Starting From Scratch

[montyhp]

Originally Posted by SunnyAZgirl

Good advice. How do you find independent inspectors?

We are heading to a RV show this weekend in Phoenix. Good thing it is in an indoor stadium as we are expecting the temps to hit 120 degrees! We re slowly forming a picture in our minds of what we want, but still have a lot of unanswered questions.

A google search of the phoenix area listed several rv inspectors. For DP i would also have the engine and chassis looked at by a diesel shop. (Freightliner, caterpillar, cummins, any of them can do it.) you might want to shop around for cost

[SunnyAZgirl]

Originally Posted by montyhp

A google search of the phoenix area listed several rv inspectors. For DP i would also have the engine and chassis looked at by a diesel shop. (Freightliner, caterpillar, cummins, any of them can do it.) you might want to shop around for cost

Thank you. [emoji4]

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by SunnyAZgirl

We need one with easy access, though. We have a handicapped daughter who would have difficulty getting into one of the high ones, so we still have some research to do.

For a comfortable Jeep with easy entrance you need to look at the Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee.

We had a Jeep Liberty that was easy but they have stopped being produced. We had excellent use out of it - 175,000 miles with just maintenance done and small repairs like belts, etc. It was a fun car and could go anywhere the Wranglers could go. We did Jeeping with groups and found ourselves on trails that we would have never considered but they assured us we could do it...and we did. A Jeep is really fun!

[SunnyAZgirl]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

For a comfortable Jeep with easy entrance you need to look at the Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee.

We had a Jeep Liberty that was easy but they have stopped being produced. We had excellent use out of it - 175,000 miles with just maintenance done and small repairs like belts, etc. It was a fun car and could go anywhere the Wranglers could go. We did Jeeping with groups and found ourselves on trails that we would have never considered but they assured us we could do it...and we did. A Jeep is really fun!

Thank you. That gives us a good starting point. So much to research! Right now I am checking out the RV show in Quartzite, AZ this January. That would be an easy drive for us, but pretty sure we would need at least 2 full days there.

[nothermark]

One end of the spectrum has been busy. Here is a different view. I would plan on buying the wrong motor home first. You probably will simply because your ideas will change as you start living in the unit. Given your size range you will probably end up in a DP but I would not discount a gas unit. It really does not matter most of the time as one is parked. The gas will cost significantly less so any loss due to depreciation will be that much less. Repairs are also significantly cheaper in many cases. All things I would consider on my break in MH. YMMV.

As far as the towed the field of choice is significantly limited for 4 down. A tow dolly can handle almost anything that is front wheel drive. A used one costs about as much as a towbar and does not need the base plate or brake system. When done you can sell it for about what you paid for it. We have two vehicles that we can tow 4 down and use a dolly.

If you look around there are several threads on budget. The one that sticks in my mind is somebody doing it for around $3000/mo.