How Often Do You Upgrade?

[mweiner]

How often do you think about trading in your old motor home for a new model?    10 years?    100,000 miles,  150,000 miles? 

And,  do you sell your motor home privately?  Or just trade it in for a new or late model?  

I recently purchased a five year old motor home, a 2012 Roadtrek and plan to keep it at least five years and then re-evaluate where we are. 

Please share your experiences.   

[wolfe10]

Suspect at least as many re-evaluate their needs as necessarily "upgrade" to newer.

So, downsizing, upsizing to go full timing, etc probably play quite a large part of the changing motorhome process.

[rossboyer]

In 1997 we bought a 1992. In 2001 we traded it in on a 1999. In 2008 we traded the 1999 in on a 2006 which we still have. This 2006 has 91k miles and the other two were above 135 k miles. 

[desertdeals69]

In the last 42 years of motor homing I had about 10 coaches.  I buy low and sell high. I have made money on some of them.  On my last motorhome I sold for almost 3 times book, used it for 17 years and 145k miles and bought my current one for 1/2 book.  Modifying and up grading is a hobby of mine as I retired from the rv service industry in 1999. 

[mweiner]

58 minutes ago, desertdeals69 said:

In the last 42 years of motor homing I had about 10 coaches.  I buy low and sell high. I have made money on some of them.  On my last motorhome I sold for almost 3 times book, used it for 17 years and 145k miles and bought my current one for 1/2 book.  Modifying and up grading is a hobby of mine as I retired from the rv service industry in 1999. 

Interesting, how do you "buy low and sell high"....do you purchase these at wholesale prices?  Auction? Outfit them with upgrades??

[desertdeals69]

Buy from motivated sellers and know what you are buying.  Always pay with cash, its a great bargaining tool.

[mweiner]

You mean "desperate sellers"....?    People who buy them new and in a few years have "buyers remorse"....

I suppose you focus on three to five maybe six years old coaches? Ones in good condition? 

 

[mweiner]

 

desertdeals69- 

"Modifying and up grading is a hobby of mine as I retired from the rv service industry in 1999."

Question-. What's the most significant upgrade?? Or upgrades? 

[desertdeals69]

Probably an engine and trans swap and converting from steel springs to air ride, going from 19.5 wheels to 22.5 wheels and 15 in brake drums.  Also I've done a independent front suspension from a solid front axle.

[manholt]

DD.  Interesting hobby you have! 

Mine is collecting old, high end watches...every 2 years now, I sell one.  Mostly to Christy's Auction House...supplements Social Security entitlement.   

[kaypsmith]

My old wore out coach is now showing 2,252,338 miles currently, hoping it will last as long as me. Like DD69, it's a hobby, I'm not in to make money, just for fun. First MH when purchased was a fixer upper, that I completely refurbished the inside, second was a delaminating sportscoach, completely reskinned her outside and in, plus roof rebuild, she has a Cummings bt6c with Allison ht740 trans. Have converted two complete busses, and now working on my first schoolie.