Jacks

Thanks Tom ! Good info
Happy Motoring
Johnny

Not taken as being at odds Don.
Thank you for your opinion.

Our last coach had a residential fridge........if my memory is correct the RV type fridges need to be relatively level to operate properly???
Happy Motoring
Johnny

Residential fridge...no idea.  RV fridge...yes, relatively level, the crown of the road or a couple inches lower or higher on one axle of the RV causes no issues.

JWW, Good info, makes sense as well. Now I do see rvs with the jacks down and their tires on squares of plywood. What is it about asphalt that causes harm? Assuming it has something to do with petroleum make up in asphalt

I don't think asphalt harms tires, but water does. Water can actually seep into a tire and rust the steel belts and bead wires. I do know that for long term storage, the magazines I read recommend keeping the tires off surfaces that can get wet, like dirt and concrete.

We don't have the jacks.  When we don't need them, I don't miss them.  But when I pull out the Lynx blocks, I wish we had them.  Since we travel to primitive places, the camp sites are often angled and uneven.  I anticipate one day I will break down and get the jacks installed.  As I get older, the idea of jacks looks better and better.  I just have not gotten to that point inside my head and wallet yet.

My advise is to get them and be done.

Thanks Ron !
Happy Motoring
Johnny

Another note about the cost.  The PC website inventory shows the cost of leveling jacks for a new 3100 as $4335.  Assuming a 25% discount, the cost might be about $3250.  Using the NADA website for the value of my 2011 model 3100, it shows the added value of leveling jacks as $1475.  The cost difference of about $1775 is certainly worth it to me, not only for the ease and speed of leveling, but equally valuable to me is the stability – no rock-and-roll when moving around inside or when exiting and entering.  And not just the cost itself, but attracting buyers later: without jacks, you will be excluding an entire block buyers (like me) who wouldn’t even consider a motorhome without jacks.  To me, it’s a no-brainer.

GoPhoenix,

I hear you.  My head is in the sand when it comes to PC resale value.  I suppose if the plan is to trade-in on a regular basis, then it's smart to equip your rig with "resale" in mind.

Irene and I are people who think a bit odd compared to the rest of America.  Society says YES to this, NO to that, but we feel the opposite, seemingly with everything.  For example, we ended up designing our house ourselves because nobody marketed anything similar to the house we wanted.  I suppose one day it could hurt us that our house does not fit the typical profile, but we really don't care.  The same with our PC.  But we don't plan on making changes with house (26 years so far) or PC (8 years so far).  Both odd items....Oh well.  At least we are happy.....well....maybe jacks on the PC one day.  Maybe I'll get them installed for a retirement gift to myself, that is if I can retire at the right age, under the right circumstances.

Ron, I may be thinking about resale value more than most folks.  We’ve been RVing for over 30 years by tent, pop-up, and five motorhomes (two PCs).  In addition to eight European countries, Guam, the Caribbean, and Canada, we’ve travelled in all 50 states, 49 by RV (can’t figure a good way to get our PC to Hawaii).  But now with my wife nearing 80, we’re slowing down and will be selling our beloved PC within a year or two.  Resale value is now a real consideration.

We married young in 1978, tent camped until 1983 when we bought our first motor home, had that until 2007 when we bought our PC.

In everything for the long haul.  We retired our washer and dryer just last month, bought them in 1979.  We raised a family in there somewhere so they were worked hard too.  We keep things well beyond typical.  We are terrible consumers, bad for the economy.

Ron,
Off topic a bit but........due to recent personal experience i must inform you that your new washer and dryer, in all probability, will not provide a 36 year service life !
Happy Motoring
Johnny

Ron,
Off topic a bit but........due to recent personal experience i must inform you that your new washer and dryer, in all probability, will not provide a 36 year service life !
Happy Motoring
Johnny

Yes, I surely believe you.  Other than vehicles, it seems these days, appliances, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc, are intentionally NOT made to last.  I hear hot water heaters are some of the worst.

I learned when I started looking for an RV that when using NADA you do not add any of the options, only the mileage (unless its a diesel).  I leaned the options made no difference in price what so ever when I bought mine. I also learned you do much better with a dealer than a private seller in many cases.  Private sellers all feel their unit is that one cream puff that's worth thousands more than high book. I paid thousands less than the lowest book price and only a little more than 3 grand over wholesale.   Being I will probably never own another motor home beyond this one by the time I get rid of it I'm guessing it wont be worth much any way.

Ron,
Off topic a bit but........due to recent personal experience i must inform you that your new washer and dryer, in all probability, will not provide a 36 year service life !
Happy Motoring
Johnny

Shoot, we just replaced a Kenmore upright freezer that my Grandparents bought in 1957! A very early frost free. Used it in 4 different houses and never once did it see a repair person. Almost all metal. New one same size, half the weight. A lot of plastic.

I know our electric bill went down noticeably the first month it was gone......

Unfortunately, dealing with a private seller is often fraught with emotional baggage (all too often, a private seller attaches more value to their experiences than whatever is actually worth).
However, occasionally, a private seller is realistic and will sell a unit for what it's actually worth, minus a dealer's 'added value'. If you get really lucky, you can find a good buy.

Bob, no question some great deals are out there with private sellers as well.  I think there are many people that don't take into consideration just how much wiggle room dealers have on used units.