Hopelessly Lost

[Dutch_12078]

A tall former neighbor added spacers under his Class A's seat to raise it for more legroom.

[Guest ticat900]

We've had both a DP and a gaser. Both have their pros and cons. Don't sweat the DPs going passed you up the hills. You'll see more.

 

At the end of the day, literally, figure out how much time you will be camping v driving. Is all the DP v Gas debate 'really' an issue if the floor plan and camp site is what you want.

 

regards

theres DP,s and then theres DP,s the older 5.9 250 HP units are never going to pass u on flat road never mind a hill

[skp51443]

Depending on the unit you might be able to move the seat back by re-positioning the base back a bit, up too if you wanted to. Just back is usually fairly easy, just cut a couple chunks of 3/16 by 1 1/2 flat steel that will go from where the front bolt goes into the floor to where you want the rear bolt on the seat base to end up. Use the seat base to scribe the holes you'll need to drill and drill them out. Use short bolts, I like the round stove type to go under the plates and up through the base, use the original bolts to go back into the holes in the floor.

 

We looked at several that were too short for my 6' 6" length, some would have been easy, a couple hard and one that gave us the giggles explaining the problem to the sales idiot would have required leaving the driver's side slide out when the seat was fully back after moving it, it already rubbed the slide if it was reclined.

[Kirk W]

Our plan is to look at a good variety of gas coaches and see if this issue is consistent... could very well be a limitation of the Ford and Workhorse chassis?

 

Any tall, long legged owners out there run into this?

Since Ford is the only gas chassis for motorhomes still in production and Workhorse the only other built in recent years, they are also your only options for a gas class A. But the seat positions and locations of slides or furniture that limits driver's seat travel are not functions of the chassis builder but the RV manufacturer. Either of those chassis when leaving the factory was just a bare chassis with the engine & running gear, a temporary dash to hold the instrument cluster, and some sort of box for a driving seat to move it.

 

I always knew that we low altitude body designed folks had some advantages! We fit into smaller RVs & cars....

[Guest ticat900]

We did draw the line at 40' max due to restrictions in certain states - and that too was a compromise because some features we wanted are more commonly found in 42-45' coaches

 

what features are these? only one I know of is a rear bathroom? so bath and 1/2 plus rear

.

[freestoneangler]

We looked at several that were too short for my 6' 6" length, some would have been easy, a couple hard and one that gave us the giggles explaining the problem to the sales idiot would have required leaving the driver's side slide out when the seat was fully back after moving it, it already rubbed the slide if it was reclined.

We looked at a couple more units today and did find a Itasca that had plenty of leg length with the slide in... so you and Kirk are spot on. That's a good thing in that gas coaches are still a possibility, but it does narrow the field a bit and we'll have to look at a good number more to flush out the short list. Your idea of modifying the mount to increase rear position would work, but only if there is clearance with slide in.

 

Kirk -- showed my wide the picture of the F53 chassis and her first question was "where's the seats"?

[skp51443]

It comes with a little plastic bucket seat on a rigid metal frame so that it can be moved under its own power, that isn't shown on Kirk's picture.

 

You might want to check your spelling of wife too, you may spend 2015 in the basement eating dog food.

[Kirk W]

Far too many RV builders try to get more space into the shorter coaches by encroaching on the driving area as they consider the cab part to be wasted space. That is especially true for gas chassis coaches(and those on the diesel FRED) because of the engine hump that is always at least a bit evident. I think that the design folks just look at the drawings of the seats based upon the location of the seat base and fail to consider leaving space for the seat's full travel. There used to also be some that the base sat back far enough to make it a problem with the very short people getting close enough, but that seems to have gone away.

 

It is this tendency for design people to create RVs based more on looks that on functionality which causes so many of us to suggest that potential buyers go through the motions of dong all of the things you will ever need to do while in one. Bathrooms are another place where they often leave too little space.

[freestoneangler]

It comes with a little plastic bucket seat on a rigid metal frame so that it can be moved under its own power, that isn't shown on Kirk's picture.

 

You might want to check your spelling of wife too, you may spend 2015 in the basement eating dog food.

[LFDR3116]

You are indicating that you are tall. Because of this, make sure you sit on the toilet, pretend to shower , sit/lay on the sofa, lay on the bed etc. There is more than the driver seat that may be uncomfortable for you.

