Buying a dp, which gets the best bang for the buck

[docj]

Originally Posted by leewhiz

There are a number of good coaches out there, but stay away from any of them that are now out of business. A number of companies have gone belly up these few years.

IMHO the question of whether or not a manufacturer is currently in business is virtually irrelevant if the coach is out of warranty and more than ~5 years old. Our coach is 12 years old and we have no difficulty getting service and parts on all of the major subsystems. Even if the manufacturer was still in business support for systems made by other companies is best provided by them. I cannot understand why so many RV owners go to their manufacturers to fix things that could be done more easily if they would go directly to the subsystem maker.

As for chassis and power train issues, these RVs are trucks and we have had no problem getting them serviced and repaired at truck facilities throughout the country.

[FormerBoater]

Originally Posted by Automobilist

Probably because it's 13 years old, has a very dated interior and only 350hp for a pretty heavy coach. It's only going to get older, more dated, and sure isn't getting more powerful... I think it's a bit high priced.

Top quality whitewashed oak with great craftsmanship, marble floors, porcelain toilets, Moen sink and shower fixtures,and the leather couch.

Yep, it is not the dark colors that the builders are using today but to each his own.

My 98 has the 325 HP 8.3 liter engine, accelerates quickly and has climbed Fancy Gap twice in the hot summer with no issues. The ISC 350 is plenty of engine for this coach.

PPL just sold a 2000 Eagle in March for $77,995.

2 months later, one year older for $51,950?

Just saying........

Dave
1998 American Eagle 40EVS

[Davdeb1]

When it is not advertised with the mileage, I think that is not an accident. I have a 40 ft HR DP that seems to have every feature the American eagle has. I bought last year for 48k plus tax, with 37k on it. If it had over 100k even being a diesel, I probably wouldn't have paid any where near that. Suspension, brakes wheel bearings, things like that need replaced on higher mile vehicles.

If you wonder why it is so cheap, there is a reason.

[FormerBoater]

Originally Posted by Davdeb1

When it is not advertised with the mileage, I think that is not an accident. I have a 40 ft HR DP that seems to have every feature the American eagle has. I bought last year for 48k plus tax, with 37k on it. If it had over 100k even being a diesel, I probably wouldn't have paid any where near that. Suspension, brakes wheel bearings, things like that need replaced on higher mile vehicles.

If you wonder why it is so cheap, there is a reason.

Your 2000 Endeavor MSRP was $112,000 less than the 99 Eagle.

Low retail on the 2000 Endeavor is currently 41K, 99 Eagle low retail is 58K.

It may be a high mileage unit that was full-timed in with pets, smokers and folks with an affinity for moth balls. I found out when I was on the hunt that they all look good on the web but you have to inspect the coaches yourself to see what condition they are in.

To the OP, I would not be concerned too much about mileage for a DP. The engine does not really get fully broken in until around 50K miles.

Suspension, brakes etc. typically never wear out in a DP as the components used are the same as million mile vehicles (OTR trucks and buses). Chassis manufacturer Spartan has stated that they have never seen the brakes wear out in a Motorhome application for example.

Probably not a good strategy to target units that are priced significantly below low retail but I would favor a unit that was driven vs. one that sat.

[Davdeb1]

Originally Posted by FormerBoater

Your 2000 Endeavor MSRP was $112,000 less than the 99 Eagle.

Low retail on the 2000 Endeavor is currently 41K, 99 Eagle low retail is 58K.

It may be a high mileage unit that was full-timed in with pets, smokers and folks with an affinity for moth balls. I found out when I was on the hunt that they all look good on the web but you have to inspect the coaches yourself to see what condition they are in.

To the OP, I would not be concerned too much about mileage for a DP. The engine does not really get fully broken in until around 50K miles.

Suspension, brakes etc. typically never wear out in a DP as the components used are the same as million mile vehicles (OTR trucks and buses). Chassis manufacturer Spartan has stated that they have never seen the brakes wear out in a Motorhome application for example.

Probably not a good strategy to target units that are priced significantly below low retail but I would favor a unit that was driven vs. one that sat.

