What your RV salesperson wishes he could tell you! (or "Reality check!")
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- *THERE IS AN UPDATED VERSION!*
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Your RV salesperson is a wealth of knowledge, but there is some helpful information he/she can't tell you! Here is a short - uh, rant? - of the things salespeople wish they could say to you but just can't!
**Note: I did this video on a day I was particularly passionate about what was going on at the dealership. I wasn't working for one at the time, but I had "had it" based on a customer's experience and passionately put this video together. I hope it helps someone!
RV Masters is dedicated to helping people enjoy and love their RV experience. We offer full video training, giving you everything you need from A to Z to use and enjoy your RV safely, and avoiding the cost and damage that so often happens!
My complete Buyers Track - available at www.rvmasters.com - contains the following topics:
1. Start this adventure with your eyes open
2. Why it's so easy to lose the RV buying game
3. Renting vs buying
4. Types of RV's - Motorized Class A, B, and C
5. What you MUST know about towing
6. Types of towed RV's - Campters and 5th wheels
7. Towable floorplans summed up
8. Motorized floorplans summed up
9. What options come with this model?
10. Ambiguous RV language: A cake is not a cake
11. New vs. Used
12. Questions you REALLY should ask before buying!
13. How to narrow down the search!
14. How to buy and save thousands
15. The "usual" RV sales process - recognize what's happening!
16. See inside a sale
17. About trades
18. The sale isn't over yet - all about financing and add-ons
19. What you must know about Warranties and Service Contracts
20. About the walkthrough - BEFORE you take delivery
21. More than just the RV
22. The most important thing to learn from this series
I am on my second Class A motor home. This fellow is completely spot on with the truth. If you know the truth before you purchase a RV you won’t be one of the 95 percent of people that are disappointed (like most of the comments about this video). I knew about these things so I wasn’t caught with my pants down. All that said, I LOVE the RV life. 👍
Would you mind answering a couple questions from a retired person? 1.) At what age would you suggest one think of NOT getting into an rv life? and 2.) Do you know what it's like for someone to actually live in one? ex: sitting in same rv spot for years, etc.. Thanks:)
@@lunaazule1899
I can answer your questions... I'm 64 years old and am getting
ready to go back on the road doing Trade Shows... so I'm looking for
a Class C RV... I would love a Class B RV (Van) but I need the extra room
for my business, which is Chair Massage/Reflexology...
I have had a Class A (BIG) RV... would not recommend that for you unless
you have a lot of people. and a place to park that HUGE Boat...
If you have a Truck you can pull a 5ht Wheel, or a Travel Trailer which I have
done both... (5th wheel is easier to back up).
It depends on what you want... and when you want it...
Are you going to do FULL time RV... or are you going to keep your home and just
need to get away once in awhile. ...
If you have never DRIVEN a Big Van... or a Class C RV... then maybe you can RENT
one for the weekend and go to the mountains and camp out...
Hope this has helped...
Good Luck
HINT: IF... You have any problems in lifting things... (boxes etc) or you like the same
routine every day... then RV life isn't that way... It is Changing Constantly, and it can be
Costly... and it can be Changing... but it can be FUN too... It all depends on what you need
out of life.. and if you're scared to DRIVE an RV... or PARK and RV... or ... you get my drift.
Watch a lot of UA-cam videos...
but the main question is this.. Have you ever Camped out?
and did you like it... ???
@@judichristopher4604 Thank you so much for the info and especially the questions I need to ask myself. I think I need to think more before buying. btw: you sound like a neat person. Best of life to 'ya.
I am an accident victim and getting around is tough more space is more to work around, for me an RV is very easy to clean and maintain an pay someone a few bucks to check maintenance and walk the roof kind of things for seal checks etc etc.
@@lunaazule1899 my father-in-law will be 79 this year. He still has his Class B RV and follows us on trips. Last year my in-laws camped upper Michigan with us and did the 5 hr Kayaking tour along Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior. So it's what ever you think you can handle :)
Dude you just talked me out of buying another RV...thank you. The whole RV world has gone down the tubes 3 years later after this video was made...every aspect of it.
This is a great video! Great information! We learned the hard way when we purchased a new class A. The salesperson didn't have a clue what he was selling. We only took it in one time for repair, the RV Techs had no idea what they were looking at our how to repair it. We maintain and repair our RV on our own with help of the internet. We love it. With that being said EVERYONE interested in rv's needs to watch this video.
I went personally to more than 6 RV dealerships before FINALLY buying my trailer; I ended up driving over 4 hours to Vancouver RV in Vancouver Washington, and the entire drive there was hoping they were a good dealership; I have to tell you I was NOT disappointed in the least....they were nearly TOO honest and the entire time there, till past 10:30 pm in the soaking rain, these guys were completely upfront AND super honest with me; the entire time I kept wondering if they were up to something....but they weren't....and even after I towed my trailer out of there, I called several times for techsupport help, and they answered and assisted me in every question!!! They even sent me a new electric hitch jack for FREE since the one that came with the trailer was having issues; AFTER I had already purchased it!!! If you are like I was, tired after months and months of looking and getting nearly scammed, go with Vancouver RV.
My dealers PDI was pretty impressive.. they have full hookups in the shop and have you hook it up, run water through everything. had me practice hooking up the weight distribution hitch a few times, even got in the truck with me and drove down the road and back to make sure everything was right. I left there a lot less nervous than i was going into it.
They are all supposed to do this.
After watching this video any sales person (in any industry) will exceed my expectations! Thank you!
I've been rving for the past 11 years. This guy's hit it right on the nose.
Thanks! I just thought it'd be helpful for others to know as well!
no not true.
Gino Gambino you guys are scaring the crap out of me.
I work at Summit RV in Ashland Ky, we include all adapters, hoses, a new battery, and LP tanks filled. We are not Camping world. Our dealership has been in business for over 40 years. We don't play games with peoples money.
ROTFLMAO Now, tell us you are not part of the association of rv dealers that actively lobby states to defeat rv lemon laws!! Like when the association recently declared a "victory" in Oklahoma and Connecticut when rv lemon laws were defeated in those states!
oldschooldiy was this intended for my reply? If so I have no idea what you mean.
is camping world bad? I am new to this and was wondering your thoughts on camping world.
hawkryder15 campin worlds bad umkay ba real bad emkay
We have owned several campers, and you are 100% accurate. Thank you for being honest and telling it like it is.
Little or no warranty, poor workmanship= total waste of money. RV manufactures need to be held to the same standards as Auto manufacturers, the Japanese manufacturers, showed the Detroit how to do it correctly with fit and finish and warranties back in the late 70's, but it took Detroit until the 90's to catch on.
Yes Jim total agreement
Lq
90's? more like late 00's.
And that one year warranty is voided if you try to live in it full-time. They weren't designed for full-time use.
And an American, W. Edwards Deming, went to Japan in the early 1950's and taught the Japanese the basics of quality manufacturing.
