Buying from CruiseAmerica - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Buying from CruiseAmerica

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry,

First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. I think you will find this to be a good source of information as you do your planning and research for RV'ing. Feel free to ask questions, and never get the idea that one might be a "dumb" one. The only dumb questions are those not asked and thus costing one time or money.

I can't help with a Class C as I know very little about them. Ad for buying from CruiseAmerica, if you do that, ask them for their maintenance records on the RV which has your interest. I have no idea of how well or how often they maintain their RV's, but I do know that some of their users will be folks that have never used an RV before. So, because of that, before actually making your purchase, see if you can find an independent technician to inspect it and all its appliances and systems to make sure those are in good order.

Good luck with your research and planning, and again, welcome to the "family."

Terry

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

With an RV tech, we knew one in NC, you would usually choose one and ask them to look at specific motorhomes or at least that is how it was done there. There is a charge and you'll want to ask how much that will be. Our first motorhome, a 1976 Winnebago Minnie Winnie with 97,000 miles on it, was like a dream come true to us. It cost $7900 in 1988. We kept it several years and honestly, the repairs we had to do were not that bad. Tires are expensive though! It traveled to FL, KS and AZ and places in between a couple of times. We are #8 of RVs (all different types). I bought and recommended this book to someone last week: www.amazon.com/Buying-Used-Motorhome-money-burned/dp/1479365386/ref=sr_1_2/188-7411575-9888027 and it is excellent and I think it would really help you in your pursuit of a motorhome. One of the Class C's that he does speak highly of is the Minnie Winnie and Winnebago also manufactures the Itasca which is very nice. For a Class C, to us, our top 3 choices would be: Minnie Winnie, Born Free and Lazy Daze. Born Free and Lazy Daze are expensive, even used, and not real commonplace.

-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 05:29:06 PM

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have to agree that if you are going to buy from Cruise America, you must have it thoroughly inspected by an RV mechanic. A number of years ago, we rented a Class C from Cruise America. To put it mildly, it was obvious that the unit had been "rode hard & put away wet." It was a rattletrap & it was obvious that proper maintenance had not been routinely done. So you want to be sure you know what condition the unit is in before you sign on the dotted line.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome! What is the year and the mileage on the unit you are considering? Will you be full-timing in the unit? I did go to CruiseAmerica's website just now to look at what they were offering and warranties, etc. Also, is this your first RV? Class C? I would try not to choose in a hurry if you are looking at keeping it long term as we have been "there" and for the long term, you need to really to research your manufacturer. Have you possibly rented one of their units? I would definitely use an RV inspector and either one that can do both coach and the motor parts or use two because I know some don't look at the engine, etc. Have you looked at many units to compare this to? Also, many manufacturers just copy floorplans/layouts from one another so this layout may be available with other manufacturers. This is a great time of year to purchase since winter/inventory season is setting in. Always offer less than asking price probably much less.

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the advice all! The unit is a 2007, but I don't know what the mileage is (141K comes to mind for some reason). I haven't looked at ANY MHs yet, except online, so I'm totally unfamiliar with what one actually 'feels' like. I do plan to be a full-timer, so it is really important that I get the right one (no money in the pot for a second one down the road). I rarely see posts about the various manufacturers, so reviews would be very helpful. Is there a site dedicated to reviews of the various makes/models of class cs?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

if that unit is a Gas type and has 141k on it......some major repairs are on the way very quickly!!!....commuter cars have less mileage than that.....for a motor home thats some punishment over a 7 year period......run dont walk

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well, I can read between the lines (or take a broad hint -- thanks Mike!), so I'm dropping this idea. I really have no idea where to start in my search. I don't want to spend more than 30K, and I can go as old as 1998 (depends on condition, of course). I'd really like some ideas about good quality-built class cs. Help, and thanks!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

A quick Glance in your area....

louisville.craigslist.org/rvs/4091158235.html

louisville.craigslist.org/rvd/4089349668.html

louisville.craigslist.org/rvd/4103195005.html

louisville.craigslist.org/rvs/4102611919.html

Now I am not from your area , but these are used class C units priced right that I have found in under 5 minutes......anything you buy needs to be inspected by a good mechanic and someone very familiar with RV stucture and systems(RV Tech.)

