Question on Dealer Prep and accessories - R-Pod

[OHdad]

Looking at a new 2014 R-Pod 182G, and based on my research I guess I'm fine with the price ~$14,750. This is our first trailer and after a lot of research this is the plan and mfg. that works for us.

Question, dealer prep seems really high to me at close to $1,000, anyone or dealers know what a more realistic prep fee is? $300?

And the R-Dome is quoted at $600.00 which seems expensive for a tent. I'm inclined to have them include that for "free".

Lastly, I should demand the trailer comes with a full propane tank and marine battery correct? What else: hoses of some sort? a second battery? anything regarding the tires?

[GoPackGo]

Since you are in Ohio - Have you talked with Holman Motors (just outside Cincinnati) ? I drove 1000 miles from Florida to buy my 5er from them because I got such a smoking deal. You might at least ask them for a quote just so you can see how good your deal really is.

In case you don't know, the 2016 models are out now, so your 2014 model is already 2 years old when it rolls out of the lot.

Tim

[OHdad]

4X4Dodger wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

OHdad wrote:
Looking at a new 2014 R-Pod 182G, and based on my research I guess I'm fine with the price ~$14,750. This is our first trailer and after a lot of research this is the plan and mfg. that works for us.

Question, dealer prep seems really high to me at close to $1,000, anyone or dealers know what a more realistic prep fee is? $300?

And the R-Dome is quoted at $600.00 which seems expensive for a tent. I'm inclined to have them include that for "free".

Lastly, I should demand the trailer comes with a full propane tank and marine battery correct? What else: hoses of some sort? a second battery? anything regarding the tires?

What does the dealer prep include? A reputable dealer would give you a free "start up kit" to include:
1. 20' sewer hose with all attachments
2. 40' of water hose(white)
3. A water pressure regulator
4. Out side water filter
5. waste basket & toilet paper
6. Lynxx levelers
6. 1 pkg. of bacterial tablets

I think thats a bit much to expect from the dealer. And these items are not worth making a fuss over on the deal. I agree with the sewer hose it should be included however.

I saw one of these trailers at Monument Valley and got a tour by the owner and they are really very nice. A very cool setup that appears very well built.

Thanks for the info and thoughts. All around this is the travel trailer we decided upon after looking at several mfg. and models. These R-Pods are a bit expensive to start with, but appear to hold their value too, so once it comes time to sell or trade in / trade up we can recoup a lot of our investment. The price around $14K seems to be about where all of them are "new" (2014). There aren't too many within a few hundred miles of where we're at, and we like to buy local so we've got a dealer to go back to for maintenance or repairs.

[MarkTwain]

4X4Dodger wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

OHdad wrote:
Looking at a new 2014 R-Pod 182G, and based on my research I guess I'm fine with the price ~$14,750. This is our first trailer and after a lot of research this is the plan and mfg. that works for us.

Question, dealer prep seems really high to me at close to $1,000, anyone or dealers know what a more realistic prep fee is? $300?

And the R-Dome is quoted at $600.00 which seems expensive for a tent. I'm inclined to have them include that for "free".

Lastly, I should demand the trailer comes with a full propane tank and marine battery correct? What else: hoses of some sort? a second battery? anything regarding the tires?

What does the dealer prep include? A reputable dealer would give you a free "start up kit" to include:
1. 20' sewer hose with all attachments
2. 40' of water hose(white)
3. A water pressure regulator
4. Out side water filter
5. waste basket & toilet paper
6. Lynxx levelers
6. 1 pkg. of bacterial tablets

I think thats a bit much to expect from the dealer. And these items are not worth making a fuss over on the deal. I agree with the sewer hose it should be included however.

I saw one of these trailers at Monument Valley and got a tour by the owner and they are really very nice. A very cool setup that appears very well built.

I guess I just got lucky with the RV dealer when I bought a new 5th. wheel! These were all the "start up" items included in my new trailer:)

[4X4Dodger]

djgarcia wrote:

OHdad wrote:
Looking at a new 2014 R-Pod 182G, and based on my research I guess I'm fine with the price ~$14,750. This is our first trailer and after a lot of research this is the plan and mfg. that works for us.

Question, dealer prep seems really high to me at close to $1,000, anyone or dealers know what a more realistic prep fee is? $300?

And the R-Dome is quoted at $600.00 which seems expensive for a tent. I'm inclined to have them include that for "free".

Lastly, I should demand the trailer comes with a full propane tank and marine battery correct? What else: hoses of some sort? a second battery? anything regarding the tires?

