I want a second RV, either a Nash 17k or a 22H

Dirtpig wrote:
I agree 100% on shades being way better! Our Nash came with the POS mini blinds but we were able to order the shades from northwood for $250CAD which is about 160USd I would have made dealer pay for this but I had already got them down to there breaking point. Just to keep your options open on a 2015. Also at least up here in Canada the dealer was able to order the trailer with the shades as an option as a 2nd trailer on the lot (also a 2015) had them but was missing fanastic fan and other things. Mfg on exact same date as the 25C we bought.

The very first trip in my Desert Fox, Memorial Day weekend 2003, a friend came with me and slept on the rollover bench seat/sofa thing. He must have gotten cold in the morning, because he tossed and turned and kept hitting the mini blinds with his arms and the blanket.

The rattling of those mini blinds is what caused me to hate them ever since!

That story about secretary made me laugh. None of that BS up here maybe because dealers are smaller. Sometimes u can look around 10-15min before a salesman bugs u.

Maybe next time I will go through the door, giggle at her, then RUN to the exit door to the outside yard!

deltabravo wrote:
Since pulling the plug on the deal above, I've researched the 17k and 22H a lot more and decided the 2016 model year is the one I'd get. 2015s that I've seen at dealers have mini blinds. 2016s have pleated shades like my truck camper (Arctic Fox 811).

I prefer the shades. My Desert Fox had mini blinds and I hated them.

I agree 100% on shades being way better! Our Nash came with the POS mini blinds but we were able to order the shades from northwood for $250CAD which is about 160USd I would have made dealer pay for this but I had already got them down to there breaking point. Just to keep your options open on a 2015. Also at least up here in Canada the dealer was able to order the trailer with the shades as an option as a 2nd trailer on the lot (also a 2015) had them but was missing fanastic fan and other things. Mfg on exact same date as the 25C we bought.

That story about secretary made me laugh. None of that BS up here maybe because dealers are smaller. Sometimes u can look around 10-15min before a salesman bugs u.

I had some time to burn up between a job interview and going to the local AutoNation compound to raise *(^@# about how they damaged my truck and keep lying about it, so I stopped at the local AF / Nash dealer.

I've encountered this before, where the secretary / receptionist pertnear won't let me past her desk until I state my business, so I today I looked straight ahead and walked at a brisk pace as I walked in the door, never even glancing towards her. I should have kept going, but about 30' in the door, I turned to look at an AF truck camper, then bent down to tie my shoe. I really need shorter laces for them. As soon as I stood up, there she was right on my heels asking if I needed help!

This mentality of the receptionist being the "gate keeper" has become a huge turn off to visiting nearly all of the Spokane area RV dealers. All the ones I've been to, you can't get through the front door without being accosted by the receptionist, and forget about trying to walk through the showroom to the outside RVs unescorted! Sales people ALWAYS follow me everywhere I go.

Next time I go through the door, I will make a BEE-LINE straight towards the restroom which is a straight shot inside the front door at the local AF / Nash dealer.

I should clarify, since the above info might be confusing -
I've made two deals on a 17k. The first one is described two posts above. That's the one where the credit union came back and wanted higher down payment to lower the loan amount, all as a result of my self employment and lower income, which skewed my debt to income ratio from their perspective... same one as where the salesman didn't want to talk price until I was ready to buy.

The second deal I penciled, I cancelled it due to getting cold feet and questioning my need for a second RV, but then a few days later I concluded the 22H made more sense.

Here's another interesting tidbit I came across - none of the financial institutions have ever asked for proof of income, which seems like a more important aspect for self employment situations, since those sources of income can be variable from month to month.

deltabravo wrote:
....I prefer the shades. My Desert Fox had mini blinds and I hated them.

Our TT has mini blinds, also. I'm not a fan of them. We have a window at the head of our bed, and anytime we brush the blinds with a pillow, it is noisy. Shades would be much quieter.

Since pulling the plug on the deal above, I've researched the 17k and 22H a lot more and decided the 2016 model year is the one I'd get. 2015s that I've seen at dealers have mini blinds. 2016s have pleated shades like my truck camper (Arctic Fox 811).

I prefer the shades. My Desert Fox had mini blinds and I hated them.

colliehauler wrote:

deltabravo wrote:
... I'd only been there 10 minutes and he was already using the "what would it take to make a deal today!" line on me.

Heck that's my favorite line, "What would it take to make a deal today". I offer a rock bottom price and if they get close I will close the deal.

I actually did that on a 17k about 3-4 weeks ago. The listed price was $23995. Basically it was MSRP, on a 2015 model that had a build date of 1/25/2015 - so it was OLD STOCK. The undercarriage looks like c-r-a-p because it had been delivered to the dealer in inclement weather, while there was deicer on the roads, so there was surface rust everywhere. Dealer didn't even attempt to wash the road grime (dirt, etc) off the undercarriage, even though they bill the delivery drivers a WASH FEE. (don't get me started on WASH FEES)

I initially told the salesman I only had a budget for about $20,000. I also told him I was still in the thinking process, but wanted to find out what the sell price would be. He said "there's no point in me asking the sales manager what a price might be if you aren't ready to buy."
I hate it when sales people pull that **** - it's more high pressure tactics. My "readiness to buy" is based on what the actual sell price would have been. I really hadn't made up my mind at that time if the 17 was the right RV for me. I tend to over-think things.

He then sort of walked off... that was a huge turn off to me. He kind of gave me the brush off.

Low and behold, he changed his tune by the time we got back to the showroom, then he asked the sales manager, and the sales manager said $19,500. I was shocked at the price since it had a generator in it. I can't remember if it had thermal pane windows or not.

I penciled up the deal. A day later they called back and said the credit union wanted a bigger down payment. OOPS. That's the drawback of being self employed.
I pulled the plug on the deal.

End the end, I was fine with pulling he plug on hat deal. A generator isn't really that important. I'd prefer the outside storage space over a generator. I have a pair of Honda EU2000s anyway.

The only really benefit I could so to an onboard gen verses how I use my Hondas is the ability to pre-cool the TT while traveling during the summer.

fallsrider wrote:
Me personally, I would go with the 22H. I love having a sofa. There are times when you just have to be indoors. The comfort of a sofa is a wonderful thing. But obviously, the decision is yours, not mine.

I agree, I just bought a 17' KZ with the sofa. I like it better than the dinette we had in our other camper.

deltabravo wrote:
In my quest to find a 17k or 22h, I've found that various dealers in the PNW all order them differently.

Some dealers order all Nash units with Thermal Pane Windows, but in Idaho, they don't. Some dealers order them all with generators, other dealers say "most people prefer a Honda EU2000i."

On used units, 2014 and prior (from what I can tell) don't have ladders.
2015 and prior have mini-blinds. 2016s have pull down pleated shades just like my AF811 truck camper.

I looked at a used 18L at a non Northwood Dealer in Oregon - the sales guy was really pushy there. It was a huge turn-off. I'd only been there 10 minutes and he was already using the "what would it take to make a deal today!" line on me.

Heck that's my favorite line, "What would it take to make a deal today". I offer a rock bottom price and if they get close I will close the deal.

Just found this too:

Trailer Life Article: Roughing it Easy