owned RV’s for 40 years and are about to purchase another. We love the lifestyle and have traveled all over this amazing and beautiful country. Here in CA we do have “lemon laws” that protect consumers of RV’s. That said I am a mechanic (retired) and having this skill along with metal fabrication, woodworking skills, and tools for these types of work are all incredibly valuable simply because you will need them. If you are a person that is not hands on and do not care how various RV systems work (as long as they do) then prepare to be extremely frustrated and without your RV for extended periods. Do your research and like our favorite attorney says rent first.
If you are a handyman at home, it's a home on wheels. If you hire people to mow your lawn, unplug a sink or fix an electrical outlet STAY AWAY from RVs. Otherwise, you'll be living an episode with the Griswolds
Shitter’s full!
@TOM 👍 Thanks!
Loved this video. We started with a Motorhome that was gifted to us by a relative from Florida. We flew to FL and drove it home to Utah. To get it licensed in Utah it had to be inspected. It FAILED and it cost me almost $10K to get it passed! So much for FREE. Then I traded it for a 5th wheel which was great, except when one for the Corian counter tops cracked soon after we bought it. It took 3 months to get a replacement counter top, then the one the factory sent did not match the other counters in the kitchen. Finally they had to replace ALL the counter tops to get a matching set. That took a couple months more. Then we still had not learned our lesson and traded for a newer and bigger 5th wheel! On our first cross country trip, when we were hundreds of miles from home in rural Nebraska, the bedroom slide refused to come in after spending the night in an RV park. That meant we could not drive anywhere with the slide sticking out. We had to call a mobile RV repairman and pay out of pocket, then file for reimbursement later. That took months to get reimbursed. The mobile repairman got the slide to come in so we could travel, but could not fix the problem that caused it to get stuck out. Then we stopped at a big RV dealership in Iowa that carried the brand of trailer we owned to get a final repair done. They refused to work on our unit! They said "we are way too busy keeping up with all the repair work needed on the units we sell, we cannot provide you service since you did not buy your trailer from our dealership"! We got that same response from other dealerships in other areas as we traveled. We had to wait until we got to Georgia to finally find a dealer that would agree to work on it. I am fed up with RVs.
My grandmother was a Snowbird. Seattle in the summer, Arizona in the winter. She and her husband looked into an RV to make the trip back and forth in.
Then she calculated how much it would be to just buy an economical car and stay in motels.
It cost a third as much as the RV.
People also don't realize how much gasoline it costs to haul a can of Pea Soup across the country 14 times.
Great video, as usual. With Covid, I see all these people on social media who bought an RV without a clue. I spent yrs looking at them while asking questions. I knew what I was getting into. The dealers still piss me off. Lucky for me, I am very handy and I can fix most things myself. We really enjoy our RV and with Covid we used the crap out of it. A lot of people think and salesmen imply that RVing is cheaper than a regular vacation. It is not. The RV becomes a fixed cost you pay for all yr, taxes, insurance, storage, and financing if you did not pay cash. A regular vacation is a variable cost you only pay for while on vacation. The reason we like it is because we can stay in state and national parks. If we did not have the RV, we would have to stay outside in a hotel and drive everyday into the parks. It is also nice having your own bed, bath, and kitchen.
My folks bought an RV before they could be warned. It's been nothing but problems. There's nowhere within an hour of where they live in Des Moines to even park the thing. Now that they're in their 70s, the burdon of maintenance and winterizing has fallen upon me, their only son. Just storing it for the winter in the county fairgrounds (50 miles, 2 counties over is the nearest affordable covered storage) is such a pain.
I bought a new RV close to 15 years ago it had all the newest stuff in it. The salesman advised me to look at used but newer models. I asked the salesmen why and he said people buy an RV then certain features or layouts don’t work for them! I found out he was 100% correct we traded that one in on a other RV that worked for us and we still love RVing! It’s was still in good shape and wasn’t outdated we’ve stayed in it 100s of times over the years. Traded it in a few years ago for a travel van and we now love it! The travel Mercedes Sprinter van will fit in most parking spots when traveling! Until you own one you may not have it figured out! We lost some money but not enough to hurt us but we lucked out and bought and sold at good times! Rent one or used the first time wouldn’t be a bad idea!
