Buying a motorhome

[MoneyGuy]

I'm considering buying a smaller motorhome - 25-footer. Looking for buying advice, such as.

- How do prices change over the winter? We should have lots of good weather yet but I'm wondering if we put off buying until spring how that might affect prices.
- Why are smaller MHs so expensive? the 25-footer we're interested in is about the same price or maybe more than the larger ones.
- I think buying RVs is like buying cars in that you can't believe everything these sales guys spout. I asked if we could get this thing for $8,000 less than asking price and he told me they can't sell it for that because that was less than they paid to take it in on trade.

I'm not a good negotiator. Any advice on these points or others are appreciated.

[habernac]

In Spring, prices are sky high. Winter/fall you'll get much better deals.

[Hockeyguy15]

I think the exchange rate has a pretty large effect on the prices as well? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I think the exchange rate has a pretty large effect on the prices as well? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

For used RVs?

[bossy22]

I have a winnebago trend. Love it. 24'. I bought it in Penticton because it was a lot cheaper than in Alberta. Warranty work though, I got done at Woody's and they really sucked. I can't believe how horrible that place is. I ended up just going to a smaller RV shop and got all of the warranty work fixed that Woody's said they did, (but didn't) and paying the money. It's all good now. Don't think that answers your question though. I think a part of the reason I saved was because of exchange rate as well. Even though they were pretty much identical units, Penticton had gotten theirs 6 months prior to the comparable one I was looking at, at Woody's.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I have a winnebago trend. Love it. 24'. I bought it in Penticton because it was a lot cheaper than in Alberta. Warranty work though, I got done at Woody's and they really sucked. I can't believe how horrible that place is. I ended up just going to a smaller RV shop and got all of the warranty work fixed that Woody's said they did, (but didn't) and paying the money. It's all good now. Don't think that answers your question though. I think a part of the reason I saved was because of exchange rate as well. Even though they were pretty much identical units, Penticton had gotten theirs 6 months prior to the comparable one I was looking at, at Woody's.

I'm going to Woody's tomorrow for a look. I don't plan on having it serviced there. I found a mobile certified RV tech that my brother has used.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

For used RVs?

Ah sorry, I thought you meant new.

[Red]

If you are buying private then spring will bring more selection and with that it creates competition to sellers. You can still get a good deal.

Smaller MHs are more popular because they are easier to move around and store.
Same for travel trailers, the 32 footers usually require a 3/4 ton truck which many people don't have or want to have. The 20 footers can be towed with SUVs etc so there is higher demand.

Any reason why you are not getting a trailer instead?

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I'm considering buying a smaller motorhome - 25-footer. ...
I'm not a good negotiator. Any advice on these points or others are appreciated.

You don't sound like an older retired fella, so I'm gonna through a wrench at ya.

Why would you wanna own a motorhome unless you have and are prepared to spend a good chunk of your time motorhoming? It costs a small fortune to maintain, service, keep and store one for the winter. It is a pain in the butt to drive around due to size. Cheaper small motorhomes are not that comfortable. You are very limited to where you can park/camp overnight. For a normal working person/family, a 3-week vacation spent in a motorhome is plenty and it is cheaper to rent one once a year then to own one. I have a friend that owns a motorhome and has it parked in Vegas at some silly "luxury RV Resort" place for the past 5 years. So he flies there to stay at his motorhome instead of nice hotels. All of his vacations lately have been connected to that motorhome, because it's there, so he is bound to use it.

My older colleague's retirement dream was to sell all of his earthly possessions by the time he's 65 and spend the rest of his active years driving around North America in a big $300K RV, staying at RV campgrounds. I mean I could at least understand his motivations, as it has some purpose and justified use of investment.

You really need to ask yourself if the amount of your motorhome usage is commensurate with the corresponding costs and hassles of ownership.

*drops mic*

[Reaper]

Recreational vehicles are like jetskis, tuxedos and party tents. When you need one you can rent one in top condition for the small time you need it, it's already clean, and you avoid additional costs of ownership.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Recreational vehicles are like jetskis, tuxedos and party tents. When you need one you can rent one in top condition for the small time you need it, it's already clean, and you avoid additional costs of ownership.

don't forget boats...

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

don't forget boats...

You can't be a pirate in a boat you rented.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Reaper

You can't be a pirate in a boat you rented.

Violating your rental agreement is an important part of the Pirate Code.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by peter12

Violating your rental agreement is an important part of the Pirate Code.

You sound more like a Caribbean Pirate. Psssshhhhhhhtttttt. Rented Pirate vessel.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

You don't sound like an older retired fella, so I'm gonna through a wrench at ya.