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks, Mike! I saw a couple of these checking Craigslist just prior to reading your post, so I know they're out there. I just don't know what constitutes a good price (checked NADA on a couple) or who the well-made MH manufacturers even are.

I appreciate your taking the time to look. A couple of them really appeal to me (I want something under 30'). Would I actually take an RV tech with me to see them? Not sure how this is done. . .

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'd go look at the ones that sound good to you, then narrow it down to 1 or 2 that you really want to buy. At that point, have a tech look at it. Here in Denver, there are mobile mechanics that will come to wherever you're parked. I used this type of service the last time I purchased a car. The mobile mechanic drove his big van to the car lot & he basically had a mobile diagnostic garage in the van. He tested all systems in the car & gave me a written report. It was well worth the cost.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry if you find one you like and are certain you want to buy it....you would either have to leave a deposit on it tinda treat it like its your house because its gonna be.......class C is not something I have fulltimed in , I have bought a few for resale but I prefer a class A or a 5ver for the road life........I am in a 24' class a Now and it seems small sometimes......be sure to spend some time in what you are looking for.....and dont be afraid of size , after you have sat in the driver seat and gotten over the fear of big its no different than driving a car safely!!

Space is an issue you need storage and all the comforts of home.....so look carefully

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

SnowGypsy, I've been looking up RV techs in the area to call on when needed, but I might end up going out of state if I find the right MH elsewhere. Is there an 800 number to call one up?

And thanks for the suggestions, Cindy. That's what I needed -- names of the best Class Cs! I'll try looking for the Born Free and Lazy Daze, but I have noticed they're not in abundance on the used market (that should be my first clue, I guess).

And Mike, I started out thinking I wanted a small (24 or less) Class C, but I've since bumped it up to 'under 30.' While it's just me so far, I need room for my art supplies (I'm a photographer and would like to do art shows). The driving part does scare me a bit, but I'll figure it out.

Thanks for all the advice -- glad I signed up!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherryl,

I'd advise you to slow down. You can make interim plans if your house closes but you sound excited and maybe a little rushed and it's a big, for you, investment you plan to make and we don't want you to make the wrong, for you, decision. I'd also tell you that at the campground where we hosted this summer a lot of rental RV's came thru. The least well maintained were the CruiseAmerica ones. You might also need significant funds for repairs, upgrades, etc. even if you buy new and no matter who you buy from. Only you can decide what that significant amount is but we hear of people setting aside up to 10 grand for issues. Others do it much more inexpensively so I don't mean to scare you, but limited knowledge plus limited funds could put you in a difficult place.

My advice would be to first find an RV inspection person in your area who is recommended and that you trust. Looking at floor plans without being in a unit is a whole different thing. Listen to Lucky Mike, and Hina and others who have lots more experience buying and selling.

Again, I don't mean to sound like a downer and we welcome you on the road, this is just from a gal on her/our 4th unit in 5 years and we still have so much to learn and have developed friendships with others on this forum who have helped us so much!

Sherry

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry,

I did a little checking for a forum member here that wanted an RV tech to check out a fifth wheel. That guy wanted to also charge mileage if the rig wasn't taken to his shop for evaluation. So, I would imagine that you might have to work with whomever is selling (if they are a private entity and not a dealer) to see if they would allow taking the rig to a technician. In the case of the member I checked for, the guy wanted over $1000 for the service, but I think he was inflating a lot for the 200 mile round trip he would have had to make.

EDIT: After thinking a bit, I think that tech was charging his normal shop rate for the time involved to drive to and fro on the RV evaluation. In this area, the normal shop rate is around $100 an hour up to around $125 an hour. So, he would have been charging $400+ just to drive 200 miles round trip.

