Great video Neil. Very helpful! Another resource to view prices used RVs actually sold for is on eBay. If you go into advance search, you can select ‘Sold’ listings. This is a great way to see market value for any used item you are researching.
I must say as a professional photographer shopping for my own Van dream that your 360 is so great. Back in the day I used 8mm fisheye on film that had to be scanned and stitched in ADOBE. There still was a hole in the ceiling and imagine the ambient light challenges! OMG we’ve come a long way in digital photography. I’ll be watching your videos with zeal. You asked. I answered, Yes. Super fun. You should check into the 3D photo clubs, so you’de have a whole new community to visit in your Van and you could win an award for your great shooting, which is not as easy as it looks here. I love your Van too, the windows are such a plus over RV views. I learned so much about vans watching your presentations. Thanks Neil.
A very informative posting, I went on RV trader to look at all the different Class B's when I decided that was the class RV I wanted. After deciding which one I wanted I watched as many TH-cam reviews people posted on it.I found my 2018 Winnebago Travado 59K advertised on RV Trader at a dealer in San Diego. They had the 2019's on the lot so they wanted to get rid of it and had it discounted from the MSRP of $109,995 to $79,995 plus tax etc. so I jumped on it and purchased it, So far I am very happy with it.
Pat, you did it absolutely right! wait for the next model year to just come out and then jump on the previous year. $79,995 is a great deal you got! well done and thank you for sharing with everyone! Please keep us posted on how you're getting on with your 59K. Also are you from San Diego or did you travel far to purchase from there?
Thanks!, I live in Murrieta which is around 40 miles from the dealer. I did everything on-line, they emailed me the finance paperwork to fill out so I filled it out and sent it back to them and got everything I needed to pick it up to include getting insurance for it. I told them that the Travado would have to pass the walk through inspection or I would not take delivery of it and walk away, they agreed to that condition, but everything went smoothly and I drove off with it very happy until I got on the North Bound 15 freeway, at 4.30 pm it was bumper to bumper with people cutting me off and tail gating me, not much fun driving a new vehicle where it isn't second nature where all the controls are, but I made it home very relieved.
what a great way to buy - thanks for sharing that Pat. I negotiated on my Ascent this way as well. I never reached a deal but it was super convenient. I agree with you about the first time that you drive it off the lot. my first rig was a 23 foot extended sprinter and it took some time to get used to its height and length on the drive home. when i parked i hit tree limbs at my house because of the height!
Wow awesome video!! But what about financing the rv? Did you buy your Ascent with cash or financing? Is there a nationwide rv financing company that you recommend? And what type of rate should I being getting for top tier credit above 800 credit score?
All great sites you recommended. Thanks Neal! I really appreciate the wealth of information you share regularly. Clearly, buying an RV is not that far different than negotiating to buy a car just at a higher price point so doing research and arming yourself with as much information before one sets foot on the RV lot is a MUST for the conscientious buyer. As I do this research as well, I’m fascinated how much used RV prices are holding up. While regular cars lose about 20 to 30% in depreciation the first couple of years, class Bs seem to do much much better! This quite remarkable. On a different subject regarding your Ascent, one of the nice improvements for the 2019 year is the new front windshield and side window blackouts as opposed to the curtains I believe? I wonder if you can now order similar blackouts for prior year models? Cheers!
Hi Dan! i was surprised by how much the value of my 2014 Roadtrek CS Adventurous held up. of course i had low miles and an extended 7 year warranty but i still got a good deal 3 years later. i'll ask PW about the black out shades. to be honest i like my curtain. i had the shade in my Roadtrek and find the simplicity of the drape much preferable. however, in the heat the shades would be ideal (also in the cold).
Hi Neil - great video as always. I’m wondering if in the next video If you’ll cover what to expect when buying used vs new? Is it similar to buying cars when it comes to depreciation and financing? That’s something that’s been on my mind as I continue to work towards buying my future home...ahem, RV! 😀
Good video. Not sure if you intend to include these points in later video, but I have heard you mention them in other videos - first, price (discount) can fluctuate depending on time of year (fall/winter vs spring/summer), model year (for e.g. buying a 2018 just when 2019s or 2018.5 start showing up at dealers), and second, deciding if lowest price or availability of service at a more local dealer is important.
dan, all excellent points and you're right while i do mention them all in other videos i neglected to repeat them here! thanks for reminding me and keeping me honest!
WInnebago Revel was about 107k new in November 17 ... now a price increase to 128k and no delivery till November 18 ..... like the 4 season idea & 4x4 but think now I be wait for a used one & I’m still rolling in my 87 VW Vanagon Westy ! Prices are crazy on New !
Vanagon Westy for the win! I hope the fervor over the Revel dies down soon... it's just too much to pay that much money for it. sorry. one year warranty for a 4x4 is just plain silly.
