RV Shopping

We like to camp.  We have a great time on our monthly campouts with our camping club friends.  We also like to travel and see the country.  We have visited all 48 contiguous states and parts of Canada over the years. 

Off and on we thought of replacing our motorhome with a newer model, but ours keeps on going like the energizer bunny and parting with the cash (as anyone that knows us will attest) is a hard thing for us to do.  Weighing cost and need, when the need was not there, has kept us from taking the plunge. 

As noted in previous posts, our most recent big trip was fraught with problems.  Our 17+ year old RV is finally showing it’s age.  The engine has low miles and has been well maintained but the body and other components are still old.  So before it becomes totally devalued and it starts nickel and diming us, we decided to get serious.

The first thing to do is try to market our RV, etc..  We placed ads on Craigslist for the RV, our Suzuki Grand Vitara, tow bar and brake buddy and waited.  The responses we received did not pan-out.

Meanwhile,we went to the RV show in Madison and saw many nice, new RVs of all types. We looked at trailers as well as motorhomes with a different perspective.  What were the basics we need and what would fit our budget.  This ruled out motorhomes and 5th wheels, so we focused our attention on travel trailers.

Now we’ve really got the itch.  We went hither and yon following up on online ads and saw some nice units.  The problem was getting ours vehicles sold.  Most dealers would consider a trade for a more expensive trailer but we would have to take a huge hit on our RV, and we still had the Suzuki and other equipment to sell.

Everything came together last week when we stopped at a local dealer who was really willing to deal. He offered to send someone out to take a look at our motorhome and the Suzuki for trade-in value.  The following day he called back with the results.  We would be able to trade even, the motorhome and Suzuki for a NEW 2008 that he needed to move.  The only cost was license, and titling fees.  And that same morning we had someone purchase our brake buddy braking system.  Done deal.

Of course we now needed a tow vehicle, which we found in Rockford, a 2002 Chevy Silverado extended cab with a fiberglass topper.

We get it Wednesday. We are relieved to have it all settled.