Hi Guys. Been following along on your sailing journey and recently took a trip back in time to check out your version of RV life. Wanted to let you know people are still enjoying the content you put up a while chapter-of-life ago.
Wow! I have watched hundreds of videos and read countless blogs, and this is the first one that has addressed these issues. What an eye opener. Thank you!
A rather kind and playful insight into the unethical business practices and shoddy workmanship one can expect when buying an RV. This is an unregulated industry with minimal quality standards that people just accept . I have purchased 2 new motorhomes - the worst being a higher end class A plaqued with issues all related to poor workmanship , pinched wires and countless issues resulting in cancelled vacations and numerous trips to dealers. Unfortunately , the excitement of the purchase can quickly turn into a nightmare. So called shakedowns and pre delivery inspections / repairs should be done by the dealer - and not the customer. As one individual in Motorhome magazine recently quoted " The worst part of motorhome-ing is the Motorhome itself". I Just love watching your videos - thanks for sharing.
I admit when we bought our brand new camper Travel trailer, we really had no idea what we were doing. We have camped (Tent and Pop ups) most of our lives. We knew the challenges of those things like comfort, storage, etc. I assumed that buying a camper from a dealer was much like buying a car. Afterall, the price isn't THAT different, right? WOW were we wrong! Ok, then if something breaks we just take it back and they fix it under warranty, right? Wrong again(sort of). What we really didn't know is that a camper manufacturer is basically the one that builds a trailer and then crams it full of things that OTHER companies build. So, the warranty varies based on the company that made that particular item. Normally the most expensive items, Air Conditioner, Stove, Fridge, Water Heater, etc. All with different warranties and all with different length warranties. Also consider that a XX years warranty may sound like a long time, but most people are only going to use the camper a handful of times within that period. We also didn't factor in things like, how often we are going to use it for the money were spending. We have owned our camper for 7 years and might have used it a total of 30 days. $24,000 is a very expensive month of lodging. We also cannot store it at our home. Add another $3780 for storage(over 7 years). I really don't have an exact figure for maintenance, taxes, registration, and insurance either. One bit of advice for any like us; don't count on the dealer to cover anything. Do know that you will be paying out of pocket or doing it yourself for nearly everything. Just thought I would add my 2 cents about the Shady Truth we learned.
Caravans, boats and RVs seem like expensive things, which maybe are not assets because of depreciation. Thanks for your explanation @ Rob Man. Seems more like buying a house on wheels.
First of all, I bought a brand new RV trailer. I was able to buy a 22 footer for the price of 15 footers in the area so I thought I got a good deal. Now for fit and finish. The shower did not prevent water from getting on bathroom floor so had to install shower dams. The shower hand spray handle mount didn't stay on the wall for very long. Shower walls are so thin, the screws had nothing to bite into so used a "super glue" to fix. The PVC drain pipes were only hand tightened so yup, sprung leaks on the third trip. Propane cover lost it's access panel on the second trip. There wasn't enough counter area for food prep, so bought a huge cutting board that covers the stove top which makes food preparation a lot easier. Mini blinds don't stay in position during traveling with a flimsy little plastic clip which needs to be modified soon. Happy trails!
As an RV sales associate I was skeptical, but this is a really good video. Especially the tip of buying at RV Shows or end of the year as the best time to buy. This is true for two reasons, at large RV shows the dealer cost is lower than at any other time of the year, and that is passed along to the customer. At the end of the year, we will accept a much lower margin because we want to clear old inventory and replace it with new inventory. You guys are pretty much spot on the whole video! Thank you!
As someone who is just starting to research the RV world your video is pure gold! I've got a long road of learning ahead but am starting to feel more confident that I can have an intelligent discussion with an RV salesperson. Thank you!
I worked at a dying travel trailer dealer, they dealership was one of the first 10 Holiday Rambler Franchises, but they lost the franchise because they didn't want to carry a big stock of Motorhomes. We were selling Nomads, Scotties and were one of the first Travel Villa dealers. The owner was one who bought a trailer and when it came in we went through it, we could usually bill $1,000 warranty to any new Nomad we got in. The dealer's goal was if we sold you a unit we didn't want it to come back so we where pretty complete in our prep, usually 2-3 days going over the entire trailer before it left. As far as build quality, it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, I worked at Winnebago Motor Home plant for a while and we tried but some units were built to a price point.
We're on our third Rv and hopefully last. The first was a Heartland mpg, not a bad trailer. Although over all it was a good trailer, seemed to be built well, it had a bit of dry rot, and when the dealer blamed me (I maintain everything) I vowed not to by anything from those clowns (local) again. We unloaded it. Went to a tent trailer, but we found very quickly A toddler a dog and a whole weekends worth of stuff was not going to work for us. Taking what I had learned about quality control and a ton of research, I settled on a 21bhs Livinlite. So far, we are happy. Nothing is 100% full proof and we did have some warranty work done, but it's done and we still enjoy the trailer. Cheers and your advice is pretty spot on. Sadly the local dealer didnt' want to service our RV cause we didn't buy it from them. Which made me dislike them even more!
This is a good reality video. Buying a new RV is fantasy or a dream for most people so you think it will be one of the coolest experiences but the fact is. Don't kid yourself. Buying an RV isn't any different than buy a car at a shady dealer or perhaps a used car dealer. The friendlier the dealer is and the more they advertise about how honest and fair they are--the more you should beware.
Here's a tip, I recorded my walk through with a gopro strapped to my chest with coverless frame so the mic could pick up better sound. It's been very helpful to go back and see the video if I forget something. Of course make sure to ask the rep before if its ok to record the walk through. Thanks for the video guys!
Unfortunately the whole RV industry needs a shake up. There is little to no quality control. We had a horror story when buying a new RV and finally got it repaired but to 3rd grade wood shop standards and approved by the manufacturer! I wish the Japanese car manufacturers would enter the RV industry here, that would help with QC. Always love your videos :)
64347Elvis they all are built like shit, even my Nexus. sad but true. all you do really is buy new and force them to fix everything and i mean everything, start looking behind things ,places they think you won't look. if you buy used you won't have the warranty like new. if i had to do it over again i would have gotten a good used bus and built my own. I would be money ahead and better built. you can get a lot of room in a 72 passenger bus. maybe not fancy looking but who cares.
Best quote i read in years about RVs. You posted a while ago but still thanks you say it right. Got the shaft big time on a 26ft travel trailer. Had to give the keys and take the beating with the finance. Horror story. Pay for something you cannot use might as well pay back the bank take your losses
I agree. Unfortunately, it took the Japanese to show,, (demand), that US car manufacturers learn how to build a quality, reliable car. The Japanese handed our asses to us on a plate by the 90s. Thank goodness some people were paying attention. The only thing that is not producing a revolution in the RV business is that they are too big and bulky to ship en masse. For now.
I have been RV'n for near 15 years and have yet to find a salesman that knows as much as me about RV systems and hardware. They are salesmen not representatives. Another truth is a diesel class A will cost near $20000 more than gas, and worth it. Gas class A's can barely get out of their own way. Going up a grade that RV you are zooming past is always gas powered. Do your research read several issues of Trailer Life, talk to people who have the rig you are looking at. It always helps that you know what end of the screwdriver goes in the screw, some mechanical ability can be a lifesaver. I personally prefer 5th wheels, I only want on engine to maintain. If you go class A you damn near require a dingie. (Tow along car) . Happy shopping and RV'n. I do about 90 days a year in my rig. One more item, expect to fight to get worthwhile warranty work, the manufactures don't want to make it to easy.
If you get a diesel pusher for 20k more than a gas then its weak and probably has a mh2500 tranny instead of a MH3500 unless your comparing a used diesel vs a new gas. A trick the budget diesel motorhome industry has been doing for years and yes while it probably has more get up and go to it as a gas unit it will have the same towing capacity
Love the information you gave. We're on our 5th year and 3rd RV, living fulltime in our rig. We'd like to reverse the clock and go back to the last RV because of the poor choice we made last time. Can't stress enough to do LOTS of research and be absolutely positive before you sign those papers.
