OK there seems to be a few posts regarding this question but in my case it's a bit different so here goes....
I'm taking early retirement in December and considering touring the US. I've toured extensively throughout europe using a small Ford campervan but each trip had been limited by having to return back to the UK due to work. I may well eventually sell my house and move to live in europe but before I do i'm seriously thinking of doing a US tour....possibly for up to three years.
Now.....i'm a single 60yr old guy used to driving solo and would be travelling alone. So when it comes to choice of motorhome i'm not necessarily looking for masses of space. It has to be economical, practical to use anywhere, cheap and simple to get any mechanical parts, have a rear fixed bed, all weather use (winterised), and good for long distance travel.
Do I buy privately or from a dealer?
Florida seems to have a large number of RV dealers around and is easy to get to from the UK but is there any particular state/s which is best to buy from, i.e. taxation, price, insurance etc?
I've looked at a few RV dealer sites in the US to get some idea of price and whats available and feel that a C class may be my best bet (full blown A class RV's are simply too big for my needs.....and expensive to run). I notice though that most C class RV's seem to be petrol (gas) engine and i've not seen any diesel. Is this generally the rule?
Back here in the UK I had an old Ford Transit diesel campervan. Engine and box would throb away all day every day, was extremely economical to run, but most of all I could still get parts for it anywhere throughout europe. It helped of course that Ford is common as muck over here and there are Ford Garages in virtually every town or city. So what is the make/model to go for in the US? What is 'common as muck' (as we say here) which makes it cheap to buy (because there are plenty around), and easy to obtain any parts in any state?
My plan is to fly out, view a few RV's, buy one then ride off into the sunset! If that sounds mad......well I am British after all!
Any thoughts, views and pointers to useful websites will be most appreciated.
Finally.....if my plan does come off I will be looking for temporary accomodation whilst I look around for a suitable RV so here is a chance for any budding amateur 'hoteliers'!
I'm taking early retirement in December and considering touring the US. I've toured extensively throughout europe using a small Ford campervan but each trip had been limited by having to return back to the UK due to work. I may well eventually sell my house and move to live in europe but before I do i'm seriously thinking of doing a US tour....possibly for up to three years.
Now.....i'm a single 60yr old guy used to driving solo and would be travelling alone. So when it comes to choice of motorhome i'm not necessarily looking for masses of space. It has to be economical, practical to use anywhere, cheap and simple to get any mechanical parts, have a rear fixed bed, all weather use (winterised), and good for long distance travel.
Do I buy privately or from a dealer?
Florida seems to have a large number of RV dealers around and is easy to get to from the UK but is there any particular state/s which is best to buy from, i.e. taxation, price, insurance etc?
I've looked at a few RV dealer sites in the US to get some idea of price and whats available and feel that a C class may be my best bet (full blown A class RV's are simply too big for my needs.....and expensive to run). I notice though that most C class RV's seem to be petrol (gas) engine and i've not seen any diesel. Is this generally the rule?
Back here in the UK I had an old Ford Transit diesel campervan. Engine and box would throb away all day every day, was extremely economical to run, but most of all I could still get parts for it anywhere throughout europe. It helped of course that Ford is common as muck over here and there are Ford Garages in virtually every town or city. So what is the make/model to go for in the US? What is 'common as muck' (as we say here) which makes it cheap to buy (because there are plenty around), and easy to obtain any parts in any state?
My plan is to fly out, view a few RV's, buy one then ride off into the sunset! If that sounds mad......well I am British after all!
Any thoughts, views and pointers to useful websites will be most appreciated.
Finally.....if my plan does come off I will be looking for temporary accomodation whilst I look around for a suitable RV so here is a chance for any budding amateur 'hoteliers'!