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What to buy quandry
Yahoo Message Number: 50765
I just found out about the 30' lazy daze group and posted this there.  I am also posting it here hoping I can tap into the expertise & experience of this group.
"My wife & I have been looking for a good pre-loved Lazy Daze RV.  I just joined your group.  I have been a member of the Yahoo Lazy daze group & just found out there was this 30' specific group.
We are seeking some good advice & hope we can find it here.

We are strongly considering a 1996 30' that we can probably buy for a little over $30,000.  It's got almost 38,000 miles & drives well.
We have also located a 1997 30' with 31,000 miles that would probably cost us around $5,000 more.  My quandary is Ford V10 vs.
Chevy 454.  The Chevy has 7,000 more miles and is a year older.  The 1997 ford has much nicer color and is cleaner showing less wear.
What is the group's experience and advice for which way to go.

Also have been giving thought to getting a 26.5' instead of the 30'.  Some say the shorter Lazy Daze is preferable.  We will probably tow an 89 Toyota 4runner occasionally.  We aren't quite sure how we will be using this Lazy Daze.  Might decide to chuck it all & hit the road for a year long sabbatical or even live in it while we build a new house or maybe just hit the road for long vacations & long weekends.

Any way that's our Dilemma.  Lazy Daze owners seem like a pretty helpful lot.  Any advice you can relate will be appreciated."

Comments or advice?  Are these prices reasonable?  What to look for and what cautions & what to avoid? etc.

Thanks again from Fred & Pam

Re: What to buy quandry
Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 50766
Whatever you buy, you are likely to be satisfied.
 We bought the 26.5 MB mostly because we were impreseed with the view from the rear lounge. We rarely tow our Honda CR/V. When we do we loose about 1 gpm , and the extra load is not noticable as we drive.
I have parallel parked our LD in downtown San Fransisco more than once. Not sure I would do this in a 30" LD.

Having said this, if we were to buy one now we would by the 30' version. We never spend any time in the rear lounge, and the loss in storage that comes with the 30" LD would not be a problem.   Having a dedicated bedroom with a walk-around bed would be nice.

In reading the posts on this site it is obvious that every LD owner has a different style.  At one extreme some go to "the lake" and stay there for two months.  At another extreme some spend every night in a different place (as we do).  Only you know what is best for you. When you figure this out, then the chouse of wehicle should be easier.

Arne

Re: What to buy quandry
Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 50768
"My quandary is Ford V10 vs.  Chevy 454."
 I think most people here will agree that the V10 is a much better engine.
 "Also have been giving thought to getting a 26.5' instead of the 30'. Some say the shorter Lazy Daze is preferable."
 It will give you less living space, obviously--although plenty of couples are fulltiming in 26.5' rigs! On the plus side, it has much larger payload capacity than the 30' Lazy Daze, and it will fit in many spots where the 30' rig could not go or could go only with difficulty.
 The 26.5' model is by far the most popular size because most buyers feel that it represents the best set of compromises. Whether it's the best for *you* is something only you can decide. You may find it useful to go to this group's Files section, open the Frequently Asked Questions folder and read the FAQ on LD sizes and floorplans.

Andy Baird
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"

Re: What to buy quandry
Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 50770
Fred & Pam,

Our first & current LD is a '96 30' on a '95 Chevy P30 Chassis with the 454 engine, we purchased almost 3 years ago from the original owner with 41K miles on her. She now has 92K miles and we are quite happy with it. We do not tow and have not found it a problem. When in an area like visiting family in the DC area, we just rent a car for the week. Neither of our current vehicles are towable and we find it's cheaper to rent then to insure and have another car. We love having the dedicated bed and have not had any problem with the weight issue even when we are gone for 2 -3 months at a time.

No matter what lazy daze model you decide on, I'm sure you will be very happy with it. I will recommend that if given a choice and all major things equal ( mechanical, structure,  etc)you should get that which you prefer ie colors, interiors etc. We didn't have that luxury, here in Florida as pre owned were/are few, though we were lucky and loved the exterior & interior colors.

Sylvia

"The DogHouse"

Re: What to buy quandry
Reply #4
Yahoo Message Number: 50773
Fred & Pam,

Well.....you can do like I did last year.  I agonized over the same things you and everyone else does and thought the 26.5 MB made the most sense.  Not too short, not too long, separate living spaces if you want.

So, I invested

Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] What to buy quandry
Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 50787
Hi Fred and Pam Got wind of a 30ft. IB in Melbourn, Florida, 6,200 mi (yes) 1-1/2hrs. on the generator, no jacka, asking 39,000 Priced Rite Camping 321-254-8184 ask for Roger.
The 30fter. you tryed out with the 454 Chevy, was it on a GP-30 chassis? the one with a solid front axel and 19.5 tires and a hood that hinged forward like the Freightliners? Was it in Oregon? Good luck.

.

===== Robert & Roberta, Rozie and the Horney Toad, SKP#702

Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] What to buy quandry
Reply #6
Yahoo Message Number: 50800
My quandary is Ford V10 vs. Chevy 454.  The Chevy has 7,000 more miles and is a year older.  The 1997 ford has much nicer color and is cleaner showing less wear.



 Fred & Pam, I don't know anything about engines, but I would lean toward the Ford V10.  While I wouldn't be too concerned with the mileage -- the 7,000 miles on the older one could be accounted for because it *is* one year older (heck, we put 7,000 miles on our LD this past summer traveling for only 4 months!) -- your comment that you like the colors better on the Ford and it's cleaner and shows less wear, would be the clincher for me.

Linda & Earl 2004 23.5'  Red TK From Quartzsite, AZ
Linda Hylton

 
Re: What to buy quandry
Reply #7
Yahoo Message Number: 50807
Quote

".....We are strongly considering a 1996 30' that we can probably
buy for
 
Quote
a little over $30,000.  It's got almost 38,000 miles & drives
well.

Quote
We have also located a 1997 30' with 31,000 miles that would probably cost us around $5,000 more.  My quandary is Ford V10 vs.
Chevy 454.  The Chevy has 7,000 more miles and is a year
older..... "

Fred:

There's a difference between both models: the Chevy chassis has a 14500lbs. GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating), the Ford a 14050lbs.
This 450 extra lbs. in the CCC (if both models have an identical curb weight, and that's a good point to find and include in thr LD Changes over the years project), you'll have an increase of 59% in the CCC (cargo carrying capacity).

Eudoro "weight watcher" Lemos, Jr.