I have worked in the RV industry for 20 years. I have been a tech all the way up to Director of fixed operations of large RV dealerships all over the US. I have delivered sometimes from a 100 to 150 units a month. I have worked the Tampa super show numerous times selling 300 units in three days. This guy is spot on. Know your product know your warranties and know your RV was not built by robots in a factory. It was built buy hard working people like us.That is what makes your experience unique embrace it and enjoy.
Ayy I’m in campingworld Tampa!!
This guys mannerisms are great. I'm subbing just bc of his frustrated gestures lol.
It's only"normal" because people accept shitty craftsmanship.
The HOA thing just amazes me!
Lilly: And it is insane to tell a veteran (or anyone else) he cannot fly a US flag outside his home.
Statistically, they've proven to have zero difference in valuation. Location location location isn't a saying for no reason.
HOA have their place, and if the rules offend the buyer, they have the freedom to go somewhere else. Our HOA pays for the community pool, landscaping and maintenance of all common areas and extra plows in the winter (because the city has the roads at something like priority 3). It's nice to know that your neighbor can't just paint their house bright purple and leave a broken down car in the yard. It is a pain at times, as we have to pay 3k a year to store our RV somewhere else because it's not allowed to be stored in the community. BUT, we knew that before hand, and still made the choice to live in an HOA governed community.
This is why I'll buy a used one and just use it as a starting point and rebuild it myself. I know everyone can't do this but I have the tools, drive, and youtube and will probably be my project next year. One year warranty LOL what a rip off.
I liked the reality check. Most of the video has the awesome RV in the background, then it pulls away and you see the one you can actually afford... lol
I almost spit my coffee out...this remark was soooo funny, but true lololol
Great Video! I especially love where the RV gets moved from behind you, it shows that you are in the REAL WORLD.
To add to the commentary:
(1.) If your RV needs repairs, warranty work, etc. expect to wait weeks if not months to have it done. It is likely that the maintenance shop in your RV dealer is overworked and over-scheduled, and that the wait time is long. My first warranty work, AT MY DEALER, required a wait of 6 weeks, and he wanted to keep my rig for 2 months. I only allowed him 2 weeks, and he did accommodate me.
(2.) Your salesperson will be virtually unreachable the moment you sign on the dotted line. His job is over, his commission has been earned, and he is on to the next sale. (I'm not necessarily condemning my salesperson, just stating a reality.) Any promises of "freebies," no matter how small or large, are now gone.
(3.) There are many important maintenance issues (daily, monthly, etc.) that are overlooked in the typical PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection.) My unit suffered major water intrusion issues due to having no knowledge of areas along the slides that should be caulked on a regular basis. (In my case, they were never caulked at the manufacturer.)
(4.) More important than what DEALER you purchase from, is what MANUFACTURER are you purchasing from. Spend time on the internet going through the various chat boards for RV owners out there, and pay attention to commentary about the manufacturer and how they stand behind their products.
(5.) The "one year warranty" is NOT set in stone, particularly if you have purchased from a reputable manufacturer. My unit just turned five years old in August 2018, and my manufacturer allowed me to bring my unit in to one of their repair facilities (run by a former employee) for repairs, and they paid the bill for a ticket that was over $6,000!!!!
(6.) Find a reputable local RV service technician who will work with you and will accept payment through your warranty and extended warranty contract, if you have one. For more extensive (and EXPENSIVE) repairs, you may need to go out of your region to find a QUALITY SHOP. Due to tree damage while entering an RV park, I had to have my roof replaced. I have had my unit back in the shop three times to have the roof "tweaked" and it is still not right. After having my unit examined by a quality shop outside of my region, I have found out that the repair was not done the way that they would have performed it. Thus, my roof will NEVER look like it was when it came new.
(7.) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER pay full MSRP!!!! These things are jacked up in price, and you should pay roughly about 65-70% of the MSRP. SHOP AROUND!!!!
What a coincidence as the RV dealership just got a brand new flat screen in their employee lounge at the exact same time they got the RV in from the factory that you're looking at without the flat screen TV installed without a price reduction. That's pretty shady.
I'm a 6 year full time RVer who is also a RVIA Certified Technician. As I introduce new campers to their travel trailer or 5th wheel, I try to add as much many full time tid bits and real camping information as I can. Real information about their real camper.
My wife and work together, hopefully introducing RVers to a lifetime of camping enjoyment.
we are novice rvers but we are on our third RV...we had a used class C....tons of fun, a brand new Class A a total headache for the first year...sold it after three, and now have a used class c sprinter and love it.....i would NEVER buy new again....we have had a blast in our RV....and i like having my own stuff....and not sleeping in a bed that hundreds of strangers have slept in....
Hi! I just started doing some soft research on full time RV’ing, semi-stationary, being that I am in the military. I have two young step kids (11 and 10) that come to visit over holidays and summer. What would you recommend or advise could you offer? Thanks!
In our experiences, we knew more about RVs than the salespeople did. It's just the nature of the industry. I hope it improves.
You are exactly right. My camper dealer was a city boy who had no idea what a camper was. He just took money and headed to the casino. The service guys did the walk through.
There are no camper salesman. They are just dealers. Campers sell themselves. Go through every one and it is not gonna take 45 minutes it is gonna take trial and error along with time.
My advice,
Buy a cheap camper and go camping for a season. Walk the campgrounds and find what you want by living without. Then after a couple seasons you will know exactly what you need. Trade in the cheap camper and go get your exact fit.
I would suggest renting for the first few times out. It might work better for some people to never even buy an RV
I’m on my 4th RV. I’ve learned a thing or 2 also. Forget the warranty for any repair under $500. Do not get your rv repaired at a dealer. Yes, most of them do an excellent job but who wants to buy a rv and have it sit back at the dealership for a month or three?
The manufacturer requires so much to cover something under warranty that they tie the dealers hands and the customer blames the dealer.
Inspect it yourself before you take delivery and find an independent repair person for stuff you can’t or don’t want to do.
When you buy offer 30% off the sticker price and walk away if they say no.
There is no better way to travel then when you take your time and actually enjoy the trip in your own rv. If your going to whine and complain to everybody about a screw vibrating out then fly.
We pride ourselves at out dealership for fixing the shit the manufacturer puts out. We tell people the first camping trip will give you a baseline of what needs to be addressed. I'm on the phone all the time trying to find out why parts are still on order a month out and the manufacturers response is "the plants are swamped and parts are back ordered". The last thing we want is an unhappy camper but sometimes we are at the mercy of the manufacturer.
Manufacturers are so busy trying to fill the orders they already have that there are no replacement parts available. We literally have customers waiting for six months for a part that cannot be gotten from the factory until they get caught up. It's annoying and sad.
