Complete Newbie to TTs Here. First-time Buyer Advice

gbopp wrote:
Buy used for your first RV. You may be selling or trading it in a year or two.
Yes, setting up and taking down a dinette/couch every day gets old, real quick. It's okay for occasional use, just not all the time.

Don't be in a hurry to buy. Look at everything and ask lots of questions BEFORE you give a seller any money or sign any agreements.
Salesmen are not your friend. Their only goal is to sell you something. You'll find that some of them know less sbout RV's than you.

Someone on the forum will have an answer to your questions. Don't hesitate to ask.
Enjoy your travels.

Yeah, we're "ready" to buy right now, but definitely in no super rush. As it is, we have to have a couple trees removed and concrete that area as a driveway extension for the trailer parking. We definitely have time to do our due diligence.

As for cost, depreciation, and buying used, is that primarily in case we don't like it, or figure something out and realize we need to sell that one, and get something different? Makes sense. I've always been a little wary of used, though.

I'm in the other camp when it comes to buying new vs. used. Unless I knew the person selling the unit and knew how it was maintained, I would never buy used. Even among the folks who post here, there are a lot who simply don't maintain their campers, and they do need to be maintained. I don't want someone else's junk!

As for the armada, I agree it might be a bit light in the payload department for a trailer AND a family of five. You might be able to get away with it, but it might not be a comfortable drive.

I would try renting first to get a better idea of how the vehicle tows and what you might like.

Payload capacity on that truck is less than 1600 lbs. 5 people is going to eat a lot of that without even starting on the trailer tongue.
If you dont mind the kids travelling separate you would have upwards of 1000 or so still available after you add 100 lbs for the weight distributing hitch along with whatever else you carry.

When looking at trailers, forget the empty weight the salespeople all point to. The only time that trailer weighs that is as it leaves the assembly floor. Before you ever get it you have to add for the battery/batteries, propane tanks and contents, as well as any options added by the dealer.

If possible you may want to try to rent a trailer similar to one that your considering, see how your truck does, and learn a little about what you do and dont like in the trailer.

As to the "buy used" suggestions, new folks coming in to this often go through 2 or 3 units in a few years time learning what fits for them, taking that depreciation hit becomes a 2 or 3 time event which can hurt.
Also when talking to salespeople require "out the door" pricing, Car dealers are fairly standardized and competitive in their markets, RV dealers while competitive are varied in the approach they take. Some will advertise extremely low prices to get you excited and on the lot, and then hide thousands of dollars in "fees" to the transaction after you have agreed to a price. Make sure you can compare apples to apples. Some dealers are very upfront and will immediately give you the out the door price, and are proud of that, others are a little less forthcoming.

Buy used for your first RV. You may be selling or trading it in a year or two.
Yes, setting up and taking down a dinette/couch every day gets old, real quick. It's okay for occasional use, just not all the time.

Don't be in a hurry to buy. Look at everything and ask lots of questions BEFORE you give a seller any money or sign any agreements.
Salesmen are not your friend. Their only goal is to sell you something. You'll find that some of them know less sbout RV's than you.

Someone on the forum will have an answer to your questions. Don't hesitate to ask.
Enjoy your travels.

I would look at toy haulers and convert the rear to a bunk house sleeping area. I was thinking it might be more weight friendly but maybe not?
Jay D.

As a newby new is really a bad idea. Unless your ready to absorb the huge depreciation of a new trailer, instead buy used.
OK, now for some numbers. Your Armada does not have a real world tow rating close to 8000 pounds. Once you load your family on board you will be lucky to be at 6000 pounds. Even at 6K your tongue weight is going to be north of 700 pounds. With all your family and junk on board how much do you weigh? Between that and its GVWR how much capacity do you have?
As for picking, and being in Riverside find a used Lance.
As for trailers, stick the kids outside in tents would be far smarter.