If take your RV to another dealer for service, be prepared for a long wait. I bought my travel trailer from a dealer 900 miles away to save $4,000 (minus $1,200 for Texas TTL). Six months later, the blower in the roof mounted air conditioner burned out. I took it to the local dealer for warranty repair. One month later, the local dealer still hadn't looked at my air conditioner. When I called them, I got verbal abuse from the owner of the dealership about people that buy from the dealer with the cheapest price. He informed me HIS customers came first and I could wait for my warranty repair. I called the manufacturer and explained my problem to them. The next day I got a call from the local dealer saying my air conditioner was repaired. I will never make the mistake of taking my travel trailer to that local RV dealer again.
I'll be buying an RV- actually a travel trailer- sometime in the next 3 to 5 years (when you are on SSI, Everything takes years to save for, including down payments). I appreciate the videos about what to look out for. I won't have the resources that many people that buy new have, so I will need to find the best trailer for my needs, from the most honest dealer, and so on... I actually live in a converted 1947 Magnolia travel home (think of it as a cross between today's destination trailers and a mobile home) that is attached to a small cabin. All in all, it's a good, inexpensive way to live...but I need a new trailer, one that can actually Move, and is somewhat less than 71 years old.
As someone just starting the looking/research phase of buying, this video couldn't have been more perfect! Thanks! Would love to see that Shady Truth of Ownership video, too! ;)
Thanks for posting these kind of issues for first time buyers. I`d even recommend recording the conversations that you have with the sales people, and the extended warranty folks. Our guy advised us that even the brake pads were covered to try and get us to buy the extended warranty. We did buy one knowing that the pads weren't covered. Glad we did because the main TV and the front window MCD auto shade failed within the first two years. Safe travels to you both.
"Shhh, we don't talk about that" is partly what keeps the cycle of bad RV purchases going. For the brand new, first-time RVer, the search process could be narrowed down quite quickly if other RV'ers were more honest about the lack of quality among some manufacturers and the truth about the whole purchase experience. Regarding the car vs RV argument: I don't own a MH and probably never will, but I do know fit and finish among many of the mainstream manufacturers has declined in favor of more sales. Auto manufacturers produce millions of vehicles while the camper, trailer, 5th wheel, MH and RV industry in general only produce a fraction of what the auto industry does. For example, the people who make my camper (Northwood) only recently made their 10,000th camper...in 20 years! My point is, if the auto industry only made 10K units in a 20 years time period, the quality should be, hypothetically, almost perfect. M RV dealer experience was actually very similar to buying a car. Rushed through inspection, typical, "We can give you a better deal if you buy xyz" and lack of follow through after the purchase. If I had to deal with the lack of quality control in assembly with a vehicle as I've done with my camper, I'd expect a refund and it'd be considered a lemon. Prospective, new RVers will also be baffled at what some manufacturers will cover and will not. RV Warranty work. There's another topic entirely.
Thanks! You two present the BEST most honest reviews and videos. Other rv channels won’t even answer unpleasant questions like “did you finance or bought cash for the rv”? That’s because they get to use the rv van for free for promoting Hymer or road trek and to sell shit on their website! Really rv living is not all that glamorous unless you have money, there are intelligent people out there in UA-cam land that can smell your bullshit. Please continue to be honest and candid in you videos, that’s your best traits! For those that need honest videos about getting a first rv, your videos are the best! Thanks!
LOTS OF GOOD INFORMATION! You do have to watch. Dealers are not always very honest and their repair shops are even worse. Sit in the waiting room of your RV dealership to see the customers there and talk to them.
Here in Oregon the RV shows are a big deal and are generally held in cities along the I5 corridor where they can fast track your "residency" paperwork and make sure you get it without sales tax, especially if it is a "liveaboard" situation. It is also a big deal in trading the used RVs here.
A really good quality RV dealership not far from me will have you spend the night in your new RV on their premises when you take delivery. You get to set it up, live in it, and tear it down before you drive away. I don't know if that is a common practice with other dealerships, but I think it is a darn good one.
Very nice. Seems we have pretty much the same process on researching and looking for RV's. Nice to know I wasn't way off base! Looking forward to the "looking at the actual RV" video. I am heading down from MN to MS to look at a Revolution and could use all the coaching I can get when I inspect it. My shake down trip will be my ride home if it checks out! Having watched you two for so long, I feel like I have already taken a few good trips...and if Jason can fix stuff on an RV then there is hope for me (no insult intended in any way Jason!!) I appreciate what you guys have done IMMENSELY! Thanks!
mike laudenslager Thanks mike. if you haven't been over to our webstie please check it out, when you go to outfit that new RV we'd love it if you used our Amazon Link found here: www.gonewiththewynns.com/tip-jar Safe Journeys!
Gone with the Wynns Been on your website many many many times. Love it. I always find something new there. I will most definitely use your amazon link.
For those of you that don't know once your RV is out of warranty you can purchase a warranty with Good Sam club. Its like getting triple A. It will cover your vehicle as well. Just a suggestion. Check it out and see if its right for you.
Great video Wynns! This should be mandatory viewing for anyone looking at RVing. We have a 2005 Tioga 32M in Germany & love RVing. Of course, it gets tricky on small German roads.
This is very good info, and spot on from my experiences. The biggest mistake I have made in the past is getting in a hurry to leave the dealership before everything is fixed, and never making it back to properly have everything repaired. I look forward to the upcoming videos, and thanks for all the information you provide the RV community.
Hey nice couple; just happened to find you in youtube and I'm so impressed!! Great attitude, great lifestyle. Well, I am one of those who will soon retire and live in an RV so I can't go back in time and do what you guys did, but I can't complain either!! I've been to 60 countries, driven a car in 27 of them, played golf in 13 of them and been with my family in 28 of them, so I'm happy with that, but one day will come in which a 40 ft diesel pusher will be our home and the roads in the US will be our office! Will follow your experience via your videos. Keep it up! and congratulations.
Love your videos. I have noticed that no one ever really talks about RV chassis. Every sales person I have ever met only talks about the chrome and glitter as I call it. The first class A I purchased I realized I made a mistake when I got on I 95 and was all over the road. This is a huge subject so I won't get into it just thought for a newbie it's worth mentioning. I did see your video on the suspension add on sway bar. Far to many motor coaches are built on to light of a chassis.
Great video , I have brought used before and looking to get back at soon. but I been told by several rv owners that brought new RV's that they need a front wheel alignment and have the dealership do it. or you will be buying new tires in 1st. year. there so heavy you will not notice a problem until it's to late.
What I found really helpful see if you have any friends who are already into RVing and go on a few trips with them. It's so nice having a experience RV person to coach you on the in and outs of operating a RV.
glad i didnt buy from a dealership... however did check out my options there.. and purchased 2nd hand from an old couple who had already gone around australia in it
Costco wholesale is the largest auto dealer in the country, I purchased my Honda CRV from them in 2014. They now sell RV's through their website. I have not gone through that process but, I was very happy with the auto purchase program. It is a no haggle price.
How about renting a very similar RV to give it a try with less commitment? The RV lifestyle is not for everyone, and it would be best to find out before you take that new-to-used value loss. I also think a walk around a big RV resort would get you a lot of opinions that are fairly unbiased. I find that many online reviews are posted by company shills. You might even come across a good deal.
Great video. One thing to remember about RV forums and blogs is that people are always ready to tell you about their bad experiences and all the problems they've had but we rarely hear about all the good experiences. Typically people go on forums for two reason, I think, You're either researching to buy a new RV or you're there researching how other people fixed the problem you're having. Just remember it's like watching the nightly news, you here about all the bad stuff that happened but they don't tell you about all the good stuff that happened that day. Just my two cents.
