Travel Trailer Purchase

[rrehman]

We are looking into purchasing a 2016 Forest River Wildwood x-lite model 281QBXL. This is our first time purchasing an RV of any type. We chose this model because of the layout, and it is under our budget. Can someone with experience give us some advise. Is this a good brand, etc.

 

[Teamubr]

Forest River is one of the largest RV trailer manufacturers. They also have a huge line of utility trailers. They've been in the business for a long time. For any brand, you will find people that hate them and others that think they are the best. I have been looking at several Forest River products recently and wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Probably as important is the local service. Every trailer, regardless of manufacturer, will have some warranty work that needs to be done. Having a good, competent local dealer/service center is as important as who made the trailer.

If you like the trailer and it has a floor plan and price that works for you, buy it and enjoy.

j

 

[themojosupreme]

Good advice to follow.

 

[North of Mouse]

Probably as important is the local service. Every trailer, regardless of manufacturer, will have some warranty work that needs to be done. Having a good, competent local dealer/service center is as important as who made the trailer.j

Agree 100% - we have experienced the good and the bad. Our current service center is 'as slow as molasses in winter', but, they do an excellent job, so we try to be patient when something comes up as they are the only Winnebago warranty center for miles.

Have never owned Forest River, but have looked at lots of them over the years at shows, dealers, etc. and they do seem to have well made products.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

I own a Forest River, and I am generally pretty happy with it. I second (third) the need for a good local dealer, because things will come up. Are you planning to buy new? if so, I would expect to have to shake out a lot of things in the first few trips. I bought mine used, and the previous owner had pretty much taken care of all of those things.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Probably as important is the local service. Every trailer, regardless of manufacturer, will have some warranty work that needs to be done. Having a good, competent local dealer/service center is as important as who made the trailer.

I also agree with that. I'm owned two Forrest River Fifthwheels, a Cardinal and the Sandpiper we have now. I've been satisfied with both.

 

[rrehman]

Forest River is one of the largest RV trailer manufacturers. They also have a huge line of utility trailers. They've been in the business for a long time. For any brand, you will find people that hate them and others that think they are the best. I have been looking at several Forest River products recently and wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Probably as important is the local service. Every trailer, regardless of manufacturer, will have some warranty work that needs to be done. Having a good, competent local dealer/service center is as important as who made the trailer.

If you like the trailer and it has a floor plan and price that works for you, buy it and enjoy.

j

Thanks! We are very close to purchasing. Just a few details to work out.

 

[rrehman]

I own a Forest River, and I am generally pretty happy with it. I second (third) the need for a good local dealer, because things will come up. Are you planning to buy new? if so, I would expect to have to shake out a lot of things in the first few trips. I bought mine used, and the previous owner had pretty much taken care of all of those things.

Yes we are looking at new. The dealer we are working with is a Camping World in Harrisburg, PA. It is only about 15 minutes from our house. I like the idea of all of the Camping World's all over the country. This will be our first RV purchase. We are looking new, because of the warranty, and not knowing much about RV's.

 

[Teamubr]

We are looking new, because of the warranty, and not knowing much about RV's.

Great strategy for your first trailer.

Not sure if you know about RV Wholesalers (Durnell's) in northern Ohio. They sell trailers very near wholesale pricing. I prefer to support my local businesses, but I also like to know what is a reasonable price for a trailer. RVW carries many different brands including Wildwood XL. Here is a link to the "build it" page for your trailer. http://www.rvwholesalers.com/design...ver-Wildwood-XLite-281QBXL-Travel-Trailer-RV/

They don't list a price unless you contact them, but they list a "monthly payment" based on a 15 year loan at an interest rate that coincidentally makes the payment 1% of the cost. Take the "monthly payment" X 100 and that is the purchase price. Your trailer with the required options, before you start adding in the nice stuff is $262.14 or about $26,214. This doesn't include taxes or delivery or any profit for the dealer who deserves something for being local. It is a reference point to help with negotiations.

j

 

[rrehman]

Great strategy for your first trailer.

Not sure if you know about RV Wholesalers (Durnell's) in northern Ohio. They sell trailers very near wholesale pricing. I prefer to support my local businesses, but I also like to know what is a reasonable price for a trailer. RVW carries many different brands including Wildwood XL. Here is a link to the "build it" page for your trailer. http://www.rvwholesalers.com/design...ver-Wildwood-XLite-281QBXL-Travel-Trailer-RV/

They don't list a price unless you contact them, but they list a "monthly payment" based on a 15 year loan at an interest rate that coincidentally makes the payment 1% of the cost. Take the "monthly payment" X 100 and that is the purchase price. Your trailer with the required options, before you start adding in the nice stuff is $262.14 or about $26,214. This doesn't include taxes or delivery or any profit for the dealer who deserves something for being local. It is a reference point to help with negotiations.

j

Thanks! I will look into it.

 

[Teamubr]

Apparently the lower priced trailers are based on a 12 year note. I clicked on the "3 trailers like this one" link. They have one with an MSRP listed that is close to the number I gave you with a statement "you will pay considerable below this MSRP". Then a $192.44 payment on 12 years at their quoted interest rate of 8.75% makes the purchase price $17,121! That's 33% off MSRP. Pretty good. (Sorry for all the numbers. My graduate degree is in Informatics. I can't help myself)

I've always been told that you should be able to negotiate 30% off the MSRP on a new trailer with no trade.

