I have a 40', 2006 Monaco Knight that I've had for 4 years. Unfortunately, we don't use it enough to justify a diesel motorhome sitting in the driveway. I camp in it usually 21 days a year and put under 1,500 miles a year on it. I am getting nervous that if it goes over the 10 year mark and I decide to sell it, no one will be able to get financing. It also concerns me that as they age, components start failing. I replaced the two front tires this year but face replacing the 4 rears next spring. Five of the six batteries are original but the coach is serviced and in very good shape. I've been trying to talk my wife into trading it for a nice travel trailer since my everyday driver is a half ton pickup. The problem is, after being in a luxury motorhome along with our prior Montana fifthwheel, she don't like any of the trailers I've showed her. She did like the new Montana fifthwheels but so far the best offer I have from a dealership is trading my coach and they will give me the fifthwheel and $8,000. That sounds good until you factor in that I now have to buy a one ton truck for a daily driver. I don't know what to do, right now we are set up with the motorhome and a jeep wrangler unlimited toad but going from a 2006 to a 2015 and having one less engine to maintain sounds enticing too.So, do larger diesel pusher values really drop a lot after ten year old? Do you think the drop if value of my motorhome over the next few years will out weigh the depreciation of driving a new truck and fifthwheel off the lot? Any input would be appreciated.

I don't really think it will decrease much more or at least not quickly. And we've noticed over the last year as the economy is improving, that used pricing is staying the same and in some cases it's going up. We bought a used DP two years ago and the DW continues to check prices. She hasn't found any of the same year and model for what we paid for ours. It was a 2005.Bill

I think you're insane for considering selling it. You're used to the DP, it's setup the way you like it, and you already have a toad for it. It won't be the same going from that to any 5th wheel or travel trailer. Go use it more!

I've owned travel trailers, fifthwheels and now this diesel pusher so I know how it is camping in all three. As far as value, I know the trade in value for my diesel pusher dropped $5,000 from last months nada book to this one, after talking to the sales manager about this issue, I almost feel desperate to make the move . As far as using it more, there is no way. My wife works every Saturday and has Sundays off, I have weekends off so weekend getaways are out of the picture. If I went fifthwheel, I was thinking about putting it on a seasonal sight locally and pull it out for vacations.

If you use your RV 21 nights per year, your cost per night is somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400/night. What were you thinking when you bought this rig knowing you can only use it a few weeks out of each year? I vote SELL it to a private party and stay in a luxury resort with all meals included and a free massage for less money.

Buying a different RV is not the solution. A new RV will be just as much of a waste of money as your current RV if you don't use it.Find a way to get more use out of what you have or get out of the RV game altogether.An idle unused RV is a waste of money regardless of the type,make or what it cost.The only way to get value out of any RV is to use it

Tough decision - Stressed out | Good Sam Community

Trackrig
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
I don't really think it will decrease much more or at least not quickly. And we've noticed over the last year as the economy is improving, that used pricing is staying the same and in some cases it's going up. We bought a used DP two years ago and the DW continues to check prices. She hasn't found any of the same year and model for what we paid for ours. It was a 2005.

Bill
glamisorbust
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
I think you're insane for considering selling it. You're used to the DP, it's setup the way you like it, and you already have a toad for it. It won't be the same going from that to any 5th wheel or travel trailer. Go use it more!
Hedgehog
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
I've owned travel trailers, fifthwheels and now this diesel pusher so I know how it is camping in all three. As far as value, I know the trade in value for my diesel pusher dropped $5,000 from last months nada book to this one, after talking to the sales manager about this issue, I almost feel desperate to make the move . As far as using it more, there is no way. My wife works every Saturday and has Sundays off, I have weekends off so weekend getaways are out of the picture. If I went fifthwheel, I was thinking about putting it on a seasonal sight locally and pull it out for vacations.
tjfogelberg
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
If you use your RV 21 nights per year, your cost per night is somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400/night. What were you thinking when you bought this rig knowing you can only use it a few weeks out of each year? I vote SELL it to a private party and stay in a luxury resort with all meals included and a free massage for less money.
Lantley
Nomad
Sep 05, 2014
Buying a different RV is not the solution. A new RV will be just as much of a waste of money as your current RV if you don't use it.
Find a way to get more use out of what you have or get out of the RV game altogether.
An idle unused RV is a waste of money regardless of the type,make or what it cost.
The only way to get value out of any RV is to use it
jplante4
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
If you're worried about losing value on your current MH, the first year depreciation on a new rig is going to kill you. I guess I don't understand the logic of spending discretionary income on what amounts to a hobby and then worrying about the value of the equipment you bought to support the activity. It's suppose to be enjoyable, yes? If you're not enjoying it "stressing out" about money, sell the rig.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Sep 05, 2014
A large DP is not the best choice for everyone. If you bought that 2006 DP coach 4 years ago, the amount of depreciation alone would probably have paid for a smaller gas coach, which would have also served your needs. Now, you are concerned about the value of your large coach and whether you will be able to get out from under it before something major happens that will cost you even more.
You employment situation means that you cannot use it more and that the large DP was not the best choice for your travel needs.
I hope things work out for you without too much impact to your wallet.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Keep the DP and enjoy.

Eventually the resale price will plateau and you'll have had many years of enjoyment. The price will be low enough many folks will pay cash. With good credit, there is always ways to get financing no matter how old a rig is.

A DP is built using commercial truck components. These components are designed to provide a million plus miles of trouble free service.

We tend to keep our RVs for 15 plus years. Our current 5th wheel is 20 years old and we are still happy with it. Not much has had to be repaired or replaced other than expected items like tires and batteries. Preventative maintenance is the key.

I hope to be able to keep it for about 6 more years until I retire and we get a new to us 5th wheel or DP to semi-fulltime in.
RoadLife
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
tjfogelberg wrote:
If you use your RV 21 nights per year, your cost per night is somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400/night. What were you thinking when you bought this rig knowing you can only use it a few weeks out of each year? I vote SELL it to a private party and stay in a luxury resort with all meals included and a free massage for less money.

This makes sense to me. Lots of state campgrounds also have cabins for rent. In your situation this makes more sense. Put your rig on craigslist and/or the newspaper. You can get more than 8K for it.
rr2254545
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
RoadLife wrote:
tjfogelberg wrote:
If you use your RV 21 nights per year, your cost per night is somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400/night. What were you thinking when you bought this rig knowing you can only use it a few weeks out of each year? I vote SELL it to a private party and stay in a luxury resort with all meals included and a free massage for less money.

This makes sense to me. Lots of state campgrounds also have cabins for rent. In your situation this makes more sense. Put your rig on craigslist and/or the newspaper. You can get more than 8K for it.

X3 Unless you are super rich the MH was a really bad idea.

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