RV purchasing economics

Thanks all for your help and responses. Any thoughts on the best makes/ model to buy to a max of $50k.or best time of year when prices are the most attractive.
bruce

Nv is high registration but no sales tax on private purchase.

If you want to convert to propane, you better be registered in a non-smog state. Conversion is quite easy and would work great with a turbo on something older running around 8:1 compression. Even 8.5:1 would work well.

If you don't go turbo, then you will need to change pistons and increase the comp. ratio to get full power and best possible mileage.

Jose

Thanks everyone - appreciate your input. Any thoughts on converting to propane.
bruce

In Illinois, I got a rude surprise on that. On used cars bought from a private seller, typically the fee we pay at registration is pretty reasonable. It's based on the model year only, not the purchase price. They used to base it on the price, but everyone lied of course, so they gave up. I assumed the same low fee would apply on my mini MH. My wife handled it at the DMV, and the tax was 5% of the purchase price, not the minimal amount. Somehow there was an exception, and DW got the impression it was for vehicles they knew would be not typical.

Bobbo wrote:

Snowman9000 wrote:
In many states, if you buy used from a private owner, you won't pay any sales tax, or it will be minimal.

When purchasing from a private party, the sales tax is paid at the time of registration. Unless you are registering in a state that doesn't tax RV's, or taxes them minimally, you won't avoid the sales tax.

I "thought" that this was pretty much the case regardless of where purchased, even if from a dealer. they don't charge sales tax, they add on a registration fee. Haven't looked at one of my invoices lately to see exactly how it is worded however.
bumpy

Snowman9000 wrote:
In many states, if you buy used from a private owner, you won't pay any sales tax, or it will be minimal.

When purchasing from a private party, the sales tax is paid at the time of registration. Unless you are registering in a state that doesn't tax RV's, or taxes them minimally, you won't avoid the sales tax.

Thanks Bumpyroad and Snowman9000 for your prompt replies and sound advice. Because the Kiwi Dollar only buys about 80c US I will attempt to ring out every saving possible. We bought a RV from a Ca dealer did 6 months then sold in 2005 and cant wait to get back amongst your beautiful country.

Availability affects purchase prices. California has many RVs but it's a high tax state. Arizona, Texas, Florida, all would be worth looking into from the standpoint of amount of inventory, I would think.

In many states, if you buy used from a private owner, you won't pay any sales tax, or it will be minimal.

lots of full timers select South Dakota as their residence state as the licensing, inspection, taxes, etc. there seem to be preferable. Perhaps some of the full timers can jump in with more help.
bumpy