My Aunt learned the gas price leason... or atleast she likes to complain about it often. Cost her over $900 in gas to go from Ohio to Florida on her "free vacation".
Should have gotten a diesel pusher.
I like how so many people get into rv's and trailers thinking they're houses on wheels. Glad you covered the construction bits that get lots of new buyers unhappy when that joy wears off. It's an rv, not a house. And you'll want to learn how to work on stuff too, yeah that light or mounted piece of woodwork should be covered under warranty but what's worse just fixing it yourself and eating the cost, or bringing it in 2x or 4+ weeks so the warranty would cover it...
Bought a travel trailer/toy hauler to use in retirement. Since my work life was heavy with building and vehicle maintenance, I now see it as a project as I rebuild and or replace the cheap construction with higher quality materials. Watching Utube videos on trailer repairs and maintenance is helpful, the reason being it will absolutely show the complications of owning and maintaining a RV/TT. "Landfill" Mike
RV owner here. I would recommend anyone who is thinking about buying to watch this video. Steve lays out very concisely (pretty impressive for an attorney 😉) what potential buyers need to consider before taking the plunge. The only thing I'd do differently than what he says is I wouldn't deal with a dealership unless absolutely necessary. The only good thing a dealership does is a couple times a year, they put their inventory on display at an RV show. That is an excellent opportunity to look at features you're going to want. Once you've figured out what you want, look for those features from a private seller or as we did, a credit union repo auction. Our RV is a 2017 model we bought in 2018 for less than half of MSRP invoice. We bought as is; I've learned a lot and we have a very reputable private RV mechanic here in town who does great work for reasonable (Not inexpensive) prices.
When I was a kid my parents had a cabin in the mts about 60 miles from home. We did not camp at all...we went to the cabin. Years later later Iam married and the wife wants a RV. We purchase a Dodge (used) with a diesel. Then we get a used 30 foot bumper pull RV. So we make reservations for nice RV parks and the adventure begins. We load up the rv for the next days departure.....hit the road for the RV site. Stressfully I back the rv into a tite spot ( while a group of people are watching) and level the rv. Set up the camp site and all that goes with it. Fellow campers 10 feet away from us on both sides with yappy kids and yappy dogs.....ahhh camping is so fun. Stay a few days..... load it all up and drive home. Get home and unload the rv. This was not fun for me at all. Now.....the Dodge is gone and the rv is gone. We thought it would nice to have the rv around the place for company to stay in on acasion. Problem is family members wanted to come live in it.....rv is gone. I did not like any aspect of rv camping. So....you want to buy a rv?.....watch the Lucile Ball Desi Arnes movie The Long Long Trailer. I know many who have rv's and love everything about it....it just wasnt for us.
I was the director of training for the largest RV dealer consolidator group in the nation. Even the factories don't have the replacement parts needed for repairs. They only cared about the new products getting ready for shipment. Older models had parts discontinued with no alternative so are also a huge risk to purchase. Many of the used RVs had so many issues, that is why they discourage or deny test drives.
I was two hours late to work the other day because we got to chatting about our Harleys, you were definitely on point
Jesus, you are a great professor. You tick all the boxes, information, humor, insight, and a great tone to your voice.
" ... and Steve did walk among them." Hallelujah!!!
I've had 2 travel trailers in my lifetime. 28' (used) and 33' (new) with bump-outs many amenities etc.
In my experience it wasn't so bad because Im a handyman/general contractor and fix and modify everything myself.
Replaced A/C units on both, a fridge in one, water heater in another. Bunch of little wear and tear annoyances here and there. Leaks from windows and roof. Resealing the windows every few years. Resealing all the roof vents and seams and applying rubberized paint every 2 or 3 years is a must.
I eventually got rid of the new one 8 years later. It just became another house I had to constantly fix.
If you are handy It's not that bad and you're better off fixing the stuff yourself instead of waiting.
If you can definately buy a used one to start off with.
I love my RV. We're spending a month in the Pacific Northwest this summer.
They are not a good idea for those who are not mechanically inclined. My RV is parked in my huge metal building behind my house.
Two years ago i read that the RV market increased 700%, its estimated that it will double or triple by this video. thus, your video is excellent advice and i would to add several more issues to check before the purchase.
