Motorhome reviews?

[Minnie&Mickey]

About a month ago, I started a thread asking everyone's opinion on whether we should buy a 5th wheel or a Class A and you were all very helpful. So now I have another question for you. As of right now, it looks like we will probably buy a gas-powered Class A...even though my husband still needs a new truck! He loves his little pickup truck and really doesn't want a new one. So, we looked at a used Fleetwood Pace Arrow (2005) and liked it a lot, but were concerned because since it is privately owned there isn't a warranty on it. Today I found a 2008 Gulfstream Independence for about $10k more. It will be brand new, we will be purchasing it from a dealer, and it will have a warranty. I'm not sure if that makes it worth $10k more, so I would like to read some reviews on both motorhomes. Unfortunately I can't seem to find a site for reviews. Do any of you know of a good website where I can research these motorhomes?

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[SCCamper]

I would suggest starting on the RV.net msg boards. You can get just about anyhthing answered there...it's like the DIS board for RV's.

 

[chilipyro]

I looked for the same last year. Unfortunately, there is no Consumer Reports for RVs, or any other web site that has a comparative review across brands and models for RVs. The best you can do is, as said above, go to an RV forum (RV.net is great for that) and both search and ask about a particular brand and/or model that you are interested in. You won't get any unbiased opinions, so it will be hard to use that information for positive input. I found the negative experiences to be more helpful - to point out the lemons anyway.

A great way to reasearch is to go to an RV show (the RV show season for 2009 is just about to begin) and look over the models that are for sale in your area. Once you have a handful that you like, go to RV.net and see if anyone has opinions on the brand or model. Dealer quality is almost as important as brand quality (IMHO), and you'll be able to get some impressions of that at an RV show too.

 

[Shaun and Amy]

I would try asking people on the forums at irv2.com. There's lots of great info to be found there.

Good Luck!

 

[Shan-man]

My opinion, for what it's worth (about $0.02), is that Fleetwood is an excellent product overall, and Pace Arrow is one of their premium lines. I would carefully inspect all the systems and buy with confidence. If you really want a warranty, Good Sams Club offers their Extended Service Protection for motorhomes up to 10 years old. Their prices are supposed to be pretty good and the service plan is excellent from what I've heard. Hope it helps.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Thanks for all of the info. I'll be checking out RV.net and irv2.com today to see what I can find out. I think we are leaning toward the Pace Arrow, although by the time we make a final decision, it will probably already be sold!

Thanks for you opinion, Shan-man. I love reading your trip reports and I always find good information in your posts, so your opinion means a lot to me. Another one of my RV friends also said good things about the Pace Arrow. Although there is only $10k difference in price (and I use the term "only" very lightly...it is a lot of money!!!), I think the newer RV will cost us a lot more than that in the long run. The Pace Arrow already has a washer/dryer in it, auto-searching satellite disk, and many extras that the current owners have added over the years. Since they will not be camping any more (due to health issues) they are giving us all of the extras. We just have to make a decision SOON!!! We are going to WDW in April for my birthday trip and we currently have reservations at OKW (we are DVC members). I know that as soon as we get there, we will be wishing that we were at the Fort. We just loved it when we borrowed our friend's Class C back in October.

Thanks again for everyone's help! Y'all are the best!

 

[clkelley]

Although there is only $10k difference in price (and I use the term "only" very lightly...it is a lot of money!!!), I think the newer RV will cost us a lot more than that in the long run. The Pace Arrow already has a washer/dryer in it, auto-searching satellite disk, and many extras that the current owners have added over the years. Since they will not be camping any more (due to health issues) they are giving us all of the extras. We just have to make a decision SOON!!! We are going to WDW in April for my birthday trip and we currently have reservations at OKW (we are DVC members). I know that as soon as we get there, we will be wishing that we were at the Fort. We just loved it when we borrowed our friend's Class C back in October.

Thanks again for everyone's help! Y'all are the best!

With that information, I would look at the used unit very hard!!! Make sure it is in good shape with your inspection and a mechanics inspection, then use some of the 10K to purchase the protection plan as Shan-Man suggested. I seriously looked at one of those protection plans for my little camper, but cost-wise it was not effective for me as the only two big items on mine would cost less to replace than the cost of the plan over 5 years.

