Buying a Former Rental Class C. How many of us out there?

[IAMICHABOD]

While researching these pages for my next Motor Home I saw a few threads discussing Rentals, most were Pros and Cons but very few posts from people who had purchased one.

I thought it may be a good resource and helpful to hear from these people. The good, the bad, what they liked and what they didn’t. Also if they had any problems, things they changed, if they would recommend this to others or do it again.

Here is my story: I am not a novice, having owned a Class A for more than 15 years and doing the camping thing with my wife and two daughters, I can say “been there done that” But life changes, and I sold everything so I have been away from this for several years. Starting over I lurked here for a while and got a lot of good insight then went looking.

My criteria was: A Class C within by budget, less than 30 feet so I can keep it at home, saving storage $, a rear bed, and a lot of storage space.

What fit that was Winnebago, Fleetwood and a few others, what I found mostly was Jamboree / Tioga 26Q. In the year models 2002 thru 2006. I did my home work looking at NADA and other sites to find the fair prices for the models that I was looking for.

After several months of searching the internet, Craigslist, private ads and Dealerships for a Class C that suited my budget and needs, this is what I found. Of the dozen or so I inquired about.Most were upsidedown in their payments, owing more than they were worth. All were on Ford Chassis, 7 needed tires, all had the original 7 to 10 year old tires, and they all needed repair of the awning and most needed some work inside or out and the maintenance records were sketchy, but most had low mileage. The Dealerships offerings were better but they had a profit margin to maintain so I got older models within my budget or huge up sales that didn’t work for me.

My next step was looking at the rental market for sales. In my area there are 2 large companies that have rental sales, Cruise America and El Monte RV,who also sell Class A RVs.

First up was El Monte RV Their units are production RVs that are made by major manufactures, with TV antennas and hookups inside and out, Ducted A/C and heat, 2 house batteries, a rear ladder and parts are readily available from those manufacture’s. I looked at their web site and it detailed their warranty and what was checked and serviced by their factory trained technicians. The unit I looked at was like new inside, the upholstery on all the seats was new as was the floor mat in the driver’s area, it had a new mattress, still in plastic and a new bedspread. All of the curtains were new also. Newer (2010 mfg date) tires with 98% rubber and the mileage was ninety thousand (90,000).

Then there was Cruise America: Their units that I looked at seemed to be Spartan,no TV antenna or hookups for one,non-ducted A/C,small counter space and only one battery, no rear ladder for inspection and maintenance of roof and built just for them, they were all “refreshed” their words not mine. They offered extended warranties at a huge cost. All had high mileage, one hundred and thirty thousand (130,000) or more and the price range seemed a little high. The sales staff had a take it or leave it attitude and were not very forthcoming when asked about maintenance records and service,they claim to have proprietary info in those records,It doesn't seem to be a problem for El Monte RV.

At El Monte RV I took a test ride; This Unit was a 2006 Tioga 26Q on a Chevrolet Chassis it rode
Drove and handled much better than the Fords that I had driven. It also had more leg room and was quieter. We got back and I asked about the service and maintenance on it, the salesman, Joey, handed me a 28 page single spaced document asked if I wanted some coffee or something to drink and said “read this and if you have any questions I will answer them”.

It detailed everything that was done before and after each rental, the mileage, generator hours and hours billed. Each time it was washed and detailed inside and outside, all fluids were checked and replenished if needed, the holding tanks were washed, LP system was checked for leaks, all torque on wheel lugs were checked, brakes front and rear checked for wear and cracks, pressure in tires, all appliances, generator oil, lights inside and outside, the list goes on and on.

It also listed all oil changes,coolant change,trans service,fuel injector service and cleaning,fuel filters,air filter, new brakes, all repairs and replacements all with date, mileage and time spent in complete detail from day one to when it was pulled from the rental fleet and was refurbished. I have a complete service record on this vehicle.Also the service records on the Onan Generator,all oil changes,air filter and spark plug replacement with hours and date. I negotiated a good deal with them and am very happy with my purchase.

