Looking at motorhomes....have a question

[rusty ol ranger]

Yeah im not expecting NOTHING to break lol, obviously things like coils and alternators and belts are gonna go.

Just didnt know if they were time bombs like alot of the 3v 5.4

If you want a newer camper with a 460... get a slide in for your F-250...

Be wayyyyy to small.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I stumbled upon a great RV youtube channel. I think the lady is Elizabeth or Liz...I watch em for one day shopping for a small toy hauler. Anyways she gives great advice and case stories w/ buyer interviews.

From what I've learned in general...

-Dont buy anything made during covid...they were all rush manufactured during the high demand.
- Dont buy anything from Jayco.
-Dont buy anything from Thor since its corporate buyout. Matter of fact don't buy anything that went from RV maker to corporation with shareholders.
-Dont buy from Camping World....or do so very wearily.
-Thoroughly inspect before taking delivery. Like dont just turn the faucets on and off...run em a good min, long enough for any potential leaks to show...if possible run a hose over soak down the roof and inspect....run all the appliances at once etc...Check exterior too, leveling jacks, airbags etc.

I recommend you check out her channel. she has a bunch of great videos and is actually single handedly bringing down the rv industrys shady practices....been sued and everything lol she making waves...

 

[sgtsandman]

I stumbled upon a great RV youtube channel. I think the lady is Elizabeth or Liz...I watch em for one day shopping for a small toy hauler. Anyways she gives great advice and case stories w/ buyer interviews.

From what I've learned in general...

-Dont buy anything made during covid...they were all rush manufactured during the high demand.
- Dont buy anything from Jayco.
-Dont buy anything from Thor since its corporate buyout. Matter of fact don't buy anything that went from RV maker to corporation with shareholders.
-Dont buy from Camping World....or do so very wearily.
-Thoroughly inspect before taking delivery. Like dont just turn the faucets on and off...run em a good min, long enough for any potential leaks to show...if possible run a hose over soak down the roof and inspect....run all the appliances at once etc...Check exterior too, leveling jacks, airbags etc.

I recommend you check out her channel. she has a bunch of great videos and is actually single handedly bringing down the rv industrys shady practices....been sued and everything lol she making waves...

What is the name of the channel? It will make it easier for people find. RV Channel and Elizabeth or Liz might not get the right hit

 

[Shran]

Forest River is garbage too. Horrible build quality on all their campers I’ve been in.

Second the camping world sentiment… they will take your RV in for warranty repairs, keep it for months or years without doing anything, and then charge you for fixing it because the warranty is expired. Happened to my buddy on a new trailer he bought.

A lot of dealers will sell your contact info to time share RV parks who will bug you relentlessly to buy in… happened to two of my close friends, be careful of that as well.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

What is the name of the channel? It will make it easier for people find. RV Channel and Elizabeth or Liz might not get the right hit

Liz Amazing is the channel name

If you type RV nightmare or anything along those lines she should pop up.

My bad Sarge...sometimes I'm too general. No pun intended

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Forest River is garbage too. Horrible build quality on all their campers I’ve been in.

Second the camping world sentiment… they will take your RV in for warranty repairs, keep it for months or years without doing anything, and then charge you for fixing it because the warranty is expired. Happened to my buddy on a new trailer he bought.

A lot of dealers will sell your contact info to time share RV parks who will bug you relentlessly to buy in… happened to two of my close friends, be careful of that as well.

Yep them too...I was gonna mention but had memory fog of the name.

 

[JoshT]

I stumbled upon a great RV youtube channel. I think the lady is Elizabeth or Liz...I watch em for one day shopping for a small toy hauler. Anyways she gives great advice and case stories w/ buyer interviews.

From what I've learned in general...

-Dont buy anything made during covid...they were all rush manufactured during the high demand.
- Dont buy anything from Jayco.
-Dont buy anything from Thor since its corporate buyout. Matter of fact don't buy anything that went from RV maker to corporation with shareholders.
-Dont buy from Camping World....or do so very wearily.
-Thoroughly inspect before taking delivery. Like dont just turn the faucets on and off...run em a good min, long enough for any potential leaks to show...if possible run a hose over soak down the roof and inspect....run all the appliances at once etc...Check exterior too, leveling jacks, airbags etc.

I recommend you check out her channel. she has a bunch of great videos and is actually single handedly bringing down the rv industrys shady practices....been sued and everything lol she making waves...

Forest River is garbage too. Horrible build quality on all their campers I’ve been in.