Well done, thanks! I videotaped our walk-thru, when we purchased our first travel trailer. The technician assured us everything was churched-up and ready to go. Since we were absolute novices, I asked him to go through the dumping procedure. Imagine his surprise when he removed the cap on the drain line - only to have about 20 gallons of clear water (thankfully) spill on him! I am still ambivalent whether our extended warranty was worth it. We probably would have come out ahead if we'd have just paid for our repairs outright. Lastly, we're becoming experts on working on our own RV. The packed schedules of these guys (not to mention the cost) makes it difficult to get an appointment...unless it's Winter.
The packed schedules of the service centers should say something about the quality of RVs.
Of anything that proved they tested the water lines for leaks.
At the 6:50ish mark when the trailer behind you moved it was an unintentional parable about RVs in general, that first one is what you think you are getting into, big, new, shiny and the one revealed by the move is what you actually get, old, depreciated, dirty, and in need of constant repair.
Ha! Ha! I thought the same thing!
Sorta like a new boat...
This guy knows what he’s talking about because he has experience. Go to where you’re going to take your RV, talk to people and ask them about their experience with a specific model that you’re interested in. Do your research do not get caught up in the emotion. Number one do you not think that money buys quality because in the RV world it does not. Best advice would be to rent one for a week before you buy it :-) this guy is spot on and knows what he’s talking about. Buyer beware
Growing up, we had a camper. My dad built all the cabinets and it didn’t have many bells and whistles. The fridge was an icebox and the one camping food we kids hated with a passion was the milk mom froze to keep the icebox cold. It separated as it thawed and tasted watered down. But camping food was good and we could always help cooking if we wanted. We ate lots of crackers, cheese and fruit for lunches. Our folks let us have things when we were camping we didn’t get at home. Captain Crunch is really great if you never get it at home
and with 2 adults and 4 kids we didn’t have a lot of, well, any spare space. Sometimes the oldest kids put up their own tents or my brothers buddied up. We had no tv and good luck getting anything on the transistor radio. We all learned gin, poker, cribbage, spoons as well as boxed card game like Rook and Flinch. (always with the Colman lantern hissing away overhead) If we got board we would go look for someone our age to play with. We just had to stay on the same loop. We saw state and national parks all over the US as well as Canada. We learned to leave the area cleaner than we found it and to respect other’s campsites. Learned to fish and how to clean and cook those fish. I learned lots of crafts and had some well dressed troll dolls. I got so desperate for something to read I started reading sci-fi my brother had finished and we heard stories from our parents lives before us that we would never have heard but that we were packed in tight. As adults my siblings and I can get a laugh with one line from a joke. We recite everyone else’s camping trip line from “Are we there yet?” , “I feel sick.." “ I don’t like this place. I wanna go home!” and the very insistent “I have to use the bathroom!” I modeled our long camping trips after those trips. We found a pop-up tent trailer for sale and arranged to rent it for a week to see if we were being rational. Bought it and used it until we didn’t fit us any longer. Handed it down to a sibling who didn’t even know how handy he and his wife were. We will be moving up to a smallish trailer. We now need heat, ac and floor space for two large dogs. Have fun out there campers and remember, there is a great big wonderful world out there others will miss because they are sitting in a huge RV with the widows shut and the tv on.
You talked me out of going to an RV lot. They don’t know the product. Product may not be finished. They will say whatever to get business. Spotty warranties. Thanks for the insight.
Journeys Wake yeah, just like car Salesman. Possibly the only difference is they are going to sell you something that is actually finished.
There's a guy in Heber, UT that restores Airstreams. They're beautiful, collectable & hold their resale value. In other words: Not junk & nearly rodent proof.
And this pertinent how. Not suppose advertise on this forum you A.H. !!!
This is a great video! Thanks for making it. What I hear you saying is RV’s are junk and holes in the road that you throw money in. My wife keeps pushing for a travel trailer. After watching this she no longer wants one!
You’ve saved me $20,000+
That's too bad. Took 4 years of walking through hundreds of units, many of them bad, before landing on our rig. Excellent quality, great fit and finish, and very few squawks. High quality campers exist, you just have to know where to look.
Thank you, I really like your honesty and point blank truths with the industry and RVing as a whole. This information will help as we are within 4 months of switching from tent camping to RVing.
Buy used from an individual. They have lived in the unit and know everything about it.
That is why they are selling it is because they know about it.
Parents bought a used trailer and was full of the other people's shit
We bought used, first time ever buying a camper..... a 2011 Apex by Coachman...... and was lied to about everything!!!!! The is severely damaged back wall and floor rotted!!! And slide is leaking!! And we have delimitation on front, back and under slide! I’m so sick about it 🥴 We asked???? And I wish we would have just went to a dealership!! People lie!! So upset 😭
@@tammymaxwell2470 yes, i was lied to too!!!!! Leak in roof area and I paid over 5,000!!!!! People lie, lie, lie!!!!!!!
I never laughed so hard.. Thank you and we are still going to buy a RV!!
The more I dig, the more I am getting uncomfortable about trying this life. Scared even. This guy deserves a medal for his frank observations. He should be able to make some money traveling and giving one or two day classes on the industry and what potential buyers need to be aware of.
Well thanks for that. I think the RV life is right for some people, but not for others. Some people (such as myself) can overlook these problems and find a way to find the fun within the issues. For others (often people that want "easy fun" or something a tad more carefree), this lifestyle would be a nightmare. I saw enough of that and just had to do something. Thanks for watching!
Advise to RV'ers concerning "The Manual":
Take that binder full of manufacturer pamphlets and WRITE YOUR OWN manual. I was an instrumentation guy. I rewrote every instruction manual in the plant. Manufacturer's manuals cover several models you do not have, and with variable options that you may or may not have. Plus, booklets are wrong! A lot! You should take every booklet, read every word of it incl the sales chatter, and copy to a word document all of the applicable info in a step by step format you find helpful (leaving out the non-applicable models & options). You will quickly learn that the booklet was written by some bureaucratic desk-jockey looking at line drawings. You can leave out the pages of warnings that tell you sharp edges are sharp and hot water is hot, etc. Get down at the equipment and LOOK to see where & what the booklet is talking about. Identify every valve, every plug, every switch & wire. Tag them if necessary. Make sure if the booklet says "press the red button" that there is actually a red button there. There may not be a red button due to equip updates that are not reflected in the manual (this is actually very, very common).
I reduced a 3" three ringed binder to about 30 typed useful pages. I covered everything in the binder and added a lot of info over time with experience; incl part number changes, and wiring "pinout" & replacement installation tips. Booklets will mention a valve but not tell you where it is. Do you know where your "low point drain valve" is? Find it BEFORE you need it. Having done all of this, NEVER toss out that binder! NEVER! There will always be some bit of info you overlooked. Add that to your manual. Thank you.
This is about having the right expectations... so much frustration for RV'ers (including me when I started) comes from the wrong expectations - trying to compare this industry to the other things we know (like automobiles, boats, etc.). This industry is nothing like anything you've ever been a part of, so that's why I share this info - to help new people have the right expectations when they're shopping for RV's!