Thanks for your great videos, wonderfully done, certainly the best on TH-cam! I've pretty much decided on the PleasureWay Ascent, and really appreciate your buying advice, as I had no idea of how to proceed! One thing I wonder about, and haven't seen addressed, is if anyone has figured out the % of depreciation for various brands ( e.g., the Ascent) over time (given normal mileage and wear & tear)? I've always felt that was the biggest cost of owning a vehicle of any sort. I think it would help me to part with the amount of cash necessary, if I had some idea of what my true cost would be over the next, say, 3-5 years, or 100K miles (which is the most that I would want to be driving my van on my own). thanks again for your remarkable series of reviews!
thanks Irene. I haven't done a depreciation calculation. I can tell you that class b vans in general depreciate less than most of the other classes. I can tell you that Mercedes sprinter chassis based camper vans depreciate less than other chassis manufacturers like Ram and Ford. And, I can tell you that Pleasureway and Airstream depreciate less than the other coach builders.
Hello Neil, I enjoy all your videos, especially this one. I’m a few years away from purchasing a Class B, in the meanwhile I’ll be going to RV Shows, and I have a notebook where I’m keeping track of RV tips like you mentioned on this video. I’m know Pleasureway sells their product through dealerships, and other manufacturers sell directly from the factory. Because there would be no middleman in factory purchases, how willing are they to give discounts, if they actually do? If there is no wiggle room, would they then possibly throw in some type of upgrades?
you know David, i'm not sure... i can't imagine that they wouldn't negotiate in this day and age and especially since they are competing with dealerships. I can reach out and see what I find. great question.
When I purchased my Carado, I read on the class b forums that somebody requested at an RV show that the manufacturer “throw in” the optional extras as part of the deal. The reason this is a good strategy is because the dealer gets paid the same commission regardless and the manufacturer gets to put a plus one sale on their accounting books for parts at cost for them. Win-Win-Win. Try this strategy with your dealer sales person and their local rep and let us know how it turns out! For me personally this didn’t work since I chose to get a slightly used base model over a new optioned up one. Unfortunately the rep couldn’t budge on a used model. My guess it is already on their books as a sale so no skin off their back if it sits on the dealer lot and rots.
In my area Class Bs are in very short supply. We have only one Pleasure Way dealer anywhere near us and the units are sold as soon as they hit the pavement. I would like to get a Pleasure Way but we probably would be paying top dollar since the demand far exceeds the supply.
Ok, before we can even get to negotiation which assumes we have found the correct RV for our needs the first question is how does one narrow down the selections to ones that are considered reliable? We know we are looking for a B(+) style but with so many makes and models how does one avoid the proverbial lemon?
it's a good point you make. I've found that if a particular model is hot then there is less negotiating room. I've experienced this. they will still negotiate but you won't get nearly the discount that you would if they have several of the same van on their lot. If you go to RVTrader.com you'll notice that the list prices for the Revels are MSRP for almost every dealer. none of them are discounting. i believe that's because there's a current wait list for the Revel.
i haven't ed. i dislike my AC. it is noisy for sure. i wish someone would build something like this for our vans: th-cam.com/video/tPO-e_U-xM8/w-d-xo.html small, quiet and portable. how cool would it be to just pull it out when you need it and stow it away when you don't. plus no bulky rooftop unit that adds 8 inches to your height!
Another nice one Neil, very well done! I always refer anyone asking about RV's to rvtrader.com and lately your current series with the review and comparisons. I do think it's funny how the CEO's for Leasure Travel and Pleasure-Way do high-quality videos for TH-cam but Roadtrek doesn't. Roadtrek seems to be happy with 'fluffy' short sales videos that give you no information or letting the dealers produce cheap and quick videos that do little to enhance the products or their features.
first off thank you very much for referring people to my channel! that helps me out a lot and i truly appreciate it! It is amazing how Roadtrek does not do good product marketing. I'm not sure why this is. Even Winnebago does very professional and helpful product videos and they partner with folks like the Fit RV to do early reviews of new vans. It's very strange with regards to Roadtrek. Maybe that's something they will change or maybe they just don't care...
Not to defend Roadtrek, but I’m a habitual business owner so I can provide insight from that perspective. Everything costs money and that includes marketing. Since they mass produce their coaches and are one of the highest volume selling in all of North America already, there is little incentive for them to throw cash into unproven marketing strategies. Their margins are probably one of the slimmest to boot. This follows the old adage, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it; old saying from corporate America.
While I can agree to a point I still think they are missing a great opportunity. I equate much of the Class B surge to companies like Pleasure-Way, Winnebago and Leasure Travel pushing into new areas and filling potential buyers eyes with new and shiny. I recently went to an RV dealer here in Arizona and was looking at the Pleasure-Way Plateau XLMB and a couple there was actually not interested in Roadtrek because they didn't recognize the name! That is a marketing and branding problem.
ranTrek I agree there is a disconnect between Roadtrek the name and Roadtrek the brand. I had to do my own research to reach my own conclusions to end up with a product from a sister company and their parent company, Hymer. I think we can agree that RT does not have a negative nor positive brand association. I would go as far as to call it neutral or a lack there off of one. Arguably, if RT does decide to brand itself as the high volume manufacturer that it is. We would find ourselves being passed on those costs possibly adding $5-10k on top of the MSRP. It’s the same reason why I bought mine now while the getting is good before Hymer wakes up from their purchase of RT last and does something about it.