Second the camping world sentiment… they will take your RV in for warranty repairs, keep it for months or years without doing anything, and then charge you for fixing it because the warranty is expired. Happened to my buddy on a new trailer he bought.

A lot of dealers will sell your contact info to time share RV parks who will bug you relentlessly to buy in… happened to two of my close friends, be careful of that as well.

So what I'm hearing here is don't buy any camper unless you've got a 1/2 million to spend on some fancy name, custom built, top dollar camper.

Truth is that unless you get into the top tier, high budget stuff, they are all horribly built. Just like the cookie cutter houses they are popping up everywhere now.

I'm going to be on the hunt myself in the next few years. I'm not going to be after a motorhome, but a tow behind. Having trouble deciding exactly what, but the budget certainly isn't there for any of the more botique campers. I'll be doing good to afford a second hand Forest River, Jayco, etc.

As it currently stands I'm probably looking at building a cargo conversion toy hauler. I'd love to be at a tipping point on scales. Large enough to fit a Ranger inside of when being pulled by the F-250, yet light enough to be pulled by the Ranger (with the V8 swap) when empty. I don't actually have plans to put the 99 extended cab Ranger inside of it, but maybe a regular cab, short bed, first gen. I would like to build a little custom roadster (think T-bucket or Locost) at some point and be able to take it along on trips, that won't be bigger than a Ranger. Would also be ample space for ATV/SXS and motorcycle.

Fortunately being single buy I don't need a lot of amenities. Sleeping, basic cooking, microwave, fridge, and A/C & heater. I'm thinking a lift bed in the back, a fold up bench and collapsable table for meals, a fold down counter with a couple of hotplates for cooking (I've never used an oven when camping), maybe a fold out TV mounted on the wall for when the weather is bad. I've got no problem using a camping chair if I want more of a recliner. Some cabinets and a counter up in the nose to house the fridge, microwave, storage, and a sink for minor cleaning. I can set up an outdoor shower and portable toilet if I'm somewhere primitive without a bathhouse.


I just can't picture a single camper, built or bought, that will do it all. I'm probably going to end up with a smaller toy hauler, just big enough to fit a sxs, but still light enough to be pulled by the Ranger. Then a slide-in that can fit the F-100/F-250 then pull another vehicle along on a trailer. I actually kind if have a valid excust for having two. One for taking on trips and the other to keep at the hunting lease, and swap out as needed depending on what I'm doing.


Sorry, doesn't help the OP's questions any, but campers have been bouncing around in my head a lot for the last couple of years. Life hasn;t settled down enough to make the purchase viable, but putting thoughts into words does help a little.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

So what I'm hearing here is don't buy any camper unless you've got a 1/2 million to spend on some fancy name, custom built, top dollar camper.

Truth is that unless you get into the top tier, high budget stuff, they are all horribly built. Just like the cookie cutter houses they are popping up everywhere now.

I'm going to be on the hunt myself in the next few years. I'm not going to be after a motorhome, but a tow behind. Having trouble deciding exactly what, but the budget certainly isn't there for any of the more botique campers. I'll be doing good to afford a second hand Forest River, Jayco, etc.

As it currently stands I'm probably looking at building a cargo conversion toy hauler. I'd love to be at a tipping point on scales. Large enough to fit a Ranger inside of when being pulled by the F-250, yet light enough to be pulled by the Ranger (with the V8 swap) when empty. I don't actually have plans to put the 99 extended cab Ranger inside of it, but maybe a regular cab, short bed, first gen. I would like to build a little custom roadster (think T-bucket or Locost) at some point and be able to take it along on trips, that won't be bigger than a Ranger. Would also be ample space for ATV/SXS and motorcycle.

Fortunately being single buy I don't need a lot of amenities. Sleeping, basic cooking, microwave, fridge, and A/C & heater. I'm thinking a lift bed in the back, a fold up bench and collapsable table for meals, a fold down counter with a couple of hotplates for cooking (I've never used an oven when camping), maybe a fold out TV mounted on the wall for when the weather is bad. I've got no problem using a camping chair if I want more of a recliner. Some cabinets and a counter up in the nose to house the fridge, microwave, storage, and a sink for minor cleaning. I can set up an outdoor shower and portable toilet if I'm somewhere primitive without a bathhouse.