This information ALSO helps buyers to know when they're being treated well or getting a good deal. Many people that buy RV's have NOTHING to compare the experience to, so they can't measure the quality of their experience. This gives them that baseline.
I have seen a few home made rvs from a moving truck to a camper van (home made not factory built) the make explained items and things and quality was there. But they were one off, Again you had to be handy to own one. I did not buy them. The box truck was not easy access like an RV but had a really nice inside and had a back porch cause it still had the lift gate with custom fold up rails, it was made for a wheelchair....
Very good point to talk about. I have older (2009) travel trailer and like any vacation property, you need to do yearly maintenance on it. There is broken hinges on doors, broken locks, windows and sometimes very expensive repairs like axles and breaks. I have put roughly $200 - $2000 dollars to my my camper every year just to keep it running. I love camping and family trips to far, far away but you must be prepared. Tires will blow up, your hot water heather will start to leak and there is rain water coming inside to your RV and it may ruing your dreams if you don't understand it is part of owning a trailer. Just this summer we traveled over 8000 miles in Alaska and Canada all the way to California and I already know there is things I need to fix/repair before next trip. How to do it? Order parts from Amazon, fix yourself and have good time. If you can't fix it yourself, find good RV service. Owning a travel trailer is not for everyone. You have lot of things to keep eye on and you must be able to repair many things yourself. Happy Camping :)
All RVs require repairs. So, one might as well buy a used RV for price, then expect to endure the cost and inconvenience of repairs. I bought a new camper in '92 and have since replaced/repaired just about everything on it (refrigerator replaced twice, microwave replaced, faucets replaced several times, jacks replaced/repaired, window hardware replaced, furnace repaired twice, drain valves replaced several times, interior and exterior lights replaced, battery replaced about every two years, rubber roof replaced once, roof resealed about every two years, replaced exterior decals once, added exterior mirrors, bumper rewelded and repainted, exterior weather seals replaced, mattress replaced several times, exterior wood paneling above wheel wells replace twice and weather coated every year, etc. etc. etc............
Thanks.
I like your style.
Wonder if you can help me with something? I picked up a 1987 Corsair Excella 28 'on a F350 Ford chassis.
The driver's side of the RV had a water leak and the wood inside the wall has warped and swelled.
I would like to refurbish the unit but can't find any info about how the wall is built or even connected.
Do you have any idea where I could find info on the structure?
Thanks
JoJo Siwa I don't mean to sound like I'm making excuses for the industry - there are many problems with it. I'm trying to share the (sad) reality that if one wants to enjoy RV'ing, you have to do it on THEIR terms (for now). I'd like to be a part of changing that... I agree with everyone saying it shouldn't be this way. But my point is to help people see that right now it IS that way and as consumers there is not much to do about it except be educated (like seeing my Buyers Track video series), working with the right dealer, and knowing what you want (from your research). Thanks for watching!
Not all RV Dealers are like this. When I asked a question at my dealer if he did not know he went and found the answer. If he did not know how something worked I asked about he found someone who did. This you should demand from your dealer if not walk away.
I actually disagree with most of what he said about what dealers "can't" tell you. If you are asking questions and they are not answering them, find another dealer. The process of buying a camper is as much about shopping for a dealer as it is shopping for the rig.
Usually you get the power cord.(Had to buy my own 50 to 30 and 15 amp connectors). Our dealer always gives a water hose with pressure regulator and sewage hose but I already had higher end of each from our first trailer. Rent an RV a few times before you buy. Gives you an idea of how things generally function in most RVs. Our dealer actually drove out two missing things to us (that were there fault) at 7:30 pm. So some dealers are as decent as they can be within the parameters of the pressures of the industry.
I went to camping world the other day. The inside of these trailers are cheap, stove was cut uneven on the counter on one trailer, on another the dining table laminate was already peeling. Cabinets are cheap. And when the salesman told me I need a 800-850 score to qualify for lowest payment, I walked out.
Realize they are all junk and you better be handy to own one.
Same can be said for purchasing a house, but that doesn't stop lots of clueless homeowners from taking the plunge.
In my experience it depends on what you get. Ultralights are notorious for breakdowns and not lasting a long time. We have a non-ultralight (read heavy) travel trailer from Heartland Prowler and it's great. Real wood cabinets and little things that make it durable.
I totally agree. Expect to learn how to fix EVERYTHING on your RV, or expect to be disappointed by waiting for repairs and the cost of repairs.
What a dumb comment. They're not all junk. Do you even own one?
AGREE
As an RV salesperson, this is great! Very accurate about the lot shuffling, and not being able to memorize 600+ RV's and their specs.Thank you! This was great! Good luck!
Just remember this....facts tell and stories sell. Do I know tank sizes and build structure? Yep Do I ramble on and on about the refrigerator, water heater, frame size? Nope Can I educate my customers on just about every aspect of RV'ing? Yep Do I? Not until we ink the deal. If you buy from me then you become a forever customer that I will help guide at any point. Learn to make that balance. And to the poster of this video, just say no to coffee.
yes I sell, finance and desk all my own deals and have RV'ed for over 25 years. My Monaco Dynasty sits right between my house and shop. I get it....those are rare qualifications in this industry but I just laugh and smile when all the other "salespeople" just kick and scream about losing this or that deal to xyz.
Where's the fucking spec sheet? Why isn't it taped to the wall in plain sight? Don't give me this "memorizing" shit! Shoe me the factory spec sheet with the unit's serial number on it.
As someone who is thinking about getting a camper/RV at some point. I appreciate this video a lot!! Thank you!
I am a service manager at a dealer in Texas. We show the customer how everything works during the walk thru. We also show THAT it works - fridge cold, furnace works, AC cold, water heater heating water - the whole enchilada
Actually, a good salesman is knowledgeable, truthful and qualifies his prospects in terms of money and personality before showing units for sale. Ready and able prospects need to know the whole deal before becoming willing buyers as well as a referral source.
Rv dealer:
Boat dealer: hold my beer.
What a great video! David, you are a jewel, a true jewel, telling it like it is. I pray that every last stick of your inventory moves in a month (you do the paperwork!) Love it!
we have had trailers since 1987. Our first three were used and we bought our first new one in 2006. The dealer was just like you described here. We bought our second new one April 2018 and the dealer/salespeople really went above and beyond, crossing every line you described in this video. E.T. Quality RV in Yuba city, Ca
Our dealer gave us a complete "how-to" on delivery day. Several dealers in our area do this.
Mine took, the guy had patience with me, it took almost 1:00 explain me step by step, but was too much information that I almost remembered
I`ve come to the conclusion if you really want a quality built RV start with an enclosed cargo trailer and build it out yourself.
Absolutely. The value will rise if you do a good conversion. For maximum resale...use good components, use it for 10 years or more and sell it at no loss whatsoever.
