jlandon13399

You can also call the stat's DOT for road conditions. If you are in the state 511 works in most states.

One would think a vendor at some of the rally's would offer a sign product like this.

This is not just a Jayco problem but an industry wide problem. I know I sound like a broken record, but until we consumers start demanding a better quality product things will not change. All RV manufacturers should be ISO/TS 16946 quality certified. This is an expensive process initially, but will save millions of warranty dollars in the future for the manufacturers that implement the quality process.

There are several good tow vehicles. If you are looking new the Honda CRV gets good reviews. The mechanic at Lazy Days in Tucson that sets up motorhomes and tow vehicles said he does 6 CRV's to one of any other vehicle. I took his advice and purchased a new 2013 CRV 2-wheel drive. Do your homework and decide how you want to use the vehicle. That should help in your selection.

One thing to consider is weather. We camp year round in Arizona thus the requirement for a 4 season rig. If you plan to camp in very warm weather or cooler nights (40 degrees or less), you will want a unit that is well insulated. You list of amenities is personal preference, but a unit with good insulation will serve you well.

I have found the HD quality of Direct TV to be a bit better than Dish....just my opinion.

The good news about using coach air is it should be dry air, whereas a separate compressor would not necessarily be dry air.

Ditto Bill Adams. The Wal-Mart in Oro Valley allows overnight parking.

I had the same problem and replaced the sensor and eventually the main circuit board, all under warranty from Lazy Days. So far no more issues, but will replace the fridge with a residential if it fails again. Unfortunately will have to remove the driver's window to get the old fridge out and the new one in.

Dennis, Welcome to the forum. There are several good extended warranty companies out there and a few that are no so good. Check this forum for the topic extended warranties and you will get a perspective of good and bad. Also you might check with the service department in a few RV dealers in your area for which companies pay on-time etc.

Dale, Just my two cents on your questions: in The RV world you do get what you pay for. Considering you are looking to spend $25-$30K now and trade in in five years you won't have much value left in the RV. Diesel or gas is the age old question and you will have to drive both and make up your mind. There are many RV's on the market whose manufacturer has gone out of business. You can search the web when you find one you like. I personally like to deal with a dealer as I have somewhere to go for warranty. Most sales of used vehicles only offer a 30 day warranty, but you can purchase an extended warranty if necessary. At the end of the day I would look for a unit with "good bones". The interior can be upgraded to suite your tastes but a good engine and transmission are a must. If you buy from a private individual have the unit inspected by a professional before you buy. It could save you many headaches.

We have made the trip from Tucson to Flagstaff many times. You do have a few grades to negotiate but nothing your coach would not handle. Going to Sedona is a must but I agree not with the RV, use your toad. Also William, AZ is 30 miles west of Flag and the entrance to the Grand Canyon is not far from Williams. The Grand Canyon Railroad RV Park is nice to stay and you can walk to grocery stores etc.

99phantoms, You have defined what you want to do with your life, but I do not see a list of features you require in an RV. My advice would be to develop your list of features and split them into two areas. one must have, and two want but could live without or add later. Most folks new to RVing will have three or more rigs before they settle into the last one. Seems you want to avoid buying and selling as most folks do, but it seems to be inevitable that you go through a couple RV's before finding the one you keep. Check you list against new and used and make the best purchase decision for yourself.

Quality can be an issue on any RV. We should know your parents driving capabilities. Class A's allow more visibility because you sit higher. Class C's are more like a pick-up and easier to get in and out of. It really comes down to what they are most comfortable driving.

