First TT purchase.....do you "get what you pay for"?

After 20 some years of tent and pop-up camping, we are shopping for our first TT for a few reasons which we might discuss later....on to my thoughts and the real questions at hand:
I'll admit to a lot of web-research over recent times as that was what I was able to do. The discount prices of listings with basic specs (trailer length, weight, pics and a floor plan) with little real info look pretty good showing a brand new unit with most of the features we are pretty sure we want on sale for under 20K, so I was figuring we'd end up with one of those units, but I knew we'd have to see it in person to be sure.
We made our first serious look around a dealer today and I'll admit I had a bit of sticker shock when the sales guy told me the list price of the first one we actually liked upon close inspection. There where other cheaper units, but all with some feature we disliked. Too heavy, too small, or lacking features we really liked a lot in that expensive unit. Then he said that price was MSRP -- not the selling price and added "We will work up a quote to find the real price". I mentioned comparing the lower priced stuff advertised all over the web to him and he said "Sure, go check em out, but don't be surprised if your numbers are different when you go to do paperwork". He explained that they don't tack on anything except tax / tags. No processing fees or hidden charges. Considering all that, their offer ended up being what I would consider fair / overall decent deal at about 25% off that MSRP with brake controller / WDH install and another minor item or 2 thrown in. Not bad, but I'm not committing based on one look around / quote. So I take the quote and go home to search more info.
I realized when I search for that exact model TT, it's about the same "going rate" I see advertised for that model. I'd bet most any dealer will throw in the same extras, so the only thing making this dealers offer desirable at this moment is being close by, and hopefully providing good support. I also realized none of the discount / wholesaler places have this model within a reasonable distance to make it worth pursuing. The overall lowest priced dealer I have found close by doesn't even have this brand and even the units they do carry end up close to the same price when equipped with the same features. So this is what got me to wondering about those lower priced units I see advertised all over the web and the fact that there are a ton of other brands that seem to sell cheaper -- maybe there is a reason? Is there, within the RV / TT world a certain level of "you get what you pay for"....Spend more money (still get a decent deal off of list price) and get a better unit....It's confusing to a point for a newbie like me, because they ALL tell you how great / well made they are, but I don't have the experience to know which ones are "full of it" or if they are all about the same? In which case, I should keep shopping and save 5 / 10 thousand.

Lantley
Nomad
Oct 19, 2013
Good Question. You do get what you pay for if you know what to look for.
Knowledge is power. A used unit can be a bargain price gem if you are capable opf evaluating the used unit, if not they can be a money pit.
A new unit can be purchased exactly the way you want it, but you must know what you want and even what you don't want!
Patience is the key when buying your first unit. Research the floorplan you like first. Floor plan is priority one in my book.
Once floor plan is determined research manufacturers who build the floorplan you like. At that point you can begin to compare quality,standards,options and prices. Make your own decisions, do not take salesman's word for it!
Take your time and get it right the first time, It always cost more to get it right the 2nd time.
30% off MSRP should be your goal.
Community Alumni
Oct 19, 2013
Having owned three new motorhomes, including one costing $200K, I can assure you a higher price tag does not guarantee you a better quality RV. My $200K motorhome had a lot of bling, but it also had a lot of quality defects and problems that I never encountered with the two lower-priced motorhomes.

I recently took a look at small TT made by a company that is highly praised by a forum member and I could not justify paying twice as much for that particular brand compared to similar units. Sure, the expensive brand was more appealing to me, but not to the point of paying twice a much for it. As a far their vaunted high quality, I saw some glaring cosmetic defects in the inside that no company committed to quality would have allowed to go out the door. Chances are if a company lets minor cosmetic defects that are visible go out the door, there is a very good chance that more serious quality deficiencies that are not visible are also going out the door.

Of course, there are some brands that are better than others, but at the end of the day most RVs, specially TTs, are more or less about the same.