You really think a cargo trailer is put together better? Ever seen one of those built?
I was considering building out a horse trailer. Cargo trailers have a huge problem with break-ins and theft.
How about RV people salespeople who lie to customers get a bullet to the head? Seem fair to me. The correct answer to a question you don't know is: "I don't know" It's not complicated.
LOL enclosed trailer, LOL. Better off converting a school bus.
There are RV dealers who DO give you all the hoses and chords and other stuff for free. And they DO spend two hours with you showing you how everything works. They're out there. Find them and buy from them.
Sandpiper in the background is a nice throwback when camping was alot more fun!
Dont trust RV dealership, look for a private owner who will explain every item in the RV and knows the RV lifestyle.
Seems to me RV sales is a shady business.
You are 100% correct! I have experienced it. Any RV under say $60K is built cheaply using cheap materials. And even those costing above $60K have plenty of problems. The entire RV industry needs to get a clue from the auto industry.
@@mmabagain rv is nothing like a car it's more like a house on wheels that's designed to shift in every motion
the problem is I doubt there was very little design, as in engineering
you nailed it!
From experience i can tell you that Road Trek, Pleasureway, and Winebago based VAN designs are built VERY well structurally- THUS the RESALE is VERY HIGH! A ten year old Road trek 170 (smalles will sell for $64,000 ALL day LONG and FAST! Its the VAN built structure that LASTS! Its when you start cutting the body of the vehcile there becomes issues, long term from movement!
This guy...love him. Honesty, how refreshing...
This is so true. Especially the part about the extended warranty. My slide motor failed, the warranty company said the failure happened because the lynch pin was doing it's job by failing. I immediately cancelled the warranty.
706 RV dealerships disliked this video.
Fist time I have ever seen you.
Not sure who you are but something makes you
quite likeable.🌼
#1 thing you need to understand, RV's were made for the occasional vacation. They aren't designed to be lived in 365 days a year. It's a house on wheels! Vibrations, constant shifting of load, things will always break down and most mechanic garages will not work on RV's. Dealers that work on RV's are booked months in advance. If you break down and are able to take it to a mechanic in some small town, the mechanic knows you won't be a return customer. He will get you back on the road as cheaply and profitably as possible. If his band-aid doesn't work, you will be miles away. Case in point. A customer had his 4X4 with banging coming from the front end. The mechanic replaced the CV axle and the noise went away. What the customer didn't know, the mechanic used the wrong axle so by the time the customer got home. The problem was back. He paid $400 for a $150 job which had to be re-done by his regular mechanic.
Im an RV Salesman here at Big Daddy RVs in KY. I can tell you if I find something wrong with a unit I let the service department know ASAP. I sold a 2020 Cedar Creek 34IK Hathaway Edition a month ago. They had signed the papers and done the wire transfer. That day he called me on his way home and asked about the 10" Luxury King Mattress in it. It wasn't in it, they had sent the wrong one. The reps said we should have caught it a year and a half ago. I called the buyer immediately, kept him and his wife informed. We are currently waiting on them to pick up their unit with the RIGHT bed in it. Sales should be the missy honest job you have.
I bought a used 38 foot Montana 5th wheel camper. Had 4 slide outs was in beautiful condition and the quality was high. What I did not realize was how expensive the Rv lifestyle is.
That’s why you buy a school bus and turn it into your own RV
I bought an RV from youngs rv in fremont ohio and they literally showed me EVERYTHING about it. They did the walkthrough and watched me as I operated everything before I pulled out the gate with my rv
RV ‘$ have improved a lot in the pass 30 years ! From 1 piece roof coverings
To better sealants etc.However Maintenance and storage is key to the longevity of them ! The only difference
Is the OATS!
If you want cheaper Oats
Buy them after they gone through the Horse!
what he is saying is rvs are built like crap so expect it.
ROFLMBO.....you are so spot on. It's why I'm an Air Stream Guy....Number two I never speak to anyone who doesn't know/understand
the RV life... Great video! Thanks...
AIRSTREAMS are BUILT so DAM GREAT! as such so is ARTIC FOX which EQUALS expensive up front NO or less problems if any long term!
Airstream is now with Thor. SAY goodbye to their legacy/reputation
@@yazuki4238 THOR has owned Airstream for over 35 years!!! LMAO
5 years back, bought my first rv. It was class c it was old, First off I got what I paid for $1500. 1977 Ford reallite class c rv. It had been rebuilt the shell, it had a redone rubber roof, it had carpenter ants, Driving it home it drove well, engine and motor were very good. MPG for the big 460 v-8 was abt 15 mpg. Headlights, wipers heat all worked. Rear tail lights DID NOT WORK (no turn signals or brake lights) the lights did light up with headlights and the trailer light switch worked (I plugged up magnetic trailer lights) Rear brake cylinder blew out, fixed it, wheel bearing seal began to leak...600. First thing bug bombed to kill ants, grey and black tanks had been patched and still leaked, water tank worked good for wash water, ac unit up top worked good for ac and heat no ac up front plug into RV port unit had power, fridge worked (all 3 modes) inside lights worked, ac converter worked, after my first trip I began to notice the sag as the camper shell rested on the cab. Many things on these you can fix yourself many you have to go to a special shop, many places did not want to touch my RV cause it was so old. AND NO it did not come with a manual, but it had accessories all hoses, jack, spare tire, flares. Toilet worked but when driving we had blow back and it would smell, so we opened the roof vent and rear window and closed the bathroom door. We camped in it twice. No one would buy it with all the work it needed, not even for parts, so I sold each part I couldtill the shell was empty and I demo the shell in my driveway and made a flat bed. I drove it as a flat bed, but the cab was not sealed, it got almost 18 mpg with no shell. I should have pulled the motor and tranny and scrapped the rest, but I donated the flatbed to good will . Buying an old RV beware
But, your education is priceless.
I purchased my first pop up Coleman/fleetwood 2001. I bought it used and it was 11years old. It was garage kept most of it's years and I did minor roof repair to the old abs. You can go see my video on the repair. Never had an ounce of trouble used it until 2015 sold it
T and upgraded to a TRAIL MANOR 2619 a hard sided pop up or also called a expanding hard sided pop up. It is a 2009 it had the refridge replaced before I got it. I still have it and it is way better quality than anything made in the last 4 to 5 years in my opinion. I go to RV shows regularly and I will keep 2009 Trail Manor 2619. Look it up they are way cool!
If you're new to RVs, think of them as houses that experience a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake every time its towed it down the road. Even if they were solidly built, you can't expect them to hold together after days/months/years of this punishment without some TLC. Expect to have to tighten drains, screws, hoses, etc every month or so, at the most. Expect to have to reseal the roof at least every year. Recaulk around doors/windows (if they're caulked) once or twice a year. A little bit of PM will save you down the road on major problems, like water leaks and parts falling off.
