sq320ret
04-09-2007, 10:14 AM
I am a full time 5th wheeler – One Sunset at a Time, not a dealer or product salesman. Just a member offering my opinions for members on RVing. As the RVing season is just beginning I would like to express my views on buying a RV for repeat or first time buyers.
It is going to be “your” home away from home not the salesman’s or a friend’s. You and your traveling partners need to fully consider what your intended lifestyle use will be. This will range from Dry Camping, with no outside electrical, water, or sewer hookups; to full time RV Park living, when away from home, with full hookups. This will largely depend on how many days a year you expect to use it and how far you may intend to travel. Then you will need to decide what type you can live with; Pop-up tent type, a pull trailer, 5th Wheel, or Motor home. Your living style is more important here than can I drive or pull it. Whatever you decide on you will learn how to drive and park it by necessity. Remember you will most likely need to also have a vehicle to pull in front of or from behind as well to get around the town with after parking the rig.
Remember, RVers upgrade often as they relearn what their RVing needs really is. This can be to your advantage in many ways when buying your first RV. I strongly suggest you buy used, from an owner, not a dealer and pay cash.
Like new cars RVs only depreciate in value. Therefore buying used will get you the greatest value. The owner knows what the good and bad points of the RV are. What the service records are. What additions have been added and why. Take notes on these and get the owner to sign off on them. Here too is a bonus opportunity. If the current owner has any warranty or after market warranty/insurance plans you can have them transferred to you at much lower prices then new policies and without loss of protection. Dealers often apply for and keep the rebates on these themselves, then sell you new ones, which they may get a commission on. Owners may have added high cost upgrades such as a Satellite dish, solar panels, TVs, etc. which may not have been adjusted for in the asking price. Dealers will up the price to include these items. The owner is motivated to sell. To the dealer you are just another prospect. You can negotiate directly with the owner. At a dealership you will never talk to the person making the final call on price. With cash offer the owner may be more willing to take a less then the wanted offer. Should you need financing you can get a loan approval, from your choice of financial institution in advance, so you can make that cash offer. Use the RV section of www.nadaguides.com for your Blue Book values. If your choice needs a pull vehicle the owner may make you a deal on both the trailer and the pull vehicle package at an even greater savings.
Before the deal is done as a condition of sale you need to do a few things first. Have them take you to an RV dump sight and have them walk you through the process to make sure there are no leaks and everything is working. Turn on the heater and try that air conditioner, stove, oven, microwave, TV, DVD/CD player and speakers, toilet, water facets, water heater, all lights, outside lights, ceiling fans, awnings, open windows and vents, check cabinet doors and drawers, jacks, generator, smoke detector, carbon dioxide detector and batteries. Don’t forget it does not hurt to ask to keep curtains, bedding, chairs even the dishes, flatware, pots and pans too. Don’t forget to check the roof as well.
The final thing to do is as to share the cost of having a RV pre sale inspection by an experienced service shop. If your RV choice has a motor you may want the same inspections by an auto service mechanic shop also. You can then renegotiate the final sale price to share the repair cost of services found to be needed. You will sleep a lot better knowing before, than finding out later.
It is going to be “your” home away from home not the salesman’s or a friend’s. You and your traveling partners need to fully consider what your intended lifestyle use will be. This will range from Dry Camping, with no outside electrical, water, or sewer hookups; to full time RV Park living, when away from home, with full hookups. This will largely depend on how many days a year you expect to use it and how far you may intend to travel. Then you will need to decide what type you can live with; Pop-up tent type, a pull trailer, 5th Wheel, or Motor home. Your living style is more important here than can I drive or pull it. Whatever you decide on you will learn how to drive and park it by necessity. Remember you will most likely need to also have a vehicle to pull in front of or from behind as well to get around the town with after parking the rig.
Remember, RVers upgrade often as they relearn what their RVing needs really is. This can be to your advantage in many ways when buying your first RV. I strongly suggest you buy used, from an owner, not a dealer and pay cash.
Like new cars RVs only depreciate in value. Therefore buying used will get you the greatest value. The owner knows what the good and bad points of the RV are. What the service records are. What additions have been added and why. Take notes on these and get the owner to sign off on them. Here too is a bonus opportunity. If the current owner has any warranty or after market warranty/insurance plans you can have them transferred to you at much lower prices then new policies and without loss of protection. Dealers often apply for and keep the rebates on these themselves, then sell you new ones, which they may get a commission on. Owners may have added high cost upgrades such as a Satellite dish, solar panels, TVs, etc. which may not have been adjusted for in the asking price. Dealers will up the price to include these items. The owner is motivated to sell. To the dealer you are just another prospect. You can negotiate directly with the owner. At a dealership you will never talk to the person making the final call on price. With cash offer the owner may be more willing to take a less then the wanted offer. Should you need financing you can get a loan approval, from your choice of financial institution in advance, so you can make that cash offer. Use the RV section of www.nadaguides.com for your Blue Book values. If your choice needs a pull vehicle the owner may make you a deal on both the trailer and the pull vehicle package at an even greater savings.
Before the deal is done as a condition of sale you need to do a few things first. Have them take you to an RV dump sight and have them walk you through the process to make sure there are no leaks and everything is working. Turn on the heater and try that air conditioner, stove, oven, microwave, TV, DVD/CD player and speakers, toilet, water facets, water heater, all lights, outside lights, ceiling fans, awnings, open windows and vents, check cabinet doors and drawers, jacks, generator, smoke detector, carbon dioxide detector and batteries. Don’t forget it does not hurt to ask to keep curtains, bedding, chairs even the dishes, flatware, pots and pans too. Don’t forget to check the roof as well.
The final thing to do is as to share the cost of having a RV pre sale inspection by an experienced service shop. If your RV choice has a motor you may want the same inspections by an auto service mechanic shop also. You can then renegotiate the final sale price to share the repair cost of services found to be needed. You will sleep a lot better knowing before, than finding out later.