It came with a 1 yr. 12000 mile power train warranty and 30 day on all appliances. It also came with a 28 page maintenance record that detailed everything. Also the original sales packet from Fleetwood with the manual and serial numbers on all appliances,refrigerator, microwave,furnace, AC, water heater, etc. and the manual for the Chassis. I have had no problems with it so far.

(ON EDIT) 5 Years and close to 14000 miles.Just Scheduled Maintenance and new tires,old ones were at the 5 year mark and I wanted new Michelin LTX M/S2s.

There were a few things that it didn’t have as it was a rental and the ones from private parties did have.
• Power steps, outside Stereo/CD don’t need or want them.
• An Awning, this I wanted and had installed. A Swivel Seat and a new Window in The Door that I installed.
• Wheel Simulators, I like the looks so I had them installed and at the same time had Tire Man valve stem kit put on.
• Replaced the Chinese WFCO with a US Made converter/charger
• It came with mini blinds and not the day/night that most have, these are more practical and have a lot less failure.

• It also came with Stainless Steel sinks,easier to maintain than the cheap plastic ones that come in the noncommercial units.
  

I am very happy with my Rig, it suites my needs and it was in my Budget range, I think I got a good deal.

So if you bought a rental please share your experience here for others to use as a resource.
Or if there are any other questions that have not been covered in these pages, just ask, there are many helpful people on this thread.

[kirbymurphy]

bghouse wrote:
So I think all my questions were answered now (or I found in other threads) except for :

3.) Is there room in the CA 23A to add in an inverter and additional batteries / solar?

Any space you want to give up is space for batteries and inverter. In an exterior storage compartment, under a sink, in or under a cabinet, etc. Just remember you'd like to be close to the generator or mains panel to tie in. Is one battery enough or do you need four? It's all a tradeoff

[Photomike]

Mocoondo wrote:
Not "reconditioned" to your satisfaction? Well why did you buy it then? Were you forced or coerced? The only included warranty is one of limited powertrain...engine, trans, rear axle. An aftermarket service contract is available for purchase.

No but I did drive 3 hours for the unit that I was told would be reconditioned, took the day off work and my wife took the day off as well to do that - I was just hoping that they would have lived up to what they advertise and the fact I was told the extra keys would be here in a month. The repairs were easy for me to do as there were not a lot but someone that was not comfortable in doing them would have been in trouble.

[IAMICHABOD]

flavtfan wrote:
Few pics of my El Monte purchased RV. I dig it, overall very good experience with them and they even hooked me up on some stuff I found after I purchased it that wasn't covered under warranty...for FREE.I'm surprised the Cali El Monte missed it on their pre sale inspection but the Las Vegas store hooked me up.

As with all Ford Triton engines, I suggest looking at the exhaust manifolds before you buy and have them repaired if you see any broken stud bolts or evidence of leaking manifold gaskets (black carbon stains on the heads) or ticking noises when cold then going away when warm. I was just so anxious to get it I overlooked it, knowing full well after dealing with my 08 F150 that those engines have some manifold issues(replaced driver side at 60k and pass side around 85k)and when bolts break it's usually the rear ones.

Other than that the rig has A LOT of new parts on it. Driveline was almost new, trans was replaced and only has about 30K miles on it, and several other new items on the engine such as oil pump, hoses, etc.

The service records were very thorough and it was nice to see that not all the major parts had the miles on them that the odo said....same for the generator.

The black tank was even fairly new...new tires as well. I've done some other minor cosmetic OCD things such as purchase new OEM 12v covers for the dash, assist handle bolt covers for the A-Frame assist handles among other small things.

I still want to change out the hub caps to the wheel simulator style and I need to put some arm rests on the driver and pass seats. Anyway, here she is...hopefully the trailer isn't too much, that is the only thing I am a little concerned about but I see rigs like mine towing 16ft enclosed trailers all the time.

The good thing is, it's a 450 chassis with the 4.56 gears and it doesn't have as large of a rear overhang due to being a 25 footer. The rear end was also already braced up from the hitch to the main frame.

I also cut the old 4 pin connector and located the factory brake controller harness (found above the gas tank) and wired in a 7 pin with brake controller.

