paullac
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Re: Bigfoot Jacks
There’s not necessarily a one size fits all answer here. Depends on the coach and install. We put the Bigfoot auto leveling system on our (now sold) class C. I had the rears installed a little higher on the frame for ground clearance purposes. We backed into a driveway with a slope and didn’t want to risk scraping / damaging them on the way in. Lost a little bit of leveling height but not enough to matter as want to keep rear tires on the ground anyway.161Views0likes0CommentsRe: The math for buying used
Just a perspective from the buy new side... We've bought all 3 of our campers new. The first 2 were pop ups & the last one was a class C. All 3 have worked out very well for us. There are things you can do to help lessen the depreciation factor: On the buy - Get a good price. We got our class C through RVDirect.com and saved a little under $10 k vs buying local. On the sell - Take excellent care of your camper along the way. We completely cleaned all our units after every trip. We properly maintained them. All 3 sold to the first people who came to look at them. Following that advice on our class C allowed us to own it for 2 half seasons & 4 full seasons with (IMO) very little depreciation hit.506Views0likes0CommentsRe: Questions about selling
OP here - The RV is sold. We put it on Craigslist, the first people came to look at it 3 days later, they put an offer in 2 days after that, & then we did the financials & title transfer about a week later (wife was out of town so couldn't do sooner). I was at work when they came to look at it so my wife handled showing it. She is pretty familiar with how everything works. She did accompany them on the test drive. They were an older couple about to retire so we (she) felt very comfortable going along. We went to the DMV together. We signed the title over to them so the VIN is now officially in their name. They already have insurance. The plate stays with the vehicle for the state we live in. They then gave us the payment. They did not finance the purchase. They use the same bank we do. They got a cashiers check. The difference with a cashiers check (vs certified check) is the funds are removed from their account & basically put into a bank escrow account when the check is issued. That means that they couldn't stop payment on the check for example. We were surprised how quickly it sold (approximately 5 days). Truth be told, we would have preferred a little bit longer so that we could have finished more of the season. But then I thought the timeline could get longer the later you go into the season so we moved ahead now. We've had 2 pop up's & now this class C. The pop up's sold in the first weekend to the first people who came to look as well. We just thought it would take longer being a bigger purchase. However, the unit was in excellent condition mechanically, operationally, & from an appearance perspective. Just wanted to update those that provided great advice in response to my questions.657Views0likes0CommentsRe: Questions about selling
j-d wrote: Find a way to make sure the buyer actually transfers title FROM YOU. In FL, signing the title over does not "sever" your ownership. State DMV makes it clear that the New Owner has to complete the transfer. If somebody pays for the unit, takes it and doesn't transfer title, then if anything happens, the search will lead back to you. Using a lender, may actually help with this as noted above. Get everything notarized, too, even if state doesn't require it. Then, if buyer understates price paid to avoid sales tax, you have stronger documentation to show you didn't enable that. OP here - Thanks! I read where you said that on an older post. That was exactly why I made my last comment about needing to look into it where I live.657Views0likes0CommentsRe: Questions about selling
pauldub wrote: Regarding the buyer getting a loan, their lender isn't going to give them money without having the title in hand. OP here - That's my concern. I give them the title. For whatever reason I don't get money (their loan doesn't go through, check to me from the lender gets lost, whatever, any number of reasons...). Once I give up the title I'm in a risky spot. Hoping to find a buyer with cash!657Views0likes0CommentsQuestions about selling
Planning to sell our unit (via Craigslist at least initially). I have read the older posts and know about safety, pricing it right, having it clean, etc. I do have some specific questions from others who have done it: - Test drives: I think it's safer to not go with them but follow in a separate car. Agreed? - Earlier posts say to get cash. Do they literally mean cash? The unit is newer so we're not talking a couple hundred or thousand dollars. - Assuming a check from a bank, I assume the best approach would be to meet at the bank to actually witness getting the check right from the bank? I figure true buyers looking for a camper and not scammers would understand this. - How do you handle if the buyers need to get a loan (especially not locally)? We have the title but not certain when it gets handed over for that type of transaction. I figure the buyers will need some paperwork from us to get the loan. - I still need to investigate how the title / registration transfer happens in my state as we recently moved and have not sold a vehicle here before... I may be back with follow up questions but thanks in advance for this first batch of info.6.5KViews0likes19CommentsRe: Buying a Former Rental Class C. How many of us out there?
wanderlust1966 wrote: Another question---since buying a rental is so much cheaper than a comparable RV in the private sector---when financing, is it possible to get underwater on the loan? I guess my inclination is to finance for as long as possible (144 mo? And I'm looking at a 2013 Class C at El Monte). TIA for any input on this topic! Absolutely. It's loan to value. In theory, your purchase price is what the unit is worth (accounting for having been a rental, higher mileage, etc). If you finance for a longer period of time, there is less principle being applied each month. So, as the unit continues to depreciate, the question is does the principle portion of your monthly payment cover the depreciation and ultimately the continually updating value.415Views0likes0CommentsRe: North Shore Minnesota Advice
GordonThree wrote: paullac wrote: I read the other posts on this topic but had a slightly different question. We recently moved to Minnesota. We will be making our first & only trip to the North Shore of Minnesota in mid June. Just curious, why do you phrase it this way, "first and only trip"? The joy of corporate relos... We recently moved to Minnesota so it will be our first trip. We do not expect to be here long so it will probably be our only trip.263Views0likes0CommentsNorth Shore Minnesota Advice
I read the other posts on this topic but had a slightly different question. We recently moved to Minnesota. We will be making our first & only trip to the North Shore of Minnesota in mid June. We includes dad, mom, a 16 yr old, & a 13 yr old. We'll be in our class C. Our priorities are to see the noteworthy sights, take some hikes, ride our bikes, & relax. We currently have 6 nights booked at Grand Marais. We have the option to add some nights at Burlington Bay. Our questions are: - Should we just stay in Grand Marais for all 6 nights? - Should we shorten Grand Marais & add some nights to Burlington Bay? - If so, what is the idea number of nights in each spot? Thanks!1.4KViews0likes6CommentsRe: Buying a Former Rental Class C. How many of us out there?
flavtfan wrote: I'm new to the forum and will be picking up a Four Winds Chateau Sport 25C from El Monte in Las Vegas soon. I was hesitant buying used at first too but after reading this thread I feel a little better. That model that I'm picking up has a HUGE flooplan for a smaller rig since it has the slide. I think it has to do with the layout and that it doesn't have the big cabinet or fridge at the foot of the bed. Looks very open in there and you can lay in bed or sit on the bed while company is in there and not be all cramped in there. Apparently it is a pretty popular model and El Monte sales didn't think they had any more when I went to look at them. I got a call back from the sales dept and they said they found one that was still in rental and would pull it from rental once it returned to the Santa Fe El Monte to sell to me, all I needed was a 500 deposit for them to hold it from being rented out again. They are going to prep it for sale there in Santa Fe then deliver it down to Vegas. Great customer service so far. They are going to install an awning for me too. Can't wait to pick it up! 29k OTD with everything....seems reasonable when compared to the NADA. Gonna be nice going to the dunes and stuff and not sleep on a cot and go without a shower for 2-3 days lol. Curious question - are people buying sight unseen? We looked at used units for a long time. Many had water leak / delam issues. Granted it was individual owners vs rentals. I point that out because, perhaps, roofs / seams are more closely monitored on rentals than individual owners. $29 k is a good deal I guess but also a good chunk of money sight unseen (although as I say that we dropped a chunk too on our new unit at an RV Direct location that was 500 miles away sight unseen!).376Views0likes0Comments
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