1. most buyers never test the tires and axles, most owners and dealers will never go to the trouble of service, and when you pull out and need tires or your axles begins to smoke, consider this a horrible day!
2. Test all of the DSI (digital spark ignition) equipment, these devices i.e., AC (not DSI), hot water heater and refrigerator are powered by both, test them fully, repairs or replacement will also make a horrible day and ruin the trip!
3. Even thought the new 20 year rubber roofs may not leak, and most won't test, and if the previous owner walked on part not supported by the roof trusses (there about 12" apart), they can rupture, and eventually break down. If repairs or replacement are required, the buyer will surly experience a heart attack! Test, if unable to visually walk the roof, hire a trained tech, its well worth the small fee.
Steve thanks for you channel, please share with the viewers if you agree?
I’m a retired painter. Cleared everything out of my econoline paint van., put in insulation, paneling, shelves, composting toilet, bed platform. All for under $1000. Materials. Travel all over. Keep it simple. Us Americans think we need to bring our whole house.
I’ll never forget my dad explaining to me these exact points in the mid 90s as we towed our pop up down the road with a Subaru.
If you plan on storing your RV in your driveway, be sure to check local ordinances. My city has an ordinance that says RVs in your driveway must be 20 back from the sidewalk. My trailer just barely fits. You don't want to buy an RV and find out later that you cannot park it in your driveway. RV storage facilities are surprisingly expensive!
So true. Very good advice. I have never bought a new rig. Currently driving a 2004 National Sea Breeze that cost over $100,000 new, purchased for $27,000 and have put over $10,000 in upgrades and maintenance. $180 a month for storage and we use it two months a year to get away from the Florida heat and visit friends/family up north. Thank God I can afford it. Steve you are the best. Keep up the good work.
My In-laws bought a used, Craigslist motor home. They paid about $10,000 more than what it's worth. They have put about $5000 into it. And, it's back in the shop.
The didn't consult anyone. They just blindly jumped in.
It's a huge, broken box that you just waste money on.
Rent one. Go to a hotel.
Consult someone with some experience before doing something stupid like they did.
My wife and I lived in an RV trailer for 4 years to save money in a VERY high rent area.
We did a LOT of homework before we bought, and we talked to a lot of people beforehand so we had an idea of what we were getting in but we STILL learned things the hard way.
We still mostly enjoyed our time but once we were done, we were happy to sell it and never deal with it again.
I have zero disagreements with anything you've said in this video. There are a LOT of problems with RVs and a LOT of people go into this blind, realize all the problems, and end up never using it and wasting a LOT of money. So buyer beware
Yep, My grandparents spent their entire retirement traveling North and Latin America in their RV. Anytime they had an issue which was covered under warranty, they would drive to Georgia where the factory was located to get it fixed and stay for a month while they waited. That is no joke. The warranty on an RV is a joke.
I'm guessing the drive time from Argentina to Georgia for a repair made the month wait beside the factory seem like weekend away.
@@davexb6595 LOL...I do not think they made it that far south. I believe the lowest was panama. So my south America was completely accurate.... But good point. Luckily for them their coach never had major equipment failures but rather wear of use items. Later... Thanks for the reply.
@@grast5150 Your grandparents never entered South America.
@@lelandunruh7896 Apologize I meant Latin America....mis-type. You are correct they never went to south America.
@Steve Lehto: This was classic...I started this video and the first ad that showed up was an RV ad for Consignment in Arizona....that was just pure good timing.... heheheh
Cute you Think it's timing. Alarmed is what you should be
Kudos to you and Denis. Sound advice. I forgot about the first & second year depreciation.
I just assumed there was no resale market as I view an RV like an American car - disposable. Not quite as well built as a mobile home.
BTW some RV folks get free parking for being "the on site rep" for the state camp ground. Yes this included the 30Amp connection.
As for the electrician - Homes in 1974 were built to N.E.C (national electric code) standards. However the aluminum wiring earned a bad reputation. That has been resolved with copper clad aluminum and special electrical pastes. Still sleeping around the "light weight" but safe wires would be unnerving.
One of the cardinal rules of life.
If it floats, fly's or phu'ks. You rent it.
