Buying used.... Considerations
Buying used. Just be very aware.......
What precipitated this post was a statement that when buying a used camper at a good (read low) price, what your doing is your buying the appliances...., and getting the camper for free. (Paraphrased, another thread/topic). I bought used last summer, at what I thought was a "fair" price. Everything worked. I was happy....
As fate would have it, I just replaced both the refrigerator $$$ and water heater $$ in my 1 owner previously owned, litely used, 98 Northern Lite, and this is right before I'm heading south (TX) for six weeks. Not the most convenient time.
The camper had the original Dometic 6 cf. 3 way frig. It functioned for us from last summer till a couple weeks ago. Yes, they (tech) coulda replaced the "guts" (lost refrigerant, indications of more problems), but, if the controller board then went out (which can/does happen) we would have had a new frig price into an old frig with no warranty.
The water heater functioned fine when new to us, but it was on its last legs (lotta rust on tank, especially at fittings), and not worth the hassle to keep it going, so bit the bullet and installed a new Atwood tankless.
Furnace is looking good....for now.
I still have significantly less than half of a new Northern lite into it, so, I'm ok. But it went from a pretty good deal, to "not so great" rather fast!
Just be aware, RV appliances are spendy items, and do NOT last indefinitely.
I was just in the Seattle area at an RV dealer's repair shop with a friend, and $130/hour was the posted shop rate. That rate is to install those expensive new appliances. I'm rural, so not quite that bad a shop rate, but still significant.
NOT trying to discourage anyone from buying used. Just realize that the purchase price can be only a part of the expense of getting, and keeping, a functioning camper/RV.
Some purchasers have been very fortunate with their purchases holding up mechanically. Good for them.....but don't DEPEND on it
What precipitated this post was a statement that when buying a used camper at a good (read low) price, what your doing is your buying the appliances...., and getting the camper for free. (Paraphrased, another thread/topic). I bought used last summer, at what I thought was a "fair" price. Everything worked. I was happy....
As fate would have it, I just replaced both the refrigerator $$$ and water heater $$ in my 1 owner previously owned, litely used, 98 Northern Lite, and this is right before I'm heading south (TX) for six weeks. Not the most convenient time.
The camper had the original Dometic 6 cf. 3 way frig. It functioned for us from last summer till a couple weeks ago. Yes, they (tech) coulda replaced the "guts" (lost refrigerant, indications of more problems), but, if the controller board then went out (which can/does happen) we would have had a new frig price into an old frig with no warranty.
The water heater functioned fine when new to us, but it was on its last legs (lotta rust on tank, especially at fittings), and not worth the hassle to keep it going, so bit the bullet and installed a new Atwood tankless.
Furnace is looking good....for now.
I still have significantly less than half of a new Northern lite into it, so, I'm ok. But it went from a pretty good deal, to "not so great" rather fast!
Just be aware, RV appliances are spendy items, and do NOT last indefinitely.
I was just in the Seattle area at an RV dealer's repair shop with a friend, and $130/hour was the posted shop rate. That rate is to install those expensive new appliances. I'm rural, so not quite that bad a shop rate, but still significant.
NOT trying to discourage anyone from buying used. Just realize that the purchase price can be only a part of the expense of getting, and keeping, a functioning camper/RV.
Some purchasers have been very fortunate with their purchases holding up mechanically. Good for them.....but don't DEPEND on it
