Used Motor Home

Can a used motor home be a good deal? Or, would buying a used motor home just open up a can of worms in the form of huge repair bills and the possibility of an unreliable motorhome? In my humble opinion, I have to tell you that these two statements don’t have to be true, and that you definitely can have a used motor home that is both reliable and not a maintenance nightmare. And, here is why I think this way.

Cost
First, I think that buying ANY vehicle, brand-new, off the lot, is a bad idea. A brand-new vehicle (car, truck or motorhome) often loses up to 1/3 of its value during the first year. So, just figure if you’re buying new, you can throw away about 33% of what you paid. I have always purchased used vehicles – I’m the guy that you’re giving that 33% of the purchase price to when you get rid of the year-old vehicle. And, for vehicles that don’t change a lot year-to-year (like motorhomes), the depreciation may be even greater than that. Chalk one up to buying used.

Reliability & Maintenance
The statistics reveal that once a vehicle has been broken in, and any initial problems repaired (usually under a manufacturer’s warranty), the chances are quite good that that vehicle will travel up to 80,000 miles reliably, and without needing repairs. Most components are designed to last this long (many longer). So, the numbers tell you that you can reasonably expect tour used motor home to be reliable up to 80,000 and beyond, without the need for repairs. Remember, this is a statistic – there will be a certain amount of vehicles that will need repairs before 80,000 miles, and a certain amount that will go much further without problem. But these numbers are quite small, and your chances of “being somewhere in the middle,” statistically speaking are very good.

Warranty
Are you one of those types who never feel secure – unless they have a warranty? There’s more good news for a used motor home. Many warranties from the factory are transferable from the original owner to another owner. I surely can’t speak for all motorhome manufacturers – be sure you find out if the one you’re looking at is transferrable – but there are many who do. Sometimes they will charge a transfer fee, and sometimes the coverage will be reduced. Again, make sure you do your homework. If you have to, call the manufacturer and find out if the warrantee is transferable. A short note about after-market warranties. Generally, unless a warranty is not offered by the manufacturer, I would not purchase. Why? Two reasons – cost (which is usually high) and the coverage (which is relatively easy to deny). This is too great a subject to be covered here, but aftermarket warranties are usually a bad deal – for the consumer.

Don’t be afraid of a used motor home – you could find the deal of a lifetime if you can go outside your comfort zone!

Photo Acknowledgements