As always, very informative and great video! campertheir lot but will not sell it until the next one come in. So, I will have to order one. I am willing to pay 10% below MSRP price. How should I proceed with the negotiation? Thank you in advance for your response.
Thanks so much for the insight and research info. I really needed this confirmation that I was approaching my research correctly and utilizing the correct website info. You've provided a few new ones so I greatly appreciate that. Really looking forward to the negotiating video. (Have you only ever purchased new vehicles? My budget only allows for a used one.) As a single woman, I can't help but feel they talk down to you, and of course may not give me the pricing they would give a couple or my male counterparts. Yes... that's a bit negative but I already find it at other garages, electronics stores etc. Just something I've learned to deal with and try to educate myself as much as possible on the purchases I make. I won't buy on the spot, and never fall for the "price is only good for today" line, but I do know that some of these used Class Bs sell very quickly. I'd hate to miss out because I need to take time to verify the price they are offering. Also -sorry it's so long - Can you provide insight to what is reasonable to ask them to do when checking out a used rv? Is it too much to ask that ALL systems be turned on and running like the frig, air conditioner, heat, etc? Also, is it reasonable to be able to take the unit to an independent mechanic to check out before you buy it? Thanks for your help!
saddens me to hear that women get treated inequitably in these and other situations. sigh. however, you have the right attitude. remember they want the sale. they'll bluster and belittle you but if you're offering a fair price, even if it is lower than they'd like, they are seriously considering you and will eventually give in if they know that you're firm. with regards to a used RV: you should absolutely expect to be able to turn on each and every system and ask questions. you should also ask to see any service work paperwork that they have. you should test drive it and yes if you can find a place local to them you should offer to pay for it to be inspected (or find someone you can bring with you). when i sold my camper van i allowed the buyers to test everything. i had all my service paperwork and i allowed them to test drive it. one note: i agreed to meet in a public and neutral place to inspect and test drive. in my case it was a busy Walmart parking lot. this is for security reasons. You don't want to necessarily drive out to the booneys alone. that's just me. if the seller is smart they'll agree (they don't know who you are either!).
Thanks so much Neil! I so appreciate your feedback. And yes...here in PA the local police stations let you meet up with Craigs List buyers/sellers at their stations so it's safer. It's a great idea for anyone meeting to buy/sell items.
Hello, I plan to take my family of 5 and live full-time on a RV. I am a first time buyer so I would like some advise and recommendation on a model to buy and the best price to negotiate at the dealer for that model. I already have a permanent place to station the RV and I am not planning to move it anywhere unless I have to. Thank You
👍 thank you for your video it was very informative I'm always interested to hear about Class B class C RV's. I'll be looking forward to your next video, keep up the good work.
Hi Neil, thanks for this great channel. What charges, beyond the "price", are typically added to a vehicle? For example, I saw a "Freight and Prep" line item for $4000 on an order sheet from PW. Is this typically outside of the negotiated price?
yes, PW ships their RVs to the dealer so that they don't have any miles on them. this is the shipping cost. most manufacturers will include a shipping cost IF they ship their vans to the dealers.
I was really wondering if the shipping cost was "marked up" in some way (meaning, that it could be negotiated down), but I did some more research and it does appear that the shipping cost is, for new vehicles, meant to be paid completely by the buyer. (Apparently some auto dealers may try add an additional type of delivery fee, but that is not the same thing.)
hi. i been in a couple. i will be doing a video review. the quality is okay. haven't taken a deep look yet. i like that they update the rear suspension with Sumo sprints and that they have a lithium battery upgrade. the cabinets look quality. still, manufacturers are good at checking off certain boxes while cutting corners in areas where we normally don't look. that's where i'm lacking at the moment since I haven't done a deeper dive yet. i think the price is good but can't recommend them because their warranty is just a year. they need to offer at least a 3 year warranty in order for me to endorse them.
yeah i think it depends on your geographic region, time of year and coach builder. for me up in Canada where there is little competition I could only get a 15% discount in the winter and I'm a pretty good negotiator. Part of the problem is that Pleasureway's are hard to find so they command a premium. 25% off other makes is more doable definitely.
@@Ultramobility Hi Neal! Love your videos!!!! Question - Do you have any regrets in purchasing your Pleasureway van (Ascent?)? If you could go back in time, would you purchase a different van? Thanks! BTW - Where in Canada are you from? I'm in Vancouver...