 

[LORNADUCK]

We have had 8 rv's and only 2 of them were new. As soon as you drive the new one off the lot, you lost money. If a used unit is in good condition you really are saving money. I wanted the Pace Arrow 2004 - 2006 37C, but when we were looking last year it was about $20,000.00 more than we could afford. We ended up with a 2003 Forest River Windsong with 8,000 miles on it. We have had some problems with it, but probably would have had the same on a new one. If you are getting a workhorse chasis have the brakes checked, we lost all 4 after we had the MH for 2 weeks, the dealer pd to replace all, we are very lucky we only had a minor accident. We do have the extended warranty with a $500 deductable, every time we needed work it has been under $500, but we wouldn't be without it. Good luck let us see pictures.

 

[69RoadRunner]

Start with MHs in your price range. Then find the floorplans that you like best.

Look in the manufacturers area of irv2.com and ask questions there. Find the PDI checklists on rv.net.

You could spend 2 days going through the PDI checklists for a motorhome. Take your time.

There are great deals out there, and this time of year is a slow time, too.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Start with MHs in your price range. Then find the floorplans that you like best.

Look in the manufacturers area of irv2.com and ask questions there. Find the PDI checklists on rv.net.

You could spend 2 days going through the PDI checklists for a motorhome. Take your time.

Well, they are both in our price range, and the floorplans are very similar it's just deciding if it is worth $10,000 more to have a brand new unit and then have to add stuff to it, or to buy the used one that already has the features we want and save a good bit of money. The only thing that I think I will like more about the new one is the TV set up in the living area. It is angled so I think it would be easier to watch than on the older unit where it is above the front window. It also has a table and four chairs instead of booth seating, which I like because I think it makes it look more open. However booth seating would give us more sleeping space if our kids (who are both grown) come along.

I will definitely check out the manufacturers section of irv2 and see what I can find. I have no idea what a PDI checklist is, but I'm sure I will figure it out when I get to the site. LOL! (I'm so clueless!)

We have decided that if we get the used MH, we will get one of my husband's friends to go up and take a look at it for us beforehand. He has owned several motorhomes over the years, so hopefully he will be able to tell if there are any big problems with it. My husband took it out for a drive, and thought that maybe it shifted gears funny, but we were on little, narrow, hilly country roads and I suspect my own car might shift the same way. The owner offered to let us take it on the expressway, but we didn't do it...we should have though. The only other thing we are concerned with is that when he brought the slides in, they were a little noisy. Since we are complete rookies to this whole RV thing, we weren't sure if that was normal or not.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

I wanted the Pace Arrow 2004 - 2006 37C, but when we were looking last year it was about $20,000.00 more than we could afford. We ended up with a 2003 Forest River Windsong with 8,000 miles on it.

This one is a 37C!!! It has a little over 12,000 miles on it. I might have to check out the Windsong too and see if I see any of them for sale around here.

 

[Shan-man]

Just to follow up, for a 2005 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with 12,000 miles you should be in the $71-75,000 ballpark. I know they have done some upgrades, but this is also a down market... I'd be aggressive, you are in the catbird seat! Do download the PDI checklist, it is a very comprehensive list of inspections to make before taking delivery. As for the slides, operate them fully several times and as long as there is no binding or lurching motions and they seat and seal nicely I wouldn't be too concerned about the noise. Definitely take it out for a substantial highway drive. Also, rv.net has a very good article about assessing your needs while looking for the right RV. It is a sticky in their Class A section. It will help you think about all those questions like, which is better for YOU... a booth or a table and chairs.

Finally, I agree with Lornaduck, you will take a huge depreciation hit just titling the new motorhome (probably that $10,000 difference you keep talking about!) and that is just too big of a deal for me. $10,000 will pay for a LOT of extended service protection! I'll always buy used, personally.

 

[LarryJ]

About a month ago, I started a thread asking everyone's opinion on whether we should buy a 5th wheel or a Class A and you were all very helpful. So now I have another question for you. As of right now, it looks like we will probably buy a gas-powered Class A...even though my husband still needs a new truck! He loves his little pickup truck and really doesn't want a new one. So, we looked at a used Fleetwood Pace Arrow (2005) and liked it a lot, but were concerned because since it is privately owned there isn't a warranty on it. Today I found a 2008 Gulfstream Independence for about $10k more. It will be brand new, we will be purchasing it from a dealer, and it will have a warranty. I'm not sure if that makes it worth $10k more, so I would like to read some reviews on both motorhomes. Unfortunately I can't seem to find a site for reviews. Do any of you know of a good website where I can research these motorhomes?

Thanks so much for all your help!

