Buying from a dealer vs private sale

We bought our current Class A from a newspaper ad in our local weekly paper. The seller was about 35 miles away. We got a very good deal, about $8K below KBB.

The sellers were the original owners from new and they set their asking price at what they still owed on the home equity loan they'd financed it with. We didn't haggle. We also used a HEL to buy it.

When we sell (probably at the end of this season), I'll probably start out with an ad in the local paper and see how it goes from there.

We bought from a dealer and are very happy with our purchase and our experience. We are first time RV owners and we bought from the dealer that my parents bought their first RV from.

For us it's like a car, some people will want a private seller, some will want a dealership. It's more of a personal preference thing and where you find what you want.

My mom bought her first RV from a private party but her next 2 from dealers. She had good experiences with all of them.


~ Dori ~

We have bought two used TT's one private one dealer.
The dealer experience was great and we were able to buy an extended warrantee really cheap. It paid for itself the first year. they were able to get us a better interest rate at our Credit Union than we were.
The second one we bought from a private party. The owner was a very particular person and the unit was nearly perfect for being 20 years old. We paid cash for this one.
I guess it comes down to you being a good shopper and buying what you like at a good price from a good seller.
jesseannie

It can go either way. Many used dealers don't have in-house financing - they simply work with your bank/credit union to get you financing. In addition, many banks/credit unions won't finance anything over 10 years, so if you're buying an older rig, you may have to pay cash no matter who you buy from. Even if you can get it financed, you may get a better deal through a bank or credit union.

Many used dealers sell "as is", so there is no benefit buying from them over a private party. Both dealers and private parties may not disclose problems, etc.

Buy it from whoever has what you want at the price you want to pay.

wa8yxm wrote:
In many places a dealer is required to certify a vehicle road worthy.. If a vehicle is sold which has SAFETY issues... You may or may not be able to get satisfaction but it is for sure the dealer is going to have a problem provided you write the proper letter.. Have written a few of those letters.. (Not for that reason though) had the satisfaction of seeing one dealer closed by the state (This was a rip-off shop).

Private sellers.. As is - Where is.. Always As Is, Where is, all sales final.

when I traded my chieftain in on my TT, to avoid having to pay a lot of $$$ to get it certified/inspected/whatever, they limited the sale to out of state buyers so it was as is.
bumpy

Goostoff wrote:
We bought from private party on the last 2 trailers. We bought the 5er 2 years ago now. It would have been $29k at the dealer. We gave $15k. I'll take those saving any day.

And with that saving there is money for upgrades or issues that may be found right after the sale or come along at a later time. From a dealer all that stuff means further digging in the pockets.

In many places a dealer is required to certify a vehicle road worthy.. If a vehicle is sold which has SAFETY issues... You may or may not be able to get satisfaction but it is for sure the dealer is going to have a problem provided you write the proper letter.. Have written a few of those letters.. (Not for that reason though) had the satisfaction of seeing one dealer closed by the state (This was a rip-off shop).

Private sellers.. As is - Where is.. Always As Is, Where is, all sales final.

We bought from private party on the last 2 trailers. We bought the 5er 2 years ago now. It would have been $29k at the dealer. We gave $15k. I'll take those saving any day.

I think the ideal solution is to buy used from a private party and have an independent mobile RV tech you trust give it an inspection.

Many times private sellers find something they like better or have their needs change.

Of course buying used is a gamble. The way dealers treat warranty issues on new trailers they sell don't encourage me to buy from them either!

With a private sale you might get more stuff included in the sale. I know when I sell mine it will be 'turn key'. All the new owner will have to do is put food & clothes in it. Everything else will be there, right down to the electric mosquito swatter.

From a dealer the unit is going to be bare bones for sure needing thousands more spent on it to make it travel ready with even basics like chairs & a grill.