What does the dealer prep include? A reputable dealer would give you a free "start up kit" to include:
1. 20' sewer hose with all attachments
2. 40' of water hose(white)
3. A water pressure regulator
4. Out side water filter
5. waste basket & toilet paper
6. Lynxx levelers
6. 1 pkg. of bacterial tablets

I think thats a bit much to expect from the dealer. And these items are not worth making a fuss over on the deal. I agree with the sewer hose it should be included however.

I saw one of these trailers at Monument Valley and got a tour by the owner and they are really very nice. A very cool setup that appears very well built.

[Rollnhome]

moresmoke wrote:
One note on "fees", as annoying as they are, at least here dealer fees are not taxable. The low upfront price with added fees is cheaper than just a flat price once sales tax is added on. As others have said the final price is what matters, not how you get there.

Problem is Dealer Prep and PDI are added on to the bottom line negotiated price. Much like Document Fees they are separate line items. The factory allows a budget to the dealer to get these rigs showroom ready. The Dealer Prep and PDI are dealer add on up charges that are negotiable or refuseable. Yes bottom line price is what matters but without these dealer imposed fees the bottom line would be lower.

[OHdad]

bikendan wrote:
If you input from other Rpod owners, you will find better places for that, than here.
an easy Google search brings up Rpod Nation and Forest River Forums' Rpod section.

Thanks! I will check it out

[bikendan]

If you input from other Rpod owners, you will find better places for that, than here.
an easy Google search brings up Rpod Nation and Forest River Forums' Rpod section.

[moresmoke]

One note on "fees", as annoying as they are, at least here dealer fees are not taxable. The low upfront price with added fees is cheaper than just a flat price once sales tax is added on. As others have said the final price is what matters, not how you get there.

[wing_zealot]

The dealer is going to get paid for doing whatever he has to do when he delivers it to you. He is either going to get paid in the base price or he is going to get paid by charging a "dealer prep". He can't stay in business by doing something for nothing. So if he provides some type of service that costs him time and money, he will need to cover that cost. The bottom line is, he either covers that cost by charging more for the unit up front, or he covers that cost by charging a dealer prep fee on the back end and sells you the unit for less up front. The third rail is he does nothing and charges nothing - hence the "deliver it to me dirty I walked". So the long and short of it, you should only be concerned about the bottom line price. Take that price and comparison shop. Nothing else matters, just the bottom line. Go with the most bang for the buck. I paid a dealer prep fee, I also got an awesome deal.

[RandACampin]

OHdad wrote:
Looking at a new 2014 R-Pod 182G, and based on my research I guess I'm fine with the price ~$14,750. This is our first trailer and after a lot of research this is the plan and mfg. that works for us.

Question, dealer prep seems really high to me at close to $1,000, anyone or dealers know what a more realistic prep fee is? $300?

And the R-Dome is quoted at $600.00 which seems expensive for a tent. I'm inclined to have them include that for "free".

Lastly, I should demand the trailer comes with a full propane tank and marine battery correct? What else: hoses of some sort? a second battery? anything regarding the tires?

You can demand all the things you want. The dealer can say no, in the end get what you want at the price you want and don't sweat what each thing cost. It's the out the door that matters.

[dspencer]

Any dealer prep or inspection fees are pure scam. Tell them to take them off or walk. I had one try to add a $795 clean up fee on me about 6 years ago. I told him to take it off or I would walk. He said he would deliver it to me dirty and I walked. Never went back to that dealer again.

[Rollnhome]

The dealer prep and PDI are dealer charges not factory. My feeling is why do I have to pay them to prepare my rig to sell. Secondly after spending thousand why should the charge me to show me where the electric plugs in and a few other related items. Car dealers don't. I refuse to pay these dealer BS add on charges.

[OHdad]

Thanks for the information everyone. We've never bought a travel trailer before. If it was a car or truck I'd know what to question and look for.

Keep the information coming.

I did email the dealer to get an explanation on the prep fee. I'll have to look at the tires or ask them about what's on there now. If I have to change them after so be it but maybe the dealer will do something if they aren't the ideal tires per everyone's recommendation.

Any R-Pod owners out there who'd like to share their 2 cents as well, maybe in regards to the tent? The wife really likes the idea of the add on tent thing (I suspect I may be sleeping it if we have a lot of people).

[ScottG]

They wanted $1k for dealer prep and $1500 for some kind of pre-delivery inspection.
I told them no and no. They hardly even argued with me - I think they figure it doesn't cost anything to try.
The way to do it is to demand an out the door price - everything included. Then negotiate from there.