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06-04-2013, 04:59 AM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Ontario-Canada
Posts: 121
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You only live once. Stick with your dream it will come true. BTW stay away from the casino you will loose your dream in the slot machine. Cheers Gerald
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06-04-2013, 12:21 PM
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#30
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: In a lawnchair
Posts: 11,993
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbird7553
I suspect many others have given up their permanent residence and have lenders to consider as well. What would be different about us?
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Um...your bad (or lack of) credit?
Many of us are just trying to be realistic; not meaning to trample on your dream. I hope it works out for you.
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06-04-2013, 12:39 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Spokane Valley WA
Posts: 323
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Our first motorhome was 'vintage' Class C Fireball. 18' It was very budget priced, and luckily for us had no nasty hidden flaws. In a few years we upgraded to another older Class A...and so on.
Start immediately putting 20% of your incomes into a saving account. Meanwhile shop for a low-priced (read here: cheap) Class C, Class B or even a Class A that seems well maintained, (check tires the price of them will bankrupt you ). Hopefully by Sept 1, you will have a couple of thousand for a down payment on a suitable RV. Take care of it, continue to save money, no less than 10% each month - more if possible.) By next year, if you are in the mood to upgrade you will have the motorhome as a trade-in, or sell privately, plus more in the bank.
I hope you will realize your dream. It will take self-discipline to get started. (Hey, if you smoke, quit! Look at the immediate savings there - Sorry smokers.....)
JoAnn
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06-08-2013, 05:41 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Grants Pass,Or
Posts: 325
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You could try a vintage motorhome.We bought an 89 30' class A for $3750 and moved into it a month later and after a 2200mile trip it still run great.If you can do automotive repairs you can save a ton of money. An older rv is not as complicated as a newer one and easer to fix.I do everything myself.We have been very lucky but I feel I could just about handle most repairs.We also live on a small pension and SS. and are doing good
__________________
1977 class B Dodge MH, 2002 honda valkyrie motorcycle,Grants Pass,Or
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06-09-2013, 05:43 AM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 314
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I would think that a more economical approach would be purchasing a good truck and a used travel trailer. Both things re depreciating assets, but I am thinking that with fewer moving parts, it would be a great way to see if you really like the lifestyle, and if there are mechanical issues it will be easier to find automotive/truck repair. I think Motorhomes are 3x as complicated as a house and unless you are comfy in working on systems yourself I think this would be a doable solution. Good luck!
__________________
Bucksmom
2008 Dynamax Dynaquest,
a good man who puts up with me, and Buck and Bull the wonderdogs.
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08-04-2013, 10:23 AM
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#34
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 21
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Update:It looks as if I will be doing this on my own. My friend has apparently backed out. The good news is that I just cashed out a small second pension and will be keeping enough cash on hand to look for a small used car to tow and a used class a motor home. I will put the remainder in an IRA for emergency purposes. The whole prospect of leaving Kalamazoo permanently after 47 years here is scary. The prospect of living life full-time in an RV is overwhelming. All that I need to learn seems a daunting task. Learning to drive that big motor home and towing a small car besides will take time. Getting comfortable with backing up scares me the most and turning corners. Not to mention trying to live on about 1450/month. I've read where others do it. Workamping will probably be in my future. Any thoughts, ideas, comments, suggestions, encouragement will be appreciated.
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08-04-2013, 11:10 AM
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#35
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Avon Lake, Oh
Posts: 2,958
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Just a suggestion, look for a used class c, and you can drive it just about anywhere. No need for a car to tow behind, and plenty of space for one person. Cheap basic insurance, put away $50 per month for maintenance. The work camp thing will help.
__________________
2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ENDEAVOR
40 FT--330HP CAT
2 SLIDES-TOAD 2012 focus
Fulltime-Home is where we park it.
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08-04-2013, 11:31 AM
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#36
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 21
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No Money Down
I need t o change the title of this thread.
Thanks Davdeb1. That does sound like a better idea! I had briefly considered it and thought maybe it would be too small. But even if it is, the greater ease of driving would probably totally make up for any lack of space. Not to mention not having to purchase another smaller vehicle to tow behind me. I had thought having a second vehicle might be a good idea in case of breakdowns. But I can think more about that.
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08-04-2013, 11:53 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: bis. nd
Posts: 1,124
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I see you are still active in getting that dream. There are so many naysayers on here...most will say cant do it or 15 yr old MH are not reliable. Well I drive many vehicle that are more than that old and would take them anywhere. They just don't know what's good or not. or cant fix most anything..in rural areas there is never anybody to depend on so most of the time its up to the individual to do their repairs or spend bucks to do it. It is always good to know the lenders you want to deal with{well here there's only 600 thous people in the whole state so its not hard to know them}..i always go to the same bank or credit union so I have relationships...heck right after I filed chapter 13 ..I was offered a loan to buy the building[without asking} I was renting in 2004 and no down payment...of course it did appraise at 410 and bought it for 400... so knowing the lender is valuable... I have never actually worked for anybody after I was 21 yrs old .self employed ...so they do know you have ambition which if you can show them really helps...{ I know I will get flamed for maybe bragging but you asked for opinions} not to many people on here that have been self employed there entire life so its hard for them to make things happen jeff
__________________
2007 Alfa Gold!! model 1008. 400hp Freightliner, IFS!!
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08-04-2013, 12:17 PM
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#38
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 21
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Thanks beenthere, it's been years since I worked on a vehicle, but I have a fair working knowledge and am determined to do this!
