Advice on buying USED motorhome
Before I read ALL these great topics, I'm trying to find some advice that I may need to purchase a good USED Class A. I have been camping most my 57 years of life, from pup tent to 30' travel traile...
Forum Discussion
Since you're looking at motor homes like you would a car, here's my advice...a BMW will make a better used BMW because the beginning product was better built. A Yugo was just a Yugo.
It doesn't matter whether the mfg is still in business or not. The coach would still have been a quality coach when it was built. Start with a great product and over the years, you'll still have a great product. Look at the Bluebird coaches, for instance. While they are no longer being built, there's not too many folks who wouldn't want one of those beauties.
First thing to do is forget about pricing and mileage. More on that later.
Your main focus should be on the INSIDE of the coach. Visit as many dealers as you can..as you enter a coach, most of the time, the quality will be apparent. Did they use screws to install the cabinetry or did they simply use staples. Do the cabinet doors line up correctly and open and close correctly. Look at the wiring..is it in looms or helter skelter around the coach.
Once you've narrowed your search down to a short list, start looking for a floor plan you can live with. PPL Motorhomes, link below, is a great place to look at. They have the floorplans listed with everything on their website. They also have a SOLD section to help in determining a coach value once you've located the coach of your dreams.
So, now you've got quality and a floorplan you can live with. Time to go searching. Plug in all the info you've gathered and see what pops up. Craigslist, RV Trader, CW, PPL, even EBay...if it was built, it's for sale somewhere..you just have to find it.
As for pricing, of course you'll want to stay within your budget. That's the easy part. Start with the top and work your way down. Obviously don't start looking at a Prevost expecting to find one for $25k but you'll quickly see what you can afford.
Finally, two important things to remember in your search. Mileage isn't always a good indicator of a coaches' value. Some coaches are left parked at a campground and only used on weekends. Some coaches are lived in by full timers and sit for six to eight months at a time. All these coaches will have low mileage. Bad stuff happens to a coach that sits for long periods of time... the other is the date code on the tires. Tires can set you back as much as $6k if they need to be replaced. Don't simply look at the tread wear, get the date codes..... Good luck in your search...Dennis
PPL
It doesn't matter whether the mfg is still in business or not. The coach would still have been a quality coach when it was built. Start with a great product and over the years, you'll still have a great product. Look at the Bluebird coaches, for instance. While they are no longer being built, there's not too many folks who wouldn't want one of those beauties.
First thing to do is forget about pricing and mileage. More on that later.
Your main focus should be on the INSIDE of the coach. Visit as many dealers as you can..as you enter a coach, most of the time, the quality will be apparent. Did they use screws to install the cabinetry or did they simply use staples. Do the cabinet doors line up correctly and open and close correctly. Look at the wiring..is it in looms or helter skelter around the coach.
Once you've narrowed your search down to a short list, start looking for a floor plan you can live with. PPL Motorhomes, link below, is a great place to look at. They have the floorplans listed with everything on their website. They also have a SOLD section to help in determining a coach value once you've located the coach of your dreams.
So, now you've got quality and a floorplan you can live with. Time to go searching. Plug in all the info you've gathered and see what pops up. Craigslist, RV Trader, CW, PPL, even EBay...if it was built, it's for sale somewhere..you just have to find it.
As for pricing, of course you'll want to stay within your budget. That's the easy part. Start with the top and work your way down. Obviously don't start looking at a Prevost expecting to find one for $25k but you'll quickly see what you can afford.
Finally, two important things to remember in your search. Mileage isn't always a good indicator of a coaches' value. Some coaches are left parked at a campground and only used on weekends. Some coaches are lived in by full timers and sit for six to eight months at a time. All these coaches will have low mileage. Bad stuff happens to a coach that sits for long periods of time... the other is the date code on the tires. Tires can set you back as much as $6k if they need to be replaced. Don't simply look at the tread wear, get the date codes..... Good luck in your search...Dennis
PPL
