School me on RVs

[saintsfan]

I'm looking at buying my first RV. I'm wanting a new / slightly used (no older than 2014). Specifically I'm looking at a 30-40 ft 5th wheel toy hauler. As I've been researching there are all kinds of theories on profit margins for dealers from 10-35%.

How much is a reasonable negotiating percentage? Should I even consider a used rv?
Does anyone have any recommendations for dealers?
Are there any tips on things to look for and avoid in when buying an RV?

Thanks for any help.

[Mike D]

Personally there is NO WAY I would even consider buying new. The value on them drops like a rock, especially on the bigger ones because it's a smaller market.

I've bought 2 used trailers in the last 16 months or so and they both were 2006 models that I paid well under $10k for.

Don't be scared to buy one older than 1-2 years old. If you're not comfortable judging the condition of one, pay a reputable dealer to do it for you (if buying from an individual).

[Planner]

To answer your question, we got ours 35% off mrsp. So yes, there's a little wiggle room for negotiating. I'd be a little careful buying a used RV. Like Mike D said, you can find some deals in the used department... but you might not know what you are buying and how the previous owner took care of the unit. If you buy used, look for signs of water leakage and other wear and tear. We use ours for family travel so I bought new. I'm also pretty particular about how I maintain my stuff, so I didn't want to buy something that wasn't cared for. You'll find that most of the manufacturers have similar floor plans, so it will come down to what feels right to you. We bought ours from Ancira of Boerne. I'm indifferent to the dealership. The sales guy was a little shady to deal with, but I wasn't looking for a lifetime friend. The service department was good to deal with when we took it back for warranty issues.


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[saintsfan]

Thanks for the input. What is the difference between the corrugated sided campers and the smooth sided, other than texture? Is one better than the other?

[Rescue1]

Siding can be repaired if need be. Smooth sides can delaminate.

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[coach_stew]

I would suggest going to a RV show where they will have many to look at. Also Toy Haulers are very big! I have a Voltage 3605 and have been very satisfied with it. Its had some issues but warranty has taken care of them. I would suggest you buy an extended warranty too.

the auto leveling is awesome!
if possible go with 3 AC

[fullsizeaggie]

We bought a used one about 5 months ago and then had to total it from hail damage. Just 2-3 weeks ago, we bought a new 35ft bumper pull. Final price was 10k off msrp. With us being new to the subject, I wanted barely used to new. After these 2 and seeing how they are made, I wouldn't buy an extended warranty. They look very easy to work on as far as appliances. Now, body work etc I would have done professionally. Get on RV trader and look look look.

[Chad_E]

Thanks for the input. What is the difference between the corrugated sided campers and the smooth sided, other than texture? Is one better than the other?

Depends on what you want. I went with fiberglass (smooth) siding. Here is a good breakdown of the two options.

http://blog.glrv.com/aluminum-vs-fiberglass-rv-siding

[Muddy Bud]

I bought new. Just because most of the used trailers I looked at were not in the best of shape and needed a ton of work. Plus like mentioned above there is some wiggle room for negotiating. Mine came with the life warranty for major components and I purchased the extended warranty for the small stuff.

I have had my roof resealed two years in a row now, not because it leaked but it's part of the lifetime time warranty also had to replace the heater coil and ac vent and the most I have paid is $150.00.

Well worth it if you ask me. I just bring it in once a year for my trailer inspection for a look over and tell them of any problems I have or potential problems they spot during inspection and it gets taken care of.

[saintsfan]

I bought new. Just because most of the used trailers I looked at were not in the best of shape and needed a ton of work. Plus like mentioned above there is some wiggle room for negotiating. Mine came with the life warranty for major components and I purchased the extended warranty for the small stuff.

I have had my roof resealed two years in a row now, not because it leaked but it's part of the lifetime time warranty also had to replace the heater coil and ac vent and the most I have paid is $150.00.

Well worth it if you ask me. I just bring it in once a year for my trailer inspection for a look over and tell them of any problems I have or potential problems they spot during inspection and it gets taken care of.

I'll gave to dig into that. It's sounds like. Pretty good deal.

[TexasHunter83]

Bought ours 5 years ago from PPL Motor Homes. It was a 2006 Jayco Jayflight for $8500 but was in perfect condition. I liked going through them because you can pay a little extra for them to go through the whole RV to check to make sure everything works. Not sure if others have had bad experiences with them, but I enjoyed the experience. I realize I probably paid a little more than I would buying used from someone individual, but at least I knew what I had before I left the lot with it.

[DRettele]

Thanks for the input. What is the difference between the corrugated sided campers and the smooth sided, other than texture? Is one better than the other?

We have a 10yr old corrugated metal sided travel trailer in excellent condition that we love and just got back from Port Aransas. One thing that I didn't even think about before purchasing was mobile phone reception. I get horrible phone signals inside my travel trailer. I usually have to leave it propped up against one of the windows with the blind slightly raised to get a decent signal and then go outside to answer a call.
I've had some of the corrugated metal siding replaced after the neighbor's trampoline flipped over the fence and landed on my travel trailer. good as new.