Over the last 6 years we have put over 40k miles and 4-500 nights in our travel trailers. We didn't anticipate this much usage when we chose a travel trailer. With our experiences, we want to try a motorhome for the following reasons.-Want to improve the "driving time" experience-We like exploring back-country and often push the limits of our truck (jeep trails in the San Juans, Moab, etc.) and have no way to bring a Jeep or UTV.-We boondock often and never liked the idea of security. If things go bump in the night I have to exit the trailer and get to the truck to leave.-Pride of ownership: Perceived quality difference between trailers and Class A's.- Increased cargo capacity. We don't want to have to think about weight as much.-At 48 and 53 years, we are thinking about paying off the "retirement rv" before we quit working. Maybe this is the one?This list could go on and on. We see two paths we could possibly go with pros/cons for each. I'd like to draw from your experiences and hear your thoughts.Option 1: What we want. If buying new or slightly new, we settled on the Winnebago 35F (or similar). Preferably, 2017 or newer so that we get the 6 speed tranny. Cost: Anywhere from 80'ish to 115'ish. This is the expensive option, but we get more of what we want and it is newer, warranty, etc. We ultimately prefer this option, but it does stretch our comfortable budget. On top of that, I went to the tax office yesterday and discovered that the annual property tax on motorhomes is about 2.5% of the value. So, using 100k, that would be $2500 annually in taxes ($208/month). I like to be sensible about how we spend money, and that tax bill is hard to swallow. Ultimately, I suspect the tax will keep us from choosing this option, and I'm sad about that.Option 2: Find a motorhome that is older (2005-2010), but still checks off most of our boxes. A plus here is that we may pay cash if the budget stays $50k or below. No payment and taxes would be nice!We are a bit handy, and aren't afraid to do a cosmetic improvement. Pulling out furniture and flooring, painting, etc. are all possible. We don't want and are afraid of mechanical problems.Maybe I'm looking for some support that you have done Option 2 and its worked out well.Any support for either option? Random thoughts?

For me, #2 would be a no brainer. Once you go used, then condition is more important than the year so a well cared for 2010 could be just as good as a 2016 or 2018. We bought a 2003 30 ft. Itasca Class C in 2012 with 21000 miles for $23000 cash and have had no regrets even though it is just a 4-speed trans. Now has 58000 miles. Yes, we've spent a lot repairing, replacing and upgrading but no where near the 80000 plus it cost new. RVing just is expensive one way or another. If you can pay cash, that's a huge factor as you will avoid interest and have those monthly payments free for investing or whatever. Two big MH advantages you didn't mention- on board generator with electricity at the touch of a button and much easier backing into a site.

The first time you decide to stop for the night and it is raining, you will appreciate a Class A. You don't even have to get out of the coach until the rain stops. Just fire up the generator, cook your meals, use your bathroom, all without hooking up to any site utilities. I would educate yourself on basic maintenance on a gas or diesel engine, depending on which one you chose. Most gas engines will have parts available at an auto parts store whereas most diesels will require you to go to a diesel shop. IN any case, the more stuff you can do, the more money you save. Trust me, things will go wrong during a trip, with either a gas or diesel engine, when you are far away from any mechanic that you trust. If you can at least do minor repairs, and able to evaluate your problem, it can save you a lot of money. Also you will need to purchase a good roadside assistance policy, like Good Sam's or CoachNet. You may want to consider an extended warranty for the first year until all of the bugs are worked out.Other than that my only suggestion is to pick the floor plan that suits your needs, with the boonedocking equipment that you need. Most all engines and drivetrains will outlast the life of your coach with proper maintenance. You will spend a lot more time camping in the coach than you will driving the coach so make sure that you are comfortable.

Option #2. Just because something has a warranty does not mean it will be trouble free.

6 speed tranny came out in the 2016 models. I prefer something newer as I've seen way too much stuff out there that isn't cared for.

When we started our RVing career, we had no experience past my Boy Scout days way in the past. Our dealer, who is way above the average dealer, assured us that his policy always had been and always would be to buy back if we were dissatisfied or had to give it up for any reason. Turned out we were thrilled, and have only gone back and traded up with him once so far. If you can find someone like that to deal with, then you problem is solved.

Buying Strategy (looking for opinions) | Good Sam Community

tragusa3
Explorer
Sep 06, 2018
Thank you guys. Have a few worries, but it is easy to worry when spending this kind of money. Got a call from the dealer today. Fixes are done. Waiting on a few overnighted parts and PDI scheduled for Saturday!

Lined up the insurance today (which I was pleased with after shopping a bit).
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Sep 04, 2018
Glad you found the one for you! Enjoy!!
scbwr
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2018
Congratulations! I hope you're on the road soon and enjoying it.
tragusa3
Explorer
Sep 04, 2018
Great post TriumphGuy! I've responded to your PM. Hope we might get together!

We couldn't resist going back to the dealer today. They let us take it out by ourselves. First time driving a Class 'A'. I was nervous for a few miles and became comfortable very quickly. Impressed with all aspects, except I wonder about emergency maneuvers??? Felt like they would be non-existent!

We have come to an agreement and we are scheduled for a PDI this coming Saturday!
TriumphGuy
Explorer
Sep 03, 2018
tragusa3 wrote:
Thanks everyone. JD, I enjoyed your story. Warms my heart that this hobby is so rich as a memory maker.

A brief report:

We spent an exhausting 6 hours at the dealership today. Not in the sales hot seat, but in the coach (alone). We went through it like nobodies business. I could see employees looking at us funny, but it is what it is.

In the end, we realized that the floorplan isn't better or worse than what we thought we wanted, just different. All trade-offs.

We talked numbers and are very close to making it work. Might be a Tiffin owner by next weekend!

