Need advice: Shopping for a Class A...

[jcubeta]

Hello everyone,

My apologies up front for asking something that’s probably been asked before, and for my wordiness.

My wife and I have decided that we want to make the leap from a travel trailer to a Class A gas motorhome. After spending a good bit of our recent cross-country trip ogling other people’s coaches, we’ve since spent a few weeks looking at manufacturers’ websites to at least get a basic idea of the models out there and types of floorplans we like.

However, as some of you have likely experienced at one point yourselves, this has become somewhat overwhelming. We have plans to visit a nearby dealer (a Camping World) this weekend to walk through some of the models on the lot. As I’m skeptical of sales reps in general, I’m not expecting them to be a wealth of unbiased knowledge.

So we are a way’s off from buying but, as we begin this adventure, I’d like some advice on how to shop smartly. Also, if we’re going to plunk down $100-150K on a coach, I want to buy something that I’m confident is quality.

As such, here are a few questions, some general and some specific:

• Beyond “fit & finish” touches & furniture comfort, what sorts of things do we want to examine to determine quality? Are there specific questions we should ask about, say, a coach’s structure/frame, electrical, towing, etc?
• Does anyone have opinions of Thor and Forest River coaches? We’ve seen a few of them at campgrounds that look nice from the outside, and one friendly RVer gave us the nickel tour of their Thor Challenger which was beautiful (from our 10 minutes inside), but many of the reviews on RVT.com of Thor and Forest River have scared me a little, in that many people talk of constant problems with these brands.
• On the opposite end of that, I’ve seen consistently good reviews of Tiffen, Newmark, and Winnebago coaches – should I just stick with these brands?
• Does anyone have comments on the legitimacy of reviews found on RVT.com? Are there other sites you recommend to check out?
• Is RVTrader a good place to try to sell our travel trailer? Or is it more hassle than it’s worth and we should just trade it?
• Is there an obvious benefit to buying brand new or is buying slightly used a better way to go? Also, if buying used, is buying from a private seller better or worse than from a dealer?
• Is it reasonable to consider traveling a long distance to buy from a reputable dealer (i.e. flying to a city to pick up the coach)?

I know that's a lot of questions. Any answers would be very appreciated.

Thank you for your time!
James

[hipower]

Good advice offered by many others before this post, but allow me to add some of my thoughts based on going through what you are facing.

There are a lot of good used, quality coaches available in the snowbird sections of our country. In the case of the OP that would be FL as the closest. Frequently we see folks who die, and their spouse doesn't want or can't keep a coach for various reasons. We also see those who spend winters in the sunshine moving to park models or more permanent arrangements which floods the market with coaches.

Don't fall in love with any unit without experiencing the floorplan in both the open and closed modes. We too often find out after the fact that access or comfort is reduced or eliminated when a coach is closed up rather than being opened. A coach whose access to the bathroom is difficult when closed up is a PITA when we travel and will just reduce your satisfaction in your coach.

I find that access and ease of use to many systems is important to me. The wet bay layout, battery access, etc. have been places that I've found I don't pay enough attention to until I've faced trying to hook or unhook something that my aging body can't easily accomplish. Just accessing and checking the water in our coach batteries can be difficult, to say nothing of actually adding water when needed. Many little things we overlook or ignore before buying become constant sources of irritation after we become the proud owners and have to deal with them.

Be very aware of how and where you find the money to close your deal. Dealer financing is rarely a good deal. With the bigger dealers financing and other add on items will be a place where they enhance their bottom line at your expense. Don't be sucked into the salesman's pitch of low monthly payments unless you make sure that the real pay back figure is in line with what you can achieve by arranging your own financing prior to sitting down and signing the paperwork. Bottom line, read everything and understand what you are agreeing to. Don't be afraid or get pressured into making a bad decision. Get your calculator out and confirm any figure you question in the least. $150K isn't chump change for most of us and we need to be as smart as the salesman who is just as interested in his profit as he is in making you happy. In many cases, even more.

Beyond all of that, buy what you like and get out there an enjoy life to the best of your ability.

[Big_Katuna]

Whatever you look at, sit in the driving seat with the slide in and make sure you are comfortable you are and can you see out, especially left.

I’m 6’ 5” and in many I cant put the seat back far enough or tilt the back as it hits the slide.

If your looking at used, you want a 2016 or newer Ford to get the new six speed. Drops cruising rpm 1000 RPM.

We’re looking at a 2016 Fleetwood Bounder 35K.

[FireGuard]

If you buy new, it’s pretty common to get 25-30% off sticker price.

