AN AGE OLD QUESTION. NEW VS USED

all of my RV auto purchases have been new. I don't want to buy somebody else's problems. if you can't afford new, then go used or a lesser new vehicle. check out the Travato models.
bumpy

I have always bought new. Nothing wrong with used except you do have to be careful and not just buy someone elses problems.

Get one with at least one slide. Find someone to help you inspect a used one you might like. We found a used one (10 years old) that was in excellent condition and even better price.

Thank you blackeyed1 and everyone else. You mentioned to get one slide. I have heard a few people mention problems with slide outs developing leaks over the years. Is that a real problem? Are they easy to use? And are they really worth it for the extra room?
Would you hire a local mechanic to inspect your future purchase? I don't have any friends who know about RVs.

Biggest pile of junk was a Holiday Rambler that we bought new. Will not buy new again. That was 4 rv's ago. Anything used checked out real good before spending your money. You don't want to buy someone eles problems. Spend the money to have it inspected by an expert before you buy. And be able with any RV to use simple hand tools.

We feel into a 2 year old Arctic Fox trailer couple years ago that had very little use. Dealer had records of what was repaired being orginal dealer. Orginal owner spent more time going back and forth between dealer and his house than they used it for camping. Orginal owner didn't know which end of screw driver to use IMO. Fast forward to today. We just finished 7 month and 8,000 mile snowbirding trip with it. Replaced propane hose and replaced skylight. Skylight was put wrong by manufacture when made. Read some of the problems people have on here with RV manufactures and dealers and warranty's and extended warrany's.

You might be interested in X rental units. We've own a old Cruise America rental unit called Majestic. We got in 2008 and use it on shorter trips around the NW and love it and have had no problems. No slides or fancy frills and easy to fix. Here's a thread on x rental units. Sort of long but good info.

http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26035008/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1

You don't need a slide for just one person + a small dog. A slide adds walking space, but you won't have anyone to walk around.

My advice is to buy used, but less than 10 years old and something with 3000-5000 miles per year of age. That will let you avoid the many mechanical problems that can arise from lack of use. Set your budget and start researching what's available. Leave room in your total budget for things you will likely need to replace or upgrade---tires, batteries, converter/charger, possibly solar.

Do your reading and start looking on your own. If you find something you really like, do as thorough of an inspection job as you can by yourself. If there are no red flags on your first inspection, then pay a RV inspector and/or mechanic to look at both the vehicle mechanicals and the RV components. Pay special attention to any signs of water intrusion into the RV, or de-lamination on the sides. Those are deal-breakers.

Make sure the water and electrical systems are FULLY up and running when you inspect. Have all the appliances, heating, & cooling turned on and check their function. You might find something that needs replacing, but if it still fits in your budget that's OK.

Since you can afford new, then I say look at both and buy what you like best. It may be a used RV, it may be a new one. Why eliminate an entire category if you don't have to do so?

I disagree about the slide. Buy the right floorplan for YOU - don't eliminate slides or non-slides based on other people's preferences. The floorplan that fits you best may be horrid for me - doesn't make my RV choice right or wrong, just better for me.

Go look at as many RVs as possible. Then go online and look at floorplans. Once you've seen a few in person, you'll be better able to judge the online floorplan schematics. Have a daydream and imagine yourself spending a day in the RV - in your head, act out making breakfast, getting dressed, doing your daily grooming, feeding the dog, spending time at your hobby(ies), driving around, parking, etc. Does it all make sense? Some folks don't like slide outs that block the fridge/bathroom - by daydreaming, you can figure out if that will be an issue for you.

Yes, by all means hire a mechanic to check out the RV. Have him/her inspect the engine, tranny, brakes, etc., fully. Look for a local RV club and go visit them and ask for a basic lesson in RV systems (electrical, plumbing, propane, tires, etc.). Check out the stickies on this forum (under all the boards) and read about these things. Again, daydream doing the tasks - dumping tanks, re-sealing seams, battery use, etc.

Hey, if you can afford new, go for it! You'll be providing a nice used RV for someone in the future! I'm in agreement about the slide being important. Really hard to sell one these days without one...keep that in mind if you are looking at used unit, really affects the price. If you are handy, used will save you a bunch. We just got our 1st new Winnebago after a number of nice used units that we kept trading up bigger from. Any RV is going to need tinkering...with new at least for the 1st year the dealer will be doing it (and there will no doubt be a lot less for the first 5 years or so). The 'new RV smell' is also a consideration...

If you are all concerned with resale value, a non-slide unit will be at a disadvantage.
bumpy

Hi,

I'd go for a 26 foot class C. Lightly used and five years old (max).