After a quick mileage/time check and your description of the location I'm pretty sure where you might be looking to drive to.
If I am correct in my guesswork,you will be well ahead to drive the 9/10 hours.
The factory guys will make everything A OK before you leave.
PM me if you would like more info.
'04 33.5 CKQG Hitchhiker Discover America
04.5 Dodge 3500 CTD SRW
Pac Brake,Max Brake
Fulltimers since '06
restlesswind wrote: After a quick mileage/time check and your description of the location I'm pretty sure where you might be looking to drive to.
If I am correct in my guesswork,you will be well ahead to drive the 9/10 hours.
The factory guys will make everything A OK before you leave.
PM me if you would like more info.
Had the same choice as you except my drive was 12 hours. Six months later I needed a part and went to the local dealer who wouldn't play ball and guess what? he was out of business
hallock5 wrote: For that difference, absolutely would make the drive with no regrets, as you did give the lil guy a chance to work down the price. Hope when you get there though you don't discover some kind of 'bait and switch'.
X2. I'd even go so far as to get a VIN on the coach =before= heading out to =either= dealer. Dunno, but 2.5 hours' drive isn't real "local", in my book. Unless that's the closest dealer for that brand, I'd go for the savings.
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 55 Year Member
We drove from florida to va to buy our 5th wheel and saved alot, we had one problem and took it to cw and they fixed it no charge montana took care of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A couple of things to think about. You got a trade? If yes, then towing that adds to the cost of the trip. And then getting moved from old to the new one will take a good solid day of work. If no trade, then will you have what you need to use the new trailer for a few days? Or be sure to take some sheets, towels, and miscellaneous stuff, etc. with you. Groceries you can buy there.
You a handy type of guy? If you can fix most things, you won't be needing you warranty for much. Only for real difficult tasks. But don't expect warranty service from anyone other than the selling dealer. You could get lucky...just don't plan on it.
Finally....IMPORTANT...make sure you are comparing apples and apples. READ FURTHER!!!! We looked at two identical models. One was 6 months newer build date than the other. At the time we did NOT know that. But both the same model year. On two different dealer lots. Prices MSRP were $4700 different. We finally figured out that the newer version had several important standard feature updates. The manufacturer made these changes mid year. And the list price had to reflect the difference. Auto leveling, newer design interior, more cupboards and cabinets, more wood doors, better slam latches for storage doors, and other stuff that I cannot remember now. The Auto leveling alone, made up a $3500 cost difference.
We did buy the much more expensive (and later manufactured) unit. But the point is not all identical year models are really identical.
While we do live in New Hampshire, we bought our trailer in Florida. About 1600 miles away. I have had some quality issues. But nothing that I could not troubleshoot and fix myself. Some were fairly significant. But I would still rather repair myself than have a dealer repair under warranty. So my trailer has no warranty claims to date. Even though it has a two year warranty. So buying local for warranty protection is over-rated. Unless you need to depend on a dealer for warranty service and expertise.
Good luck.
'12 F350 SB, CC, SRW, 6.7 PSD, 3.55 RAR, 6 spd auto, Ultimate Lariat pkg
2011 Open Range 393RLS 14,250 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
Had the same choice as you except my drive was 12 hours. Six months later I needed a part and went to the local dealer who wouldn't play ball and guess what? he was out of business
Ron W.
So you went bypassed your local dealer and drove 12 hours to save a few bucks on the trailer, then you wonder why the local guy would not "play ball"
Then your post a big grin that he is out of business. I doubt that "playing ball" with you and others who buy at wholesalers then expect their local guy to take the loss by providing warranty work for you is the reason he is out of business..
More likely he is out of business because people choose to drive 1000 miles to save a grand on a trailer instead of supporting the local dealer who pays for the road service calls, and the fully-stocked repair shop to help you when you need it, and the warranty administrator to service warranty customers.
Pretty soon you won't have any option than to drive 1000 miles because there won't be any more small independent dealers.
I had a guy tell me all about how he saved $1200 on a $29,000 trailer driving 14oo miles, Round trip.
Well right away knock off $500 of the "savings" just for gas. Factor in all the other travel costs, and his "savings" are down to about $400.
But he went to the wholesaler anyway, and guess what? he got a lousy pdi on a poorly prepped trailer, so he took it to his local dealer and expected the local guy to take care of his punch list.
But the local dealer is too busy servicing his own customers, so he tells the guiy to take his punch list back to the wholesaler.
But that "wholesaler" has no interest in building a relationship with you, so who knows when the work will be done.
Should the local dealer drop everything to help this guy or should he take care of his paying customers? What would you do?
Alaska is next! Still trying to fit the pontoons to the RV so We can get to Hawaii!
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