Hi Neil, what about Canadian market ? Is there some online resources that we can trust to have a fair idea of the cost of those rv,s Thanks for all, it is very informative.
hi claude. unfortunately not. when i lived there i would visit each of the dealer's sites directly in my province (Quebec) and in Ontario. I would track regularly list prices. when i was ready to purchase i engaged with a few of them at once. i would play one off the other in terms of getting the best deal. i wish there was something like rvtrader for Canada...
yes that's a good idea Claude! of course in the US there is a lot of competition so dealers are sometime more likely to give discounts here. STill i have able to get a pretty good discount on my 2017 PW Ascent in Quebec. I purchased from VR St. Cyr in St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil. I liked them a lot. very good people. good service department. very clean and modern. if you go there tell them ultramobility sent you!
lots of viewers like these backgrounds. I started to move toward green screening but have recently returned to these backgrounds because everyone likes them so much!
As I understand Nesin has a new class B (like the California VW or the Marko Polo maker name escapes me) how about a review and a head to head "vs" reviewing valuable!
Thank you! I am in the market for a travel trailer. I live in Southern California but find myself in Texas at least twice a year for weeks at a time with my truck. It's looking like it might be cheaper to buy a TT in Texas and just haul it back to California. What would be the registration process for buying out of state?
just make sure you ask them the process before you purchase. they probably can't electronically connect to say California's DMV from say Texas but they will know the process and detail it out for you. They'll probably register it in Texas and then explain how you need to take the paper work to the CA DMV to get it registered there.
Neil, I recently purchased a pleasure way Ascent just like yours. I’ve been in some strong cross wind and been knocked around some but have yet to see the “cross wind assist” activate. Can you give me some insight?? John Sellers
hi, john. the cross wind assist is automatic and you don't need to turn it on. it takes some strong cross wind. you'll notice when it activates because: there will be a warning beep; a message will display on the matrix display between the speed and rpm gauges and you'll hear and notice the anti-lock brakes activating on specific wheels to keep you in the lane.
Neil, fyi...I emailed Doug today at PW about giving you a referral credit for my recent purchase of a new PW. Hope they give you credit soon. Thanks for your videos and hope to learn more from you as I am a newbie!
not a lot. i purchased a 2014 Roadtrek CS Adventurous and within a year figured out I had purchased the wrong camper van. i sold it a couple years later to get my Ascent.
Please advise where I can get the best price for a PW Ascent model? My neighborhood dealer says that it is in high demand and only offered a $5K discount from the MSRP of $140,950. Is it possible to buy from the factory directly? Thanks.
cannot purchase from the factory directly. They can do much better than $135k. Just stick to it. They will slowly come down and down if you just stick to it. You should be able to find one for between $120k and $130k
Hi Neil! I was offered a much better discount from a dealer in Canada for an LTV Unity that I can order. Do you have any advice on how to go about this purchase since I live in the Bay Area. I have friends in Canada who can help me out. Is it difficult to change the registration to US? Thank you so much for your help! Can I pm you for details?
ok so how will it work when you are looking at a new model with limited in availability? I'm interested in a new pleasure way Tofino, So I'm guessing there won't be much if any discount off msrp due to supply and demand. anyone else have any thoughts on this?
yep that's right. if they're harder to find then dealers won't discount as much. not to say that they won't discount but it may not be say 30%. It may be closer to 10%.
believe it or not that's a live recording. I don't use green screens and generally try to find an interesting place to park the mobile studio and do the shoot!
Great video Neil. Very helpful!
Another resource to view prices used RVs actually sold for is on eBay.
If you go into advance search, you can select ‘Sold’ listings. This is a great way to see market value for any used item you are researching.
didn't even think of that moondog33! great advice. that earns this comment a pin. you're now pinned at the top of the comments! thanks!
I must say as a professional photographer shopping for my own Van dream that your 360 is so great. Back in the day I used 8mm fisheye on film that had to be scanned and stitched in ADOBE. There still was a hole in the ceiling and imagine the ambient light challenges! OMG we’ve come a long way in digital photography. I’ll be watching your videos with zeal. You asked. I answered, Yes. Super fun. You should check into the 3D photo clubs, so you’de have a whole new community to visit in your Van and you could win an award for your great shooting, which is not as easy as it looks here. I love your Van too, the windows are such a plus over RV views. I learned so much about vans watching your presentations. Thanks Neil.
You are a productive, hard-working person, Neil. So appreciate your high-quality information and frequent posts.
well thank you very much Regina. I love doing this and I'm glad that people find my channel useful. thank you for watching and for being a subscriber!
A very informative posting, I went on RV trader to look at all the different Class B's when I decided that was the class RV I wanted. After deciding which one I wanted I watched as many TH-cam reviews people posted on it.I found my 2018 Winnebago Travado 59K advertised on RV Trader at a dealer in San Diego. They had the 2019's on the lot so they wanted to get rid of it and had it discounted from the MSRP of $109,995 to $79,995 plus tax etc. so I jumped on it and purchased it, So far I am very happy with it.
Pat, you did it absolutely right! wait for the next model year to just come out and then jump on the previous year. $79,995 is a great deal you got! well done and thank you for sharing with everyone! Please keep us posted on how you're getting on with your 59K. Also are you from San Diego or did you travel far to purchase from there?