[freestoneangler]

You are indicating that you are tall. Because of this, make sure you sit on the toilet, pretend to shower , sit/lay on the sofa, lay on the bed etc. There is more than the driver seat that may be uncomfortable for you.

Good points and yes, I have been checking those factors as well. Most of the showers have skydomes (my term) that provide adequate head room. Most of the sofas are way too short to lay down completely, but that's OK I'll likely use the lounger. As for beds, they are on the short side, but manageable. Indeed one loo was quite cramped, but the others seem to be fine. Lots to consider.

[Kirk W]

Most of the showers have skydomes (my term) that provide adequate head room. Most of the sofas are way too short to lay down completely, but that's OK I'll likely use the lounger. As for beds, they are on the short side, but manageable.

See! I have long held that we low altitude stature folks have a real advantage in life! I'll bet you never wished you were short like us??

 

That said, I think that many of the efforts to guide a new RV buyer fail to mention the fact that the size of the people who are to live in the RV have a great deal to do with what size RV will work well. And the height isn't the only factor, girth is just as important.

[mohamer]

One of the best things I like about my MH is that it is paid for, I like the interest rate for sure!!

It may not be the fanciest or climb that mountain the fastest but it gets us where we want to go and the Wife Likes It A Lot!!

 

Enjoy the search, that is part of the fun...

[bigjim]

Key phrase above, "wife likes it a lot). 2nd best but really good, "paid for).

[Guest ticat900]

Key phrase above, "wife likes it a lot). 2nd best but really good, "paid for).

Not in my world. We both have to like it and agree or no go. In my opinion financing a RV is the crazyiest thing a man can do.

[justRich]

Not in my world. We both have to like it and agree or no go. In my opinion financing a RV is the crazyiest thing a man can do.

Agreed with exception. When I die I hope to be flat broke and that the check to the undertaker will bounce.

[Jack Mayer]

There have been threads here before on the topic of financing an RV. Bottom line - you need to do what works for YOU. But you need to be able to afford what you buy.

 

As I've said before, I've financed RVs for (what turned out to be) short periods. I did not want to cash in the investments at the time. Also, if your investments are earning a significantly higher rate than the interest on a loan that may make sense. But the bottom line is you have to be able to afford it.

[kathydavidb]

Agreed with exception. When I die I hope to be flat broke and that the check to the undertaker will bounce.

Love it! You made me laugh so hard I almost choked on my coffee. Dave.

[earnnetwealth]

Yup, what Jack said for sure! We live within our means. This is why we have taken our time in getting our RV. We have decided 5th wheel for a number of reasons, but one that was high on the list was brake down. IF for some reason we have an engine problem, we still have the RV to stay in while the truck is worked on.

We toyed with the idea of an HDT for a while, but decided that because the truck will also be a daily driver while not on the road, a Pick up would be more practical for US!

While we could have purchased an HDT for near what the Ram 3500 cost us, practicality was the deciding factor. Did we need a truck that could tow around 80K lbs? Do I need a truck that can tow almost 30K lbs? The question really comes down to what you need as well.

In my case I needed a daily driver as well as a truck that can tow with.

 

The bottom line when the rubber meets the road is #1 Purchase what you can afford, and #2 Purchase what you need.

[Barbaraok]

Not in my world. We both have to like it and agree or no go. In my opinion financing a RV is the crazyiest thing a man can do.

There are a lot of crazy things someone might do, but financing isn't one of them. There are a lot of valid reasons why someone might finance a rig, especially if the investments are performing well & pulling them out with create a HUGE tax liability, or the income stream is good and not financing means you never get to go.

 

Barb

[Jack Mayer]

Right you are, Barb. There is nothing wrong with financing if you can afford the RV. In some cases it makes far more sense to finance it than to pay cash. In the case of the motorhome I'm looking at, I can finance it for around 4%. I'm making far more than that on my investments. And I have a steady income stream that can easily make the payment and not affect our lifestyle - and with no future potential to lose that income stream. So it makes no sense to pay cash for it. To ME. To others that may not be the case. Each person is unique. And each situation is different.

