First-time RVer: new vs used?

[dstrauss666]

Hi, y'all!
My wife and I are just beginning to shop for and learn about the world of RVing, and have narrowed down our search to a small basic TT, around 17-20 feet, to be pulled with our Sequoia. Looks like we can handle anything up to about 3500 lbs, no problem.

There's a limited selection in San Diego where we live, and everything new that we've looked at is in the $17-20K range, which seems pretty pricey. I have been counseled to look for a used trailer, as good deals can be found. Aside from Craigslist, where would you recommend I look? The wife is concerned about used trailers having leaky roofs, aging appliances or other possible hidden damages. How would I go about finding a reliable expert to inspect a used trailer? What are the pros and cons of new vs used that I may not have considered? (Price is obvious).

As an aside, we have looked at and really like the r-pod trailer by Forest River, but my understanding is that they are fairly new products on the market. Anyone have any experience with those? I realize that these are a lot of questions, but any help is appreciated.

Many thanks, Dave

[herbhofmann]

Our first trailer was a '73 Prowler 18'. We've been camping for over 30 years and wanted to get our older bodies off the ground. This trailer was only a few thousand dollars and we kept it for 10 years.

When we bought our 2008 Summit 22RB, we knew it was exactly what we wanted. Our patience got us a 5 year old trailer that had been used 3 times-you could tell. Even the mattress still had the plastic on it.

My advice, by your first one as cheap as possible and live with it until you know what you really want. Plus, if you make a mistake and break something, it won't hurt quite as bad!

[profdant139]

Partly it depends on if you are "handy" -- a used trailer has no warranty. We bought our first one used because we were not sure we really were going to like trailering (we DO!!) and we wanted to save some money. I would do the same thing again, but I am a person who likes to spend a lot of time with tools in hand, standing there trying to figure out how to fix something.

[JordanH]

I bought my first camper this past august used via private sale. Look around the camper and you will be able to tell if it was taken care of. Mine was in excellent condition, and the seller gave me a trailer brake and weight distribution set as well

[michigansandzil]

Our first TT we purchased used from a friend. It had no major issues, smells, etc.

Like others mentioned, after just a year and a half of using it, we figured out what we liked/disliked about that particular TT and what we wanted in our next one.

Our next camper we bought new but did look at newer used models. The models we saw were at an RV sales lot and they were all clean and appeared well cared for. I would have bought one of them, but we went with new simply because the newer models had more options that we wanted. The warranty was a plus too.

[jmatthews]

My wife and I bought our first TT used. It was a 97 mallard and we did not have any idea what we were looking at. We got it cheap and we enjoyed it for about 3 yrs. We kinda lucked out though as we had limited issues and enjoyed it. I have heard the horror stories. I traded that unit in on new after we knew we loved camping.
Same year we bout ours my neighbor bought theirs and it was newer than ours and much nicer inside but... The roof leaked and the axle was bent so there were soem very costly repairs for them.

This is like anything you buy used. If you look it over as good as you can and make an educated purchase you should be ok used. Bit remember even when you buy a new one you have things that have to be gone through.

Good luck each new and used have the good and bad.

[_tiredTeacher]

ScottG wrote:
Many people don't keep their first trailer very long because once they start using it, they get a better idea of what they really need and wan't.
For this reason, I strongly suggest you buy used.

I agree. We bought a 27' 1995 Sunline for $2000 and we "went to school" on that trailer. We bought a 2014 Rockwood as a result of 3 yrs. in a used trailer learning what we wanted vs. needed.
Go used for a first trailer.

Teach

[jmcgsd]

I am also in San Diego and just replaced my Lance TC with a used TT. We purchased from Holland RV in Santee. They've been around for a long time, have a good service Dept on site and probably are not going to take a chance with a used rig in their lot unless it's in top shape.

One of the things that impressed me was that on the day before our scheduled delivery I went by there and they were putting brand new tires on the trailer. They said that the ones that had been mounted we're getting close to their date code and that they did not believe in letting anything off the lot with a potential safety issue.

BTW I agree 3500# sounds awfully low for your TV.

Good luck in the hunt.

[calamus]

Buy used. I'm not sure where the few people looking at dirty trailers are looking (FEMA??) But our first 2 TT were used and were 20 years old and only looked a couple of years old. You will bang up the first TT. We bought our 5th wheel new only because we knew we wanted certain things,its an 2008 and we still have it store it inside so I'm guessing that we will keep it until the kids are out of the house and then downsize.

[Cotay]

I may be biased from my initial experience looking at TTs, but when my wife and I first started we thought about a used. That is until we went to a consignment lot and most of the used units were filthy and smelled horrible. If I were going to purchase used, it would have to be an exceptional unit. At the very least, I would invest in new mattresses and disinfect every surface. I am not exaggerating that the used TTs we saw were simply nasty. I am not normally one to insist on new...our TV is a used truck that had a pronounced dog smell that we finally eliminated after 9 months, or boat is used, and our house was a short sale that needed work. With the TT however, given that issues can often be hidden from view, I went with new to get a warranty. I'm sure there are nice examples out there...we just decided it wasn't worth it to keep searching when everything we saw looked like it had been abused in some fashion. I was extremely worried about water damage as well. TTs are built to a price point from the start and the peace of mind we have with a warranty is well worth it.

[rfryer]

Used is the way to go for your first TT. But you need someone you trust to do a thorough job of checking it for problems, the most critical being water leakage. In the size you’re looking at you probably won’t find near the selection you will for the big units. A supply and demand issue I think.

My first thought to find someone would be word of mouth with local RVers. But if you have to go out of your local area that may not work and you’ll just have to do the best you can. I’d check the private sellers that don’t use online and dealers, too. You may stumble on a lightly used one that someone is unloading because they’re getting out of RVing or they bought new and then found after using it they really want something else.

[Earl_E]

I, too, would recommend used. If you buy used from a dealer be aware that most dealers mark up used rigs really high. 50% or 60% actual purchase price is not unusual. Check out the internet and NADA to make sure what you need to pay. I've bought far more used Rv's over 40 years than new and have had fewer problems with the used ones.

[WoodGlue]

If you buy used, you are buying else's inattentiveness to routine maintenance, prior leaks and such. There is always that to consider.

RPods look great! So do TABS (T@BS) So do Palominis.

Fining a qualified RV mechanic to inspect your purchase beforehand is a good idea!

WoodGlue

[GaryWT]

We like new. First we like to be the first ones in a place and second we don't want to buy someone else's problems Our first trailer was used and we were lucky to find a nice clean pop up for $1400. The next 5 trailers were new. We have looked at used from time to time but they have been dirty and somewhat uncared for so we stick with new.

[beemerphile1]

Buy used