Why So Many Big-un's for Sale?

[MRUSA14]

Good point, Gordon. I went from a 40-footer with a poor turning radius to a 45 footer with a good turning radius. I can put this 45 in places where the 40 would not go.

[Dutch Star Don]

I think the reason for the excess is a more demanding buyer. Personally, I think the manufacturers forced the larger coaches down the throat of the public. They could make a 41' - 45' coach on the same chassis, with the same engine, but charge thousands of dollars more for that few extra feet.

In 2005 we were shopping for a quality built 36'-38' with a 400 ISL. They were hard to find. Almost EVERY dealer told me that no one wanted one in that length. I would ask what happen to the new 36' you got in last week......oh.....we sold it right away.

I think many buyers now realize they can get all the amenities they want in a 36' - 40' and can still squeeze into Federal, State and local parks. The government parks have been slow to adjust their campground sizes and may never go big enough to have multiple sites that will fit 43' plus coaches.

If I were to go full time, I wouldn't buy anything less than a 45', but for average use, they can be limiting.

[chuckftboy]

I think its simply the fact 40 coaches have become really popular. 15 years ago, the average coach had 1 or 2 slides so the extra 5 feet was very important to most buyers. Today a 40 foot coach has 3 or 4 slides, providing as much or more room as the older 43 and 45's leaving many of them on the used RV lots for sale. The square foot difference between a 40 and 45 is about equal to a standard bathroom in the average home. Many of us are willing to sacrifice that area for a coach that is easier to handle on the road and park when we get where we're going.
Just my take on it.

[Traps90]

A lot of the manufactures we're starting to get to heavy in the non tag coaches. I remember when we first started looking and we we're looking at a Winnebago 40cd. When I optioned up the coach the way we wanted it and got the weight from Winnebago we we're down to under 2k ccc closer to 1500 lbs if I rember right.

The next year you could no longer get a non tag Winnebago Tour. Since we we're going fulltime that left us with the decision that we really should be looking for a tag coach.

[B Bob]

People are selling what was popular a few years back. About half of our small local RV club has changed motorhomes in the last 2 years. The smallest rig that was bought was 38'. All the others were 40'. Most of the people that changed came out of 33'-36' coaches. So in our group the trend has been to go to 40' from smaller and not to downsize. We do have one new member family who just joined the club and they just took delivery of a small Mercedes class B of 22' with no slides. I almost fell over when I found out they paid 129,000 for it.

[Brian W]

Originally Posted by B Bob

People are selling what was popular a few years back. About half of our small local RV club has changed motorhomes in the last 2 years. The smallest rig that was bought was 38'. All the others were 40'. Most of the people that changed came out of 33'-36' coaches. So in our group the trend has been to go to 40' from smaller and not to downsize. We do have one new member family who just joined the club and they just took delivery of a small Mercedes class B of 22' with no slides. I almost fell over when I found out they paid 129,000 for it.

The smallest we carry in diesel class A is 40' I think. That $129,000 class B sells like hotcakes, we sell a ton of them.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

Good point, Gordon. I went from a 40-footer with a poor turning radius to a 45 footer with a good turning radius. I can put this 45 in places where the 40 would not go.

MRUSA14
I don't doubt that....but common sense dictates that my 35 footer can be "put in" a lot more places that your 45 footer can.
Mel
'96 Safari

[tedgard01]

I would venture that length has a lot to do with how you use your RV as well.

If you are going to be full timing, and staying in one spot for months, and only in resorts, then more length might allow for a better living arrangement.

If you and traveling most of the time, and want to stay at National Parks and not as many resorts, then you may want less length for an good driving and maneuvering experiance.

As I fit the latter category, a 33 to 38 foot length seems to fit my needs better. Regardless, as I park mine on a pad at the side of my house, I know that with my driveway configuration that 38 feet is the maximum that I can fit in to this parking space...


Ted & Kathleen

[scep]

Originally Posted by mel s

MRUSA14
I don't doubt that....but common sense dictates that my 35 footer can be "put in" a lot more places that your 45 footer can.
Mel
'96 Safari

Well, you know where you can put it then.

[HHIDan]

Always wondered why Newmar don't make a 36 foot King Aire??

[Dutch Star Don]

"HHIDan".....I agree with you......maybe not 36', but at least 38' - 40'. There most popular coach is a 40' Dutch Star. I bought it because it was the length I wanted with the most amenities.

They've made the shorter coaches so heavy now, that they're having weight issues. I think a amenity heavy Mountain Air, London Air or even King Air in 38', 40' and 42' with an ISX motor would be popular choices. I know I would buy a 40' Mountain Air with a 500 ISX in a minute!

[Greg2]

It is conversations like those preceding this one that makes me even more content with my little 'ol 36' Discovery with the 24v, 5.9 Cummins engine. She is not all bright and shiny, lacks modern graphics and a lot of bling. All I can think of right now that doesn't work is the basement lights and one 12vdc outlet on the dash, neither have bothered me enough to fix them. And best of all, ~10 mpg and no payments!
.
Yes, I do admire the bigger, late model coaches and sometime feel out of place with my 'ol coach, but she is easy on fuel and repairs, and for what a newer, bright and shiny one would cost I could paint and update mine several times over.
.
IMHO it all boils down to what makes you happy. For some only the latest and greatest will do. Others look at owning a depreciating asset that gives them joy while others don't feel comfortable unless they are making payments every month. Only you can choose the path you take.

[Bumps]

I think its simply the fact 40' coaches have become really popular ... Today a 40 foot coach has 3 or 4 slides, providing as much or more room as the older 43 and 45's ... The square foot difference between a 40 and 45 is about equal to a standard bathroom ... Many of us are willing to sacrifice that area for a coach that is easier to handle on the road and park when we get where we're going.

X2.

I think many buyers now realize they can get all the amenities they want in a 36' - 40' and can still squeeze into Federal, State and local parks. The government parks have been slow to adjust their campground sizes and may never go big enough to have multiple sites that will fit 43' plus coaches.

X2.

We looked at larger coaches and decided that it was either an extra bathroom <OR> a MH that would be easier to squeeze into [established] government parks. For better or for worse, we ended up in a 40' coach. We have not missed the extra bathroom, and really love camping in all of the great state parks.

My hunch is that today's shoppers are doing similar A vs. B comparisons and opting for the 40 footers. I imagine [many] existing owners of 40 footers are making similar comparisons and staying where they are...

JM2C,

/ken

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by Greg2

It is conversations like those preceding this one that makes me even more content with my little 'ol 36' Discovery with the 24v, 5.9 Cummins engine. She is not all bright and shiny, lacks modern graphics and a lot of bling. All I can think of right now that doesn't work is the basement lights and one 12vdc outlet on the dash, neither have bothered me enough to fix them. And best of all, ~10 mpg and no payments!
.
Yes, I do admire the bigger, late model coaches and sometime feel out of place with my 'ol coach, but she is easy on fuel and repairs, and for what a newer, bright and shiny one would cost I could paint and update mine several times over.
.
IMHO it all boils down to what makes you happy. For some only the latest and greatest will do. Others look at owning a depreciating asset that gives them joy while others don't feel comfortable unless they are making payments every month. Only you can choose the path you take.

...................
Agree with you. We looked at several newer coaches and cannot seem to pull the trigger. Our 1990 DP, 32 foot coach runs like top. No slides, but 102 inches wide and no payments. We have made multiple updates and we get close to 10 MPG pulling our toad, Mazda 3. It is a matter of desire. I personally would stay at 36 foot or below, DP.