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JeffPritchard's avatar
Jul 24, 2015

Deep RV Discounts...when do they really start?

I have been a truck camper owner for the past several years. Firmly decided this is my LAST huge truck. I want to downsize my truck, and there are some financial and registration etc. issues pushing me to do that sooner rather than later.

Specifically, this relates to RV discounts as follows: I have a truck camper that will have to be traded when I change to a small lightweight 5th wheel. My next truck will NOT be equipped to move the truck-camper around...including taking it to the dealer for trade.

That means I kinda need to do both the RV trade/purchase at approximately the same time as I take delivery of my new truck (vis. make a deal, then take truck camper for trade, then take delivery of new smaller truck, then take delivery of new 5th wheel).

So, I have competing interests. I could just go do it all tomorrow, and quickly stop being "illegal" on my out of state truck registration. OTOH, I figure during the next 3 or 4 months both the truck deals and the RV deals will be improving.

So, my question is...when does that improvement level off? Maybe the market is slightly better in January than December, but probably sometime between now and December it pretty much levels off and is nearly as good as it gets.

What month does that leveling off happen for RV's?
  • Around here (Ohio) dealers are dropping "Used" big time... even placing Advertising on TV.. almost never around here.. except for Camping World.. not a dig..

    I just purchased a 2005 Coachmen... 29 footer... I know markup to mark down...but I got it for 8k... in real good shape.
    with new tires (4), new 650a battery, new 4 stage charger, (2) 30# propane tanks (Filled)...
    fully cleaned inside and out. all appliances serviced.
  • Winged One wrote:
    bikendan wrote:
    When we were shopping, we found great prices before winter hit.
    we got a new HTT for 40% off MSRP in October.


    Agreed. We bought our 5W in November and were offered 42% off MSRP for a new, on the lot, but last years model. Current model years (that had to be ordered) were almost uniformly 35% off (it was a bit weird really, several different manufacturers, several different dealers, all right at 35%).
    If you were to check the resale value of those rigs four or five years from now, there is going to be a much larger difference than that 7% savings. I would go with the new model year unless I knew I was owning that particular rig for the very long haul.
  • bikendan wrote:
    When we were shopping, we found great prices before winter hit.
    we got a new HTT for 40% off MSRP in October.


    Agreed. We bought our 5W in November and were offered 42% off MSRP for a new, on the lot, but last years model. Current model years (that had to be ordered) were almost uniformly 35% off (it was a bit weird really, several different manufacturers, several different dealers, all right at 35%).
  • When we were shopping, we found great prices before winter hit.
    we got a new HTT for 40% off MSRP in October.
  • If you want it, go get it. Otherwise it's not worth haggling over. There is no good time unless you are buying last year's models. Then MAYBE you can stumble into a good deal. Bottom line... if you REALLY want this, better do it NOW rather than later, prices may start coming up even more. The "best time" is right now. If you don't do it now, it's obvious you don't want it bad enough yet.
  • From casual shopping, it appears the best deals are on left over last year's models after the new year's models begin to hit the lots. And, at least for some manufacturers, 2016 models are already on the lots.

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