Why I'm glad I didn't buy an RV!

[Gr8ful]

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-delivery-driver-tells-workmanship-horror-stories/


Like I've mentioned I don't live far from, have been in & know folks & owned RVs which IMHO are lacking QC. Years ago my flight instructor worked many jobs to pay for a commercial flight education, one was delivering Motorhomes which IMHO is the worst investment you can do, a new RV. My shooting buddy bought a new 40' MH just sold it with 14,000 miles for $17k, stored inside & was near new. I started out looking for a diesel pusher but found the ambulance & feel in love. I'm tight, cheap, a penny pincher but love & always try to buy quality. The story above is an interesting short read.

 

[RoamerRV428]

I get ya.
but for me buying an rv is the best damn thing we ever did wouldn't trade our buys for anything ever.
to each his own but it is cool you got an ambo and fell in love with it. Are you renovating your ambo now?

 

[Gr8ful]

Not much to do, there were no stickers & the radio & lightbar were already taken off. The high side & rear lights are great for setting up in the dark. Mine has all the storage on the inside except for the Oxygen tank locker. I'm trying to leave as much storage inside but there's a bunch. I'm sure there are great RVs but most are not made for living in all year & either beating the competition on price or the bean counters adding to the bottom line. When I was looking at diesel pushers it suprised me how many had low miles & how cheap you could find them. Glad you got a good one & are happy with it! ENJOY

 

[WanderingRose]

Glad you’ve got what works for you, but I’m with Roamer, I loooove my older Class B.  

Basic rule of thumb is to not buy new, buy used for purposes of depreciation and so that most of the “bugs” have been found and worked out.

Some of us are not at all handy with the clever and functional modifications, and like having those already in place. 

Whatever works, to each his/her own, and all that.

Enjoy.

 

[RoamerRV428]

yea we got scare lights on our toyhauler and they are fab for backing in at night and whenever you need that flood of light for whatever reason something we sure never leave on at all, just too bright.

Sounds like you do have a lot of work to do and a lot of storage is a great thing tho. On the road you don't need much but you need what you need and the few wants you want LOL

are you putting in sink or anything dramatic to suit you or keeping it all more basic inside?

 

[Cammalu]

Roamer what toyhauler do u have? I’m thinking I might go that way


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[Cammalu]

My Dynamax is a great RV. It’s only 23 foot so not much bigger than a van but so much more space. It’s a great solid built unit.


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[cyndi]

In 2011 I bought a '89 Class C, I drove it cross country 4 times. Then I downsized to a van. The woman that bought the class c, in 2014, is still traveling from MA to Fl and back every year. I sold it for the same amount I purchased it. Technically I lost money on the solar.

They're out there, you just have to look and be patient. I started looking in 2008. It took me two years to find my van

 

[Gr8ful]

are you putting in sink or anything dramatic to suit you or keeping it all more basic inside?

Yep will have a sink, microwave, toaster oven. 1 burner stove runs on LP or butane cans, small fridge. It has heat & air cond front & back when the rigs running but my diesel heater's coming tomorrow & I'll have a 5k air cond that will run on solar. I bought an LP on demand water heater but plan to put my solar & 28' of 6" black PVC on a 101"x120" deck over tilt alum trailer so I can park in the sun & have the solar & hot water on the trailer. Hardly anything to do on the inside as it's insulated, wired, front & rear full  controls, etc. I wasn't trying to diss anyones RV but the ambi so so much more industrial & by law has to meet much higher safety ratings. He's one very close & his was built in Goshen uder 50 miles away. Mine was the 2nd or spare for a small fire dept & has all the storage inside except the oxygen locker. Thanks!

 

[WanderingRose]

Sounds like quite a find, and I didn’t feel at all dissed.

