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How do you shop for specific features

theoldwizard1
Explorer
Explorer
My daughter's family is growing up quick and they will likely be shopping for a new TT within a year or 2. Their "must have" list is pretty short, but how to do shop for these specific features across multiple brands ?

  • True bunk house (4 separate beds)
  • Slide out U-shaped dinette (bonus for love seat)
  • Max loaded weight less than 8,500 lbs


Lower priority would be a Murphy bed.
22 REPLIES 22

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
I started with the websites of all the RV manufacturers I could find, about a year before I came back to the U.S. That was 15 years ago, there is much more of this information today. Then I shopped dealers and RV shows when I got home, and it still took another 15 months before we settled on a specific RV. But we had not even decided whether we wanted towable or motorized, you at least made that decision. We collected lots of brochures at shows, for anything that was moderately interesting, because not everyone then had good websites. We also made three factory visits, which was helpful in choosing a manufacturer.

Your short list of "must have" will likely be covered by a large number (possibly a hundred or more) of models across all TT manufacturers, brands, and model lines, and since your weight limit is high enough to include some more heavily built short models, the price range could be quite broad (which gives you another factor on which to choose).

The next step would be trying to actually find some of those RVs that were listed on the websites, maybe at RV shows, maybe at dealers, to get inside them and see how they "fit." Most of the folks I know who trade RVs every 2-3 years are those who have difficulty working out how well it fits their needs until they've had a year or so trying to live with it. Getting inside, going through the motions of living in it, is for me the most important part of shopping for a RV (or a house).

I bought a RV that I hadn't been looking for. We went to the dealer to look at something else, didn't really like it. Dealer said have a look at this, we have it on consignment. My wife liked the living space better than anything else she had seen, and it has worked well enough that I still have it 13 years later, although now it is way bigger than I need for just camping or road tripping alone, but would be right size if I decide to snowbird with it.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Explorer
myredracer wrote:
If they've never owned a TT before, be very careful to choose one they are going to want to keep for a long time. Going to a show or dealership is great but after you buy something, you can start to find all the shortcomings that never occurred to you. (BTDT) Even little things can quickly become pretty annoying. I would suggest if at all possible, rent or borrow a TT and test it out before buying. Some CGs even have rental TTs on them. Maybe take a friend of a friend of an in-law with RV-ing experience to a show or dealership who knows what to look for.

Choose wisely! ๐Ÿ™‚


We learned this quickly with our first 5th wheel which had no slides. But thankfully we bought used so it was a great learning experience. Helped us know what we did and didnโ€™t want in our next one, which we also bought used. Look at floorplan and "study" them. Can u open the fridge or get to the bathroom with slides in, etc... Really think about what youโ€™re looking at.
2003 Holiday Rambler Alumascape 34RLT

myredracer
Explorer II
Explorer II
If they've never owned a TT before, be very careful to choose one they are going to want to keep for a long time. Going to a show or dealership is great but after you buy something, you can start to find all the shortcomings that never occurred to you. (BTDT) Even little things can quickly become pretty annoying. I would suggest if at all possible, rent or borrow a TT and test it out before buying. Some CGs even have rental TTs on them. Maybe take a friend of a friend of an in-law with RV-ing experience to a show or dealership who knows what to look for.

Choose wisely! ๐Ÿ™‚

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
theoldwizard1 wrote:
DutchmenSport wrote:
... you visit an RV show where they have the latest models on display.

The last couple of shows I have been to had dozens of "top of the line" Class A coaches and 35'+ fifth wheel trailers. Very few non-fifth wheel trailers and even fewer hybrid/pop-ups.


The last show I went to, granted a few years ago, had I think only one class A (a gasser), one or two class C's, one or two class B's, and several dozen trailers. The trailers were mostly fifth wheels and traditional hard-sided travel trailers, with only a few hybrids, pop-ups, teardrops, and similar little ones thrown in.

