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03-08-2018, 08:28 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
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what to consider before buying an RV and living the RV life style
I am thinking about buying an RV probably Class A motor home but need to learn before buying if it is feasible is there an RVing for dummies book out there?
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03-08-2018, 10:45 AM
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#2
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,785
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Hi !  Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang! 
Don't know of a book but there's lots of info here!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!  
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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03-08-2018, 10:54 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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 from WA State.
No book that I know of but I'm sure there are some. I've been RV'ing since 1957, started at 10 yrs old with my parents so anything I read I've probably done.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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03-08-2018, 11:40 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sacramento, California
Posts: 1,402
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The biggest question is can you fix things? Being able to perform repairs yourself is a big step towards full timing.
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03-08-2018, 01:18 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Titusville, FL
Posts: 5,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahamaniac
The biggest question is can you fix things? Being able to perform repairs yourself is a big step towards full timing.
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I would take this statement even further and say your general satisfaction with any RV will be directly tied to your ability to resolve a lot of the problems yourself. A lot of folks think that an RV is going to be like owning a car. In reality, the best RV is about like the worst car. 
But, if I didn't have an RV I'd have to watch a lot of boring television.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/rv-...SABEgJMwfD_BwE
__________________
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
2023 Grand Design 2600RB, 2022 F-350 King Ranch tow vehicle, Titusville, FL when not on the road
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03-08-2018, 01:23 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 340
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Do you fix most things around your house yourself or do you pay people to do it for you?
If you pay people to do repairs for you it’s not gonna be any different with a MH. Oh yes it will, it’ll be more expensive!
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Tim
2005 Winnebago Voyage 38J
2009 Nissan Versa
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03-08-2018, 01:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,009
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__________________
Mike, Betty & Sophie (Guard Cat)
Full Timers from the Great Lakes State of Michigan
2013 Silverado 3500HD Duramax Diesel & 2013 Cedar Creek Silverback
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03-08-2018, 04:27 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Where we park it!
Posts: 13,145
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It is on the job training for the most part. Being handy certainly helps. Regardless the most important thing will be the floor plan. If you don't like the floorplan no matter how much you like the coach you will be looking for a new one in a year.
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momdoc
2018 Tiffin Allegro RED 37PA
2020 JEEP Trailhawk
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03-08-2018, 05:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Urbanna, VA
Posts: 1,159
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You don't need a book. Just learn as you go along.
Rent an RV and camp in your driveway for starters, then step up to a local camp ground, and so on. You will figure out what you like and what you need to be comfortable. The rental companies will show you how the systems work.
Being willing to take on a few repairs here and there will save you the inconvenience of visiting a service center. If you are not handy, even the finest RV could cause you some frustration.
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03-08-2018, 05:50 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,009
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The floor plan does not come first! Do your own research...find the best quality build that you can afford. Buy some good research materials from rvreviews.net and they'll pay dividends in the thousands.
Decide on a manufacturer with a good track record of a good build and then pick the floor plan that comes closest to meeting your needs.
If you put floor plan first over quality you'll find yourself broken down on the side of the road from a poorly built and/or designed product, however you'll be looking good, or maybe not! 
__________________
Mike, Betty & Sophie (Guard Cat)
Full Timers from the Great Lakes State of Michigan
2013 Silverado 3500HD Duramax Diesel & 2013 Cedar Creek Silverback
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03-08-2018, 07:42 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,149
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I read five books on how to ride a bicycle. Fell off. No help.
I'd suggest renting a class C for a week or two. You will become quite knowledgeable about RVing.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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03-08-2018, 07:52 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,951
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Go visit some local RV Campgrounds and talk to the owners about their experiences. What they like about the RV they have and had in the past and what they didn’t like. RVer like to talk. It will be a wealth of information.
__________________
2015 Itasca Ellipse 42QD
2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock
2011 Harley Davidson CVO Street Glide
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03-08-2018, 08:08 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,055
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1st ! WELCOME!!!
Now ......
Your 1st RV is just a tool...To learn and make those rookie mistakes on..
Buy USED! Save those "Big Bucks" and payments for later...
Buy one With a minimal number of slides and lacking the over the top "bling" BS.
Buy what You "THINK & DREAM" you want and need to satisfy your quest and projected new lifestyle...
Then after a year or so..
You will without a doubt..KNOW
What You love about the RV & it's features.....
What You can tolerate....
AND What You absodamnlutely HATE!......
Then go buy your "Forever" coach
Happy Hunting!
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
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03-08-2018, 08:16 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wherever we are
Posts: 4,288
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__________________
'16 40QBH Phaeton
'21 Sahara HA toad
'15 38RSSA Mobile Suites--traded
'05 36TK3 Mobile Suites--retired but not forgotten
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