Any preferances ??

Allworth wrote:
Just keep in mind that their only purpose in life is to get that trailer off of their lot!

That is the purpose of any RV dealer. What makes you think this dealer is not on the up and up? If you bought an RV you bought it from a dealer that their only purpose in life is to get the trailer off their lot. Sound familiar??

Just keep in mind that their only purpose in life is to get that trailer off of their lot!

That's what she said. She said they would check operation of appliances, bathroom,A/C, furnace, water flush system and check for potential leaks. Also spend 2 hours with us showing us how to care for it and hook it up etc. It's written in their contract. Should I not believe it???

It will be thoroughly checked over by sales personel there if we buy it.

Seriously??

We decided to go a bit bigger and are seriously looking at a 2006 - 29RK Crossroads Zinger. It has been in a park its entire life - never driven. No aparent water damage. Its a private sale but sitting on the campground sales lot. It will be thoroughly checked over by sales personel there if we buy it. We are still a bit hesitant since this is our first 5th wheel but I think Crossroads has a good reputation. Is that correct?

The Cruiser is probably a better deal if condition is anywhere near equal.

Water Damage!
Water Damage!
Water Damage!

Tires!
Tires!
Tires!

Compared to those two, all other problems are minor.

Palomino Puma is 28 ft. with 1 slide. Asking $11,995 here at a dealer in Canada. The 2007 Cruiser is 30 ft. long with 2 slides same dealer asking $17,995

We have a 2006 Puma that we purchased new. It was cheap (in more ways than one), but I have no real complaints. Nothing has gone bad on it other than hail damage and a broken part on the awning that I replaced for about $10. But it's still cheap -- cheap cabinets, cheap carpet, etc. We replaced the mattress with our old one before leaving the dealer's lot and replaced the tires during our first trip following a blow-out. It's just my wife and I, and we don't use it very much, so it's been satisfactory. Had it been fiberglass instead of aluminum it would still look good, but a couple hail storms did a number on it.

We didn't shop AT ALL before buying it. We were on a long trip with our previous 5er and broke an axle on a Saturday morning. Rather than wait until Monday for a new axle, we traded for the Puma and were back on the road in a few hours. Overall, because we bought it cheap, we've been satisfied. We didn't expect top quality at bargain basement prices.

Our previous 5er was an older Jayco. It was a nice rig but wasn't the "Super Lite." It did have some problems but nothing I could blame on Jayco. Build quality was better than the Puma's -- better cabinetry, better carpet, better furniture. I don't know how that would stack up against the Super Lite. They've got to cut corners somewhere to save weight.

Never heard of a Lux Lite and don't have any experience with a Wildcat.

Of those you listed, I'd probably go for the Cruiser, all else equal, but I'd expect it to cost more than the Puma in the same condition.

Ferretgrandpa made a good point. When buying used, condition is as important as anything.

Just out of curiosity, what's the model and asking price for the Puma?

With new units, 'better quality' means something. With used units, it is the individual unit, as no 2 trailers are treated the same.
Always take a walk on the roof, soft spots are problems, you can see if the trailer has been well maintained, or ignored.
Any sign of water leaking inside the trailer is a sign to walk away in my book.

I think you would get the owners of their brands recommending the brand they own. Most important, pick a dealer you can trust, then the floorplan you like. I'd buy a ESP with any used RV. Look for water leaks everywhere inside the camper and any delamination of the outer skin. BTW I like our Crossroads Cruiser.