Buying an RV (A or C) from a national rental chain

To answer the original question:

If you plan to drive it every day and rely on it as your SOLE source of transportation wherever life takes you, then you should probably spend a little more for something with less miles than most ex-rentals. Then again, if you fall under this category, you are probably retired and planned on spending just less than your house mortgage on the RV anyway for something luxurious and new. Or maybe you are buying it INSTEAD of your house.

On the other hand, if you are getting an RV as a third or fourth vehicle in your household, and just something that gets you to the mountains or the lake once a month and do not need 4.5 slides and a power paper towel dispenser, then it is very tough to beat the value of an ex-rental. I know, because before buying our Majestic (Cruise America's model after being refurbished but built by Thor/Fourwinds) we researched the holy %& out of this issue. Bottom line: any private party that had a 4 or 5 year old Class C for sale anywhere, wanted at LEAST 10 thousand dollars more than what we bought ours for. The trade off? Ours has a few more miles and has been rented by unknowns. We personally would rather buy something that has NOT been sitting and has undergone scheduled inspections and maintenance than something sitting in the backyard by the fence in the weeds for years.

Ours had over 100,000 miles on it. Had been gone through by the company and even had the entire front end replaced (tie rod ends, ball joints, etc). All new tires, paint, graphics, bunk mattress as well as two pages of other things replaced (they gave us copies of all work involved). I wont say the price we paid out of respect for our saleswoman who went to great lenghts to get it done, but I will say this unit NEW is well over $50,000 and we paid less than 20% of that. How is 80% off MSRP? Good deal? Oh the miles scare you? Well consider this: the Ford E series drivetrain (ours has the sought after Torqshift trans too) is easily good for 200,000 miles plus if well maintained. These units are well maintained. Our unit has another 80,000 miles to hit that mark. How long will it take us to hit that mark when we go once a month during the boating/camping season? Oh, about 20 years. Longer than we plan to keep it thats for sure. And we get a nice NEW looking RV that is only a few years old and has all the latest technologies and drives great. For occasional use, you just will not find a better deal on motorhomes.

path1 wrote:


IAMICHABOD...WOW... I thought you said you were retired? That list would take me about a week to get thru.:) Would help gas bill though (I'd be at home with wrench in hand vs foot on gas pedal). After reading a post about elec fire I am going to check/tighten up screws. If you didn't catch it check out http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27107019/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
Freight on, right side up
Pat

Yep retired and after making thousands of 16 step walk arounds I don't think I could do that in a week too, but I'm glad El Monte RV did and documented it. I suspect they did it to satisfy insurance and Federal regulations as we did.

After all those years I know that good maintenance of the engine and transmission, even with some of our less adapt drivers that put a lot of unnecessary wear and tear, let our trucks go 1 to 1.5 million miles. Maintenance is the key.

I did check out that post on electrical fires, and will also check out those screws. I also posted on that thread about Smoke Detectors If you didn't see it then it is some good advice too.
Always keepin it right side up and outta the barpits.........
"Hours and hours of pure boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror"

Checking the TV and stove burners has little to do with excess engine bearing and transmission clutch wear. Said excess wear due to rental abuse is what keeps me from considering a rental to be a good buy. You have only your opinion as to the extent of that wear .
May God Bless You

In some of the posts there are some assumptions and opinions that are just that. Not a lot of facts but that is ok. The facts on my Ex Rental are documented on every time it left for a trip are.
Test drive unit
Check all fluid levels
Check engine coolant tolerance and pressure test
Check transmission
Check differential
Check power steering
Check belts and hoses
Check wiper/washer operation
Check auto heat/cool
Check tire pressure and condition
Check air filter
Check for damage to windshield
Check condition of roof sealants
Check LP leak detector system
Check all refrigerator cooling modes
Check exterior light covers
Check GFI outlets
Check battery
Check sinks and drains
Check step well covers
Check back up camera
Check door latches
Check cabinet latches
Check the condition of roof vents/fans
Check exhaust brake
Check air suspension
Service burner and flue
Check LP manometer/leak test
Check LP regulator to proper pressure & fill tanks
Test furnace for proper heating and cycling
Test water heater and clean burner as needed
Test converter/inverter
Test all 110 outlets
Pressure Test fresh water system for leaks
Pressure Test black/grey tanks for leaks
Test water pump for operation
Test operation of toilet
Test water heater by-pass
Test generator for proper operation and output
Test microwave operation
Test all stove burners and oven thermostats
Test air conditioner(s) operation and cooling
Test entry step operation and safety
Test operation of awnings
Test operation of TV/VCR/DVD and CD/Radio
Test operation of slide out(s)
Test operation of jacks
Test alternator for proper output
Test steering and all oil levels
Test all interior lights
Test all exterior lights
Test cruise control
Inspect drive train
Inspect undercarriage for leaks and damage
Inspect fuel filter
Check torque on wheels and inspect brakes (replace 50% or less)
Fill fresh water tank
Fill water heater tank


Items not working properly or performing to standards are either repaired or replaced.
Now I don't know of an owner that will go to all that every time that they go camping and document it...