Why would you wanna own a motorhome unless you have and are prepared to spend a good chunk of your time motorhoming? It costs a small fortune to maintain, service, keep and store one for the winter. It is a pain in the butt to drive around due to size. Cheaper small motorhomes are not that comfortable. You are very limited to where you can park/camp overnight. For a normal working person/family, a 3-week vacation spent in a motorhome is plenty and it is cheaper to rent one once a year then to own one. I have a friend that owns a motorhome and has it parked in Vegas at some silly "luxury RV Resort" place for the past 5 years. So he flies there to stay at his motorhome instead of nice hotels. All of his vacations lately have been connected to that motorhome, because it's there, so he is bound to use it.

My older colleague's retirement dream was to sell all of his earthly possessions by the time he's 65 and spend the rest of his active years driving around North America in a big $300K RV, staying at RV campgrounds. I mean I could at least understand his motivations, as it has some purpose and justified use of investment.

You really need to ask yourself if the amount of your motorhome usage is commensurate with the corresponding costs and hassles of ownership.

*drops mic*

*picks up mic*

OK, good points. The one we're looking at is expensive but money is not an issue. We're not retired (by choice, not need) but we are retirement age and have ample funds. We can easily afford this. We travel a lot and are discussing maybe doing more of camping and less of the more exotic travel. We'd actually be saving money and I think we'd get good use of it.

We used to RV a long time ago and would like to get back into it, inviting our kids and grandkids (one so far). Our main costs would be the purchase and fuel, which are hefty.

The one we're considering sleeps six but is only 25 feet, so good use of space. I'm not worried about driving it.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are recently retired and they absolutely live for trips in their motorhome. I'm not at that stage as I have my business but I can still see us loving this.

My yard is massive so storage isn't a problem.

As for maintenance, this is an almost-new motorhome. I have a ,mobile RV tech for maintenance, which is great because I'm an idiot with mechanical stuff.

[bossy22]

I'm mid 40's, my wife is 40. We have a 6 year old. We have a 24 foot winnebago trend. It sleeps 6. We just got back from a 2 week vacation travelling and biking in Oregon. We hauled 3 mountain bikes, and an inflatable sup, along with our camp bbq, and chairs, etc. Had a blast. I had a 27 foot trailer before this, and would never go back to a trailer after owning a motorhome. Sure we have to pack up when we go to the trail head, but all that means is put the awning in, turn the front seats around, unhook the water and electric if we aren't boon docking and we take off. Takes 5 mins. Because it is a little bigger, we have to be more selective in parking when we go to town, but have yet to have a problem. If I have to walk an extra couple blocks, so be it. I'm not lazy. So far this year, I've taken the Trend to Whitefish for a weekend, Fernie for a weekend, and Helena for a weekend. All biking trips. In two weeks we are heading to Vernon for a week to camp and bike with friends who are already there.
The thing is super easy to drive. It has a v6 gas engine and gets way better mileage than my f150 ever did towing a trailer. Plus, it's way nicer and better quality than my trailer, which wasn't cheap. Things constantly broke in that thing. I store it in the same place that my trailer was.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

...We're not retired (by choice, not need) but we are retirement age and have ample funds. We can easily afford this. We travel a lot and are discussing maybe doing more of camping and less of the more exotic travel. ...

For whatever reason, I thought of you as a much younger guy.

The quoted text above seems like a pretty good justification already. You've got to love this stuff, I suppose. When our kids were really young, my wife and I had a dream of renting a large comfy motorhome and drive TransCanada Hwy all the way west to east, Pacific to Atlantic. But that would have taken at least a month to do and we could never afford a month-long vacation. Now, kids are much older and they probably wouldn't want to drive in an RV with us for a month.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy it!

[Shazam]

Dunno where in town you live but if you want RV storage it runs about $800/yr in the north, cheaper in the south.

Smaller motorhomes cost a lot because there's a bunch of fixed costs in making the things. Also supply and demand - bigger motorhomes are a bigger part of the market.

Been camping for a few years now. Got a small trailer last year. It's nice. Would love to get a MH just like what you described.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

For whatever reason, I thought of you as a much younger guy.

The quoted text above seems like a pretty good justification already. You've got to love this stuff, I suppose. When our kids were really young, my wife and I had a dream of renting a large comfy motorhome and drive TransCanada Hwy all the way west to east, Pacific to Atlantic. But that would have taken at least a month to do and we could never afford a month-long vacation. Now, kids are much older and they probably wouldn't want to drive in an RV with us for a month.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy it!

Thanked mostly for the comment about me seeming much younger. I get that a lot.

[MoneyGuy]

What about diesel? Do those of you with diesel vehicles have trouble finding fuel?