|
|
02-21-2013, 02:55 PM
|
#29
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 1,195
|
Nothing surprises me... heck, here even on the board people talk about upgrading from 2011 models to 2013 models, which means a taking a massive depreciation hit that is likely more than my coach is worth!
but it happens all the time...
Steve
__________________
The Green Machine -- 2000 Mountain High Coachworks Summit (Spartan chassis / Cummins ISC)
...and F-Troop: Fearghus, Fiona, and Frankie (Cairn Terriers)
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
02-21-2013, 03:02 PM
|
#30
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 676
|
We have had 6 Winnebagos starting in 1997. All bought new. The first three were gas since we really didn't think we would need a diesel coach. WELL....our first diesel was an 04 Vectra...then an 08 Vectra and now the 2013 Tour. DH said he would never go back to a gasser.
__________________
glenda1908
2013 Tour 42 QD 2011 Ford Flex
19?? Husband/ Capt. Ret USN
|
|
|
02-21-2013, 03:39 PM
|
#31
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
|
We bought our 2006 Winnebago 38J April of 2012. We thought it would be a long term buy and loved the floor plan. We thought it would work as a full time home. The Workhorse set up was not bad at all with the usual issues of engine noise. But...we didn't know what we didn't know. Things we just didn't consider/understand:
1. Short queen bed.
2. Basement AC wasn't to our liking. (This is not a universal opinion and many don't have the problems we did.)
3. Genny under our bed.
4. CCC was 1600# We thought that was a lot but it wasn't enough once you look at how the rig is balanced front to back.
5. Too many windows for FT use.
As soon as it got winterized we started our search for our current DSDP.
Now, don't get me wrong because I am not bad mouthing our Winnebago. It will be a great part time MH for someone that wants a large one without a huge investment. We will miss the mid entry too.
Never the less, we learned a lot in the time we owned it and with retirement in less than 18 months wanted to upgrade sooner than later to shake the new MH down and whip it into shape for our use. But...I guarantee that Sandee will NEVER let us go back to a gasser again. (I'll just have to blame her.)
__________________
Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
|
|
02-21-2013, 05:53 PM
|
#32
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,562
|
I lurked here for awhile and saw threads like these... skipped the gasser and went straight to diesel... I drove both engines and am a convert to the diesel as well.
|
|
|
02-21-2013, 06:13 PM
|
#33
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 371
|
My Marathon............
as previously mentioned in a prior post I have owned a Marathon. In 1992 while working in south Florida (using my Pace Arrow on the job) I was walking thru the campground and saw a gent sitting under his awning watching TV! Wow, I thought and just kept on walking. On my return I passed by again and could not help but stare. I was surprised when he motioned me over, asked if I would like to have a beer. We did and he asked if I would like to see the interior, I passed saying I did not want to look at things that I could not afford. Round about the third beer I asked how it handled. He told me he had never driven it but had it driven down to Florida for a three week vacation. Further he stated, which BTW turned out to be true, that he owned the second largest airline in Canada. As the conversation progressed I learned that for tax purposes he bought a new one every two years, wrote off the depreciation and whatever expenses were associated with coach and based upon what his accountant said, sold it. I asked if he would call me when the time came hoping my financial situation would even warrant thinking about it. To my surprise, 18 months later he did call and the rest is history. Not trying to sound pretentious, I was single at the time and pretty much lived in the Arrow as my job kept me on the the road. I kept the Marathon for three years, sold for way more than I paid, bought a new Foretravel and so it goes.
Sometimes even a blind squirrel gets a nut!
__________________
'92 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager. Tweaked 5.9 Cummins, complete interior makeover (previous owner).
|
|
|
02-21-2013, 07:44 PM
|
#34
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bella Vista, Arkansas
Posts: 5,389
|
Every time I read this thread I start rethinking of getting a DP instead of a gasser. I then look for used models with a max of $100,000 and do not fill comfortable with anything I see. So I most likely will get a new or no older than a 2010 gasser. I understand that there are great diesels older than 2010, but I am leary of something older than that especially not knowing anything about the works of a diesel. I then rethink the cost of fueling and maintaining a diesel vs a gasser and stop thinking about a diesel again.
If the perfect floorplan plus extremely great deal popped up I may change my mind again. One think that hinders me some is I do not want anything over 38' and really prefer something at a max of 35'.
__________________
Raymond, Dee Dee and Sophie (Yorkie)
2023 Chevrolet 2500HD LT 4X4
2024 Grand Design Reflection 296RDTS
|
|
|
02-21-2013, 09:39 PM
|
#35
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 1,195
|
Reuben -- buy an older diesel for 60 grand, then figure anything less than 40 that you put into it keeps you ahead of that 100k figure. And 40k is a LOT of upgrades and fixes.
That was my philosophy; I went in knowing I'd fix and improve a bunch of stuff and I'm quite happy. Down to just a handful more improvements!
Steve
__________________
The Green Machine -- 2000 Mountain High Coachworks Summit (Spartan chassis / Cummins ISC)
...and F-Troop: Fearghus, Fiona, and Frankie (Cairn Terriers)
|
|
|
02-22-2013, 09:42 AM
|
#36
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,393
|
My first RV was a Gasser, one year old and had 2900 miles on it. Bought from a dealer who said the original owners traded it in on a DP.
