new or used

[4x4ord]

I am thinking of purchasing a new 5th wheel and spending a couple months per year touring around. I still haven't nailed down exactly when, but likely in the next couple of years. I wrestle with buying a little lesser quality new one vs a high end slightly used one. Anyone regret buying new?

[Mile_High]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Mile High wrote:

4x4ord wrote:

Lantley wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

Agree they all depreciate. Financially it's losing proposition.
New or used the only way to get value is to use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more value you get. If you are looking for an investment an RV is not the place to put your money.
My advice is to pick the one you truly like and keep it a long time.
Good luck with you decision.

What you say makes sense. It also gets me thinking. If I am going to go all out and buy an expensive RV with the intent of keeping it a long time it might be well worth it to build a garage to store it in when it is not being used. The garage shouldn't depreciate and it will allow me to be happy with my purchase for a little longer. So now my question becomes: what makes more sense, replace the fiver every 4 or 5 years or build a garage for it and keep the thing for 8 - 10 years?

I kept my 2007 Montana in a garage since it was new. It was pristine when we sold it this spring - the high gloss shined like it did new, and the roof, tires, graphics, everything was preserved well.

Did the resale price offset the cost of the garage - no. Did it sell within a few weeks where the competition sat for almost a year - yes.

You can't fight depreciation, as that is what the banks are using to finance the majority of folks looking, and you also can't fight style and technology. Regardless of how shiney mine was, it was still a 2007 Montana that paled by comparison to a 2013 Montana with auto level jacks, double fridge, and all the other things that weren't offered back in 07.

10 years would be a nice target to keep one - if you overlook the dated style and technology. A garage does not save you money, but it sure can make it a lot easier to maintain one.

Curious why you have a Redwood now since you seemed to be happy with your Montana?

I hope you got all the messages here before it all got moderated out, and I hope some of it sank in, but somehow I doubt it.

[Cummins12V98]

Mile High wrote:

4x4ord wrote:

Lantley wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

Agree they all depreciate. Financially it's losing proposition.
New or used the only way to get value is to use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more value you get. If you are looking for an investment an RV is not the place to put your money.
My advice is to pick the one you truly like and keep it a long time.
Good luck with you decision.

What you say makes sense. It also gets me thinking. If I am going to go all out and buy an expensive RV with the intent of keeping it a long time it might be well worth it to build a garage to store it in when it is not being used. The garage shouldn't depreciate and it will allow me to be happy with my purchase for a little longer. So now my question becomes: what makes more sense, replace the fiver every 4 or 5 years or build a garage for it and keep the thing for 8 - 10 years?

I kept my 2007 Montana in a garage since it was new. It was pristine when we sold it this spring - the high gloss shined like it did new, and the roof, tires, graphics, everything was preserved well.

Did the resale price offset the cost of the garage - no. Did it sell within a few weeks where the competition sat for almost a year - yes.

You can't fight depreciation, as that is what the banks are using to finance the majority of folks looking, and you also can't fight style and technology. Regardless of how shiney mine was, it was still a 2007 Montana that paled by comparison to a 2013 Montana with auto level jacks, double fridge, and all the other things that weren't offered back in 07.

10 years would be a nice target to keep one - if you overlook the dated style and technology. A garage does not save you money, but it sure can make it a lot easier to maintain one.

Curious why you have a Redwood now since you seemed to be happy with your Montana?

[gitane59]

4x4ord wrote:
I am thinking of purchasing a new 5th wheel and spending a couple months per year touring around. I still haven't nailed down exactly when, but likely in the next couple of years. I wrestle with buying a little lesser quality new one vs a high end slightly used one. Anyone regret buying new?

Well my friend you already have a very well made high-end trailer there in your Canadian made Citation Supreme. I know this because I too had a 2001 Citation Supreme and I could not believe how solid it was built and how much attention was made to the details and the craftsmanship in solid woodwork and the structure and hardware used.
You have set the bar very high for your own expectations of a new fifthwheel if your Citation was half as good as mine.
If you are picky about construction details, quality and craftsmanship you will be disappointed in many of the so-called quality units available today.
I have looked at many 5'vers at the factories, show's and dealers over the years and have not found very many at all that match the Citation in quality.
I was very spoilt by my Citation and wished I could have found a 03/04 back in 2007 when I bought my Newmar (which I love).
I have looked at Carriage, DRV MS unit many times and while they are nice I have walked away every time thinking there no way they meet the expectations the Citation set for me.
I have looked at Nuwa and Excel and they come about as close as it comes to meeting the expectations the Citation set for me. The old Carriage line for me is little below the Nuwa, Excel bar
I have not seen an Artic Fox nor have I seen a new Lifestyle yet so I won't comment on those except I have heard no one complaining about either.

As far as the other big name makes out there that everybody and their uncles own if you want the same quality again don't bother even looking at them.
PS money no object I would buy a New Horizon for retirement, but since money is almost always involved I continue to look for a very specific Newmar Kountry Aire model in excellent pre-loved condition as my long term retirement coach.
Heck maybe I just might keep what I got for another 10 years.

If you like the layout of your Citation it could be well worth it to renovate it with current interior colour schemes and keep it well into retirement.

[Lantley]

Good points Mile High. I agree no matter what the condition interiors become dated and technology keeps evolving. Nevertheless after 10 years I feel I have won the depreciation value and got most of my money out of the unit.
I know no one truly wins the depreciation battle,but after 10 years I'm less concerned with the units resale value.

The key is to keep up on the maintenance even if the unit is stating to get old and worn. A garage really helps keep the unit in like new condition,but as you point out it may not be as cost effective as one would hope.

I do believe there is a point of no return. One can hold on to a RV a little too long to the point it has little value to anyone else.