So very true. I have done a lot of research into RVs..... it is mostly angry people venting about their pile of crap. It is hard to judge the good manufacturers from the bad.
You guys hit the nail on the head with this vid! We bought are 2015 Thor Windsport 32 n at the Hersey PA show we got a great price but your correct on things being wrong spent the first 1000 miles going back and fort to different dealers because as you know the house and the frame are to separate things. We happy with the rv after the repairs and recalls. Thank you for all you great vids?
It's a Prevost, pronounced PRE-vo. The premier class A motor home in the world, that also loses the most per-year value -- year after year. But you need close to a cool million to get one new. The low-end version. The top models go for upwards of 3 million. But let's get back to the thing about RVs in general. The fact of the matter is, when buying an RV, (new or used), is that the sales team/staff is well trained to extract as much money from your wallet/bank account as humanly possible. This is their business -- it is their profession. This goes for car dealerships in general. And they are professionals at leading you to a purchase. They practice it, you are on their property, they consider it their right. Free market and all. The better they lie, (withhold the truth), the more money they make. The salesman (person), the sales manager and, of course, the dealership owner all have a stake. "Sales meetings" are about strategy .money flows upward here. A motor home is a miniature home mounted on a large truck frame -- with all the maintenance issues of each. A heavy frame, engine and drive train, suspension, steering, brakes, tires and electrical system that is designed to be in motion -- with a small house of top that generally isn't. Top it off with a generator to supply 120 volt service to run ACs and other hungry appliances with a complex converter/charger, and you've got a potential nightmare. This is a recipe for "what's next"?
Thanks for the video.... it was great, im ordering a new Thor next month, 33% off and yep, flying from Calif to Ind to pick it up... I know about that BS about service from where you buy it.... DDRV opened up in Calif. trying to grab the market, bunch of jerks, tried to tell me I cant get good service on a Thor unless I buy it from them... I laughed, said Mike Thompsons RV is right down the freeway.... btw, nice coach in the background, looking forward to travels.... Cheers!!
Video the walk through /demonstration of your rv. (just heard that one, terrific) We slowed ours down to a crawl as I took copious notes. Try everything before you drive it away; they will fix it for free right then to help you on your way (and get rid of you).
Super informative. Fantastic for those of us who dream about doing what you're doing. Love the "special effect" at the beginning where the text pushes you down too.
The relationship between RV buyers and RV manufacturers is similar to that between and an abused spouse and an abusive spouse. Like the abused spouse who keeps making excuses for the abusive spouse, RV buyers just accept shoddy quality as something you just have to live with.
My advice is.....if you're not handy at diagnosing and fixing problems within an RV, you may want to occasionally rent when needed. Or have a lot of cash to hand over to "your guy". Buying new has killer depreciation and try getting your warranty work done while boon-docking. Find a really clean and cared for "used" model. All the bugs are worked out and a lot of the depreciation is already factored. Water leaks and damage, rotten tires and dead batteries are the biggest factors in most RV. Even the new ones.
mY PARENTS bought an RV (trailer) from Wray Frasier in North Carolina. Wray has a small campgroung on his dealership, and he insists that you spent the first two nighs in his campground. And he has a technician there 24 hours a day to help you with your teething problems.
3 years ago I bought a new travel trailer from Terry Frazer RV Center, Eldridge, Iowa. Very similar arrangement with respect to camping in their campground (they don't insist...they offered the option of camping at one of their 5 campsites at the dealership). I stayed at the dealer campground for one night. I discovered the stereo speakers were hooked up wrong. The next morning when the dealership opened, they put technician on the problem right away. 15 minutes later, the speakers were wired correctly and I was on my way home to Texas (900 miles away).
With all things said by these two or for any other so called "experienced" users or buyers, you very seldom ever "get what you pay for" but turn that around and it is almost always true that you "pay for what you get" and "more"! It takes a lot of experience, as a dealer, to even know what is being paid for. There are so many factors in the manufacturing game, alone, to figure cost, and then there is freight and quality of build and country of origin and on top of all that, there is what is popular and what is not yet essential. It just goes on and on... So, no, very few get what they pay for. Even tons of money does not guarantee quality and smart deign that over time pay off for each customer. And down the road, after the RV life, they finally found the real answer... Only when they got off the road and went sailing did they report the best value out there, but one that is hard to actually do in real life ... Actually get a ride with an experienced user on a extended trip where you can judge for yourself what is important to you and what is not. Only then will you "get what you are paying for"! But as for the Wynns, I am constantly amazed at heir honesty and and willing to go for it ,mindset.
I agree 100% that you shouldn't believe everything the salesperson tells you. When we bought a new camper the salesman told us the fridge was a 3-way and the water heater was run off electric or gas. We discovered on a camping trip that we just had a 2-way fridge and the water heater was gas only. Not a huge deal, but definitely a let down. Thanks for the video, great information!
You might have checked already but go outside to where your water heater is and removed the cover. Is there an On/Off switch at the lower left hand side?
You are a fantastic couple. Thanks for the super information. Many Thanks. We are looking forward to more entertaining RV manifesto! I love the large HD format.
Thanks for the VERY informative post. It's been very helpful as my husband and I are researching RVs right now. Looking forward to seeing the next video.
Totally agree, I own an R Vision travel trailer, 4 years ok so far. I am using it a lot so it’s worth it. But the dealers...thiefs plain and simple. Do a LOT of homework about towing vehicles, weights, don’t buy the extra warranties (they are crap) and check the dealer reviews! I had a very nasty experience with Sunridge Rv in Calgary, Canada (they eventually went bankrupt and there were suspicions of fraud). Yes, you can tow with and SUV or CAR safely but you have to do the homework. And yes, buy diesel. When the sales persons “advise” you most often they have absolutely no idea about what they are talking about, especially weights and legality.
Thanks for posting this video. I have been researching RV's and looking at many dealers lots and I have to say I am totally underwhelmed. Broken doors, missing parts, sawdust in most of the storage bins, random screws on the ground and in cabinets/storage bins. The worst part is all the dealers sales people have the same nonchalant attitude. "Oh, that? Yeah, we will fix that after inspection" To which my response is "what the hell are you talking about? I don't work here and it isn't my job to go through and find all the items wrong with your brand new $70,000 trailer. If you are too busy to prep the units before showing them then you are just telling me you are too busy to do anything AFTER you get my money." It's too bad as I have just about decided to keep my money and not buy an RV due to poor workmanship.
I drive on long trips at least twice a year. I notice some RV lots are bursting with inventory. We have an inside joke that either RV sales are great or they are terrible. We are renting for Daytona 500 this year which will make three years in a row we have done the RV thing. Hard to justify a purchase for something only used 1-3 times a years (at least in our case). Enjoy your energy in the video, good chemistry.
My current motorhome and another before this I bought in another state to save thousands, here in Vegas we have few RV dealers and they are high priced, MSRP and they stick to that price, you should also see what they sell the old ones for.
hi guys! hey thanks for the great vids, never overwhelming and very fun and informative to watch, we've recently decided to go from tow behind to class A.. were testing the waters in a 28 year old tripple-e regency we purchased from a rv dealership employee who owned it himself for 15 years..so far its been great to us and we are slowly looking at upgrading to a newer unit..:-)
This almost looks like it was green screened. If it was, kudos...cause it was done extremely well. If not, then you picked and exceptionally quiet and windless day. You guys do such great work.
mike laudenslager funny part is this is the same wild camping spot that we filmed the previous video (with the ambulance in the background) just happened to be a nearly perfect day :)
Whatever you do, make sure you maintain your RV. Every rig is going to have it's issues. Just learn how to fix them and you are GOLDEN! We bought our first RV for $4,000! We mainly did it for the price and experience and now we have a 600W solar system, HT pallet wood floors and even a composting toilet... ua-cam.com/users/DuetJustusVlogs. We are documenting our full journey with NEW videos every Thursday and Friday. Hope you enjoy :) -Michael and Jenny
That was great. I am looking at a Newmar/Bay Star that has been on the lot and at show for about a year and the 2016's are coming soon. Thanks to your video I have a better idea on what to offer and pay than before, again, Thanks.