I just can't picture a single camper, built or bought, that will do it all. I'm probably going to end up with a smaller toy hauler, just big enough to fit a sxs, but still light enough to be pulled by the Ranger. Then a slide-in that can fit the F-100/F-250 then pull another vehicle along on a trailer. I actually kind if have a valid excust for having two. One for taking on trips and the other to keep at the hunting lease, and swap out as needed depending on what I'm doing.


Sorry, doesn't help the OP's questions any, but campers have been bouncing around in my head a lot for the last couple of years. Life hasn;t settled down enough to make the purchase viable, but putting thoughts into words does help a little.

More like get a good lightly used one that the previous owner worked the bugs out of. Often they fix just about everything then throw in the towel lol smh. Kinda like boat ownership in many ways.

Otherwise just make sure the dealer fixes as many of em as possible that you can find. Some dont show up until after break in.

If new yes top dollar or rare gem of a deal. Also depends how big you wanna go. Bigger is if course more problems. I noticed 5th wheels were most often the horror story. Or diesel pushers. Sometimes class B size...probably in that order...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I stumbled upon a great RV youtube channel. I think the lady is Elizabeth or Liz...I watch em for one day shopping for a small toy hauler. Anyways she gives great advice and case stories w/ buyer interviews.

From what I've learned in general...

-Dont buy anything made during covid...they were all rush manufactured during the high demand.
- Dont buy anything from Jayco.
-Dont buy anything from Thor since its corporate buyout. Matter of fact don't buy anything that went from RV maker to corporation with shareholders.
-Dont buy from Camping World....or do so very wearily.
-Thoroughly inspect before taking delivery. Like dont just turn the faucets on and off...run em a good min, long enough for any potential leaks to show...if possible run a hose over soak down the roof and inspect....run all the appliances at once etc...Check exterior too, leveling jacks, airbags etc.

I recommend you check out her channel. she has a bunch of great videos and is actually single handedly bringing down the rv industrys shady practices....been sued and everything lol she making waves...

When was thors corporate buyout? Those seem to be the ones we both like. Not obnoxiously big but nice inside.

Honestly if it were up to me id hit craigslist and buy one of the late 80's/early 90's class C fords i see everywhere for 5-10 in nice shape.

But the wife is adament nothing that old.

 

[RobbieD]

That's a tough position to be in-

option #1: old wife, new motorhome;

option #2: new wife, old motorhome;

- either way, it costs you a bundle of loot.

 

[pjtoledo]

check your favorite campgrounds to see if they let older stuff in.

 

[JoshT]

check your favorite campgrounds to see if they let older stuff in.

If they don't let older stuff in, they wouldn't on my list of favorite campgrounds.

I know rules like that are more of a private campground thing, while my camping is mostly done at places like county and state parks, COE campgrounds, and national forest camping areas. They don't even ask what you're in, just tent or camper and how many people/vehicles (if that).

Honestly can't say I have a favorite anyway. Haven't been to one that I hated yet, those wome were a bit more crowded than I like. As long as it's in a region I like, I'm happy. For me, we're talking about NGA mountains, or the gulf coast, depending on the time of year (never July or August in a tent). That's about the furthest away that I have time to get for a long weekend trip.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

When was thors corporate buyout? Those seem to be the ones we both like. Not obnoxiously big but nice inside.

Honestly if it were up to me id hit craigslist and buy one of the late 80's/early 90's class C fords i see everywhere for 5-10 in nice shape.

But the wife is adament nothing that old.

I am pretty sure it was Thor and very recent, and yea quality was good up until recently.

Yea totally I would go for an old van conversion. I borrowed a buddys sprinter van for a 10 day road trip and it did fine, but seemed like it would eventually be problems.

I'll eventually get the smallest toy hauler they make, like 14'. Something the F150 can tow easily even loaded w/ toys and fuel. I like the idea of being able to disconnect it and have the truck unloaded for exploring or broken toy recovery.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So… for you guys bringing up the toy haulers…

I hadn’t really thought about a toy hauler but I’ve kind of been on and off looking for a small RV and came across a guy selling a toy hauler that he had put a few cabinets and a tool chest in the hauler section to make like a little shop area for tools and spare parts to work on his stuff. I really liked that idea until I did some investigation and talking with some people who brought up the dirty truth… toy haulers are designed to be towed loaded all the time with whatever vehicle they are spec’d for. If you don’t, then the weight balance is totally pooched and they tow like poo.

 

[Roert42]

It makes sense.

the alternative would be that it’s designed to be towed empty and rides like crap with stuff in the back….