Over the weekend I spoke to the man who owned the Allegro Bus motorhome we are considering buying in order to schedule a time to buy a tow bar that he has so I can tow my truck. During our conversation he mentioned the slide topper being torn on the driver side on one of the slide outs. We have been having second thoughts on this unit anyway due to the number of things needing repaired to get it in good working order. Our fear is there are a number of other things no one is aware of that also need to be fixed. We could take the unit to Red Bay, Alabama to the factory and stay in the service campground. We already called the factory about doing this and they have dedicated people who would go over it and check it out and make repairs if necessary. But in the meantime we decided to start to look at some other units at some other dealers. We have had several people add their opinions and the consensus seems to be a motorhome needing repairs is a major money pit. I could accept some of these things but I am not sure how much time I want to spend waiting for a person to repair the unit and the hassle of getting the unit where it needs to be to get repaired. While I believe Tiffin and Newmar have very good reputations for being well made motorhomes they are still not without problems. Especially if they have been neglected for the last five years or so. I would like something that I feel the previous owner took care of the way I would and clearly the person who owned the Allegro Bus did not do that.
Today we went to Fort Myers and looked at various new and used motorhomes. I am learning that some of the new lower end motorhomes have incorporated features that were reserved for the higher end units just a couple of years ago. I still have concerns about the new urea requirements but many new great features are starting to out weigh some of the new not so good features like the new epa requirements. We will be looking over the next few days and possibly weeks and will also be doing more research online to learn as much as we can before we take the leap. I am positive we are going to get a motorhome.
In the meantime I had to get up on the roof of the fifth wheel today to clean and lube a gasket on the sticking cover of a Fantastic fan. Seems to be working perfect now.
Tonight we are sending an email to the sales person at LazyDays (we can't get her by phone) to let her know we are no longer interested in the 2008 Allegro Bus but do want quotes on two new Tiffin units they have sitting on their lot. In Fort Myers we plan to work on getting them to sharpen their pencil on a 43 foot Newmar Ventana which is an entry level diesel pusher. They have several with one being a 2012 which is technically a year old. They said it hasn't sold because it only has one bathroom instead of a bath and a half which people now seem to want. Huli and I like the floor plan with only one bathroom. We will see how things go. Probably shouldn't have let Huli look at the new ones. Damn are they nice.
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'.
