Community Forums

Riverc · 03-18-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I found a 2009 Newmar Mountain Air 5th wheel at Mt Comfort RV in Indiana. You can kinda see the dually tires on the two axles. I think 2009 is the last year Newmar built 5th wheels. Asking price for this 2009 is 80k.

Last year in Florida there was one in the park where I stayed. They are really heavy 5ers. The guy had an F-550 with a fancy hauler bed. The truck was painted to match the 5er. It was the coolest rig in the park.

Not sure I would want dually tires. 8 tires on a 5er is a lot to worry about.

Newmar was still building 5th wheels in 2009,they stopped production last yr.

Kro1957 · 03-18-2013, 05:16 PM

Appreciated the input on Excel as that is a great product and something now to consider vs the Designer. Both have nice interiors just comes down to the nuts and bolts of quality build. Any input on Designer vs Excel appreciated. Thanks Jim

Riverc · 03-18-2013, 05:37 PM

They are both good! all depends how much you want to spend.If you have a deep pocket $ go with Excel.If not well Jayco will fit your budget better.Have a friend that owned a Designer and was happy with it.He stepped up to a Mobile Suites,but not because he was unhappy with the Jayco.

RustyJC · 03-18-2013, 07:00 PM

We owned two Designers before our current Mobile Suites - a 1996 3030RKSS and a 2000 3610 RLTS. Both were good, solid 5th wheels that we really enjoyed, and Jayco's customer support and 2+3 warranty are tops. Having said that, the Designers are in a different $$$$ ballpark from the Excels, DRVs and other full-time 5th wheels.

Rusty

FiverBob · 03-19-2013, 07:46 AM

After doing this RVing stuff for over 40 years, I am convinced the best way to obtain an RV without going to the poor house is buy used. I would much rather have a top line lightly used rig than a similarly priced, but new, cheaper unit. It will pay off in the end. Less depreciation, better quality, fewer problems and better living.

Keep Excel, Nuwa, Carriage all in your headlights and shoot for two years old.

Bob

Kro1957 · 03-19-2013, 01:01 PM

I would have to agree there is quite a bit of savings if you go "used". Our last one was new and I thought would be the last but we want more room & better quality so taking time now to do more in depth review of construction. & some of the used units have had W/D, gen, other installs which save you money also.

JayC · 03-19-2013, 02:21 PM

I don't know about buying used. Let me explain; everyone knows that a dealer will usually knock off 25-30% off a new trailer. So a list price $100,000 trailer can be bought for somewhere around $75-80,000. That same trailer, in two years, will be on a lot for about $70,000, and they are not as likely to discount their used unit as much so which would you rather have? There's only $5- 10,000 difference in a two year old trailer. I know I'm gonna be flamed by someone's uncle's brother in law that bought a like new (pick a brand) for $25,000.

There aren't many "wholesale" dealers for used units. They are posted for sale with a given price. There isn't as much leverage for the consumer on a used trailer.

Then there's warranty. With a new unit you will have at least one year (sometime two) of warranty that pretty well covers everything. Again, please don't flame me with stories of warranty horrors, I'm just generalizing. Many used units are bought As-Is with an offer for an aftermarket warranty. Again, I am not taking into consideration the guys that are handy and can do their own repairs.

Then there's financing, assuming you don't have that much money in a bank account, waiting to be spent, banks generally charge a higher interest rate for used trailers and a shorter term on the loan.

I'm just throwing this out for consideration.

tuffr2 · 03-19-2013, 03:53 PM

JayC - you do make a good point. Seems the new price discount gets sweeter if you find a left over unit from the previous model year.

I tried to low ball (10k to 15k off asking price) on used units and the dealer would not sell. Seems 5k to 7k off on the asking price is about the best you can do - not 15k off.

So is a 2009 Newmar Mountain Air asking price 80k probably will sell for 73k still better than a new 2013 Trilogy I can buy for 70k.

I can get 8.75% a used unit and 35% off a new unit.

Also proves used units probaly have slowed down depreciation.

One unit I am looking at, just keeping an eye on it, still has the same asking price as it did 2 years ago.

Kro1957 · 03-19-2013, 05:35 PM

Good Sam's was at 4.62 % on used in the 50k area. One other company I spoke with was slightly less. Good Sam wants 10% down. I think the best deal might come from private seller as dealers usually pick up these units even on trades for wholesale prices and then try and sell them with 20-30% margins. Keeping that in mind, I negotiate wholesale / wholesale in the slowest time of the year as they need to keep cash flowing to pay bills. I have never checked out these "after market" warranty companies. Good Sam has one and I am a member but have not heard if it is worth it or not to purchase the maintenance program.