Community Forums

ehackney · 02-27-2006, 07:47 AM

Our travel trailer is for sale and we're getting some interest, so it's time to get serious about our motorhome search. We know we want something made by Tiffen or National RV, 30 to 34 ft. long, 1999 to 2002. When I do searches for them, there aren't a whole lot, and they are scattered all over the country.

Does anyone have any experience with long distance buying? How are you sure of the condition? What are the arrangements? I would make a reasonable drive or plane ride to check one out if it was close to the mark, but, hopefully, I would only have to do that once. How do the logistics work - payment, title, transport, posession, that sort of stuff.

I can see making lots of trips and coming back empty handed if I don't have some sort of a plan.

Thanks in advance,

Hack
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ehackney · 02-27-2006, 07:47 AM

Our travel trailer is for sale and we're getting some interest, so it's time to get serious about our motorhome search. We know we want something made by Tiffen or National RV, 30 to 34 ft. long, 1999 to 2002. When I do searches for them, there aren't a whole lot, and they are scattered all over the country.

Does anyone have any experience with long distance buying? How are you sure of the condition? What are the arrangements? I would make a reasonable drive or plane ride to check one out if it was close to the mark, but, hopefully, I would only have to do that once. How do the logistics work - payment, title, transport, posession, that sort of stuff.

I can see making lots of trips and coming back empty handed if I don't have some sort of a plan.

Thanks in advance,

Hack
--//--

Webster · 02-27-2006, 08:24 AM

I really can't answer your questions, but I wanted to highly recommend the National RV. Maybe you should take a trip to Perris, CA to the National RV factory.

I love my National and there seems to be less problems with them than others. If you're thinking of buying a used one, pay attention to the new National SurfSide. They stopped making them in 2000, but they are back...better than ever. I saw a new one at Camping World in Bakersfield and couldn't believe the price...$60,000 and it had two slides. I haven't had mine a year yet or I would have made a deal.

We're going to the National RV Rally in Temecula (just a short distance from Perris) on March 14 and then to the factory for a tour. One thing about going to the Rally, they have technicians there and will fix two small problems. The wife and I are in a quandry as to what to fix but we think our day-night shade on one window needs fixing and we have some screens that need repair.

There are usually a lot of RV shows at this time of year and they usually have some used units. That's how we bought ours. We didn't intend to buy yet, but it was a deal especially at the price and it only had 35,000 miles. The dealer was several hours away from us, but it gave me some practice driving it home.

Good Luck!

Canuck · 02-27-2006, 02:16 PM

We bought our coach from a private seller located 1600 miles from our home. All of the negoation was via email. They sent a great number of pictures as well as some specific ones that I requested. I was familiar with this particular brand and model of coach so new exactly what I wanted to see and ask. I also asked them to scan and email me the service records for the coach along with its VIN. I used the VIN to contact the coach manufacturer, Freightliner, CAT and Allison to get information about warranty work that was completed as well as any outstanding recalls that might exist.

When we finally settled on a price I made the deal contingent on the seller having the vehicle put through a saftety inspection prior to my arrival. I FedExed a cashier's cheque to cover the cost of the safety and to act as a deposit.

We weren't disappointed when we actually saw the coach in real life and we still love it today.

One of the things that tipped me off to how the coach had been generally cared for was in the first picture the I received. It showed the outside of the coach and it was sitting on wood planks to keep the tires from contacting the cement driveway. As soon as I saw this I knew that the owner was someone who cared for his coach.

Canuck