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Re: Class A prices dropping??
I just checked NADA and also RV Trader. I'm actually amazed at how well the value on mine is holding up! NADA Average is well above what we paid nearly two years ago. Low NADA is close to what we paid two years ago. Looking on RV Trader all but one were asking well above what we paid and above NADA, and one was $5K less than we paid two years ago. So, I'm not crying yet.557Views0likes0CommentsRe: New Motorhome amenity, geysers?
On various RV Forums I often read owner's writings about the many issues they have with initial quality with lots of trips to the dealership to get things fixed. More than a few recommend buying used to avoid all those initial quality problems and get one with all the kinks worked out (maybe...wouldn't want the one from the article!!!) Being a long-time RVer, but new to these forums, I was shocked because I've owned many new RV's, including two gas Class A's and one Class A DP (along with several towables). I'd have to say that overall we've had just a handful of initial quality issues and none of them were anywhere close to serious in nature. Most were not even really the fault of the coach builder, but rather something like a generator or other installed equipment. Now, the last new RV I bought was back in very early 2009, which was a Newmar. Perhaps things have gotten a lot worse over the last decade. We always try to do a LOT of study on the manfacturing of the RV...how well are they built by any given brand? Perhaps that is why we have rarely encountered issues. Or...perhaps we've just had an unusual amount of luck. On the other hand, I often overhear people at RV shows who clearly have done no research, but are falling for that "shiney penny" they see. Big mistake.704Views0likes0CommentsRe: Coolant service cost
This is a project I'm going to do in the next 30 days. I have the ELC coolant and all new belts and hoses. So far I have around $200 into the materials and parts, but my son-in-law is the Shop Manager for a Trucking company, so I'm getting the stuff at their cost (but not more than a Cummin's shop would pay). I have a Cat. The ELC is good for more miles than I'll put on the coach in several lifetimes....6 years for aging, though. As others have said, it's not a hard job, just time consuming and low tech.661Views0likes0CommentsRe: Bill Myers' Views on buying RV's at a Bargain Price
For a 2010 Adventurer 32H on the Ford Chassis (I picked this because it would be the lowest cost one) NADA LOW is $51,900. The one Wildebill posted is on the Workhorse with asking of $57,995. I'd say it's highly unlikely to find one that's clean like new and low miles for under $20K.664Views0likes0CommentsRe: Class A vandalized on roof
dougrainer wrote: Average value for your model is 25k, not 35k. While it IS your baby, you have to be realistic on the real value of that motorhome. One thing novices do when they go to the Kelly type sites is they ADD all what they think is optional equipment. REAL NADA books already have those options as standard equipment built into the price listed, which is where the actual 25k value comes from. Doug Better yet to find real value is to thoroughly search the unit on the web to see what it is selling for. Valuing at "Book"....even just the Base w/o option adders, can be a huge mistake. It varies by brand and model, but many actually sell for far, far less than book. PPL Motorhomes has good information on their website about this. The "books" usually just take off a certain amount each year because there aren't a ton of each brand/model length, etc. selling in any given year to get a good used market price. That practice can be quite inaccurate. That said, I'm sure most Insurance Companies and Banks use the book value.329Views0likes0CommentsRe: Which Brand Class A
rr2254545 wrote: Bumpyroad wrote: janstey58 wrote: I would go with the Discovery. Winnebago's are known for roofs that require yearly maintenance. I've had two Fleetwoods, excellent manufacturer support, and no roof issues for years. yearly maintenance (caulking) a fiberglass roof is much more preferable than getting a rubber or TPO roof on the fleetwood. bumpy Mine is over 6 years old - check it every year per Winnebago - has not had to be caulked yet Yeah...I keep reading about Winnebago Fiberglass roofs like it's akin to having the plague. Nary an issue over years on both Journey's I've had. EVERYONE should check their roof at least annually regardless of material. Never had to do anything on the roof of either of mine. But the fiberglass sure is a breeze to keep clean and I don't worry nearly as much about a branch scraping it vs the rubber/TPO roofs I've had on other brands. I'll keep my Fiberglass....thank you.641Views0likes0CommentsRe: Looking for new insurance
pryoclastic wrote: Good Sam was too expensive. Went with Foremost through Farmers. $49.64 for our 1995 Class A. Yeah...me too when I left Progressive. Can't figure out why Good Sam was so expensive on the quote they gave me when one of the companies they work with is Foremost. :h606Views0likes0CommentsRe: Class A vandalized on roof
So sorry to hear about this. Just when you think you've heard it all...hard to imagine why someone would do that. You just never know what some people are capable of. Makes me glad I live out in the country and my motorhome is stored in a shed. I hope your insurance carrier changes their minds and ends up taking care of you. Insurance is a frequent topic here with people asking about costs and service. Unfortunately, companies that don't want to pay out fairly are out there. Good luck.437Views0likes0CommentsRe: Which Brand Class A
Are these all new units? If so, go on each of the websites and get the construction information of the vehicle and/or go to RV shows that have these brands and talk to factory reps. Ask about the construction including R-Values of floors, walls, roof, spacing of floor joists, roof joists, etc. What kind of materials are used? OSB or Plywood? How thick? What kind of foam is used in seating (density). Take factory tours, if possible. Go to dealer lots and look at used ones even if you're buying new. Looking at lots of used ones will start to give you some idea of how they hold up over time. They all look nice when new on the showroom floor...how they hold up over time is the key and while the care and maintenance habits of the owner can make a big difference, poorly built units with cheap materials are pretty easy to spot when looking through used units. In my own research on this (not including the really high-value brands that were out of my reach) I always came to the conclusion that the top three were Tiffin, Winnebago, and Newmar. While I would give Tiffin the edge because of the incredible service stories I've read, any of those three would be tops in my book. I've personally owned two Winnie's and one Newmar. All good though I had far far better initial quality with the Winnie than the Newmar (the two new ones I had).373Views0likes0Comments
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