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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Buying An RV -> Buying a Used Class C Motorhome
Post Info TOPIC: Buying a Used Class C Motorhome
Rainbowatdawn


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Buying a Used Class C Motorhome
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We currently have the house on the market priced to move, we plan on living in our RV stationary here in PA so Damian can keep his job while we save up enough for us to have a one year cushion.

We eventually want land with a self-contained, off the grid Yurt and our RV to travel as we can, we are relatively young (late 30's)

We have no problem with small spaces so a Class C with a few slideouts will be plenty for us.

Some background, I lived in my car and tent camping around the National Parks for sometime and I was perfectly content. A nice RV will be a luxurious livestyle in comparision.

Some Questions about purchasing our RV. We are 99.9% sure we are going with a Class C with slideouts. We will be towing a small Honda.

1st, should we purchase from a dealer or a private owner?

2nd I become a member of Good Sam's Club, the "endorse" RV's both private and dealer, how much merit should I give if they endorse a product?

3rd, What is the least you can spend on a liveable class C RV, what is average?

4th Financing a RV is an option we are considering, what is the going interest rate for an RV in reality?

5th How long to finance?

6th Isn't it like a morgage if it is your primary home thus the interest is tax deductible?

7th Any advice for storage of items? Cost?

Thank You
Dawnconfused




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Howard


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Hi Dawn,

I'll provide my opinions on some of your questions.

1.  Dealer vs Private?  Depends.  You can find better deals from private individuals.  But you better know how to inspect an RV or be willing to pay someone to inspect it.  With that said, a good, reputable dealer, with a top-notch service department that you can call from anywhere in the country can be worth the extra money.  But finding such a dealer can be harder than finding the RV.  smile  When we started, there was no way I would buy from a private individual, but after three years on the road, I feel like I have enough experience to inspect an RV and ask all the right questions. 

2.  Good Sam's is a good club, but I wouldn't give any extra merit to an "endorsed" RV.  Never heard of them endorsing RVs, but I don't keep up with them much either.  My first instinct is the seller paid "extra" to Good Sam for an endorsement.  smile

3.  Least you can spend on a liveable Class C?  I don't think any of us can answer that question for you.  Your definition of "liveable" is probably much different that everyone else's.  It depends on what you expect out of it.  How many years do you plan to live in it?  How much travel do you expect to do?  Diesel or gas?  Gas is cheaper, but will have less longevity.  I did a quick search of Class Cs under $30,000 on rvtraderonline.com and got 1,095 RVs.  You can go pretty inexpensive, but you have to get what is right for your situation.  smile

4.  Aaaack!  Don't finance!

5.  Double aaaaackkk!!  Don't finance!

6.  You may be entitled to a "mortgage" interest deduction if you finance an RV, but that is the worst reason in the world to finance.  If you absolutely must finance, don't do it for this reason.  It just makes absolutely no sense financially.  I can show you why with numbers if you'd like.  If you don't have to finance, Don't finance!  smile   

7.  I don't have any advice or first hand knowledge of storage costs, but I know a few of our Forum members do.  They help you out on that one.  We have just a few things stored and they are scattered around at various relatives' homes.

Just my opinions for what they are worth.

Good luck to you!  Way to think outside the box!!  biggrin

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Rainbowatdawn


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Thanks for all your advice, we had to finance until the house sells. I need to get to TX rather quickly for my son. We took what you said into consideration.

Thanks again

Damian&Dawn

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Impartial to all, free from excessive attachment or false hope and expectation; accepting, tolerant, and forgiving.
Damian & Dawn
http://rvinglifestyle.livejournal.com/
LakeConroePenny


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Rainbowatdawn wrote:
We have no problem with small spaces so a Class C with a few slideouts will be plenty for us.

3rd, What is the least you can spend on a liveable class C RV, what is average?  Thank You   Dawnconfused



Dawn, The more slide-outs the less Carrying Capacity, as it takes a lot of metal framework to support the slide.  They sometimes interfere with basement storage, too on a Class C.  Towing your Honda will also cut down on Carry Capacity of the rig.  Make sure you have a good frame to do that, too.

I have bought nice Class C's for $2500, years ago, taken them on a trip, and sold them for more than I paid for them when I got back.

Lazy Daze has been making Class C's, and only Class C's, longer than Winnebago has been in business, and they have a very good reputation, but they don't have slides.  Finding a used one is like looking for hen's teeth though, and they really hold their value. 

Class A's are selling cheap right now, and are usually better for fulltiming.

If you look up in the different forums what to look for in buying a used RV, then you might find a good deal on your local Craigslist. Most folks think that they want a certain floorplan, but once they get it, they realize that they needed a different one.  So don't spend too much on the first one, because you will want something different, and you don't want to be upside down on it when time comes to sell it. 

As Howard says, do not burden yourselves with payments.

Happy Trails, Penny, TX



-- Edited by LakeConroePenny at 17:31, 2008-08-27

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