Smart man Brian. Smart man
I think an enclosed utility trailer of your choice fixed up much like an RV works very well. Just add what ever you want. It may not look fancy but a lot less problems then an RV. Just hook up to a pickup of the right size to tow the trailer you selected. Plus a Berkey water filter. But like you say do your home work.
This is the wisest man on youtube! Great advise and great video as always. Keep up the wonderful work!
Ben laying on the two coffee cups on the right below the SLEHTO plate.
Thank you, I can never see it. I was always bad a "Where's Wally"
@ Boikat Sapiens Spectacular catch! I would never even come close to seeing that. :)))
I found it on my own, checked to see if I was the first....
This video has a lot of truths. Learn how to fix your own. I recommend a travel trailer over and RV.
Yes a smaller one, some are so heavy they can't keep tires under them.
A trailer is a RV.
@@tunafish3216 Not necessarily, an RV is a vehicle. Ever notice the dealerships advertise "Trailer and RV"?
travel trailers are classified as an RV (Recreational Vehicle) and it is only classified as such so Joe Public can tow a 30+ foot trailer with NO CDL
I'd stay clear of that advise. Too many people can't even drive a van, let alone drag a trailer safely. Too many people don't understand their vehicles weight limits, and overload them. On top of that, they don't even know how to properly tow down the road or back up. A trailer is more dangerous than an RV, especially to those inexperienced.
Yep, we are on the same page here. Maintenance, fit/finish, wear and tear, storage, not being able to really drive it comfortably/safely.
I am living in a used R.V. for years. I am very happy and saving lots of money. The thing I think you need watch out for are R.V. parks with H.O.A.' s
We bought a 1966 Serro Scotty in 2008...still own it. No complicated systems. Can be repaired at home. Some folks take damaged ones and rebuild in their garages....
Big boats and sailboats have similar problems. They cost more when you're not using them, especially in northern locations.
Best bet is sail out to Thailand or Indonesia have the work done there.
Thank you for the insight because I was thinking about buying one.
I am a handyman that works on just about anything residential, commercial and industrial, electrical, plumbing, painting, drywall, cabinetry, ect.
I do not work on the mechanical like the engine, transmission, ect.
I doubt if I could ever afford to buy a new RV so I would have to repair what has not been repaired.
But new or used, you would almost immediately get repairs done by a good handyman.
I do not know about warranty issues but they never have to know that it happened.
And spending a couple of bucks to get your stuff repaired immediately is priceless.
Any dealership for RVs or cars are going to charge a hundred times what a repair is worth.
That is how they make a profit.
Sometimes you do not need exact OEM replacement parts.
Would you spend $20 to have an outlet replaced or $50 to have a toilet repaired?
And get it back sometimes within 30 minutes or while you wait?
Sure there are some repairs that a handyman could not do and I am sure the manufacturers would not send parts to a handyman.
But for some repairs, there are options.
a good friend of mine just recently bought a camper. he asked me about it, I immediately told him to watch your videos on the matter. he said he went to a dealership and found a camper he liked and asked about out the door cost. one was a 1400 dealer inspection charge. I told him to leave and go somewhere else and he did. he did find one used only 4 times and the owner was selling it due to an accident that left them too handicapped to get in and out of the camper.
You're a good friend!!
@@mtradz thank you. also he seen a salesman tell a woman that her minivan could pull a 10000 lb bumper pull camper when his f150 is only rated for 8500 lbs. he quickly warned her the salesman lied about how much weight she can tow behind her minivan and she left also. I had warned him before about to be careful and not get one too big for his truck and told him where to find the vehicle rating on his truck
We bought a trailer. Every word Steve says is true. We got a deal on one from a dealer. Yes there are pros and cons. We seldom use ours. Our kids have used it too though.I suggest getting one multiple families can use.
My experience with RV's is limited. When I was a kid in the mid 70s my dad bought one and we went on a 4 week cross country trip. After the trip dad sold the RV before he ever had to make a payment on it. A few years ago dad rented one(I did all the transport, dad paid) and we took a guys trip to The Henry Ford museum. I did all the driving and after 500 miles I would never buy one.
You're probably more experienced than quite a few folks dropping $50K or more at this very moment in some dealership somewhere...
@@hillie47 the one we rented a few years ago was $110k. If I'm going to drop $110k on something with wheels it's going to have a Porsche or Mercedes badge on it!
