First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
This post is intended to be helpful to the first time buyer of a motor home. For those of you who don't fall into that category or believe this post is incomplete or off the mark, do us all a favor, a...
Forum Discussion
Sailingnuts: Consumer reports may rate someday, but your best bet is to look at every one you think you might want and read up on the maintenance problems of those particular units for the last few years.
Arlosmith: 79 Pace Arrow 27' for 5K. Toad is a 2003 Indian Chief for 27K. Nice pair, actually. The PA can sleep 10 easily so for a bunch of bikers who just need a bathroom, shower, place to leave their gear and sleep/eat, it was great. Ladies get tired of riding on the bikes, they can drive up in the RV while the guys ride.
Kristen: 1990 to 1992 Jayco 5th wheel with slides. Problem is your F150 won't pull it. You might be very happy in an Airstream though, if you can find one of the silver ones cheap. I'd stick with a bumper/frame hitch on your truck. And don't exceed the tongue weight recommended for your truck's towing capacity. Ford can tell you the exact specs, and you can have the dealer measure on a scale the actual empty (except for water) toungue weight of the trailer you choose.
Ennis: Tell the dealer to bite you, and walk. Unless your heart is definitely set on that one unit, try this. 2000 Pace Arrow Vision 36B. 36.5 ft vs. the 32ft. of the 05, but get this. Same floorplan, includes a washer/dryer, you will use the extra space, and be happier (unless you just have to have a tub). Instead of 105K to 126K, you're looking at 68K to 72K, and the original owner has likely fixed any known issues. The 14K for your TravelLite Trailer may or may not be a good deal. Depends on the year of it, and whether the dealer is really using it to your benefit or his on the price of the unit.
UReady. Both the Pace Arrow I had (79) and the one I traded it in for (2000 Pace Arrow Vision) are going to be fine in Alaska during the summer. I lived in Fairbanks for 5 years in the Air Force, and many people have the RV's up there. Currently I'm living full time in my 2000 in Colorado Springs, and the weather is similar as typical Anchorage winter weather (even got to -20 wind chill last winter here. Windows are double pane, but I still put up inslation panels. This year I may even skirt the unit. To keep the interior about 70 degrees, I go through 20 gallons (100 pounder is 48.00) of propane every 10 -12 days during the winters here. I could save propane by using space heaters but won't run them when I'm not home (I work daily Mon - Fri).
Knowing the dealer or having something in common with them helps, too.
I ended up living in the 79 after the divorce. 8 months later, I'm window shopping for a bigger unit and run into an old harley salesman now working RV's. I'm riding Indian. My 79 (mind you he's never even seen it) is worth 12 - 1500.00 max (3.5 years after purchasing for 5K). He wants 75K for the 200 Pace Arrow Vision. I don't have a down except the 79. He gives me 7700.00 for the 79, raises the price on the 2000 to 77K and we start hunting for financing. I come up with it first, and it's a done deal. I drove it from their PDI point to my RV Park spot and parked it. Start it about every 20 days and let it run for a couple minutes. Insurance says I have to move it once a year. It's almost that time to run it around the park once.
By the way. You live in them full time and only Foremost and one other company will insure it. You live elsewhere and just drive it for vacations, everyone wants your money. And no insurance company can say why.
NOTE:*** Here's the real kicker for those of you thinking of selling your homes to get one and just travel. Without a primary residence, you cannot deduct the interest payments for the motor home on your income tax as a 2nd residence. Your RV becomes your primary residence and the IRS won't let you deduct. Whether a primary or secondary residence, your motor home payment is a secured loan, not a mortgage. Only as a secondary home can the interest payments be deducted.
Arlosmith: 79 Pace Arrow 27' for 5K. Toad is a 2003 Indian Chief for 27K. Nice pair, actually. The PA can sleep 10 easily so for a bunch of bikers who just need a bathroom, shower, place to leave their gear and sleep/eat, it was great. Ladies get tired of riding on the bikes, they can drive up in the RV while the guys ride.
Kristen: 1990 to 1992 Jayco 5th wheel with slides. Problem is your F150 won't pull it. You might be very happy in an Airstream though, if you can find one of the silver ones cheap. I'd stick with a bumper/frame hitch on your truck. And don't exceed the tongue weight recommended for your truck's towing capacity. Ford can tell you the exact specs, and you can have the dealer measure on a scale the actual empty (except for water) toungue weight of the trailer you choose.
Ennis: Tell the dealer to bite you, and walk. Unless your heart is definitely set on that one unit, try this. 2000 Pace Arrow Vision 36B. 36.5 ft vs. the 32ft. of the 05, but get this. Same floorplan, includes a washer/dryer, you will use the extra space, and be happier (unless you just have to have a tub). Instead of 105K to 126K, you're looking at 68K to 72K, and the original owner has likely fixed any known issues. The 14K for your TravelLite Trailer may or may not be a good deal. Depends on the year of it, and whether the dealer is really using it to your benefit or his on the price of the unit.
UReady. Both the Pace Arrow I had (79) and the one I traded it in for (2000 Pace Arrow Vision) are going to be fine in Alaska during the summer. I lived in Fairbanks for 5 years in the Air Force, and many people have the RV's up there. Currently I'm living full time in my 2000 in Colorado Springs, and the weather is similar as typical Anchorage winter weather (even got to -20 wind chill last winter here. Windows are double pane, but I still put up inslation panels. This year I may even skirt the unit. To keep the interior about 70 degrees, I go through 20 gallons (100 pounder is 48.00) of propane every 10 -12 days during the winters here. I could save propane by using space heaters but won't run them when I'm not home (I work daily Mon - Fri).
Knowing the dealer or having something in common with them helps, too.
I ended up living in the 79 after the divorce. 8 months later, I'm window shopping for a bigger unit and run into an old harley salesman now working RV's. I'm riding Indian. My 79 (mind you he's never even seen it) is worth 12 - 1500.00 max (3.5 years after purchasing for 5K). He wants 75K for the 200 Pace Arrow Vision. I don't have a down except the 79. He gives me 7700.00 for the 79, raises the price on the 2000 to 77K and we start hunting for financing. I come up with it first, and it's a done deal. I drove it from their PDI point to my RV Park spot and parked it. Start it about every 20 days and let it run for a couple minutes. Insurance says I have to move it once a year. It's almost that time to run it around the park once.
By the way. You live in them full time and only Foremost and one other company will insure it. You live elsewhere and just drive it for vacations, everyone wants your money. And no insurance company can say why.
NOTE:*** Here's the real kicker for those of you thinking of selling your homes to get one and just travel. Without a primary residence, you cannot deduct the interest payments for the motor home on your income tax as a 2nd residence. Your RV becomes your primary residence and the IRS won't let you deduct. Whether a primary or secondary residence, your motor home payment is a secured loan, not a mortgage. Only as a secondary home can the interest payments be deducted.