My point was, any unit advertised without mileage is a reason for pause. I am not comparing this eagle to my HR, BUT, mine was good mileage, new tires, 2 slides not one, and had all the options that made the msrp 161k. I have the original window sticker. Low retail on mine when I purchase it was 48k. Looking inside these coaches, they almost look identical.

For all anyone knows, this coach has 200k on it, and I don't care what anyone says, I will take a HR or any mid upper range DP with 50k or less miles, than go pay 20k more for the high mileage Eagle. Let's face it, they both are DP with almost the same HP, they will both drive great and be comfortable. When these big old beasts, if well maintained they will both outlive us.(well me anyway, lol)

[Romeo]

Originally Posted by FormerBoater

...Suspension, brakes etc. typically never wear out in a DP as the components used are the same as million mile vehicles (OTR trucks and buses). Chassis manufacturer Spartan has stated that they have never seen the brakes wear out in a Motorhome application for example...

I also was told by the mechanic that did my last service, that he never saw a motorhome with worn out brake shoes, so I quit worrying about the brakes on our 2000 DSDP.

[JimM68]

Depending on how much time you will spend in it, size is a big issue.
More slides are always better. The days when people were scared of slides and considered them problems waiting to happen are long gone. Slides are main stream, they work, and they expand your living space. I just love puilling into a campground, hitting 4 switches, and doubling the interior space of my rig.

There are manufacturers who build inexpensive rigs, built to a price to capture the low end of the dp market. I'd stay far away from them. Newmar and monaco make good high quality products. Ditto for amercan coach, but not so much for fleetwood, forest river, damon, or sportcoach.

Fleetwood build a nice coach, but many do not have passthru storage because they dont have a raised rail chassis. If the storage comes out with the slides, no passthru.

[bgc44a]

Look at the Holiday Ramblers. They are actually built by Monoco Coach, who invented the Class A, and are famous for building high end quality coaches. The only difference is the Monoco Units all use Roadmaster Chassis, which they build themselves, and the Holiday Ramblers use mostly Frieghtliner custom chassis. The Frieghtliner chassis is no slouch, but the Roadmasters ride just a little bit better. Also most of the Holiday Ramblers will, like the Monocos, be equiped with Cummins Diesels, way better than Caterpillar diesels. The slides on the Monoco/Holiday Rambler are also more reliable, not quite as suseptible to jamming. Those are my opinions, with which you can get a cup of coffee if you also throw in a dollar or two. By the way, Cummins will tell you that their engines are not considered to be at full effeciency till they are at 115,000 miles. They are also known as 'The million mile engine'.
Bob C.
Gulf Stream 40', + Jeep Wrangler toad

[pumper9x9]

Country Coach and Foretravel are the high end manufacture coaches of those years. We got a 2002 CC intrigue and have been happy with it. But before you run out and buy one I'd like to suggest you go to rv.org pay what they are asking, read all their material then look at their rating system and see what looks good to you. The go to oodle.com plug in what you're looking for. If you check the right box they will send you daily updates. This place searches all over the internet. Beware of deals that sound too good to be true because 99.9999% of the time they are scams. Happy huntiing

[MikeandClaudia]

"Above all, best bang for the buck is used. Let someone else suffer the huge initial depreciation & getting it all sorted out."

I totally agree. We bought ours used (4 years old). Paid not quite half of the list price. The original owner replaced an A/C, refer, and a couple of other rather large ticket items.

After he got it sorted out, we have had nothing other than regular wear and tear.
We have been really happy with our DSDP.

[CountryFit]

Thank you all for your wealth of information!! This is one of reasons I like this site so much!! I have been reading, digesting, looking and test-driving in these days, it's fun but a daunting task . I'll post here when I get one... Enjoy your Memorial Day!!

[jimmyjnr]

Why is cummins better than caterpillar ?? Not disagreeing just interested

[Davdeb1]

I think people just have preferences. I have a Cat engine, it runs great and gets almost 10 mpg. Plenty of power, but then I have nothing to compare it to.

[ahicks]

Originally Posted by jimmyjnr

Why is cummins better than caterpillar ?? Not disagreeing just interested

Similar to the Chev vs Ford thing....