Most people I know that have a class A or B RV drive it about 1000 miles a year on average. For the price the rv’s cost they could go on some pretty nice vacations, fly on planes, rent a luxury car and stay in a nice hotel.
This is so funny.... my partner and I have been looking into RV's for the past few months and have come across just about everything you mentioned in the video. From dishonest sales reps and those that don't know their product to hugely inflated retail pricing and manufacturers that will say just about anything to spoiled your opinion of the competition. There should be law! We are in Canada so our options are limited as is the number of dealers we can chose from but so far, I don't trust any of them. At one point, we thought we were ready to purchase a Fleetwood product so I haggled on the pricing and was shocked to finanlly talk the rep down to $118,000 on a $199,000 coach. I walked when he said $132,000 was his bottom dollar because I'd seen much lower pricing in the U.S. When he called me back a week later, I made up a price just to see what he'd say and he called me back an hour later agreeing to $118,000 - Wow! Unfortunatley, after doing more research during that week, we had decided we wanted a higher end product so I told the rep I'd get back him which I felt sorry about but not too sorry. We have decided we only want a Class A around 36' and since we are both use to the finer things, we don't think we'll be happy with a lower-end product. We will most likely hold off purchasing until the $250,000+ price of a higher-end Phaeton or Newmar is a smaller percentage of our savings. Neither of us is retired yet but I hear of so many people waiting until they retire only to find they can't handle it anymore or have medical issues that make a motorhome impractical. I don't want to end up in my "golden years" wishing we had bought sooner. Anyway, keep up the good work and don't change - you guys are doing it right! Paul & Neil Toronto, Canada
Paul Johnston Class A motor homes strike me as financial suicide. Perhaps you're more well to do than I, but I can't imagine sinking that kind of money into something that depreciates, needs constant repair, maintenance, fuel, campground fees, etc. It seems to me you could travel far more, and better, and spend less.
I suggest buying an RV for around 10 or $15,000 if you have that kind of money. Keep it and living it for a couple months get to know it see the problems they have how much they are to fix and then you will be better able to make a final decision when it comes to that big purchase. I highly doubt after learning more about an RV Hands-On you will not buy one brand new. I can't afford a new one much less one for 250,000 but I did make the mistake of buying one for 10,000 not knowing anything about RVs or that I was being handed a piece of crap. But now that I have to get another one I know what to look for because I have learned so much from the couple months of dealing with this $10,000 RV. And not all $10,000 RVs are bad I just happened to get a lemon. All of that experienced RV'ers that I have talked to always say not to buy brand new. Just because you can afford to buy new doesn't mean that's the best choice. Please watch all of the UA-cam channels about buying new RVs.
Thank you so much for sharing what you have learned. Too bad there isn't an RV test drive group that rates experiences driving different RVs like so many car test drive sites.
Thanks for the great info! Also, a video on a shakedown trip is an awesome idea! It really can be a fun trip, when you know all the important things to do and not to do. Great idea!
I walked into an RV, the murphy bed was broken away from the pressed board.. the trim was not glued to the pressed board, and I tripped over the entire thing... Fast forward a few months, after seeing a video on the particular manufacturer and problems others have had with their products, I understand why it was broken..
i suspect the dealer won't do repairs until it sells is because the same things would break over and over as the dealer continued to show it. it seems to me that RV interiors are actually pretty delicate and that even with gentle using the repairs are continuous.
This might not be the right post to ask this, but it's top of mind as i look at RV's: with your big class A and tow car, how often do you feel limited by the size of your rig in visiting really beautiful national and state park campgrounds- campgrounds that may not be totally rustic but simple, riverside or alpine meadow sorts of campgrounds- places like that in the Cascades or Olympic Peninsula?
in my research of 2 years, the Olympic Forest limits rvs to 21 feet mostly, so tents seem to be the choice of cover. But before i head up to Washington i will check www allstays com again and deeper detail to camping in that area.
I'm thinking about buying an RV and I stumbled upon your channel. This video is soooo helpful, thank you so much for putting in the hard work and knowledge and sharing it! Please keep making awesome videos. Peace ✌️️
We filmed our walk through and YES take your rig on the road asap and try everything! Our dealer gave us 60 days to find if anything was wrong and it has been sent back twice. Don't let those meanie sales people scare you :D
Thanks for all your pointers. Have you ever looked at any of the Australian rv's?....they are awesome!,! Unfortunately most not available here. Enjoy your rv!
Cool! The Donnie and Marie of the RV world! Great info and I'll subscribe in the hopes you post a video in the next 7 years (Retirement time) on how to convince the wife that snowbirding in an RV is a good idea. Thanks.
Thanks so much for trying to help people. I bought a brand new Lance truck camper. This thing is a huge piece of 💩. I spent 50 thousand dollars on this camper. Lance is supposed to be the best. Well I can tell you I would love to push it off a cliff. The insurance will pay for it.
I like your vids. Very informative and to the point. We are working towards this goal. Hopefully and God willing in the next few years. Keep up the good work and God bless
Best advice please take it buy used in decent shape two years used if possible .... they not worth the price the dealerships are asking for brand new From my experience I bought new and used . Used you gonna save tons of money
You kept saying "coach," leading me to think you were talking about a motorhome purchase. Does the 20-30% discount rule also apply to travel trailers? Thanks. I just discovered your videos a few days ago and have been really enjoying them.
Great video. I am so looking forward to the rest of this series. I'm sure you'll get to this, but I wished someone would have spoken to me about the lack of fit and finish and what to expect when taking possession of a new RV. I am sooo picky and bothered by lack of quality of construction and attention to detail. I don't have the millions to spend to get it. So it's back to the repair shop again, grrrrr. We're still having a blast however and would do it all over again.
As an RV Salesman, I agree with the info here 100%. Perfect for my clients. Keep it up y'all.
Hi Guys. Been following along on your sailing journey and recently took a trip back in time to check out your version of RV life.
Wanted to let you know people are still enjoying the content you put up a while chapter-of-life ago.
Me too. I caught your most recent adventures, and wanted the whole story.
Wow! I have watched hundreds of videos and read countless blogs, and this is the first one that has addressed these issues. What an eye opener. Thank you!
A rather kind and playful insight into the unethical business practices and shoddy workmanship one can expect when buying an RV. This is an unregulated industry with minimal quality standards that people just accept . I have purchased 2 new motorhomes - the worst being a higher end class A plaqued with issues all related to poor workmanship , pinched wires and countless issues resulting in cancelled vacations and numerous trips to dealers. Unfortunately , the excitement of the purchase can quickly turn into a nightmare. So called shakedowns and pre delivery inspections / repairs should be done by the dealer - and not the customer. As one individual in Motorhome magazine recently quoted " The worst part of motorhome-ing is the Motorhome itself". I Just love watching your videos - thanks for sharing.
I admit when we bought our brand new camper Travel trailer, we really had no idea what we were doing. We have camped (Tent and Pop ups) most of our lives. We knew the challenges of those things like comfort, storage, etc. I assumed that buying a camper from a dealer was much like buying a car. Afterall, the price isn't THAT different, right? WOW were we wrong! Ok, then if something breaks we just take it back and they fix it under warranty, right? Wrong again(sort of). What we really didn't know is that a camper manufacturer is basically the one that builds a trailer and then crams it full of things that OTHER companies build. So, the warranty varies based on the company that made that particular item. Normally the most expensive items, Air Conditioner, Stove, Fridge, Water Heater, etc. All with different warranties and all with different length warranties. Also consider that a XX years warranty may sound like a long time, but most people are only going to use the camper a handful of times within that period. We also didn't factor in things like, how often we are going to use it for the money were spending. We have owned our camper for 7 years and might have used it a total of 30 days. $24,000 is a very expensive month of lodging. We also cannot store it at our home. Add another $3780 for storage(over 7 years). I really don't have an exact figure for maintenance, taxes, registration, and insurance either. One bit of advice for any like us; don't count on the dealer to cover anything. Do know that you will be paying out of pocket or doing it yourself for nearly everything. Just thought I would add my 2 cents about the Shady Truth we learned.
