new or used

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

You get much more for your money with a lightly used high end unit than a mid grade mew unit for the same price.

Bottom line I wish you good luck with what ever you decide.

I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

I've had 2 used and 3 new. Nothing wrong with used, just make sure there's no major problems. My used ones needed some minor things, fixed quickly at home. Even one of our new 5ers needed a LOT of work done at home or it would have been at the dealer more than it was home. The other new ones had minor repairs done in warranty at the dealer, one took a month and they told me it would only be a few days. The savings on used from a private party is great and no taxes here. Just make sure you aren't buying a money pit. Our current 5er (built Feb 98) was 7 yrs old when we got it and it was used hard, even rented out for 3-4 years. We like this one better than any of the others. Craig

First one used and last 2 new. As said finding what we want in a trailer that didnt look and smell used up was too difficult and time consuming. Easier and quicker buying new. Our 2014 was probably our last.

Always bought new. Cost me a ton of money in allthose years. The one I have now was used. Great deal on an upper end unit. Never new again. But this is probably our last one any way.

All three of our coaches have been new.
We tried to buy a really nice used 2011 fifth wheel that looked as though no one had used it.
Missed out so we ended up buying a new 2012 for $2000.00 more than the used unit.

I'd go end of model year new because of the horrendous discounting that can be had.

Everyone has an opinion. Here is mine. I like to buy used vehicles that are clean and well maintained, if I can save a fair amount of money. I look for value. Unfortunately more often I cannot find that value and end up buying new.
I looked for over a year to find a 1 to 4 year old fiver at a value and ended up buying new. The new one took a year to get all the bugs worked out. I figure if I take my time, and am an informed buyer, I will be happy with my purchase.

Consider your first purchase a "training trailer" and look for gently used. Let somebody else take the initial depreciation hit.

After a couple of years you will have a much better idea of what is important to YOU and what is just flash. Then look for a "permanent" trailer.

Keeping in mind that second and third trailers always seem to get bigger and heavier, there is no such thing as too much truck.

I purchased new because I wanted the rig equipped exactly the way I wanted it vs. the way someone else wanted it.
I was more interested in the rig being to my specifications vs. saving money.
I do believe there is merit to buy a gently used high end model vs. a new mid range model. There is a decent amount to be saved in that scenario.
When talking mid range model new vs. used there is less of a difference in pricing and less margin for savings.

I have bought two used 5er and had zero problems with them. I have bought two new ones and have had problems with both. The first one took me about 4 years to everything in order. Our current one is a year old and am still working on problems. The one major one is with the refrigerator and this could happen even in the highest quality unit. This problem has been addressed twice and it still is not fixed. If I was in the market for another one I would look at used higher end units.