Tough decision - Stressed out

[Hedgehog]

I have a 40', 2006 Monaco Knight that I've had for 4 years. Unfortunately, we don't use it enough to justify a diesel motorhome sitting in the driveway. I camp in it usually 21 days a year and put under 1,500 miles a year on it. I am getting nervous that if it goes over the 10 year mark and I decide to sell it, no one will be able to get financing. It also concerns me that as they age, components start failing. I replaced the two front tires this year but face replacing the 4 rears next spring. Five of the six batteries are original but the coach is serviced and in very good shape. I've been trying to talk my wife into trading it for a nice travel trailer since my everyday driver is a half ton pickup. The problem is, after being in a luxury motorhome along with our prior Montana fifthwheel, she don't like any of the trailers I've showed her. She did like the new Montana fifthwheels but so far the best offer I have from a dealership is trading my coach and they will give me the fifthwheel and $8,000. That sounds good until you factor in that I now have to buy a one ton truck for a daily driver. I don't know what to do, right now we are set up with the motorhome and a jeep wrangler unlimited toad but going from a 2006 to a 2015 and having one less engine to maintain sounds enticing too.
So, do larger diesel pusher values really drop a lot after ten year old? Do you think the drop if value of my motorhome over the next few years will out weigh the depreciation of driving a new truck and fifthwheel off the lot? Any input would be appreciated.

[AllegroD]

What's wrong with it?

[sundancer268]

What is the matter with a 18 year old unit? I love my 1995 Gulf Stream DP and as for annual Oil Changes, forget it. Do an annual Oil Analysis and go by that, I changed my oil last year based on the lab report and when I put it away for the season on the 29th, I will pull another sample and send it in and go by the report. The big trucking companies go by the lab reports and not by time and miles. By the way, I only use my rig about two weeks a year and only by a two month temporary tag for the two months I plan on camping. Next spring I plan on taking two weeks and head out to Virginia and then do the usual summer trips locally and will have to get one two month tag for later in the summer and just get a one month tag for the spring trip. I guess my point is it is paid for and I we enjoy it.

[tropical36]

Hedgehog wrote:
I have a 40', 2006 Monaco Knight that I've had for 4 years. Unfortunately, we don't use it enough to justify a diesel motorhome sitting in the driveway. I camp in it usually 21 days a year and put under 1,500 miles a year on it. I am getting nervous that if it goes over the 10 year mark and I decide to sell it, no one will be able to get financing. It also concerns me that as they age, components start failing. I replaced the two front tires this year but face replacing the 4 rears next spring. Five of the six batteries are original but the coach is serviced and in very good shape. I've been trying to talk my wife into trading it for a nice travel trailer since my everyday driver is a half ton pickup. The problem is, after being in a luxury motorhome along with our prior Montana fifthwheel, she don't like any of the trailers I've showed her. She did like the new Montana fifthwheels but so far the best offer I have from a dealership is trading my coach and they will give me the fifthwheel and $8,000. That sounds good until you factor in that I now have to buy a one ton truck for a daily driver. I don't know what to do, right now we are set up with the motorhome and a jeep wrangler unlimited toad but going from a 2006 to a 2015 and having one less engine to maintain sounds enticing too.
So, do larger diesel pusher values really drop a lot after ten year old? Do you think the drop if value of my motorhome over the next few years will out weigh the depreciation of driving a new truck and fifthwheel off the lot? Any input would be appreciated.

For sure, DP's were never meant to just sit, but now that you have it and like it's amenities, the cheapest way to go, is to just keep and maintain it. Hopefully you'll find time to use it more as well.

[roam1]

We had a similar situation with a second home we only used 4months a year. Between cost of capital and maintenance, it was $40k /year or $10k/month we used it. Sold it, invested the $$$, and we now rent. No stress!
Add up your annual maintenance, insurance,what you would get from a safe 10 year CD, and loss of equity per year. (Not to mention loss of sleep and stress you have). Use that to rent!
My recommendation based on listening, sell and rent!
(A rv, trailer, cabin, or motel) you have many stress free options!)
But in the end, do what you want, there is no wrong answer!

[Deano56]

to the OP, I will never ask a question like this on here, when I hear comments like you made a error when you bought this and everyone tells you to do something or another, it just proves no one knows what their talking about(me included) when it comes to someones elses decisions. Do whats best between you and your wife on this and be thankful you are not in debt and wanting to get out. You have a way out if you choose either way. Are you closer to a decision because of us? How many people gamble hundreds every week and get nothing in return? You are one up on them!

[DanTheRVMan]

Hedgehog wrote:
I don't have a payment on it so other than expenses that pop up along the way and fuel, that's it.. The diesel pusher was definitely a want more than a need.

Well glad to here you bought an expensive toy you can afford.

Stop stressing no matter what you do.

IMO you are in no man's land. You own a DP that you do not use enough to justify the cost which is large when depreciation is included

Lots of people say do not sell it as the loss on trading it in and getting something new is also very large so I get the keep it argument.

unfortunately there really is no clear simple answer as you do not use it enough and you are already committed.

I would stop stressing as the want was likely an error but in the grand scheme of things not a huge error so be happy no matter what you decide.

[2gypsies1]

You're spending $2,000/year before you even start out on your 3-weeks of use. Then add camping fees and fuel and perhaps misc. repairs. Shortly, on a 10-year RV things will need replacing. Then when you retire you're going to sell it?

I would still suggest selling it now, getting more money for it than 8 years later for an 18 year motorhome, and either buying something small for the truck you now have or moteling it for 3 weeks a year. It sure would be a simple solution to us. Buy your wife a dozen roses!

[Executive45]

Hedgehog wrote:
The problem is, after being in a luxury motorhome along with our prior Montana fifthwheel, she don't like any of the trailers I've showed her.

Sell it !....buy the fifth wheel....THEN take the wife camping in something she doesn't like...:S....you think you're STRESSED out NOW..:h.....:B:B.....Dennis

[buchanan]

Deano56 wrote:
where is this excise tax coming from?

In general, all tangible personal property located in Mass is taxable, unless expressly exempt

[Ivylog]

I would assume from the tag for the MH and it may not be an excise tax but still a large number.

[Deano56]

where is this excise tax coming from?

[Ivylog]

It's too late to change so keep it and put it on a seasonal site so you use it more. Cut your costs by decreasing the insured value to $90K or less which should decrease your excise tax too. There is no good reason to do an annual oil change. At 18 years old it will be in better shape than most 10 year old 5er or TT.
I'm at 10 years on my Monaco and see no reason why it will not go 15 more without major expense. I waited until I could use this expensive toy 100+ days/year but that's too late so do not worry about it as it's PAID For.

[Bucky1320]

It sounds like you would be jumping from one expensive rig into another. Like you mentioned, there is only $7k difference that they are going to give you, and then you need a vehicle to pull it around. If the thing was stressing me about future value, I would sell it outright, take a breath and decide what I was going to do then. Maybe take longer driving vacations with hotels until retirement and figure out where you like to go with no restrictions from the motorhome. As you get closer to retirement, you can look for what you want to stay in at that time.....and it will be newer to you when you start using it a bunch. Owning an RV is a constant expense.

[John_S_]

I would sell it if you do not use it especially if you would sell it when you retire. I would not get a new unit to replace it either. I took the plunge and bought my first DP at 39. We used it about 5 weeks a year in the beginning then I built a barn for it and it went up to about 8 weeks and work adjusted and removing was and is possible so last year we used it 260 days.