me2
Wherever
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Joined: 04/20/2006
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I've always wanted a Class A motorhome and I've never been able to bring myself to buy one.
I've been RVing for 9 years now with a 32' 5er and a diesel PU. I usually do one long trip (3-4 weeks) and a medium trip (1-2 weeks) a year with a bunch of weekend travelling thrown in.
I'm a bit tired of driving the PU. Its a bit noisy and the ride isn't the greatest. I'd love to have a towed at our destination.
But the PU and the 5er get great fuel economy. Like 10-11 MPG. Seems most Class As of comparable interior size (34+ feet) seem to get 7-8 MPG.
And Class A's seem to have a ton of depreciation. They cost $100 to $200K and they depreciate a lot every year. My PU and trailer are done depreciating and are still good for many, many years. But with the rising cost of fuel, I should be able to get a really good deal on a used Class A.
Why does a PU and a 5er get better fuel economy than a Class A ? Seems a big dp should get better fuel economy, not worse.
How do you justify the depreciation factor of a Class A ? How much was your Class A and how much does it depreciate every year ? How do you justify this expenditure ?
Thanks
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doc brown
Redondo Beach, CA,
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Joined: 02/14/2004
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How do you justify the depreciation factor of a Class A ? How much was your Class A and how much does it depreciate every year ? How do you justify this expenditure ?
1. Fun
2. 26% of MSRP, not an issue for me
3. Fun
Steve,Kathy,Josh & Morpheus the Basenji
2004 40' TSDP Country Coach Inspire DaVinci
350 Cummins, 3000 Allison
2008 Wrangler X Sahara/Blue OX Tow Bar/Apollo Brake
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cobra350
Central Florida
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Joined: 05/25/2005
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I just did what you are thinking of doing. I had the same questions. I had a 38 ft 5er and diesel truck that got 12-13 mpg. Now I have a 34 ft class A with a V-10 that gets 8 mpg. I decided to take my time and look for a real well cared for low mileage used RV. I bought a 2000 with 20,000 miles. I was planning on buying something newer but this seemed like a good deal. And it is giving me a taste of whether I am going to like it without spending 100s of thousands. I have been RVing for 30 years started with a tent and went through all of them. I really like the class A more than I thought I would. Except for the fuel price of course. I plan to buy a new or newer one when I get ready to retire.
That is how I handled the depreciation. I saved about 50,000 buying used. There are a lot of good people on this site who will give you the answers you are looking for. I read lots of posts before making my decision. Good Luck.
Rick & Darlene Carson
04 F-250 Crew 6.0
00 Winnebago Chieftain
08 Honda Goldwing
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Love Boat II
Some where in the USA
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doc brown wrote:How do you justify the depreciation factor of a Class A ? How much was your Class A and how much does it depreciate every year ? How do you justify this expenditure ?
1. Fun
2. 26% of MSRP, not an issue for me
3. Fun
Are you asking me or just woundering ??????
Captain T. Love (Ret.)
Retired Airline Pilot
CB Chanel 13
AMERICAN AND PROUD OF IT
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK
BUY USA MADE
http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm
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spearharper
Northwest
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Joined: 11/13/2007
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I have camped all my life but I am too the point where all that stuff I broke as a kid is start to hurt. I spent about 8 months shopping and compairing.
New or old ? I looked at the depreciation of a new and just could not do it.
I started looking into used RVs and finally got a really nice '96 FW Hurrican. It had low miles and was in great shape. I can pay it off in a few years and hen I can trade up to something newer.
Only way I could justify a 280K new RV was to sell my house and become a full timer which my wife was not so fond of ...
My advice is spend a lot of time finding YOUR RV ....
Lance & Laura
'96 Four Winds
30' Hurricane
Washington
“I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong”
-Benjamin Franklin
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OntMontana
Guelph, Ontario
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Joined: 02/16/2006
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Purchasing a Class A motorhome is not a rational decision. Spending large amounts of money on a depreciating non-asset makes no economic sense whatsoever. There is no way you can justify the expenditure in financial terms so why bother trying? What we do know is that we would rather be happy than rich. Owning our motorhome has allowed us to achieve that desired state!
