Is an upper tier trailer worth twice as much (price)?

[TXsurfer]

While I would love a 38' Momentum I can't seem to get over the fact I can get a 38' FR ( or similar product ) for half the cost. I know this because a friend of mine just bought a close-out 38' Vengeance for low 30's with a Gen. At the end of they day they use a lot of the same systems ( axles , ac's , appliances etc ) so it seems quite a premium. Bear in mind what ever I buy I will store in closed storage so I would think they will both hold up about the same ( roof ,structure ,etc ) If you think about the dep value out say 10 yrs ( not counting fin charges ) you may loose 15K on the FR and 40K on the GD ( guessing a bit here ) - looking around it doesn't seem than any 10 yr old 5er holds its value very well. Am I far off here? Is there an add'l 25K +/- worth of value there?

[okcnewbie]

I think this is the million dollar question and really only you have all the info to answer that.
I think you could be very close on your depreciation. It sounds like you are pretty set on buying new? Obviously, you can often get a more premium rig if you buy used and spend the same money.

[Joe11]

I never understood everyone suggesting to buy used. I bought new and now I understand. It's not the depreciation. Miss what you are buying. I spent over $100k, I'm still in the warranty period and my experience has been such that I am paying for an NRVIA certified inspector to come out and perform an inspection on my rig to make sure that when the warranty period expires I got what I paid for. Yesterday, I found where a floor support joist had a section hacksawed out of it underneath the bathroom floor so the pipe from the toilet could extend down th the black tank.

Maybe the $200k model comes with floor joists intact. I don't know.

[TXsurfer]

Originally Posted by Joe11

I never understood everyone suggesting to buy used. I bought new and now I understand. It's not the depreciation. Miss what you are buying. I spent over $100k, I'm still in the warranty period and my experience has been such that I am paying for an NRVIA certified inspector to come out and perform an inspection on my rig to make sure that when the warranty period expires I got what I paid for. Yesterday, I found where a floor support joist had a section hacksawed out of it underneath the bathroom floor so the pipe from the toilet could extend down th the black tank.

Maybe the $200k model comes with floor joists intact. I don't know.

That sucks - I am guessing here but I'm sure the same guys that are building the the low end line are also working on the high end models..

[aknavy]

From visiting three factories earlier this year, the biggest difference is that the lower prices units are pushed out the door faster. They all have the set up/ability to produce a good product, but the production is too fast to get it right. Lots of little things that would take a couple minutes to fix, but were left faulty on the line.

So, hopefully, the higher dollar units are in the factory for longer production times, so maybe not as many quality control issues....maybe?

An example - we visited the Jayco Pinnacle factory, which is supposed to do 7-14 units a week. The week we were there, it was being used to build Eagles, at a rate of 14-20 units per week. Same work crew as the Pinnacle. After seeing the Eagle in various stages of completion....let's just say I would never buy one.

Not much hope for it in reality, but it's a nice thought.

[dwhit]

Joe11: I have never...ever bought anything new. Never. Even my wife has been married three times before me. We've been married 25 years.

I've never felt buying new was a good financial decision for me.

[Joe11]

Originally Posted by aknavy

From visiting three factories earlier this year, the biggest difference is that the lower prices units are pushed out the door faster. They all have the set up/ability to produce a good product, but the production is too fast to get it right. Lots of little things that would take a couple minutes to fix, but were left faulty on the line.

So, hopefully, the higher dollar units are in the factory for longer production times, so maybe not as many quality control issues....maybe?

An example - we visited the Jayco Pinnacle factory, which is supposed to do 7-14 units a week. The week we were there, it was being used to build Eagles, at a rate of 14-20 units per week. Same work crew as the Pinnacle. After seeing the Eagle in various stages of completion....let's just say I would never buy one.

Not much hope for it in reality, but it's a nice thought.

No disrespect intended but I bought in to the faster is not as good and went the other way and wrote a giant check because I thought it was worth it. My experience and the experience of others that did the same thing did not come even close to what marketing and sales promised. Ford, GM, and Ram push many trucks off the line each day because they are set up to operate that way. Four guys building one in their garage taking 300% of the time does not mean it will be better, and in fact, will likely not be as good because Ford, GM and Ram have specialists doing their part and know what they are doing.

knowing what I know now, I would not put any credence into the claims that "we take longer to build it so it's better.

I am meeting with an NRVIA certified level 2 inspector this week to inspect my rig. I'm not an expert and have identified inexcusable problems. I don't want to stick it to the manufacturer but I want what I paid for. The warranty period is only one year for the vast majority of manufacturers. My experience is the manufacturer pushes out rigs they know have problems and it's up to the buyer to discover the problem in that first 12 months. If the customer doesn't find it, good for the builder.

I'm a bit irritated with my experience with the industry. Can you tell?

[V3600]

Is a Cadillac worth twice as much as a Chevrolet?

[TXsurfer]

Originally Posted by V3600

Is a Cadillac worth twice as much as a Chevrolet?

good point - i'd say no..

[Arch Stanton]

After almost 40 years of owning an RV of one type or another, a few facts have been driven into my head.

-Ya can't compare the RV manufacturing process with automotive. Different worlds. Logic dictates you should, but the reality is you can't.

-There are varying levels of RV quality. You start with cheap junk, and go up from there, and until you get to the very high end of the products, they all have some junk factor involved. The first time you find some absurdly poor workmanship hidden away in your rig, that has you scratching your head, you learn this for yourself. If you are a fix-it yourself-kinda guy (I am) once you've seen this more than once, well...patterns start to form.

-If you purchase from a dealer/service center, that place is your lifeline to the manufacturer. In some cases, they will want you to bring the RV clear back to the manufacturer for warranty work. This is akin to hauling your Chevy back to Detroit for service. Ridiculous, but it is how they roll. A good service center dealer can run interference for you and sometimes get the work done at their place.

-If you purchase used, it's on you.

Are the rigs that are twice the price worth the difference?
No.
But they ARE, in some cases, certainly worth more, and sometimes a lot more. When you weigh the hassle associated with dealing with a low-end manufacturer who doesn't see your new rig as his problem, that higher end rig value starts to become clearer.

I thought we'd bought our last RV, and we may have, but if not, I will look for the highest quality/junk ratio on the $$ scale we can afford.
Really, it is that simple.

[daka320]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

I will look for the highest quality/junk ratio on the $$ scale we can afford.
Really, it is that simple.

I like that statement! Will remember that the next time I buy.

[aknavy]

I look at it this way - they're all junk, it's just the degree of junk that you get when you pick one. Know that going in, and you may be a little less disappointed when stuff breaks.

[timetogo]

Originally Posted by aknavy

I look at it this way - they're all junk, it's just the degree of junk that you get when you pick one. Know that going in, and you may be a little less disappointed when stuff breaks.

True

[MTK46]

Originally Posted by aknavy

I look at it this way - they're all junk, it's just the degree of junk that you get when you pick one. Know that going in, and you may be a little less disappointed when stuff breaks.

I'll have to disagree with "they're all junk".
I bought a brand new 2003 Teton and used the heck out of it. Was lived in full time for two years by my daughter. Lived in for 6 or 7 winters by my in-laws.
Water heater was only item that failed. Towed to S.D. & back five times. Vacation & weekends, boondocking you name it we took it there.
The inside wood looked as good the day we traded it in as when new.
My used 2002 Monaco top of the line, wood also looks great.