Market sweet spot $15000

[Goshawk]

So after shopping at RV dealers and looking at what the smart folks here and in youtube are buying for a functional living space. Am concluding the maximum for a good value RV or TT that is aged well or fairly new is $15000. Maximum. Many spend a lot less. Most should not be spend more when starting out.

Good no name brand used 20 year old class A or C that is not some overpriced museum vehicle should be $15000. Good five year or less aged travel trailer to tow should be around $15000. Even a brand new (actually almost one year old) micro TT is around $15000, to tow behind an SUV. If you build one yourself from a box truck and commercial trailer, you will likely need this budget for all the things you want for comfort in the first year, plus a little safety budget.

Set this as a goal to save and you might be okay to start off with.


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[jonsun]

Seems high to me. More around half that. There are well taken care of A and C all the time for under $5k....A lot depends on gas prices, time of year and overall economy

 

[Goshawk]

Seems high to me. More around half that.

Half that and you see hidden water damage from dealers and owners trying to sell it off cheap. Worn out suspension parts. Bad tires that look good but date codes say they should have been replaced five years ago. Warped internal parts and structure. All the hidden problems that can be hidden. Be damn careful at half that price.


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[jonsun]

My experience is you find that in the $1-3k range. Buddy picked an 88 C up last summer for $3k it needed a new tire and a rear wheel cyclinder. Took us an hour and $150 to fix. We've now taken it over 8k miles. Everything works, no leaks, etc.

So around half that you find some pretty premium rigs. I've checked out at least a dozen in that range I think there was one with water damage and I laughed my ass off at the guy.

When you look for older rigs you'll know real fast if there's damage or how well it's been treated where as newer ones the damage is still hidden and you can't really yet see how well it's been taken care of....So if going used go for older for really cheap, not in-between. YMMV

 

[jonsun]

And look for ones with higher miles. Be weary of low mileage used cause it means the owner bought it and let it sit, and more likely didn't really take care of it.

 

[DuneElliot]

I think a lot is going to depend on the make/model etc. I paid $11,500 for a 7yo fifth wheel in very good shape, but it was a lower-end unit that had been well taken care of. I would have expected to pay a lot more for a Lance or Arctic Fox because of the higher quality.

Luxury 40ft Class As, even at 20 years old, are going to command a heftier price tag than a 30ft base model.

$15K isn't all that an unreasonable expectation to find a good rig, but there are many that fall well below that. And of course it depends on what you are looking for in a mobile dwelling. If I hadn't bought my fifth wheel 3 years ago in the mindset of being stationary accommodations on the ranch I used to manage I would probably now be going a different route with my choice of home on wheels, but that is beside the point.

 

[Goshawk]

My experience is you find that in the $1-3k range. Buddy picked an 88 C up last summer for $3k it needed a new tire and a rear wheel cyclinder. Took us an hour and $150 to fix. We've now taken it over 8k miles. Everything works, no leaks, etc.

So around half that you find some pretty premium rigs. I've checked out at least a dozen in that range I think there was one with water damage and I laughed my ass off at the guy.

When you look for older rigs you'll know real fast if there's damage or how well it's been treated where as newer ones the damage is still hidden and you can't really yet see how well it's been taken care of....So if going used go for older for really cheap, not in-between. YMMV

1988 so 30 years old? Damn that's old. Am always surprised anything that old is still alive and working in an RV. Maybe if it had a rebuild of all parts.


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[slynne]

I don't know. Based on what I have seen, I have set my budget for a vehicle at $30k. Maybe I have a lower tolerance for older vehicles but even at that price, since I want a small class B like a Roadtrek, I am looking at something nearly 10 years old and close to 100k in miles. *shrug*

 

[mothercoder]

So after shopping at RV dealers and looking at what the smart folks here and in youtube are buying for a functional living space. Am concluding the maximum for a good value RV or TT that is aged well or fairly new is $15000. Maximum.  Many spend a lot less. Most should not be spend more when starting out.

Good no name brand used 20 year old class A or C that is not some overpriced museum vehicle should be $15000.  Good five year or less aged travel trailer to tow should be around $15000. Even a brand new (actually almost one year old)  micro TT is around $15000, to tow behind an SUV.  If you build one yourself from a box truck and commercial trailer, you will likely need this budget for all the things you want for comfort in the first year, plus a little safety budget.

Set this as a goal to save and you might be okay to start off with.  


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For TTs I'm finding a lot of good values for five year old (or less) micro TTs at $7-8k.  That's my goal.   Unless you're looking for a fiberglass TT or an Airstream - those are completely different markets.