Caravans, boats and RVs seem like expensive things, which maybe are not assets because of depreciation. Thanks for your explanation @ Rob Man. Seems more like buying a house on wheels.
First of all, I bought a brand new RV trailer. I was able to buy a 22 footer for the price of 15 footers in the area so I thought I got a good deal. Now for fit and finish. The shower did not prevent water from getting on bathroom floor so had to install shower dams. The shower hand spray handle mount didn't stay on the wall for very long. Shower walls are so thin, the screws had nothing to bite into so used a "super glue" to fix. The PVC drain pipes were only hand tightened so yup, sprung leaks on the third trip. Propane cover lost it's access panel on the second trip. There wasn't enough counter area for food prep, so bought a huge cutting board that covers the stove top which makes food preparation a lot easier. Mini blinds don't stay in position during traveling with a flimsy little plastic clip which needs to be modified soon. Happy trails!
As an RV sales associate I was skeptical, but this is a really good video. Especially the tip of buying at RV Shows or end of the year as the best time to buy. This is true for two reasons, at large RV shows the dealer cost is lower than at any other time of the year, and that is passed along to the customer. At the end of the year, we will accept a much lower margin because we want to clear old inventory and replace it with new inventory. You guys are pretty much spot on the whole video! Thank you!
As someone who is just starting to research the RV world your video is pure gold! I've got a long road of learning ahead but am starting to feel more confident that I can have an intelligent discussion with an RV salesperson. Thank you!
I worked at a dying travel trailer dealer, they dealership was one of the first 10 Holiday Rambler Franchises, but they lost the franchise because they didn't want to carry a big stock of Motorhomes. We were selling Nomads, Scotties and were one of the first Travel Villa dealers. The owner was one who bought a trailer and when it came in we went through it, we could usually bill $1,000 warranty to any new Nomad we got in. The dealer's goal was if we sold you a unit we didn't want it to come back so we where pretty complete in our prep, usually 2-3 days going over the entire trailer before it left. As far as build quality, it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, I worked at Winnebago Motor Home plant for a while and we tried but some units were built to a price point.
We're on our third Rv and hopefully last. The first was a Heartland mpg, not a bad trailer. Although over all it was a good trailer, seemed to be built well, it had a bit of dry rot, and when the dealer blamed me (I maintain everything) I vowed not to by anything from those clowns (local) again. We unloaded it. Went to a tent trailer, but we found very quickly A toddler a dog and a whole weekends worth of stuff was not going to work for us. Taking what I had learned about quality control and a ton of research, I settled on a 21bhs Livinlite. So far, we are happy. Nothing is 100% full proof and we did have some warranty work done, but it's done and we still enjoy the trailer. Cheers and your advice is pretty spot on. Sadly the local dealer didnt' want to service our RV cause we didn't buy it from them. Which made me dislike them even more!
This is a good reality video. Buying a new RV is fantasy or a dream for most people so you think it will be one of the coolest experiences but the fact is. Don't kid yourself. Buying an RV isn't any different than buy a car at a shady dealer or perhaps a used car dealer.
The friendlier the dealer is and the more they advertise about how honest and fair they are--the more you should beware.
Here's a tip, I recorded my walk through with a gopro strapped to my chest with coverless frame so the mic could pick up better sound. It's been very helpful to go back and see the video if I forget something. Of course make sure to ask the rep before if its ok to record the walk through. Thanks for the video guys!
Unfortunately the whole RV industry needs a shake up. There is little to no quality control. We had a horror story when buying a new RV and finally got it repaired but to 3rd grade wood shop standards and approved by the manufacturer!
I wish the Japanese car manufacturers would enter the RV industry here, that would help with QC. Always love your videos :)
I couldn't agree with you more! We have a 2005 Tioga 32M & the woodwork is pretty sloppy,
64347Elvis they all are built like shit, even my Nexus. sad but true. all you do really is buy new and force them to fix everything and i mean everything, start looking behind things ,places they think you won't look. if you buy used you won't have the warranty like new. if i had to do it over again i would have gotten a good used bus and built my own. I would be money ahead and better built. you can get a lot of room in a 72 passenger bus. maybe not fancy looking but who cares.
Best quote i read in years about RVs.
You posted a while ago but still thanks you say it right.
Got the shaft big time on a 26ft travel trailer.
Had to give the keys and take the beating with the finance.
Horror story.
Pay for something you cannot use might as well pay back the bank take your losses
I agree.
Unfortunately, it took the Japanese to show,, (demand), that US car manufacturers learn how to build a quality, reliable car.
The Japanese handed our asses to us on a plate by the 90s.
Thank goodness some people were paying attention.
The only thing that is not producing a revolution in the RV business is that they are too big and bulky to ship en masse.
For now.
maybe not-I have a Civic-2012, not my favorite car I've ever had
I have been RV'n for near 15 years and have yet to find a salesman that knows as much as me about RV systems and hardware. They are salesmen not representatives. Another truth is a diesel class A will cost near $20000 more than gas, and worth it. Gas class A's can barely get out of their own way. Going up a grade that RV you are zooming past is always gas powered. Do your research read several issues of Trailer Life, talk to people who have the rig you are looking at. It always helps that you know what end of the screwdriver goes in the screw, some mechanical ability can be a lifesaver. I personally prefer 5th wheels, I only want on engine to maintain. If you go class A you damn near require a dingie. (Tow along car) . Happy shopping and RV'n. I do about 90 days a year in my rig. One more item, expect to fight to get worthwhile warranty work, the manufactures don't want to make it to easy.
If you get a diesel pusher for 20k more than a gas then its weak and probably has a mh2500 tranny instead of a MH3500 unless your comparing a used diesel vs a new gas. A trick the budget diesel motorhome industry has been doing for years and yes while it probably has more get up and go to it as a gas unit it will have the same towing capacity
Love the information you gave. We're on our 5th year and 3rd RV, living fulltime in our rig. We'd like to reverse the clock and go back to the last RV because of the poor choice we made last time. Can't stress enough to do LOTS of research and be absolutely positive before you sign those papers.
If take your RV to another dealer for service, be prepared for a long wait. I bought my travel trailer from a dealer 900 miles away to save $4,000 (minus $1,200 for Texas TTL). Six months later, the blower in the roof mounted air conditioner burned out. I took it to the local dealer for warranty repair. One month later, the local dealer still hadn't looked at my air conditioner. When I called them, I got verbal abuse from the owner of the dealership about people that buy from the dealer with the cheapest price. He informed me HIS customers came first and I could wait for my warranty repair. I called the manufacturer and explained my problem to them. The next day I got a call from the local dealer saying my air conditioner was repaired. I will never make the mistake of taking my travel trailer to that local RV dealer again.
I'll be buying an RV- actually a travel trailer- sometime in the next 3 to 5 years (when you are on SSI, Everything takes years to save for, including down payments). I appreciate the videos about what to look out for. I won't have the resources that many people that buy new have, so I will need to find the best trailer for my needs, from the most honest dealer, and so on...
I actually live in a converted 1947 Magnolia travel home (think of it as a cross between today's destination trailers and a mobile home) that is attached to a small cabin. All in all, it's a good, inexpensive way to live...but I need a new trailer, one that can actually Move, and is somewhat less than 71 years old.
As someone just starting the looking/research phase of buying, this video couldn't have been more perfect! Thanks!