@@AeroGuy07 At least you'll be covered by lemon laws. :)
@@hillie47 That's a low figure for a 10+ year old used one.5 year old ones run almost $100k on the low end.
You're so spot on when it comes to us Harley owners.
We share pictures of our bikes like mothers share pictures of their kids.
RV’ing is only difficult if you want it to be. As with anything in life if you want it, it takes work!
I have had rv’s for 20 years. I always bought used. We have had a wonderful time! They always have something to repair. If you dont like this please dont get one. Rving is an absolute blast! I am going again this week for a week. Toyhauler 5th wheels are a super blast.
Another RV video! Man this is like when your favorite band plays their old hit at a concert and everybody goes wild.
I’m glad not everyone watches your videos, I want to buy an RV ( and yes I’ve lived life on the road ) and I can’t wait till the market is flooded with used RV’S 🚍
We have a travel trailer and also look forward to the market flood coming in the next year or so and the opportunity to upgrade. He's correct though, know what you are getting yourself in to. If you're not handy with tools and like doing your own repairs, you probably have no business owning an RV.
Would ya look at that...Your wait is over....
@@Finn-McCool Drive to Canada better deal for your buck
Steve great advice, buy a used RV not a new one.When buying a used one you also get all the accessories" they". buy and you save alot of money on that alone.Keep up the good advice.
Former RV trailer owner. Surge in RV sales but not an increase in parks and resorts to use them! Reservations often are 12 mo out....where are you going to go?
Beautiful scenic truck stops...
@@xiaoka Walmart Camping!!
Rest stops are nice.
Kissimee has lots of spots now that the snowbirds are gone
Fire roads and BLM land are good stops.
But I went with the "beefed" up 4x4 truck and slide in camper.
Steve, listen up.... The RV market has been red hot! New prices are WAY up (some from demand, some from material shortages). Used prices for something up to 10 tears old, can bring what new prices were 15-18 months ago. New RV buyers are being waitlisted up to 18 months... Thanks for the show. Love it, it's helping me impress my (retired judge) father-in-law...
Don't forget the cost of storing the damn thing...
We bought a used fifth wheel from friends last year. It’s been great. The one thing I tell people is that it really costs the same as other vacation options. When you add up the costs, you could fly to a resort and stay in a hotel. Still, it’s a good experience and a different way to vacation.
You are so correct, Steve!!! RVs are junk. I’ve owned four. Winnebagos, Jaycos, you name it. They are so horribly made that they have problems everywhere. These things are moving earthquakes that leave the factory built poorly... We love RVing so we have learned to tolerate the failures and fix them ourselves. Warranties are not honored at RV dealerships where you didn’t purchase the RV. You can get some of your money back but it’s hard. Dealers do not schedule service very well and you can’t pin them down to a date to get it fixed. Several weeks to repair an RV is common; you’re correct. If you sell an RV whereby you still have warranty, it’s not transferable. If you don’t know how to do things; electrical, mechanical and HVAC, don’t buy one. We now have a good RV because I have repaired every water leak (almost every PEX connection!). Two toilet water valves, two ignition controls on the water heater, bathroom fan, door adjustments, patched stupidly large 3 inch holes to run one piece of Romex wire, replaced every cabinet slide (made from ply board and staples) and on and on... all the windows leak air. Had to fix those too. Now the nose cap has faded (one year old!). Being replaced under warranty - two months now waiting to get approved! Still... crickets. Wait until the slides don’t come in! What a mess when you are at a CG. Had a 45 foot Jayco NorthPoint Luxury fifth wheel that this happened to. Even the dealer couldn’t fix it. I towed the behemoth back to the dealer with the slide out!
We now have a great RV because we repaired everything on it, no kidding, even some interior lights and shades! I have so much time and better quality parts in it you couldn’t afford to buy it - kid you not. But I now have a good RV...
I would join a big class action against these manufacturers. They need a big slap for turning this kind of junk out into the marketplace. They know they are producing garbage. They clearly know it. Winnebago will not even return calls. Jayco is no better. And yes, the electrical systems are fires waiting to happen; none of them would ever pass the National Electrical Code. I have pics of them all. Rats nest wiring... looks like spaghetti, nothing labeled, crimps for wire-nuts.
