Bitcoin
California
New Member
Joined: 11/29/2016
View Profile
 Offline
|
I stumbled across this thread through a link from another website. Many thanks to IAMICHABOD for the thread and to all the good people who have posted so much info.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and am considering an RV for full time living and travel for the next six months and perhaps more. I moved to the USA twenty years ago and worked mostly in software until I became too old for this industry and I want to see the country before I'm too old for that.
The area has changed and IMO not for the better. My girl friend wants to move back to her home state of MN which she says is a gentler, calmer way of life. I'm okay with that but not to move now, so I want to be touring in the RV, maybe head south. I don't know how I'll deal with the winter in MN since I have SAD and don't mind joining her in the spring.
I'm thinking of buying an rv from cruise America. I checked El Monte today but I don't see the mileage for each RV on their website. The RV is for me and my girl friend when she'll want to join me.
I have a small online business I should be able to run from the RV with a decent internet connection.
I think a 23a would be good though I am open to the bigger ones, the 27g looks really nice but I'm concerned about the size and gas consumption and they seem to have higher mileage.
I'd probably buy both extended warranties, for the house and vehicle. If I do so does it make any sense to pay about $6,000 for a vehicle with lower mileage ... 80,000 instead of 130,000? On the other hand I read that some people say the extended warranties are not worth much, is that true of cruise America warranties as well?
Would I be able to put solar panels on them, they don't come with ladders? Do they have enough batteries for that. I like the idea of being in nature, not necessarily with a hookup somewhere.
Hpw do I make sure I'm getting a good vehicle? Should I look for an RV tech and hire them to check out the vehicle? Since I am a complete newbie and it is a serious chunk of change it is somewhat daunting. Are these companies thrustworthy?
|
Photomike
Southern Alberta or where the camper is parked!
Senior Member
Joined: 04/26/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Bitcoin wrote:I stumbled across this thread through a link from another website. Many thanks to IAMICHABOD for the thread and to all the good people who have posted so much info.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and am considering an RV for full time living and travel for the next six months and perhaps more. I moved to the USA twenty years ago and worked mostly in software until I became too old for this industry and I want to see the country before I'm too old for that.
The area has changed and IMO not for the better. My girl friend wants to move back to her home state of MN which she says is a gentler, calmer way of life. I'm okay with that but not to move now, so I want to be touring in the RV, maybe head south. I don't know how I'll deal with the winter in MN since I have SAD and don't mind joining her in the spring.
I'm thinking of buying an rv from cruise America. I checked El Monte today but I don't see the mileage for each RV on their website. The RV is for me and my girl friend when she'll want to join me.
I have a small online business I should be able to run from the RV with a decent internet connection.
I think a 23a would be good though I am open to the bigger ones, the 27g looks really nice but I'm concerned about the size and gas consumption and they seem to have higher mileage.
I'd probably buy both extended warranties, for the house and vehicle. If I do so does it make any sense to pay about $6,000 for a vehicle with lower mileage ... 80,000 instead of 130,000? On the other hand I read that some people say the extended warranties are not worth much, is that true of cruise America warranties as well?
Would I be able to put solar panels on them, they don't come with ladders? Do they have enough batteries for that. I like the idea of being in nature, not necessarily with a hookup somewhere.
Hpw do I make sure I'm getting a good vehicle? Should I look for an RV tech and hire them to check out the vehicle? Since I am a complete newbie and it is a serious chunk of change it is somewhat daunting. Are these companies thrustworthy?
Myself I say forget the extra warranty, especially the coach if you are handy with minor repairs, put some money aside and use the one year engine that comes with it to get past any major issues then do your own repairs on the coach.
The smaller ones have no space on the roof for solar so check before you buy if you want solar (I was hoping for enough space int eh 19G but no). A 23 you should have some empty space but don't know if it will be enough for a panel. The larger ones should be fine but check the roof layout for vents, etc to make sure.
If you get a generator then make sure that you have a good group 31 battery and you should be fine for most camping with the exception of cold nights running the furnace. I added more batteries and went without the generator although I have one that I can take if needed.
![[image]](http://www.firstchoicephoto.ca/camper/Majestic037.JPG)
All companies are questionable, read some of the posts on new units and some expensive units at that! A RV tech can help but even problems can escape them. Remember you are taking a house and putting it through a major earthquake everyday that you are driving it so one day things are great and the next you may have a leak that was not there the day before - it may check out 10 out of 10 one day and the next you are mopping up a water leak. At least a extra set of eyes never hurts!!
2017 Ford Transit
EVO Electric bike
Advanced Elements Kayaks
|
Snowman9000
IL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/07/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Mike, have you looked at 50 watt panels? I bought four of these once, to make two 100 watt portable kits. In the end, I made one kit and installed the other two on top of my C, along with two 100 watt ones. They are 26x21 inches. Even if you only install 50 or 100 watts, IMO it would be worthwhile. Even if one of them is too close to the AC or whatever.
ML Solar 50 watt panel
Currently RV-less but not done yet.
|
MtnBikeMarty
phoenix, az
Full Member
Joined: 06/23/2016
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I'd say, skip the CA extended warranty, just put that money aside for a future repair fund, go with the included 12mo/12K mile chassis warranty, test everything out the first month (CA has an unwritten 30 day warranty on coach things: I had them fix/replace the refrigerator light and the dash board hi/low fan switch, I discovered the first week).
