2006 Cambridge 5th Wheel - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

2006 Cambridge 5th Wheel

Howard · Host

Hi Carol,

That unit looks to be in very good shape from the photos. It also has a washer/dryer and a second air conditioner which we don't have. It has a microwave/convection while we have just the microwave. It doesn't have a fireplace. It says it has a queen bed while ours is a king. It's got the original, heavy tube TV and CD/DVD player.

Honestly, I think the price is pretty good. There are 12 Cambridges currently listed on RV Trader and they start at $32,900 and go up to $42,900, so $29,000 is certainly a reasonable starting point for negotiation.

The main thing is to make sure you have plenty of truck. It doesn't have a generator and it doesn't have slide toppers, so you wouldn't be starting off as close to the GVWR as we did. I'm not sure I'm buying the "Weight per title" of 12,400. The dry weight should be closer to 14,000 lbs. So you will want a truck that can comfortably tow and stop 16,000 - 18,000 lbs.

I'd certainly get rid of that huge sofa which takes up the space for a dining table and chairs.

Yes, we upgraded our tires and wheels and our suspension and brakes. If you are just looking to use it for 3 - 5 years, you won't tow it too much, and you don't overload it, those upgrades probably won't be necessary. However, if you do those upgrades, it will provide extra safety and should increase the resale. And you might decide you don't need to upgrade to another fifth wheel for quite some time. :)

If you have any additional questions, just let us know.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Howard. There a couple of things I like about this unit -- besides the fact that I know some folks have been successfully full timing in one for a number of years!

I like the micro/convection option since I really like to cook.
And a 2nd AC is absolutely a requirement since I'm down here in Mission TX full time for the time being.

What I'm not thrilled with is:
no fireplace
small fridge
open bath area

I plan to get a truck down the road when I'm closer to moving around with the RV. For now I'll be stationary here and flying to RV Shows and Rallies!

The depreciation curve does not seem to be as steep on mid to upper end 5th wheels as it is on motorhomes. So I'm trying to find something I will definitely be happy and comfortable in as a home because if I'm not at all good at "making do" or being uncomfortable. And hopefully something that won't fall off the cliff in terms of decreasing value.

My goal is to find something by the end of September. I would've preferred to wait until the beginning of next year, but feeling the need to do something sooner.

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Carol:

That looks like a very nice unit. It says it has a side by side refrigerator so it may be bigger than you think. We bought some really nice Lazyboy recliners in McAllen when we were down there. I think the store was called Werners or something like that. Hope all is going well with you! Good luck in your camper search.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

K & E wrote:
Hi Carol:

That looks like a very nice unit. It says it has a side by side refrigerator so it may be bigger than you think. We bought some really nice Lazyboy recliners in McAllen when we were down there. I think the store was called Werners or something like that. Hope all is going well with you! Good luck in your camper search.

I have a great leather sofa and really comfy chair and ottoman in storage in Austin. So everytime there's no furniture or it's UGLY I remind myself it will just take digging it out of storage...

Thanks -- hope all is well with you guys.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Carol,

If you go look at the Cambridge, or any other brand for that matter, measure the entry door size. If your couch won't break down, you might would have to remove a rear window and take it in that way.

We also have sold our original furniture and have put in a La-Z-Boy Reclinaway love seat. The nice thing about the recliner styles is that the backs will come off, thus making it a lot easier to move the love seat into the coach.

Terry

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi. Carol, we bought a new 2006 Cambridge, 358, like the one your looking at. We traveled over 22,000 miles + and had one issues. We had a wheel crack. We replaced them all with Alcoa's at a little over 10,000 miles, and know for a fact several had the wheel issues.. We were in Mission, Texas when we changed the wheels. If the wheels are original, I would bet the Cambridge wasn't pull much over 10,000. I forget who told us about the wheel issue, but at about 10,000 miles, we could expect the wheels to begin to crack, and the wheels had to be replaced.

As Howard said the TV is original, the pictures does look very good. We did have Mor/Ryde install disc brakes after the first trip or two. We had a 1 ton Chevy 3500, DRW's but the Cambridge is a very heavy unit, we also had a Chevy 4500 and the 1 ton Chevy done as good a job as the Chevy 4500. But without disc brakes be careful.. We also owned two Mobile Suites and the Cambridge is what got us interested in the Mobile Suites.. The Cambridge was a excellent. If Keystone would have continued building the Cambridge we would have bought another Cambridge.

Check the tires very close, the tires on our 2006 Cambridge were G-614's never had a issue with tires, just wheels..

As for price, I can comment on, we never made any money off selling either of our 6, 5th wheels. But we never paid the MSRP, on a new unit 30% to 40% off MSRP.

We sold our 2010 Mobile Suites by in Mar. We have retired from RVing, and now lease Condo for the 2 months in the Summer and 5 Months in the winter. The cost just got to be to expensive, Fuel, Insurance, and most all RV parks have raise prices so high, it just got to be to much. Keep in mind we always stay with full hook-ups and 50 Amp service, never did any boon docking, we weren't Campers we were RVer's. But that was our choice... I did all the camping I ever wanted during 26 years in the Army. We also wintered two winters in Mission, Texas... Good Luck. Happy Trails...

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Delaine and Lindy. Your experience is valuable. I'm not really looking to make any money selling n a few years. I just don't want to lose a bunch.

And thanks Terry. I got your message also. Lots of things to consider.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is extraordinarily rare to "make" any money selling a used RV. They are not investments and should not be viewed as such. They are a depreciating asset and a lifestyle. You pay for the lifestyle. If one views it any differently then I suspect that it will result in disappointment.

Also, while one "can" live cheaper in an RV, simply because many of the costs of home ownership are not present, one can live equally cheaply in a rental apt. Assuming that life in an RV is going to be orders of magnitude cheaper than a house is fine....as long as you really know what you are giving up. Most peoples "living" expenses - not those associated with purchasing, maintaining and upgrading a house - are going to be similar even moving to an RV. I know none of this applies to Carol, who already understands this...but many people go into the RV lifestyle with expectations that can not be met.