CA Mom
California
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Joined: 09/26/2007
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Hello,
I have been researching RVs for the past few months. It is SO much work that my husband and I have wanted to give up and just rent one instead. This site has been great for trying to learn the ropes and become educated. I am totally new to the RV world, although my husband grew up with a trip every weekend and long summer adventures. Now that we have two young children, we are ready to start exploring!
We were looking a new C at first, and recently decided that the prices were way out of our meager budget. We thought about financing a lot of it, but don't really want monthly payments in the $800-1000 range. So we found a couple of used Class A units that may be promising. Our dilemma is how to determine what we should pay. I've read the threads on NADA pricing and I've noticed that the dealers typically ask at least $10K over Low Retail, and some are asking up to $20K more. When I ask them about it, they say that the NADA prices aren't accurate and that they put $5K into each vehicle for reconditioning and that they need to make some money off of them, etc.
The 1996 Itasca Suncruiser 29RQ we are looking at has low miles and is in excellent condition. NADA lists it at 18-22K and the dealer is asking close to $30K, plus it needs new tires, which supposedly aren't included in that price. Does anybody have any advice as to what we might offer?
The 1992 Winnebago Brave 27RC has 60K miles and is in good condition. NADA lists it at 10-12K and the private owner is asking $14K. Can anyone comment on what would be a fair price?
Is it always better to go for the younger MH with less miles if we can afford it?
Thanks for any help!
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lukeaa
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 08/28/2005
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The first one you buy is only a "learner", so go for something cheap. It is amazing how fast you will learn that it is not what you really need. When you go looking for the replacement for the learner, you will know a whole lot more about what you want.
I would go with the $14k one from the private owner. Have it inspected by a good mechanic and expect to put $2k into it to get it in good shape for your first trip. That will probably include some new tires. RV's are not cheap, but they are a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel and eating out. And watch that first trip to Camping World; it can get expensive.
Luke
2007 Monaco Diplomat 40' SFT, Solar, RO Water/Ice, Garmin 7200
2001 Honda CRV toad
Charlie the cat from Seminole, TX
San Jose, CA
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J-Rooster
Port Orchard, Wa. U.S.A.
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Joined: 11/14/2004
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CA Mom, first set a price that fit's your budget and stick with it. Then look for a coach that you like that fits your needs (options on the coach that you would like). I highly recommend not going under 24 feet in length (for comfort inside the coach especially if you have kids). Next say your RV buying budget is (for example) $25,000.00 cash or fianance. I would then try to purchase the best coach that I could find let's say for $30,000.00 and try to bargin them down to your firm price. The worst thing that they can tell you is no. And most people overprice there coaches when selling to get to there bottom line asking price. I would try to buy a coach that has history (service records,car fax etc.)Lastly, I would have someone with mechanical skills check it out. I remember several years back some people bought some coaches that were priced to good to be true. And they didn't crawl underneath the coach and inspect it. The coach was all rusted out on the under side. It sat in several feet of saltwater from that Katrina Storm several years ago, and some of those coaches were shipped all around the U.S. for resale. Be smart, careful, and have fun with your new coach. John
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OleRVer
Orlando,Fl.
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Joined: 04/06/2004
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I prefer not to give advise but to share experiences. Good info given here so far. A few things more. Try to buy your second motorhome the first time. If you finance a coach, you most likely will owe more than it is worth if you change your mind after a learning experience and want to trade. Class C's in your budget will in most cases get you a newer one than a class A. They traditionally are set up with more sleeping places also. But, have your kids sit in the booth or sofa and look out the windows. You will find it difficult to see ahead through the windshield. Class A's can give a better panoramic veiw while traveling and it sounds like that is important. By the way, they are going to love it no matter which style motorhome you get. I once worked with a lady who grew up in the RV business. She had a gleam in her eye as she spoke of eating a peanut butter sandwhich while looking out the window riding through the Grand Canyon in her family's motorhome!....keep us informed...
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FWMCBigFoot
Utah
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Joined: 03/04/2007
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Expect to pay more from a dealer. The dealer has overhead expenses and may have gone through the RV and made minor repairs. If you have a problem, with some complaining you may get the dealer to do some after sale repairs on items not initially noticed.
From an individual I would shoot for NADA low retail unless the unit was pristine and had well documented maintenance records.
Last throw all this advice out the window if you find a unit you love, can afford and don't mind keeping for a while.
Good luck,
Jim 
Jim
Practicing in the Rolling Project for retirement.
