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Financing New Travel Trailer - All I Should Know?

shawnster79fl
Explorer
Explorer
Hello. New to the Site. First Forum Question.

I'm looking to purchase a new Coachmen/Forest River Viking Saga 14SR in Central Texas.

I'm finding them for about $16K

What should I expect my Total amount to be financed, including Taxes, Titles, Wholesale Warranty, Insurance, etc.?

https://www.ronhooverrvs.com/product/new-2023-viking-saga-14sr-1999867-29

And including these options:
RVIA SEAL
SAGA TOWABLES ESSENTIALS PACKAGE
TRAVEL EASY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Are they necessary?

Thank You.

Shawn
20 REPLIES 20

trailer_newbe
Explorer II
Explorer II
Don’t accept extra warranties because for obvious reasons and rare exception it is a total waste of money. Don’t add any packages the dealer wants to lump into your loan because you can likely buy it cheaper yourself, AND it will be something you’ll actually use.
2018 Jayco White Hawk 28RL

nickthehunter
Nomad II
Nomad II
trailer_newbe wrote:
Generally speaking dealers don’t actually make any money from the sale of an RV on their lot. Financing is where the money is made so keep that in mind when financing through the dealer.
I don’t care who is making money, as long as I’m getting the best rate I can get. I’ve always went in knowing exactly what the best rate is I can get on my own; if the dealer can beat it, so be it. If not I use my own finance company. I’ve done it both ways in the past.
Just don’t go in blind, always go in fully armed with everything you need to know.

trailer_newbe
Explorer II
Explorer II
Generally speaking dealers don’t actually make any money from the sale of an RV on their lot. Financing is where the money is made so keep that in mind when financing through the dealer.
2018 Jayco White Hawk 28RL

ktmrfs
Explorer
Explorer
interest rate may depend a great deal on the term length.
And another option may be a equity line of credit.

when I bought our trailer in 2010 I was able to get an interest rate of <4% using my equity line of credit. Since at the time I was getting close to 4% tax free yield from stock dividends rather than cash I did the loan,

When I bought our Denali in 2015 a 3 year term financing the whole purchase price using my bank was 2.5%. Again, less interest than tax free dividend yield on the investments I would have sold.

Yes, payments were high, but it was a good rate and I had more than enough cash coming in to do the payments

In both cases having automatic payment every month from checking reduced the interest rate and got rid of the hassle of sending off a check.

Today with likely interest rates, If I had to finance I'd go for term that gave the lowest interest rate.

And I don't know about today, but when we bough the trailer and truck interest rates on used trailers or vehicles was definitely higher than new. No way would it make of the difference in price, but interest rates were definitely higher
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!

mosseater
Explorer
Explorer
I can't speak to the current market, but back when I bought mine, it was fairly widely known mark up on trailers was like 40% from sticker. My 2008 trailer was listed at $28,900. We bought it for $17,900. Something to be aware of if still bargaining.
"It`s not important that you know all the answers, it`s only important to know where to get all the answers" Arone Kleamyck
"...An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper
Sunset Creek 298 BH

shawnster79fl
Explorer
Explorer
Well looks like the ole Shawnster split, but what you posted above is wholly an incorrect and far oversimplified example.


Yeah, I tucked my tail in between my legs and scurried away! I needed time away to rehabilitate from GritDog honest response:)

I lurk around the forum a while longer before I ask another ill-prepared question! I appreciate the knowledge in this forum.

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
@tommyznr. You just proved my point. With your example about the truck vs the suv. And all the “conditions” you mentioned for the good value of the old camper.
Vehicles don’t even all depreciate at the same rate. Your attempt at oversimplifying the depreciation rates of vehicles and RVs is just that, oversimplified.
Sooo many other factors that a blanket statement is almost wholly inapplicable.
But in general they are similar depreciating assets, always have been.

