hayesfamily
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Everything posted by hayesfamily
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Im a little late to the punch on this one however I can honestly say most if not all of the folks i encounter in this fraternity of camping are way older than me ... and to quote a few people, most people who own motorhomes tend to be over the age of 60 because they have the time and the patients to deal with MH'ing and the money. My story is different. I was in a near fatal car accident in November of 15 and it made me want to be with my family more and this was the way I chose to do it. At 37 years old (other half closer to 50) i can honestly say that NONE of our friends have a Class A coach and the ones who camp arent doing Baltimore to FL type long distance trips. The person that introduced me to this lifestyle is almost 70 but he was in his 40s when he got is first travel trailer and he seemed to be HAPPY all the time. If figured it was the coach and the life style so we bough one and havent been happier. So, to kind of respond to Tami: That under 60, under 50, and especially under 40 group that we may be seeking simply doesnt exist especially in the Mid Atlantic region where the geographical cost of living doesnt provide extra funds for a coach. I would tend to think thats the case most places but especially urban jungles like the Baltimore Philly New York areas. So the solution to this "issue" is to use technology and social media to create events where we can come together, the few of us under 60 with children, and to camp and expose our kids to world like other than the "norm" of PS4 and Xbox in a campground with a pool. We homeschool which give Michelle and I super flexibility so we arent opposed to meeting families in SD at Mt Rushmore or meeting in the grand canyon, or Niagara Falls --- EVEN DISNEY. We coordinate events (even if once a Year) and have fun together. Thats how we introduce other families to this lifestyle as well. Just my $0.02
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I know this is a tad gross but I have heard stories of Holding Tanks (BLACK WADDA) leaking and I actually saw (smelled) this not to long ago (Wasn't MINE!). I am curious, what are the environmental consequences (as in is the EPA going to come looking for you) if you have a holding tank that is leaking? Is their some law that says you will get fined or prosecuted? I know with a boat, you have insurance to cover spills and stuff but nothing about MH.
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We are going to Maine and We got a 2000 Itasca Suncruiser. Your exact words to me were "You are going to see things that need to be fixed on a 18 year old coach. Your job is to find the coach with the fewest issues. Don't forget to check the date codes on the tires. " This is a 16 year old coach and there are things that need to be fixed. However the things that will need fixin are in the hundred of Dollars maybe a thousand ... that Damon had 6K worth of issues that I would have been dealing with. The Adventurer in FL transmission went out on the dealer parking lot and then he asked me to make the "one **** of a Low Deal" ... as in you wanted to me buy a problem and sink cash into to fix it. Yall sent me to the folks in TX (PPL) and they had a coach that I wanted but they were honest and told me it was a turd that the family selling wanted top dollar for. The pictures were "Not Representative" of the true damage and they actually told me to look at this one. They even told me what to offer for it and the guy accepted. Better believe when I get a diesel I am coming to TX and buying it from them. They were awesome even though they couldn't help us. I am going to do a few upgrades this winter and I may look at having a Washer Dryer put in but in a 36ft coach IDK if that is wise - not sure where to put it. I have to put TV;s in as the owner took the TVs out they had installed. May install a DishNetwork system - that was gonna go in the other coach but never got around to it. I owe a Big thanks to you ... Herman Jleamont and everyone who gave solid input. I cant wait to meet yall somewhere over the rainbow on the road.
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FINALLY got all the paperwork a d we get a new to us coach. Going to pick it up on the 4th of October to bring it home. Should be fun
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PPL had a few. We were close to a deal and lets just say the owner wasnt willing to fix 5K worth if stuff that didnt work and they wouldnt come down on the price. I did find an Itasca that we put a deposit on and if all goes well will have here in Baltimore on the 27th.
