Too good to be true?

[Stefano]

Hi All,

Since this is my first post, let me write a few lines about ourselves: we are a family of 5 living in France with children aged 11, 9 and 7, and in 2025 we will be road-tripping throughout the US for at least 6 months. We have been the happy owners of a camper-van which we extensively used for the past 7 years, so we are not totally new to RVs. For our stay in the US, we were however thinking about something slightly larger: a class C motorhome, 24-25 feet, with a sleeping capacity of 5-6 (fairly standard I'd say). There are a few things though we have no experience with, like generators (something hardly ever seen here in Europe), propane tanks (we have bottles), or slide-outs. I'm going to be in the US for a few days in December for work, and I'd like to visit a few units and possible buy one for our road-trip that is going to start early 2025, this is why I'm screening offers online.

Now, I've come across a 2018 Freedom Elite 24HE with only 10'000 miles on it with an non-negotiated price of 48k. However, it's got more than 800 hours on the generator and "new" tires on it (produced during week 38 of 2023, based on a picture I got). How is it possible to have the tires replaced with less than 10k miles? We replaced the tires of our camper-van after ~30k miles (yes, close to 50k km). This RV is much heavier, so likely to wear tires faster, but 10k miles seems odd.
Also, the high number of hours on the generator seem odd, at least to me: I consider the generator to be required only when not hooked up, right? Sort of on-the-road, where mileage should increase. If the unit was "semi-stationary", why that high number of hours (relative to the mileage)? Units with many more miles on them have half the number of hours on the generator.
Lastly, in one of the pictures I see the RVIA seal partially removed. Why would some one try to remove the seal? I read that "most public and private campgrounds in the United States require that RVs and Park Model RVs have an affixed seal to obtain entry to their park". How important is this?

I would ask for clarifications to the owner myself, but unfortunately the unit is sold by a broker and I get less than half of my questions answered. If anyone here is willing to provide his/her thoughts on the above, this would be much appreciated, especially that I'm prompted for a deposit...

Many thanks in advance and greetings from France,

Stefano

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I can answer from only personal experience, but I guess that I’m fairly typical of RVers here in the US.
A Class C will be big enough for you, I think, but a Class A will give you a few more feet of living space as the driver and passenger seats can be turned around to become part of the living area.
A C will yield about 8 miles per gallon (mpg) on gasoline, whereas a Class A will get about 6.
Slides are great when you’re stationary as they add about 4 ft of width to the RV. They do use up the interior room somewhat when driving. They are pretty much maintenance free.
I will replace tires due to age rather than due to mileage, but I am established in a home and use my RV for recreation, usually about 2000 miles per year.
We do run the generator while driving to keep the big RV cool and keep the refrigerator going. Don’t worry about the hours. That’s what they are designed to do.
No one has ever checked my RVIA seal. I think that is for consumers/buyers satisfaction. Maybe another member can help here.

 

[Larry N.]

Welcome to the forum.

Also, the high number of hours on the generator seem odd, at least to me: I consider the generator to be required only when not hooked up, right?

800 hours isn't a lot for a generator if they ran the generator for air conditioning while on the road and camped away from hookups a lot. Those generators are typically designed (with proper maintenance) to run for several thousand hours. There was one year that I "camped" in one spot with no hookups in the very hot/humid Wisconsin summer for three days and ran the generator for more than 72 hours straight, but more common when I didn't need the air conditioning was to run two to four hours once or twice a day when "camped" in the "boonies."

The picture you posted shows chips in the paint, too, but evaluating an RV from pictures can be very misleading.

There are many possible reasons for new tires with low mileage, and one of those reasons is ageing out, that is, 2023 is 5 years after 2018, and the original tires may have been from a year or two before that (chassis waiting for a motorhome to be built on them may sit for a while), and it's often recommended that tires on a motorhome should not be more than 7 years old, or so. Granted that they won't die instantly at the 7 year mark, but tires will rot out from the inside out so the longer you wait the more chance they'll blow on the road and cause considerable damage.

and in 2025 we will be road-tripping throughout the US for at least 6 months.

There are those with personal experience with this who will no doubt be along to comment further, but it's my understanding that there is normally a 6 month maximum for visas in the U.S.