Good luck!
colliehauler
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2013
It sounds like the dealer you visited with was a straight shooter. That's worth something. I would be upfront and tell him what you can buy the trailer for and ask how close he can come to that price.
westend
Explorer
Oct 19, 2013
For your situation, I would think that a local dealer with a good reputation would definitely add value. How much value would be the unidentifiable part since a lot of that is about personal preference and the unknown amount of service required.

On the equipment side of purchase: I think a dual paned window is a good thing to have. How many standard add-ons is the seller including (hitch, propane, batteries, etc)? Also, if it was me, I'd be looking underneath any selections--how is the frame built? Is the fit and finish of the underside good or just adequate? Are there water lines and propane lines run underneath--how close are they to wheel wells? There's a lot to be learned by looking at the things most don't, if they took the care to layout and install well in those areas, trust could be assumed for the top side.

Good luck with your choices!
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2013
I guess the only way to check out a dealers rep is to ask people who have bought from them. All dealers put that little sticker with there name on it somewhere on the trailer. Go to a campground and look for stickers with that dealers name and then talk to the trailer owners. Most of us are more then happy to talk about anything camping related. Again, as for buying new I have never done it or I would gladly tell you anything I could.
Heavy_Metal_Doc
Explorer
Oct 19, 2013
All great advice so far, but I must admit a lot of the final price issue and new versus used is not really the big issue for us. We may be new to TT's but a lot of other experience has already taught us what we want for many specific situations / options.
My question really was more of what's worth spending more for when all other details / options of the equipment are the same?
Is there much of any value in buying from a dealer close by?
Is there any sense of customer / dealer loyalty in the RV world? Or are they as bad as "hack" automotive shops who don't care if you leave unhappy with the cost of some item / service since they will never see you again? If this is the case, I may as well go for the cheapest price, but I'm guessing the reality is that there's good ones and bad ones.

Of course, any dealer is gonna make out that other brands are "junk" compared to their lines, so spending some extra to get a "better product" is better off in the long run. I understand that sales pitch, having worked for equipment dealers for nearly 20 years, but working the service side of it tells me all brands have their issues....nothing is perfect. At the dealer we talked to, the sales guy didn't bash anyone, he only stated that owners lack of maintenance will ruin any RV.....

We will see what happens...now having a specific unit in mind, I have done more research on it and have a price in in mind....maybe we will buy it, maybe not....
likesadvice
Explorer
Oct 19, 2013
My wife and I just purchased our first TT. After visits to 14 dealerships and much deliberation we finally narrowed our search to 3 TT's. A lot of the narrowing process was easy, cheap cabinets, strong odors, trim pieces already loose on brand new units, etc... Once we had our 3 we started working the dealers over price. In the end we bought the most expensive of the 3 at 64 percent of msrp. Good luck and make certain you are having fun while looking for your perfect TT. If you find your not having fun, take a break, adjust your attitude, and then go back at it.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2013
I'm on my 4th used TT. Not because the previous ones were bad, I sold them all to friends who are still using them. But, because it took me this long to figure out what I wanted in a TT. I agree with the "don't buy new for your first TT crowd." Since I've never bought new I don't know if there is a difference in quality. Sorry, I can't help you there.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Oct 18, 2013
Yes, there is a difference in quality. Some mfg build there own frames, build cabinets out of wood instead of partical board with viynl covering, residental carpet and floor coverings, better quality furniture. Mfg make units to compete on price points, (just like car mfg). Just like GM or Ford they offer a low end entry model, a mid model, a high end model. To say they are all built the same is just not true. Go to a rv dealer and have him show you the difference. Wheather it is worth the extra money to upgrade is up to you.
ReferDog
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
Can't find the perfect RV you always have to give up something, so it"s priority's, bathroom, storage, living space?????????? and yes now is not a bad time to buy if you can find the model, make. This time of year selection is low. Check manufacture's web sites for all the models they make. May be a lower cost used one of the type you want to buy, a cheaper way to find out what you don't like, and what you really want.