buy new or used Fifth wheel

[donasmocha]

My husband and I are newbies we have been in a 30 ft travel trailer for 9 months and want to get a fifth wheel now. We bought a 2014 heavy duty Silverado 2500 z71 4x4 in Nov. now we are looking for a new or used trailer. Question which one? some have said used then some said new we are so confused! Help!

[richfaa]

Buying used or new is a personal and financial choice. We choose new and rely on the first year warranty and extended warranties for repairs. we had several problems with our bought new 06 Rv but between the Manufacturers warranty and the extended warranty it cost us @1,400 over a 7 years period including the cost of the 7 year extended warranty.

We never saw used Rv that meet our standards and we are not handy with repairs.

We did help friends of ours purchase a first time used Rv. It was a Dutchman TT in excellent condition and warrantied by the dealer. It was 6 years old and looked like new.

[rhagfo]

There is a big advantage to being handy. We bought a real fixer upper for our first 5er, several hours of labor and a bout $300 in materials we had a nice older 5er. We fond we still liked camping after several years away.

We then bought a 2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, and fixed a little lifted vinyl and on the first trip repaired all the drawer slides. Nothing major just shimmed for a better fit.

[rkortes]

shadows4 wrote:

ventrman wrote:
A Lot of People who buy used do not actually own the RV. It is owned by the Bank. When I purchased mine, I used the one Payment Plan.

X2

I use the opposite strategy... Usually buy used with cash but have to make payments if new because I don't have that much cash. Therefore... I almost always buy used so I don't have to rent someone else' money.

[yr2017]

richfaa wrote:
No I like new and most of us do not have horse trailers.

I had two 40' Tetons (1995 & 2000) before I went with the horse trailers. A little info about the Jamco trailer: All aluminum channel construction - 20 yr warranty on the walls and 7 yrs on the rest of it; they weigh less, have two marine heads and more living space if configured right. Mine has a 20' shortwall and 25' long wall x 8' high x 8' wide with two 8000# axles and "G" tires. They are about the same price.

The one I'm looking to upgrade to has three 8000# axles and is all living space, because I no longer haul horses. That means 50x8x8 which is a lot of volume and it will be able to sleep six comfortably with 2 marine heads + 2 showers and haul my Jeep Wrangler - two side & rear door with ramps. Three CruiseAir heat/ac units. About $155k out the door and registered. www.bloomertrailers.com/trailers

[shadows4]

ventrman wrote:
A Lot of People who buy used do not actually own the RV. It is owned by the Bank. When I purchased mine, I used the one Payment Plan.

X2

[ventrman]

A Lot of People who buy used do not actually own the RV. It is owned by the Bank. When I purchased mine, I used the one Payment Plan.

[Veebyes]

tsetsaf wrote:
We buy everything used and it works out great. Our old 5er just sold for more than we purchased it for 4 years ago. The "new" rig is a 2014 model year that was owned for a grand total of 3 months by the previous owners. They took the hit we got the new rig. Takes patience and perseverance but can work out well in the end.

X2 here. 2006 trailer & 2006 truck. 16,000 miles on the truck. 6 months used. The price paid for both was less than MSRP on trailer alone. Like getting the truck for free.

[tsetsaf]

We buy everything used and it works out great. Our old 5er just sold for more than we purchased it for 4 years ago. The "new" rig is a 2014 model year that was owned for a grand total of 3 months by the previous owners. They took the hit we got the new rig. Takes patience and perseverance but can work out well in the end.

[oldbeek]

Used. I have a 1994 Alpenlite 27sl. At 20 yrs old and 77,000 miles it is solid as a rock. There is a 29rk,1995 in La Grand Oregon for $10,500. looks clean and the truck you have will handle it. It also looks like the axles have been flipped for 4wd clearance.

[richfaa]

yr2017 wrote:

richfaa wrote:
We have never purchased a used truck or Rv. We have had 6 Rv's and three trucks over the years. Trucks have warranties and Rv's have one or two year warranties. The vast majority of problems will be within the warranty period. After that a extended warranty is a good idea. We like new.

Used trucks have warranties also - usually the remaining of the five yr/100000 mi. But, you can buy an extended from the mfgr.

Good trailers have longer warranties. I have two living quarter horse trailers. The Jamco has a remaining five yr warranty and 15 yrs on the walls. Plus, I don't have to smell the formaldehyde of the new units.

And you like paying for depreciation.

No I like new and most of us do not have horse trailers.

[yr2017]

richfaa wrote:
We have never purchased a used truck or Rv. We have had 6 Rv's and three trucks over the years. Trucks have warranties and Rv's have one or two year warranties. The vast majority of problems will be within the warranty period. After that a extended warranty is a good idea. We like new.

Used trucks have warranties also - usually the remaining of the five yr/100000 mi. But, you can buy an extended from the mfgr.

Good trailers have longer warranties. I have two living quarter horse trailers. The Jamco has a remaining five yr warranty and 15 yrs on the walls. Plus, I don't have to smell the formaldehyde of the new units.

And you like paying for depreciation.

[yr2017]

donasmocha wrote:
My husband and I are newbies we have been in a 30 ft travel trailer for 9 months and want to get a fifth wheel now. We bought a 2014 heavy duty Silverado 2500 z71 4x4 in Nov. now we are looking for a new or used trailer. Question which one? some have said used then some said new we are so confused! Help!

We buy them used, no more than five years old. That truck should be able to pull 12-14000lbs no problem. Less if you add an extra fuel tank.

[richfaa]

We have never purchased a used truck or Rv. We have had 6 Rv's and three trucks over the years. Trucks have warranties and Rv's have one or two year warranties. The vast majority of problems will be within the warranty period. After that a extended warranty is a good idea.

We like new.

[Seattle_Lion]

We are new too. Last season was our first. We bought new. Yes, used is way cheaper, but with used you need to be prepared to fix things. We didn't feel that we were ready for that sort of exposure. Money is an object with us, but comfort and security are really important too. So we bought an expensive TT last year. It had some serious issues, but since it was new, the manufacturer and dealer had to handle them. We traded it in for a new FW. We do our PDI on Saturday.

I'm glad we did it. Can't wait for our first trip.