Community Forums

rivrduk · 02-20-2011, 12:23 AM

The statement i am about to make is from a newcomer to MH ownership. " It seems that there are no sure answers to the following: Batteries, Tires, and Insurance. I am very new to this Forum and i have learned much and am very apreciative of all the info i have received from you members. I cannot begin to tell each of you who have answered my questions just how much it has helped. Am i correct here in my accessment. Rivrduk

RV Wizard · 02-20-2011, 01:40 AM

There are sure answers; just a lot of competitors making small differences in like products.
In insurance, remember the large print giveth and the fine print taketh away. It is also as important how the repair facility handles the claim; must use "covered" terminology for authorization.

Rick Long · 02-20-2011, 02:30 AM

Rivrduk, You're very right

...

For every brand, there is a valid reason why someone bought it.

GaryKD · 02-20-2011, 06:45 AM

Hi rivrduk,
On the tires and batteries, there are absolutes and sure answers. The difficulty is the sure answer may apply only to you. Each of us may have our own sure answer. This is because of all the variables each coach and owner places on the engineering and materials that the manufacturers put in the product.

Insurance is entirely different,. There is another active thread on iRV2 asking if "Dealers Think We Are Stupid". That I do not know, however I am pretty sure insurance companies think we are stupid. Every year I go to quite a few insurance company web sites to determine if I should switch companies. I call my Insurance broker and ask the same question. The web sites are a real joke. They return a ridiculous rate. Then the telephone calls start. The person calling always apologizes for the errors in the webs site and provides me the "real" rate. When I explain this remains considerably higher than what I am paying, there comes another round of "savings". After many years of doing this, when I receive the first call I just tell them the company I'm insured with and what I am paying. If they can beat the rate (for the same coverage) by 15% I'll switch. This tends to make for a short conversation.

Then there is the 1st year loss leader rate. I have switched to another carrier only to have a huge jump in the rate after the first renewal. Then there are the companies that write only 6 month policies. This provides them the opportunity to raise the rate 2 times a year instead of once a year.

randco · 02-20-2011, 06:50 AM

No one can ever be sure. That's why the statements of could have, would have or should have are so commonly used. coulda, woulda, shoulda

rivrduk · 02-20-2011, 07:41 PM

For the best insurance from the ones who use their motorhomes on a regular basis What questions do i ask the agent, and what coverages specificially do i need. My state farm ins will just tow the MH 30 miles. I want something that is more than 30 miles!!!!!!!! I will pay for the complete ins coverage. My state farm agent told me if something happened i would pay it out of my pocket, then they would decide if it was covered. I know that most would say: Its not covered. They are more safe this way, and can easily say "its not covered" To H--- with this, and i want no part of AARP. I have never filed a claim in 20 years with my state farm agent on the house or cars. Rivrduk

wa8yxm · 02-21-2011, 10:12 AM

Well, I will try to address some of the common questions and the "issues"

Batteries: There is a lot of "12 volt or six volt" fact is all RV's have 12 volt batteries.. Just some of them are kind of big so they broke them into two parts for ease in handling.. Removed frm the RV those two parts are six volt, but installed they are 12.

Now, I say this because it answers most questions.
Some folks really like AGM batteries. One of the reasons for this is that till fairly recently it was all but impossible to find true deep cycle 12 volt batteries that were NOT AGM, they are also maintence free designs (You do not need to add water) stay cleaner, vent less and can be mounted in odd positions (no "This side up") Personally I think they are too expensive.

The major advantages of Six Volt golf car batteries are these.
They are true deep cycle batteries,, This means that if you run them down to say half full they recover rather well, Starting batteries, INCLUDING THE MARINE/DEEP CYCLE, do not like to be run down as far as a Deep Cycle.

They are also lower in cost.. That said, today you can get some decent 12 volt deep cycle, even maintenance free (But not AGM's) Wall Mart, for example, has a Group 29, 125 Amp hour, 85 bucks.

Tires: The big issue here is life and inflation pressure.

