So, opinions on this MH (our first) for our use

True. Years ago a friend of mine, who was the GM at a local car dealership, used to say "books don't sell cars, people do". He was right.

On the book price, I think you'll find NADA uses a formula to determine values as much, or more, than true market surveys. In the automotive world most dealers now use real-time auction information instead of NADA. I recently had a car evaluated; they used an app that read my VIN, they punched in my miles, then it did a search for similar vehicles with similar miles and gave a true up-to-date value. It was pretty interesting to me.

Bruce Brown wrote:
I realize the book says the low mileage adds 28% to the value of this unit - IMO this is a perfect example of needing to put the book down and start using some common sense. A 28% increase because of mileage??? I'm thinking that is very unrealistic. Take that to a dealer and ask them if they'd give you 28% more for it because of mileage.

5%, 10% sure, 28%? - This is where I think the book is doing a disservice, to both the buyer and seller.

That is why I said in my post that "The selling price is determined by a mutual agreement between the buyer and the seller. Both should go away feeling that they got a good deal."
The NADA value gives you a place to start the negotiation. It does not mean that the price is set in stone. Since none of us can survey RV prices as well as NADA, then it is the best reference that we have at our fingertips.

I realize the book says the low mileage adds 28% to the value of this unit - IMO this is a perfect example of needing to put the book down and start using some common sense. A 28% increase because of mileage??? I'm thinking that is very unrealistic. Take that to a dealer and ask them if they'd give you 28% more for it because of mileage.

5%, 10% sure, 28%? - This is where I think the book is doing a disservice, to both the buyer and seller.

tropical36 wrote:

IMO and even if a WH W chassis, the asking price is outrageous.
Maybe you should try and find a consignment sale or from a private seller for around $27K and this in excellent condition, otherwise, you'll soon have super retail in it and be down underwater after the first year of ownership. Click here for some reference and even though not the bible....
NADA

Good floor plan, new tires, full body paint and only 24,000 miles that's a good price from how I see it.

Offer $39,000 and put a large down payment and you will never be upside down if you pay it off in 6 years or less..

I'm not sure about the RV you mentioned as far as price and such but, If you are in Tampa you might try Baissline RV for a consignment and other used RV's. Mark and his wife own the place and even though we never bought anything from them we always got a good vibe from them as being up front and not misleading.

rgatijnet1 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

IMO and even if a WH W chassis, the asking price is outrageous.
Maybe you should try and find a consignment sale or from a private seller for around $27K and this in excellent condition, otherwise, you'll soon have super retail in it and be down underwater after the first year of ownership. Click here for some reference and even though not the bible....
NADA

Actually the base retail price for this coach, according to NADAGUIDES.COM is $42,500, without any of the extras added in, which may or may not appeal to the buyer/OP. The LOW retail is $35,328, again, without any extras.
The facts are that unless this person did a personal inspection of the coach, he has no idea what it should be worth. The selling price is determined by a mutual agreement between the buyer and the seller. Both should go away feeling that they got a good deal.
In any case, here is the link: 2004 Vacationer M37PCT

Where are you getting these prices and this from your link, provided.? A different zip code, perhaps and still can't be right with such a wide gap...

2004 Holiday Rambler
Vacationer Series M-37PCT Workhorse

Suggested
List Price Low
Retail Average
Retail
Base Price $129,452 $27,600 $33,250
Options: (add)
TOTAL PRICE: $129,452 $27,600 $33,250

I clicked on YOUR link and got what you see above in dark red.
It very well could have came up with my zip though, but I'm only about 150 miles south of you, so not a factor.
No matter what, I know what I sold our old one for last year (glad to get it) and bought our present one for, so no way, I'd be paying that kind of money for the coach in question and betting anything I could find a nice one for $27,600, cash in hand, of course, laying it down on the table and no fooling around, with financing and this and that.

Until YOU learn to use NADA you sould not quote any figures that you get from them. As I mentioned, YOU forgot to put in the 24,000 miles which adds 28% to the value of this coach. You DO NOT add mileage when it is a diesel powered coach but, IF YOU READ, you do for a gasoline powered coach.
I'm sure the OP is NOT interested in what you did a year ago. He asked about this coach and all you have given him is nothing but your mistaken values from NADA.

