Hi everyone! I've been reading the posts and you all are so wise. I need some help from some experts to know if this is right for me.
Dh and I have been looking at RVs, TTs and pop-ups for the last couple years.
We decided the pop-up was no good for us. I don't want to tow with my van and like to camp sometimes without Dh who needs his truck for work so using the truck to tow all the time is out. We looked at some older RVs that we could pay cash for but I am a little nervous about buying an older model and breaking down with the kids.
My uncle (in Phoenix) has a '98 28' Tioga that he wants to unload. He said I can have it if I just take over the payments. He has 8 years left on his loan.
I am so excited about this opportunity that I feel will probably not present itself again. I don't know if my excitement is clouding my judgement - what do you think?
Okay we have a large family. Its myself, dh, ds16, ds8, ds7 and ds 2 months. PLUS we have 2 labs who would be traveling with us. Is this mh the right size for us? Is a 28' class c that sleeps 8 big enough for us?
Has anyone ever RV'd with a little baby? Is it worth it to even try? Logically it seems it would be easier (more room, bathroom convenience, traveling fridge and microwave, ability to sleep on the road...) but is it really? Am I really just creating more work for myself? Does anyone have tips for RVing with an infant?
Financially I am pretty sure we can afford it. I am a little nervous about making an 8 year, $460/mo commitment. Things like this freak me out. I am the kind of person who will drive a car till it dies as long as I'm staying close to home (and rent a car for road trips) because committing to a long car loan freaks me out and I can't decide. I think too much about everything like this. If dh didn't insist it was time I probably would have been too cautious to sign mortgage papers and we'd still be renting.
I worry that we we won't use it as much as we should. We have been tent campers pretty consistently in the past. I am the nutty tent camper who gets the electric hook up and runs and AC, dehumidifyor, tv/vcr, and heater in her tent (yes its a big one). I have even been known to hook a propane heater up to an outdoor shower set up complete with stall. I'm not kidding. I love camping but not roughing it. We would probably use it for various weekend trips throughout the summer and fall, maybe a week somewhere not far away in the spring or summer, 10 days in canada in the fall and 2-3 weeks in florida in the winter. Plus we would probably tailgate for OSU games in it. Do you think this amount of use justifies this major of a commitment. I kind of think it does simply for the convenience with the baby but I have never RV'd before (ever) so thats why I'm asking.
DH and I own our own business and we homeschool our boys so we have lots of opportunity to take off. I love to travel and have been known to take these boys on week long trips to various historical places and its really going to be hard to do in a van with an infant. A mh would give us a bit more security as well on these trips.
See... I have all these great reasons to buy so why am I so unsure? Does everyone feel like this the first time?
Any and all advice would be appreciated.
:) Kerry

I'm with Bethers on this WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. Shop around some more, and any person that can do tenting with all the extras that you use, will find RVing a piece cake. :) going to travel CJ

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This is a hard one. You must be very tempted, but think again. RV's don't get driven as much as cars normally, so you can buy an older model with low milage. I paid cash for mine - $7000 - it is an 1984 Class A Allegro. BUT, it only had 46000 (I'm not sure of my zero's - forty six thousand miles) on it, and had been well maintained. If you buy used make sure it has a Chevrolet engine - my mechanic says their engines have changed very little over the years, unlike Ford, so parts are easy to get. If I were you I'd put that 460.00 away each month until you can pay cash. Start looking at lots of models, figuring out where each person would sit while travelling and sleep at night. Travelling with a baby is no big deal, they don't care as long as Mom is with them. My now grown son looks back on our trips and says they were the happiest times of his life. When he was in Iraq he'd tell the guys about his trips around America and they all said they were going to do that when, and if, they got back.

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[color=Purple]I am the kind of person who will drive a car till it dies as long as I'm staying close to home (and rent a car for road trips) because committing to a long car loan freaks me out and I can't decide.
See... I have all these great reasons to buy so why am I so unsure? Does everyone feel like this the first time?" [/color]
As said before if you can refinance your payment would be lower. A lot of motorhome loans anymore are for 15 years...
The size sounds right for your family size.
If it is fully loaded, and ready to tow a car, well maintained, the price really isn't that far off.
Remember if the tires are old it'll be about 100$+ each for the 6 tires. Mechanical labor is more expensive, so are oil changes.
You might think awhile, motorhomes are a pretty major financial commitment. It could totaly ruin your fun if you are constantly figuring depreciation and gas mileage in your head while your are motoring down the road.
That being said it might also be the most fun you have ever had in your life.... well close
;) "Not all who wander are lost"

WELL!!! See if I ever give MY opinion again!!!!! lol. I know NOTHING! I want to put the key in the thingy, turn it and hear the engine start. That's the end of my involvment with it! Kandj - go for it! You really just wanted to hear that didn't you? It's like gold-fever. Gotta go, NOW!!! If you maintain it, keep it as good as it is now, maybe better, then you can turn it if at some point you want something different. It's not the end of the world. I read that most RV'ers go through 2 or 3 vehicles in their time. Enjoy!

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