Hey, it's the new guy!

[ImanRVCowboy]

My wife and I are planning to retire later next year. We agree on getting an Allegro Red, though unsure of size, 36'or 38'. We'll let the sales guys at the Feb. RV show help us decide. But I have more questions and I hope you folks can give me some advice.
I'll be towing a car. Which are easiest to tow?
Flat or on a dinghy?
Any "must have" options to get in an RV?
Anything to look out for in buying an RV?
Any other concerns or questions I should be asking?
I guess many of these questions have been answered here somewhere. Just point me in the right direction, I'll be happy

Thanks,
Bill

[Skip426]

Hello

Must haves, well you'll get a ton of advice there; my wife and I went through 4 , 5th wheels and didn't get everything, came real close on our first "A".
Watch the CCC, on any unit you look at , ( Cargo Carrying Capacity ) most "A's" have a lot of space but can't handle much weight.
You'll want at least 3000lbs CCC on a 38 ft unit.
Prefere towing 4 down, costs a little more to set up, but much quicker to connect/dis-connect than a dolly, and you don't have any issues finding a place to put the dolly when not in use.
Check your state laws regarding air-brakes , may be testing involved, best to have in place before you buy if you need it.
Good luck with your search; keep notes; safe travels

[Petro]

Bill;

Welcome to iRV2. We are glad you found us. We have a wealth of information available to you here. I would encourage you to browse the forums that interest you and post your questions in those forums. You will receive more responses there I believe. For example post your questions on towing in our Toads and Motorhome Related Towing Forum.

Don

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi Bill! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad to have you in the group! Congrats on the upcoming retirement! I suggest following Petro's advice. Good luck & God bless!

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by ImanRVCowboy

We'll let the sales guys at the Feb. RV show help us decide. But I have more questions and I hope you folks can give me some advice.

Be careful, sadly many salesmen will tell you anything to make a sale. I'd read this forum and ask questions here. You'll get a ton of opinions on most every topic, then you have to figure out who to listen to.

On choosing a towed, manual transmissions are easiest to set up for 4 down towing. Second choice is probably Jeeps or other 4 wheel drive vehicles that have a transfer case that has a neutral position, allowing the transmission to be disconnected. Some automatic transmissions can be towed, but make sure it says it in the owner's manual, not just a salesman's say so.(see my first statement)

After much getting info on iRV2, you might want to consider buying used. New units right out of the factory sometimes have more issues than a used unit. The depreciation on a new unit starts when you drive it off the lot, while the price of a used unit is already well down the price slope when purchased. The difference in savings buying used can go a long way towards upgrades and repairs when needed.

Good luck and

[njs42]

Originally Posted by ImanRVCowboy

My wife and I are planning to retire later next year. We agree on getting an Allegro Red, though unsure of size, 36'or 38'. We'll let the sales guys at the Feb. RV show help us decide. But I have more questions and I hope you folks can give me some advice.
I'll be towing a car. Which are easiest to tow?
Flat or on a dinghy?
Any "must have" options to get in an RV?
Anything to look out for in buying an RV?
Any other concerns or questions I should be asking?
I guess many of these questions have been answered here somewhere. Just point me in the right direction, I'll be happy

Thanks,
Bill

Hey welcome and congratualtions, what a great time of life. Had I known that being seventy was so much fun I would not have taken so long to arrive. You have our best wishes for a wonderful retirement.

My two cents:

4 down is the most popular method, can your vehicle be towed 4 down? That may effect the economics for you. Application Charts | Remco Towing check here and the owners manual to be sure.

Must have options: Outdoor BBQ and good booze, not found in your unit.

Every thing else is so subjective, for some a King bed for others a 50 inch plasma. Some need an oven other are fine with convection. Automatic awnings seem popular, I want one everytime I strike ours before a wind storm. Shop around. In our case we are so happy that we ordered a larger passenger seat for wifey, dog is happy as well.

When it comes to dealing for an RV---"trust but verify". Have someone check it out mechanically (not so important if you are buying new). If new make absolutely sure you check every system before accepting the unit. Some dealers allow you to stay over night. Or just go someplace close for your first nights to check it out before committing to a long voyage. This helps avoid first trip catastrophies; speaking from experience. When things do not work in a new rig (it will happen) best to find out close to home.

You are in a buyers market use it to your advantage. Don't fall in love with the unit until after you have settled on price. There are plenty of RV's out there, don't be afraid to walk away from any deal that leaves you with a little funny feeling.

All the best to you.

[QGreen]

Great Advice, I recommend towing a jeep, they are setup for that and easy to tow. I also recommend a must have for me personally is a new product called 'The Road Wave', it's a built in pressure washer. I like to keep my coach clean, and it's great for bugs on the windshield, It's installed into your storage compartment so you will be sacrificing a little space, it's only 23" tall and 13" wide and 10" deep. Very handy, I use it on every trip. Good luck and see you down the road.

[historyljc]

Hi Bill, welcome to the forum. Lots of good advice above. Congratulations on your retirement and welcome to the Tiffin bunch. You might also want to check with the good folks over at A Part of the TiffinRVNetwork • Index page for Tiffin specific questions.