12-07-2014, 06:00 PM
Richard said: It's only fair since you queried the forum for their RV experiences, that you start a new thread and tell us about your recent trip and learnings.
My daughter found out that an old friend of mine from my food broker days has been RVing for years. I hadn’t talked to him in a number of years so I gave him a call. You know how it is with old friends, it was like we just saw each other yesterday!
Come to find out not only has he been RVing, he has a 45’ 2008 Newmar Essex #4508. We were visiting our daughter in Tampa and after telling him our plans for a motorhome he insisted I come down and have some fun.
I met him at his home in Venice and that is where the fun began. He and I set out in his coach for three days of what he called “TT” travel and training. We went over to the Boca Grand area where he acquainted me with everything from dealing with RV parks, hooking and unhooking, draining tanks, filling tanks, driving and things “to do & not to do” inside and outside the coach. After the “TT” came driving my first motorhome and what an experience.
Some observations...
• Don’t drive into what you’re not sure you can drive out of. I headed down a street of no return and had to back up some 50 yards. There was no toad to deal with but I found you can sure start sweating in an air conditioned coach?
I started to get up and turn the coach over to Bill when he says “you got us in here, you get us out”.
I’m thinking about all I’ve read over the past months and thought “ok, I can do this”! I told him to get out of the coach and stop anyone from turning down the street! I kept my eyes on the driver side mirror and my objective was to stay about 2 feet from the side of the road.
I new if I was 2 feet from the curb I couldn’t hit anything on the other side. I was fortunate because at the end of my 50 yard voyage was a large parking lot I was able to back into where I regain my faculties and got out of Dodge. I’ll bet there are some of you who understand how long that 50 yards can be. I’ll not forget it, that much I can tell you. But it sure felt good knowing what to do and doing it. I appreciated Bill’s faith in me but I sure had to stop and wipe my forehead a few times, yikes!
• Watch your mirrors and whats in front of you! Everything is new to me and I’m big eyeing around the dashboard trying to remember where Bill showed me this is and that is and guess what? A 45’ motorhome doesn’t respond like my SUV. I learned real quick to keep my hands on the wheel and pay attention to moving down the road.
• I’m happy to say that I found the overall experience about what I expected because of the help you guys have given me. I felt like I new what was coming so everything fit in much as I expected.
The one thing that really did get my attention was the pure thrill and excitement of driving the coach! Does that ever ware off? I can’t imagine getting behind the wheel without that feeling of the “thrill of it all”. Its exciting isn’t it? Its like piloting a rocket-ship... Ok, maybe without the rocket and the ship part...
The Essex is a very nice coach but Richard, you spoiled me! When you showed me your coach and took me on a drive you pointed out many things. Not the least of which was the ride and how quiet the Newell is! The Essex is a fine piece of automation and I understand why people speak so highly of them but you know, it ain’t a Newell. I know the Newell costs a lot more than a Newmar Essex. But when you consider that Richard’s & Rhonda’s coach is a 99 and this was an 08 WoW!
Our plan was to go up to Tampa and get my wife for a day but the rain was such that we decided against it. That was a shame because the one concern my wife has is “can a motorhome feel like a home”?
After the 1st of the year I’m going to take her to “Tom Johnson RV Center” just outside Asheville, NC. Its our closest dealer with a good selection of motorhomes and although they most likely will not have a Newell. They will have enough new and used coaches for her to find out “can a motorhome feel like a home”?
I look forward to your comments and questions...
Harry
My daughter found out that an old friend of mine from my food broker days has been RVing for years. I hadn’t talked to him in a number of years so I gave him a call. You know how it is with old friends, it was like we just saw each other yesterday!
Come to find out not only has he been RVing, he has a 45’ 2008 Newmar Essex #4508. We were visiting our daughter in Tampa and after telling him our plans for a motorhome he insisted I come down and have some fun.
I met him at his home in Venice and that is where the fun began. He and I set out in his coach for three days of what he called “TT” travel and training. We went over to the Boca Grand area where he acquainted me with everything from dealing with RV parks, hooking and unhooking, draining tanks, filling tanks, driving and things “to do & not to do” inside and outside the coach. After the “TT” came driving my first motorhome and what an experience.
Some observations...
• Don’t drive into what you’re not sure you can drive out of. I headed down a street of no return and had to back up some 50 yards. There was no toad to deal with but I found you can sure start sweating in an air conditioned coach?
I started to get up and turn the coach over to Bill when he says “you got us in here, you get us out”. I’m thinking about all I’ve read over the past months and thought “ok, I can do this”! I told him to get out of the coach and stop anyone from turning down the street! I kept my eyes on the driver side mirror and my objective was to stay about 2 feet from the side of the road.
I new if I was 2 feet from the curb I couldn’t hit anything on the other side. I was fortunate because at the end of my 50 yard voyage was a large parking lot I was able to back into where I regain my faculties and got out of Dodge. I’ll bet there are some of you who understand how long that 50 yards can be. I’ll not forget it, that much I can tell you. But it sure felt good knowing what to do and doing it. I appreciated Bill’s faith in me but I sure had to stop and wipe my forehead a few times, yikes!
• Watch your mirrors and whats in front of you! Everything is new to me and I’m big eyeing around the dashboard trying to remember where Bill showed me this is and that is and guess what? A 45’ motorhome doesn’t respond like my SUV. I learned real quick to keep my hands on the wheel and pay attention to moving down the road.
• I’m happy to say that I found the overall experience about what I expected because of the help you guys have given me. I felt like I new what was coming so everything fit in much as I expected.
The one thing that really did get my attention was the pure thrill and excitement of driving the coach! Does that ever ware off? I can’t imagine getting behind the wheel without that feeling of the “thrill of it all”. Its exciting isn’t it? Its like piloting a rocket-ship... Ok, maybe without the rocket and the ship part...
The Essex is a very nice coach but Richard, you spoiled me! When you showed me your coach and took me on a drive you pointed out many things. Not the least of which was the ride and how quiet the Newell is! The Essex is a fine piece of automation and I understand why people speak so highly of them but you know, it ain’t a Newell. I know the Newell costs a lot more than a Newmar Essex. But when you consider that Richard’s & Rhonda’s coach is a 99 and this was an 08 WoW!
Our plan was to go up to Tampa and get my wife for a day but the rain was such that we decided against it. That was a shame because the one concern my wife has is “can a motorhome feel like a home”?
After the 1st of the year I’m going to take her to “Tom Johnson RV Center” just outside Asheville, NC. Its our closest dealer with a good selection of motorhomes and although they most likely will not have a Newell. They will have enough new and used coaches for her to find out “can a motorhome feel like a home”?
I look forward to your comments and questions...
Harry