So, looking at a new to us class A DP.
budget requires us to be looking about 10+ years old.
typically this puts us in 1998-2001 (+/-) Fleetwood Bounders, Dutch Stars, etc. usually have 1 or 2 slides or none.
Have one that is very interesting and quite nice (although far away so I can't look at it without driving 1000 miles) 1996 much higher end coach. Has no slides, but that's not really an issue for us as we're drivers not parkers. Does have more mileage than we usually see in the others (100k+) but to be honest low mileage scares me more (never used, things dry out)
I would go for the high end every time. Like you said, in a DP, mileage is a non issue, but construction quality is.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever" '05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins-Pulling our '11 Silverado LT, Ex Cab 6.2L NHT 4x4, w/2010 Rzr or 01 V Star in back. Where the wheels are stopped today
Remember, a coach with 100,000 miles on it probably has 100,000 miles on EVERY component the coach is made up of, not just the engine. Without very detailed service records, showing replacements of various costly items, I'd pass. Just my opinion.
Agree with the high end as long as you get it throughly checked out before making a deal. The drivetrain in the DP are built to go 300,000 plus miles if it's a motorhome chassis and 1 million miles plus if a commercial bus type chassis.
Same price for new high end gas, new entry diesel or used high end diesel.
We chose used high end diesel. When I look at what we would have now, 14 years later had we chosen anything but a used high end diesel having put 130,000 miles on it.....
Our coach is still rock solid, has had zero break downs and still returns 11.3 MPG (actually 11.4 MPG on this winter's trip through TX, NM and AZ).
If we had known Diane and Brett in the fall of 01 we may have let him convince us to look at older model Foretravels but we didn't. We are not unhappy with what we got but I suspect we are a little more heavy in more ways than one than they are. In 10 years we have 82,000 miles but only average ~8.5 MPG. Maybe Newfoundland or Alaska next year.
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Well, I went through the same thought process about 6 months ago. We looked at newer coaches 2005-2007 mostly gas, and also DP 2000-2004 about the same cost....we ended up with a 2001 Beaver Contessa with 31000 miles/2 slideouts and like new inside and out.Powered by a cat motor......We are glad we looked for 6 months and made sure of the right decision(we think we did it right).....most of the newer gas coaches were no comparison as to quality of the Beaver.
Mileage is really not an issue. The appliances and furniture are where you live and a lot depends on how they were used, or abused. You really have no way of knowing how much the AC or other systems were used. High mileage can mean very distant, but short trips. Low mileage can mean going to one place and sitting for months on end, using all of the systems 24/7.
Start looking at what the cost would be to replace some of the major items, like AC, frig, mattress, other furniture, tires, brakes, and suspension components, and then make your decision.
Go Used if possible. As long as it is clean, well maintained and suits your needs. I'm on my 3rd RV (Trailer, Class C and now Class B) and I always figured I could buy years worth of fuel for the 1st year depreciation on a new rig.
Just my opinion.
Alaska is next! Still trying to fit the pontoons to the RV so We can get to Hawaii!
Cant say from experience but from what ive read some folks arent too concerned about nickel & dime issues on new coaches. I would suspect a 10yr old rig would need attention regardless. Also 10yrs is a lifetime in construction quality so rubber roofs would be on their last leg, caps may be leaking, etc.
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