...not only a traveling earthquake, but add to that hurricane force winds for hours at a time!
Very well stated. The RV is only as good as the care that goes into it before, during and after a trip and when its just sitting.
Its crazy to think that its ok to sell people unfinished, unexplained products and then call it normal. Wow!
dboy1377 People line up to buy them tho
Unfinished isn't true. Just bad finishing. You can see trim nails and stuff. As far as unexplained that's total BS. They aren't complex computer programs. They are simple machines. Push this button for this etc. This translates to about all trailers.
This is why we are wanting to hire a licensed RV inspector to do the walk-through with us. One inspector in our area has owned RV’s for 30 years and lived full time in one with his wife for 9 years. He will be our go-to guy.
A few days ago we stop by an RV dealership. The sales man did not know nothing! So we asked for another sales person (same thing) in the end after 3 sales person. We got to the manager who also did knot know anything about the RV nor answer simple questions like gas mileage, total weight. Things here and there. We walked away. And went to buy a 30feet bus to convert it into an RV. In the end it will be much cheaper to convert it than getting into a 10/15 year loan for something that has a 1 year warranty.
2 things needed to own an RV.... A tool box and a sense of humor.
Many of the things you mentioned could, and should, be mentioned by a good sales person. Being a professional sales person of over 16 yrs, I would be confident in telling a customer any of what you mentioned and it likely would build more confidence from the customer in your honesty.
Right now my heart is sick. I just bought a Freedom Express Ultralite--paid cash---now am I to understand that This is not going to last for several years? this was my retirement gift.
margaret curry im not sure if your comment was supposed to be directed to me or in reply to my comment?! Either way... 99% of RV's are built pretty poorly (crappy frames, flimsy construction, no attention to detail, poorly sealed. You need to seal EVERYTHING every year (with actual sealants for rv's... (Not home depot caulking or silicone). This will usually run you $100 to $150/yr in sealants and then your time.
Wonderful video! Wow, what great presentations you do!
1 year warranty, 7 months waiting for adequate warranty work to be performed. Always carry as many tools as you can fit in your storage bins, you'll need them.
Normal is not OK.
Cosmo Fitz Right?!? He can yell “Normal!” all he wants but it shouldn’t be acceptable
4shacks1house lol no i'm not "that guy" just making a point. I hate it when people put low quality and standards off as "Normal".
The salesman can't control it, talk to the manufacturer
Well, he just completely talked me out of buying an RV!!!!!
LMAO🤣🤣🤣 !!!! I know I'm reading your comment a year later but I kind of agree. Either I get one of those micro RV's so there's not much flexing to loosen things up inside or I'll just get a cap for my truck and fabricate a bed and a few storage places and a 5 gallon bucket to shit in and then go dump it in the woods. LOL
Tell you like we tell some people. If you don't buy it somebody else will.
Love it...The TRUTH will set you free....to RV !!
This guy is correct. One thing I would do if buying a used one is to have someone who works on them check it out completely. Soft floors from water leakage can be a real project when you discover wet graham cracker wood and ants your in for a lot of work! RV's are built to sell not to last ! They are so cheaply constructed and this is why they deprecate so fast. If your only going to use it once or twice a year ya may want to rent one. The camping lifestyle is great for kids. You will have some great memories to look back on!
Buy a horse trailer with living quarters instead. Configure the stall area for toy haulin' and you have a much sturdier RV because they HAVE to be to carry horses. Hey, you're welcome.
Neeeeaaahhh
The price difference makes it hard to swallow. I rather just get caught with my pants down and lay back and enjoy the ride.
Hay, you’re welcome
Yeah!! No doubt. 😃
We got on forsale... lol
WOW! Sounds to me like the RV manufacturers are a bunch of sheisters. Maybe not so much the dealers, but... Now WHY would the salesperson not be able to tell you any of those things? They can't tell you what the warranty is, or that it doesn't come with a TV, or that it comes with no hoses fitting or hookups? They can't tell you that shitty craftsmanship is normal? If it's normal, what's the problem? Though, the customers allow the manufacturers to make this normal in the first place. If that camper in the background cost 3-5K new, all this would be ok, but I bet it costs more like 20K.
Holy shit, the whole deal is piss-poor from front to back, why would anyone ever want to get involved with this FUBAR?
You make some great points and have great questions. Here's my thinking on RV'ing: It is fun, give a lot of entertainment, and allows you to do things in a way you really can't do any other way. The industry is growing, and that is starting to be a problem. I do these videos to raise awareness for people that are thinking about getting into it. I want to help the RIGHT people get into RV'ing, and I'm happy to discourage the WRONG person from buying one. The point of these videos is that there ARE problems with the industry, and hopefully someday it changes, but right now all we can do is be aware of it and navigate around it. At least that's my perspective!
Well, that's a great (free) service you're providing. Turns out, I think I'm one of the WRONG people, LOL.
I was a RV warranty admistrator. I did all the brand new straight off the line check in/ inspections. I was very thorough and documented everything! I created files with all the info, serial numbers, photos, and videos. I pursued the manufacturer's asap , I created the claims, schedule the repairs, worked it from beginning to end until reimbursement was paid.
I Always informed the buyer of what I found and offered to share any info they wanted.
The customers were very appreciative of me as well as the sales people, because I kept the customer informed and I had their best interest in mind. They knew they could trust me and contact me with any concerns or questions. I took over fir the sales people after the sale, and always professional and compassionate with the customers.
The Travel Trailers come off the assembly line with defects and missing components.
Just make sure to go through it with a small tooth comb during inspection and then you can enjoy the awesomeness of your RV😊
People will think I work for Camping World when I say this but I don't nor do I know anybody personally who works there. The CW we bought our RV from did a very thorough walk through. A retired school teacher did it and he made sure we understood how to operate everything and occasionally had us demonstrate what we learned. He was very good and it took over an hour. I don't know about other CWs, just the one we bought from and they were awesome. No complaints. Guess we lucked out.
I had the same experience, CW in Iowa, they were awesome.
Same here, the only thing I can say, Don't trust them to set up your hitch properly though! Without a scale, there is no way for them to get it right.
Thank you for the info, I plan on buying a RV soon, the hints and info will help me not go into a major retirement purchase blind.
What would be nice is if there were more campgrounds. The number of RV's out there compared to places to park them is way beyond saturation.
Only if you need to be in a pussy-ass RV park with lots of activities for ALL the fucking kids and such bullshit. Figure out how to boondock or quit your bitching, you asshole.
And never buy a camper from Camping World. Just trust me on that. Sheisters of the sheisters.
can I ask why? I am new and I have been thinking of getting one
@@hawkryder15 there are several videos on yt about camping worlds' under handed selling practices. Do your own research.
