RV Risk Management

[chasfm11]

As those of us who have been around a few years have come to understand, decisions and actions sometimes carry with them undesired results or consequences. For example, I learned in my college days that if I drank too much alcohol, I could risk spending the night calling "Ralph"� or feel like someone was hitting my head with a hammer the next morning. Occasionally, I might temporarily "forget"� some of those lessons but more often it isn't as much forgetting as it is trying to ignore them. Even better than having learned about risks ourselves is to learn about them from others. Watching other intermediate skiers try to ski on "expert"� slopes taught me the risk of trying it without further instruction. I didn't have to personally experience the expert slope to figure that out.

Based on reading the RV forums, I've identified what I believe to be risky RV behaviors. My intent was to identify the actions and risks that seem to be the most common or that have the highest amount of consequences. Here are some:

- buying an RV without experience in the RV lifestyle or without a clear picture of intended use
- buying an RV from a dealer from whom obtaining warranty service will be difficult or impossible (because of distance)
- Not researching parking considerations and restrictions before purchasing an RV
- having an RV serviced by a dealer versus an independent repair facility
- not performing an informed Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). By "informed"� I mean having done sufficient research in advance as to understand the basics of all the systems and how they should perform and having prepared notes about that performance
- running an RV overweight or over capacity. This applies to MHs (CCC) as well as TVs with 5ers or TTs.
- driving any RV in excess of the posted speed limit (based on laws of physics, especially mass)
- Not taking a careful, methodical approach to hooking, unhooking and set up EVERY TIME.
- Not taking the time to practice and gain experience with an new RV, especially backing and turning

Two disclaimers:
- Notice that the word "shouldn't"� hasn't appeared anywhere here. My intent is simply to list the higher risk behaviors. Like all of the decisions we make in life, the risks we accept from doing it are our own.
- It is easy to say"� I've done that and nothing bad has happened to me."� The feeling of invincibility from denying the odds against that action doesn't make that risk go away. The forum pages seemed to be filled with others who weren't that fortunate.

Thoughts?

[chasfm11]

As those of us who have been around a few years have come to understand, decisions and actions sometimes carry with them undesired results or consequences. For example, I learned in my college days that if I drank too much alcohol, I could risk spending the night calling "Ralph"� or feel like someone was hitting my head with a hammer the next morning. Occasionally, I might temporarily "forget"� some of those lessons but more often it isn't as much forgetting as it is trying to ignore them. Even better than having learned about risks ourselves is to learn about them from others. Watching other intermediate skiers try to ski on "expert"� slopes taught me the risk of trying it without further instruction. I didn't have to personally experience the expert slope to figure that out.

Based on reading the RV forums, I've identified what I believe to be risky RV behaviors. My intent was to identify the actions and risks that seem to be the most common or that have the highest amount of consequences. Here are some:

- buying an RV without experience in the RV lifestyle or without a clear picture of intended use
- buying an RV from a dealer from whom obtaining warranty service will be difficult or impossible (because of distance)
- Not researching parking considerations and restrictions before purchasing an RV
- having an RV serviced by a dealer versus an independent repair facility
- not performing an informed Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). By "informed"� I mean having done sufficient research in advance as to understand the basics of all the systems and how they should perform and having prepared notes about that performance
- running an RV overweight or over capacity. This applies to MHs (CCC) as well as TVs with 5ers or TTs.
- driving any RV in excess of the posted speed limit (based on laws of physics, especially mass)
- Not taking a careful, methodical approach to hooking, unhooking and set up EVERY TIME.
- Not taking the time to practice and gain experience with an new RV, especially backing and turning

Two disclaimers:
- Notice that the word "shouldn't"� hasn't appeared anywhere here. My intent is simply to list the higher risk behaviors. Like all of the decisions we make in life, the risks we accept from doing it are our own.
- It is easy to say"� I've done that and nothing bad has happened to me."� The feeling of invincibility from denying the odds against that action doesn't make that risk go away. The forum pages seemed to be filled with others who weren't that fortunate.

Thoughts?

[Webster]

I agree with much of what you've said here; however, I also feel that some people are a little too paranoid about things.

For instance, your statement about buying a motorhome without experience. Other than renting one, how do you get experience. If you're buying a Class A, but renting a Class C, that's not the same. You can procrastinate and lose out on a good deal. We chose to purchase a used motorhome and got a good deal.