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 3rd of October 2013 10:27:07 AM

Gary · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'd walk a few dealership lots, just to see whats out there, how the different types feel, etc.

I've been looking at different types over the years and have yet to make a decision. Mine will be a part time rig so no type (travel trailer like an Airstream, fifth wheel, any type of motor home) have been ruled out.

Take your time and make an informed decision.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is no central number that I know of for locating an RV inspector. I would google "Mobile RV Tech" in an area and then call and talk with them asking about what training and experience they have. There are many out there as I just googled it and found one in a town here that has only 800 people, a couple in our current smaller city, etc. If I were looking at a dealer, I probably would not ask them for a referral for an RV tech to do an inspection on a unit they were selling.

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Many dealerships give a 30 day warranty when selling a used rv. But 30 days goes by fast so you need to camp a lot in the first month. You can also buy an extended warranty just like cars, just be careful on what's covered.

If you haven't rv'd yet and only have one shot to get the right one you might consider renting one or two to see the difference.

Just my 2¢.

VanMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherryl,

I didn't see any references to PPL Motorhomes in Houston so I thought I would throw them in the mix. They are a regular part of my 'availability and pricing' research. A quick check came up with a 2004 Minnie Winnie with 35k miles for $30k. http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/classc/2004-Winnebago-Minnie-24909.htm

We sold our boat to a nice couple from Houston, living on Table Rock Lake. They had sold two RVs through them and bought one and were highly pleased.

Vance

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

www.mhsrv.com/2005-forest-river-sunseeker-3100-with-slide-rv-for-sale-used-class-c-tx-i893289

This is another unit just under your priceline ......from www.mhsrv.com its located in texas ....Nice setup for fulltiming in a class C

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Googling should bring up self-checklists for buying an RV which could be used to eliminate the more glaring issues so that an RV tech would not have to be called in until a unit looked like it was really a winner. Also, on the Class C, if there are windows in the cabover area, check closely because several units had trouble with leaks in that area most likely the ones with the front windows since driving rain can be wicked.

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you all for helping out a newbie! Don't worry -- I've been researching this for several months (reading blogs, reading maintenance articles, downloading checklists, etc.), and I just stopped by a dealer today to see what they had. They only had a not-gently-used Class A for sale (consignment), but they do have rentals! I think I'm going to do that after high season (end of October) for a week or so just to see how I like it. They rent Class Cs with the layout I like for $1000 a week, and I have to say that thing feels small (30'). Fortunately, I spend a lot of time outdoors, hiking and photographing the scenery -- my favorite pastimes!

Sherry, your concern is truly awesome! I'm not destitute, but I'm not old enough for SS (not sure it'll be there anyway), so I'm going to work on setting myself up for an online business or two (writing travel pieces, selling stock photography), and possibly working along the way at my various stops. Frankly, I can't imagine doing anything else at this point. . .

I like the Sunseeker, Mike! It has what I want, although I was trying to avoid having a slide (just something else to go wrong). On the other hand, it does look roomier than the slideless one I saw today.

I really do appreciate everyone's advice. I'm no spring chicken, but I realize I was born yesterday in terms of my RV experience/knowledge. Fortunately, I learn quickly and I'm in good health. Please feel free to share your experiences with me -- I really want to be an informed RVer!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry - you might check rvservicereviews.com/ to find a mobile tech in whatever area you end up find an RV you are serious about.

Also, we found the RV Consumer Group's rating guide to be helpful, they have one for MH and one for 5th wheels / trailers.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry, we spent nearly three years researching before we bought. Going in, all we knew was that there would be the two of us and a cat full-timing. We were pretty sure that we didn't want a pop-up or a pickup camper, but beyond that we didn't know. We were open to travel trailers, 5th wheels and motor homes. At first we thought a 5'er would be best, because motor homes burn so much fuel. They we learned what sort of truck we would need to pull a 5'er, and how much fuel it would use while driving around, and we looked at motor homes again. A MH with a fuel-efficient toad seemed to be the best choice. Long story short, that's the route we took.