Not trying to upset you and just trying to be realistic and help out a forum member, at the same time.
And why would you not recite your own experiences, so others might profit by them, uh???? I thought that's what we all did on here for any subject matter.
Don't know what your experience has been as a private seller and getting full retail for your vehicles, but would like knowing what this seller ends up with from someone else and assuming that our friend here doesn't pay the asking price or close.
Back you your link, that is what came up, when I clicked on it and would have had to start from the beginning, for the whole routine and not what I've found to be realistic for private sales, anyway.
Meanwhile, if you feel that you're helping a fellow member, by convincing him to pay more, rather than less, then by all means, offer that input and let others offer theirs.:C

rgatijnet1 wrote:

CaitySue wrote:

darsben1 wrote:
You will likely be to long for most national Parks, forest service and city county campgrounds

I just bought our Senior Pass so we can camp at National Parks, etc. We are still in the process of trying to buy an RV. What is the maximum length allowed in those parks? I'm so glad I saw this response!

If you book your parks at reserveamerica.com, you can find a campground layout and the length of the rig that each parking spot will accept.

Don't know what state park campsites are like on the Left Coast or the mid-section, but here on the Right Coast, our 36' Holiday Rambler Endeavor fits just fine on most of them. You gotta watch out for the trees going into the parks, but all the ones we have camped at are do-able. In fact, I've seen tag-axle rigs going into the same parks with no problems.

As for the Holiday Rambler product itself, we have been most pleased with the fit, finish and quality of build. Yes, we bought an older coach with over 80K miles on it. It is a Ford gasser with a Triton V10 on the F53 chassis. The F53 is a very reliable chassis as is the Triton V10. The F53 rides like a battle wagon, so be prepared for that. It is a common review, and although new shocks seem to help, it's just an inherent issue. The F53 was built to be a delivery truck and motorhome manufacturers latched on to it. There are normal aging problems that will have to be addressed, as we have already done. We just replaced the front leaf springs....shocks will be next. Brake calipers and brake lines were done a couple of years ago. I've had to adjust the slide's vertical height to get it back plumb, but again, that's not unexpected. We had a slight roof leak that I chsed for several months....found it to be the joint of the metal roof and the end cap. Resealed it, pulled the old carpet (it was nasty anyway), cloroxed and dried the flooring, replaced all the carpet and we're good to go! Took us about 3 weekends to do that job. Good thing about a gasser is that if you're slightly handy with a wrench and a screwdriver, you can do most of the routine maintenance yourself. Pro-tip...add Seafoam to every tank of fuel!!

If the one you're looking at has a good maintenance record, doesn't seem to have any obvious leaks and no history of them, and it fits your lifestyle when camping/living, I think you'll be fine. The purchase price does seem a bit high to me, but that may well be the market it's in. Find several average prices for similar models from everywhere across the country, and them come at them with a price you are comfortable with. Maybe they negotiate, maybe they don't. If you are happy with the deal you make, it was the right deal....no matter what anyone else ties to tell ya.

Good Luck!

Hi,

Well, as one poster pointed out, it looks like counter space is very limited without removing the stove or sink covers. THAT would be a deal breaker for us, and it's something you should consider, seeing as you like to cook.

About the mechanicals, I have a rig from that era, we bought new, and I did a lot of research before we bought ours. Three slide units on a 22,000 lb. GVWR chassis in that era can be very limiting on available cargo carrying capacity. Since you'll only be doing mostly shorter trips, maybe it won't be an issue.

Also, it looks like a fairly long overhang behind the rear wheels. It would be interesting if you can find the wheel base length. Our rig is 36' long with a 242" wheelbase, and it handles pretty well. However, the shorter the wheel base, the more likely it may have handling issues and possible rear axle overloading. Anyway, a 37' long unit should have at least a 242" wheelbase, in my opinion.

Also, someone mentioned that the WH22 doesn't have a brake recall. The W-22's DO have the brake recall, the W-24's did not.

The price might be a bit high, as well, however, I guess you can't blame someone for trying to get top dollar. :)

Good luck in your search.

~Rick

CaitySue wrote:

darsben1 wrote:
You will likely be to long for most national Parks, forest service and city county campgrounds

I just bought our Senior Pass so we can camp at National Parks, etc. We are still in the process of trying to buy an RV. What is the maximum length allowed in those parks? I'm so glad I saw this response!

If you book your parks at reserveamerica.com, you can find a campground layout and the length of the rig that each parking spot will accept.

darsben1 wrote:
You will likely be to long for most national Parks, forest service and city county campgrounds

I just bought our Senior Pass so we can camp at National Parks, etc. We are still in the process of trying to buy an RV. What is the maximum length allowed in those parks? I'm so glad I saw this response!