The size on the inside of this thing with the slide out is pretty amazing in my opinion too and I specifically like the open look of the floorplan since the fridge is on the opposite side vs being at the foot of the bed. Geez...just found out, this site needs to upgrade the picture loading capability.



http://s126.photobucket.com/user/oldman27/media/17968419_10208073202018383_898045551_o_1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

flavfan,thanks for the pictures of your new rig,it looks great.

The trailer should be fine,it is nice to have a place for your toys and a place to sleep and eat in comfort while using them,I believe you said you like to go to the Dunes,if it is Dumont,I have been there many times.

The write up about your experiance during and after the sale from El Monte RV was impressive and will be helpful to others that are thinking of buying a Former Rental.

El Monte RV is extraordinary at giving a customer a good deal and service,before and after the sale,their reputation depends on it. As others have found
Good luck and have fun with your new rig.

[drumz]

Okay so, I'm new to this thread. We just recently purchased a Thor/ Majestic 23A from cruise America. So far we love it. Have only one issue so far and that's the hot water heater. I've yet to look at it, probably will today.
Anyway I have a question. I'm under the impression that most RV black tanks are DIRECTLY under the toilet so you can open the trap and put your rigid tank spraying wand straight down and rinse it. When I open my toilet trap, it's an elbow about 10 inches down. The wand won't go in there. Do some people need a flexi wand of some sort to spray their tanks, or have I been screwed by some weird style toilet/tank configuration?

[Mocoondo]

bghouse wrote:
So I think all my questions were answered now (or I found in other threads) except for :

3.) Is there room in the CA 23A to add in an inverter and additional batteries / solar?

You would probably have to remove the generator and/or do some significant modifications. The battery box fits a single Group 32 battery. Also, the configuration of the roof with three vent domes, shower dome, sewer vents(x2), fridge vent, RTAC leave very little contiguous real estate left for an array of solar panels substantial enough to offer any benefit.

You have to remember that these vehicles are purpose built for a rental mission and are designed with economy already in mind. There is plenty of opportunity to modify if you are creative, but the cost to do such modifications will greatly outweigh the benefit in very short order.

[bghouse]

So I think all my questions were answered now (or I found in other threads) except for :

3.) Is there room in the CA 23A to add in an inverter and additional batteries / solar?

[Mocoondo]

Photomike wrote:

Mocoondo wrote:
When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.

I agree with what you say about the used part BUT CA advertises reconditioned and I can assure you mine was not reconditioned!!!! In fact as I was signing I asked the sales person "Do the dishes come with the RV" and he said no they are taken out when we clean them for sale. WELL they were still in my unit!!! Plus a few other things that should have been looked after were not. He said the same thing, which must be a BS line from the company "If you find anything in the first month just call" well you can call but there ain't no one returning calls. Took me six months to get an extra set of keys that I was told I would have in a month then only one key worked of three.

If that is how CA wants to run it, like you mentioned above, they should clearly say it "These are used, buyer beware!!".

Not "reconditioned" to your satisfaction? Well why did you buy it then? Were you forced or coerced? The only included warranty is one of limited powertrain...engine, trans, rear axle. An aftermarket service contract is available for purchase.

[Mocoondo]

510dogmom wrote:

Mocoondo wrote:

510dogmom wrote:
I really don't trust sales people and I wonder if I was ripped off. I have been asking for repairs on specific items since I purchased my CA 23A last month. I had it checked over and found that several maintenance items needed to be done...new brakes, new shocks, steering stabilizer, and other stuff. It totals to around $2000. CA refuses to pay for any of it since it is maintenance. Are they getting away with this? I feel like I've been manipulated and I need a reality check if they are responsible for this or if I am.

When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.

From your history, I see that you work for CA, so I take your information with a grain of salt.

I would hope that CA would replace these items during the time they check over the systems prior to selling them. It is bad form to say the rig is ready for sale when so much needs repair. Also, the promise to repair items that are found problematic during the first 30 days is bogus. Does CA really want that negative reputation?

