RWI004 How we spent $100k in savings in a few days
We had been actively searching for the perfect RV in the spring of 2018. Julie was an avid online search fanatic and had been looking for “the deal”. At the time we started also to visit RV sales locations throughout the state of Texas.
We knew that we wanted something that had bedrooms at each end and a living area in the center. Also on the wish list was a 2nd full bathroom. For me, I wanted outdoor entertainment as I saw myself outside more than inside.
We quickly discounted all Class A and C RV’s because we could not solve the bedroom wish. We settled on looking at 5th wheel RV’s. Julie quickly found “the dream 5er” It was a Heartland Road Warrior toyhauler (back door dropped down to help load motarized toys: golf cart, 4-wheeler, and motorcycles).
The drop down door also can convert into a back patio complete with railings. The RV also had a side patio with sliding glass door access and a large screen TV. This RV was priced around $80K – top of our budget at the time.
We spent many trips at the RV dealerships looking at 5ers with bunkhouses complete with two bathrooms. We had our picks narrowed down to two different models. One $50k and one $70k. More in line with what we were willing to spend.
Every night, Julie continued to search on-line for the best deals on our recent selections.
Once the 222 Herweck house sold, we determined that our budget was $50k for the 5er and $50k for the big truck to pull it.
Julie had also been on the search for the right monster truck capable of safely pulling a 20,000 lb load. We decided that a one ton (350, 3500) would be the right fit and also decided that we wanted a dually for stability.
We then began also stopping into dealerships to look for “the truck”.
One night she announced to me that she found our favorite toyhauler at half the price. We went out the next day to FC sales located on the Guadalupe river off of highway 281 – a site we passed by numerous times on our visit north to her parent’s house.
Our salesman Ed gave us the full tour and explained that the Road Warrior was a Salvaged unit. It had been totaled by the insurance company, they purchased it and did the repairs.
He explained to me how the lower portion of the entire right side had been damaged and that his people had repaired it. Everything else on the rig looked brand new and was in great working condition.
We ended up settling on a price of $41K for a 2017 Heartland Road Warrior and gave our downpayment and set a date to pick up the rig once we had obtained the truck to pull it.
Two days later we were pulling out of Northside Ford in a 2016 Dodge 3500 Dually for $40k that was silver to match the Rig.
The dually is a monster truck. It feels like you are taking up the entire road – everywhere you go. Parking in standard slots is impossible. I was a little intimidated driving it at first, but soon found myself feeling totally comfortable driving and parking it.
We went the next day to Texas Hitch and Truck Center. Picked out a Curt 25K hitch and rails that locked in to our current gooseneck ball joint and had it installed.
So we now own a dually truck, have a downpayment on our RV dream home, now we just have to put the two together…
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