how in the heck to pick a used class A
We have a 1999 Fleetwood class A we bought from my son and used a few times, but it needs to go to motorhome heaven. We want to buy a nice used one and are stymied as to how to know what to choose. ...
Forum Discussion
It's a personal process with what might have work for some won't work for others. But since you asked -
We started out as looking for out first RV by going to the Hershey Show here on the east coast. Talk about a head spinning, on your feet all day, gazillion models to look at. Hit a show in Atlantic City, Washington DC, Richmond, one in North Carolina and such over the winter. The shows gave us a fell for the various floor plans and allow us time to establish a list of likes, dislikes, wants and needs. We zeroed in on a primary floor plan and a back up we want and started looking at the used market. Since I had several specific models that fit the list the searching wasn't all that hard.
After a few months of reviewing new listings as they appeared a coach with the floor plan we wanted in the year range that was acceptable, within our budget range and a day drive away showed up on a dealers lot. Did the 800 miles round trip twice and the third time drove the coach home with the car on a U-Haul dolly. The two trips to inspect and negotiate the sale were the last time we stayed in a hotel.
What we were not prepared to do was exceed our budget. If you find the one but you can't get the price down then walk away. You can love a coach but it will never love you back. Inspecting is paramount regarding the condition of a coach. The dealer I was working allowed me just about unlimited access to the coach so I was in, on and under the coach for several hours checking everything. Even pulled an engine and transmission oil sample to get sent out to analysis (at my cost).
Good luck and have fun. We used the weekend shows trips as a get out of town weekend. About what we do now but in the coach rather than a hotel. List the Fleetwood on Craig's List for a few thousand with the tag "As is, Where is, Cash Sale". Easier than working out a trade in and you might get a few more dollars selling it yourself.
We started out as looking for out first RV by going to the Hershey Show here on the east coast. Talk about a head spinning, on your feet all day, gazillion models to look at. Hit a show in Atlantic City, Washington DC, Richmond, one in North Carolina and such over the winter. The shows gave us a fell for the various floor plans and allow us time to establish a list of likes, dislikes, wants and needs. We zeroed in on a primary floor plan and a back up we want and started looking at the used market. Since I had several specific models that fit the list the searching wasn't all that hard.
After a few months of reviewing new listings as they appeared a coach with the floor plan we wanted in the year range that was acceptable, within our budget range and a day drive away showed up on a dealers lot. Did the 800 miles round trip twice and the third time drove the coach home with the car on a U-Haul dolly. The two trips to inspect and negotiate the sale were the last time we stayed in a hotel.
What we were not prepared to do was exceed our budget. If you find the one but you can't get the price down then walk away. You can love a coach but it will never love you back. Inspecting is paramount regarding the condition of a coach. The dealer I was working allowed me just about unlimited access to the coach so I was in, on and under the coach for several hours checking everything. Even pulled an engine and transmission oil sample to get sent out to analysis (at my cost).
Good luck and have fun. We used the weekend shows trips as a get out of town weekend. About what we do now but in the coach rather than a hotel. List the Fleetwood on Craig's List for a few thousand with the tag "As is, Where is, Cash Sale". Easier than working out a trade in and you might get a few more dollars selling it yourself.
