Buyers remorse!!

Anyone here had buyers remorse aka what was I thinking??

We bought a small motorhome thinking it would be a great way to travel with a bathroom since we both are taking water pills.

We tried taking bus trips but they didn't allow us to use the bathroom on the busses; the drivers would give us pottie breaks every 3 hours but you figure 48 people all have to "go" at the same time so there were long lines!!

Oh my gosh; there are so many details to a motorhome it is unreal! 

Ours has a generator we will probably never use but it still needs run every week or so. The motorhome we have is a diesel and diesels need to be exercised and are expensive to work on if something goes wrong! We have read and re-read the encyclopedia of books, manuals and dos and don'ts that came with it and just are just overwhelmed by so many details.

I wish we had just hooked up a porta pottie to the back of the van as it would have been so much easier and cheaper.  I have a feeling we will be putting our mh up for sale in the Spring it's just way too stressfull for us old folks. 

I wish I were closer to you. I think you need someone to come over and help you sort things out. Operating a motor home isn't that bad. What city are you in?

Bill & Janie

Congratulations on your new motorhome, it is a very good coach and, once you get familiar with it you'll love it.

Not sure where you got your information from but generators can go a month, or longer, between exercises if you aren't using it. As you travel you may stay, or want to stay, in locations where you don't have electric. That can be your generator's exercise. Diesel engines can go even longer but many of us will just pick a nice day and drive it around for an hour or so once a month also. The maintenance on your rig is much less than the bigger diesel pushers, almost like a diesel engine car. Don't sweat it.

Post a lot of questions here and you'll learn quickly. We are in the west valley of Phoenix. Marlene and I'll will be tied up for the next couple of weeks but we can get together and go over a few things with you if convenient. Post a message here or send me an email, click on the envelope below my name.

You've got a nice coach that's small enough to go just about anywhere. Start out small (baby steps, baby steps) and take a short trip. Run the generator to pop popcorn in the microwave or heat up TV dinners. Spend the night in the coach parked in your driveway. RVing really is a lot of fun and having your own bathroom with you is wonderful. Look for a local RV group in your area and go on a trip with them....RVers are a friendly, helpful group. I think you'll find that you really do like your new coach and the RVing life. And perhaps we'll see you at Quartzsite in January where you'll find more than 50 friendly folks who would love to help you out.

Never Give Up - Never Surrender !!

Wendy

It sounds like such a wonderful motorhome.  I'm a woman using one a 30 footer, new to this.  We had TT's but hubby pulled them and did all the stuff. I envy you having a diesel, just wasn't in my price range.

Well he is working out of the country and I want to go and do and see.  Since he really isn't planning on retiring till 66 or maybe 70 if they let him continue working and we are 64 now.  He likes his job, heck, I would like his job too. But I told him to wait that long, well, I just didn't want to.  And since he has traveled for so many years doing it after retirement didn't appeal that much to him, oh he would have done some but wouldn't enjoy it as much as DD and I.  Ok, to get to the point, I bought an older motorhome, a 1991, but he worried I might have troubles with it and didn't want daughter and I out alone.  I don't know why he worried about it, but ok, he said I could get a newer one and I did!  So we are going to enjoy it.

Sue Anne and I both have bathroom issues also, her diverticulosis, and me I need another bladder tuck, will get it done.  But this sure is convenient instead of always looking for a clean bathroom. Yuck

Sure there is a lot to learn, but take it in chunks, look at it as an adventure, that's what I'm doing.  I went through the manuals and when I'm not sure I look it up there or on the net.  Hubby told me to make a check off list like a pilot so I won't forget things and mess something up, so that's next.

Today I need to find the valve on the Winnebago to empty the water tank.  It's so hot here I don't want to leave the water in, probably enough bacteria in it now.  I'm going to sanitize it.  I'm also putting some septic stuff in the tank, says its natural bacteria to help break it down.  I think there is something on a sensor as it shows filling up to quick, yet when I empty there isn't that much in it.  From what I've read tehre is always something, but that's ok, its I just look at it as something new to learn and an adventrue.  Why not look at it that way?

The more that you use it the more you learn about it.
J

Bernie gives good advice.

I am currently visiting relatives in Iowa City area and overwinter in Surprise(NW Phoenix). Traveling with your own potty is the best. I too use a water pill and am on a 20 min cycle in the morning.

Join FMCA and go to their rallys. Many good seminars. Join coachnet for roadside assistance. They excel at sending the right size towtruck for your rig. Aso will make appointments down the road, saving a lot of hassle.