There are a lot of resources on this site (look at the RESOURCES "button" in read at the top of the page for a lot of good information.

 

[Jackiemac]

Welcome to the forum.

I have an unrelated question.

Have you obtained your Visa to allow you to travel for 6 months?

Don't buy anything until you know you can stay for that length of time.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Something I've wondered about is how you would title and insure it without a U.S. address. I'm sure there's a way and you may already know it but I would add that detail to your checklist.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Seilerbird]

I lived in a 20 foot B van all by myself and it was way too small for me. I also lived in a 32 foot C with my GF and it was too small for the two of us. I cannot imagine 5 people in a 26 footer.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Did a camping trip with me, DW, 3 grandkids and 2 dogs in my 30 footer. At night bodies everywhere but during the day you manage the house after sending them outside. Stuck inside in crappy weather would be the worst case, not sure how big an RV would need to be to fix that. It sounds like OP is making this a tour vs long term boondock so they'll be on the move too much to worry about confinement.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[workinonit]

You need a motor coach. When I grow up that's what I want.

 

[RV_Lee1]

5 people in a little 24 footer would be bursting at the seams. Get the biggest one you can afford and if its a class C aim for something over 30 feet. You'll find gas class A's for the same money though...I'd go that route

 

[Kirk]

Since you presently travel around Europe in your camper-van, I suggest you just ignore the cautions about space.

Something I've wondered about is how you would title and insure it without a U.S. address.

I would caution you about the need for a 6 month visa for all 5 of you and also about an address to register the RV. In the USA, each state sets the rules for registration of vehicles and while the rules tend to be similar, they are not all the same. You must have an address in the USA to title and register any motor vehicle as well as to insure it. While the USA does accept the use of license plates from Europe on vehicles, I'm not sure that you could buy one here and then register it in France. I can tell you that I have known several people from outside of the US who bought and registered RVs here and all of them used a US mail service for an address. Not all states allow use of a mail service for registration of vehicles so most get one either in Florida or Texas because both have large RV markets and allow the use of a mail service address.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Since you have been traveling for years in a European camper van, I'm confident your family is acclimated to smaller quarters than many here would tolerate. You will likely consider a 25 ft class C spacious!

Onboard propane tanks can usually be filled at a variety of places where drive-up service is practical. Even some campgrounds offer that service. At worst it's a minor inconvenience that is easily solved with an internet search for "propane station near me".

Generators are handy if you want to camp "off the [electrical] grid" and there are many campsites available that do not have electricity. But if they do, you just plug in and forget using the generator.

Slides are a convenient way to expand space while parked, but they encroach badly on the interior while traveling. I think with your large family, you will need the interior space for travel so probably want to avoid a slide. View some coaches with slides both in & deployed (out) to make up your mind on this point.

Tires age whether driven many miles/kms or not, so RV tires often get replaced before the tread gets worn out. Tires have a useful life of about 10 years even if never driven. Because of the inconvenience and the high probability of RV body damage if a blow-out occurs, conventional wisdom is that motorhome tires should be replaced around 7 years, and ultra-conservative owners may say 5 years.

Some of the larger RV dealers will be familiar with helping a visitor with vehicle titles, registration tags and insurance, so it might be well to do business with one of them even if it costs a bit more than a private sale. Kirk's suggestion of Florida & Texas as being "visitor RV friendly" is a good one.

 

[DonTom]

whereas a Class A will get about 6.

My 2022 30' Class A, gets the same MPG as this 24' Y2K Class C. 8.5 MPG average.

-Don- Tucson, AZ

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

Forum members, stick to answering the questions. We're not immigration agents and even if one or more of you are, the OP didn't request visa information.

Thread deviations and unsolicited advice turns people away from the sight and the thread.

 

[Jackiemac]

Forum members, stick to answering the questions. We're not immigration agents and even if one or more of you are, the OP didn't request visa information.

Thread deviations and unsolicited advice turns people away from the sight and the thread.

I disagree. Some people (me included) don't know what they don't know.

For example we didn't know about cargo carrying capacity so almost bought the wrong vehicle until someone asked me about it.

