book values on motor homes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 11-03-2021, 09:40 AM

I am having trouble finding book value on a motor home I am considering the purchase of. Anybody have a book value entity I can consult please?

davidmash · #2 11-03-2021, 11:12 AM

NADA.

https://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/Manufacturers

Tony H · #3 11-03-2021, 02:35 PM

I'm sure you must have carefully considered the purchase. Most people I know have one they never use except as a temp guest house.

vwnate1 · #4 11-03-2021, 03:26 PM

I hope you're not going to join the ranks of the homeless Tom ! .

Raggedy old toxic motor homes dot the landscape here .

davidmash · #5 11-03-2021, 04:27 PM

We are looking at a Fleetwood Revolution 40c. Hopefully we will be getting by years end.

merc lover · #6 11-03-2021, 04:49 PM

Family member bought one for just north of $200K, took a few trips then took a loss selling it for $80K. You rarely recoup your investment by purchasing a new RV.

Put those same dollars into a residential home and you just might make a buck or two.

jcyuhn · #7 11-03-2021, 04:56 PM

The RV marketplace is nuts right now. I would take NADA as a baseline, but I suspect it’s likely to undervalue the market at present. I would suggest searching RV Trader for like kind/age motorhomes. Of course, that is asking prices, but you can get a feel for how close selling is to asking based on the number of days on market.

I bought a 2019 LTV Unity (Mercedes content -> Sprinter chassis!) in May 2019. I sold it in October 2020 with 15K miles and ~150 nights use for the same price I paid - in 48 hours. Probably could have gotten more, but that seemed greedy.

Now have a ‘21 Tiffin Open Road 34PA. I regularly see 2019 - 2022 models advertised used for more than it cost. It’s crazy stuff right now.

merc lover · #8 11-03-2021, 05:09 PM

For years now, I see very very nice motorhomes sitting on driveways. Their owners may use them one or two weeks out of the year and the rest of the year they SIT. Owners pay insurance on them for eleven months out of the year whether the RV is used or not.

engatwork · #9 11-03-2021, 06:54 PM

Getting off on a tangent a little bit but I'm going to brag some. My oldest son is the 11th best salesman for Camping World in the southeast US so far this year

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Tony H · #10 11-04-2021, 12:32 AM

That's really cool. I did not want to po-po the Motorhome concept and I know it's a great lifestyle for many. I think one of the things that I don't like is needing to tow a vehicle with you so you have transportation at your destination and stopping along the way requires some planning for parking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by engatwork

Getting off on a tangent a little bit but I'm going to brag some. My oldest son is the 11th best salesman for Camping World in the southeast US so far this year

.

t walgamuth · #11 11-04-2021, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

NADA.

https://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/Manufacturers

I cannot find it in there. The price seems ok. It is a 2008 so no DEF. New tires on back almost new on front. It is local and owned by a retired teacher we both know a bit. Condition is slightly scruffy but seems solid. It drives like an overgrown S class. He reports about 17 mpg running 60 to 65. It will tow my race car or a small driver.

That 40' looks grand David. It is too much for me though. I have had a 35' TT and found myself running over and into things with it. My 20' enclosed trailer is about all I want to worry about.

The Mrs. wants to make a trip out west. I don't know how many more years we will realistically want to travel, but this is a nice unit and less than half the cost of a new one. It has 90K miles on it.

It is a 25' sprinter chassis.

jcyuhn · #12 11-04-2021, 08:34 AM

You don’t specify, but sounds like you’re looking at an Itasca Navion / Winnebago View. The two things I’d be concerned about on any motorhome of this age is water leaks and slide operation. The body seams require periodic inspection and occasional resealing to insure no water intrusion, with all its associated issues. Slides are always troublesome, especially if they are the ubiquitous Schwintek system.

One challenge with Sprinter motorhomes is the 11,250 GVWR. Some builds are sufficiently heavy that they have only a few hundred pounds of carrying capacity for passengers, luggage, and water. Early Sprinters have a 3,500lb towing limit as well. Later models are equipped with a 5,000lb hitch, but CGWR limitations (15,250lb) can prevent you from using all the tow capacity.

t walgamuth · #13 11-04-2021, 10:38 PM

Leisure Travel SERENITY 24CB

As I have searched for the right motor home I pictured the experience of driving with it towing a little car or something. I have been towing a TT behind a truck for about 40 years now. Perhaps at my age I should stick with what I am most familiar with. I am pitching buying a smaller TT now. I may try to find a nice used Airstream again.

t walgamuth · #14 11-05-2021, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

You don’t specify, but sounds like you’re looking at an Itasca Navion / Winnebago View. The two things I’d be concerned about on any motorhome of this age is water leaks and slide operation. The body seams require periodic inspection and occasional resealing to insure no water intrusion, with all its associated issues. Slides are always troublesome, especially if they are the ubiquitous Schwintek system.

One challenge with Sprinter motorhomes is the 11,250 GVWR. Some builds are sufficiently heavy that they have only a few hundred pounds of carrying capacity for passengers, luggage, and water. Early Sprinters have a 3,500lb towing limit as well. Later models are equipped with a 5,000lb hitch, but CGWR limitations (15,250lb) can prevent you from using all the tow capacity.

Leisure Travel SERENITY 24CB

It is a 2008. I am way too poor to buy a new one.

P.C. · #15 11-05-2021, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merc lover

Family member bought one for just north of $200K, took a few trips then took a loss selling it for $80K. You rarely recoup your investment by purchasing a new RV.

Put those same dollars into a residential home and you just might make a buck or two.

Yeah, but try driving a mid-century ranch down the expressway...