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So I finally got an answer to my question and I want to share because I CAN'T be the only one wondering (Or Maybe I am) AAA VS Coach-Net or Good Sam AAA gives you the SAME coverage that would be in your car --- So in my case my current membership would allow me 100 miles of towing free of charge to the destination of me Choice. There is a HUGE draw back to this and that is there is a 7 day waiting period to use this once you sign up. So technically I am covered because I had it activated because of the old coach, the motorcycle and cargo trailer***. The other draw back would be if we are in west Bum *&%^%^ and there is no service provider in that 100 miles. WE SCREWED!!! Thus the reason I am getting Good Sam or someone else. That $200+ an hour is nothing to play with and you have no clue where anything is. So at 2AM I learned AAA is OK if you need the basic coverage for your RV but not for BIG stuff. Don't need a tire changed, GOOD LUCK - the best your are gonna get is Tire Change - Removing a flat tire from your vehicle and replacing it with your spare. They don't make mention of anything else. No Spare --- YOU SCREWED They will however give you up to $2K in attorney fees should you run over someone so - that is about 10% of what it will cost you for an acquittal. For this gas coach Good Sam will give me more piece of mind than AAA. I know little about Coach Net but when I called the folks acted as if they didnt want to talk to me and answer questions. ***Long Story about what for another forum
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Hey Bill So am I correct in thinking if a qualified repair shop is closer then my home I have to pay the difference in mileage? Is that typical of Coach net and most other recreational vehicle type towing service? So in case there is an inquiring mind I've never had to use an RV towing service neither have I had to use a towing service for my boat on the water. The only experience I have ever had with that type of service was on a friend's vessel and they towed him from Annapolis to Baltimore which is about 13 to 14 miles on the water. They didn't try to take him to the closest Pier or Marina. They did not try to take him to a service place they brought him and the boat home. So this is kind of new to me in the sense I've only had to call Triple A for my car and it would only make sense at least in my mind which as we have all figured out I'm a bit out there, I would think that if you're within 50 miles of home and you choose to be towed home it would be no issue.
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Yeah I believe I'm switching to Good Sam for numerous reasons but the biggest concern I have is simply, if it's a situation I can fix at home and I'm within reasonable mileage of my home I would prefer my coach to be towed home. I happen to be in their office and mentioned that I was in the process of getting another coach and they offered me their RV Insurance or whatever it's called. I looked through the fine print and you're absolutely right they don't seem to cover as much as some of the other folks would but the one thing I like about them is that they will tow my car home in the event there's an issue and not necessarily to one of their facilities. Everything at Good Sam and Coach-Net says tow to the nearest service center but if my home is closer I almost prefer that. Nobody has been able to answer the question about Towing it home.
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There have been a lot of comments in reference to various Roadside Assistance programs for motorhomes and towables. My question is how come nobody mentions AAA? I went in the office and they offered. To upgrade to a different package they offer for my automobile and I told them that I was going to be leaving to go to Good Sam they offered me their RV coverage. I told him I would do some research and get back to him so ... Is there something I should know?
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2000.
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Your right ... I agree with you. I took WildBills advice. I found one with the fewest issues. My issue with Retail price is asking FULL BOAT RETAIL knowing that the interior is jack to ****, or the transmission doesn't work. How about the one I looked over smelled like nasty stale SKUNK. What isnt anywhere close to retail. I mean shouldn't the jacks at least work or not work at all? I am not talking about a stain or a scratch or missing TVs. I am talking stuff that will prevent me from enjoying the coach. If they ask for Retail Price I should be able to leave the Lot and at least camp somewhere for a night when I bring it home without issue even if I dont watch TV. I made an offer last week and the Owners accepted the offer I placed for a Itasca Suncruiser. It has a bruise on the rear from where they backed into a tree but it doesn't leak and the Transmission works. No TVs but I was gonna do my own thing there anyway. My family is looking forward to making our next Coach OURS but I at least need it to move LOL! Anyway on to the inspection phase.
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crossing fingers ... made offer on a coach today ... tomorrow waiting to see if the owners accepted.
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When I say people are asking for retail price they are actually going to sites like NADA and looking up values. Then they're going to post something in the hi retail low retail range when those prices are for coaches that have zero issues. I'm not talking about that I'm talking about this one coach hydraulic on the underbelly storage doors that were completely broken off the door so I would have to either drill holes in a tax bracket or some kind of way figure out how to fix them to New arms. I'm talking front air conditioning not functioning at all, I'm talking hydraulic leveling not functioning properly. These things are not items that I would consider paying Premium Retail and then having to fix them. For example I actually looked at a 98 Cheiftain which appears to be in awesome condition outside and inside. The problem is with 27,000 miles on the coast of 18 years old and I am suspension problems because they did not drive the coach. I offered him a price $4,000 less than his asking price and he counters 2000. I'm a let it sit for another month and see I've gotten to a point now where I just started making offers and you're right there are many coaches coming available that people would rather sell than store so I'm just going to take my time, make offers and if I think their prices too much I'll just wait and make an offer a month later it's still sitting there. For every month at 6 something this potentially going to be damaged by the winter and or it's going to cost them to list it.
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OK searching for the "Perfect Coach" SUCK!!!!!!!! Why is everyone looking for Retail price for a Coach that ain't in RETAIL condition. So I am looking at a 99 Damon Intruder. The length is OK and truthfully, the layout is awesome HOWEVER, the leveling jacks have a hickup, the front AC has an issue (which I am sure is simple) but you want retail price for it? I am SO frustrated. Never the less the search continues.