If you are going to be full-timing you really ought to be looking at high-end coaches. You may be looking at a coach that is a few years older, but it will stand up better. Some friends of ours bought a new lower-price DP a couple of years ago. Less than a year later they traded it for a 10-year-old Foretravel because they could see that their old coach didn't have the quality to stand up to full-time use.

Unless you really need to have a very compact coach, I'd strongly suggest you look at diesel pushers. You don't have to get a 45' one. Something like ours would probably suit you, and there are smaller ones as well. I posted some information on this subject on another thread today, so search for that and you will have some links to check.

Spend some time looking at floor plans, both in coaches and online. There are only so many ways to arrange the interior of a motor home, so it doesn't matter what brand, age, or condition it is. A high end coach will use better components than a cheap one, but the general layout will be the same. How much kitchen counter space do you need/want? Do you want/need a desk? Will you be boondocking some, a lot, or not at all? The answers to that question will help determine the tank capacities you need. A Class A will generally have larger tanks than a Class C. How much "stuff" do you carry? Some Class C rigs are nearly at their weight limit with full tanks of fuel, water, and propane.

Do the research, and then start hunting. I've frequently said that I'd rather ask a thousand questions before writing a large check than asking one question a thousand times afterward.

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks, David. I determined long ago that I wanted a MH over a trailer. I have a CRV that I plan to pull behind whatever I get. I am more inclined toward the Class Cs because I really don't want anything over 31' and As are difficult to find in that length. My focus lately has been on Holiday Ramblers, Itascas and Winnebagos. I figured out that the ones most difficult to find would be the best to have (people hold onto 'em!), so I've steered clear of brands/models that are in plentiful supply (i.e., Coachmen). I'm particularly looking at HR Atlantis, Itasca Spirit, and Winnebago Minnie.

Since I've never had an RV before, I have no idea how much I would carry, but I have been concerned about the weight limits of the Cs. Since I want to visit/stay in National Parks, though, I figured I'd need to go smaller. Also, I've heard the Cs are less expensive to maintain (tires, etc.). I know there are trade-offs, so I'm just weighing all of my options right now. . .

I'll look up your previous post!

Thanks,

Sherry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Something to look at and think about.................I own one at the moment and I will tell you as far as boondocking and build ...WOW!!

has plenty of storage and lots of room as far as floor plan......I have found these as low as 12 K......PPL has a couple listed and they come in gas or diesel......as far as parts it is built on a p 30 GMC chassis ......I tow a trailer with a pick-up in it , or just the truck and it is great!!!

staugustine.craigslist.org/rvs/4110726395.html

mine is a 24' model .....it fits anywhere....has plenty of solar and generator power...and 100+ freshwater onboard!!!

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the tip, NWEscapees! I'll definitely pay whatever the price to get a unit thoroughly checked out before buying. . .

And thanks, Lucky Mike! I have noticed that there are 30' As out there. I just didn't realize they went smaller. I haven't completely ruled them out yet. Still researching. . .

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherryl,

Since you are considering the Minnie Winnie, here is a link to a blog that is written by a young lady that has one. She upgraded from the small teardrop trailers to the one she currently has. Perusing through her blog may give you a lot of information about her experiences with storage space and all. Her blog is entitled Winnie Views.

I used to follow a number of blogs, but after reading those and doing my "moderator" work here, I had very little time for myself. So, I pretty much stopped reading blogs quite some time ago. I still "drop in" on occasion, but I don't do the daily reading of them all. Lynne is the name of the one writing the blog and in the past, she has been very good about replying to comments on her blog.

Terry

Sherryl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the blog tip! I actually ended up with two that I want to follow up on. I'll probably run out of time eventually to keep up with all the blogs I follow, but for now they're my lifeline. Still searching. . .

Sherry