May not be able to take possession when TT is ready

So, you are asking a dealer to tie up his money for several months until you are ready?? The dealer makes no money until you make your purchase. If I were a dealer, it would require a big deposit or full payment in advance. HOWEVER, that might depend on what options you want and how easy it will be for the dealer to sell it.

The other option would be to find the model you like and see if the dealer will/can have one in stock verses a special order. When you special order, you are adding features that others may or may not want or like.

wmoses is 100% right on when a mfg will get around to making a particular unit. They run certain models together and if you have ordered something other than that, who knows when it will be scheduled. When we ordered our first HTT it was a 19 with stainless appliances and white interior, all "standard options". We were told about 4 - 6 week delivery...at that time FR was mfg the 21SS and 23SS as fast as they could and were not about to stop production to fit in our 19 with all the options. We ordered it in early April and it showed up in mid August. Meanwhile, we had changed to a 23SS and were very thankful that it worked out like it did....the 19 would not have worked nearly as well for us. Any time you special order, just know that you are at the mercy of the manufacturer and their scheduling. Regardless of what the salesman tells you.

allen8106 wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
I wouldn't do it...wait.
Dealers go out of business, and you will be eating up a good part of your warranty while your trailer sits unused on a back lot somewhere.
You will also need to consider insuring it.

Warranty starts from when you buys it, not from when it was manufactured.

True...but the OP says it may be months before he can pick it up...those months after he buy it and it sits stored on the dealer's lot are months of wasted and untested warranty time.

downtheroad wrote:
I wouldn't do it...wait.
Dealers go out of business, and you will be eating up a good part of your warranty while your trailer sits unused on a back lot somewhere.
You will also need to consider insuring it.

Warranty starts from when you buy it, not from when it was manufactured.

Same here. My RV is a newer floorplan and the dealer I bought it from only appears to order one at a time for some inexplicable reason. This being the case I thought that it was in my best interest to pick it up as soon as possible after they informed me that it had arrived so that I could minimize foot traffic. Any dealership while show any trailer if there is interest. They'd be a fool not to.

The problem is how diligent they will be in guarding against damage while showing the trailer and how meticulous they will be in the PDI and prep. I have my opinions on this and they are not necessarily positive, although in my case my RV had no apparent foot traffic so any flaws came from FR.

When we were shopping for a new TT we would often be told the camper we were tromping through with our shoes on, operating drawers and doors, checking the strength of tv mounts, etc was sold.
I really wouldn't want my camper sitting on a sales lot where shoppers like me could get to it...

exeightr wrote:
One possible scenario would mean the dealer we order the TT from may have to hold onto it for a couple months until we arrive.

is that going to be acceptable to most dealers?

I had a recent experience buying an RV on spec and can suggest that:
- the dealer has no control over when a specific unit will be manufactured and will show up, and
- only the specific dealer can comment on willingness to hold a hehilce on their lot for an extended period of time.

I would think that not only would you have to pay a deposit (in my case $500) but you may have some costs passed on to you for storage. Depends on the dealer and their faith in the deal.

wrvond wrote:
Order your new TT four to five weeks before you are ready to take possession.

I agree with a 4-6 week lead time. Rarely will any maker be able to beat that. If you order, the dealer will be expecting you to take delivery within a few days and that would be customary and reasonable.

Order your new TT four to five weeks before you are ready to take possession.

I wouldn't do it...wait.
Dealers go out of business, and you will be eating up a good part of your warranty while your trailer sits unused on a back lot somewhere.
You will also need to consider insuring it.