What advice for someone buying a camper?

What two or three pieces of advice would you give to someone that is considering buying their first camper?

Mine would be:
1. Rent something similar to what you are planning to buy, so you'll know first hand.
2. Consider buying one slightly older that was used only a little to save some money.
3. Make REALLY sure that your vehicle can tow the thing, without just taking the camper dealer's word for it. Ask abivens or Butch on this board if you aren't sure.

Richard wrote:What two or three pieces of advice would you give to someone that is considering buying their first camper?

Mine would be:
1. Rent something similar to what you are planning to buy, so you'll know first hand.
2. Consider buying one slightly older that was used only a little to save some money.
3. Make REALLY sure that your vehicle can tow the thing, without just taking the camper dealer's word for it. Ask abivens or Butch on this board if you aren't sure.

Would agree with #3. Make sure that you can tow it first. I would say go a look at as many different rv's that you can. Check out there spec's and sleeping arangements that you would need. Join different rv'ing sites and ask as many questions that you can think of.

1 ask yourself do you really want to tow if so look for a large enough unit for you and family. 2 has it enough storage compartments 3 are you going to use bath room, is it large enough for you to shower in. yes by all means do you have a good size truck to handle load. I find many have just marginal trucks to do the job. I myself did pull TT in the past but I find older I more my wisdom comes forward. I drive a C Class coach for me it's great and in today's market you can get a great deal. I would tell anyone to try both then go for it. Boy a class A looks better all the time to me.

After making sure you can tow safely.. buy a camper bigger than what you think you want at the time of purchase.

Have to know what floor plan they are looking for: like making sure the people have the room to move around, cabinet space, and how many beds.

Where are you going to store the camper when not in use.

Darcamper wrote:

Have to know what floor plan they are looking for: like making sure the people have the room to move around, cabinet space, and how many beds.

Where are you going to store the camper when not in use.

And if it's Dave and Darlene, "You should think of how long you want to keep that HTT camper before selling it at a bargain rate to Richard, and moving up to something you would want to full-time in."

Richard wrote:

Darcamper wrote:

Have to know what floor plan they are looking for: like making sure the people have the room to move around, cabinet space, and how many beds.

Where are you going to store the camper when not in use.

And if it's Dave and Darlene, "You should think of how long you want to keep that HTT camper before selling it at a bargain rate to Richard, and moving up to something you would want to full-time in."

I am thinking that Richard wants to up-grade but he has to find the bargain price.

I'm actually seriously considering buying all new lift system parts for the current PUP. About $500 and a bunch of work would put me in good shape.

Richard, when we were having problems with the truck, I was ready to junk it and get a "new to me" one. I just couldn't see putting much more $ into it. Butch's reasoning was - "would you pay $500 (or whatever the cost is) for this truck?" If yes, then let's fix it. So......would you pay $500 for Ms. Danger? If so, go ahead and put that $$ into it. I am sure you will get at least $500 worth of use out of her after the lift system is installed and just think how much easier it will be AND you will feel much, much safer.

Hey what would be the challenge, if Richard got the lift kits he would have nothing to post about Mods LOL . After all the work Tim been trying to get him to buy another LOL

merrykalia wrote:Richard, when we were having problems with the truck, I was ready to junk it and get a "new to me" one. I just couldn't see putting much more $ into it. Butch's reasoning was - "would you pay $500 (or whatever the cost is) for this truck?" If yes, then let's fix it. So......would you pay $500 for Ms. Danger? If so, go ahead and put that $$ into it. I am sure you will get at least $500 worth of use out of her after the lift system is installed and just think how much easier it will be AND you will feel much, much safer.

Donna, don't be putting figures into Richards head. You just give him more ideals of what to do next.

I am actually thinking that Richard is trying to hold onto the pup, to show his grand kids how we use to camp.

Yep, yep and yep to Donna, Crawford and Tim.

While my business has been better lately, I'm still in cautious mode. I can go ahead and fix the lift arms and pullies and keep on camping. I can't see financing anything right now. I also can't see paying cash for a camper when I might need it soon to pay the morgage. I would certainly give $500 for Miss Danger with a working lift system. I will have much less chance of getting hurt during the pop-up and pop-down parts of the operation. It's plenty safe once it's up and the braces are clamped in place. I'll always keep using the braces as a Just In Case feature. On the pop-up specific boards that I read, there is a steady stream of people buying old jayco and coachmen/viking PUPs that have all the exact same problems I've had.

The floors get weak in the corners, the pully is no longer braced well, something binds a cable or lift arm, then everything winds up snapped, bent and broken. That replacement parts are so readily available for 1996 and older lift systems is testament to the fact that they frequently need to be overhauled.

Could I have bought a small HTT for what I've poured into the PUP plus what I'm about to put in it, very possibly, but that money's gone. I can't imagine not getting my money's worth out of the PUP just by using it. If the lift system is functioning properly, I will be able to set-up and take down quicker as well.

Besides, I sure couldn't sell it without fixing the lift system. I've got more options on it now than a fully loaded Sedan DeVille. The kids love it, so I might as well keep it. Besides, it's easy to tow to farther away places like Cove Lake.

Keeping and fixing the popup sounds like the best thing for you.. And whats best for you.. is all that matters. I had a brand new PUP.. and didn't want to keep it.. go figure.

I recall how ready you were to get rid of that PUP Chuck. I'd rather have a small HTT, but smarter economics say stay with Miss Danger. I'd have to put a lift system in to sell it anyway.

Richard wrote:I recall how ready you were to get rid of that PUP Chuck. I'd rather have a small HTT, but smarter economics say stay with Miss Danger. I'd have to put a lift system in to sell it anyway.

I thought you said you would probably give it away.

Exactly Tim, I'd have to give it away if I didn't put a lift system in it.

I guess we miss all those mods for sure if you do, Hey maybe give it away and get new person on here and get him going on them his cost LOL

Crawford wrote:I guess we miss all those mods for sure if you do, Hey maybe give it away and get new person on here and get him going on them his cost LOL

Now that would just be wrong toward someone. Naaa, I'll keep her for awhile.

I'm gonna try to wait Dave and Darlene out. I like their camper.

It's amazing how campers drop in value from new to 10 years old. So many people buy campers, and then don't really use them very much. If one is patient, one can find a deal. I want to get the PUP in good enough shape that I can be really patient. It's when one gets "the fever" for a new camper that they spend too much. I want to be more like the car lots that sell a few campers. Get that deal of a lifetime, or don't take the deal. I'm not going to buy something that takes a special vehicle to tow. As much as Tim keeps trying to get me to jump off the cliff, I'm not buying much of anything beyond necessities right now.

Now, Richard. I am not trying to get you to jump of a cliff. I am just thinking about your health. You get so hot, an tired when popping up. Your girls are getting older and probably want more privacy than having to use your porta potty.

coolbreeze1 wrote:Now, Richard. I am not trying to get you to jump of a cliff. I am just thinking about your health. You get so hot, an tired when popping up. Your girls are getting older and probably want more privacy than having to use your porta potty.

All true and valid points, I have to admit that.

Richard wrote:

coolbreeze1 wrote:Now, Richard. I am not trying to get you to jump of a cliff. I am just thinking about your health. You get so hot, an tired when popping up. Your girls are getting older and probably want more privacy than having to use your porta potty.

All true and valid points, I have to admit that.

Wow, I am going to have to print this out. Who would have ever thought that Richard would say that I have a valid point?