Best used campers

I would not buy a new camper. My 845 camper model made by Lance had a retail price of $12K when it was first introduced. When mine was made in 2008 the retail price was close to $18k for the base model (AC, roof rack, 4-season windows, etc. add to that price). It was replaced a couple years later with the 855 that has a sales price of more than $24K. I bought the 845 used in 2011 for $12,000 instead of a new 855 which by the time I got it equipped at the same level as the 845 would have cost me $28,000 plus the additional sales tax.

I expect that when it comes time to sell the camper I will get about $10K for it and have a net loss with my additions to it of about $4,000. Had I bought a new 855 for $28K and added the same improvements as I did with the 845, and sold the 855 5 years later for $20K the cost of ownership would have been $10,000 and that is assuming that I could get $20K for a 5-year old 855 camper.

The only modification I made to the 845 that I would not have had to make to the 855 was adding a rack and wiring for a second battery. The other improvements, like adding solar panels and a controller, would have been done regardless.

The used campers in any given area depend in part on the brand. Lance campers are made in southern California so there are lots more used ones in this part of the country. I would expect to find more Arctic Fox campers and Wolf Creek campers in the Pacific Northwest. Where there are more used campers there are more to choose from and it is easier to find one that has been well cared for and lightly used.

If suprised me to read ads for used campers where people had never used the stove and in some cases never used the bathroom. Big difference between a camper used by a couple a couple weeks each year and one used by a family with children on most weekends in terms of wear and tear on the camper. In some parts of the country there is greater access to inside storage facilities and these campers will be in much better shape as a result. The worst are the ones stored outside in coastal areas.

I have a Bigfoot since 2001, it is a 97 & still looks & feels new, no leaks, a well built tc. Try & check one out .

Once the camper's out of warranty, it's all about what's available within your comfortable driving distance, and condition, condition, condition.

You've got to look at everything that's available in your desired size range, and pick the one you like that is the best value for the money.

It makes no sense to buy a leaky, clapped-out Northern Lite just because it's supposed to be "top of the line" when there's a tight, dry, meticulously cared-for older Palomino (i.e. bottom-of-the-barrel) nearby.

I think a lance 855 if it is a short box truck

For a quality camper that isn't huge I would look really hard at Northstar. The biggest camper they make is a 9.5 foot which is too small for my family but if they made a bigger one I would give it strong consideration. Northstar seems to be willing to work with a customer on custom builds if they would like. They are a small company that attends to customers very well. I've never seen a post from or talked to a Northstar owner who wasn't happy.

You never know about a brand until you start taking things apart to see underneath why they leaked. This is the single biggest problem with most all campers out there.

There are still some very good and even older sheet metal sided campers still around, can attest for some good workmanship.

Best thing is like what you see and next fine tooth comb it throughout.

One year a good employee in charge of quality, or even someone responsible for the shell/frame can be mistreated and move on to a different manufacturer. You just never know.

I would be looking real hard for a camper that has been stored under cover most it's life. They get the two thumbs up.

Oh yes... a good test is to close up the camper tight, run the furnace up to about 75 for about 15 minutes. After you have been outside, used to fresh air, then jump inside the camper to see if you small mold/ mildew/ rot. Some folks can tell if there's a problem that way.

You are going to get dozens of responses to this. I would say better than asking what to look at you should look at what is available in your area and use a fine tooth comb when you are looking. If you see anything that looks funny run away. Open and close doors & windows, run pumps, power, check everything. Push on walls for soft spots climb up on the roof, check under the floor. If you are happy then buy it.

I have seen some manufacturer units that people would not recommend that were in amazing shape and I have seen units that were highly recommended that looked like garbage. Used a lot depends on the previous owner over the manufacture.

To me, it is all about floor plans. Figure our what you want, length, slides or not, front or rear bath, wet or dry bath,rear slide, 20 or 30 lb propane tanks, generator or not, North south bed or east west, window placements, is having a close by dealer important, is the type of ourside covering important, aluminum, fiberglass, plastic, etc. By the time a person gets what they want written down, they have probably gotten this list down to one or two brands.

I don't feel there is a great deal of difference in any of the more popular brands, so far as quality is concerned. Once a brand and model have been selected, then do a search to find one and be ready to travel. Even though I live in Florida, I found my previous Lance TC in Tennessee, bought it over the phone and drove up to haul it home. Our current Lance we found at a dealer in Florida, while not a TC dealer, had it on consignment for a friend of the dealer. Again I bought it over the phone with the right of refusal upon personal examination when I got there, written into the contract.

Since I do all my own work on my TC, having a dealer near by isn't important to me when buying a used rig. If new, it would be a different story, because of any needed warranty work. We are happy with our Lance, the 5th TC we have owned in the last 40 years but I would be just as happy with any of the other major brands.

Never looked at used, but did tour the Northwood factory before we purchased our Arctic Fox. Really was impressed with their attention to detail and frame construction. I'm sure other brands are put together with the same amount of care, but can't comment on those. Guess if you have a hard time finding a model, might mean that they are quality units and folks want to hang on to them. Good luck finding something that fits your needs.