I did find a local mobile RV service tech (shout out for www.rveagle.com), that for about $250 spent 3.5 hours going through everything on my final walk thru day; he found dying (engine and coach) batteries, almost broken off oil dip stick, 6" roof crack needing repair, broken window latch, all were fixed/replaced by the next day to sign the final papers.. He checked all the systems: A/C, heater, refrig/freezer operating temperatures, water pump, generator, roof, etc... all the stuff that he sees day in/day out breaking on "houses driving down the road" at 55 mph. IMO, worth every dollar since I too am a RV beginner.
IMO, the best upgrade... a back-up camera and monitor on full-time (not just when in reverse), I even removed the rear-view mirror to mount the monitor there, which is a natural spot to look when backing up. It also basically picks up cars from behind that I just lost in my side mirrors (blind spot).
Oh and lastly, I upgraded to Good Sam's full road side assistance package, I haven't used it yet (knock on wood) but gives me greater peace of mind if I have trouble out on adventures.
Marty
PS, bonus.... CA refunded my rental fees (less taxes) from when I rented a unit in May (as long as within 6 months of purchase)...that was almost $900. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
|
Bitcoin
California
New Member
Joined: 11/29/2016
View Profile
Offline
|
Mike and Marty thanks for the input and suggestions.
From what I remember the 23a has a generator and I don't know about the roof space for solar panels, I'll have to ask them and do some research.
Backup camera and monitor sounds good. I am definitely going to rent a unit for a week and see how I like it. I was considering the Good Sams roadside assistance so I'll go ahead with that too.
Getting excited about this and I am trying to learn as much as possible on the forums and YouTube.
|
|
|
Photomike
Southern Alberta or where the camper is parked!
Senior Member
Joined: 04/26/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Bitcoin wrote:Mike and Marty thanks for the input and suggestions.
From what I remember the 23a has a generator and I don't know about the roof space for solar panels, I'll have to ask them and do some research.
Backup camera and monitor sounds good. I am definitely going to rent a unit for a week and see how I like it. I was considering the Good Sams roadside assistance so I'll go ahead with that too.
Getting excited about this and I am trying to learn as much as possible on the forums and YouTube.
With a generator then make sure that you have a good group 31 battery and maybe see if you can find space for a second battery and you are good to go even if you cannot get solar on it. I HATE generators but if it is in the off season or you are out in the bush then may as well. I did decide that if mine came with a generator that I would not repair it if it died as a portable makes so much more sense for me.
|
Harvey51
Alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 12/11/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I put a 100 watt solar panel on our 20 footer, noting there was easily room for another. It turned out the single one is perfectly adequate for us - no TV, no mcrowave so just lights, fridge, furnace, phones and iPads. It was a Renogy kit with battery controller and cables, the first I saw for $200 delivered to me in Canada. We have never plugged in to AC power or used a generator; the batteries haven't dropped below 80% since getting the solar panel, according to the battery monitor.
As long time tent and tent trailer campers we never even considered bringing a generator camping.
Love the solar!
2004 E350 Adventurer (Canadian) 20 footer - Alberta, Canada
No TV + 100W solar = no generator needed
|
Bitcoin
California
New Member
Joined: 11/29/2016
View Profile
Offline
|
I'm still here but did not buy anything yet. I tend to over research stuff, especially when I know nothing about it and a lot of money is involved.
The vehicles from Cruise America I'm looking at have a generator. I want to use solar though. I called them back and they told me the model I'm looking at has 4 feet x 5 feet space for panels.
I'd want to run a tv and charge my devices and run a laptop. I honestly don't even know if I could run a coffee maker of the solar.
I was at Safeway today and saw a Cruise America pull up. Totally unlike me I walked up and started chatting with the people. Nice people from Brazil on a two month rental along the Pacific Northwest. They love their RV vacation but mentioned that their Cruise America RV has a bunch of problems. I told them I want to buy one from Cruise America and the lady said she would not .. yikes!! She showed me the door did not close well, there was some foam coming off somewhere else, the thingies on the gas stove one places the pots on to cook were loose and she said mentioned some other issues.
Sounds like they are not well maintained .. or was she just unlucky. The sales guy at the local location has the regular high pressure sales spiel and scarcity for these units at their low prices. It actually turns me off since he actually can not answer most of my technical questions.
I went to El Monte RV and did not like what I saw there. No sales person except for weekends. Their website does not list mileage on the vehicles. I called and left a message and eventually spoke to the sales person. I asked about solar and he said 'it will cost you $10,000 to have solar' and I explained I only want it for tv, lights, laptop.
* This post was
edited 12/16/16 07:26pm by Bitcoin *
|
swuebbels
USA
New Member
Joined: 07/04/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Bitcoin,
I added a 4 X 100 watt solar panel system for under $750 from Renogy. It's not that difficult to do and you will get all the help you need from this forum.
Stan
2015 Sunseeker 2300 Chevy
|
Deb and Ed M
SW MI & Space Coast, FL USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/07/2004
View Profile
|
Bitcoin: last week, we went to an "RV Show" which was simply La Mesa RV parking their inventory at Daytona Speedway - but I see they have locations in CA, and overall, I was impressed by the quality of their used Class C's (that I'm assuming had been rentals). Our salesman Vincent was pleasant, no-pressure; and when he couldn't answer a question, he found someone who could.
We are just beginning the search, so weren't prepared (mentally) to buy just yet (and if we buy a unit down here in FL - we'll have to drive it AND our truck/pop-up back to Michigan in the Spring)
|
|
|
|