Whatever you decide do your research on both the manufacturer and the dealer. As I understand it Fleetwood has moved almost all of their manufacturering to Mexico and there are a lot of manufacturer's closing plants and being bought by other companies. Same goes with dealers and I have read several threads where folks have bought a unit paid cash and next day dealer goes belly up and the title is in limbo. While the prices should be good now you could easily walk into a mine field in either the execution of the deal or down the road.

Not sure how to avoid some of these pitfalls, but be aware of them and do the best you can if dealing with either a dealer, a unit under warranty or one that might need unique parts only available from a manufacturer.

Larry

 

[wrongagain]

I know a guy with a nice"affordable" prevost marathon coach for sale.
If you want to know more, PM me, and I will tell you all about it.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Just to follow up, for a 2005 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with 12,000 miles you should be in the $71-75,000 ballpark. I know they have done some upgrades, but this is also a down market... I'd be aggressive, you are in the catbird seat!

Oh wow, Shan-man! He is asking $85,000 for it. My husband wanted to offer him $75k but I really didn't think he would take it since all of the other 37Cs that I've have seen for sale online are asking well over $100k (of course, those are dealers and not private sales)! How were you able to determine the price? From what I can tell, he has been trying to sell it for a while now, so maybe he would be willing to take less. Does it make it worth more if it has an Ox towing bar on the back (I think that is what it was called)? I obviously need to do more research!

Larry, if we buy the used one, will we be affected by the closing of Fleetwood plants or is that really more important if we were buying new?

 

[Tigger1966]

The bigest problem will be with the parts that are strictly fleetwood as most of the RV components are made by someone else just don't wreck it. No different than all the Alfa owners out there who are out of luck on a high dollar coach.

 

[PrincessNana]

Oh wow, Shan-man! He is asking $85,000 for it. My husband wanted to offer him $75k but I really didn't think he would take it since all of the other 37Cs that I've have seen for sale online are asking well over $100k (of course, those are dealers and not private sales)! How were you able to determine the price? From what I can tell, he has been trying to sell it for a while now, so maybe he would be willing to take less. Does it make it worth more if it has an Ox towing bar on the back (I think that is what it was called)? I obviously need to do more research!

Larry, if we buy the used one, will we be affected by the closing of Fleetwood plants or is that really more important if we were buying new?

I'd give him the low ball offer. All he can do is say no. Don't take it personally if he does say no. But, You'll be surprised at what people will take in this economic market and if they're finished with motorhoming. You can always come back with another offer if you really want this unit. We have made some really low ball offers on things we wanted and were pleasantly surprised when our offer was accepted. When people are finished with a phase in their life, they just want out. It sounds like this unit has alot of good features. We bought new and we'll never do it again. The Ox Towing bars are great! You'll need towing brackets for your tow car. Good luck and I hope you find the unit just right for you.

 

[Shan-man]

Oh wow, Shan-man! He is asking $85,000 for it. My husband wanted to offer him $75k but I really didn't think he would take it since all of the other 37Cs that I've have seen for sale online are asking well over $100k (of course, those are dealers and not private sales)! How were you able to determine the price? From what I can tell, he has been trying to sell it for a while now, so maybe he would be willing to take less. Does it make it worth more if it has an Ox towing bar on the back (I think that is what it was called)? I obviously need to do more research!

The price range I gave you comes from NADA.com, and according to them $85,000 would be a high retail price. You should never have to pay retail from a private seller. Low retail is $71-75,000, and that is what I would aim for. The Blue Ox is a great tow bar but I wouldn't expect to pay more than $500 for a used one on eBay, so it is not a major contribution to the sale price. I would also say, that the failure of dealers and manufacturers, and mfgs moving out of the US, only makes resells more attractive. And it makes buying a major name all the more important since they will be the best supported in the parts market. Keep doing research!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Thanks everyone for all of your help! You have given us a lot to think about. Hopefully we will make a decision soon. I'll be sure to post pictures when we do.

 

[4mickey2]

did you take them out for a drive? there are a lot of items out there to make them drive/handle better. but, the used one may have some of this stuff on it already.

one may handle better than the other. you may have to do some upgrades to either or both of them to get them to handle better. we brought our super c home and the first thing dh did was: koni shocks all around, front and rear: sway and track bars and a front stabilizer bar. the super c's are known for what they call "tail wagging". it feels like the back end wants to keep swinging out after a turn..

this made a world of difference in the way the super c handles and rides. this was the mh that we wanted (new or used) and we would of had to do these upgrades either way.

some mh's may handle much better or worse than others. just something to keep in mind. i know my aunt and uncle bought a class A and had to sell it because she got so sick riding in it..

i also check around on irv2.com and see what folks are discussing...