To me, in life there are times one must take a chance, but a calculated chance is a bit better.

[RobAndTeresa]

Another to add might be...

Towing a toad without supplemental and/or break away brake system, just because they don't "have" to or it's not "required".

Take care.

[SeeTheUSA]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Webster:
. . . I also feel that some people are a little too paranoid about things . . .

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah --- what he said!

I throw caution to wind occasionally and take one hand off the steering wheel to wave to other RVers.

[chasfm11]

I'm not suggesting that people not take risks but that they simply recognize them for what they are. Making a large investment in something that you haven't tried is a risk. I don't agree that renting a Class C doesn't give you experience in looking at Class As for purchase - that is exactly how we did it. It is more important to try the lifestyle than how you try it with any particular vehicle, IMHO. I said that my comments were based on reading a lot of posts. A lot of those posts said that the posters got a good deal - but on the wrong type of RV for them. They had to trade almost immediately and lost money. Loosing money is a risk, at least to me.

If you take the risk and succeed, great. Just understand what happens if you don't succeed and be ready to deal with those consequences. That is all I'm saying.

[Horsevoice]

Our RVing experience is over 18 years ago with one trip from CA to MO and back thru the Grand Canyon. We are about to make a huge life-style leap from a 4BR2BA into either a 5er or Class A. Yeah - we're taking a risk, but at this stage of our lives - why not? We are aware of most of the risks, that's why we are spending a huge amount of time on research! Risk is OK as long as one understands it going in.

[rvgrandma]

We often are vendors at RV Shows and when people tell us (or ask) they have never owned one before, the first strong suggestion is to rent one to see if you like the 'close' quarters.

When they go to buy one we suggest they:
take a shower to see if there is room;
sit on the toilet and go thru their routine; stand in the kitchen and 'cook';
sit in the living area and picture yourself 'living' there;
lay on the bed, walk around the sleeping area.
If even for weekend use and vacation one has to be able to envision how they will live in it for that time. We like to even get to the nitty gritty and suggest they think of their black water holding tank. We have had straight drops and curved - we prefer staight since the sensors are never accurate and less chance of clogging or easier to unclog.

We also suggest they buy used (let someone else pay the depreciation) and if possible take an experienced RVer with you - one you know knows their RVs or at least some saive when buying. By buying used the first time (or all the time) there will less chance of loosing money if they decide they do not like Rving or it is the wrong size.

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">take an experienced RVer with you </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Exactly

Asking an experienced buddy to come to an RV show with me was very helpful, as was buying a copy of a good RV repair book and reading it from cover to cover.

There are risks in everything, but by informing yourself, you can mitigate the risk and maximize your chance of having fun.

[Near SOTA]

There are a few places where people can get assistance to help them learn safety for RVing .I know of 1 in my area through a dealer and amy good dealer will allow you to get some practice and tips before buying.

I have no experience with driving an RV,but I do have experience driving school buses and 6X's from my Military days plus learning some tips from my uncle who was a trucker.

Doing DD is essential before taking the step of purchasing and driving these things and it would be foolhardy not to be cautious.

The worst story I had ever heard about was one dummy thinking that if they engaged Cruise Control the RV would drive itself and proceeded to get up to make a cup of cofee while the RV was going down the road.I do not know weather that story is true,but in this day & age I would not dismiss itThey blamed it on the dealer who sold them the RV I think.Like I say I do not know weather the story is true,but some folks do not think to well.

I have been doing much research into this before commiting to going Fulltime and it is better to be safe then sorry when taking steps using and purchasing an RV. Safty comes first in everything.RV's are no exception.

One person did not know what CCC means when I mentioned it in a post. That surprised me.

I have seen some ratings of CCC being somewhere like 500# and for those people that purchased those units they probably were shocked to learn what they could not carry with them.

Anyway ,I look at this like planning for a trip to the mon whereas I want to know as much as possible before I start the mission of purchasing ,preparing the unit and traveling with the unit.

One of the best things people suggest is to take a few short trips before starting extended journey's. That is what I shall do if I buy locally.If not I plan on buying close to where I plan on being for awhile. I am planning on relocating to the south from the north this summer.

GL to all and safty comes first.Forgive the typo's please!