There are gazillions (yes, gazillions) of places you could’ve bought your RV. You could have bought it from a friend or family member, from a classified ad online, from a small, local dealer, from a large, chain dealer, from someone who hand-built it for you…heck, you could’ve hand-built your rig yourself!
So, where did you buy your current RV? If you’re comfortable telling us the specifics, please do in the comments below the poll. Thanks for voting! If the poll takes a moment to load, please be patient.
We bought our RV from a person who owned a RV dealership. Great unit, nightmare on the paper work. This is what the Boss (dw) want. Happy wife happy life.
We were at the RV show in Hershey, PA and stopped to look at the camper my wife had researched for weeks. After we looked it over, we decided to buy. Instead of our local dealer, we went with Camping World. What a mistake! A 3-hour drive from the house. We had some problems and when I called about one and told them what I needed repaired, and made the appointment, I went down. They pulled the camper in and agreed that was the problem, but I had to make another appointment to have it fixed. I pulled the serve guy over the counter. His boss came over and wanted to know what the problem was. I explained and they fixed it on the spot and told both that you don’t treat law enforcement people or anyone else in that manner. I did report them to the corporation and never went back. Buy local.
I watched online sites for about a year for the model TT that we wanted. One came available about 900 miles away that was only 6 months old that fit perfectly. I got a great deal and the sellers did much better than a trade value offered them. Absolutely no issues and we could not be happier. Financing through CW was a nightmare but that is a separate issue.
Four years ago when we bought our class A motorhome the dealer tried to get financing through companies they deal with, we were rejected because we didn’t have 20% cash down. As a “last resort” I went to my bank and within 30 minutes we walked out with a check for the unit. The moral of the story, check with the bank/credit union that knows you before wasting time with strangers.
Can we offer up a recommendation? We got our 1st – and so far only – rv (Thor class c) at AlpinHaus Boat & RV in Amsterdam NY 4 yrs ago. These people genuinely act like they want you to enjoy RVing. We have a number of stories of them going out of their way to help us 1st-timers. But let’s just say if you live in northern NJ or Upstate NY (they have 3 or 4 locations) you should check them out.
It’s interesting to see that over half of the votes in the poll show purchases new, from dealer. Then when the term “RV Dealer” comes up in other articles the comments fill to the brim with horror stories about not only the purchase procedure but the sorry excuse for service after the purchase. There have been enough negative comments here about dealers that it’s not likely we’ll ever step onto a dealer’s lot. Our own little bus was used from a private party.
Not long ago I was communicating with a dealer about a used travel trailer, after learning all the features I politely told him no thanks to which he replied he had several new units which would meet my requirements. I told him I wouldn’t buy a new one and have it sit on his lot awaiting warranty repairs half the season like everyone else does after a new purchase, I haven’t heard from him since. He never tried to dispute what I said.
I think the survey should include privately owned dealer or mega dealer.
There is a BIG difference in sales tactics and service. CW is a perfect example. Buy it there and you’re on your own.
We bought from a man we met 15 years ago when he was finance manager. Subsequently bought 2 more at that dealer which had excellent service department. Our most recent purchase was at a relatively new dealership ,Campers Unlimited in Gadsden. AL. Same individual but he is now a general manager. The few warranty or service work were handled professionally and promptly. When Forest River could not provide a part in one event they got it elsewhere so I could take the grandson on Spring Break. It would take one hell of a deal for me to ever buy anywhere else.
Strictly speaking we purchased our current & only our second RV from the separate rental company co-located with an RV dealership and co-owned by those same brothers.
We bought our ’01 CrossRoads TT almost five years from the original (and only) owners. They bought it new in ’01 and took extremely good care of it the 15 years they owned it. Our CrossRoads came with a Hensley Arrow, and a Honda E2000i generator. All for the astronomical price of $5,000. It may not be as fancy, shiny, and glitzy as the new ones, but it’s ours and we Really like it.