Thanks!, I live in Murrieta which is around 40 miles from the dealer. I did everything on-line, they emailed me the finance paperwork to fill out so I filled it out and sent it back to them and got everything I needed to pick it up to include getting insurance for it. I told them that the Travado would have to pass the walk through inspection or I would not take delivery of it and walk away, they agreed to that condition, but everything went smoothly and I drove off with it very happy until I got on the North Bound 15 freeway, at 4.30 pm it was bumper to bumper with people cutting me off and tail gating me, not much fun driving a new vehicle where it isn't second nature where all the controls are, but I made it home very relieved.
what a great way to buy - thanks for sharing that Pat. I negotiated on my Ascent this way as well. I never reached a deal but it was super convenient. I agree with you about the first time that you drive it off the lot. my first rig was a 23 foot extended sprinter and it took some time to get used to its height and length on the drive home. when i parked i hit tree limbs at my house because of the height!
Pat i
Pat congrats on the purchase! Just got my class b too. You made the right choice.
Wow awesome video!! But what about financing the rv? Did you buy your Ascent with cash or financing? Is there a nationwide rv financing company that you recommend? And what type of rate should I being getting for top tier credit above 800 credit score?
I almost forgot, thanks for the Class B forum information! I just joined..
Pat, glad you joined class b forum - it's a great site.
All great sites you recommended. Thanks Neal! I really appreciate the wealth of information you share regularly. Clearly, buying an RV is not that far different than negotiating to buy a car just at a higher price point so doing research and arming yourself with as much information before one sets foot on the RV lot is a MUST for the conscientious buyer. As I do this research as well, I’m fascinated how much used RV prices are holding up. While regular cars lose about 20 to 30% in depreciation the first couple of years, class Bs seem to do much much better! This quite remarkable. On a different subject regarding your Ascent, one of the nice improvements for the 2019 year is the new front windshield and side window blackouts as opposed to the curtains I believe? I wonder if you can now order similar blackouts for prior year models? Cheers!
Hi Dan! i was surprised by how much the value of my 2014 Roadtrek CS Adventurous held up. of course i had low miles and an extended 7 year warranty but i still got a good deal 3 years later. i'll ask PW about the black out shades. to be honest i like my curtain. i had the shade in my Roadtrek and find the simplicity of the drape much preferable. however, in the heat the shades would be ideal (also in the cold).
Hi Neil - great video as always. I’m wondering if in the next video If you’ll cover what to expect when buying used vs new? Is it similar to buying cars when it comes to depreciation and financing? That’s something that’s been on my mind as I continue to work towards buying my future home...ahem, RV! 😀
logged Ben! thanks for the idea!
Good video. Not sure if you intend to include these points in later video, but I have heard you mention them in other videos - first, price (discount) can fluctuate depending on time of year (fall/winter vs spring/summer), model year (for e.g. buying a 2018 just when 2019s or 2018.5 start showing up at dealers), and second, deciding if lowest price or availability of service at a more local dealer is important.
dan, all excellent points and you're right while i do mention them all in other videos i neglected to repeat them here! thanks for reminding me and keeping me honest!
WInnebago Revel was about 107k new in November 17 ... now a price increase to 128k and no delivery till November 18 ..... like the 4 season idea & 4x4 but think now I be wait for a used one & I’m still rolling in my 87 VW Vanagon Westy ! Prices are crazy on New !
Vanagon Westy for the win! I hope the fervor over the Revel dies down soon... it's just too much to pay that much money for it. sorry. one year warranty for a 4x4 is just plain silly.
Thanks for your great videos, wonderfully done, certainly the best on TH-cam! I've pretty much decided on the PleasureWay Ascent, and really appreciate your buying advice, as I had no idea of how to proceed! One thing I wonder about, and haven't seen addressed, is if anyone has figured out the % of depreciation for various brands ( e.g., the Ascent) over time (given normal mileage and wear & tear)? I've always felt that was the biggest cost of owning a vehicle of any sort. I think it would help me to part with the amount of cash necessary, if I had some idea of what my true cost would be over the next, say, 3-5 years, or 100K miles (which is the most that I would want to be driving my van on my own). thanks again for your remarkable series of reviews!
thanks Irene. I haven't done a depreciation calculation. I can tell you that class b vans in general depreciate less than most of the other classes. I can tell you that Mercedes sprinter chassis based camper vans depreciate less than other chassis manufacturers like Ram and Ford. And, I can tell you that Pleasureway and Airstream depreciate less than the other coach builders.
Thanks so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Your videos are very helpful and much appreciated!
My pleasure!
Hello Neil, I enjoy all your videos, especially this one. I’m a few years away from purchasing a Class B, in the meanwhile I’ll be going to RV Shows, and I have a notebook where I’m keeping track of RV tips like you mentioned on this video.
I’m know Pleasureway sells their product through dealerships, and other manufacturers sell directly from the factory.