I made some comments about RV quality in a Lippert Hydraulics post. I did contact Holiday Rambler and asked about ISO 9000 or QS quality certification in their manufacturing process. The answer I received is they are not ISO certified. They are in compliance with RVIA and display the seal on their coaches. Below is a definition of RVIA. NOW it is NOT a quality assurance program, just a compliance program for component safety. Until we pressure RV manufacturers to improve their quality process, we will continue to get RVs with quality problems. I started my part. Hopefully others will continue the effort. As you shop for the right vehicle, make sure you look for the oval-shaped Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) seal. RVIA is a national association representing RV manufacturers and parts suppliers who together produce more than 95% of all RVs manufactured in the United States. As members of RVIA, manufacturers who display the seal must self-certify compliance with more than 500 safety specifications for electrical, plumbing, heating, fire and life safety established under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Recreational Vehicles. Manufacturers are subject to periodic, unannounced plant inspections by RVIA representatives to audit their compliance. Members who fail to maintain an acceptable level of compliance can be expelled from the Association, which prohibits them from displaying the RVIA seal on their products. RVIA members display gold and black seals on Motorhomes, silver and black seals on Fifth-Wheel and other Travel Trailers, and white and black seals on Truck Campers and Folding Camping Trailers. As another condition of RVIA membership, motorhome and trailer manufacturers must post a weight label in a conspicuous location in the vehicles interior. Shoppers should locate these labels for information vital to safe operation of the vehicle. The label lists weights and ratings, including the units gross and unloaded weight ratings, as well as carrying capacity. The label will enable you to determine how much weight it can safely transport, including dealer-installed accessories, fuel and other engine fluids, LP gas, fresh water, passengers (for motorized RVs) and personal belongings. Consult the vehicle owners manual for other valuable weight information as well as data on proper weight distribution, how to weigh the vehicle and towing guidelines.

I agree with everything Brett said. Also I believe your tires are rated to 65 MPH. Anything over 65 could spell problems.

Rich, Stay safe and warm. We experienced snow and zero degree temperatures in St. George, UT last December. Coach performed well. Only problem was the water supply from the RV park.

I have Air Force One installed by Lazy Days in Tucson to operate the brakes in my 2013 Honda CRV.. Absolutely no problems or issues with the system.

I really get annoyed when I read posts concerning quality problems, especially with later model coaches. This industry needs a concerted effort to install ISO or QS quality control systems in their manufacturing and supplier programs. There is no reason other than corporate greed to not move forward on these initiatives. Coach manufacturers pressure their engineers to get cost out of the unit. They do the same with their suppliers and typically buy from the lowest cost supplier. They then ship units with defects to their dealers and expect the dealers to handle the manufacturer's production problems. All the while the innocent customer waits while these quality issues are corrected, sometimes more than once. Unless we as customers and organizations like FMCA and Good Sam get together and pressure the manufacturers to improve their quality this will continue. It is not acceptable to buy a $20,000 travel trailer or a $500,000 motor coach and have quality issues. We do not accept quality issues with our cars and other consumer items, so why do we continue to accept quality issues with our recreational vehicles? I challenge everyone who reads this post to send an email to the manufacturer of their coach (assuming they are still in business) and ask for a detailed explanation of their quality manufacturing process. Might just get their attention. I know I will send one to Monaco/Holiday Rambler.

Look at Casa Grande and Tucson campgrounds. Which one you choose will depend on how active you want to be during the winter months.

msmdkt, Welcome to the forum. I purchased an extended warranty last May from Cornerstone thru Lazy Days in Tucson. I recently had a hydraulic jack failure and Cornerstone stood behind the warranty. The cost of a four year extended warranty was $5992 for the 2008 H/R Ambassador. Considering what could go wrong in four years I thought it was good insurance. Others may disagree but I like knowing the someone has my back. Which company you chose is your call.

rpharr, If you go the the Grand Canyon consider staying at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park. It is in Williams, AZ. Old route 66 goes thru the center of William. You can walk two blocks from the RV park to a grocery store etc. There is entertainment downtown William each evening as they advertise "someone gets shot each night in Williams". The campground is new and very nice. Good travels!

I have to agree with Brett and Kay. Good bones are good bones and 50k is low milage. A coach can be upgraded to have most of the bells and whistles that new ones have and you know about your current coach. Just my 2 cents.

F355197 and hyffypuff, Thank you guys for your input. I believe this may be the time for some good old elbow grease to fix the paint issue. Those of us who are retired certainly have the time, its just getting up on a ladder etc that is a concern. If I take my time and am careful the results should be good. Thanks again,

The top sides of my coach are peeling. This is the area above the gutter line and wraps over the roof for about 6-8 inches. It is the clear coat peeling and the sun here in AZ is very tough. I got a quote to repair the paint and the clear coat for $2000. They will have to at least 2/3rds of the top sides on both sides of the coach. This seems very expensive considering what has to be done. Can anyone tell my how you would go about repairing the paint and clear coat?