Lived in Colorado, but bought from an Indiana dealer, online/phone. None of the units in Colorado had dual pane windows, a high priority item for us. Ordered the customized unit, then drove there to pick up.
This is incredible, Deborah. The dealer in CO didn’t order dual pane windows on their units? That would be like a Miami dealer not ordering air conditioners on THEIR units!
We researched our behinds off! For close to three years worth. Covid set us back a year or so, but there was no way we would buy, new or previously owned, from a dealer. Sorry dealers…. but you earned this reputation yourselves. We finally found a perfect-for-us coach from a private party less than a day’s drive away, and that’s the coach we start our full-timing in, IN ONE WEEK…FINALLY! Some Improvements have been made, some maintenance performed, next comes the online action of the household stuff, then …. hey…anybody know anybody who’d like to buy a house in Las Vegas?!
Bought it from an RV dealer but ordered from factory so we could customize. Took delivery 19 years ago last week. Never regretted it, once. We still love our coach, even after 220K miles.
At the time I started looking for an RV, I lived in Pennsylvania. I knew what make and model I wanted. Little did I know that it lived in Arizona! I kept an eye out for it and when one came up on eBay, I bought it. I had my son come over from Nevada to check it out then had a couple transport it from Arizona to Ohio where my brother lived because I couldn’t afford to have it transported to the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. After buying my truck at auction, I went out to get it and, my God, it was big! But it was just what I wanted because I was going to have lung surgery at Duke University and afterwards we planned to live in it full time and travel around this great country of ours. I still have it and it’s done me well.
McGeorge’s Rolling Hills RV (A camping world company)
Ashland, VA
Byerly RV Eureka, Mo. Class A Open Road Tiffen. Prior to this 3 new 5th Wheels from the same dealer.
We purchased first Travel Trailer from Camping World in Nashville. Great experience from purchase,warranty/service and help when we were in an accident when no dealers around were available.
Purchased second from Cullem & Maxie in Nashville who shortly after became Gander. We were replacing one that was totalled in accident. Salesman was a fulltimer and huge help. I gave a list of must haves and shortly after a Trailer arrived with exactly what I wanted. Sales was best experience. We were out of state and had a Tank issue and they helped us find someone in area to fix it.
Both were great to work with.
The price for our RV was incredible and offered by Motor Home Specialist RV in Alvarado, Texas. Our next purchase likely will be used from either a dealer or an individual, although I have heard from two different (and fairly reliable) sources that we can get a great price on a new one if we go through the manufacturer and then shop the invoice to different dealers (General RV among them).
Bought mine at the Phoenix Cruiser factory. It was a trade-in on a newer model. They went through it giving it a complete inspection. Replaced all the tires with new. (except spare!).
Private purchase on a 6 year old 5er. Had all the upgrades plus exactly what we wanted with kitchen in the back. Saved thousands though was told by CW that there was no way that’s what we were playing. Stopped by from pick up to show purchase an the 100 buck bet. Big mouth sales person not so big.
We found our 1998 CarriLite in January 2004 on a lot in Quartzsite. Walked in and out of many many fivers that just wouldn’t do, until we saw this one. The décor didn’t make me gag when we walked in. Loved the layout, too. We have since added all our own furniture…even my cedar chest. We are not exactly fulltime travelers, but we do live in our trailer fulltime, for 17 years now.
WE also have a Carrilite, and have never found another floor plan that is as good.
We bought a used 2015 Thor Ace motor home in 2017 from a local small dealer that we had bought a truck top from many years ago. It was exactly what we needed for a cross country trip. We struck a deal and picked it up on a Wednesday and left for the west coast on Saturday. Whatever problems we encountered on our trip were resolved when we returned a month later. American Campers in Bradley, WV are just the best to deal with. We love our motor home. It is perfect for two travelers, and the kitchen and bath are accessible when the slide is in and you are on the road. We even drove it all over Yellowstone!