There is one and only one way to determine the proper inflation pressure and that is to have the rig weighted, individual wheel weights, and inflate per the tire maker's charts.

Some folks insist that the pressure on both ends of an axle be the same.. I do not feel this is correct, I think each wheel needs to be inflated per the chart.. WHY you ask

Because the size of the wheel depends on the inflation pressure and the load.. properly inflated the tire is the correct size.

LIFE: 5 years for most RV's a bit longer for full timers that move often.. Tires, (Engines too) need to be driven/used from time to time, the very worst thing for any vehicle is to sit there months on end.. This rots tires, rusts engines and brake components, about the only thing that does not mind sitting parked is the steering and I'm not sure about that.

INSURANCE: I am, or was (I thin it expiered) a licensed insurance agent (Life, not auto so I'm not selling any here)

There are dozens, if not hundreds of insurance companies and many different policies,,, Alas there are far too many variations for me to cover them all here.

Choose a company with a good reputation, Make sure you read ALL the fine print.. Some companies, for example, will not cover the damage if a tree falls on your rig.. (Or some other natural disaster) some have issues with theft from the rig. You have to read the offered policy and make sure your read the fine print.

Remember the Insurance Companies are there to take your money, not to give any back.

paz · 02-21-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivrduk

The statement i am about to make is from a newcomer to MH ownership. " It seems that there are no sure answers to the following: Batteries, Tires, and Insurance. I am very new to this Forum and i have learned much and am very apreciative of all the info i have received from you members. I cannot begin to tell each of you who have answered my questions just how much it has helped. Am i correct here in my accessment. Rivrduk

The reason there is no sure answer is there are different types of tires, different types of batteries, and different types of insurance coverage to meet different needs. One size does not fit all. What works in one case may not be the best for another.

You need to determine what will work best for you in your circumstances. Collecting opinions from fellow iRV2 members is a good way to do that.

SpinRite · 02-21-2011, 11:08 AM

Bottom line: you won't find an answer to the "perfect" choice for anything -- tires, batteries, whatever. Just settle for "good enough" for now.

By the time you need to choose again in a few years, you will no longer be a newcomer, but a full-fledged "Internet Expert," just like the rest of us.

TQ60 · 02-21-2011, 11:21 AM

For tires and batteries, the diference between happy and disaster is usually simple investigation.

Tires are very simple, make sure whatever tire is selected meets the needs, is designed for your use, weight and speed, and be sure you do not exceed any of the specifications of said tire.

Batteries are a whole different story!

Many folks including some who call themselves "engineers" do not understand batteries.

The labeled capacity is only that under specific conditions, many different variables effect the performance of the battery system.

The rate of charge, average ambient temperature, depth of discharge are just a few of the things that impact the battery plant.

Many folks simply do not do their homework, or they ask the wrong questions to the wrong people and then get bad information and have the wrong expections.

There are many folks here have different experiences and levels of information, gets interesting at times as sometimes debates show up.

To take advantage of the folks here, collect as much data relating to your question and post it.

For MH questions the make, model and year at a minimum, for system questions same as above with added data such as wheel weight for tires, loads, qty, type and voltages for batteries.

Try to keep a thread on a single subject so the discussion stays on a single subject.

With the data that you collect here you then can be well armed to deal with the sales rep for whatever product or service you need and will be able to make a well informed choice.

GaryKD · 02-21-2011, 03:28 PM

Hi rivrduk,
To answer your last post about insurance, you do not need to know what questions to ask if you go to a insurance broker that specializes in motor coach insurance. For practice call Farm & City at 800-331-1520. Let them ask you the questions and come back with their recommendations. I've used them for several years and found them to be experienced and fair. You'll need the coach details before you call.

I do use Coach Net for ERS coverage.

bldrbob · 02-22-2011, 07:53 AM

Many answers should be verified especially the electrical ones.I have read some that were completly wrong and dangerous if followed.In my next life I want to be a PERT cause there seems to be an overabundance of EX PERTS.