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jandc76180's avatar
jandc76180
Explorer
Sep 13, 2015

What do all the veteran RV enthusiasts think.........

In the spirit of "Go Big or Go Home" the DH and I have found a beautiful 2003 Fleetwood Providence diesel pusher with 56,000 miles on it to begin our RV adventure. It appears to be a very sweet deal, under $50k. We do have a few questions since this is a smaller dealer.

it it normal to see an RV that was taken in trade with no inspection, registration or plates?
Is it reasonable to pay a $500 deposit while you are negotiating?
Since the DH is a whiz with a gas engine, but not diesels we were going to have a diesel RV mechanic look at it.

Any direction or thoughts on the unit would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Caroline

14 Replies

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  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2015
    No deposit while negotiating.
    Get the VIN and punch the VIN into google etc
    Find a good mobile mechanic to go over the rig before you sign a contract to purchase as usually the rig is sold "AS IS" no matter what the dealer states.
    A 2003 if it has the original tires will need new rubber all around. It does not matter how much tread is left on the tires they have AGED OUT. Any tire over 6-7 years old is a blowout waiting to happen. YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW they were cared for.
    If the salesman tells you any different WALK AWAY
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2015
    Not all States requires some kind of an inspection sticker (like FL). If the State you are purchasing the RV in requires such a sticker you should ensure that it has one before you buy it!
  • gemert's avatar
    gemert
    Explorer
    Sep 13, 2015
    No plates or inspection, yes.
    They may be waiting for the papers from a finance company.
    Yes on down payment but make sure you have a contract that specifies that you can get your deposit back at will for any or no reason if you choose not to buy their unit. I definitely would not commit to anything before they proved that they owned it.
  • Big_Blue's avatar
    Big_Blue
    Explorer
    Sep 13, 2015
    I bought a 2008 Winnebago Destination last year via EBay. The deposit was contingent upon inspection, acceptance & approved financing. The sweet deal became reality and we couldn't be happier.

    Proceed with due diligence and listen to your inner voice.

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