Order New or Buy off Lot

The benefit of ordering in my opinion, is that you get the simplicity of comparing exact apples to apples. The trim level is the same, the options are identical, it all comes down to the price and follow-up service.

I ordered both my truck and my fifth wheel. I was able to shop 4 Ram dealerships within an hour of me (and the Dave whatever in the midwest) for the exact same truck. I was able to shop 4 RV dealerships (1 "wholesaler", 2 locals and 1 a little further away) for the exact same unit.

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Generally, buying off the lot gives you a better discount? And the dealer can add most amenities that you might desire?

Disagree!..:( - 100%

How to tell?

Shop *exactly* what you want to *ORDER* via the Internet - far and wide (out-of-state, etc).

Never even hint you might consider a unit off the lot.

Best deal is now your "benchmark" price.

Now - you can ask, "Do you have what I want in stock?"
And compare the prices.

Use that price to decide if your "off the lot" deal is better, close, or *way* more expensive.
(I'm betting on "way").

Usually ordering results in a *MUCH* better deal..;)
Expect to negotiate for "on the lot" (dealer stock) units.

Decide if you "gotta have it now" (off a dealer's lot) or
if ordering is worth the wait..:@

It's your time, and your bucks!

Are you willing to travel (how far?) for a/the best deal?

No mater which way you go:
Line up your own financing (if you need it), and NO trade-in.


~

For my new life of full timing, I ordered a Bighorn 3010RE last year. I ordered it because I wanted to choose the colors and options. It showed up quick - only took about a month or so to get it.

You are almost at model changeover time - RV manufacturers change over much earlier then the car manufacturers. If you buy a 2014 model off the lot now, it will be a year old in about 2 months. I would delay for at least a month and order a 2015 model.

You should ask your dealer about the 'secret' options that are currently available. Don't laugh - it's real. When I asked about this I was told that the Bighorns and Landmarks go down the same line so sometimes you can get some of the Landmark options on a Bighorn - if the dealer asks.

Also go to the Heartland Owners club web page and ask questions.

I ordered the following items on my 3010 off the secret options list even though they were not official options:

electric hose reel for the 50 amp electrical cord. Especially nice in cold weather.

metal cover for the awning

7000# axles (Not for sure on this one)

There were other items on the list.

Regular options I would recommend -

6-point Leveling system. Takes all of 1 1/2 minutes to get your rig totally level - After using it, would not have a rig without this.

Stackable washer and dryer. Very nice but you will lose closet space.

Yeti option. Tank pad heaters, heat tape on water lines, and extra insulation.

MorRyde kingpin - Minimizes chucking. My air hitch pretty much gets rid of the up and down motion.

2nd air conditioner. If you're going where it's hot, don't even think of not getting this.

Toy lock. Lock up your grill, bikes, genny, satellite dish, etc.

slide awnings

Get the big fridge. Mine works great. Dual freezers which seem especially large.

I'll pass on the residential fridges as they operate only on 110 volts. Can't run them when you are moving unless you run a genny or have lots of batteries and an inverter. Same for boondocking.

Tim

We always bought off the lot,so we could see exactly what we were getting,factories make changes all the time and you may not get exactly what you want.Dealers are always offered incentives by the manufactures to stock certain models,there fore the lot price is cheaper.The dealers are also offered deals on factory model surplus,because at the beginning of some line runs the bean counters think X model will be a big seller and it isn't,they will have prepurchased certain parts for X and now have to move them.There are more angles,for instance what models did the dealer order at the factory show to get a better deal.Single custom orders are generally a pain to all concerned and you pay for it.

You definitely want the optional G Rated Tires that are an option on the Big Horn.

After buying 2 off the lot, we now prefer to order ours. Then we are only paying for the options we need and get everything factory installed for the warranty.

Even still, production changes are always made during the time it takes to order one and receive it, so sometimes, we're surprised by the results. Usually pleasantly, because there are some nicer upgrades over the models we've toured on a dealer's lot.

Any travel trailer on a dealers lot this time a year is likely it was recently at an RV show. How many hundreds of times were people up and down the steps though-out an RV show, and compare that to how many trips you would take with it to equal than much wear and strain on the steps, floor, etc... If I had the time I would prefer to order. Also, anything currently on the dealer lot was probably towed there from Indianna on heavily salted roads. Do you intend to travel in winter weather? Why take the corrosion to the underside. Order now and it will not make it to the dealer until all the winter salt is washed away from the roads.

We just ordered a new Heartland Landmark so we could get all the options we wanted for full time living. (Dual pane windows, upgraded suspension and tires, disc brakes, W/D, residential fridge, etc.) If you are going to be living in it full time why not order it the way you want it.

No dealer was ever "motivated" to discount an RV that's ordered vs. one that's either on his lot, or at one of their other locations.

Compile your list of must haves (also look at full timers for advice), then take it to a dealer and see what they have available. You'll want to prioritize on what are the deal breakers and don't be afraid to shop around.

For us, the 6 point level system and better grade of tires are the things we didn't get that we would like. The 50 amp cord reel, the ice maker, and the fireplace were all things we didn't think we'd "need", but now that we have them, can't think of doing without them.

Good luck to you, you'll love your new BigHorn!

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Generally, buying off the lot gives you a better discount? And the dealer can add most amenities that you might desire?

and i heard it the other way; you could get a better deal by ordering supposedly cause a dealer has his own money in getting a trailer on his lot, paying insurance for it, paying something back to the factory as long as he has it, etc. So, he may discount a trailer on the lot to move it, but he has more discount room to deal with on a new order. We did get a trailer cheaper once by ordering new rather than buying off the dealers lot, but that doesn't mean it always works like that...