Unfortunately, because of health reasons we recently sold our Arctic Fox 32-5M that we purchased new from Smith RV, Casper, Wy. It was the new AF from Smith. They are fantastic people selling superior RV’s. We lived full time in ours and would still except for health reasons.
Correction we purchased 2 new Arctic Foxes from Smith RV.
I checked Private party, but it was through a consignment dealer.
We bought our lst class A directly from a farm family in 1996 from an ad in a REA newsletter.
(1985 Eldorado Encore 26′ – claimed to formerly have been owned by one of Dolly Partons’ cousins, who used it to drive back and forth to her ranch – back in the day!). I sold it to a Canadian friend in 2008. They drove it many years until he passed away 2 yrs ago.
The 2nd and current class A, 1994 Winni Vectra 34′, I found on EBay and bought it in 2007 with 21,000 miles. The owner delivered it from WI to ND. Both MH’s underwent major upgrades and that continues. The floor plan is perfect for us and no slide problems to contend with! We have not regretted either purchase! EBay also warrants purchases for protection – if needed! We didn’t! Being a do it yourself person – I thoroughly enjoy the maint. and projects.
From la mesa rv never again
We bought 2 RV’s from Redwood Empire RV’s in Ukiah Ca. Very good dealership. He has always taken care of any problems we might have. Our last one is a Cedar Creek Silverback and we love it.
The RV I wanted and have wanted for years is not available new and had not been for 30+ years.
We purchased a new end of year from dealer. We had seen it several times at a “higher price “.
Bought new from Ansley RV, Duncannon, Pa. Great dealer, saved over 4000.00 over local dealer. Traveled a hundred miles for it but it was well worth it.
Bought our 5th wheel from Dixie RV in Hammond, LA. Saved half of list price. Second camper from them. Always great people.
We have purchased three rigs from Poulsbo RV in Kent WA. Started in 1978 with an Itasca 20′ Class C, next was a 30′ Winnie class C and finally moved up to a class A, a 35′ Itasca Suncruiser. Poulsbo has done all of our routine service work on all three units and has given us excellent service and care for these 43 years that we have been RVing.
Looked at RVs for about a decade at Florida RV Show each year. Knew what we wanted. When we could afford, we went to local dealer. Got the deal of a lifetime, as it was exactly what the wife wanted. To this day, I do not know exactly what I paid for it. Got different discounts, then added options, then deal for the trade in, then fees, then State tax, tags, and more fees, then … then … The invoice and the bank papers and the papers sent to the State all had different bottom line numbers. HOWEVER it was one of the greatest deals I ever made – it is what the wife wanted – AND I am happy.
What was the name of the dealership? We are in the process of looking.
Mike Thompson’s RV in Santa Fe Springs Ca. NEVER EVER AGAIN!! Oh, and don’t get me started on their so called “service department!”
Ordered our Jayco Eagle 5th wheel online from RVOne and picked it up at Buffalo RV. They did a top-notch prep and provided great service when our fridge died. Very happy with the unit and the dealer.
We just bought our first RV, 2021 Coachman Leprechaun, 319 MB. We live in North Dakota and bought from MHS RV in Texas. We bought because of availability and price. We just made it out of Texas last week before all the nasty weather hit.
We drove to SLC from the Reno area to get our 2012 Arctic Fox. It was new, and the 25Y floorplan was new as well. The price we found at this dealer (Utah Trailer Source) was thousands less than anyone else. Turns out (we’re pretty sure) our trailer was a prototype that Northwood had built to test the new floorplan. We took a week’s vacation to make the pickup.
There were quite a few ‘issues’ with the trailer. We found many of them while at the dealer, and he fixed them. We left and were going to spend the first night west of SLC in a parking lot at the Dugway exit. Toilet flushed with hot water. Oven would not stay lit. Lots of other stuff. We drove back to SLC right then. Dealer did his best to fix stuff. Failing that, we made a trip to Northwood in LaGrande, OR. THEY fixed everything. Finally.
That dealer is LONG GONE now.