To buy used or new?

DutchmenSport wrote:
Something else to think about ... if someone has a GOOD camper, they are going to hang on to them until they become dissatisfied with it because of a floor plan that no longer works, they can't keep up the loan payment for whatever reason, the unit is defective and they want to dump it, or they've simply worn it out. Very rarely do you bump into the little old lady that only took the camper out one time on a Sunday scenario. Buying used, means someone else rejected it for some reason. (Just something to think about if you decide to look at used. Ask, why does the previous owner no longer want this camper?)

- Newbies who didn't know what they were getting into.
- Oops, we had another kid, time for a bigger unit.
- I get a new one every 2 yrs.
- I bought it 10yrs ago used it once and it's never left the pole barn since then.

Actually with an RV, the little old lady scenario is very common. The only thing to be careful of is they didn't leave it outside and not keep up on the roof sealing.

I prefer the "Lightly Used" approach.

Purchased pop-up less than one year old from a guy who selected for his desires, but wife and kids didn't come around to his way of thought. Savings was OK, rig was in Pristine condition, his wife was a clean freak.

Moved up to TT with a very lightly used 18CK floorplan that was literally purchased from a "little old lady in Pasadena!"

I have to clarify that I know exactly what I want when I buy & I am heavily into mods and upgrades. Many cite warranty as a factor, and it can be a big one. I have been lucky with no major component failures (I did have to replace TT axles, but that was my doing that bent them.) My fellow campers have had mixed, at best, experience with warranty repairs on some pretty expensive new rigs.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Something else to think about ... if someone has a GOOD camper, they are going to hang on to them until they become dissatisfied with it because of a floor plan that no longer works, they can't keep up the loan payment for whatever reason, the unit is defective and they want to dump it, or they've simply worn it out. Very rarely do you bump into the little old lady that only took the camper out one time on a Sunday scenario. Buying used, means someone else rejected it for some reason. (Just something to think about if you decide to look at used. Ask, why does the previous owner no longer want this camper?)

On the other hand...

Many, many first time buyers buy the wrong rig. High-pressure salesmen love first time buyers as they can be told and sold almost anything.... Sure your half ton pick up can pull this 36' fiver, that 40' Class A will fit anywhere, You don't need no stinking weight distribution set up... etc., etc.. :B

Add to this the fact that many first time buyers simply don't know what they want, need and what will work well for them. It is not their fault as no one is born with this knowledge. All the more reason to buy used especially the first time but I digress... The net result is that there are lots of excellent, very clean low mileage RV's out there that have nothing wrong with them other than the simple fact that they did not fit their first owners needs.

I considered buying new, a virtual custom build from Nexus when I found that exact same coach at La Mesa RV right here in Tucson with 6,205 miles on it in mint condition with every bell and whistle I was seeking. The sellers bought the wrong coach {in this case a 24' Class C}, and they traded it in on a 36' Class A. They got what they wanted {though they took the big depreciation hit twice}, and I got exactly what I wanted for $18,000 less than a new one... 4 years and 39,000+ trouble free miles later I could not be happier.

:C

Buying used means someone else paid a premium - however buying used requires you to be more knowledgeable about the product your buying. If your a newbie then bring along someone who is familiar with RV's or hire someone who can inspect the rig. Even an experienced RVer might have the rig pressure tested to insure that it doesn't leak.

Something else to think about ... if someone has a GOOD camper, they are going to hang on to them until they become dissatisfied with it because of a floor plan that no longer works, they can't keep up the loan payment for whatever reason, the unit is defective and they want to dump it, or they've simply worn it out. Very rarely do you bump into the little old lady that only took the camper out one time on a Sunday scenario. Buying used, means someone else rejected it for some reason. (Just something to think about if you decide to look at used. Ask, why does the previous owner no longer want this camper?)

Obviously, you should buy New...how else will there be a selection in 5yrs at half the price available on the used market?

Seriously, beyond the new car smell (that's typically formaldehyde and petroleum distillates by the way) about the only reason I can see to buy new is if there is a particular model or layout you simply can't find used.

Warranty: I've known lots of people who have gotten new rigs and lose weeks or even months the first year waiting on warranty work. In PA, that means you can easily lose the summer and have a 1 yr old used unit before you have all the bugs worked out. Plus since you are loss not a profit, don't expect them to trip over themselves to get it done quickly. If you buy used and need some work, they do it in a timely manner or you move on to another repair place.

The tougher question is how old to buy. I would say the typical RV lasts 20-25yrs but if you keep it leak free and maintain it, there is no reason you can't get 40-50yrs but at some point it's cheaper to buy a newer unit than repair things.
- On a tight budget, you can get a 15-20yr old special for a grand or two that is functional if ugly and needs a fair bit of maintenance work (assuming you are a DIY kind of guy)
- We shoot for 7-10yrs. A lot of RV's get used less than 3-4 weeks per year, so as long as it's dry, it's almost like new but for a fraction of the price.
- Newer (2-5yrs) gets you a little of that new car smell but with maybe a 20-30% savings and the original owner probably already did all the warranty fixes.

Desert Captain wrote:
I always buy lightly used, 1 to 3 years old and let someone else take the huge depreciation hit.

CONCUR ! My rule of thumb is 50% off (or more) of the list price after 2 years.

Obviously it is more difficult to find a unit with a floor plan you like.

YUP,NOPE,YUP, NOPE,YUP, NOPE. lOOK AT THEM, DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAYS AND BUY. sORRY ABOUT THE CAPS. lOCKED DOWN.

ScottG wrote:
If your going to keep it a very long time then buy new.
If you want to get exaclty what you want and cant find it used, buy new.

X2, If you're in doubt, not sure if you enjoy camping, not totally sure what model you want. Used is OK.
As mentioned above be sure you are capable of choosing a unit that is in good shape.

If your going to keep it a very long time then buy new.
If you want to get exaclty what you want and cant find it used, buy new.