[Mile_High]

4x4ord wrote:

Lantley wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

Agree they all depreciate. Financially it's losing proposition.
New or used the only way to get value is to use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more value you get. If you are looking for an investment an RV is not the place to put your money.
My advice is to pick the one you truly like and keep it a long time.
Good luck with you decision.

What you say makes sense. It also gets me thinking. If I am going to go all out and buy an expensive RV with the intent of keeping it a long time it might be well worth it to build a garage to store it in when it is not being used. The garage shouldn't depreciate and it will allow me to be happy with my purchase for a little longer. So now my question becomes: what makes more sense, replace the fiver every 4 or 5 years or build a garage for it and keep the thing for 8 - 10 years?

I kept my 2007 Montana in a garage since it was new. It was pristine when we sold it this spring - the high gloss shined like it did new, and the roof, tires, graphics, everything was preserved well.

Did the resale price offset the cost of the garage - no. Did it sell within a few weeks where the competition sat for almost a year - yes.

You can't fight depreciation, as that is what the banks are using to finance the majority of folks looking, and you also can't fight style and technology. Regardless of how shiney mine was, it was still a 2007 Montana that paled by comparison to a 2013 Montana with auto level jacks, double fridge, and all the other things that weren't offered back in 07.

10 years would be a nice target to keep one - if you overlook the dated style and technology. A garage does not save you money, but it sure can make it a lot easier to maintain one.

[nards444]

depends on what you want and price tag. New RVs your the one eating a huge depreication bill. Last year I bought a used 37 foot challenger that had an MSRP of 52 and I bought it for 18k. so pretty much lost 60% in 5 years, although I got a steal, and most are priced around 25k. Thing with used is they can get beat, they dont make trailers like they used and things go bad quick. But then tons of people buy trailers and never use them, my still had stickers on the sinks and plastic on some of the furniture. A RV is something unless I got a killer steal would probably never buy new. Used trailers can be found that are barely used or well kept all the time.

[Lantley]

4x4ord wrote:

Lantley wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

Agree they all depreciate. Financially it's losing proposition.
New or used the only way to get value is to use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more value you get. If you are looking for an investment an RV is not the place to put your money.
My advice is to pick the one you truly like and keep it a long time.
Good luck with you decision.

What you say makes sense. It also gets me thinking. If I am going to go all out and buy an expensive RV with the intent of keeping it a long time it might be well worth it to build a garage to store it in when it is not being used. The garage shouldn't depreciate and it will allow me to be happy with my purchase for a little longer. So now my question becomes: what makes more sense, replace the fiver every 4 or 5 years or build a garage for it and keep the thing for 8 - 10 years?

That's easy decision for me. 4-5 years is way to short of a period to keep an RV. Especially a high end nice one.
I think one should strive to keep an RV at least 10 years.
A garage will go a long way to keeping that rig really nice the entire time. Nevertheless ten years is my goal with or without a garage.

After 10 years things begin to wear and some refurbishment maybe in order. If the unit is still decent and you like it. You can dump some money into it to make it new again or you can begin to think trade in. Either way 10 years is a reasonable goal.
Just my 2 cents of course

[4x4ord]

Lantley wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

Agree they all depreciate. Financially it's losing proposition.
New or used the only way to get value is to use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more value you get. If you are looking for an investment an RV is not the place to put your money.
My advice is to pick the one you truly like and keep it a long time.
Good luck with you decision.

What you say makes sense. It also gets me thinking. If I am going to go all out and buy an expensive RV with the intent of keeping it a long time it might be well worth it to build a garage to store it in when it is not being used. The garage shouldn't depreciate and it will allow me to be happy with my purchase for a little longer. So now my question becomes: what makes more sense, replace the fiver every 4 or 5 years or build a garage for it and keep the thing for 8 - 10 years?

[Lantley]

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

Agree they all depreciate. Financially it's losing proposition.
New or used the only way to get value is to use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more value you get. If you are looking for an investment an RV is not the place to put your money.
My advice is to pick the one you truly like and keep it a long time.
Good luck with you decision.

[4x4ord]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

You get much more for your money with a lightly used high end unit than a mid grade mew unit for the same price.

Bottom line I wish you good luck with what ever you decide.

Thanks, if I were to be buying a 5ver tomorrow there is a fairly good chance it would be a 2011 36 SB3 Mobile Suites.

[Cummins12V98]

4x4ord wrote:
I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

You get much more for your money with a lightly used high end unit than a mid grade mew unit for the same price.

Bottom line I wish you good luck with what ever you decide.

[4x4ord]

I figure they depreciate about 12% per year and if I am using it regularly I will want to keep it within about 8 years old. So if I were to start with a $90,000 unit it might be worth about $32,000 in 8 years. So roughly $7200 depreciation per year. If I were to buy a 4 year old unit twice for $54,000 each time and keep each one for 4 years, it might cost me about $44,000 for depreciation over the same 8 year period or $5500 per year. I guess in the whole scheme of things its not a big deal one way or the other.

[C_Schomer]

I've had 2 used and 3 new. Nothing wrong with used, just make sure there's no major problems. My used ones needed some minor things, fixed quickly at home. Even one of our new 5ers needed a LOT of work done at home or it would have been at the dealer more than it was home. The other new ones had minor repairs done in warranty at the dealer, one took a month and they told me it would only be a few days. The savings on used from a private party is great and no taxes here. Just make sure you aren't buying a money pit. Our current 5er (built Feb 98) was 7 yrs old when we got it and it was used hard, even rented out for 3-4 years. We like this one better than any of the others. Craig

[Paul_Clancy]

First one used and last 2 new. As said finding what we want in a trailer that didnt look and smell used up was too difficult and time consuming. Easier and quicker buying new. Our 2014 was probably our last.