Now that we've found our dually we're looking to retire our old Lance and get a newer camper. We've always bought used and from private parties but now that we're close to retirement and traveling more we're thinking about purchasing new. Anyone care to share their experiences with dealers? How long can you finance for and what kind of payments can we expect on $50-$60,000? I know I can check with a dealer but a little knowledge beforehand is always good. We don't have much to choose from in San Diego so we will probably head up into Oregon. Any recommendations on reputable dealers? My wife is drooling over pictures of a Host Mammoth so we'll be looking for that or something similar. Thanks in advance. Y'all have helped a lot.

Thunder RV in Lagrande is the closest dealer to the Northwood factory if your looking at Arctic Fox. Also Apache Camping centers in Portland and Seattle are interested. Host campers are built in Bend and appear to be good. But you would have to check for dealers.

We toured the Host factory before we purchased. The experience of seeing the production and quality of components used in construction clinched our choice.

Another vote for Thunder RV. Great dealer and Wayne in their service dept. is top notch!

Here is a thought to keep in mind. We are from Colorado and bought an Arctic Fox truck camper from Camping World in the Portland area. Since there is no sales tax there at the point of sale in Oregon, that savings paid for our trip to Oregon to pick up the camper. Colorado does not require truck campers to be registered, so there was no title issue and no tax paid in Colorado either. Camping World had a little trouble figuring that out, but in the end we closed the deal with no issues. We were pretty happy with how it all worked out.

We used SCATT Recreation in Roseville, Ca. We also live in San Diego and what a pain to camper shop. We settled with an Eagle Cap and worked with the factory and Jason, the owner at SCATT. The banks did not want to give us a loan until there was a serial number and we were ordering the camper to our spec's. Jason set us up with a bank that would give us the loan before it had a serial number. We had the camper shipped to Roseville from Washington to save time. It cost about the same, gas vs shipping.

Questions on purchasing campers from dealers. | Good Sam Community

donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 27, 2016
Thunder RV in Lagrande is the closest dealer to the Northwood factory if your looking at Arctic Fox. Also Apache Camping centers in Portland and Seattle are interested. Host campers are built in Bend and appear to be good. But you would have to check for dealers.
mike_kellie
Explorer II
Apr 27, 2016
We toured the Host factory before we purchased. The experience of seeing the production and quality of components used in construction clinched our choice.
CAJW
Explorer
Apr 28, 2016
Another vote for Thunder RV. Great dealer and Wayne in their service dept. is top notch!
bjohns
Explorer
Apr 28, 2016
Here is a thought to keep in mind. We are from Colorado and bought an Arctic Fox truck camper from Camping World in the Portland area. Since there is no sales tax there at the point of sale in Oregon, that savings paid for our trip to Oregon to pick up the camper. Colorado does not require truck campers to be registered, so there was no title issue and no tax paid in Colorado either. Camping World had a little trouble figuring that out, but in the end we closed the deal with no issues. We were pretty happy with how it all worked out.
srharris111
Explorer
Apr 28, 2016
We used SCATT Recreation in Roseville, Ca. We also live in San Diego and what a pain to camper shop. We settled with an Eagle Cap and worked with the factory and Jason, the owner at SCATT.
The banks did not want to give us a loan until there was a serial number and we were ordering the camper to our spec's. Jason set us up with a bank that would give us the loan before it had a serial number.
We had the camper shipped to Roseville from Washington to save time. It cost about the same, gas vs shipping.
fpoole
Explorer
Apr 28, 2016
I got mine at Apache Camping Center in Everett, WA.

A little far, but I can't say enough good things about them and they are always there while I'm traveling if something goes wrong or needs looking at... usually, it's "Lessons learned" as the rig is slowly breaking me in... heheh.. but they are there and tolerant

I send a photo of the problem, they respond right back...
deltabravo
Nomad
Apr 28, 2016
donn0128 wrote:
... Also Apache Camping centers in Portland and Seattle .

Apache is actually in Portland, Tacoma, and Everett

Thompson RV in LaGrande, OR is also an AF dealer.

There's all sorts of loan calculators on bank and credit union websites you can use to find out interest rates and payment estimates.

I'd pre-arrange your own financing rather than rely on a dealer to do it. Why? ZERO PRESSURE to buy.

RV loans are often up to 12 years. (144 months)
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Apr 28, 2016
You are only 2+ hours from the Lance Factory. You might as well go take a tour and check out how they do things
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 28, 2016
I don't see any big advantage of buying new unless you are wanting something custom done. If you have time, I'd visit all of the factories even if you will buy used.
_DJ_1
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2016
If you're wanting a good deal for financing you're going to have to get new. I have seen campers in your price range financed for 144 months (12 years)!!