[Guest ticat900]

Right you are, Barb. There is nothing wrong with financing if you can afford the RV. In some cases it makes far more sense to finance it than to pay cash. In the case of the motorhome I'm looking at, I can finance it for around 4%. I'm making far more than that on my investments. And I have a steady income stream that can easily make the payment and not affect our lifestyle - and with no future potential to lose that income stream. So it makes no sense to pay cash for it. To ME. To others that may not be the case. Each person is unique. And each situation is different.

any investment that's making so called "far more than 4%" will always have "potential to lose" ALWAYS.

anyhow just to clarify I was talking about the average mom and pop that live on social security etc.Those are the people whom should NEVER EVER finance a RV just for the sake of having a RV not the rich people whom have a couple million investment stream from the markets whom hope the market(betting) outperforms the 4-6% RV loan is costing

[bruce t]

It's a changing world. Us 'older' folks never had finance when we were young. Heck what was finance? The thing is that times have changed. Financing, being in debt, is nolonger a taboo. It's just a part of modern society. Just ask my daughter. They have no fear or consideration for their financial well being as they get older. That's tomorrows worry. Typical 'modern' attitude.

 

Finance an RV. That's ok by me. But NEVER tell me it's makes good financial sense to finance a depreciating 'asset'. NEVER. I/we have investments that are making more money than interest, at the moment. Everyone's situation is different. But I do worry that few folks sit down and compare the end results of their actions over the long term. That 'finance' just maybe costing you more than you think.

 

The key is not to try to 'justify' your actions on a financial basis. But rather to divide your actions into 'wants' and 'needs'. If it's just something you 'want' then do it. Finance it. But justify it for reasons other than trying to convince everyone about the pros and cons of 'finance' doesn't make sense to me. Buy something you want to buy simply because you like it and want it is perfectly ok by me. Socialists and capitalists have been arguing forever about the pros and cons of the state of the economic world. This forum wont change that.

 

Do it however you want to but be prepared to live with the consequences of your actions. Just make sure you are having fun doing it.

 

regards

[Kirk W]

The key is not to try to 'justify' your actions on a financial basis.................................

 

Do it however you want to but be prepared to live with the consequences of your actions. Just make sure you are having fun doing it.

This thing reminds me of a friend who bought a new motorhome back in 1998. He had just been told that his cancer was terminal but that it might take anywhere from 5 to 15 years to get him. They had been thinking of trading RVs anyway so he went to the dealer and asked if their financing could include life insurance on the loan balance. Since the answer was "yes" with no question at all about his state of health, my friend bought the motorhome and financed it to the very longest term & smallest down-payment that he could arrange. I believe that it was a 20 year note. Just short of 6 years later he became unable to continue traveling and passed away in a few months, leaving his wife with a now 6 1/2 year old motorhome that was paid off by that insurance. The result would have pleased Emmet very much.

[Barbaraok]

any investment that's making so called "far more than 4%" will always have "potential to lose" ALWAYS.

anyhow just to clarify I was talking about the average mom and pop that live on social security etc.Those are the people whom should NEVER EVER finance a RV just for the sake of having a RV not the rich people whom have a couple million investment stream from the markets whom hope the market(betting) outperforms the 4-6% RV loan is costing

 

You may not be familiar with all of the different types of retirement accounts that we have in the US, so I think you are really being disingenuous in how you characterize people. We are not rich, but we have different investments that pay out in different ways, some of which have a minimum payout each year, some of which do not, most of which are tax deferred, etc.

 

 

 

Finance an RV. That's ok by me. But NEVER tell me it's makes good financial sense to finance a depreciating 'asset'. NEVER. I/we have investments that are making more money than interest, at the moment. Everyone's situation is different. But I do worry that few folks sit down and compare the end results of their actions over the long term. That 'finance' just maybe costing you more than you think.

 

Bruce, you have no idea what our retirement finances are set up as - same as I have no idea how yours are set up. There are a lot of cases where financing makes sense even with RVs. Kirk gave a great example, one that everyone should think about because as we all get older we need to be aware of what can happen. Isn't it much better that his friends were able to enjoy time together doing things they wanted to do than to just sit and wait for the end to come? Since both Dave & I have had life threatening illnesses, maybe we are a little more attuned to the idea that we could be gone in a short time. We take that into account when we do things.

 

BTW - houses can also be depreciating assets. Just ask those with home mortgages that are so upside down they had to declare bankruptcy.

 

Barb