My wife and I have decided to try to upgrade from our current 1992 Jayco CB220 to something with more room. We are looking at a 2001 Dutchmen Lite 26RL-DSL. I am having a hard time coming up a good price on a camper this old. We couldn't find any evidence of water leaks, and the appliances looked barely used. There was some dents from rocks on front, and a piece of trim on back that is bent a little. The NADA values show it being like $4600 low retail, but all the other prices I am seeing on comparable campers seem higher than NADA. We got them to come down to $5000 on the price including a weight distributing hitch with friction sway bar. I had offered them $4700. Is 5000 too high for this old a camper? Another question I am curious about. It shows it as weighing 6200 lbs. My Dodge Ram 1500 is rated to about 8700 pounds towing. Will I have issues with this towing in higher elevations?

Dutchman in those years were basically junk. Pass!There are a lot much better trailers out there.

It should tow fine, I do think that your offer of 4700 is smart given the NADA on it. Good Luck.

Okay, we are trying to find something we like under 5 or 6k so we can pay cash. There isn't a lot out there in that price range. We really like the 14' slide on the Dutchmen, but if it isn't going to hold up then that won't be good. Any brand/model recommendations in that price range? Looking for something about 26' long with a slide out, folding couch for bed, and walkaround queen bed.

If it is in good shape now that it is 16 or so years old, who says it is junk or won't last longer.

Campinfan wrote:If it is in good shape now that it is 16 or so years old, who says it is junk or won't last longer.I agree. Was it stored inside or out? If outside, then no water damage for 16 years argues the "it's junk" determination. If inside, then it may be that clean because it never left the enclosed area and it may fall apart as soon as it's on the road.

Looking at used travel trailer. | Good Sam Community

donn0128
Explorer II
Feb 06, 2018
Dutchman in those years were basically junk. Pass!
There are a lot much better trailers out there.
ViewOfAKindArt_
Explorer
Feb 06, 2018
It should tow fine, I do think that your offer of 4700 is smart given the NADA on it. Good Luck.
jbeshears
Explorer
Feb 06, 2018
Okay, we are trying to find something we like under 5 or 6k so we can pay cash. There isn't a lot out there in that price range. We really like the 14' slide on the Dutchmen, but if it isn't going to hold up then that won't be good. Any brand/model recommendations in that price range? Looking for something about 26' long with a slide out, folding couch for bed, and walkaround queen bed.
Campinfan
Explorer III
Feb 06, 2018
If it is in good shape now that it is 16 or so years old, who says it is junk or won't last longer.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Feb 06, 2018
Campinfan wrote:
If it is in good shape now that it is 16 or so years old, who says it is junk or won't last longer.

I agree.

Was it stored inside or out? If outside, then no water damage for 16 years argues the "it's junk" determination. If inside, then it may be that clean because it never left the enclosed area and it may fall apart as soon as it's on the road.
jbeshears
Explorer
Feb 06, 2018
The current owners have had it for about 10 years, and they have had it stored outside during that time period. I am not sure about before that. When they bought it, they had the slide seals replaced at that point.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Feb 06, 2018
Our first hard sided travel trailer was a Dutchmen Sport 2004 model. We never had an ounce of problems with it. Of course, it did not have slides either. We towed it, originally, with a 1500 Chevy Suburban and it destroyed the transmission within 3 months. Replaced the transmission and it towed terrible after that. About a month after the transmission replacement, we traded for a gasser 3500 duly crew cab, long bed. Never regretted doing that.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Feb 06, 2018
If I understand you correctly, you are only $300 apart. If it is what you want then pay the price.

Years from now the difference in price will be meaningless.
badsix
Explorer
Feb 06, 2018
check the tires that's a 500.00 cost if they need replaced. there is a date code on them, if they are oem then that's to old.
I tow a 27' that's about 6500 ready to camp with a 1500 2010 GMC and it tows great.
Jay D.
rbpru
Explorer II
Feb 06, 2018
You are buying a 16 year old TT. The price is whatever the market will support.

If it is 16 years old, stored outside, does not leak and is not beat up inside, that says a lot about its construction.

I have a 2010 Dutchmen Lite we bought four years ago. We love it. The only thing it needed were brakes.

The tire were in good shape so I ran them three years for about another 20,000 miles. I replace then because they were seven years old. I kept them for farm trailer use.

The biggest problem with older TTs is the price is whatever the seller will take for it that the buyer thinks is reasonable. Unlike cars there is not long history of used vehicles.

Good luck