RV inspector

In my experience, when you mention extended service plans you are going to get strong opinions one way or the other. A lot depends on how much risk you are willing to take on your own and still sleep at night. Some folks also have plenty of cash reserves and they can easily handle any repair expense on their own. For them, self-insuring makes sense IMHO. But for others who don't have those resources at hand, I think it makes sense to determine what your biggest expense could be and decide if that is something that you can reasonably handle in your RVing budget or not. For instance, if you have a diesel pusher motorhome, there can be lots of big ticket repairs associated with them. That doesn't mean that you will most likely have big those expenses, it just means that it is possible to face large repair bills especially on the diesel motor itself, the tranny, and the generator. Maybe an extended warranty makes sense in this case. And if you never use the warranty, that's great, you also did not have the stress of dealing with repair problems either. Of course, some folks think they MUST get their money back from any form of insurance or the money spent is wasted. I personally don't see it that way. On the other hand, if you have a 5th wheel or travel trailer, the only motor expense is in the tow vehicle (maybe an extended warranty would make sense on your tow vehicle alone in this case). And most of the components on the towable units are not as high ticket items if repair is needed. As with everything else in the RV world, the answer to questions about extended warranties usually is "it depends".

This is good advice. RV power is often presented as either using a generator OR solar panels, with nothing in between. But if you are new to the solar powered world, there is no reason why you can't use a hybrid system that includes both. For instance, you could use a suitcase solar system for starters, and run the generator for an hour or two to supplement. This is a low cost way to generate your own power and learn how power is produced from both methods. After understanding how it all works, you can expand the solar system if you like. Besides, it's not a bad idea to have a generator for prolonged cloudy days anyway.

It's also on Amazon, but in the 130 treatment size.

On question #2, yes you have access to all of the included Trails Collection parks for the $214 along with your zone pass. It's actually a pretty good deal IMHO.

Sometimes misunderstandings develop when the posts aren't actually read thoroughly enough. So let's review what I have said in my posts on this thread so far. In my first response to the OP I said: "What fits one person's needs and wants may not work at all for others." I was not saying that TT was needed by everyone. In my next post I said:"Just read the articles I referenced above about how the whole system works and when you do the math you can see that it is easy to save $5000 or more on camping costs each year with just a zone pass alone that will cost you about $600 instead. This can often mean the difference between being able to afford the full-time RV lifestyle or not for some." Notice I didn't say that TT could be considered crucial for everyone, just for some. I think this statement is based on fact since some of the posters on this thread have said that they are pleased with the way their membership has turned out and I have personally read several comments by SOME TT membership owners all over the internet who have actually said that it has meant the difference between them being able to travel full-time the way they like to or not. In my last post which FL-Joe quoted I said:"Of course, there are plenty of other great ways to save money on camping costs other than TT. To each his own." My question is how in any of these statements did I say that RVers "need" TT to save money? There are in fact, plenty of other ways to save money on full-time RVing, and Kirk W mentioned some of the alternatives in his post in this thread. Personally, I don't have a TT membership, so my comments are not coming from an "everyone needs to do what I do" motive. I have simply done the research and feel that TT is a very good bargain for SOME when you actually try to understand the system and run the numbers. I will also say that it has amazed me how often the mere mention of TT on forums and websites seems to bring out a level of anti-TT fervor that is not really based on research or facts. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it is based on fact or not. But I think most people visit these forums to get reliable information that they can use. I was trying to provide some information that has been based on the facts I have gained from my research on the subject. If I failed to express it properly, I apologize.

Of course, there are plenty of other great ways to save money on camping costs other than TT. To each his own. I was simply comparing the usefulness of a KOA discount plan to buying a TT membership as the OP requested.

The value of each approach all depends on how much you plan to use TT as opposed to KOA and whether you are on a budget for your camping costs or not. If your camping budget is substantial, so you are only planning to stay at KOA type campgrounds, and you want a little discount on their nightly costs, then KOA is a great idea. If you don't plan on RVing much but you want a discount on nightly stays when you do go camping then KOA may be a good choice. But if you you want to full-time and you have to watch your pennies, TT is the better bargain by far. Just read the articles I referenced above about how the whole system works and when you do the math you can see that it is easy to save $5000 or more on camping costs each year with just a zone pass alone that will cost you about $600 instead. This can often mean the difference between being able to afford the full-time RV lifestyle or not for some.

True, but even if the engine has been run for just a few hours it can begin to tell you something. This is because when engine parts are beginning to fail they often produce a chemical or metal residue that can be found in the engine oil. The analysis company will give you a complete breakdown of the chemical makeup of the oil and they are very good at spotting tell-tale signs of engine failure. interestingly, the fluid analysis companies have found that there is more often severe problems with coolant than with the oil in most engines and generators. This is because a lot of people will change their oil and not think of flushing their radiator at the proper interval or changing the generator coolant when they should. It is true that fluid analysis is most effective when you have a history of oil changes to compare. But even if there is no history it can help reveal whether there are major problems that seem to be developing. Once again, it is worth the small cost to have it done when you are buying something that could be very expensive to repair.

There are so many opinions about the subject of TT and whether it is worth it or not, just as there are varied opinions on almost everything that has to do with RVing. What fits one person's needs and wants may not work at all for others. I would recommend getting as much accurate information about what TT has to offer both on the used and the new market before you decide anything for sure. Here is a link to several articles written by a full-time couple who have done their research on TT and are sharing it with everyone - https://rvlove.com/start-here/camping-options/thousand-trails/

Good advice here. I would only add that it would be a good idea to have a fluid analysis done on the engine and radiator, the generator and its radiator and the transmission on older RVs. The biggest possible repair expenses would most likely be in one of those areas, so it would be smart to get as much information about the current state of those mechanical components as you can. Fluid analysis won't tell you everything but the information it provides is well worth the relatively small investment.