 

[Tom]

I would caution you about the need for a 6 month visa for all 5 of you

For clarification, what's needed is a B2 (tourist) visa; They usually grant both B1 and B2 visas (B1 = business visa). The visa is good for 10 years and stamped in your passport at a US embassy or consulate or some such outside the US. The visa only gives you permission to land in the US, not to enter or stay. The latter are granted at the sole discretion of the CPB officer at the port of entry (i.e. you can't get permission to stay in advance), and the length of stay is limited to 6 months.

There are legal ways to extend the length of stay - see this thread in our Visitors To The USA forum, but be sure to check the linked CPB (Customs & Border Patrol) web site for the most current information.

Apologies to the OP (original poster) if they already have this covered &/or are aware of the rules).

 

[CharlesinGA]

The RVIA sticker is to certify that the unit meets their specs, certain national codes (electric and plumbing) and other commonly accepted requirements. I suspect some very high end RV resorts might have a requirement that you have that sticker, as they are trying to eliminate school bus and van conversions. You will not encounter anyone running out and checking for the sticker when you go to check in, unless you booked at the most expensive RV Resorts in the area. If you want to see and experience the US, most of your camping will be in local, state or federal campgrounds and a few private ones.

Charles

 

[Stefano]

Thank you all for the many replies, I didn't expect that many!

• First of all, thank you for reassuring me about the hours on the generator and on the fact tires have been replaced despite the low mileage...seen the way you describe it, it's say it's rather a good point
• I was expecting some comments on the fact we'll be 5 in a 24-25 feet RV ;-) I know it might sound weird to you guys, but we prefer the coziness of such small RV (which will anyway be much larger than the camper van we had here in Europe) to the comfort of a larger unit. It sort of reflects what we did here in Europe: a small camper van can go literally everywhere, while a larger RV can't...it's a matter of habit
• Visas: all set! We've got our B2 visas from the local embassy and are aware that we would need to ask ahead for an extension if we wanted to stay for more than 6 months.
• RVIA seal: ok, not a big deal...I can leave with that as we will rather spend time in NPs than in VIP resorts!
• Vehicle registration: we have relatives in the US, so we could borrow an address to register our RV and to get proper insurance. However, we were considering the service provided by visitor.us . It sounds legit, maybe a bit in a gray zone, but eventually, it could help us save some money, especially considering we will be selling the unit some months afterwards. Any feedback? (Don't shoot the pianist )
• Anyway, I still have to figure out how to handles the purchase of the RV, I might ask for a lemonsquad.com pre-purchase inspection. It doesn't come cheap (500$), but that would give me some peace of mind.

Have a nice end of weekend, Stefano

 

[rvlifer]

Check Home - NRVIA for rv inspections.

 

[Jackiemac]

Good news on Visas.

If you have trusted relatives and they are happy then use their address.

You can also get a US bank account with Bank of America and perhaps a few others depending on the state.

We use Wise to transfer money at the current rate on xe.com, plus a small fee. If you feel inclined you can use my link. If you set up an account I will get £50 (after 3 people do it)

https://wise.com/invite/ahpc/jacquelinem219

There is another organisation that does RV inspection for a fee.

https://nrvia.org/

 

[Kirk]

Vehicle registration: we have relatives in the US, so we could borrow an address to register our RV and to get proper insurance. However, we were considering the service provided by visitor.us . It sounds legit, maybe a bit in a gray zone, but eventually, it could help us save some money, especially considering we will be selling the unit some months afterwards

You didn't say what state your relatives live in, as that will make a lot of difference in the sales taxes and registration fees paid. The Montana mail service looks OK but isn't one that I have ever heard of. You might find it much easier to use your relative's address as it can be difficult to open bank accounts here using a mail service, while your relative's address would not have that issue. It would also mean that when you leave the US you could give your relative the legal power to sell the RV for you, thus relieving you of the rush to get it sold before you leave. If you share what state and city your relative is living in we could check out the taxes and fees for the RV for you.

I might ask for a lemonsquad.com pre-purchase inspection.

I agree with both of the two posts above that the use of an NRIA inspector would be far better than the Lemon Squad. Another RV inspector certification that is valid is NRVTA.