 

[jonsun]

1988 so 30 years old?   Damn that's old. Am always surprised anything that old is still alive and working in an RV. Maybe if it had a rebuild of all parts.


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Youll rarely find appliances that don't work. At worst the fridge needs burped or the board in the furnace is bad which you shouldn't use anyway. What has broken has been fixed where your $15k unit is just getting there. Lol

RV's sit most of their lives unused. So 30 years old your hard pressed to find one over 100k miles...Or even over 60k often times.

 

[Cammalu]

I just bought a Class C, 23 foot, 2002, for $15000 at a rv dealer. 50,000 miles. I had been looking at new ones and found this and like the layout and bath better than the new ones. There are a few minor things to fix but I did have it inspected and was aware before the purchase. They were asking $17,000


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[ArtW]

My brand new 20 foot TT was less than 15K out the door, though not by a lot, including taxes and fees
it's definitely not a micro
Of course, a well built micro would have cost at least as much
Now, buying a cargo trailer, a camp stove, a bucket toilet, and a 12v fridge with enough solar to run it, or a genset, I absolutely guarantee you can do that FAR below 15k with a brand new trailer, though it won't be as convenient or as nice as a TT with all the whistles

 

[Goshawk]

Yes Fiberglass. As they can be fixed forever. Airstream are $10k more than this price range.


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[jimindenver]

Depends on what time of year you buy too. I was watching this fall when I wasn't sure I would be getting my 25 ft trailer that I bought for $13,500 new and could have picked from a number of 20 year old Class A's and C's for under $15,000 and even under $10,000 as the season ended.

 

[hepcat]

What you really want to do is find an in-demand kind and size unit with a $15,000 market value for about half that amount (and they're out there.) You never know when you may need to sell it, or what repairs lie 5,000 miles down the road that you'll need to pay for. If you buy a unit that is in demand, it's easy to re-sell when the time comes as long as it's in good condition. A $5,000 'steal' on a coach that's a dog (from a marketing perspective) will leave you with the potential of $10,000 in future repairs and no hope of ever unloading it even with those repairs completed.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I think travel trailers and motorhomes are in two entirely different categories when it comes to what a good used one costs. $15,000 on average will get you a MUCH better/newer travel trailer than motor home.

You can get a brand new TT for that if you shop around on the East Coast.
Brand New 2016 Coachman for $11500
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/rvs/5923243276.html

2012 27' Puma for $7650
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/rvs/5941105000.html

I don't know how she acquires these and sells them so cheap, but i've been by to look at a few and she always has 5 to 6 for sale and they are always in excellent condition. I bought a 2004 from her for $3100 just as a temporary homebase while I remodel my house. I'm tempted to grab one of these, but really had my mind set on converting my own. However, I'll spend way more converting a cargo trailer. But wanted to do the woodworking myself as it's what I do for a living.

That being said, I think it's an excellent starting number to get yourself into something decent if you can afford it.

 

[DannyB1954]

When buying something without an engine, you should factor in the tow vehicle. A lot of people already have them, but some don't.

 

[jonsun]

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2002 Volkswagen Eurovan Itasca Sunstar - $6200[/font][/font][/size]

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]Front Wheel Drive and Posi-Traction, with 201hp, and only 21' long. Quic Compared to Rialta it has a Full Bath, separate shower, toilet, sink, vanity, closet, and 6'5" of headroom![/font]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5968087254.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2007 Poineer T.T. Sleeps Six With A Slide Out In Great Shape - $5100[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5967971124.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2002 Thor C195 (21021028) - $5995[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvd/5965080708.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]Travel Trailer (light weight) For Sale! - $5000[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5961638313.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif] [size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2002 Airstream 19' Bambi!!! - $5500[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5962664763.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]1999 Gulf Stream Sun Sport - $6500[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5959562945.html

 

[jonsun]

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]Carriage Fifth Wheel 28 ft 1999 - $6900[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5945425156.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2008 Palomino Puma - $5995[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5946597247.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]90 LaSalle - $6000[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5934617586.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2016 Starcraft AR-One 18QB - $6900[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5933620668.html

[font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif][size=large][font='Bitstream Vera Serif', 'Times New Roman', serif]2006 Nomad trave trailer - $4800[/font][/font][/size]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/rvs/5949565690.html

 

[GotSmart]

In searching those ads, many are fakes.  An Airstream for how much?  Exact wording, different prices in different cities.