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08-04-2013, 12:50 PM
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#39
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 121
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Here is how we did it. We found a owner of a neglected 1988 HR Alumalite. Alumalites are good because they don't leak as easily. They can take neglect. No slides. No fancy crap. Everything BASIC.
We gave $4000.00 down and paid him $500 per month until it was paid off.
The engine/trans were OK. The fridge, HW heater and stove worked. After that, we figured everything else would need to be replaced. And we LIVED in it.
We repair a little bit at a time. What we can repair ourselves, we do. What we can't fix, we have a service do. If this is the route you take be prepared to become an EXPERT on your RV home. Every wire, every system every quirk.
As I read these forums I am somewhat thankful that we didn't have the resources to buy a newer coach. It seems like a lot of the stuff >2000 has a lot of problems. A lot of EXPENSIVE problems.
IRV2 is your best friend. Somebody here has seen/lived through everything. It is a treasure trove of info. But you still have to get your hands dirty and fix it yourself.
Good luck and don't get discouraged. If you want it, you will find it.
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08-04-2013, 01:29 PM
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#40
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 21
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Thanks wjell! I just turned 60 and still get around okay. If I can figure something out I'll try to fix it.
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08-06-2013, 10:32 AM
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#41
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 21
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No Money Down
So, here I am at this crossroads. I will have the money in my account in a few days to buy a used motor home. I told the apartment complex where I currently live that I didn't want to renew my lease for a year, so they let me stay through September. Which means I need to be ready to move out before October 1st. I plan to buy the motor home and park it here in the apartment complex parking lot for the next month and a half while I practice driving it and get to know it. I will also use this time to stock it. Getting rid of what possessions I can't take with me in the motor home is another task i will be working on during this time. I am having trouble deciding whether to get just a motor home or a motor home and a small car to tow behind. Driving a motor home of any size with a towed vehicle behind me is more than just a little scary. Backing up and turning corners sounds really difficult. I'm vacillating between buying a class c without a small car and a class c (or a) with a small car. The savings financially of having just a motor home to maintain and pay insurance, etc., on sounds appealing but may be more of an inconvenience than I want to deal with. I will probably be spending my time at places where I can stay 2-3 weeks at a time and move when and where the weather is moderate. I may have to supplement my income by workamping. Any thoughts?
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08-06-2013, 10:53 AM
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#42
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wherever the rig is parked
Posts: 8,092
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbird7553
So, here I am at this crossroads. I will have the money in my account in a few days to buy a used motor home. I told the apartment complex where I currently live that I didn't want to renew my lease for a year, so they let me stay through September. Which means I need to be ready to move out before October 1st. I plan to buy the motor home and park it here in the apartment complex parking lot for the next month and a half while I practice driving it and get to know it. I will also use this time to stock it. Getting rid of what possessions I can't take with me in the motor home is another task i will be working on during this time. I am having trouble deciding whether to get just a motor home or a motor home and a small car to tow behind. Driving a motor home of any size with a towed vehicle behind me is more than just a little scary. Backing up and turning corners sounds really difficult. I'm vacillating between buying a class c without a small car and a class c (or a) with a small car. The savings financially of having just a motor home to maintain and pay insurance, etc., on sounds appealing but may be more of an inconvenience than I want to deal with. I will probably be spending my time at places where I can stay 2-3 weeks at a time and move when and where the weather is moderate. I may have to supplement my income by workamping. Any thoughts?
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I would say if you can fit a small car into the budget, go for it. Without a car you will either have to break camp for grocery runs, side trips etc or be dependent on others for rides. Don't worry about towing. It takes about 50 miles for you to pretty much forget the car is back there. It just follows wherever you go. As for backing up DON'T DO IT with a car on a towbar. Nasty things happen to the tow bar and the car's steering. Always plan ahead (gas stations etc) so you have an exit route ahead of you. Worst case, unhitch, back up and re hitch.
Workamping or volunteering will certainly help with the budget. I would suggest thinking in terms of 3 month rather than 3 week stays. Zero cost for campsites, utilities and motor home fuel adds up to substantial savings, with maybe a paycheck thrown in as well.
It's your dream, go live it!
__________________
Bruce Dickson 2013 Thor Challenger 37GT, 5 Star Tune, Safe-T-Plus Steering Control with Air Trim, Roadmaster front and rear Sway Bars, SuperSteer rear Track Bar, Crossfires, 2018 Honda CRV . Full timers since Jan 2012.
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