The biggest item that I would have changed when purchasing new would have been to change out the OEM Mission Tires to something good. Didn't do our homework to find out how bad the Mission tires were before we bought new in 2006. Now have replacement tires from Tireco(Mission US distributor) and are having problems with them. Haven't yet figured out if we have an alignment problem, tire problem or both.
LostinAZ wrote: The biggest item that I would have changed when purchasing new would have been to change out the OEM Mission Tires to something good. Didn't do our homework to find out how bad the Mission tires were before we bought new in 2006. Now have replacement tires from Tireco(Mission US distributor) and are having problems with them. Haven't yet figured out if we have an alignment problem, tire problem or both.
I hope people looking at new rigs will use the tires as a last bargaining chip before making a deal on a new or used rv. If they did maybe the rv makers would start providing quality tires.
2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn 3500 Dually Long Bed, Cummins 350/800 HO, Towin Machine
B&W Companion Hitch, Maghytec Trans and Rear Dif Covers, AMZ/OIL Top To Bottom
2007 1/2 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 27,000# Combined
arnko37 wrote: I would go for the biggest wheels and tires available. I would NOT want a big 4 door Norcold fridge due to the over 4K replacement cost.I would get a quality used rig rather than a new one of lesser quality, this means doing research before you buy. I personally do not care for too many automatic options as they can be more expensive repairs.
I agree, I would not want auto level, I like our double door Dometic no problems like the 4 door units, bought our rig last fall it is very high end 2007.5 36 SB3 Mobile Suites we only paid 46k so I can afford to do a few repairs. So I have a very high end unit that won't loose much value now compared to the people that pay 70k or more for a want to be high end unit and will be worth less than mine in 4 years.
Auto level is the best feature on my rig. After having it I would not get a RV without it.
Sure it can break like anything else, but so far it has worked well.
The auto level feature takes a lot of the hassle out of setting up.
There was a time when everyone was fearful of slide outs because they worried about them breaking. However most rigs now have some sort of slideout
If you ever experience and use the auto level feature first hand I think your opinion would change.
While I agree tour DRV unit is better built than my Open Range.
My 2012 unit has feature that did not exist or were not common in 2007. Auto level, flat screen TV's,digital antennas are just a few.
Both units cost about the same. There are values to be found on both the new and used market.
Depreciation is not a factor until you sell. If you buy a RV and keep it a long time 10 years minimum. Depreciation really does not come into the picture.
Analyzing on paper to determine value is sort of pointless.
New or used regardless of purchase price the best and only way to get value out of an RV is to use it. Use your RV regularly and you will get full value . Let it sit idle often and you will not enjoy full value
I agree the 2007 models were more primitive, Ours is a 2007.5 and it has a Samsung 40" flat screen tv and has a digital antenna with electric raise/store adjust features, hydraulic 4 point landing gear, disk brakes, air irde suspension, air ride pin box. It is the same as a 08.
Are you saying apples to apples an Open Range say 36' 5er is the same price as a Mobile Suites? "Both units cost about the same"
Depreciation is a value to me, I have a unit I paid 46k for that would be 100k or so new now. I spent 3k on GY 17.5" H tires and Alcoa wheels and 200 on a converter and 200 on a water pump and 60 on a toilet rebuild kit 200 on a nicer kitchen faucet . The unit was used very little when we bought it last fall. So I probably have 50k into it and I could sell it right now for 55k with out any problem.
So like I said lets talk in 4 years and see what each rig is worth. I have a primo rig for 1/2 of new and it looks new.
If I bought a new rv it probably would have auto level, not by choice but because the high end rigs all have it.
I worked in construction for 35 years, so setting something up level is no big deal for me. It might take 5 minutes more at the very most to have my unit PERFECTLY level compared to the auto level feature. I would spend the extra money on something else if I ordered new.
First off your DRV is far superior to any Open Range product. However a new DRV is 100K vs 50K for a Open Range.
When I mentioned they were the same price I'm comparing a new Open Range to a 5 year old DRV. Both are in the 45-50K range
The DRV is a superior unit no doubt. But it is not immune from depreciation. Someone took the hit. Even your unit will continue to deprecisate.
But as I said depreciatiobn is not a factor until you sell. I purchased my RV to use, I expect little return on the money spent.
Maybe one day when I sell i will be concerned about its market value. But I generally keep my purchases a long time.
I get my value using it,not by looking up its blue book value.
Now your DRV unit is a great RV. In the end it's too great for my wallet. I'm not for a 100K/50K RV yet. I am a weekender and don't use it enough to enjoy all of the features of the DRV. But one day when the kids are gone..............I can only dream until then
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
Blue Ox Bedsaver,air bags w/compressor
Arvika pin box bike rack,Bak Flip tonneau cover
5500 Onan LP,EMS-HW-50
14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
It sure seems by all the comments that the tires are something that really are important to check, I really would not have given it that much thought. I would have believed that they would have been putting top rated tires on a rig that cost $50,000 or more.
jdjimenez wrote: It sure seems by all the comments that the tires are something that really are important to check, I really would not have given it that much thought. I would have believed that they would have been putting top rated tires on a rig that cost $50,000 or more.
Thanks for the heads up.
The manufacturers have been putting Chinese made ST tires on much higher priced 5th wheels than that. Chinese made ST tires have given many of us very poor mileage and usually blowouts causing major damage to the 5th wheel or with tread separation at a minimum. Some have found ST tires on their rigs which were underated and/or several yeard old by the DOT # evem though the 5th wheel was bought new. Don't trust any manufacturer to put good tires on the 5th wheel unless you force them to. Everything on the 5th wheel was provided by the lowest cost bidder.
BORROWED FORMAT FROM OLD BISQUIT
6 point leveling........yep “Auto /Hydraulic “Level Up”
can the essentials (bathroom)be used with slides in....yep
highest possible insulation rating......yep
Goodyear G-614’s tires.....yep
All in one bathroom? Full size shower w/glass doors not some rinky dink corner unit......yep
Wired for inverter / incl 4 6-volt batts and residential Fridge....yep
Wired for solar.....yep
Two A/Cs......yep
50A with energy management system and surge protection.....yep
No window in entry door...yep
Fantastic Fans.....yep
Pwr Awning with a metal cover section....yep
More comfy chairs ( ? Love my lazy boy leather recliners?!?)....get rid of sofa/bed junk.....yep
Some type of air ride/assist king pin....( trail Air) yep
Disc brakes.....yep
Dual pane windows......yep NO! longevity issues
Wet bolts
Never adjust brakes
Full body paint over real gell coat finish with hung wall construction “”” NO MORE FILON w/delamination issues!!””
And last but not least A ROOF COVERED IN A PERMINENT COATING LIKE RINO TOUGH TRUCK BED MATERIAL, THAT IF DAMAGED CAN BE “TOUCHED UP” EASILY AND CHEAPLY!!!!!!
2012 Cedar Creek 36 RE Touring ED, all avail options
2011 GMC 2500 HD Denali DMax 4wd Superglide firestone bags
95' Procraft V-180-C 120HP OB, 80# cust TM, side/down image sonar
Don and Rosie, Annie the wonder Dog clicky to our photobook album
Slide out bike rack. What a mistake. It lengthens the rear to a point that the rear bumper drags on any incline when the rack is pulled out. Once it drags the rack it then kinks the rack frame making it really hard to push back in and pin.
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7 CTD SRW, Pullrite Superglide 18k.
2012 Komfort 3530fbh 5th wheel with Ground Control
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