We have a new toy - a new (to us) RV!
To begin our new journey as "full timers", we left Lexington, SC in January 2008 seeking a different RV for our travels. We had done much research and decided we wanted a good used diesel pusher motor home,with one of our top choices being a Newmar Dutch Star.
During our research we had spotted a used 2002 Dutch Star model 4090 in Natchez, Mississippi for sale by an individual. Our research had also pointed us towards PPL, a large RV consignment dealer in Houston, Texas. We figured we could go to Texas to look for a new unit and then use PPL to sell our existing Pace Arrow motor home once we found a new one. Along the way we could stop in Natchez. So that is what we did, and we liked the Dutch Star in Natchez well enough to buy it.
As is often the case it was not 100% of what we were looking for, but was close enough. Plus the owner was a very nice gentleman who had taken excellent care of the unit. He and his wife traveled in it full time for about 18 months before buying a home in Natchez. They built a special shed to store the Dutch Star and regularly exercised it to keep everything in good shape. It turns out the motor home has not had many miles added since 2004. So far we have found few problems, but there are a few things we must fix and some upgrades we wish to make.
We came to Jackson, Mississippi to purchase new tires and to have routine service done to replace all the main fluids (oil, transmission, etc.) The service was not due based upon miles, but rather upon number of months. We are going to play it safe and have all the key services performed.
We also plan to go to Nappannee, Indiana this summer or late spring to have a desk unit built that will interconnect with the existing dining table and make a very nice work area while we travel. Somewhere along the way we will add satellite TV service and upgrade to a flat screen HDTV. We also have a few repairs we need made. We have found a highly rated dealership in Russellville, Arkansas and will go there the first of April for the repairs, after it warms up a bit more.
We have included some pictures so you can see our new toy. It has full body paint in a thunder gray color with 3 slides which give us much more room.
As we had planned, we took our Pace Arrow to PPL in Houston to sell. The folks are very nice there and very experienced in selling used RVs. We are hopeful they can be successful selling ours.
We are glad the trip to Houston is behind us. We had to travel over some terrible roads in Louisiana. They are all being rebuilt. Future travelers will have a better time, but it was a tooth jarring ride most of the way for us. Then when we got to Houston, we spent the night on PPL's lot before turning the coach over the next day. It turns out they are located right under the intersection of two interstate type highways. Monique counted 7 overpasses within a few yards of where we were parked. (See the picture). Needless to say that was not a restful night!
On the other hand we found a very nice RV park in Vidalia, Louisiana, one of our favorites among those we have visited. We are headed back there for most if not all of March. More about that in another update.
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