Your biggest asset is right here.  You found the RV Forum!  Years ago none of us knew one another but today many of us are friends who get together at rallies (see the message board called Rallies, Shows, & Events).  New members are always welcome.  At these rallies we learn from one another, not to mention having a wonderful time just chatting or four-wheeling or sightseeing or whatever the area has to offer.  If a guy opens his generator compartment, soon there will be 10 other guys there too just to see if he needs help.  If you want to learn all about your rig, just attend a rally, whether a "formal" one like FMCA or the RV Forum's less formal ones.  We are first and foremost RVers and secondarily computer people (that's how we found one another).  In addition we have photographers, quilters, engineers, solar specialists - you name it.

Personally I can't imagine not having an RV.  We've traveled all over the world on business (mixed with a lot of pleasure!) and the hotel route has run its course for us.  We like having our own food, potty, bed, washer/dryer, "stuff", even our own satellite TV and communications setup.  It's just the best way to travel - no airport hassles, no motels and strange beds, no finding potties, no suitcases to pack and unpack, etc. etc.  Next to those things, hooking up all our "goodies" is a snap!  It's just that it's new and different to you right now.

Please don't be overwhelmed.  There are many people on this forum who have years of experience using, working on, or studying whatever it is you're worried about.  It just takes a little time so give yourself a chance to enjoy our wonderful lifestyle.  We may be the most fortunate people in the world because we can see things and go places other people find extremely inconvenient or downright impossible.  It's a wonderul ride!

ArdraF

jayknee said:

Anyone here had buyers remorse aka what was I thinking??

Click to expand...

Well ... I can remember a 1967 VW bug that I enjoyed and enjoyed and enjoyed ... that was till the day I got a book called "How to keep your Bug alive and well"

Inside that book was pictures of wheel bearings, fan belts, cooling systems and how the number 3 valve didn't get enough air, and on and on till I was scared to even drive it more than 10 miles from home.  In other words, knowledge of what could go wrong turned into fear.  And fear made all the fun I had before I got that darn book go right down the tubes.

So ... the thing to do is just take care of what you can, and in my case get a AAA (great value I think) so that if the worse come to pass, I know I would not be left on the highway somewhere.

Eventually I grew to trust my little bug and the joy slowing returned.  I would think that if you could find someone who understands your specific unit to look it over for you .. you would develop enough faith to enjoy it and start the adventure.

>> Buyers remorse!!

I recall my 1st ever trip in a MH. It was a Class C that I rented to see whether or not I would enjoy it for weekend getaways. About half way up the California I-80 grade to Donner Summit over the Sierras, the traffic became backed up so bad everyone was moving at a snails pace. Outside temps were around 95 degrees and the grade was about 6%.

There was no rest area handy, but enough space to pull off the highway. I turned on the Genset, put on a pot of coffee, did the potty, then fixed a sandwich -- in a very cool coach with the air conditioner keeping the rig at about 75 degrees. As I watched the line of traffic, most with air conditioners off and angry faces due to the steep grade and slow traffic -- I decided the RVing lifestyle is a pretty neat way to travel. After about an hour, the traffic cleared and I got back on the road to Reno.

So hang in there -- and remember,

Buying is ususally based on fairly calm logic, whereas buyers remorse is based on emotion -- with logic nowhere to be found.  The reasoning used to make the purchase is usually more sound that the emotion wanting to take it back. 

Thanks all! We just joined a local rv club and they go for weekend outings fairly close to home and I know that will really help us  to get out with others and get the hang of all this.

Our problems really started with the dealer and 13 things which needed fixed when we picked up our little home. On our two day shakedown (15 miles from home) we also discovered the sofa bed air mattress didn't work for the two of us so I slept in the upper bunk and the tv went out the second day! 

On the positive side:
the coffee was ready when we were
sheets were clean and didn't have to worry about critters
we didn't have to dress up and go to breakfast; we "cooked" pancakes and sausage in the microwave
our "neighbors" all smiled and said hello when we were out walking our dog
several complimented us on our little mh even though they had really huge expensive ones

We go back to the dealer Friday to get everything corrected and will spend a night in the campground near there in case we have to go back for more. I got the surveys and they are sitting on my desk until everything is done. The dealer is anxious to have them filled out but I am waiting until everything is done to our satisfaction.

Great advice given here!  You are doing well by joining a club so you can have the benefit of other's wisdom and experiences, and as get past the initial problems and the learning curve, you should settle in and start enjoying the adventure!

We actually get sad when we start heading home. Although once home we are fine. But, the point is that RV'ing can be a lot of fun. It's easy to exercise the generator by running it occasionally as you are traveling down the road. It is a great way to keep the RV cooler on those hot days. Sleeping in the same bed that is your own is a BIG BIG plus for RV'ing. As others have said the great learning experience comes from fellow RV'ers who in most instances love to share their wealth of knowledge,,,,

Have fun and go RV'ing!!!!!!!!!!