We currently own a 2007 Winnebago Vista 33' and are looking to trade for something to go full time.
Have been looking at Bounders, and some Tiffin products.
Although we have loved our Vista, we've been a bit disappointed with the Winnebago product due to lamination/slide/battery issues.
Obviously, we bought in at the entry level Class A, but we're not sure how to move up. We were very naive when we purchased our Vista.
We actually drive a lot; two trips to Alaska and back to the East Coast. (55,000+ miles).
We've moved up 4 times, the most recent just this past month. Have always sold privately and bought used privately. It's tricky because we never wanted to let go of one motorhome and be without before buying another one. So sometimes we bought a new (used) one before selling the old one. Had to find a place to keep the old one (like a storage lot) while trying to sell it.
If you're buying new from a dealer, you can, of course, still sell your old one privately. But you may not want to hassle with it.
I always do alot of research to find the exact year, make and model that we want to buy before starting the whole "moving up" process. By now you should know what features you like and don't like. Sometimes you have to be patient to find exactly what you want.
It might help to tell us if you plan to buy new or used.
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 32V
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara
I definitely recommend selling one before buying another. I don't practice what I preach though. On the last 2 motorhomes and on a boat I was stuck with 2 until I got the old one sold. Storage is the big problem with that idea.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, 2008 Saturn Vue, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
Trade it in and take the loss. Get the best deal you can. When I bought my Excursion I was going to get robbed on the trade so deceided to show them and sell it my self, 32 ft class A gasser in good shape w/low milage and all the options upgrade. After baby sitting it for five years I was able to sell it at much less than I could have got on the trade overall. Heck I pratically gave it away. It was like a ball and chain around my neck. Who needs two class A RV's? Just my opinion.
* This post was
edited 04/03/12 09:11am by Valkyriebush *
NADA low retail on your vista is $40,013 and average retail is $48,203. If you trade it in with a dealer, you will get NADA wholesale which is approximately 10% below low retail, so trade-in will get you $36,000. Probably best to try and sell privately.
Valkyriebush wrote: Trade it in and take the loss. Get the best deal you can. When I bought my Excursion I was going to get robbed on the trade so deceided to show them and sell it my self, 32 ft class A gasser in good shape w/low milage and all the options upgrade. After baby sitting it for five years I was able to sell it at much less than I could have got on the trade overall. Heck I pratically gave it away. It was like a ball and chain around my neck. Who needs two class A RV's? Just my opinion.
Yup, a second from me. My story is not nearly as scary. We put a previous MH out on a consignment lot. Nice dependable dealer who I think honestly did his best. It still took 6 months to sell, plus I had to have the MH detailed a few times to keep it "looking good."
Personally, I am not cut out to sell things, guess it is just not in my genes. Unless I had a willing buyer in hand, with full disclosure about all the little squeeks, I would go for a trade-in.
JMHO
Good luck and Happy Trails. With all your travels it really doesn't seem like the old Winne owes you anything.
All depends on how fast you want to move. Speed comes with a price. Trade in and you will lose value. Sell yourself, how much is your time worth?
So your choices are for sale by owner, consignment, or trade in. Work in that order first if possible.
If plan to sell yourself the coach needs to look better than every other coach in its class in your market area, which can be as big as a 500 mile circle around you. Works the same as selling a house when the market is full of available products. You never know when a potential buyer calls and wants to see the coach and first impressions are a huge factor not only concerning price but if the potential buyer is even willing to make an offer. Every day you need to be ready to move. If you are still making payments know what you have to do with the bank to get the sale finalized quickly. Check with the DMV also to find out what they require concerning the transfer of ownership. If you plan to use the coach during the sale period be flexible. Think in terms of a buyer. If I call Wednesday wanting to see the coach this Saturday and you say sorry we're be out of town camping I might move on to my next choice and never give you a second thought. Set your asking price high but don't be ridiculous either. Be ready to negotiate and throw in extras. One year of ERS, prepaid winterizing, prepaid club membership, one year warranty, $250 gasoline prepaid card. Have the coach inspected as if you were the buyer and fix everything noted. Anything to sweeten the deal and get full price or close. Your selling a house and a car. Think in those terms. Everything clean and shiny and not a burn out light bulb or dripping faucet to be found.
Concerning your next coach, I would give serious consideration to a DP if you intend to stay on the road as you have in the past but everything is dependent on your wants and needs. Some folks are more than happy living full time in a slide in truck bed camper while others wouldn't think about anything less than a 40+ DP. Myself I would be in the 40+ group. Too much stuff in my life I would want to bring along for the ride. Just not much of a minimalists and I get cabin fever easily. Too many years on small Navy ships for long periods of time at sea.
I wouldn't discount Winnebago even though the one experience let you down. If you read enough every builder seems to have lemons for some reason and unfortunately problems coaches will get more headlines that a good one. Who knows, maybe your coach was parked over a haunted west bound 1800's settler's grave site out on the Iowa prairie at the Winnie factory for too long.
And remember, wax on is clockwise and wax off is counter clock wise north of the equator. Good luck.
2006 Hurricane 31D aka 'Moby' the Whale
FCC(SW) US Navy Retired 1980-2003
Stella my Navigator
Bogart the All American RV Dog
and
Cocoui waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge
Maybe you could put a time limit on how long you will allow for the selling of your current mh by either yourself or on consignment. After that preset amount of time, then go get the best deal you can on trade in.
If you trade it in, I highly recommend that you don't talk to the salesman about trade-in until you have settled on a price for the new mh. Typically you will get the new mh for less this way. Of course, you probably will get less for your current mh also.
I also go along with going large....40+ DP. You won't regret it.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35 CAT C7
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