Go into a Tiffin Tag axle motor coach for $500K. They are no better. Some of the same equipment and material as used in my Jayco Fifth wheel. And they were just purchased by Thor. Junk just got worse. Want an airstream. Think again, thin skin junk that you almost can’t repair and yet both cost so much. We’ve had them all and we heavily maintain our RVs because we camp year round.
We still enjoy RVing but make sure you can afford it, pay cash, be able to do things and make your own repairs and get used to this industry being as crappy as it is. And don’t be fooled by a salesman pitch of how much better one RV is over another; this is simply not true.
Absolutely great video, Steve! Spot on.
Wow! what a GREAT ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gONNA copy this comment and place NEXT TO MY PC----as a REMINDER. Thanks kind Sir.
"Lost In America". Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty. Great film!
Nest Egg!
My dad and I are avid RVers but we always tell people not to buy one unless you’re very handy or have a LOT of money.
As a new RV owner, all your points are spot on. The only thing I dislike is "It is just one more thing to care for". You have to wash, wax, do preventive maintenance and load and unload between trips. On top of that, you have insurance and gasoline cost. I figured about 3-4 years to break even from costs of hotels and dining.
Keeping up an RV is no more difficult than keeping up 6 old homes.😁
Many of the factory service centers are booked 6 months out. We have a 45 ft diesel pusher but we had it well planned where we drive and park it. We also paid extra for a "factory pick-up" and had a tech assigned to us for 4 days and did a lot of repairs. Only a few manufacturers have that opion. The benefit for us was we've had very few problems with it in 3 yrs.
Great video totally agree tent camping is so much funner and so much easier and so much cheaper if the tent rips and I have a problem I just go buy a new one at a much cheaper price...
I like tent camping but there’s something nice about indoor plumbing, air conditioning, and a refrigerator. 😁
I did the sell-the-condo travel around trick a few years ago. It worked up until this year when, at 78, my doctors say stay in one place with one set of doctors. I just sold the RV and bought a condo. (I coulda paid cash, but 3% mortgage? Had to.) No problems with service on my Winnebago Revel ever. It sold in days.
Isn’t it ironic that the advice you gave years ago is probably more relevant today than ever. That rarely happens
RVs haven't been updated since maybe the '80s.
I was a mechanic back in the 70's and 80's. Mostly heavy equipment and trucks. I was the designated "RV guy" at the truck shop, because I was good at electrical and plumbing. After the last shop, I started my own mobile truck service. My advice? RV's are either for the very rich and very willing to spend money, or for the very handy, or for the very poor who don't care if they run or not (I have repaired a lot of electrical systems in RV's on blocks parked on the back 40).
It was a good living, but I decided I had had enough of driving a big truck, and I decided to go into the shop, and build cabinets and store fixtures.
Your absolutely right Steve! You need to know what you are getting into before you even start shopping. It's an absolute minefield.
*You’re
Our current Travel Trailer is a 2017 unit we purchased new. It's a 35' triple slide "couples coach". Our bathroom has his and her sinks, full shower and is big enough for both of us to use it at the same time. This is our fourth trailer we have had in our life time. We are currently thinking about upgrading to a Class A motor home. Just like anything else you own and use you will have to do some repairs from time to time. Same could be said for your home. I know there are people that prefer to rent and let the landlord take care of it. I can't relate to that because I have never paid rent for a place to live. I purchased my first house at age 20 moving from my parent's house to my first house. Truth be told, we have been paying rent since 2015 when we purchased a 27" travel trailer. It was just too big to keep in the driveway, so we rented a place in a secure lot to park it when we are not using it. When we retired is when we got the 35 footer which we love. Since we have had this one 4 years we are thinking about upgrading to a Class A Motorhome. The things we have been able to do and the great memories we have made have been priceless. When the pandemic hit last year we were able to take our "mobile bubble" out to the woods and get away from the craziness. I plan to keep taking multiple trips every year until I am no longer able to do it. We started out in a tent in the mid 70's. We have been camping for as long as we have been married (going on 46 years) I don't expect to stop anytime soon. Worth every dime I have ever spent on it.