I suspect to some extent it depends on what the typical inventory of the dealers in the area is. Trailers are apparently quite popular in Vermont among new RV buyers.

nickthehunter
Nomad II
Nomad II
theoldwizard1 wrote:
DutchmenSport wrote:
... you visit an RV show where they have the latest models on display.

The last couple of shows I have been to had dozens of "top of the line" Class A coaches and 35'+ fifth wheel trailers. Very few non-fifth wheel trailers and even fewer hybrid/pop-ups.
Yes, but the show will give you thousands of brochures. You can look at units on display and get an idea of the build quality for that line, and look at the brochure to find units that have the features you want. Eliminate lines that don't match your criteria and take home a brochure from those that do. That should yield plenty of brochures of different units that match your criteria to look at and compare. It'll give you names of dealers that carry them.

Kavoom
Explorer
Explorer
Fizz wrote:
You can start by looking at floor plans.
A few carefully worded searches on Google will give you 100s

FLOOR PLANS

Bunk Beds

Click the images and go from there.
It's a start


Great website

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Once you have your non negotiable must have list the herd gets narrowed down pretty quick before you even go out the door to shop.

We had it down to 4 models across 3 builders when we started to shop. All the others had eliminated themselves by not having one or more of the must haves. For us water tankage was a big eliminator. If it did not have 80 gal or more we were not interested. That simple.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
Shows tend to bring in all the dealer's glitzy or gimmicky stuff. Rarely bare bones RVs. You're better off looking at each manufacturer on the web for the different models.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

theoldwizard1
Explorer
Explorer
DutchmenSport wrote:
... you visit an RV show where they have the latest models on display.

The last couple of shows I have been to had dozens of "top of the line" Class A coaches and 35'+ fifth wheel trailers. Very few non-fifth wheel trailers and even fewer hybrid/pop-ups.

moresmoke
Explorer
Explorer
This was my experience... Went into the two local dealers... Told them I was looking for something in the 25-28 foot range, two full size bunks, and NO slide. I got the deer in the headlights look. After a few minutes, they each showed us two different units. One was a no go due to the kitchen (or lack thereof). We went home and spent hours searching the web, only to return to one of the dealers and pick one they had on the lot.

A half decent salesperson should be able to point you to what you are lookng for, that is their job.

Kavoom
Explorer
Explorer
handye9 wrote:
Here's a start; Coachmen Freedom Express 292BHDSLE, Puma 29QBSS, Salem Cruise Lite 282QBXL, Shasta 30QB


Nice, I never found this approach.

FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Explorer II
bikendan wrote:
First, I go to every brand's website and look at floorplans that have the features I want.

Second, I then find dealers that carry those models and go look at them in person. If they don't have that model, I look at other models of the same brand, to determine quality and fit/finish of that brand.

Third, I then do a web search on the RV I've selected, for price comparison. Especially dealers like RVW and RV Direct.

THIS!

On the internet the brand name sites, like Keystone, Heartland, etc is wonderful on posting their floorplans and spec info etc.

I googled RV manufacturers and it listed all the biggies, Forest River and more and then wittled down from that. I loved floorplan shopping the brands, so interesting. And you always find one that suits you ๐Ÿ™‚ Then ya go find it ๐Ÿ™‚

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
bikendan wrote:
First, I go to every brand's website and look at floorplans that have the features I want.

Second, I then find dealers that carry those models and go look at them in person. If they don't have that model, I look at other models of the same brand, to determine quality and fit/finish of that brand.

Third, I then do a web search on the RV I've selected, for price comparison. Especially dealers like RVW and RV Direct.

^^^^^^ Best answer. ^^^^^ You will waste a lot of time visiting RV shows and dealers first. Show will only have a very few models of each manufacturer on site. And dealers will not have every floorplan available on their lots.

Find floorplans that look promising on the web sites. Then find where can go to see it in person.

Bear_N_Honeys
Explorer
Explorer
http://changingears.com/rv-checklist-getting-started.shtml?sec-buy