 

[Gr8ful]

I do apolagize as I didn't mean to offend anyone. There are good RVs as well as bad ones I'm sure. Well I'm so exited to get going but it's cold, snow, rain & I have tons on things to sell. It's a huge change but I'm sure the right change.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

First you diss people who use propane now you offend all the rv owners, why didn’t you title your thread “why I am glad I bought an ambo,” , The good thing about ambulances is they are well built, well maintained, mostly they are high mileage, you were lucky to find one with low mileage and I doubt anyone would have passed it by, congratulations, The bad thing about ambulances is that all the cupboards are there, and often hard to remove, without making a mess, so you are stuck with the layout, often they are very heavy so poor fuel economy made even worse if you plan on towing,  Often they have too many inside cupboards at higher levels so they feel closterphobic. Often the windows are set up to see out of while sitting down. Otherwise ambulances are a pretty good platform, rvs also have a lot of plusses and minuses, let see some pictures of the interior.

 

[ckelly78z]

I don't think an ambulance, or a class B would have enough room for my wife, and I. We currently have a 2011 30' Heartland North Country Lakeside edition TT, with 1 big slideout for the dinette, and couch. It has a full front kitchen, and a rear full queen with a large shower that is separated from the toilet by the hallway.

We weren't going to buy anything, but found another front kitchen TT like we had in our older 1996 classic 30 Dutchmen that we ended up selling cheap to my daughter.

New in 2011, this really nice Heartland was $27,000, we got it at 6.5 years old for $9500....someone took a bath on the depreciation, which was good for us....it didn't hurt that we bought it in a snowstorm in November.

 

[ckelly78z]

2011 Heartland described above. It is pulled by this, a 204 Ford Excursion diesel.

 

[Gr8ful]

A lot of couples do live in them but it may be me most of the time so we'll see. I started looking a diesel pushers but high $$ to maintain where any diesel mechanic can work on this & it was a great deal. Sounds like you did too. Good luck & Thanks!

 

[jimindenver]

There is no right or wrong as long as your needs are being met. Personally I spent time camping in a van and knew that there was not enough room for me or my stuff. I also knew that because of my physical limitations that I would not be able to build anything out to provide a fraction of the functionality and comfort that my travel trailer can. Interesting enough I have had a number of van or cargo trailer dwellers sit on my couch saying Wow, this is great, you have all the comforts of a home, must be nice.

The interesting part is that my $13,500 when new 25 foot bunk house is one of the least expensive RV’s you can buy. It is built to Gulfstream’s standard of quality for their higher end units and has not had a problem in 9 seasons save a water pump wearing out after 8 years. People tell me that they can take their vans places that the trailer won’t fit but when it comes time to follow me down the 4x4 roads that I take the trailer down they quickly decline. Possibly the best way of seeing it is in trying to find a Ameri-life for sale used, you rarely do or find a lot of complaints. They are well made, simple RV’s.

May you have as much luck and enjoyment from your choice as I have had with mine.

 

[Gr8ful]

Thanks Jim, you're right & that's why I'm pulling a tilt bed 101"x 120" deckover alum trailer. I've had 2 milirary 2 & 1/2 ton 10 WD duece & 1/2s & have a full set of bows & a new tarp that will fir it or may box it in & mount the solar there we'll see. Thanks my friend, you have a great channel!

 

[RoamerRV428]

we had 2 toyahulers.

a giant 5th, like 38 ft. Heartland Torque. Just too darn big so we traded out for a Heartland Torque but a travel trailer version. box is 30 ft. perfect size for smaller state parks we do. the big 5th was a pain in the azz literally. We haul kayaks, golf cart and fishing gear etc. but we love the happy jack in back is a queen bed for kiddo. So far we are loving toyhaulers.

 

[Dingfelder]

Wow a golf cart! My family has one too and those things are heavy!

 

[Gr8ful]

I have a 2 wheel swivel wheel trailer you ca't jackknife as it always stays straight & the 2 wheels swivel like the front ones on a shopping cart. It uses a single regular reese type hitch & people haul golf cars with them as you don't need to see them to back up & you can put them behind other trailers if needed http://smarttrailers.com/
This udea came out with a one wheel in the '30s when you clamped it in 2 places on the bumper, great for MHs