[Executive45]

Do yourself a favor and go to PPL's website. See below. They are a consignment dealer with two huge outlets. Regardless, they offer pictures AND floorplans of almost every Class A made gas or diesel. Start with the floorplan(s) you like and go from there. A well made coach with an unusable floor plan will make you and your DW crazy. They also list SOLDs on their site but you have to search for it. Good luck...Dennis

PPL Motor Homes Class A

[mfredm]

i just bought a 2011 newmar in florida for a third of the new price. it drives like a dream, and everyone who has seen it says its nicer than their house.

[jcubeta]

Ivylog wrote:
Been on here for 1.5 years and wanting to change RVs in less than 5 months of owning a TT...going to be expensive.

Are you saying that you've been on here and owned a trailer for that long? Or is my profile wrong/misleading? We've had our TT for about 1.5 years. And we're not buying anytime soon - I've already accepted that this is going to a long process - finding the $ is another pole in that tent.

J

[Ivylog]

Been on here for 1.5 years and wanting to change RVs in less than 5 months of owning a TT...going to be expensive.

[bullydogs1]

For a gas unit Newmar, Tiffin Winnebago or posdibly even one of the new Entegra class A gas units. All coaches have some issues but customer service, support, work with warranty etc makes the difference, and first prize for that would go to both Entegra and Tiffin...both offer great support, and service and those are the two I would go with...Yes I am a bit biased towards Entegra but having first hand experience with them makes them a winner for me. Now that they have come out with the Reatta (entry level diesel to compete with FOrza) and have the new gas units , they now have a coach to compete in every segment.

[2chiefsRus]

cargo carrying capacity is one thing I would want to know for sure especially on a gas coach. We found out the hard way on our first Class A Gas coach that it had plenty of ccc EXCEPT it was really only available on the rear axle. After we had bought it and learned enough to know we needed to have it weighed on each corner, then we learned that nearly the entire capacity of the front axle was taken up by the weight of the engine. So we had a big pass through storage area that we could not put much weight in.

Private sale vs dealer sale - better is subjective; better price will most likely come from a private sale but dealer sale will likely be easier in that you would be able to do one deal, trading in the tt and getting your motorhome but that ease will be more expensive. It really depends upon how much you are willing to pay for less stress and effort on your part.

If you have the time, go to a big rv show like Hersey. Close the doors and windows and sit down in lots of units, and then listen - how much noise do you hear from the people outside? Does it sound solid when you close the door? open and close drawers, window coverings, etc.

You also didn't mention how you are going to use the coach but you mention a cross country trip. Are you going to be full time or one big one month trip a year? or maybe 3 months at a time and then sitting for several months unused. That all factors into your decision.

I'll just throw in one more thing - for that price range you could buy a good quality used diesel coach. one of the reasons I prefer diesel is the ability to pull into a truck stop lane instead of having to squeeze into gas stations especially while towing a toad. There are lots of other reasons but it really depends upon how, where and how often you use your coach whether those other reasons will apply to you.

[jplante4]

garyemunson wrote:
If you have to travel to get it, just consider that your first camping trip in your new toy.

I would recommend against this in a new rig. They factories are turning out rigs so fast that they're counting on the dealers to complete the build. There are a lot of warranty issues that will turn a camping trip into a nightmare.

The local CW is backed up on warranty issues until into October. The RV service center I work at is doing some of the work because they have a lot of unhappy customers. These people bought a brand new camper and expected to make a trip to Yellowstone the next week. Instead the camper sits unused waiting for CW to get to them.

I would make my first camping trip in the driveway.

[garyemunson]

Once you have decided on what you like, go to RVtrader.com and search there. We saved 25K over what close by dealers wanted for the same coach. If you have to travel to get it, just consider that your first camping trip in your new toy.

[WAFlowers]

Find a good used Tiffin with complete service records. Pay to have it professionally inspected. You will end up with one of the best available at a bargain price!

[jplante4]

If you're going to $150k, skip Thor and FR. It's a buyer's market right now, with inventory on the lots and units backed up on the transporter's lots in Indiana. Look at coaches in the 150-200 range and negotiate to under 150.

Buying new, be prepared to spend some time at the dealer in warranty repairs. I would say the selection of the dealer is most important. Research the service department reviews here.

Go with Craig's List to sell your TT. Just don't answer any emails from guys on offshore drilling rigs offering to buy "the unit" sight unseen for their father and dealing only through PayPal. This is a scam.

[Dog_Trainer]

As an owner of 3 class A's my experience has been the best with my Newmar. Also have heard great reviews about Tiffin These mfg. make a good Gas coach as well as the DP models. I had a winnebago which was an alright coach and for many years I had an Airstream DP another good coach I had a Forest river TT product their service was excellent but there was some lack of quality there.
In the end you will have to live with and be happy with your purchase don't overlook the small stuf and the unseen. If you can go for a few factory tours of the builders that you are interested in. There is much more than fit and finish and gingerbread when you are on the rtoad and dealing with things.
If you buy a gasser with the F53 chassis set aside an additional $2 grand to tame the ride.