New person

[VickieP]

Please fill me in on some of these terms..gtg, and a few others you gals are using.

GTG = Get Together - any time 2 or more women meet up and share a meal and/or a visit.

Doofus = VickieP

Meanie = VickieP

Wonderful and Sweet = Mitch

Those are all that come to mind right now...

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Rita, you will learn very quickly on here who the REAL meanie is! (she's not really mean, but I'll never admit that)

[Liz]

Welcome Rita!

I agree with you that a used RV is a much better value. However the RV shows will have many models and floor plans to look through and help you decide exactly what you're looking for. Then you can do a search online for a used one with the features you want or need. You may have to be patient awhile for the right one to come along, and you might have to travel to get it.

Looking forward to hearing about your progress towards that dream!

[Irmi]

Welcome Rita!

When time permits, visit the dealers in the areas near you and check out what's out there. There are so many types of units and floor plans available, but something will catch your eye that you will know is the one. Check out the GTG (Get Together) forum and see what's been going on around the country. I'm looking forward to your future posts.

[JoanE]

Rita,

When you are out looking keep in mind that you should be able to get a 15-20% discount from the MSRP. At one dealer where I looked at Class Bs, the MSRP on a 2012 (yeah they are out already) was $115,000. The dealer asked what I would pay for it and I said I should be able to buy it for $90,000 but it wasn't an offer. In minutes, the sales manager offered to sell it to me at $93,000. I wasn't about to spend that much so I didn't buy it but you see what kind of discount from retail is realistic.

The same is true for used. I looked at months of ads on RVTrader online. I limited my research to the late model years and brands that I would consider. By the time I was ready to purchase, I felt very comfortable with what I would pay. I also used NADA online to see what their price guidelines are for particular models. The one I purchased was priced about $8,000 under NADA however it has many upgrades so in effect it was priced even lower. I offered $5,000 under the asking price. The consignment dealer told me flat out that my offer was too low but he would present it to the seller. I also said it was "take it or leave it". I would not negotiate and I wanted my answer by noon the following day. That put the Seller behind the eight ball. They could wait and see if someone else came along to buy it at a higher price and lose a definite sale with me or they could take my offer. You know the saying, "a bird in the hand...." Like anything you are purchasing, try to leave emotion out of the equation. Keep it all business. There are thousands and thousands of used RVs for sale. Like waiting for a bus, another will come along.

Finally, after all that I found that Class Bs, particularly the Sprinter chassis models, hold their value. They require so much hand work to do the conversions and that work is reflected in the prices. Typically, I found that only $5,000 was discounted for each year of age. So if you are going for a Class B diesel engine be sure you are working off the discounted MSRP when you look at prices. ie A 2010 should be able to be purchased for around $85,000 depending on added options.

Have fun looking.
Joan

[cpatinjones]

Hi Rita,

Welcome to the forum!

[Getupngo]

Welcome Rita! Here are a few more:

TT = Travel Trailer
5'er = Fifth Wheel
MH = Motor Home
IMHO = In my humble opinion
BITCH = Oh, you probably know that one.

Have fun deciding what you want and finding it. Mistakes are not fatal.

[Carolinagal]

Wecome Rita, I also live in N.C. mountain area, where is your general location? Even though you don't have an r.v. yet, join in and enjoy the fun here and when you're ready or have questions about the r.v. lifestyle ask and you will surely get loads of answers, which you will have to sort out and use what suits you.

Always so glad to have new people, hope you will join in and let us get to know you, and vise versa .

CArol

[Rita]

Hi Carolinagall, Carol.
I am so pleased to hear from you...You gals are just great.
I love your suggestion and was watching for someone local, and there you are!
I live in Morganton, NC. It is on i40 between Hickory and Ashville. You are mountains so that could
be several areas but I am willing to drive to meet you.
Is there something special going on in the next while? Hope to hear from you...Rita

[Paulette]

Rita, welcome. I have family in Morganton, nc and in nebo too. It's a small world I guess. Hope to be down In That area around the end of June (provided freight liner gets my wheel fixed) to visit with my aunt in Nebo.

[Rita]

Hello Paulette, thank you for the note. Yes, been here in Morganton for 5 years now. Was in California 40+ years. retired and moved here. You are so welcome to pull into my narrow driveway and plug in, would be honored to have
you. Plus there is a camp ground in Morganton, the gentleman I used to travel with used it as a lay over place when we
were getting ready and returning from trips. Please stay in touch, hope the timing works out as I have a trip to
So Dak planned. Family event I want to attend which is on July 9th.
travel safe, Rita

[Bethers]

Rita, I don't recommend giving your phone # out in the open forum. And to make sure people get your specific posts like that, you can PM (private message them) with info like the phone # and asking CArol about getting together. I'd hate to think they miss your post (we don't all read every post every day, as much as we'd like to).

[mtngal]

Hi Rita! welcome to the forum! glad to see the gals are getting you up to speed on our 'secret language'!

[Rita]

Sorry about that....breaking the rules already. I was thinking it was a private and safe forum to do that.
I will not give my phone number out in that way again. I was just excited to think a member was going
to be right in my neighborhood.
Busy day getting the yards all done and ready for an open house by the realtor tomorrow. Here is hoping!
Onces this baby sells, then there is nothing to hold me back. Hope all are having a great weekend.
Be safe, Rita

[Bethers]

Oh, you aren't breaking any rules! Just the forum can be read by anyone - only members can post. You can go back and edit your message with your number in it if you'd like - I just don't want you to do something that might not be safe for you! Some members have no problem posting their number, others do. As to the rest, just giving you another way to communicate when you have a message for a specific member. It's great to see you interacting so quickly - the more you do so, the more everyone will feel like family.

[mitch5252]

Rita, I don't recommend giving your phone # out in the open forum.

If you start getting annoying and harassing phone calls, you can bet your bottom dollar it's Vickie!
Well, it could be Barbie, but probably not - she's busy dating.
Or, I suppose it could be Flick, but, well, she's busy with who knows what lately.
So, yup, it'll be Vickie. Be careful, she grows on ya.

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