Tips for buying a Used RV from AARP newsletter.

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ilovemyvan

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Hi guys,

I saw this article this morning and I thought it might helps someone here.

Nicole


Tips for Buying a Used RV


Here’s what to look for to get the best deals


by Jeff Yeager, AARP, November 14, 2013



A used RV could be just the thing for you.

If you're in the market for a used motorhome or other type of recreational vehicle, fall and early winter can be a good time to buy. While many snowbirds are heading south in their RVs in search of warmer weather, there are plenty of other folks who enjoyed the summer camping season and are now looking to unload their rigs rather than pay to store and maintain them during the long winter ahead. That's good news for you.

Buying a used RV that's still in good condition can save you real money. According to the website RVers Online, after factoring in depreciation, financing, maintenance and other costs, an RV that's three years old can cost about half the price of a new one.

So how do you find a previously loved RV that's right for you? Here are a few tips.

1. Do your homework

It's easy to get caught up in the moment and start fantasizing about the good times you'll have cruising down a scenic highway in your home-away-from-home. So do the research first. Many RVers are eager to share their stories and advice. Popular websites and online forums where RV enthusiasts chat it up and swap advice — and offer tips for buying used RVs — include rv.net (sponsored by Good Sam Club, the world's largest organization of recreational vehicle owners), rv.forum and rvtravel. You can find a nationwide directory of local RV clubs, shows and rallies on rv-clubs, including clubs for owners of specific RV brands, which is a great way to find out more about the make and model you're interested in. If you're new to RVing entirely, you might want to rent one for a week or two to make sure the lifestyle is for you. The website of the GoRVing Coalition provides a directory of rental outlets, dealers and other resources.

2. Know what you want

Most people who sell or trade in their RVs are looking for an upgrade or different model, Christine Bowes of American Family RV in Chesapeake, Va., told me. "It's usually that their current vehicle is the wrong size, or they can no longer handle it on the road, or whatever. That's why we see so many used RVs on the market," she says. In the book Buying a Used Motorhome: How to get the most for your money and not get burned, author Bill Myers does an excellent job of helping readers figure out what type of RV is the best fit for them. He also points out how some used RVs are a better value than others, depending on your situation and the RV's intended use. For example, an older, high-mileage, gas-guzzling "Class A" behemoth might be a nightmare for long-haul travelers, but a terrific bargain for those planning to drive infrequently and park it at a peaceful spot close to home.

3. Search online and on the street

Websites such as RVT.com (formerly "RV Trader"), RVzen.com and CampingWorld.com allow you to search nationwide listings of used RVs by make, model, price and other criteria. Most sites list RVs for sale by dealers as well as individual owners. This time of year, it's also worth cruising through area RV parks and even residential neighborhoods to see if anyone is selling a rig in their driveway. In the past month, I've seen half a dozen used RVs with "for sale" signs on them in our surrounding neighborhoods, including one that looked suspiciously like the 1980s Fleetwood Bounder in the hit cable series Breaking Bad.

4. Determine a fair value

Once you've identified recreational vehicles that meet your needs, NADA Guides for RVs allow you to enter the make, model, year and other details for a used RV and get an estimate of that vehicle's fair market value. While the NADA Guides are commonly used by lenders and dealers to determine book value, keep in mind that you might do considerably better than the estimated value, particularly if you buy directly from an eager seller. Comparison shop for that same used RV online (including on Craigslist and eBay) to see how the book value compares to the pricing of similar vehicles in the marketplace.

5. Check the RV's history

For a fee of about $25, you can purchase a vehicle history report on rvchecks.com. You'll need the RV's 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to order the report. Depending on the vehicle's history and the data available, the report may include information on whether the vehicle has ever been damaged, rebuilt or stolen, as well as the manufacturer's specifications and recall notices.

6. Ask away

Before you even inspect and test-drive a used RV, you should ask the owner or dealer about the condition of the vehicle, its history, title, warranties, repair and maintenance records, reason it's being sold and so on. The website frugal-rv-travel provides a good checklist of questions to ask. When you test-drive a vehicle, ask the seller to have all mechanical systems fully operational and charged before you arrive. Ask to test-drive the vehicle with the seller onboard to answer any questions, and let the seller do part of the driving as well, so you can see how the RV rides as a passenger. Look for noises or other problems that you might not be aware of while you're behind the wheel. Test-drive the vehicle on different roadways, particularly at top speeds on an open highway, and find an empty parking lot to see how it backs up and handles in tight situations.

7. Beware of common and not-so-common problems

You might think that an RV with low mileage is a real plus, for example. Not necessarily. In his book, Bill Myers recommends looking for a used RV with at least 10,000 miles on it (and preferably not more than 35,000), since too few miles can be an indicator of a problem-prone vehicle or one that's difficult to drive. Motorhomes that have been parked and unused will almost always require expensive service, Myers writes, including replacing fuel pumps, belts, batteries, tires and brakes, and rebuilding the carburetor on the generator. Another costly problem: leaks in the roof and other seams. If you have the chance, try to inspect and drive an RV during a downpour to help reveal leaks and give you firsthand experience with how the vehicle handles under harsh conditions. And if you're looking at a used unit that has spent some winters in cold climates and perhaps has not been properly winterized, be sure to check the plumbing for possible burst pipes and other leaks.

