Purchase 5ver UPDATE Part Deux

[kdmac]

Here's my two cents worth, for what it's worth...should be worth two cents but may be less. I may be mistaken but I would think most ofus gals have already put eight thousand miles on our rigs and all the bells and whistles are still working with no knobs or screens missing from anything. I am a little curious about the stains in the sink that does mean the entire water system likely has those stains too and ya gotta wonder "What the Heck did they do to make those stains". All of us have been through many different states where water is different from place-to-place but we haven't created or even allowed stains like that. A 2010 should have stain resistant types of sink material so that is quite curious to me. Geez, were they mixing up crack in there?

Also, I would be interested in what the other gals have to say about central vac's. All the women (without fail) that I have met in my travels who have central vac systems are gravely disappointed in their lack of suction and don't even use them anymore and have bought their own traditional vacs. Not that it's a big deal to have one in any rig you decide on I just venture a guess that you likely would be fine if the rig doesn't have central vac.

Gosh, forgive me for maybe being too dogmatic but I would keep looking to find a rig that is near "cream puff" condition before spending money on an inspection.A 2010 should be near pristine, if not totally pristine. These owners sound as though they were darn tough on things and you can find better.

I sure do agree with the Rear Living configuration, it is so much larger for your tall husband and gives a lovely sense of "small apartment" living and the large viewing window in back is just a lovely thing to have.

[rvgrammy1953]

Are you going to be able to travel like you want with a 5th wheel? Since it will have to be pulled with his truck, what if he doesn't want to go. Will you be able to handle it alone?

Martha

No, I won't be able to go without him...cuz it is HIS truck. He has physical limitations, so I will be doing most of everything anyway Except driving. He ALWAYS drives At least this is a beginning into the RVing and I will learn a lot. I will get a chance to take it to the school parking lot and practice backing up, etc. At least I will get an idea what I want if I solo


I think I found that cream puff! It is a new 2012 for just a few thousand more than the used 2010. Keep your fingers crossed.

I would go for the NEW 2012...When buying a 5er...and if you plan to full-time/extended time Rving...Okay, here's my 2 cents....We have always bought NEW....mainly because if there are issues, I want the dealer and manufacturer to make it right , after all it is our "full-time home.....We are very willing to take the "depreciation hit" for peace of mind that all is brand new.....We find that the "sticker price' is not the final sales price on new and dealers are willing to work for with you...especially this time of year....

Also, on extended warranties..we have Good Sam's ....but our 5er manufacturer (Open Range) has a 2 yr. warranty, so until next June we are sort of double cover.. Ernie spend hours researching extended warranties and this works best for us....

All righty, then...I'm done....and hope you get that New 2012 "cream puff"......

[Dawn309]

I hope you get the 2012 Cream Puff too. We always bought used on our 5th Wheels, but they were in pristine condition always. The last one we got was our Eagle. It was a 2006 which we bought in 2009. It did not appear to have even been used at all. When I decided to full time, Chuck was adamant about me buying a new MH for the warranties, like Lori said.

[JudyJB]

I have been driving my brand new motorhome for only five months of fulltimIng and just rolled 8,500 miles!! Other than warranty issues and some junky carpeting it looks brand new inside and out.

I think one thing that might have happened is traveling or tailgating with a lot of people to do that much damage.

So who uses something and HOW they use it make a big difference and you just don't know this on this used unit!!!

[snowball]

we have a Challenger 5th wheel which is part of the Keystone products love it have not had many issues most caused by us
I'm thinking that the membrane that you see we have as well but not in as good a shape...I see stuff hanging need to have it taped up before I leave dd's drive
We bought new knowing that it would depreciate immediately but wanted new I'd never had a new to me house and so we got it when I think of the payments for the next 9 years some what regret it but when I think of what I have love my home and we have the big windows it feels more living room instead of that bowling ball feeling when we first started looking for a 5th wheel or think at that time it was a tt we found these with the big rear windows the sales man hated them said that they were a craze and would go away ha don't think they did
just take the time to look unless you are leaving like next weekend you don't have to make rash decisions just cause you have the truck and the hitch
and I think for a large man that the high ceilings that a 5th wheel gives you will be enjoyed
sheila

[Redwahine]

Boy this is so much harder than I imagined. I remember when I was an arm chair sailor. Reading all the magazines and books. going to all the boat shows. New vs previously owned, etc. Sailing around the world seemed so glamorous, but then the reality of all the work entailed was unexpected. Same with this journey. Dreamed of land cruising every since I moved off the boat to raise a bunch of kids, earn $$ for said family, take care of aging parents, etc. I want to skip the hard stuff and go directly to my first camp ground adventure I can't believe this is coming together.

I showed DH your responses and he agrees with the cream puff search. Did all along. He was trying to be respectful of my frugal side. I have always bought 2 yr old vehicles with low mileage and extended warranties from Manufacturer. DH has always bought new and drove them till their last dying gasp! But he usually bought the cream puff! Taking delivery today of the nice, new beefy truck and he wants a nice new rig to go with. Who am I to argue?? At first he wasn't willing to drive 500 miles for that cream puff, but now after looking at my research and the one I found, he's ready to drive there tomorrow to break in Koa. I've named the truck Koa, Hawaiian for Bold, Fearless.

Thank you for all your help!! The adventure continues

[retiredhappy]

A couple more thoughts. You said the sinks were really dirty - I would think a doctor would be cleaner. Sounds to me like it was used pretty hard so I would wonder what else is wrong but hidden. No owner will say they're getting rid of it because of damage - they all want to upgrade or are selling because of their health.