Because there would be no middleman in factory purchases, how willing are they to give discounts, if they actually do? If there is no wiggle room, would they then possibly throw in some type of upgrades?
you know David, i'm not sure... i can't imagine that they wouldn't negotiate in this day and age and especially since they are competing with dealerships. I can reach out and see what I find. great question.
When I purchased my Carado, I read on the class b forums that somebody requested at an RV show that the manufacturer “throw in” the optional extras as part of the deal. The reason this is a good strategy is because the dealer gets paid the same commission regardless and the manufacturer gets to put a plus one sale on their accounting books for parts at cost for them. Win-Win-Win. Try this strategy with your dealer sales person and their local rep and let us know how it turns out! For me personally this didn’t work since I chose to get a slightly used base model over a new optioned up one. Unfortunately the rep couldn’t budge on a used model. My guess it is already on their books as a sale so no skin off their back if it sits on the dealer lot and rots.
In my area Class Bs are in very short supply. We have only one Pleasure Way dealer anywhere near us and the units are sold as soon as they hit the pavement. I would like to get a Pleasure Way but we probably would be paying top dollar since the demand far exceeds the supply.
Neil, so glad I found your site. As always, great information.
tim, so glad that you're a subscriber!
hi Neil , Im a fan of your show. Im planning to buy a camper van. Do you think you can use the van as a alternative home?
hi emil! thank you for watching my channel. I couldn't use my van as a home. it is too small. is that what you mean?
Ok, before we can even get to negotiation which assumes we have found the correct RV for our needs the first question is how does one narrow down the selections to ones that are considered reliable? We know we are looking for a B(+) style but with so many makes and models how does one avoid the proverbial lemon?
What surprises me is why dealers are even negotiating prices when units like the LTV Unity and Airstream Atlas are back ordered 9-12 months.
it's a good point you make. I've found that if a particular model is hot then there is less negotiating room. I've experienced this. they will still negotiate but you won't get nearly the discount that you would if they have several of the same van on their lot. If you go to RVTrader.com you'll notice that the list prices for the Revels are MSRP for almost every dealer. none of them are discounting. i believe that's because there's a current wait list for the Revel.
Thanks for another video on RV pricing!
xiang huang - thanks for watching!
good job. have you researched replacement ac units for our sprinters.....Im wanting one a lot quieter
i haven't ed. i dislike my AC. it is noisy for sure. i wish someone would build something like this for our vans: th-cam.com/video/tPO-e_U-xM8/w-d-xo.html small, quiet and portable. how cool would it be to just pull it out when you need it and stow it away when you don't. plus no bulky rooftop unit that adds 8 inches to your height!
Thanks, this is a great set of resources.
Glad you think so!
2022 prices have increased and are up and down! Please advise for this crazy market. TY
Another nice one Neil, very well done! I always refer anyone asking about RV's to rvtrader.com and lately your current series with the review and comparisons.
I do think it's funny how the CEO's for Leasure Travel and Pleasure-Way do high-quality videos for TH-cam but Roadtrek doesn't. Roadtrek seems to be happy with 'fluffy' short sales videos that give you no information or letting the dealers produce cheap and quick videos that do little to enhance the products or their features.
first off thank you very much for referring people to my channel! that helps me out a lot and i truly appreciate it! It is amazing how Roadtrek does not do good product marketing. I'm not sure why this is. Even Winnebago does very professional and helpful product videos and they partner with folks like the Fit RV to do early reviews of new vans. It's very strange with regards to Roadtrek. Maybe that's something they will change or maybe they just don't care...
Not to defend Roadtrek, but I’m a habitual business owner so I can provide insight from that perspective. Everything costs money and that includes marketing. Since they mass produce their coaches and are one of the highest volume selling in all of North America already, there is little incentive for them to throw cash into unproven marketing strategies. Their margins are probably one of the slimmest to boot. This follows the old adage, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it; old saying from corporate America.
While I can agree to a point I still think they are missing a great opportunity.
I equate much of the Class B surge to companies like Pleasure-Way, Winnebago and Leasure Travel pushing into new areas and filling potential buyers eyes with new and shiny.
I recently went to an RV dealer here in Arizona and was looking at the Pleasure-Way Plateau XLMB and a couple there was actually not interested in Roadtrek because they didn't recognize the name! That is a marketing and branding problem.
ranTrek I agree there is a disconnect between Roadtrek the name and Roadtrek the brand. I had to do my own research to reach my own conclusions to end up with a product from a sister company and their parent company, Hymer. I think we can agree that RT does not have a negative nor positive brand association. I would go as far as to call it neutral or a lack there off of one. Arguably, if RT does decide to brand itself as the high volume manufacturer that it is. We would find ourselves being passed on those costs possibly adding $5-10k on top of the MSRP. It’s the same reason why I bought mine now while the getting is good before Hymer wakes up from their purchase of RT last and does something about it.
Yup, gotta agree and it was very well said!