In the Phoenix area, have been doing engine and generator services going on 32 years , mostly warranty work , it’s amazing how much damage is caused by Rodents, rust, moisture, and overloading, and how few hours are on the engine, generators, and tires. Broken slide outs are a big item to . Depreciation is another, maybe more financially responsible to buy a summer home and do day trips in a car. If your into national parks , learn the max size is allowed , understand that you may not be allowed to leave your pets inside your R/V , or even have them walk the trails . Maintenance cost and requirements, storage cost , insurance , tires going bad from age , flat spots, body jacks that won’t retract --- list goes on. Financial time bombs . Most are used the first year, then sit to rot for 5-7 years and sold for 1/4 the original price or less .
Yes, beware the motorized RV with low mileage for the age. That usually means it sat too long and usually outside.
If you could get anywhere near decent RVs, selling for 1/4 of what it cost five years ago, you would be quite wealthy. Since you could flip them and double your money all day, every day. There are people that are getting NADA retail PLUS 25% at the moment, for private sales. As for buying a summer home. I'm a retired builder who specialized in vacation homes. Much like RVs, it's another amazingly stupid way to waste your money. I've seen people lose $50K on a modest$150K vacation home, that they sold after a few years, for a bit more than they paid. The $50K was in furnishing, maintaining, taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, dues, realtor fees, and other huge drains on the wallet. In my market it was easy to spend 7-10% of the market value of the place, per year, just to keep the thing going. That doesn't include actually using the place, just owning it.
@@kerrykerry5778 no here in Arizona, Southern California, Utah, or New Mexico. There are massive R/V shows and depending on model can still be found quite cheap. California property values stagnated in many areas , but Arizona property values too a huge increase , and area of northern Arizona have almost doubled , especially the ones on 25-40 acres . If you get on RV trader in Arizona they are not commanding high prices - but our homes are by percentage.
I'm surprised you don't have more viewers Steve. I may have seen nearly all of your videos for the past few years. Great content,. Thanks for uploading ❤️
The only happy RV buyer is one who knows how to fix all the shit themselves. My dad is one of those people. If he doesn't know how to fix it, he knows who to hire to get it fixed. He doesn't rely on warranties for his RV's.
I learned recently from SmarterEveryDay that RV owners would be right at home on a nuclear submarine. Short showers and water conservation are the norm.
I grew up going on vacations with my parents in RVs. I never want to own one though.
I don’t rely on the warranty for anything! But if a company does honor that’s just a small win in my book
Same with me, I had some warranty work done and it took forever. Learned to do it my self faster and cheaper. Also watched tons of TH-cam vids and learned a lot. All Steve says is good advice.
I'm an RV service tech and full time RV living. I love it and love the industry. Love your points. And one of the other comments on here. If your handy fixing things and maintenance RV's are great. If you have to hire someone for even minor repairs then RV is probably not for you. In my 10 years experience of RV repairs I can say for sure they are getting cheaper (Build quality not price) It seems the manufactures are producing them as fast as they can and push them out the door. And letting the dealerships catch (mostly ignore) the small details. People ask what brand is best.... Ive seen all brands have issues and some cheap brands be good. Like every product they have good and bad. The factories have good days and bad days. They are mostly built by hand. The best advice here is do research, start small and talk to real owners and if you can make contact with a good service person get their advice. If buying used, which I think the best rigs were made 10 yrs or so ago, get a 2nd opinion inspection. Test EVERYTHING ! Look everywhere, under, over, inside....... Cheers :)
Don’t forget that if you live in it full time and happen to get into a crash (even a fairly minor one) you’ll likely end up homeless for months waiting for them to assess and repair it.
Love the WABX sticker. Brings back memories of my childhood.
I was told by an RV owner that owning one is the fastest way to blow through your retirement.
I'm retired and over the last eight years of RV snowbirding, and traveling in our motorhome, my wife and I have met many people who have wasted spectacular amounts on RVs. Bottom line for us is that you never borrow a dime at this stage in life. If you are retired and have mortgage like monthly note, on a depreciating liability, like a motorhome, you are in trouble. You might not know you are in trouble, or you may be too arrogant to acknowledge the fact, but odd are, you screwed up.
If you are handy with repairing and maintaining your RV life is better...research brands and models.
A $ 200k model can and will have the same problems as a $40k RV. Owned 5 different ones, finely found a good one...am a full timer. Living in it 6 months out of the year when at sea working.
This video is on point....good advice