Hi neighbor! We're just down the road near Greenville, SC.

We were very much in your shoes about 3 years ago. For many of the reasons you mentioned, we wanted to go beyond our fifth wheel. I had many future "out west" trips planned, and I just didn't like the idea of all that driving in the truck, "getting out to get in" as they say...

We got serious and looked at motorhomes at a few dealerships and then RV shows. We started looking at Class C's but for a number of reasons landed on a short list of Class A motorhomes to look at. Similarly, I set a budget of $50k and started scouring the used market.

Then I learned about Tiffin and - not to get into a kool aid discussion - but I really liked what I saw in the build of the coach and in the 35QBA floorplan. But I thought it wasn't going to happen because they cost more than the others in the first place, and the used demand was very high.

I shopped for months and was frustrated with availability on the market, and then got even more frustrated when I couldn't land anything on my list for a decent price.

Then I had a forum member get in touch with me who was looking to trade-in and didn't want to take the dealer's low ball offer - for a 2011 Tiffin 35QBA.

We had to do some serious thinking because this was about 2-3 years beyond our price point. But he was asking way below market ...

So we double checked our finances, committed to some adjustments and we've never looked back. We have had some amazing trips and planning more as the kids are in that perfect age for travel. And I'm amazed the amount of customer support I've gotten from the company, being a second owner.

For sure, we could have made the memories in ANY RV, and just about any Class A would have met our needs for being able to have certain conveniences. But waiting around for the right deal and being ready for it really worked out for us!

ALSO - just checking, either our counties are very different for taxes or maybe you could check into the property tax question again? We're in Greenville and on a 2011 we pay less than half than what you had in your original post above for property tax.

Anyway let us know how it goes!
tragusa3
Explorer
Sep 01, 2018
Thanks everyone. JD, I enjoyed your story. Warms my heart that this hobby is so rich as a memory maker.

A brief report:

We spent an exhausting 6 hours at the dealership today. Not in the sales hot seat, but in the coach (alone). We went through it like nobodies business. I could see employees looking at us funny, but it is what it is.

In the end, we realized that the floorplan isn't better or worse than what we thought we wanted, just different. All trade-offs.

We talked numbers and are very close to making it work. Might be a Tiffin owner by next weekend!
Yellowboat_
Explorer
Sep 01, 2018
tragusa3 wrote:
We've been scouring the internet and local dealers since I made this post. Flip flopping our minds from day to day. Had a salesman from the local dealer say he would call when the right thing came in.

He called today saying it wasn't a perfect fit, but I needed to come see anyway. He just took a trade on a 2011 Tiffin Allegro 34TGA. The only owners were still in the office purchasing their new unit. They were 70'ish and downsizing. One owner, kept in storage, 9,900 miles and 39 hours on generator. Two year old tires. It is in better than "like new" condition. Nearly NO evidence of being used. The price offered to us was in line with what I've seen on RVtrader as comps.

I'll keep you posted.

This is how we bought our first class C. We had looked at all the local dealerships but we couldn't find a coach that we liked. A salesman said that he knew what we were looking to buy and he would call if he found one. A few weeks later he called and we went right down. He showed us a coach that had just been traded. It hadn't been cleaned.

The class C was owned by apple farmers. They used the coach in their fields as an office / bathroom facility. It was a Mobile Traveler.

Some time after our purchase I found dry rot over the drivers seat. The dry rot was covered by a thin plywood panel that was placed over the rotted area. I took it in to a repair facility and they made repaires. I learned later that Mobile Travelers were known for leaks. I removed and sealed nearly every fastener on the outside of the coach.

We owned that coach for 27 years and our family had a lot of memories in that coach. We were nearing retirement and my wife had been suggesting for several years that it was time for a new coach. As winter came to an end I went out to get the coach ready for another year. As I entered the coach I noticed that the ceiling was drooping. I went into our house and told my wife that it was time to shop for a new coach.

Safe travels. JD
Gjac
Explorer III
Aug 31, 2018
I would not let the 6 speed transmission be a deciding factor. To me storage especially pass through storage bays, FW capacity if you want to dry camp, CCC, and HP/Wt ratio would be more important. Check the final gear ratio of the 5 speed to 6 speed it is probably pretty close if not the same. Also understand the difference between the 362 HP and 320 HP in the newer models. Someone on here probably knows the specifics but it is probably the same engine just derated HP. Once you understand the eng and transmission difference you will feel better about your option #2 and be able to focus on features that would be important to you. It will take you several years anyway to modified/ repair and add any features that you want to travel in when you retire. Good luck in you search.
tragusa3
Explorer
Aug 31, 2018
We've been scouring the internet and local dealers since I made this post. Flip flopping our minds from day to day. Had a salesman from the local dealer say he would call when the right thing came in.

He called today saying it wasn't a perfect fit, but I needed to come see anyway. He just took a trade on a 2011 Tiffin Allegro 34TGA. The only owners were still in the office purchasing their new unit. They were 70'ish and downsizing. One owner, kept in storage, 9,900 miles and 39 hours on generator. Two year old tires. It is in better than "like new" condition. Nearly NO evidence of being used. The price offered to us was in line with what I've seen on RVtrader as comps.

It doesn't have a few of the items we thought we must have, but we are awfully tempted. Tempted enough that we left a deposit on it and will spend some time with it on Saturday.

We thought Tiffin quality was out of our budget, but this one is a possibility. Now the big decision is, choose quality without a few preferred items vs. lesser quality brand with more preferred items.

I'll keep you posted.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2018
tragusa3 wrote:
Yellowboat and 2gypsies, what was your experience with warranty repairs? I heard that buying elsewhere and going to service at your local dealer can be problematic.

We didn't need any warranty work. :)