Bill & Ann
Bill & Ann
2007 Tiffin Phaeton 40QDH
2007 Jeep Liberty
Our "Cat Rescue Girls", Sadie and Aimee
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03FatBoy
Topeka, Ks.
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Joined: 12/28/2003
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me2 wrote:I've always wanted a Class A motorhome and I've never been able to bring myself to buy one.
I've been RVing for 9 years now with a 32' 5er and a diesel PU. I usually do one long trip (3-4 weeks) and a medium trip (1-2 weeks) a year with a bunch of weekend travelling thrown in.
I'm a bit tired of driving the PU. Its a bit noisy and the ride isn't the greatest. I'd love to have a towed at our destination.
But the PU and the 5er get great fuel economy. Like 10-11 MPG. Seems most Class As of comparable interior size (34+ feet) seem to get 7-8 MPG.
And Class A's seem to have a ton of depreciation. They cost $100 to $200K and they depreciate a lot every year. My PU and trailer are done depreciating and are still good for many, many years. But with the rising cost of fuel, I should be able to get a really good deal on a used Class A.
Why does a PU and a 5er get better fuel economy than a Class A ? Seems a big dp should get better fuel economy, not worse.
How do you justify the depreciation factor of a Class A ? How much was your Class A and how much does it depreciate every year ? How do you justify this expenditure ?
Thanks
Not trying to be nasty, but if you're worried about the $$$, you really don't even need to ask? We wouldn't trade our MH except for a bigger one. The depreciation is terrible yes, but we do get some (very little) back on our taxes (interest deduction). We're just a couple of years away from full timing now and can hardly wait. Everytime we're out for a weekend the DW says something to the affect of wouldn't it be great to not to have to go home. BTW, she wanted a 5er, but I said NOT. I'm set up and drinking an adult beverage and watching a friend finish his set up when we travel together, plus the toad gets 19MPH around town!
Melissa & Steve (MNC USNR retired)
FMCA F335327, GS
'05 HR Ambassador 36PDD, Mitsubishi Ecplise Toad
8.3L Cummins w/ 6sp Allison
Under 2 and counting!
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1492
Virginia, USA
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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It's certainly possible to get 10-11MPG in a Class A FRED(front engine diesel). Or wait until early 2009 when new higher efficiency Class A's begin to hit the market.
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apr67
Tallahassee, Florida
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Joined: 02/14/2007
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me2 wrote:
How do you justify the depreciation factor of a Class A ? How much was your Class A and how much does it depreciate every year ? How do you justify this expenditure ?
Thanks
I have no interest in owning a $35K to $50k pickup truck that gets less than 18mpg towing or not, requires $4.50 diesel, can't haul my 3 kids and two dogs, and is only used for its true function 5% percent of the time or less.
I'd much rather have a Class A, which can haul my family and my car, and only get 9mpg when I am going somewhere and once we get their we can tool around in our 30mpg car.
Deprecaite? A new crew cab disel dually and fiver would cost more than my new Class A, and it will deprechaite overall at about the same rate.
Justify? Its our home. Don't have to justify my home.
Don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here.
----------------
2007 National Surf Side 34DE. Full timing since 1/06/08
2007 Toyota Matrix Da Toad
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klenger
Tucson AZ
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Joined: 12/10/2004
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I am considering upgrading from a 5er (see sig) to a Class A also. If you work the numbers of a diesel PU towing and driving it for transportation empty vs the milage of a Class A and a high MPG toad, I think it's about a wash, or maybe slightly in favor of the MH/toad. Keep in mind that the Class A doesn't use any fuel when your not traveling in it.
2008 Tiffin Allegro 32BA FRED Class A Motor Home
2008 Honda CRV, Blue Ox, SMI DUO Stay-in-Play Brake
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