__________________
2012 Monaco Knight 36 PFT
Towing either a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland or a car in a 20' enclosed car trailer.
|
|
|
02-22-2013, 12:14 PM
|
#37
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 500
|
One of the more interesting "situations" that I recall, occured while full-timing about ten years ago. We were speaking to a middle aged couple from North Carolina who were parked next to us in a Florida campground. They had recently purchased a 40ft. diesel motor home and were getting ready to sell it as soon as they could find a buyer. It seems that they had decided on the spur of the moment to retire early, sell their home and personal belongings, etc, and purcase an RV in order to travel full-time and see the country. Well, after about six months into the "adventure", the wife decided that she really didn't like the lifestyle and wanted to live in a "real" house and it came down to, "it's either the MH goes or I go." The return to permanent real estate won out, and the MH was on the market after less than a year of use. Talk about a financial hit! It would have been much better to rent and try the RV life as a way to determine if it is something that you can live with - or at least, to buy an inexpensive RV to "test the waters".
Bronk
|
|
|
02-22-2013, 01:10 PM
|
#38
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 332
|
My daughter's current RV was purchased from a man who bought it new and spent 6 years trying to convince his wife to" try it, you'll like it". It had every record you could ask for and less than 11,000 miles. She paid 28+k under book value and the rig is pristine. I know that's not the same as a year old rig being changed out but the only difference is that guy's level of perseverance . So, I'm sure it happens.
|
|
|
02-22-2013, 01:52 PM
|
#39
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Hastings, NE
Posts: 399
|
We did it too
My wife and I were avid Airstream owners for many years.
We loved the uniqueness of the travel trailers and owned both a 1970's model and one built in the 90's.
The beauty about those TT's is we always got our money back on them because they seem to appreciate with age, if well cared for.
Needless to say...we got tired of the size restraints and having to load the dogs (and cats) into the pickup for any camping trips.
Our time came to buy a Class A and I spend several hours chatting with our trusted mechanic Tony at Texas RV in San Antonio.
Tony gave us the pro's and cons of gassers vs diesels and this face to face research was invaluable as we went into the decision knowing what we wanted.
We looked for (and found) an 8 year old DP that had relatively low miles (25k) yet had been well cared for. Found our HR Endeavor and it's been wonderful.
The only downside is these babies DO NOT appreciate in the market like our old Airstreams did, but the ability to toss the critters in the coach and go is worth every penny!
__________________
2005 Newmar Essex 4502
500 HP Cummins ISM
2007 Dodge Ram 4 X 4 (Hemi)
|
|
|
02-22-2013, 02:39 PM
|
#40
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lakemurray,SC
Posts: 1,306
|
We have a 38' gas and love it. We camp in it a lot more than we drive it. The initial cost of the diesel, fuel cost and maintenance are just not justifiable (for us). The advantage I see is the extra torque and towing capacity would be nice but at what cost? It's like the four wheel drive pic-up and chain saw and hospital bills so I can cut wood to use in my wood burning stove to save on the electric bill.
__________________
2004 Pace Arrow 37-C WH W-22 (sold)
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara toad or
2005 Harley/Lehman trike/Featherlite trailer
|
|
|
02-22-2013, 07:51 PM
|
#41
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,200
|
We started off thinking we would get a toy hauler using the truck we had. Went to an RV show and looked around at them. The first salesperson said "What truck? Yea sure it will tow this." Then another salesperson came over and said "What truck? No it will not, you will have to upgrade." Then both took us over to look at 5th wheels and other toy haulers. We figured if we were gonna upgrade the truck we might as well as look at bigger ones. Then we went by class c's and a's and we decided to look at everything. Almost bought one right then but did not.
We went home and started doing research on different rigs. We decided that a Class A DP would actually be more of what we were looking for. We looked at lots of different ones in about 150 mile circle. We then took some time off and were driving to Texas from SoCal to look at several dealers there. Stopped in Phoenix for a night on the way and we looked at some auto trader mags, I happened to see some ads and Thom saw some online in the area. We made appointments with several private individuals and ended up not going to Texas we bought one in AZ. We had been pre-approved thru my credit union so it all was done over the phone and fax and in 2 days total it was ours. A 40ft DP with a side aisle and no slides. Granted the MH was 18 yrs old but it's a Monaco and in real good shape. We also knew we would be fixing things as we got it for about $5k less than low NADA.
You just have to go with your gut when looking. Do NOT let anyone talk you into something you do not really want.
__________________
Thom and Christine having fun in a 1993 Monaco Crown Royale Signature Series 40ft 300hp RV. Towing a Fiat 500 Abarth and a Harley.
Our blogged repairs and travels
|
|
|
02-23-2013, 07:34 PM
|
#42
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 355
|
Remember , if you buy this MH , the existing warranties will not carry over to you as a second owner. I would suspect there are several issues that may need correction and you should be prepared . I saw this same thing when we started looking for our first MH. Maybe you should look for a older coach that has a good record and the bugs worked out.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|