8. Make an offer

Arm yourself with information on fair market values, recent sales and prices for comparable vehicles, and a list of any problems with the specific vehicle you're interested in, all of which will support your case for offering a lower price than the asking price. Also, offering to buy immediately and pay in cash can be a powerful bargaining chip. If you need to finance the purchase, the website DRVFinancing says it's more difficult to find a willing lender if the RV is beyond five years old. In some cases the lender will want to inspect and approve the used vehicle.

One more tip

Before you set off on your first road trip, consider enrolling in a roadside assistance program offered by Good Sam Club to cover towing and other services. Its programs, which start at about $80 per year, can provide some peace of mind as you head off on the happy trails in your previously loved RV.
 
"According to the website RVers Online, after factoring in depreciation, financing, maintenance and other costs, an RV that's three years old can cost about half the price of a new one."

Basically readers here cannot afford here something anything close to half the price of a new one. Probably the high end of the cheaprvliving class of buyers would be at 20% of a new rig and the average much lower.
 
Or you can do what we did in 2005.... find an older RV (1978) for $3K. Let your friend buy it first to use over the winter as a weekend home at a flea market. Buy it from him for $2K (plus do a little work to help put his house on the market... which we would have done anyway). Remodel and rebuild part of the Class C (lousy rooftop rack and ladder caused water leaks and rot). Remodel to suit your needs and then live in it from 2006 thru 2010. At which point you start converting a school bus into a fulltime residential vehicle. Give the Class C to your kid to live in and who is saving all her money to buy a school bus shell and use the Class C as a "donor" once we start converting the bus shell. We do not have a high opinion of sticks-n-staples RVs.

Every used RV that we looked at (3 years) had varying degrees of water damage. Any rippled siding can indicate a current or past water leak as well as siding failure (a pita to fix on fiberglass paneled RVs). Most common water damage locations:
Skylights
Rooftop air conditioners
Rooftop vents
the entire roof
city water inlet
water heater
windows
refrigerator vent cover
ladders
rooftop racks
ANY opening in the roof or sidewall
entrance (floor tends to be rotted)
entrance doors (around door and entire door can be rotted)

Don't forget if it smells "just like new" it just means they bought a can of "new car smell" at the local Autozone. If it looks "just like new" then look at the structure very closely. In our experience, the ones with the most rot were the ones that looked like they had never been used or were only used once a year for one week. The rest of the time these "clean one owner" rvs were sitting, unattended. Use my mothers version of car dealing... "I got $XXX in cash do you want to sell that (car) at my price right now or not?". Cash in hand is king when it comes to buying used. When the Class C was found, both our friend & my hubby had $4K on them. They weren't really planning on buying any particular RV but both were looking and they were making a trip to SC that day, so took the money in case they found one sitting on the side of the road for sale. They found one for sale they both liked at the right price. It was sitting in an empty parking lot on the side of the highway with a for sale sign on it and a phone number. Asking price was more than what either wanted to pay. Cash "now" made the difference.

The bus shell was watched for months in an IWANNA paper before the price dropped from $2K to $1500. Then we offered $1200, owner countered with $1400 which we took (had $1500 in 20's with $1200 in one rubberband wrapped stack, and four rubberband wrapped $500 stacks). No waiting, money changed hands, the bus was signed over standing in a pasture.

When the time is right, the right opportunities will find you. You just need to be ready or you will lose the opportunity. That applies to anything. Whatever it is that you want to do or buy... are you prepared to accept the opportunity if you were faced with it right now? Figure out what do you need to do to be ready and do it.


I believe that you can still buy a well used, decent RV for $5K or less. But not if you have to "go home to get the money" or any other delays. Lots of used older RVs have been sitting while the owners have been trying to sell them. Look at RV's priced under $10K. Make an offer. What's the worst they can say?

I prefer to buy a CHEAP schoolbus shell from someone who no longer wants the bus (for whatever reason) then buy a deer hunters special and cannibalize it to do the bus conversion. We didn't cannibalize an RV but we did convert to the "metal tent" stage and then moved in. Still working on it. If pay check doesn't dwindle down any more, we should be finished by spring.
 
Good post CR, hard gained experience is the best kind of advice to pass on. Thanks.
 
Well said compassrose.

If I'm not mistaking RV part sizes are different than what you'd find at a home center, right? Therefore a repair project end up costing more on an RV than it would on an "home made" school bus.

I'm a van and bus person but I thought this article could help someone here. Not everyone has the ability/set up to work on an older model RV or the mechanical know-how for the up keep.

We lived in our bus for 8 years, and I LOVED it, however I was very surprise at the prejudice we encountered at several campgrounds. Not so much in the south but the north east was a different story. We got turned away in more than one occasion. We ended up staying at our place of employment but not everyone has this option. Keep that in mind when you decide what works for you.

All the best.

Nicole
 
Thank you for sharing this, it has a lot of useful information for me - a newbie!! :)
 
This is realy a great article to share. thanks. Bob put up a great companion article this week on his blog, about RV setups and towing a vehicle. Am looking at a Class C that can two a Mitsubishi Montero for offorading fun. All for less than $10,000 to get into and play with. Yes, used, yes there will be expenses for repairs.
 
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