Would love to see that Shady Truth of Ownership video, too! ;)
Thanks for posting these kind of issues for first time buyers. I`d even recommend recording the conversations that you have with the sales people, and the extended warranty folks. Our guy advised us that even the brake pads were covered to try and get us to buy the extended warranty. We did buy one knowing that the pads weren't covered. Glad we did because the main TV and the front window MCD auto shade failed within the first two years. Safe travels to you both.
"Shhh, we don't talk about that" is partly what keeps the cycle of bad RV purchases going. For the brand new, first-time RVer, the search process could be narrowed down quite quickly if other RV'ers were more honest about the lack of quality among some manufacturers and the truth about the whole purchase experience.
Regarding the car vs RV argument:
I don't own a MH and probably never will, but I do know fit and finish among many of the mainstream manufacturers has declined in favor of more sales. Auto manufacturers produce millions of vehicles while the camper, trailer, 5th wheel, MH and RV industry in general only produce a fraction of what the auto industry does. For example, the people who make my camper (Northwood) only recently made their 10,000th camper...in 20 years! My point is, if the auto industry only made 10K units in a 20 years time period, the quality should be, hypothetically, almost perfect.
M RV dealer experience was actually very similar to buying a car. Rushed through inspection, typical, "We can give you a better deal if you buy xyz" and lack of follow through after the purchase. If I had to deal with the lack of quality control in assembly with a vehicle as I've done with my camper, I'd expect a refund and it'd be considered a lemon. Prospective, new RVers will also be baffled at what some manufacturers will cover and will not. RV Warranty work. There's another topic entirely.
Thanks! You two present the BEST most honest reviews and videos. Other rv channels won’t even answer unpleasant questions like “did you finance or bought cash for the rv”? That’s because they get to use the rv van for free for promoting Hymer or road trek and to sell shit on their website! Really rv living is not all that glamorous unless you have money, there are intelligent people out there in UA-cam land that can smell your bullshit. Please continue to be honest and candid in you videos, that’s your best traits! For those that need honest videos about getting a first rv, your videos are the best! Thanks!
LOTS OF GOOD INFORMATION! You do have to watch. Dealers are not always very honest and their repair shops are even worse. Sit in the waiting room of your RV dealership to see the customers there and talk to them.
Here in Oregon the RV shows are a big deal and are generally held in cities along the I5 corridor where they can fast track your "residency" paperwork and make sure you get it without sales tax, especially if it is a "liveaboard" situation. It is also a big deal in trading the used RVs here.
After much research we just ordered a new RV. I agree with your assessment 100% 👍
A really good quality RV dealership not far from me will have you spend the night in your new RV on their premises when you take delivery. You get to set it up, live in it, and tear it down before you drive away. I don't know if that is a common practice with other dealerships, but I think it is a darn good one.
Very nice. Seems we have pretty much the same process on researching and looking for RV's. Nice to know I wasn't way off base! Looking forward to the "looking at the actual RV" video. I am heading down from MN to MS to look at a Revolution and could use all the coaching I can get when I inspect it. My shake down trip will be my ride home if it checks out! Having watched you two for so long, I feel like I have already taken a few good trips...and if Jason can fix stuff on an RV then there is hope for me (no insult intended in any way Jason!!) I appreciate what you guys have done IMMENSELY! Thanks!
mike laudenslager Thanks mike. if you haven't been over to our webstie please check it out, when you go to outfit that new RV we'd love it if you used our Amazon Link found here: www.gonewiththewynns.com/tip-jar Safe Journeys!
Gone with the Wynns Been on your website many many many times. Love it. I always find something new there. I will most definitely use your amazon link.
For those of you that don't know once your RV is out of warranty you can purchase a warranty with Good Sam club. Its like getting triple A. It will cover your vehicle as well. Just a suggestion. Check it out and see if its right for you.
Great video Wynns! This should be mandatory viewing for anyone looking at RVing. We have a 2005 Tioga 32M in Germany & love RVing. Of course, it gets tricky on small German roads.
This is very good info, and spot on from my experiences. The biggest mistake I have made in the past is getting in a hurry to leave the dealership before everything is fixed, and never making it back to properly have everything repaired. I look forward to the upcoming videos, and thanks for all the information you provide the RV community.
thanks for the info. Greg, i now won't be in such a hurry, and i would have been, truth.
Hey nice couple; just happened to find you in youtube and I'm so impressed!! Great attitude, great lifestyle. Well, I am one of those who will soon retire and live in an RV so I can't go back in time and do what you guys did, but I can't complain either!! I've been to 60 countries, driven a car in 27 of them, played golf in 13 of them and been with my family in 28 of them, so I'm happy with that, but one day will come in which a 40 ft diesel pusher will be our home and the roads in the US will be our office! Will follow your experience via your videos. Keep it up! and congratulations.
Love your videos. I have noticed that no one ever really talks about RV chassis. Every sales person I have ever met only talks about the chrome and glitter as I call it. The first class A I purchased I realized I made a mistake when I got on I 95 and was all over the road. This is a huge subject so I won't get into it just thought for a newbie it's worth mentioning. I did see your video on the suspension add on sway bar. Far to many motor coaches are built on to light of a chassis.
We agree 100%. That's why we made videos about the Roadmaster suspension upgrades we did as well. Made a HUGE difference.
Great video , I have brought used before and looking to get back at soon. but I been told by several rv owners that brought new RV's that they need a front wheel alignment and have the dealership do it. or you will be buying new tires in 1st. year. there so heavy you will not notice a problem until it's to late.
What I found really helpful see if you have any friends who are already into RVing and go on a few trips with them. It's so nice having a experience RV person to coach you on the in and outs of operating a RV.
glad i didnt buy from a dealership... however did check out my options there.. and purchased 2nd hand from an old couple who had already gone around australia in it
Costco wholesale is the largest auto dealer in the country, I purchased my Honda CRV from them in 2014. They now sell RV's through their website. I have not gone through that process but, I was very happy with the auto purchase program. It is a no haggle price.
This is the best "tip" video I've watched during my research. Thank you and safe travels 🤘🏼
I always enjoy your fantastic, professional quality videos - playful & informative. Yay!
How about renting a very similar RV to give it a try with less commitment? The RV lifestyle is not for everyone, and it would be best to find out before you take that new-to-used value loss.
I also think a walk around a big RV resort would get you a lot of opinions that are fairly unbiased. I find that many online reviews are posted by company shills. You might even come across a good deal.
+tom jackson totally agree that renting is a great way to get your feet wet and see how you like it. great suggestion that we forgot to mention.
Great video. One thing to remember about RV forums and blogs is that people are always ready to tell you about their bad experiences and all the problems they've had but we rarely hear about all the good experiences. Typically people go on forums for two reason, I think, You're either researching to buy a new RV or you're there researching how other people fixed the problem you're having. Just remember it's like watching the nightly news, you here about all the bad stuff that happened but they don't tell you about all the good stuff that happened that day. Just my two cents.
So very true. I have done a lot of research into RVs..... it is mostly angry people venting about their pile of crap. It is hard to judge the good manufacturers from the bad.
You guys hit the nail on the head with this vid! We bought are 2015 Thor Windsport 32 n at the Hersey PA show we got a great price but your correct on things being wrong spent the first 1000 miles going back and fort to different dealers because as you know the house and the frame are to separate things. We happy with the rv after the repairs and recalls. Thank you for all you great vids?
I'm looking at buying a class C, just for trips and travel throughout the year, and your videos have been very helpful. Thanks a ton!!!
It's a Prevost, pronounced PRE-vo.
The premier class A motor home in the world, that also loses the most per-year value -- year after year.
But you need close to a cool million to get one new. The low-end version.
The top models go for upwards of 3 million.
But let's get back to the thing about RVs in general.
The fact of the matter is, when buying an RV, (new or used), is that the sales team/staff is well trained to extract as much money from your wallet/bank account as humanly possible.
