Looking for 2 kinds of advice ref: 5th wheel

[DAniece]

After lurking here and on an rv-ers site, my dear husband (nicknamed Wall-E) and I have come to the following thoughts:
* we should be smart and rent before we buy to make sure we're getting what we need/want
* think that we want a 5th wheel
* leaning towards a used Teton
* found several online that look like they might meet our needs (see below)

Our Needs
* We're planning to "over-winter" at FW, beginning w/ nearly 3 full months this year!
* We've never owned an RV or lived in one (Wall-E did a lot of camping and summering in pop-ups, campers, and such as a child; over 30 years ago)
* We're DINKs (double-income no kids), basically self-employed, but still need to return to the snowy, cold, windy midwest on a somewhat regular basis
* We've spent the last 2 winters not-at-home; we spend about 6 months per year traveling & staying in hotels/condos/suites/whatever - so we have a good idea of how much space we need & whether we can give this an old college try without committing homicide or suicide <grin>
* We've never pulled a trailer or a 5th wheel & don't have the time or interest to "give it a go" right now

Our questions
1) Does anyone have any recommendations for a person/company that would be willing/able to safely & properly store and move a 5th wheel for us? Preferably someone in central FL.
*** we don't want to haul it 18 hours back up the interstate
*** we would want it moved to FW at the start of our "winter" and moved back to storage at the end of "spring"
*** we'd be paying for it to stay in one spot at FW (when we have to zip back home for brief visits, it would stay all set up)
2) Given the cost of buying a 5th wheel (particularly something like a Teton), us having zilch experience, and the difficulty in selling a used unit - we'd like to rent before we buy. Is it poor manners to request this of a seller?
a) we're thinking that we'd be willing to offer 20% of the agreed-upon price to "rent" (or "try out") for 11 weeks this year PLUS we'd be willing to put the other 80% into an escrow account to assure the seller that we're serious
* if the unit meets our needs, the seller would get the 80% balance
* if not, then the seller would keep 20% as rent

So, to recap...
1) Someone to store/secure the unit plus deliver/pick-up in Florida
2) Our rental/buy concept; any chance in H-E-double-hockey-sticks this will work?

Thanks in advance,
We're very excited about being at the Fort!!
Have campsite reserved but not "camper"!
Blossom

P.S. Our first stay at the Fort will be in a cabin in December

 

[2goofycampers]

Here is the site of a 5th wheel for rent at the Fort.

http://www.campatthefort.com/

 

[DAniece]

Here is the site of a 5th wheel for rent at the Fort.

http://www.campatthefort.com/

Thank you!
We've checked out this website, but as I said in the post -- we'd like to RENT the same unit that we'd be BUYING.

We're really looking for a 5th wheel that's more DINK friendly and not-so-much kid-friendly. We don't need (or want) space for extra people

Maybe I should contact Darrell & Tina Edmonds and see if they'd be interested / available for moving/setting up/possibly storing a 5th wheel for us?

Thanks again,
Blossom

 

[rapriebe]

Personally, if I were selling my camper now I would not want to be tied up for 3 months while you were deciding if you wanted my camper while you were renting it. How would you handle it if something were to break while you were renting it? Would it be the buyers responsibility to fix it or would you fix it.

FWIW - I am going to be selling my Fifth wheel in April 2009 (after I return from FW) but as a seller, I would not be interested in that type of arrangement. Just alittle too "iffy" for my taste. Just my 2 cents. Good luck on your adventure - lucky you to be able to do this while you are still so young.

 

[DAniece]

Bump
Blossom

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Most of us RV owners at some point had to jump into it with both feet. You are wanting to just get your toe wet to try it out first. I'm not sure there would be many or anyone willing to rent their RV to you with the option to buy. As previously stated, things can and DO break in rv's. My suggestion to you is to rent a rv from a company that is in the business to rent short term.(by the week(s). This way you can get a feel for the rv lifestyle. Another option: Many Fla. RV parks have park models that the owners will rent out by the month. Just find an area you want to be in and check them out. Unfortunately this does not get you into a Disney Resort. IMHO the only way to stay long term at FW is to bite the bullet like most of us have done and buy your own rv. Maybe instead of buying the most expensive rv first you could consider starting with something in the mid range . That way if you decide its not for you it should be easier to sell or at that point trade in on a Teton if you like rving. Good Luck.

 

[DAniece]

Most of us RV owners at some point had to jump into it with both feet. You are wanting to just get your toe wet to try it out first. I'm not sure there would be many or anyone willing to rent their RV to you with the option to buy. As previously stated, things can and DO break in rv's. My suggestion to you is to rent a rv from a company that is in the business to rent short term.(by the week(s). This way you can get a feel for the rv lifestyle. Another option: Many Fla. RV parks have park models that the owners will rent out by the month. Just find an area you want to be in and check them out. Unfortunately this does not get you into a Disney Resort. IMHO the only way to stay long term at FW is to bite the bullet like most of us have done and buy your own rv. Maybe instead of buying the most expensive rv first you could consider starting with something in the mid range . That way if you decide its not for you it should be easier to sell or at that point trade in on a Teton if you like rving. Good Luck.

Thank you. I think that part of the reason we're so fixated on renting before buying is because we've seen so much advice (here and other places) about how often people don't know what they want/need & they buy & then they're saddled with something that isn't very easy to sell.
The issue for us isn't completely the money -- its the aggravation of dealing with stuff you don't want anymore (don't even ask about the pool-table) -- like say we bought a used RV, then decided "hey we're right, we love it! now let's get one that's really set up the way we want it!"
We were fairly certain that we had a long-term rent-to-buy set up with someone local to home (11 weeks) and went ahead and got a campsite at FW Turns out now that we've planted interesting seeds in this guy's head (we've known him for years and he's a little crackers) - he thinks maybe he wants to trade the Class A in on a small Class C (think I have that right) and he thinks that his 12 year old RV with a cracked front windshield is worth WAY more than we do... Plus, Wall-E and I are thinking that we don't want a Class A b/c they have more stuff that can break by virtue of having engines & such.
Oh well,
Thanks everyone,
Will let ya'll know what we figure out
Back to work
Blossom

 

[LONE-STAR]

If you are staying at FW that long you will want a golf cart. Then you will need a way to haul the cart. So my 2 cents Toy hauler

 

[lynndiwagon]

Those are difficult questions. You probably need to head over to WWW.RV.NET.COM and check out the forums. Probably a lot more folks with 5th wheel experience and a more appropriate forum for your questions. Good luck to you.....

 

[DAniece]

Thank you for your help and comments.
We're going to do some more thinking and looking this weekend,
Blossom

 

[PrincessMom98]

I think that drafthorsecrazy put it very well. I was also going to suggest going to a RV show and really spend some time in a few units to get an idea of what you like in a floorplan then buy a used mid price 5th wheel. After living in it for a season you will know what you like and what you would change and you can trade up to what you really want. If you decide its not for you then you should be able to sell it for near what you paid for it.

As far as moving it, I know there are several businesses in Indiana that provide RV transportation. If you do a Google search on RV Transport you will find several options.

Good Luck!