I spent all day continuing to do more RV research. There are two models that are top on our list mainly because we need more workspace than anything else ...
The Cedar Creek 391WOW Fifth Wheel was the one we took a walk-through of and it was just so great. The other we are considering is the Cedar Creek 377BH | Mid Bunk/Mid Office.
The Forest River Riverstone 425FO (Front Office) is IDEAL but they are built like SHIT. Hardly any dealers will carry them so that sucks. It's PERFECT for us.
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So some warranties have fine print that stipulates what they consider "recreational use" and full time use.
i.e.
"𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦” 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘝𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 30 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘳 18 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴.
which means your warranty is voided completely if you use or occupy your RV longer than is stipulated.
If you buy and RV and basically TOUCH anything in it ... you're done and on your own with anything that happens. Not to mention trying to get something repaired via the warranty can take MONTHS because they're not wanting to pay. So your RV could be in the shop for MONTHS and if that is where you live, where are you supposed to go while your RV is in the shop?
@thewebrecluse In many cases, this is also essentially state/local law, too.
@EnochianEntropy Yep. Many people don't realize it though.
Considering how folks use RVs, that's very limited.
Not surprising, but so disingenuous.
@tyghebright RV dealers usually pocket 100% of the warranty because they are just resellers of it. The warranties are useless and rarely do people realize how easy it is to accidentally void them. So you pack 5k or something for a warranty but in actually it doesn't cover much of anything but the dealership makes bank. It's how they offset selling RVs for lower prices. Basically, its a scam.
@thewebrecluse I wonder if it has ever happened that one of these warranties paid a claim?
@walterbays Doubtful given the thousands of YouTube videos about people in the middle of lawsuits with RV manufacturers and such over bad designs, problems, expensive repairs, and no hope.
@thewebrecluse Well, your research sure makes the RV life seem much less attractive. Sure you want to do this?
I guess you could choose mainly on the basis of trusted brand reliability reports, and count on all DIY repairs. 😥
@walterbays As I've stated before ... what I am doing is just that ... research. Most people don't do any research at all ... they just buy and go or they believe nonsense and lies they see on YouTube. Our lease isn't up for another year ... IF we decide to go RVlife we will have a Level 2 certified RV Technician with us and have done a years worth of research on everything involved. I do nothing without tons and tons of data ... nothing.
@walterbays I think RVLife could be attractive for those who have tons of disposable income or have the ability to not HAVE TO live an RVLife. I don't think it's for people that see it as a way to save costs or who already are struggling with life. The RV lifestyle maybe be nomadic and about free spiritedness ... but the truth is, unless you have a lot of willingness to suffer and/or you have a lot of money in the bank ... it's a lifestyle of privilege whether people want to admit that or not.
@walterbays Not to mention that there already has been an uptick of 1% capitalists buying up RV parks and open lands to raise costs to price out RVLifers ... so eventually it will be completely unaffordable for many people who are relying on it to stay somewhat affordable.
Also in doing research on the utter SCAM that extended warranties are, we also found out that a lot of them will void your warranty if you use your RV for commercial purposes, that means if you make ANY money in your RV including a YouTube channel where you make money making videos about RVLife or working full time in your RV as a prime residence ... THAT is absolutely CRUCIAL INFORMATION to have.