Hope this helps.

j

 

[jedi_howard]

I have had a prime time, which is made by forest river, for a year now with no problems so far. We love it!

 

[kjetjl]

We have a Forest River (233S Rockwood Roo). We purchased it in Feb. 2013. My husband has had to make some very minor repairs but nothing major so I am not sure how Forest River would be dealing with any repairs,etc. This was our first travel trailer purchase and we love it! I would recommend budgeting some extra for things needed: a better quality sewer hose than what comes with the RV, a freshwater hose, chocks, blocks for leveling. We had to purchase a heavy duty extension cord so we could plug in when we were in the driveway or too far from the electrical hookups at some sites...

 

[rrehman]

We have a Forest River (233S Rockwood Roo). We purchased it in Feb. 2013. My husband has had to make some very minor repairs but nothing major so I am not sure how Forest River would be dealing with any repairs,etc. This was our first travel trailer purchase and we love it! I would recommend budgeting some extra for things needed: a better quality sewer hose than what comes with the RV, a freshwater hose, chocks, blocks for leveling. We had to purchase a heavy duty extension cord so we could plug in when we were in the driveway or too far from the electrical hookups at some sites...

Thanks! I will look into those.

 

[rrehman]

Apparently the lower priced trailers are based on a 12 year note. I clicked on the "3 trailers like this one" link. They have one with an MSRP listed that is close to the number I gave you with a statement "you will pay considerable below this MSRP". Then a $192.44 payment on 12 years at their quoted interest rate of 8.75% makes the purchase price $17,121! That's 33% off MSRP. Pretty good. (Sorry for all the numbers. My graduate degree is in Informatics. I can't help myself)

I've always been told that you should be able to negotiate 30% off the MSRP on a new trailer with no trade.

Hope this helps.

j

Thanks, I am all about the numbers too. When we purchase a new car, by wife runs away when its time to talk numbers. She thinks I am flat out rude. I argue down to every penny, and make spreadsheets for everything. That's probably my MBA coming out too.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

My personal opinion (which is worth exactly as much as you paid for it) would be to buy on price only. My experience has been that dealers will over promise and under deliver on service. Service is a huge problem in the RV industry and many people find themselves frustrated by it. Our current Open range has been to the dealer a couple of times and back to the factory 3 times. Other than sitting in the lot for weeks at a time and making a mess of the "repairs" they supposedly did, General RV has done nothing for me. The factory service center in Shipshewana IN has taken good care of us. I dont like the 3 hr drive but if it means the trailer gets fixed correctly then its worth it for us.
Do some research on pre delivery inspections, print out the sheet and go over EVERYTHING. Do not sign papers until you have done the PDI and any deficiencies are corrected. If it aint ready, dont take it. Your only leverage is your money.

 

[lee m]

This is not a reply in regard to the rv you go with but rather the tow vehicle you have (or will have in the future). If you have a tv currently make sure it will handle the rv you are looking into. We had budgeted for a popup that would have been great behind my wife's yukon, but my wife's grandparents were getting out of the camping life and we bought their bunkhouse bumper pull for pretty much what we had set aside for the popup. The yukon was rated for the weight of the rv but we had not driven a mile down the road before we both started talking about what truck we would be purchasing in the near future. Long story short, our popup quickly turned into a bumper pull and 3/4 ton diesel.

 

[rrehman]

This is not a reply in regard to the rv you go with but rather the tow vehicle you have (or will have in the future). If you have a tv currently make sure it will handle the rv you are looking into. We had budgeted for a popup that would have been great behind my wife's yukon, but my wife's grandparents were getting out of the camping life and we bought their bunkhouse bumper pull for pretty much what we had set aside for the popup. The yukon was rated for the weight of the rv but we had not driven a mile down the road before we both started talking about what truck we would be purchasing in the near future. Long story short, our popup quickly turned into a bumper pull and 3/4 ton diesel.

I currently have a Chevy Avalanche, and it can handle the travel trailer we are looking at without a problem. I would love to have a diesel, but not anytime soon. I won't be getting a new truck until 2020 at the earliest.

 

[MikeTaylor]

Have you towed anything before?
Make sure to turn off your vehicle's overdrive function when going up hills.
Make wide turns.
Buy groceries at your destination to save on weight.

Wow, I just googled your model and looked at a video... that's weird having the sink right next to the couch (splash) and having barely any counter space.

 

[rrehman]

Have you towed anything before?
Make sure to turn off your vehicle's overdrive function when going up hills.
Make wide turns.
Buy groceries at your destination to save on weight.

Wow, I just googled your model and looked at a video... that's weird having the sink right next to the couch (splash) and having barely any counter space.

I have towed my utility trailer many of times, with close to the same weight as the travel trailer, and barely knew it was there. The difference is my utility trailer is only 10 feet long, compared to 32 feet. I have always found out it the longer it is, the easier it is to back up. Not sure about making turns, but I will find out quickly. My truck has a trailer mode that shuts off the overdrive, and does something with the transmission so it doesn't shift as often and keeps it cooler.