As always, very informative and great video! campertheir lot but will not sell it until the next one come in. So, I will have to order one. I am willing to pay 10% below MSRP price. How should I proceed with the negotiation? Thank you in advance for your response.
thank you
Thanks so much for the insight and research info. I really needed this confirmation that I was approaching my research correctly and utilizing the correct website info. You've provided a few new ones so I greatly appreciate that. Really looking forward to the negotiating video. (Have you only ever purchased new vehicles? My budget only allows for a used one.) As a single woman, I can't help but feel they talk down to you, and of course may not give me the pricing they would give a couple or my male counterparts. Yes... that's a bit negative but I already find it at other garages, electronics stores etc. Just something I've learned to deal with and try to educate myself as much as possible on the purchases I make. I won't buy on the spot, and never fall for the "price is only good for today" line, but I do know that some of these used Class Bs sell very quickly. I'd hate to miss out because I need to take time to verify the price they are offering. Also -sorry it's so long - Can you provide insight to what is reasonable to ask them to do when checking out a used rv? Is it too much to ask that ALL systems be turned on and running like the frig, air conditioner, heat, etc? Also, is it reasonable to be able to take the unit to an independent mechanic to check out before you buy it? Thanks for your help!
saddens me to hear that women get treated inequitably in these and other situations. sigh. however, you have the right attitude. remember they want the sale. they'll bluster and belittle you but if you're offering a fair price, even if it is lower than they'd like, they are seriously considering you and will eventually give in if they know that you're firm. with regards to a used RV: you should absolutely expect to be able to turn on each and every system and ask questions. you should also ask to see any service work paperwork that they have. you should test drive it and yes if you can find a place local to them you should offer to pay for it to be inspected (or find someone you can bring with you). when i sold my camper van i allowed the buyers to test everything. i had all my service paperwork and i allowed them to test drive it. one note: i agreed to meet in a public and neutral place to inspect and test drive. in my case it was a busy Walmart parking lot. this is for security reasons. You don't want to necessarily drive out to the booneys alone. that's just me. if the seller is smart they'll agree (they don't know who you are either!).
Thanks so much Neil! I so appreciate your feedback. And yes...here in PA the local police stations let you meet up with Craigs List buyers/sellers at their stations so it's safer. It's a great idea for anyone meeting to buy/sell items.
Ultramobili
Hello,
I plan to take my family of 5 and live full-time on a RV. I am a first time buyer so I would like some advise and recommendation on a model to buy and the best price to negotiate at the dealer for that model. I already have a permanent place to station the RV and I am not planning to move it anywhere unless I have to.
Thank You
I can hear just fine now. 👍
yep, used the microphone on this one (that's the silver bit on my colar) people think i'm a priest but it is my mic!
Ultramobility Well much better - good job Father Mobility. LOL
👍 thank you for your video it was very informative I'm always interested to hear about Class B class C RV's. I'll be looking forward to your next video, keep up the good work.
thank you rccomo1! Next video coming up is Tuesday! Look out for it! Will be reviewing the Winnebago Era 70a!
Hi Neil, thanks for this great channel.
What charges, beyond the "price", are typically added to a vehicle? For example, I saw a "Freight and Prep" line item for $4000 on an order sheet from PW. Is this typically outside of the negotiated price?
yes, PW ships their RVs to the dealer so that they don't have any miles on them. this is the shipping cost. most manufacturers will include a shipping cost IF they ship their vans to the dealers.
I was really wondering if the shipping cost was "marked up" in some way (meaning, that it could be negotiated down), but I did some more research and it does appear that the shipping cost is, for new vehicles, meant to be paid completely by the buyer. (Apparently some auto dealers may try add an additional type of delivery fee, but that is not the same thing.)
Hey Neil have you looked at Coachmen CrossFit? How’s the quality vs price?
hi. i been in a couple. i will be doing a video review. the quality is okay. haven't taken a deep look yet. i like that they update the rear suspension with Sumo sprints and that they have a lithium battery upgrade. the cabinets look quality. still, manufacturers are good at checking off certain boxes while cutting corners in areas where we normally don't look. that's where i'm lacking at the moment since I haven't done a deeper dive yet. i think the price is good but can't recommend them because their warranty is just a year. they need to offer at least a 3 year warranty in order for me to endorse them.
25% off list is usually doable if you stick to your guns .
yeah i think it depends on your geographic region, time of year and coach builder. for me up in Canada where there is little competition I could only get a 15% discount in the winter and I'm a pretty good negotiator. Part of the problem is that Pleasureway's are hard to find so they command a premium. 25% off other makes is more doable definitely.
@@Ultramobility Hi Neal! Love your videos!!!! Question - Do you have any regrets in purchasing your Pleasureway van (Ascent?)? If you could go back in time, would you purchase a different van? Thanks! BTW - Where in Canada are you from? I'm in Vancouver...
Thanks Neil another great video. Even though I am not in the US the same applies so very helpful. Looking forward to the next episode.
