First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
This post is intended to be helpful to the first time buyer of a motor home. For those of you who don't fall into that category or believe this post is incomplete or off the mark, do us all a favor, a...
Forum Discussion
I would like to add our experience.
We searched for a MH for about three months. During our research, it seemed like the average time of ownership was about two years, and after that time the coach was traded in on a larger and more elaborate unit. We decided that instead of going through several iterations of upgrades and all the cost that added, we'd opt for the largest and most elaborate unit we could find.
A full timer friend had cautioned us that some state toll booths (notably Ohio) had scales, and units over the max gross could be fined or even forced to lighten the load if overloaded. The Coach Carrying Capacity (CCC) is very important and those who haven't considered it before should check the weight sticker in every unit that details the various weights before deciding on which unit to buy. Salespeople are very cagey about this topic and we found that it was difficult to talk with them about it on units with a low CCC.
We decided that the unit had to have a tag axle as the larger single axle units had very little CCC, some on the order of 1500-2000 lbs, way too little for all the stuff we wanted to carry. Tax axle units had an average of 4000-8000 lbs. of CCC, so that seemed a lot more reasonable.
After test driving both tag axle and non-tag axle models, it was a no brainer. Tag axle equipped units simply handle much better, especially in windy weather or when being passed by 18 wheelers.
We really liked the Travel Select, Travel Supreme model, it had everything we wanted and at a reasonable price. We were all ready to purchase a brand new unit from our local dealer when they did a bait and switch, price wise and upped their spoken price by $25,000 when we got a written contract. That really annoyed the heck out of us so we pulled out and started looking again.
We looked at a couple of used TS's and were seriously considering one of them, they're prices were reasonable and all, but it was a problem of who had owned it before and lack of warranty that held us off.
We were kind of stuck in a neutral when my wife browsed E-Bay and found a 2007 Mountain Aire 4528, a unit we loved but always thought was beyond our price point. This was a used unit, for sale nearby that we could drive to see easily. The price was on the unbelievable side but since it was within a couple of hours, worth going to see.
After a 3 hour drive we got to see and touch the unit, it was nearly perfect, had low miles and the only negative was unusually high hours on the generator. It had been used by a construction company for the owner while at job sites, or that's what we figured. The only damage was a slightly pinged awning, which made it sit just oh so slightly low on one side. I guess a wind must have done it.
All in all, it was a perfect fit for us and we got it at about $50k below blue book. Essentially we got the 2007 4528 Mountain Aire with a one year warranty, used, at the price of a new 42 TS. Easily a good deal.
We've put quite a few miles and several months of camping since taking ownership of the unit and we have been absolutely happy with it. Newmar has been great with the minor problems we've had, I would recommend them to anyone considering buying one of their products.
In summary, I would say to make sure to check the CCC of any unit you're planning on buying and consider what you'll want to carry. Also, get the largest unit you can afford, if you don't, you'll be trading it in on a bigger one before you know it. All those trade in's will certainly up the cost of ownership when you finally get one you can live with...
We searched for a MH for about three months. During our research, it seemed like the average time of ownership was about two years, and after that time the coach was traded in on a larger and more elaborate unit. We decided that instead of going through several iterations of upgrades and all the cost that added, we'd opt for the largest and most elaborate unit we could find.
A full timer friend had cautioned us that some state toll booths (notably Ohio) had scales, and units over the max gross could be fined or even forced to lighten the load if overloaded. The Coach Carrying Capacity (CCC) is very important and those who haven't considered it before should check the weight sticker in every unit that details the various weights before deciding on which unit to buy. Salespeople are very cagey about this topic and we found that it was difficult to talk with them about it on units with a low CCC.
We decided that the unit had to have a tag axle as the larger single axle units had very little CCC, some on the order of 1500-2000 lbs, way too little for all the stuff we wanted to carry. Tax axle units had an average of 4000-8000 lbs. of CCC, so that seemed a lot more reasonable.
After test driving both tag axle and non-tag axle models, it was a no brainer. Tag axle equipped units simply handle much better, especially in windy weather or when being passed by 18 wheelers.
We really liked the Travel Select, Travel Supreme model, it had everything we wanted and at a reasonable price. We were all ready to purchase a brand new unit from our local dealer when they did a bait and switch, price wise and upped their spoken price by $25,000 when we got a written contract. That really annoyed the heck out of us so we pulled out and started looking again.
We looked at a couple of used TS's and were seriously considering one of them, they're prices were reasonable and all, but it was a problem of who had owned it before and lack of warranty that held us off.
We were kind of stuck in a neutral when my wife browsed E-Bay and found a 2007 Mountain Aire 4528, a unit we loved but always thought was beyond our price point. This was a used unit, for sale nearby that we could drive to see easily. The price was on the unbelievable side but since it was within a couple of hours, worth going to see.
After a 3 hour drive we got to see and touch the unit, it was nearly perfect, had low miles and the only negative was unusually high hours on the generator. It had been used by a construction company for the owner while at job sites, or that's what we figured. The only damage was a slightly pinged awning, which made it sit just oh so slightly low on one side. I guess a wind must have done it.
All in all, it was a perfect fit for us and we got it at about $50k below blue book. Essentially we got the 2007 4528 Mountain Aire with a one year warranty, used, at the price of a new 42 TS. Easily a good deal.
We've put quite a few miles and several months of camping since taking ownership of the unit and we have been absolutely happy with it. Newmar has been great with the minor problems we've had, I would recommend them to anyone considering buying one of their products.
In summary, I would say to make sure to check the CCC of any unit you're planning on buying and consider what you'll want to carry. Also, get the largest unit you can afford, if you don't, you'll be trading it in on a bigger one before you know it. All those trade in's will certainly up the cost of ownership when you finally get one you can live with...