This is their business -- it is their profession.
This goes for car dealerships in general.
And they are professionals at leading you to a purchase.
They practice it, you are on their property, they consider it their right.
Free market and all.
The better they lie, (withhold the truth), the more money they make.
The salesman (person), the sales manager and, of course, the dealership owner all have a stake.
"Sales meetings" are about strategy .money flows upward here.
A motor home is a miniature home mounted on a large truck frame -- with all the maintenance issues of each.
A heavy frame, engine and drive train, suspension, steering, brakes, tires and electrical system that is designed to be in motion -- with a small house of top that generally isn't.
Top it off with a generator to supply 120 volt service to run ACs and other hungry appliances with a complex converter/charger, and you've got a potential nightmare.
This is a recipe for "what's next"?
Prevost is prevost. Prevo is slang
Thank you so much for the tips !!!
Buying first rv for full time living...
Thanks for the video.... it was great, im ordering a new Thor next month, 33% off and yep, flying from Calif to Ind to pick it up... I know about that BS about service from where you buy it.... DDRV opened up in Calif. trying to grab the market, bunch of jerks, tried to tell me I cant get good service on a Thor unless I buy it from them... I laughed, said Mike Thompsons RV is right down the freeway.... btw, nice coach in the background, looking forward to travels.... Cheers!!
Video the walk through /demonstration of your rv. (just heard that one, terrific) We slowed ours down to a crawl as I took copious notes. Try everything before you drive it away; they will fix it for free right then to help you on your way (and get rid of you).
Super informative. Fantastic for those of us who dream about doing what you're doing. Love the "special effect" at the beginning where the text pushes you down too.
The Weekly Fly haha, special effect. We're movin' on up in the world :) Next stop, explosions of RVs!
The relationship between RV buyers and RV manufacturers is similar to that between and an abused spouse and an abusive spouse. Like the abused spouse who keeps making excuses for the abusive spouse, RV buyers just accept shoddy quality as something you just have to live with.
My advice is.....if you're not handy at diagnosing and fixing problems within an RV, you may want to occasionally rent when needed. Or have a lot of cash to hand over to "your guy". Buying new has killer depreciation and try getting your warranty work done while boon-docking. Find a really clean and cared for "used" model. All the bugs are worked out and a lot of the depreciation is already factored. Water leaks and damage, rotten tires and dead batteries are the biggest factors in most RV. Even the new ones.
Tro Rt .......good advice........thumbs up.......:)
mY PARENTS bought an RV (trailer) from Wray Frasier in North Carolina. Wray has a small campgroung on his dealership, and he insists that you spent the first two nighs in his campground. And he has a technician there 24 hours a day to help you with your teething problems.
Seriously wow this is something no longer seen.
Customer care and service.
3 years ago I bought a new travel trailer from Terry Frazer RV Center, Eldridge, Iowa. Very similar arrangement with respect to camping in their campground (they don't insist...they offered the option of camping at one of their 5 campsites at the dealership). I stayed at the dealer campground for one night. I discovered the stereo speakers were hooked up wrong. The next morning when the dealership opened, they put technician on the problem right away. 15 minutes later, the speakers were wired correctly and I was on my way home to Texas (900 miles away).
Lowes
Tom Wade
With all things said by these two or for any other so called "experienced" users or buyers, you very seldom ever "get what you pay for" but turn that around and it is almost always true that you "pay for what you get" and "more"! It takes a lot of experience, as a dealer, to even know what is being paid for. There are so many factors in the manufacturing game, alone, to figure cost, and then there is freight and quality of build and country of origin and on top of all that, there is what is popular and what is not yet essential. It just goes on and on... So, no, very few get what they pay for. Even tons of money does not guarantee quality and smart deign that over time pay off for each customer. And down the road, after the RV life, they finally found the real answer... Only when they got off the road and went sailing did they report the best value out there, but one that is hard to actually do in real life ... Actually get a ride with an experienced user on a extended trip where you can judge for yourself what is important to you and what is not. Only then will you "get what you are paying for"! But as for the Wynns, I am constantly amazed at heir honesty and and willing to go for it ,mindset.
You guys are awesome! Thanks so much for all the hard work, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate it. Happy trails!
I agree 100% that you shouldn't believe everything the salesperson tells you. When we bought a new camper the salesman told us the fridge was a 3-way and the water heater was run off electric or gas. We discovered on a camping trip that we just had a 2-way fridge and the water heater was gas only. Not a huge deal, but definitely a let down. Thanks for the video, great information!
You might have checked already but go outside to where your water heater is and removed the cover. Is there an On/Off switch at the lower left hand side?
You are a fantastic couple. Thanks for the super information. Many Thanks. We are looking forward to more entertaining RV manifesto! I love the large HD format.
Thanks for the VERY informative post. It's been very helpful as my husband and I are researching RVs right now. Looking forward to seeing the next video.
Totally agree, I own an R Vision travel trailer, 4 years ok so far. I am using it a lot so it’s worth it. But the dealers...thiefs plain and simple. Do a LOT of homework about towing vehicles, weights, don’t buy the extra warranties (they are crap) and check the dealer reviews! I had a very nasty experience with Sunridge Rv in Calgary, Canada (they eventually went bankrupt and there were suspicions of fraud). Yes, you can tow with and SUV or CAR safely but you have to do the homework. And yes, buy diesel. When the sales persons “advise” you most often they have absolutely no idea about what they are talking about, especially weights and legality.
Thank you both. Im enjoying this series since i'm looking for my first RV, planning to get a second hand Class A this month
Very informative video. I am in the beginning stage of looking at r.v.'s. It is nice to watch a video that gets to the point.
Your videos are the best I've seen. You don't waste time on extra comments I don't need to hear; they are succinct and informative.
Thanks for posting this video. I have been researching RV's and looking at many dealers lots and I have to say I am totally underwhelmed. Broken doors, missing parts, sawdust in most of the storage bins, random screws on the ground and in cabinets/storage bins. The worst part is all the dealers sales people have the same nonchalant attitude. "Oh, that? Yeah, we will fix that after inspection" To which my response is "what the hell are you talking about? I don't work here and it isn't my job to go through and find all the items wrong with your brand new $70,000 trailer. If you are too busy to prep the units before showing them then you are just telling me you are too busy to do anything AFTER you get my money." It's too bad as I have just about decided to keep my money and not buy an RV due to poor workmanship.
One other option to buy something that is gently used because somebody else will have worked through those early issues. 😀
Curious Minion
I drive on long trips at least twice a year. I notice some RV lots are bursting with inventory. We have an inside joke that either RV sales are great or they are terrible. We are renting for Daytona 500 this year which will make three years in a row we have done the RV thing. Hard to justify a purchase for something only used 1-3 times a years (at least in our case). Enjoy your energy in the video, good chemistry.
The "don't fix it until someone buys it" mantra makes perfect sense. They are hoping the buyer does not see it and they don't have to fix it....
Joe Tittiger not worth thousands of dollars of man hours repairing over and over so people walking through it can keep breaking it
My current motorhome and another before this I bought in another state to save thousands, here in Vegas we have few RV dealers and they are high priced, MSRP and they stick to that price, you should also see what they sell the old ones for.
hi guys! hey thanks for the great vids, never overwhelming and very fun and informative to watch, we've recently decided to go from tow behind to class A.. were testing the waters in a 28 year old tripple-e regency we purchased from a rv dealership employee who owned it himself for 15 years..so far its been great to us and we are slowly looking at upgrading to a newer unit..:-)
This almost looks like it was green screened. If it was, kudos...cause it was done extremely well. If not, then you picked and exceptionally quiet and windless day. You guys do such great work.
mike laudenslager funny part is this is the same wild camping spot that we filmed the previous video (with the ambulance in the background) just happened to be a nearly perfect day :)
Gone with the Wynns You guys must be in Florida! It was beautiful here this weekend while the poor folks up North are buried under snow.