But I’m keenly aware of the residual value of GMT800 suvs and similar as they seem to keep making their way to my house as cheap commuter/kid vehicles.
Unless more to the story, if you had a good running GMT 800 burb with 250k and not rusted out that needed (well shocks are the better part of $1000 in parts if it had air level) minor things like you said, and sold it for $1000, someone got a good deal. However it’s splitting hairs even though maybe you could have sold it for 150% more, that’s only a few % points more in overall residual value.
But even where you live in Cheeseland makes a huge difference. Your stuff in general would fetch more down south than up north where the economy has been and is perpetually severely depressed.
Cheers, man.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

wowens79
Explorer III
Explorer III
New campers do depreciated pretty quickly the first few years, so unless you do a large down payment you will be upside down. The dealers have lots of inventory now, so you should be able to get 30% off of MSRP, more if you can find a 2022 left over. 2023's should be dropping in price, as some 2024's are appearing at dealers now.
2022 Ford F-350 7.3l
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500HD 6.0l 268k miles (retired)
2016 Heritage Glen 29BH
2003 Flagstaff 228D Pop Up

tommyznr
Explorer
Explorer
Grit dog wrote:
tommyznr wrote:
APT wrote:
RVs depreciate around the same rate as automobiles. ....


I don't think this is true. I was told that RVs depreciate some amount the first three years and then drop in value slowly from there. I don't remember the percentages.

Antidotal point: We bought a 2004 Suburban for around $35 - $40k and 2004 Keystone Hornet for around $12k brand new. In 2018 we got about $1k for the Suburban and about $8k for the Hornet. The Suburban with 250,000+ miles needed about $5k worth of work, the Hornet needed about $1k worth of work.


Well looks like the ole Shawnster split, but what you posted above is wholly an incorrect and far oversimplified example.
Depreciation is what it is and yes RVs, cars, other motorized toys DO depreciate similarly.
However there are many more factors to that equation.
Like your example, your rusted out or gonna be rusted out (no way it wasn’t a year round driver in the rust belt with those miles), clapped out, quarter million miles, prolly a destroyed drivers seat also on top of “$5k in (deferred or neglected) repairs needed” Burb is likely no way comparable to your camper unless it too was left out in the back yard for 14 summers and winters and crossed the country 22times while being lived in…in which case it would t have sold for much either.
The reality is your camper was probably used FAR less and not left to rot, not towed through road salt for 14 winters, etc.

Your burb was a used up old bomber. Heck I just got $4k (coulda got $4500 but I didn’t want to rip the buyer off I knew what needed work and he overlooked it…) 140k miles, needed “some” work. More like $1k, dented to shite about a 5 out of 10 in condition. No rust here.
The one before it bout same miles but no work needed and an 8-9 out of 10, sold for $8500 in 2 days 2 years ago.
And not the least of which is how desireable the “thing” is. You can buy NICE older Maseratis for dirt cheap when a comparable Porsche or Audi is FAR more expensive. They were both equally expensive new, but the Maseratis are steaming piles of poo and even more expensive to repair than the German cars. Like everyone will pay to dollar these dates for used Ford Fkin Rangers. Why? Because they’re more desirable than a same era S10.

You have to compare apples to apples although maybe don’t understand that. Hence my post.


Naw, but I realize it was just an example and the devil is in the details. But you give examples of used items sold within the last three years. I could have sold my 2017 pick up for more than I paid for it in the last three years.

The Suburban was in great shape body wise. I just remember saying that I had a choice between putting about $5000 into it and hoping nothing major went wrong right after that vs. going with a pick up and 5th wheel. It needed things like tires, shocks/struts, rear wiper and some other minor stuff I don't much remember.......it was 14 years old in 2018 after all. The camper needed an awning, tires and some minor TLC. Hail dents were barely noticeable.

Now I will admit the camper value was a hail damage insurance claim plus a "trade in" with a dealer that "does not negotiate" price on new equipment. Obviously the out the door price included over paying for my trade in.

Anyway, I am not convinced that (non-motorized) RVs and Automobiles depreciate at the same rate based on my experiences and what I had learned in the past.
Tom

2017 GMC Sierra SLT, Max Tow package
2018 Grand Design Reflection 295RL

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
tommyznr wrote:
APT wrote:
RVs depreciate around the same rate as automobiles. ....


