Last Thursday we headed to Tampa to visit Lazy Days and the Tampa RV show at the Florida State fairgrounds. Well when we left Okeechobee it was around 70-75 degrees but when we got to Tampa it was 60 degrees and falling and raining. We stopped at Lazy Days to meet the sales rep we have been working with over the telephone and through emails. She showed us around Lazy Days. I never realized it was as big as it was. I learned from talking to a Sales Manager that they will sell 800 units per month in the next three to four months and then around 300 per month the rest of the year. To me I think of a big auto or rv dealership as having 20-30 sales people and 10-20 service bays for repair work. Well Lazy Days has over 100 sales people and over 250 service bays. They have 38 service bays dedicated to the high end motorhomes or what they call their crown club. They even have a campground for customers to stay at while their rv is being repaired.
Janet and I looked at several motorhomes even though it was raining. We knew what brands we wanted to look at so we tried to limit our search to Tiffin and Newmar. While Lazy Days doesn't sell Newmar they still had used ones for sale. They sell new Tiffin motorhomes so they had more of these used on the lot for sale. While we liked many of the ones we looked at only one really met all of our requirements and it was sold. We wanted a 40-45 foot unit with king size bed, dinette, residential refrigerator, tile floor in the living room and bathroom, and with a particular floor plan. There are some other system features I wanted that Huli doesn't know anything about like Aqua Hot , diesel generator, and fiber glass roof etc. etc. All of the others had other floor plans or had carpeted living areas or queen sized beds. These were immediately crossed off the list. We spent around 2-3 hours looking at motorhomes, touring the facilities, and talking to our sales person about specifically what we wanted. We never made it to the Tampa RV show but that was ok since we know we didn't want to buy a new unit. The difference between new and one 5 years old is incredible and the used one may only have 25k miles and low hours on other systems like the generator etc. Many motorhomes are purchased but spend most of their lives just sitting idle.
Saturday we got a call and the unit that was sold is now available since the would be buyer apparently bought a new unit at the Tampa RV show. So the 2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus is now on hold for us (after we put down a minimal refundable deposit). We are headed back to Tampa on Monday to go over the unit with a fine tooth comb. If that goes well and we don't find anything wrong then we will be heading back to Indiana to swap out the furniture we currently use for the furniture that came with our 5th wheel. In addition, we will return the motorcycle and the swivel wheeled trailer. On the return trip to Florida we will bring back a recliner and a table and four chairs to put in the 5r. We may look like the Beverly Hillbillies again hauling this stuff in the truck with a big blue tarp over it but who gives a shit.
A journal written about life, retirement and our journey throughout the United States in a 5th wheel, along with our two Shih Tzus, Tanner and Syndey. Written not for notoriety but for our sons, family and friends, so they know where we are at any given time. And particularly for ourselves. Finally, we get to slow down and smell the roses and we don't want to forget any of it. You are welcome to join us as we go 'Down the Road a Piece'.