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Bill the one thing I have learned in this whole process is when it comes to motorhomes Size Matters. Best 30-foot coach wasn't working for anybody. Even if it was just me and the missus 30 feet is simply not enough and to be very honest with you we were miserable. The only good thing about a 30 foot soldiers you can put it in a tight spot. If we were much older that would probably work but as soon as you add a bouncing 7 year old and a 30 pound dog life got interesting very quickly. I'm not going to say that it handled bad on the highway because it did not however put something behind it and believe it or not it drove 30 times better. Nevertheless I prefer that my bedroom slides but at this point the living room area is a must slide. There's nothing worse than having a 30-foot motorhome where is the living room area does not stick and somebody's in the kitchen cooking you got to get past them because you have to pee. There's nothing worse but having to make the decision of food hitting the floor or being a thirty-seven-year-old grown person changing clothes cuz they didn't make it to the potty. Needless to say size does matter
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Awesome ... well we are in the hunt for a new to us coach. LONG STORY but I am hoping to have it by the end of the year of not the beg of next season. I dont like to shop and this has become tedious. I have learned to get what you need the first time and this is a lesson well learned.
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I have EVERY thing that roles on wheels and floats in water Insured through The Hartford. My home is a different story however, I am too young for AARP but the rates are still super competitive. I do not like the claims adjusters as they lie a lot and getting a straight answer then they may have to pay is a problem however, the threat of a lawyer and to leave usually gets you in touch with someone that knows what they are talking about.
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Awesome ... ??????????? Are you from FL?
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Gotcha ... so I will tell you there are 2 things that made me not do the DVC thing simply because it didnt work for me at the time. The biggest thing is the amount of point I would have had to buy to accommodate 5 people. 2nd was the need to pay them upfront with a loan I had to get or acquire. If they offered financing options I would have purchased but I am in Orlando for vacation not to hunt for a loan and I never did. You have given me reason now to revisit the idea. Also, yall arent much older than me and not much younger than the Misses. The old kids are in college on our end and we have the 7 year old who runs the house. If yall decide to do the beach thing in the summer share the info cause we have never done a beach vacation with the Coach. Been thinking about a run to Myrtle Beach but never done it.
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Financing has been one of those things I tried to avoid like the plague. Eventually I will have too but trying to avoid it. I agree Its simply time to get another coach and put this bad memory to bed. I contacted PPL and Motor homes of Texas and talked to some awesome People. Both are getting back to me on a price for 2 really nice coaches. Will let you know how it goes.
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Towing 2012 Chrysler Town & Country
hayesfamily replied to 1haflinger's topic in Toads-Towed Behind Motorhome
Your right. All Wheel Drive is for all intent and purpose NOT TOWABLE unless you disconnect the driveshaft which I am not sure if it is Practical on the Town and Country. Its Cheaper to buy a $2000 manual Transmission something than it is to tow the T and C. -
I am looking as we speak. DP less than 10 years old are WAY out of the price range as they are coming in at over 60k. With the sale of the Winnie and the cash on hand my budget isnt there. This is why this guy really got under my skin, I wasnt looking to spend this kind of cash. I do have a question, I see people posting "Speed" numbers and I am curious, what is a Diesel going to give me "speed" wise over a gas? Is it just the torque I get pulling hills or on flat terrain will I get to move the coach at 75 and be more comfy?
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Thanks so much for the advise. I really think its time to move toward a DP and this was the opportunity to do so. It just pissed me off that i wasted valuable time and potentially lost deals on good coaches while trying to make a deal happen. I honestly can say the Sightseer isnt bad in the noise department and to be perfectly honest I have no problem running up and down the road with it. We are looking to go West and I have heard the horror stories of folks in gassers getting hammered int he pocket with 3 and 4 MPG pulling those mountains. Not to mention the stories of Tractor Trailers blowing past them uphill so I figured id try the DP route. Herman your right, everything you said I found in my search. High mileage perfect interiors or Low mileage warn interiors - exactly what you said.
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Looking forward to to seeing the decorations. Not a Halloween guy by any means but cool decorations are cool decorations no mater when they are up.
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No this isnt our first Disney Trip as we try to go yearly (a few times with out the kids)Typically we try to go in April after Spring Break or in October. So I have done everything to avoid DVC but I have to ask for curiosity sake. How does that work with Fort Wilderness and an RV?