Whatever you do, make sure you maintain your RV. Every rig is going to have it's issues. Just learn how to fix them and you are GOLDEN! We bought our first RV for $4,000! We mainly did it for the price and experience and now we have a 600W solar system, HT pallet wood floors and even a composting toilet... ua-cam.com/users/DuetJustusVlogs. We are documenting our full journey with NEW videos every Thursday and Friday. Hope you enjoy :) -Michael and Jenny
That was great. I am looking at a Newmar/Bay Star that has been on the lot and at show for about a year and the 2016's are coming soon. Thanks to your video I have a better idea on what to offer and pay than before, again, Thanks.
Most people I know that have a class A or B RV drive it about 1000 miles a year on average. For the price the rv’s cost they could go on some pretty nice vacations, fly on planes, rent a luxury car and stay in a nice hotel.
This is so funny.... my partner and I have been looking into RV's for the past few months and have come across just about everything you mentioned in the video. From dishonest sales reps and those that don't know their product to hugely inflated retail pricing and manufacturers that will say just about anything to spoiled your opinion of the competition. There should be law!
We are in Canada so our options are limited as is the number of dealers we can chose from but so far, I don't trust any of them. At one point, we thought we were ready to purchase a Fleetwood product so I haggled on the pricing and was shocked to finanlly talk the rep down to $118,000 on a $199,000 coach. I walked when he said $132,000 was his bottom dollar because I'd seen much lower pricing in the U.S. When he called me back a week later, I made up a price just to see what he'd say and he called me back an hour later agreeing to $118,000 - Wow! Unfortunatley, after doing more research during that week, we had decided we wanted a higher end product so I told the rep I'd get back him which I felt sorry about but not too sorry.
We have decided we only want a Class A around 36' and since we are both use to the finer things, we don't think we'll be happy with a lower-end product. We will most likely hold off purchasing until the $250,000+ price of a higher-end Phaeton or Newmar is a smaller percentage of our savings. Neither of us is retired yet but I hear of so many people waiting until they retire only to find they can't handle it anymore or have medical issues that make a motorhome impractical. I don't want to end up in my "golden years" wishing we had bought sooner.
Anyway, keep up the good work and don't change - you guys are doing it right!
Paul & Neil
Toronto, Canada
thanks for sharing Paul, all so true--------always do your homework, years if you can.
Paul Johnston Class A motor homes strike me as financial suicide. Perhaps you're more well to do than I, but I can't imagine sinking that kind of money into something that depreciates, needs constant repair, maintenance, fuel, campground fees, etc. It seems to me you could travel far more, and better, and spend less.
I suggest buying an RV for around 10 or $15,000 if you have that kind of money. Keep it and living it for a couple months get to know it see the problems they have how much they are to fix and then you will be better able to make a final decision when it comes to that big purchase. I highly doubt after learning more about an RV Hands-On you will not buy one brand new. I can't afford a new one much less one for 250,000 but I did make the mistake of buying one for 10,000 not knowing anything about RVs or that I was being handed a piece of crap. But now that I have to get another one I know what to look for because I have learned so much from the couple months of dealing with this $10,000 RV. And not all $10,000 RVs are bad I just happened to get a lemon. All of that experienced RV'ers that I have talked to always say not to buy brand new. Just because you can afford to buy new doesn't mean that's the best choice. Please watch all of the UA-cam channels about buying new RVs.
I think everything you said fits our experience too! We just settled on a class B & it was a weird shopping experience haha!
Thank you so much for sharing what you have learned. Too bad there isn't an RV test drive group that rates experiences driving different RVs like so many car test drive sites.
Thanks for the great info! Also, a video on a shakedown trip is an awesome idea! It really can be a fun trip, when you know all the important things to do and not to do. Great idea!
I walked into an RV, the murphy bed was broken away from the pressed board.. the trim was not glued to the pressed board, and I tripped over the entire thing... Fast forward a few months, after seeing a video on the particular manufacturer and problems others have had with their products, I understand why it was broken..
Shiny, happy people!! (REM song)
If MSRP is 100K, it discounts for 80. Buy a two year old RV for 50 or 60. Duh!!!!
And all the bugs have been worked out LOL! Everything on your RV is broken, You just don't know it yet! GO WYNNS!!
i suspect the dealer won't do repairs until it sells is because the same things would break over and over as the dealer continued to show it. it seems to me that RV interiors are actually pretty delicate and that even with gentle using the repairs are continuous.
Great resource Jason & Nikki! Hallie & I are getting closer to ordering our future home. Can't get here fast enough.. - JB
This might not be the right post to ask this, but it's top of mind as i look at RV's: with your big class A and tow car, how often do you feel limited by the size of your rig in visiting really beautiful national and state park campgrounds- campgrounds that may not be totally rustic but simple, riverside or alpine meadow sorts of campgrounds- places like that in the Cascades or Olympic Peninsula?
in my research of 2 years, the Olympic Forest limits rvs to 21 feet mostly, so tents seem to be the choice of cover. But before i head up to Washington i will check www allstays com again and deeper detail to camping in that area.
Excellent video, you guys are great on camera! Thanks for the advice.
We live in Texas and went to Utah to get a great deal on The coach we wanted! It was a wonderful adventure.
I'm thinking about buying an RV and I stumbled upon your channel. This video is soooo helpful, thank you so much for putting in the hard work and knowledge and sharing it! Please keep making awesome videos. Peace ✌️️
Thanks, you two! Great advice and done really well.
Thank you for the info! I can't wait to share this with my husband because we are looking to start RV living with our family of SIX!
We filmed our walk through and YES take your rig on the road asap and try everything! Our dealer gave us 60 days to find if anything was wrong and it has been sent back twice. Don't let those meanie sales people scare you :D
Excellent video! Thank you for the info! GREAT advice!
Thanks for all your pointers. Have you ever looked at any of the Australian rv's?....they are awesome!,! Unfortunately most not available here.
Enjoy your rv!
A great idea is to video the walk through with the salesperson so you can review it later if you ar foggy on some of the points that were covered.
Beautiful background, great production values, nice couple. Greetings from Spain.
Nice job. Good video. Thumbs up. Thank you for the tips.
Great video's! Thanks guys.....I'm looking hard.
Cool! The Donnie and Marie of the RV world! Great info and I'll subscribe in the hopes you post a video in the next 7 years (Retirement time) on how to convince the wife that snowbirding in an RV is a good idea. Thanks.
I own a camper, not a RV. But everyone I have talked to with a Tiffin is very happy with their unit.
Lots of great information in this video. Loving your series and all your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for trying to help people. I bought a brand new Lance truck camper. This thing is a huge piece of 💩. I spent 50 thousand dollars on this camper. Lance is supposed to be the best. Well I can tell you I would love to push it off a cliff. The insurance will pay for it.
I just subscribed to your channel and am interested in 5th wheel trailers, hopefully you have or will be covering these as well! Thanks.
I like your vids. Very informative and to the point. We are working towards this goal. Hopefully and God willing in the next few years. Keep up the good work and God bless
excellent piece. i know i am going to enjoy this series.
Haven't checked you guys channel for a while. Keep up the good works
Best advice please take it buy used in decent shape two years used if possible .... they not worth the price the dealerships are asking for brand new From my experience I bought new and used . Used you gonna save tons of money
You kept saying "coach," leading me to think you were talking about a motorhome purchase. Does the 20-30% discount rule also apply to travel trailers? Thanks. I just discovered your videos a few days ago and have been really enjoying them.
Great video. I am so looking forward to the rest of this series. I'm sure you'll get to this, but I wished someone would have spoken to me about the lack of fit and finish and what to expect when taking possession of a new RV. I am sooo picky and bothered by lack of quality of construction and attention to detail. I don't have the millions to spend to get it. So it's back to the repair shop again, grrrrr.
We're still having a blast however and would do it all over again.