Mr. Malec is so perfectly correct! Bought a used 38-foot 5th wheel from one for about 5,000 less than new. Something went wrong whenever we used it. The generator didn't work three months after purchase. The gas tank was leaking at over half full. The six-wheel suspension had to be aligned at a big truck frame shop. The drawers decided to quit opening and closing. The water heater started leaking after about two years. The gas tank and drawers took a year to get replaced. The water heater took a year to be replaced. The generator never did work. I'm glad I bought an extended service contract. And there were a lot of things we fixed at our own expense, small things. And to add insult to injury, they dinged he corner (big ding) of the camper while the water heater was being replaced. I'll NEVER go back to Camping World again! And I've been a Good Sam life member since they started life membership, not that it means anything since camping world bought them. It was almost enough to make us quit camping.
I love this guy. So right on. He sounded like my recruiter. I’m a fairly new Motorhome owner but had a fairly good idea of what I was getting into with my purchase. I would just like to know what the panel under my wardrobe cabinet is in my 2019 Thor Hurricane bedroom wall. Seems like a wasted space with the doors on the panel and nothing but an empty wall behind it. Anyone have an idea. I don’t want to take it apart and mess something up. Thanks.
.
A Few Tips that I would add 1-Do your research on the unit that will fit YOUR needs not the one that the dealer wants to sell you 2-Have all of your financial ducks in a row BEFORE you start seriously looking. If you are not careful you will have to get a second job to pay for RV. Also RV dealers make money off of the sale and off of directing people to certain finance companies. 3-RV dealers have something that you want “insert year and name of the RV” and you have something that they NEED...your hard earned money.
I work on them every day and 90% are crap.. slammed together at the factory and sent down the road.. NOTE, if you buy a NEW trailer.. It WILL have cheap Chinese Tires on it.. Change those out right away if your going to be traveling with it.. I do own my own Class A. but it is a 1978.. Back when they tried to make a good RV.. Aluminum and fiberglass, w/ real wood interior.. and My dealership does give a starter package of stuff you will need to use the RV.. We work on a lot of Class C's and A's.. slides and leveler jacks.. lol, not my favorite thing..
Water ingress is the biggest problem. Buy an older vehicle and look for water damage or repairs.
I wish I had known all this when I bought my brand new 2015 Class A Thor Outlaw Toy Hauler!! Wow,!! What an eye opener! Thx!!
For anybody that is watching this. I just want you to know there are good dealerships out there. Make sure you ask! Go in and ASK for someone that camps. Because I Camp every other weekend and I am in rv sales. And everything this guy talks about our dealer comes with. Sewer hose, Electrical Adapters, Batteries, Propane, Freight, Full 2 hour Orientation and walk-Through, Detail. The entire package. So dont let this guy make you weary about entering the RV Industry, its fun and one of the best family pastimes you can do.
People in the RV business are in it for the paycheck or the profit, and absolutely nothing else. They don't give a rat's patootie about the buyer. The U.S. is cranking out RVs as fast as they can (they're up to 50,000 per month), and some of them don't even survive their first trip before stuff starts breaking down. Everything in an RV is individually warrantied by the MAKER OF THE UNIT, not by the outfit you bought the rig from. There's a 3-month wait for the repair? Oh, too bad! RV salespeople are like pimps: no integrity, no conscience. Want a dependable rig? Build it yourself. REALLY! Get a new trailer suitable for a tiny house, and do your own build. It will have everything you want, and nothing you don't want. If something is damaged or goes wrong, you'll know how to fix it.
and your just like CNN. Full of shit and lumping all sales people into one category.
That is definitely the best solution if you know how to do it. Otherwise you'll have to find someone you can hire to do it for you. Those people are out there.
Wait a sec...just most of the people in the RV industry. Dont blame everyone at your dealership...just most.
most fly by night used car dealers are better and that does not say much
And you have bad grammar. Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm a grammar Nazi. Though I completely agree with you on CNN.
Agree on some things but when you are spending 20 40 60 grand finish the product right
How much more do you want to pay for it?
Thank you!! This guy is pretty Legit!! We owned 3 Rvs
I am 5 minutes into this video, and, immediately subscribed and liked it. In 5 minutes my lower jaw hit the floor with this guys explanation. WOW! Next up is to watch his 20 videos on how to buy. Several years ago after a vacation to Colorado, I went to CWorld. A salesman came to me and directed me to a POS little travel trailer. I asked about its holding tanks. His response " Yea, its has water and poo tanks I think. The battery is in one of the tanks" Nuff said, I was outta there!
#1, all RV's are pretty well built by the same plant. #2, there is NO QUALITY CONTROL, #3, if water, poop, gas or any kind of liquid flows through something, it will LEAK IN YOUR NEW TRAILER VERY SOON. #4, the heater will stop working, ice cold, the first night you are out in your new trailer and it's cold. Your poop will freeze, lines will break., etc. Lastly, your roof is "temporary" at best. A little wind and some acorns and it will leak like a SCREEN DOOR on your new RV floor. Lastly, no one in freaking Indiana can build, or has EVER built, a mouse-proof RV camper or park model. It ceases to exist---- they seem destined to punch, drill or saw oversize holes into everything, and then make no effort to seal, plug or make your BRAND NEW RIG rodent proof, they don't even make an effort.
The are hand built by the Amish right?
Say what? Look into Pleasure Way before you talk. The quality is excellent, which is why we are buying one after 8 months of research.
@@stivostenberg Aren't they 150K? That's out of my reach and/or comfort zone. My wife and I are talking about our next season of life and RV is in the mix, but these comments have me thinking of just moving to secluded cabin in the Smokies or some similar place.
@Frank T, The one we bought is about that, though taxes jack it higher. My point was meant to address JP Stone's comment that all RVs are built on the same line and of the same quality. My wife and I are hoping to live in ours for 5 years, so having the PW warranty for the entire period is important. All my research points to PW quality meaning very few problems. If the initial price point is high, look at used. The PW seem to hold value, which means they still are not cheap, but it means if you are selling you lose less. Seems people buy these, decided the van life is not what they wanted, or their life direction changes, so there are used units out there, some with low mileage.
Rules for buying an RV:
1. If a salesperson can't answer a simple question, that's a red flag. Every unit should have a spec sheet in plain sight. Don't try to sell me the ignorance routine.
2. If the dealer didn't correct fit and finish problems from the factory, the dealer doesn't give a shit about the customer. Another red flag. Can you imagine a a car dealership that doesn't detail new cars? Just sells them like they came off the train? All nasty and dirty?
3. If a deal churns units, that's a red flag. All they care about is the money. "Sign here and fuck you very much!"
4. Buying an RV from a salesperson who doesn't use an RV is like buying a car from a salesperson who has never driven the car. Huge red flag.
5. If someone comes on UA-cam laughing and shucking and jiving and making excuses why you're gonna get screwed over when you buy an RV, that's the biggest red flag of all. "You're gonna get screwed so you may as well lay back and enjoy it!" Really?