IAMICHABOD...WOW... I thought you said you were retired? That list would take me about a week to get thru.:) Would help gas bill though (I'd be at home with wrench in hand vs foot on gas pedal). After reading a post about elec fire I am going to check/tighten up screws. If you didn't catch it check out http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27107019/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
Freight on, right side up
Pat

Bought our little C/B as an ex-rental. Had around 88,000 KM on it. Now we have around 180,000KM Still not a problem. Our water pump is starting to go. Other than that it has been trouble free other than 2 spark plugs. It is a V10. Bullet proof.

I have to agree with DaHose that most all problems happen within the first 10 to 20k miles and after that it mostly normal wear and tear and maintenance. A modern vehicle today will have a working lifetime of 200,000 miles or better when properly maintained.

In some places in the country there may be better deals on the RV you want but where I live and within 700 miles I couldn't find one, believe me I looked and found nothing but poorly maintained and dinged up Rigs. As I said in my original thread.

At least with a ex Rental I know that the maintenance was there, again I have to go back to DaHose who made a good point in his rebuild that little things that go unchecked or poorly maintained will be very costly later to repair. A rental company does not want that. It has to be on the road to make money.

In some of the posts there are some assumptions and opinions that are just that. Not a lot of facts but that is ok. The facts on my Ex Rental are documented on every time it left for a trip are.
Test drive unit
Check all fluid levels
Check engine coolant tolerance and pressure test
Check transmission
Check differential
Check power steering
Check belts and hoses
Check wiper/washer operation
Check auto heat/cool
Check tire pressure and condition
Check air filter
Check for damage to windshield
Check condition of roof sealants
Check LP leak detector system
Check all refrigerator cooling modes
Check exterior light covers
Check GFI outlets
Check battery
Check sinks and drains
Check step well covers
Check back up camera
Check door latches
Check cabinet latches
Check the condition of roof vents/fans
Check exhaust brake
Check air suspension
Service burner and flue
Check LP manometer/leak test
Check LP regulator to proper pressure & fill tanks
Test furnace for proper heating and cycling
Test water heater and clean burner as needed
Test converter/inverter
Test all 110 outlets
Pressure Test fresh water system for leaks
Pressure Test black/grey tanks for leaks
Test water pump for operation
Test operation of toilet
Test water heater by-pass
Test generator for proper operation and output
Test microwave operation
Test all stove burners and oven thermostats
Test air conditioner(s) operation and cooling
Test entry step operation and safety
Test operation of awnings
Test operation of TV/VCR/DVD and CD/Radio
Test operation of slide out(s)
Test operation of jacks
Test alternator for proper output
Test steering and all oil levels
Test all interior lights
Test all exterior lights
Test cruise control
Inspect drive train
Inspect undercarriage for leaks and damage
Inspect fuel filter
Check torque on wheels and inspect brakes (replace 50% or less)
Fill fresh water tank
Fill water heater tank


Items not working properly or performing to standards are either repaired or replaced.
Now I don't know of an owner that will go to all that every time that they go camping and document it...

That being said I would encourage you to look around to see what is out there that sutes your budget, your needs and look at all the facts that you can get and make an informed decision on that and not what is put forth as an opinion or assumption.

I'd sure inspect the roof, looking for signs that it's been used as a party bus at NASCAR races or other events where RV roofs are sometimes used as patios.

Jim, "First you catch a jellyfish, then you catch a peanutbutter fish."

Keep the replies on subject. No flaming others because your opinion differs from there's.

Every one has their own opinion of course, But I tend to agree with jcapps, as far as, there are better deals out there, than ex rentals

I just bought a used class C. 2007 Fleetwood 26Q, bought a babied unit that was privately owned. Bought it through a trusted dealer who had it on consignment The rental sales were higher priced then I paid, had more miles and had been through the mill. This unit was well equipped, 20k miles, 21 hours on gen. Still had the orig window sticker and all service maintenance records.
I have been at campgrounds and have seen unspeakable things done by renters like flushing out the sewer hose with the white hose. At the minmum I would change out the fresh water tank and all water lines.
There are good deals out there, better then buying a used rental. you just need to look and negotiate