I bought my Host direct from the factory in 2011. I saved almost $4k in sales tax.
California doesn't title or license campers,so no problem there. I suppose I could have been a good little tax payer and told the State what I bought, but I didn't and I feel feel good about it.
In 2011, all of Host's dealers were gone. Now Host has dealers and I don't know if they will sell direct.
If I were to buy a new camper, there is no way I would buy it in Calif., it is just to expensive.
There is a Host dealer just a few miles from the factory, so that is where I would go if I could not do it direct.
When I bought my Host, I met several people who drove from as far away as Kansas to pick up their camper.