I did some quick searching on the Internet for your make and model to see what other dealers are selling for.
Other dealers are selling between $19,500 and $20,500 ish.
And the cost for the Weight Distribution bars, wiring, and brake controller, your $25,000 might not be so bad.
Winebago is a good brand. They've been around forever, in their recent history they launched into travel trailers. But I've never heard anything negative about their trailers, so they must be OK.
About "camping".
As others (above) have pointed out, you may find yourself absolutely enjoying the RV lifestyle, or end up hating it completely.
I for one, WILL NOT TELL YOU to go get a used camper. All our camper purchases have been new. After a life time of used car ownership and all the problems that went with used cars, when it came time for our first pop-up, we wanted new!
If you want to go "new", don't let anyone sway you into getting used. There's a trade off between new and used.
RV's loose their value very fast. You may pay $20,000 for a brand new unit, but as soon as you sign the line, the value has now dropped 1/3 if you try to sell it, and having never traveled with it a single mile yet!
New RV's will have initial problems. They all do. Sometimes getting a dealer to honor warranty work is a hassle that's relentless. Getting used, the camper is past all the initial warranty fix up problems. But the problem with used, is, you just never know how things "REALLY" are until you actually own it. Inspect away, but things can still be hidden you weren't aware of, maybe a cracked frame, roof leak, or something hidden you won't find out about until you are on the edge of the road trying to flag down a tow truck. There are risks with used. For this reason, I'll accept the rapid depreciation of a new unit over the questionable probability I may end up spending more than the value of depreciation in the long run fixing a faulty used trailer. With a new trailer, you know it's history.
Now, if you have full intentions of selling your camper in a short while (like less than a year), used is by for the way to go. But for longevity, new is the way to go.
About camping itself. Most on these forums worked their way into RV-ing and even full timing slowly. Most started tent camping, or even camping as Boy Scouts, or a Youth Group of some sort. But tent camping navigated to the purchase of their first pop-up, because somewhere along the line, they realized sleeping on the ground is just too "hard".
And from there, the progression starts. Some will next move to a hybrid, so they can keep the "tent" feeling, others will make the jump to a hard sided trailer or a 5er. From there, to a Motor Home of some sort.
Most of these forum members have been through these stages and camping, the RV life style has been a growing, learning, love-it or leave-it, way of life. Most on these forums love-it and can't get enough of it. But it's not always as glamorous as the "Go RVing" commercials make it appear. It can be a difficult experience if repairs are needed and money is short. There's nothing glamorous about dumping the black tank. There's nothing glamorous about having high expectations and then end up parked beside some really horrible camping neighbors. And the list can go on and one. These things can get some folks extremely discouraged, VERY fast if they've never "grown" into it and learned how to deal with it. Rude, noisy, horrible camping neighbors can absolutely ruin a wonderfully planned vacation that was suppose to be a romantic and peaceful experience! Such disappointment! And if this happens a couple or 3 times in a row to someone new, and especially if it happens the first or second "outing" it can cause a new RV owner a LOT of discouragement, and they are prone to give up camping very quick.
So now you've made a hefty investment into your camper and you decide camping is no longer for you. You will never get your money back out of the a new camper. Never! That is why so many on these forums say to buy used. So if you figure it out, this lifestyle is not for you, you're not loosing so much in your investment.
Another thing. Almost everyone on these forums will pretty much agree, it takes 3 RV purchases to finally get the one that you really wanted. So, usually, first time RVers trade camper within 2-3 years after their first purchase.
Still.... I'm one of those folks that still buy new. I DO understand the depreciation concept, and it's the price I AM willing to pay. I simply do not want to purchase used. The whole thought of used is just creepy to me!