I've received one or two comments on the attitude/laughter. What I'm trying to relay is the ridiculousness of it all - this is the attitude the industry has towards US! Not me towards you. I don't make excuses for the industry at all - they have some house cleaning to do for sure. But this is why I make my videos - if we can get the information out there, maybe we can change HOW people buy RV's, how educated they are about it, and that in turn will force change in the industry.
I no longer sell RV's for a reason... We're on the same side brother. Thanks for the comment!
And how many cars are put out there with known issues. Sticking accelerators, jumps into reverse, shards of metal ejected from air bags, stalls while going at highway speeds, transmissions that fail after 10K of use....I could go on. Do you want to talk about new home purchases? Not a new to you home but an actually newly built home...ever try to get a warranty work there? Not saying any of this is right, just saying the RV industry does not own this....
Great reply and to the point.
RV Masters
Almost had a snarky comment till i read your response. Thank you.. might get a used truck camper lol.
"You're gonna get screwed so you may as well lay back and enjoy it!" is the objective of a car dealership as well. It's common sense....to them. None of this should be a surprise to anyone...REALLY!
I shopped for about 5 years and as this video says is true - some dealers are just trying to sell you an RV. However I meet a couple of them that did know their stuff and was very knowledgeable on their products. And by being a wise buyer and choosing your trailer "hands on" and not buying from a RV show will allow you to see and touch each part of your RV and allow your dealer to answer any questions. If they don't know right off the top of their head ask them to find out for you. Be a wiser shopper and doing your research will help a lot, the internet is a great thing for this, everything you ever wanted to know and some you don't (like black water tank deep cleaning). I found my RV at a dealer In Wentzville MO. Great salesman, great service folks all are very knowledgeable. AND a Bumper to Hitch warrantee for as long as I own the RV, I just have to have them do the work there. So far only one trip there to fix some of the little stuff the video talks about, and a larger problem. All fixed and not a cost to me, and they discovered that the jack on my RV had a recall, they ordered a new one already waiting on me to take it there to replace it.
I completely agree. You never learn from the first run through. There's just too much, and your head would explode. Fortunately, there are plenty of people on UA-cam, including yourself, who want to help. I would suggest searching for one or two videos, UA-cam will suggest more, and eventually you should be fairly comfortable with the routine, even before you buy one. Or at least it'll be less of a surprise.
I loved when the bright shiny new RV gave way, to the old, well used one. That was amusing.
Well if you wanted to unsell an RV you just did. I will stay in hotels if I need/want to travel.
Yeah... because paying $150 a night to stay in a 150 square foot room is a real value. Who doesn't love paying the equivalent of a $4,500 monthly mortgage payment for the "privilege" of sleeping on an uncomfortable bed with a bedspread that likely hasn't been washed in a few months? Of course, you do get those little free bottles of shampoo. So I guess it's worth it in the end.
but you only have to pay 150/night on the nights you travel. with a 25,000 rv, you may only be paying $5/night, but you're paying that every night of every day of the year for 10+ years. plus the $30/night campground fee... plus you can only go places you can drive to (meaning weekend trips are going to be close to home), plus you have to pay for all the supplies to keep it in shape, and any repairs that need to take place.
im not saying they're bad, but you're not saving money in an RV unless you're using it at least once a month for a good solid 3-4 day weekend. you're paying for the convenience of having your bed right where you wanna be. when i go TENT camping, it costs about half as much as hotels most of the time. i cant imagine a couple hundred dollar a month payment keeping that number anywhere close to half.
Kenneth Lawrence, I don't agree with your logic for a couple of reasons. First, using an RV for weekend trips is actually where you see the most dramatic cost savings compared to traditional travel. You argue that a benefit of traditional travel is that it allows you to travel further for weekend trips, which means you're adding airfare. For me to take my family of 5 on a 3-day weekend trip with our camper, it costs me about $100 for lodging and another $75 for gas. For me to take my family on a weekend trip someplace that required airfare and hotel lodging, I'd be looking at $1,000 - $1,500 in airfare, $250 in baggage fees, $450 for lodging and at least $50 for transportation (assuming we just take a cab or UBER to-and-from the hotel). Rental cars would add even more to that expense. So we're talking the difference between a $175 trip and a $1,700 - $2,200 trip. It doesn't take many of those weekend excursions to essentially pay for an RV. My family takes about 5-6 weekend camping trips and 3-4 week-long trips a year. If all of those were "traditional" (non-camping trips), we'd be talking easily $15K in travel expenses in one year. We could buy a brand new RV every other year and still come out ahead.
Second, you seem to be missing the point that an RV is an asset that you own and can eventually sell to recoup part of your investment. So to get a true cost comparison, you have to subtract the eventual sale price of that asset. With traditional hotel travel, you have nothing to show for your investment except photographs and memories. It's true that the value depreciates, but no so much as to erode the cost savings of RV travel vs. dumping thousands of dollars into hotel rooms, plane tickets and rental cars.
@@McScott76 the eventual sale of an rv is basically nothing in the grand scheme, unless you sell it only a few years old. As far as travel goes, you have to think that those long distance trips may cost you a little less than airfare (and I do mean a little, for me it was $2000 for my wife and I to fly to Colorado, stay in hotels, and rent a car, where as driving with a camper would have cost about $400 less) but the ammount of your vacation time you burn just getting to where you want to start your vacation can eat up an entire week by the time you drive there and back at 65mph. For people who have jobs, the $400 you save out of pocket bites you in the ass when you have to eat up $2500 worth of vacation days from work to do it.
@@McScott76 There are decent $40 motels all over if you arent in city. Buying a trailer that costs 20k plus doesnt make sense if you have a job at a fixed location. If you wanna full time rving then maybe.
AIRSTREAM are QUALITY built to detail that I have seen! YES expensive!
My first year of professional driving was hauling campers. The Airstream I pulled was the most Awesome, Wonderful, superb and perfect trailer I ever pulled. And furthermore, it was long, a triple axle trailer and was a travel trailer, not a fifth wheel. Alas, the type of extended camping we do requires slideouts.
This guy is right about a lot of the info he is sharing. I delivered RV's for Horizon Transport for two years. Butttt....if your unit is not finished when you buy it.....DON'T buy that unit. I can't tell you how many times I delivered a unit that did not look clean or completed on delivery. If they were delivered looking questionable, the team who put it together in Indiana probably didn't do a good job with the rest of the build of the unit. ....and if the dealership is willing to sell it that way....you don't want it! They have no obligation to you after it's sold. Remember that.
What he said is 100% true, it really is like this out there. Having said that, I love my RV. The manuals are really generic, as some of them are meant to cover multiple models. However, most of the products/appliances will come with a manufacturers manual that offers a bit more information. I have never had a problem trying to figure something out between what was available, and what I was able to find on UA-cam. Some dealers do offer some impressive extended warranties, don't be afraid to ask around. Happy Camping!