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alwims
Wheatland Mo.
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Joined: 08/15/2007
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We just bought our 2nd Motorhome. Our first was a '73 Commander 24', our 2nd is a '95 Rexhaul RexAir 32'. We may go new with our next one, but you never know. I would recommend buying an older one first, you can almost always get your money beck when you decide to sell and upgrade. We looked at NADA this time and my advice it to throw NADA away. Find a coach you like that is in your price range and to heck with what some 'expert' says it's worth. When we did that we were really surprised at what opened up for us.
We ended up buying a really nice bare bones Motorhome for $13,000 and put $10,000 into it to make it ours and we couldn't be happier.
BTW we just went full time. My wife is a Traveling Nurse and I am her maid, butler, housekeeper and general slave. ;-) In other words, I'm on Social Security Disability. I keep telling her I'm disabled and she tells me to just take another pain pill and get to work. :-(
32' 1995 Rexhall RexAir
Full Timing with;
Alan the DH
Carol the DW
Pistol Pete the Maltese
Jasmin the Maltese &
Cali the Calico Cat
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Rocket_Heart
Waterville, Ohio
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Joined: 03/05/2005
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Wow - what an adventure. My humble opinion is that affordability along with the best bang for your buck is the first priorities. Are you going to tow? Big consideration - how many times a year will you use it? I live in the north and park it for 5 months of the year. My first unit is a gasser but I am going to try to trade up to a diesel - night and day difference as far as I'm concerned. These things all have "bugs" in them - new and used - part of the beast.
Like you I did my homework but in the end wound up with a unit that wasn't fit for the road - but I didn't know that until it was too late - a lot of money later it is pretty good now. If you don't know how they're supposed to ride or stop or react in the wind then you are in for real learning experience.
All that being said - I'd do it all over again!! So many great memories with my family - hard to say it was money wasted.
Best of luck.
Thomas "Rocket Heart" Emahiser
Anna,DW
Matthew
Alaina
2007 Itasca Suncruiser 35L
8.1 Vortec - 6 speed Allison Trans.
Workhorse W24 Chassis
2001 PT Cruiser (Toad)
Waterville, Ohio
"Go Bucks"
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SunflyerA
Andover, Minnesota USA
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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When we started looking we had a 30,000.00 budget, and after looking for a while we quickly upped that budget to 50,000.00. I wouldn't put a dog in what we were seeing for 30,000. Then one day my wife saw the coach she wanted but we had to pay 71,000.00 for it. Just to give you an idea how much these things depreciate; the original MSRP was 130,000 dollars. The original owner should have paid 97,500.(don't know if he did or not) We bought it 20 months later for 71,000. We did use it for two years and then traded for 62,000....so the depreciation did slow down. We did have to spend about 2,500.00 to get it ready for our first outing. We spend even more now but consider it worth every penny.
sunflyer
2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S
350 Cat
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rvtommy
blooming prairie minnesota
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Joined: 07/15/2004
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Another 2 cents worth from Minnesota. With 2 children (that will bring friends) I would not buy anything older than a 1999 model the reason if you look at the front axle it is 10 inches wider than the older models (wife now drives). Would uy between 29 ft and 35 ft nothing smaller nothing larger! The children need a table for breakfast and dad needs a couch for his time! With a family of four that is alot of water needed in tanks (40 gal. for the C 80 gals for the A class) Make sure you have alot of outside storage you will need it! Someone else can go on that maybe was worth 2 cents good luck rvtommy
this is rvtommy
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driveby
Vancouver BC Canada
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Joined: 01/07/2005
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How about renting? we did. Found we could live ina 29' but the 35' gave us that much more sanity space. We camp when it rains and have no issues. Two kids need toy space on the floor. A 29' doesn't provide that without the parental minefield experience.
which one has a better feel to it? Which one can you imagine spending 48 hours straight without stepping outside? assuming both are as mechanically sound as each other, the floorplan will be your win or loss.
I have two boys 4 and 6 - Matchbox cars and colouring books are used all the time. I want the floorspace, you probably will too. Mind you we camp every second weekend 9 months a year and and 6 times in those winter 3 months so we use our unit alot. You have to factor that in too.
Rent a C and see. Winter rates are cheaper than having an A you don't like.
2008 Itasca Sunova 35J Class A
1997 TJ Sahara, hard and soft tops and AC
Held together via Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar and stopped by US Gear Unified Brake system.
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