It was about seven years ago that we decided we were going to take a big RV trip after retirement. For years we researched, shopped, toured manufacturers, and finally decided that the Grand Design Reflection 31MB was the right choice for us. We loved the open floor plan with so many windows, which made the feel more “homey” and less claustrophobic, even though it's only 36 feet. We also thought this model would lend well to educating and working on the road. Here is the story of our purchase of “Rivy,” our Grand Design Fifth Wheel Reflection 31MB.
Our Experience When COVID hit, the RV market went crazy and the price of new 31MBs went up 15-20 grand, which was an easy “no go” for us. We decided to buy used and hope for the best. For weeks, it seemed like nothing was available. Then one day, five listed in the same week! Ultimately, the sudden abundance helped us to get a better deal and also gave us multiple options to choose the one that felt like the best fit for us. We’d watched the market and Grand Design Facebook groups for years. We knew COVID changed the quality of rigs coming out of Elkhart, Indiana. We ended up finding a 31MB manufactured in early 2020 (before shut downs). The previous owners had taken impeccable care of the rig and had made improvements that we would have likely made. We ended up with a like-new rig with a Reese Goose Box hitch, rear backup cameras, tire pressure monitoring system, water filter, and lots of extra goodies to help keep us and the RV safe and comfortable. What We Learned In this market, buying used was the best option. But buying blind is never a good idea! We did virtual tours of three 31MBs, plus saw one rig at a dealership before making our decision. Building a relationship with the seller was important. There were two sellers who gave tips during the tour and seemed very educated about maintenance and use, so we could tell that their rigs had been kept in good condition. Even so, we would not have bought without a full inspection from NRVIA (National RV Inspectors Association). It was easy to find a reputable inspector through their website search option. After setting an agreed upon time, he did a full inspection and within 24 hours, provided a 40 page report, complete with stats, photos, and recommendations for repairs or improvements. The Best Sellers
The purchase of our 31 MB could not have gone more smoothly. The seller was easy to work with, and the inspector placed the rig at the top 10% of new and used rigs that he had inspected. Upon arrival for pickup, the seller spent several hours walking us through everything, including tutorials for use of electric, gas, and water. He answered all our questions, sent us detailed checklists for set up and departure, and even provided his phone number, suggesting we call any time we had questions. Purchasing an RV can be very stressful. We feel like we took our time, did our research, spent the extra money on a certified inspector, and came out with a fully functioning, well maintained “home” for a reasonable price and with added bonuses to help us on our journey. The perfect fit! We're so grateful for getting to meet and work with such wonderful people in the purchase of our RV. It was a great introduction to how nice the RV population is.
0 Comments
Hi, I’m Joni, mom of the Ramsey clan. Dustin and I met in January 2002, the day after he joined the U.S. Army. We’ve done our share of days or months apart due to deployments, TDY’s (temporary duty assignments), and whatever else military life has thrown at us. But despite any of those tribulations, we’ve gained so much in opportunities and all we’ve learned along the way. Together, we’ve been building a life that is always full of adventure, love, a spattering of daring, and a lot of laughter. The Beginning Both born in rural Ohio, seeing the world was never a goal to start out with, but quickly became our passion as opportunities presented themselves. In the course of Dustin’s 21 years in the military, we’ve lived in North Carolina, Alabama, South Korea, Texas, Germany, and Maryland. Our philosophy has been to treat each duty station as a vacation. We find everything that is special about the area, dive deep into the history, culture, and environment, and use our home as a springboard to experience everything there is to see and learn in the surrounding regions. Before becoming parents, we scaled Mt. Fuji, camped under the stars in the Outback, explored the temple ruins of Angkor Wat, climbed the Great Wall of China, and hiked the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. And Then There Were Four Our children, born in Texas in 2010 and 2012, have known adventure from early on in life. They are the most flexible and resilient kids I’ve ever known. After moving to Germany at ages one and three, they spent their early years strolling through Paris, London, Prague, Rome, and other major cities of Europe. They’ve walked the streets of Pompeii, explored countless medieval castle ruins, hiked through The Hidden Valley in Scotland, soaked in the hot springs of Iceland, playground-hopped through the Swiss Alps, and rung the bell at Our Lady of the Lake Church in the center of Lake Bled. Back in the United States, during their elementary years, we never let grass grow under our feet. Vacations and lots of field trips built strong foundations for homeschool education. Our most exciting vacation has been touring the west coast where we scrambled the lava tubes of Ape Cave, sledded down snow hills–without a sled– at Crater Lake, and rock hopped through coral reefs along the Pacific. Last year, due to COVID restrictions, we stuck closer to home and hiked over 100 miles through east coast wilderness. New Adventures
For the last seven years, we’ve dreamed of traveling the United States in an RV. With retirement just around the corner, the moment has come! We bought our Grand Design Reflection 31MB in February and are planning to hit the road in July 2022. Since we’ve NEVER RVed, this should be an experience, to say the least! Thank you for joining us! We hope you enjoy reading about our journey and are inspired to live life with your own set of adventures. |
Archives
October 2022
Categories |