NEVER offer what the dealer is asking. My Roadtrek had a sticker price of $25,000 but had been on the lot for a while (not everyone wants the narrow twin beds) so I offered $17,000 INCLUDING delivery from New Mexico to Texas. Dealer had to contact consignor and they accepted.

After what Liz said about PPL's inspection I, too, would ask an RV repair person/place to do an inspection BEFORE I buy. Don't let your husband talk you into something so big you won't want to drive it. As for not "letting" you drive tell him you need to know how and be comfortable in case something happens to him on the road. When I was workamping for three years I saw several times where the man broke a leg or had a heart attack and the little lady didn't know how to drive their rig.

[Barbzeee]

Red, I can't offer you any advice on a 5er.. I've never owned one..I've driven them for other friends but that's about it.. however I've owned 7 rigs..from van type to TT to Class A's...in the beginning I bought used and my last 3 were brand new...I've gone the gambit of having a brand new rig fall completely apart from Stem to Stern and lived in Indiana so much I should have become a resident...that being said..(omg I sound like Bethie)..hahaha...she's gonna snatch me bald..hahaha...

Ok, ok. now I need to get back to my thought..had a brain freeze there from laughing... but while my travels I've seen so many elderly people buy rigs that were too big for them to handle and turned them in for small rigs...so in your looking (try not to hurry this sale thing unless it's a known fact it's the cream puff) you can find some fantastic deals...if you wait it out..especially now today..omg..gas is 4.19 a gallon..

My rig is almost 11years old and only had 20k miles on her and everything is gone over top to bottom and without a lot of mileage I'm still having to replacing things, that because it's not used much... keep that in mind...

I'm sure you have your lists of everything every one has been adding too...and I'm wishing you the best cause you know we is one nosy group and so anxious for you to join us ...but don't let us twist your skirt in buying to quickly...hahaha..

Ok that's all I got to say...guess it was a bunch of words...but hey I had to drop a dime too...LOL

God Bless
Zeee and Critters 3..

PS...YEP...you best tell hubby..."You need to learn to drive this baby cause you worry if something were to happen to your True Love..."....

[kdmac]

I am gonna add two more cents for a grand total of four cents, which is also about what I figure an inspection is worth. Now, if you have a trusted friend who is a savvy kind-of-guy who has had his own RV's and knows the "potential" issues to look for. I would trush his inspection far more than someone who has no vested interest or care about you. It's generally not worth the money.

Now, as for extended warranties: You know there are always two opinions on those, those who think they are necessary to have and those like me that think they border on criminal scam of the public. If you talk with most "honest" RV repair places they will tell you that they don't even want to do business with the various RV manufacturers, the repairman want you to pay up front for warranty work and then YOU send the bill to your manufacturer....good luck ever seeing a dime of it. That is when you will find they don't cover that particular "issue", no matter what it is. Or worse case scenario, the manufacturer will be very hard to contact and will not return your calls, this is how they operate. Certainly some folks will not agree with me on this but there are always people where life is so good to them they don't ever have trouble with warranty issues...they were born under some kind of golden star where even extended warranties pan out for them.
Certainly your two-year warranty that comes with a new purchase is possibly even more tough to get anything covered. These manufacturers have become this way over time as there are so many types of people that mistreat or do "changes" to their rigs that the manufacturers just blanket treat everyone with denial. I realize this sounds pretty darn negative but the RV industry is not "stellar" by any means.

By all means try to get things done under warranty and see if you turn out to be one of the lucky ones but if you don't succeed with the manufacturer it's good to find a repair outfit that you like and trust as you would with an auto mechanic and have your work done with them and pay out of pocket for it and save yourself the agony of trying to recoup any costs from your "warranty".

Signed, Warranty Weary Woman

[rvgrammy1953]

Sorry that you had such a bad experience with manufacturers and warranty companies.....

[Redwahine]

Yes, I will learn how to drive and back up the rig. DH has physical limitations, so I will do most of the systems, set up, etc. I knew how to operate everything on a 45 ft sailboat, but that was 30 yrs ago I am confident I will be able to learn how to use all the systems on the rig as well. This rig is so much bigger than I had in mind. It is over 300 sq. ft. Of living space.

DH is working on 2 cream puff deals. A new 2011 located up north for the same price as the used, beat up 2010. That one would have to be delivered. And a new 2012 located east of here with every whistle and bell for just a couple thousand more !! It is only 500 miles away and we would be able to go pick it up.

We took delivery on the truck today Have appt to have the spray-on truck liner and the 5th wheel hitch to be installed on Wed. Once DH gets in gear, stay out of the way he says we'll have a rig by next week

[Rufflesgurl]

YAY!! Red You go girl. Sounds like you got DH to get in the RV mode too?? Good luck and enjoy your search.

Linda

[JanetA]

i woulld be leery of PPL. there are tons of 5'rs for sale by owner. Check craig's list locally. I have a good friend that has one and my daughter in lubbock has one that has been barely used. 3 slides.. fireplace the whole enchilada. Seems there are more of them for sale than anything. Don't act in haste whatever you do! I like, as a dealer, Ancira. I think they are more reputable... but then i've never dealt w/ them personally,, just heard good things...

Good luck ad keep us posted!


Janet

[JanetA]

Let me add a post script.

Buying gently used maybe won't get ya the full warrantee but the depreciation of these is enormous! I'd let someone else take the hit, if it were me. Also when there's no engine,,,,there's not that much to worry about. well,,,,, not as much!


just sayin.........

[retiredhappy]

Hey Janet. Have you and your hubby decided to buy an RV yet? Personally, I would stay away from Craig's List entirely - too many scams. I did sell my Class C on Craig's List BUT I was overwhelmed with scammers and it took me over a year to sell.