I am sure you and everyone else would want every component replaced new. Who wouldn't want everything new for the same price as used? "Reconditioned" means "overhaul, rebuild or restore", not "replace". If you buy a motorhome with 100,000 miles on it, assume everything has 100,000 miles on it. To assume otherwise is foolish.

[bghouse]

Thanks IAMICHABOD - yeah, it makes me super curious about the CA ones lol

[IAMICHABOD]

bghouse wrote:
One more question - is there anywhere online to find the detailed specs for some of these models that are specifically made for rentals? I'm not finding a lot of details on Cruise America or El Monte sites....

Specs for Cruse America Majestic is hard to come by,they are purpose built,and as such and the only specs is what they put out.

On the other hand El Monte RVs are production models and their specs are easily found from the MFG.

Example: El Monte 2011 Tioga Ranger 25 G

Tioga Brochure PDF is a bit small but you can zoom it up.

This goes for most of the El Monte Fleet,all production models.They are ordered from the MFG in lots so they are all the same.

[Photomike]

Mocoondo wrote:
When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.

I agree with what you say about the used part BUT CA advertises reconditioned and I can assure you mine was not reconditioned!!!! In fact as I was signing I asked the sales person "Do the dishes come with the RV" and he said no they are taken out when we clean them for sale. WELL they were still in my unit!!! Plus a few other things that should have been looked after were not. He said the same thing, which must be a BS line from the company "If you find anything in the first month just call" well you can call but there ain't no one returning calls. Took me six months to get an extra set of keys that I was told I would have in a month then only one key worked of three.

If that is how CA wants to run it, like you mentioned above, they should clearly say it "These are used, buyer beware!!".

[510dogmom]

Mocoondo wrote:

510dogmom wrote:
I really don't trust sales people and I wonder if I was ripped off. I have been asking for repairs on specific items since I purchased my CA 23A last month. I had it checked over and found that several maintenance items needed to be done...new brakes, new shocks, steering stabilizer, and other stuff. It totals to around $2000. CA refuses to pay for any of it since it is maintenance. Are they getting away with this? I feel like I've been manipulated and I need a reality check if they are responsible for this or if I am.

When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.

From your history, I see that you work for CA, so I take your information with a grain of salt.

I would hope that CA would replace these items during the time they check over the systems prior to selling them. It is bad form to say the rig is ready for sale when so much needs repair. Also, the promise to repair items that are found problematic during the first 30 days is bogus. Does CA really want that negative reputation?

[bghouse]

One more question - is there anywhere online to find the detailed specs for some of these models that are specifically made for rentals? I'm not finding a lot of details on Cruise America or El Monte sites....

[bghouse]

Thank you IAMICHABOD. September sounds like just about the right time, as my rental here in Baja will be up. Just need to figure out my fall / winter plans so I know I have a place to go. Still very much a newbie, so want to take it slow and be around people in case I run into trouble.

(I watched that movie RV with Robin Williams last night - hit every last one of my fears and I laughed until i cried)

I'll definitely put those numbers in my notebook right now. And thanks SO MUCH for this thread - it totally unblocked me, as my mind was just having such a hard time with prices I was seeing on other used rigs. This gave me the confidence to consider ex-rentals and higher mileage.

[IAMICHABOD]

bghouse,welcome to the Forum.
I can only answer some of your Questions but I hope that it will help.
#4 El Monte sometimes is really slow in putting up new inventory up on their website.
Usually El Monte have sales at the end of the season around Sept and more inventory.

There are 2 people that will be more than happy to help you out with any questions that you have on inventory and what you may be looking for.

Darylin Fragoso here on the west coast can be reached @ 562-404-9300 or 888-266-0189.

Mike Dwan @562-483-4949 is the National Sales Manager he can help you to find anything,both nice people ,I have contacted them both for answers related to this thread.

El Monte service centers can add anything needed,like upgrades or additions,or things that may need fixing at time of sale of afterwards. They are very good at it and stand behind their Rvs after the sale.

I believe that there others on the thread that have installed backup cameras,they may be along soon so keep checking back.
Good Luck in your Quest for that RV that will suit your needs.