So what is a good discount for a Pleasureway Lexor in Canada?
Hi Neil, what about Canadian market ? Is there some online resources that we can trust to have a fair idea of the cost of those rv,s Thanks for all, it is very informative.
hi claude. unfortunately not. when i lived there i would visit each of the dealer's sites directly in my province (Quebec) and in Ontario. I would track regularly list prices. when i was ready to purchase i engaged with a few of them at once. i would play one off the other in terms of getting the best deal. i wish there was something like rvtrader for Canada...
Thanks, maybe if I am looking an US site and convert it in CDN it give me an idea .....???
yes that's a good idea Claude! of course in the US there is a lot of competition so dealers are sometime more likely to give discounts here. STill i have able to get a pretty good discount on my 2017 PW Ascent in Quebec. I purchased from VR St. Cyr in St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil. I liked them a lot. very good people. good service department. very clean and modern. if you go there tell them ultramobility sent you!
beautiful background. good content too. ty
lots of viewers like these backgrounds. I started to move toward green screening but have recently returned to these backgrounds because everyone likes them so much!
With the background you must be in SF bay area
As I understand Nesin has a new class B (like the California VW or the Marko Polo maker name escapes me) how about a review and a head to head "vs" reviewing valuable!
Helpful info - thanks!
thanks for watching ted!
Thank you! I am in the market for a travel trailer. I live in Southern California but find myself in Texas at least twice a year for weeks at a time with my truck. It's looking like it might be cheaper to buy a TT in Texas and just haul it back to California. What would be the registration process for buying out of state?
the dealer should be able to take care of all of that for you when you purchase. they do this sort of thing all the time.
Makes sense. Thank you! Fastest comment reply ever!
just make sure you ask them the process before you purchase. they probably can't electronically connect to say California's DMV from say Texas but they will know the process and detail it out for you. They'll probably register it in Texas and then explain how you need to take the paper work to the CA DMV to get it registered there.
Thanks for the informative video.
john thanks for watching!
Neil is there a class b rv with similar floor plan like the 2019 Hymer active 2.0 but without a cassette black tank?
gil bert The travato I think
Neil, are you a pleasure way ambassador? If so. Can you pass along your info as I may buy a PW. Thanks.
Hey Ken.Here's a link to my PW Ambassador's page: tinyurl.com/ycapodb4
Neil, I recently purchased a pleasure way Ascent just like yours. I’ve been in some strong cross wind and been knocked around some but have yet to see the “cross wind assist” activate. Can you give me some insight?? John Sellers
hi, john. the cross wind assist is automatic and you don't need to turn it on. it takes some strong cross wind. you'll notice when it activates because: there will be a warning beep; a message will display on the matrix display between the speed and rpm gauges and you'll hear and notice the anti-lock brakes activating on specific wheels to keep you in the lane.
Neil, fyi...I emailed Doug today at PW about giving you a referral credit for my recent purchase of a new PW. Hope they give you credit soon. Thanks for your videos and hope to learn more from you as I am a newbie!
How much buyer's remorse can you handle?
not a lot. i purchased a 2014 Roadtrek CS Adventurous and within a year figured out I had purchased the wrong camper van. i sold it a couple years later to get my Ascent.
@@Ultramobility: Just out of curiosity, what was wrong with it?
Please advise where I can get the best price for a PW Ascent model? My neighborhood dealer says that it is in high demand and only offered a $5K discount from the MSRP of $140,950. Is it possible to buy from the factory directly? Thanks.
cannot purchase from the factory directly. They can do much better than $135k. Just stick to it. They will slowly come down and down if you just stick to it. You should be able to find one for between $120k and $130k
Hi Neil! I was offered a much better discount from a dealer in Canada for an LTV Unity that I can order. Do you have any advice on how to go about this purchase since I live in the Bay Area. I have friends in Canada who can help me out. Is it difficult to change the registration to US? Thank you so much for your help! Can I pm you for details?
you can’t purchase unless you live in canada.
Thank you so much for the info
you're welcome thanks for watching!
Nice view!
ok so how will it work when you are looking at a new model with limited in availability? I'm interested in a new pleasure way Tofino, So I'm guessing there won't be much if any discount off msrp due to supply and demand. anyone else have any thoughts on this?
yep that's right. if they're harder to find then dealers won't discount as much. not to say that they won't discount but it may not be say 30%. It may be closer to 10%.
Must be a video recording behind you same two people walking the same dog and the car that passes is same.
believe it or not that's a live recording. I don't use green screens and generally try to find an interesting place to park the mobile studio and do the shoot!
thanks for the RV-trader.com tip it potentially saved me 10 k
Awesome
I know a great resource - they call it TH-cam :)
Can you get the best pricing by buying at a large regional RV show?
The last day at the last hour, negotiate hard.
What's your name? Is that a Bible name?
Hi, Diana. My name is Neil Balthaser and one of the three wise men was Balthaser believe it or not.
Nice name, but it’s not in the Bible.