Hello,We are considering purchasing our first motorhome and would like some advice. We have boated for years, and wanting to try something different. My first priority is resale value in case we decide its not for us. Having said that, we are looking at used Class A's in the 30-35' range and have a budget of $50k. Should I be looking in the 6-10 year old range so depreciation will not be a huge factor? What makes and models should we look at for reliability and resale value?We are a family of 3 traveling with a 4 yr old and plan to start with short trips ;)All input is greatly appreciated.

$50K will get you a ton of options in So IL. That was where we bought a 15 year old 32' MH for $8K in 2007 after fuel cost bounce.As far as I know there are no BAD MH's that new but the care the chassis and house has had can be a HUGE factor but again that should not be a huge factor in a 5 year old MH. Actually for $25K you should find a nice starter MH even especially if you are talking gas.Just start looking and I expect things will jell in you minds as to what to buy.Best of luck and welcome to RV.NET

Good Luck we are from Effingham and now live in TN. It is all about floor plan. We have a Georgetown 350 with bunks, great option for kids. Look at all the dealers in your area and check private sellers to get a good idea on what is out there and prices, NADA also has a RV section but I am not sold on the accuracy. Ours was new sitting on the lot for a while and we got a good deal. Think about if you are going to tow a car before buying if buying from a dealer to get a better deal on a tow dolly or toad setup. Check out a lot of forums as you are to get ideas. You will love it!

In the range you are looking most of the depreciation will have already occurred. Get the most MH with the best floor plan you can afford. Just like a boat it's all in the maintenance and how it has been kept. If you need specific questions give us specifics and we can help.

If you are not sure it is for you I would suggest renting for a trip or two.

Approach this purchase just as you would when considering the purchasing of another boat. For instance, if you've decided it's better to rent a boat than own one, you'll probably feel the same with an RV. As with boats, everything in an RV is a compromise. A boat that is big and heavy to tow, is not really that big on a huge body of water when the wind really kicks up. I like to say that all motorhomes are too big when you drive them and too small when you are parked in them. Just like a boat, the older it is, the more likely there is to be a problem. You might hire a marine surveyor to check out a boat before you buy it, so find someone knowledgeable to check out the RV before you purchase it. As with boats, not all brands are created equal. The saying about not just buying a boat, but also the dealership applies here also. Buying a well built RV that has been well taken care of minimizes the risk, but, an extended warranty is something to consider also. Finally, are you sure you're done with boating? For years, we used a couple of different RV's to tow a couple of different Sea Rays combining the best of two great worlds. Every time I got 'two-footitis' I had to get a bigger motorhome to tow it. That got expensive! Don't forget to factor in what that RV will tow.

First time buyer needs advice | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

RudysWorld
Explorer
Aug 10, 2013
Good Luck we are from Effingham and now live in TN. It is all about floor plan. We have a Georgetown 350 with bunks, great option for kids. Look at all the dealers in your area and check private sellers to get a good idea on what is out there and prices, NADA also has a RV section but I am not sold on the accuracy. Ours was new sitting on the lot for a while and we got a good deal. Think about if you are going to tow a car before buying if buying from a dealer to get a better deal on a tow dolly or toad setup. Check out a lot of forums as you are to get ideas. You will love it!
Gale_Hawkins
Explorer
Aug 10, 2013
$50K will get you a ton of options in So IL. That was where we bought a 15 year old 32' MH for $8K in 2007 after fuel cost bounce.

As far as I know there are no BAD MH's that new but the care the chassis and house has had can be a HUGE factor but again that should not be a huge factor in a 5 year old MH.

Actually for $25K you should find a nice starter MH even especially if you are talking gas.

Just start looking and I expect things will jell in you minds as to what to buy.

Best of luck and welcome to RV.NET

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First time buyer needs advice

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