help! first time buyer needs lots of help - RV-Dreams Community Forum

dad of 7 · RV-Dreams Community Member

help! first time buyer needs lots of help

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

The salesmen will tell you anything to get you to buy an RV. If your hitch says 5000 lbs, then that's all you can tow!! Period!!

Jim

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glenn,

First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You will get some answers to your questions, but unfortunately, not all answers are what we want to hear. More than once, I had to change my mind about some RV related things.

I will agree with Jim. Also, keep in mind that many times a vehicle's hitch is rated in two ways. (Hitch is not to be confused with the vehicle's weight capabilities.) First is in the amount of weight that it can tow. I suspect that the 5000 lbs is that weight for your Suburban. The second weigh is called the "tongue weight" and is the amount of weight that a given hitch on a vehicle will handle in weight bearing downward at the hitch ball.

As an example, the hitch on the back of our fifth wheel is rated at 300 (or was it 500?) lbs of tongue weight and 5000 lbs of towing weight. Neither weight should be exceeded.

While it might be expensive for a 7 week "tour," you might consider renting something like a Class C motorhome or a small Class A motorhome. However, once you check the prices on renting a motorhome, it might be cheaper yet to travel in your Suburban and stay in motels.

Terry

rclvnv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi & Welcome. This is a great place to gather info as you will discover. I have to echo that you should NEVER listen to a salesman selling RV's as to what you can tow.The dealership's service manager, maybe, and only then if they put it in writing. You don't want to know how I know this. That said, any chance of using two drivers/vehicles, one to tow the empty trailer and another for all the "stuff"? Assuming, of course that you can find the proper unit that will meet your needs and not exceed the 5000 lbs? Might seem expensive but still cheaper than hotels and you can have the "camping" dynamic with your family.

Just a thought, but please, if you do get something be sure to get a load equalizing hitch with sway control, and don't exceed the max hitch weight.

Richard

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome Glenn,

Have you considered renting a trailer? We rented one about 10 years when we were in between RV's. We rented it for 3 weeks. It might be an option if you can't find one to buy.

dad of 7 · RV-Dreams Community Member

First, thank you so much for the replies. We appreciate your input.

We found a great deal on a motorhome. We never thought we could get one that is 2007 that is under 20k. But an opportunity is here and I pray it won't sell until we go see it in a few hours.

We figure, it would be more comfortable to go in a motorhome with children and then we can go leisurely instead of being co-oped up in a suburban during travel time.

Does anyone know the seatbelt laws? We know it's safe to all be belted. But with so many children, that is hard to find.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

The couch(s) will have seat belts in a MH and belts will be required for all persons in the MH when it's moving. I would think that just about all states require it now.

ken and cindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is always a pop-up, light weight and some can accomodate quite a few campers.Here on on a quick seach from Google

http://www.funtownrv.com/inventory/203373/New-2012-Forest-River-RV-Rockwood-Freedom-LTD-Series-2560G.aspx

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 5th of May 2012 05:41:16 PM

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

At least in our motorhome we have seat belts accomodating 4 at the dinette, 2 (I think) on the couch and of course 2 in the front driver/passenger seats. That would take care of 6 people at least. This will of course vary with the layout of the motorhome.

As for your towing question, you'll find the vehicle's tow rating in the owner's manual. A Suburban is a pretty big vehicle so I'd suspect it would have a rating of around 8,000 lbs. However the hitch that is bolted to the rear of the vehicle has its own rating - probably where you're seeing the 5,000 lb capacity. You could install a higher-rated hitch as long as you don't go over the vehicle's tow rating.

bigredoes · RV-Dreams Family Member

Take along a couple of pop tents.....kids should enjoy sleeping outdoors.....

dad of 7 · RV-Dreams Community Member

The motorhome we saw Friday is a 2007 Four Winds 5000 with Chevy Chassis 6.0, gas. It has 12000. We found it at a pawn shop and he is asking $17,500 which is much below the NADA guide. It was lived in so the fridge and stove will need to be replaced. The carpet, blinds and dinette and sofa upholstry has already been replaced and looks brand new.

We will have an RV specialist check it out tomorrow. It will cost $220. Does that sound thorough enough? PLEASE HELP. What do we need to look out for.

We are going on the road from Calif to Georgia and back and we don't want to get stuck with 7 children out in the middle of nowhere. I am not mechanically inclined.

Thank you!!

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

If the fridge works, why replace it? It is going to run somewhere north of $3,000 to replace it. The stove is not so bad, but if it is servicable, get EZOFF and clean well.
As far as the survey, look for working AC, suspension elements, engine condition and absence of block sealer in the coolant. Make sure the transmission shifts correctly and temperature stays within range after 20 to 25 miles. Check differential lube for water or such. Drain a bit of oil before starting and check for metals in the oil. Be prepared to replace the oil drained. Check tire "born on dates". The number will be beside the label DOT and will be expressed as 4 digits. First 2 will be the week of manufacture followed by 2 digits of the year. As in 0108. First week of the year 2008. You get the idea. Tires approaching 5 years old should be suspect. And they ain't cheap. Good tread is no indicator on RV tires. Age and possible running underinflated are sure.

Nothing is too small an item to check. Just don't get giddy with the possibility of getting a good buy, because it might not be. This only scratches the surface of what should be a part of the assessment.

dad of 7 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the tips in what to look for. I will bring a list and make sure that inspection covers all those. It's a 2 hour inspection. I sure hope their thorough.

www.campingworld.com has a fridge for $1400 and stove/oven for $400. The fridge in the motorhome has been repaired with caulking. It was punctured or something. The stove is missing parts and well worn. It does not have an oven. My wife plans to do a lot of cooking and wants to teach the older kids how to cook better.

rclvnv · RV-Dreams Family Member

I hope your inspection goes well. You are very wise to have that done. You have been given great advice here, which I do not need to repeat.Remember, you paid the inspector for an opinion..follow it. By all means, if you buy the unit, have the fridge & stove replaced.

In the best case, you will have things go wrong, or need adjustment, enroute. I've had this with brand new RV's. If you develop a routine of checking these systems (propane,sanitary,electrical, mechanical) routinely, you will minimize the chances of failure, but driving a large unit over long distances, for extended periods of time is vastly different than any passanger vehicle trip you've ever taken. You don't need to be mechanically inclined, but you do need to be careful.

I hope all goes well for you . Continue to ask the good people here for direction.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

If the stove and refrigerator are that badly damaged in five years, what else has been torn up? What's the history of that coach? The fact that it is at a pawnshop would be a red flag to me. I tried looking it up on NADA, but didn't find a Four Winds 5000 listed. How much below NADA is it? Will that difference cover the replacement of everything that needs replacing?

I'd suggest that you keep looking. Here's just one possibility for you to consider: http://www.buybyebluebird.com/show.php?id=94&category=&srt=price%20ASC&p=10&submit=Click%20to%20Sort&page=1

One possibility, as someone else mentioned, is to drive your Suburban, with part of your crew in the MH and part in the Suburban. That gives you a vehicle to run around in while the coach is at the campsite, and takes care of the seatbelt issue.

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 12th of May 2012 11:18:52 PM