I don't think this is true. I was told that RVs depreciate some amount the first three years and then drop in value slowly from there. I don't remember the percentages.

Antidotal point: We bought a 2004 Suburban for around $35 - $40k and 2004 Keystone Hornet for around $12k brand new. In 2018 we got about $1k for the Suburban and about $8k for the Hornet. The Suburban with 250,000+ miles needed about $5k worth of work, the Hornet needed about $1k worth of work.


Well looks like the ole Shawnster split, but what you posted above is wholly an incorrect and far oversimplified example.
Depreciation is what it is and yes RVs, cars, other motorized toys DO depreciate similarly.
However there are many more factors to that equation.
Like your example, your rusted out or gonna be rusted out (no way it wasn’t a year round driver in the rust belt with those miles), clapped out, quarter million miles, prolly a destroyed drivers seat also on top of “$5k in (deferred or neglected) repairs needed” Burb is likely no way comparable to your camper unless it too was left out in the back yard for 14 summers and winters and crossed the country 22times while being lived in…in which case it would t have sold for much either.
The reality is your camper was probably used FAR less and not left to rot, not towed through road salt for 14 winters, etc.

Your burb was a used up old bomber. Heck I just got $4k (coulda got $4500 but I didn’t want to rip the buyer off I knew what needed work and he overlooked it…) 140k miles, needed “some” work. More like $1k, dented to shite about a 5 out of 10 in condition. No rust here.
The one before it bout same miles but no work needed and an 8-9 out of 10, sold for $8500 in 2 days 2 years ago.
And not the least of which is how desireable the “thing” is. You can buy NICE older Maseratis for dirt cheap when a comparable Porsche or Audi is FAR more expensive. They were both equally expensive new, but the Maseratis are steaming piles of poo and even more expensive to repair than the German cars. Like everyone will pay to dollar these dates for used Ford Fkin Rangers. Why? Because they’re more desirable than a same era S10.

You have to compare apples to apples although maybe don’t understand that. Hence my post.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

tommyznr
Explorer
Explorer
APT wrote:
RVs depreciate around the same rate as automobiles. ....


I don't think this is true. I was told that RVs depreciate some amount the first three years and then drop in value slowly from there. I don't remember the percentages.

Antidotal point: We bought a 2004 Suburban for around $35 - $40k and 2004 Keystone Hornet for around $12k brand new. In 2018 we got about $1k for the Suburban and about $8k for the Hornet. The Suburban with 250,000+ miles needed about $5k worth of work, the Hornet needed about $1k worth of work.
Tom

2017 GMC Sierra SLT, Max Tow package
2018 Grand Design Reflection 295RL

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
shawnster79fl wrote:
Hello. New to the Site. First Forum Question.

I'm looking to purchase a new Coachmen/Forest River Viking Saga 14SR in Central Texas.

I'm finding them for about $16K

What should I expect my Total amount to be financed, including Taxes, Titles, Wholesale Warranty, Insurance, etc.?

https://www.ronhooverrvs.com/product/new-2023-viking-saga-14sr-1999867-29

And including these options:
RVIA SEAL
SAGA TOWABLES ESSENTIALS PACKAGE
TRAVEL EASY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Are they necessary?

Thank You.

Shawn


Since you’re asking for financial advice, buying new is a poor decision especially if financing. And especially now that interest rates are back up. There’s 100s or 1000s of used campers in your size range.
The reason the dealer is offing that big “discount” says 2 things. 1. You could get it even cheaper. 2. They and every other dealer is loaded with RVs and prices are going down.
You can look up the tax rate, title license rate, insurance quote,etc. Have some motivation to learn this on your own. Warranty shouldn’t cost any money and extended warranty is a waste of money.
The cost for the other 2 items should also be zero.
Find a used one for cheaper. And generally credit unions are good no nonsense financing if you have to finance it.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

APT
Explorer
Explorer
RVs depreciate around the same rate as automobiles. I recommend financing for no longer than 5 years. If you cannot afford that, spend less $$$.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2x 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV (Gray and Black Twins)

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Interest rates right now are crazy! So hopefully you can find financing for around 4%.
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!