Considering a Used Fifth Wheel

[Alan Reagan]

I've been recalled to active duty again. Fortunately I'm stateside. I've been living in the transient visitor quarters for five months now and I've about had enough of the transient visitors so I'm considering buying a fifth wheel and putting in the RV park on base.



A neighbor down the street has just sold his house and has a 1999, 25 foot Coachman Catalina. I just went and took a look at it. The plastic is still on the carpet. The appliances have never been used. Never. He pulled it to Unadilla, GA (about 30 miles from here), set it up one time and brought it home after the weekend. I worked with the guy that lives across the street from him and he said that is true. It hasn't moved. The tires were covered and look new... ... no dry rot cracking. Everything inside looks brand new. It even smells new. It's a fifth wheel with the big slide for the living room and kitchen area. The bedroom is forward over the hitch.



It has electric jacks, ducted A/C/heat, awning, awning over the slide out and more.



The only thing I could find wrong was on the left rear corner, it looked like the aluminum siding corroded in two spots about the size of a dime.



He is asking $10,000 and will throw in his hitch that was used for the one tow.



Anybody care to give me their thoughts on this price and brand? Thanks.

 

[GWBourne]

what service, and what is your Job?



Back on topic... sorry.

Grant

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I think Coachman is more of an entry level unit. Probably ok if you aren't towing it a ton. Sounds nice, but remember, not being used a lot is not always a good thing. Check to make sure all the appliances work, especially the fridge and the water system. Also, not sure I would trust the tires, they are probably atleast 8 or 9 years old. Trailer Life recommends not keeping tires for more than 7 years, regardless of tread life. Again, maybe a moot point if you are using it as a park unit.



Thanks for your service. Hope whatever 5er you get works out for you.

 

[Alan Reagan]

what service, and what is your Job?



Back on topic... sorry.

Grant

US Coast Guard. Maritime Force Protection Unit.



No problems. Semper paratus.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I think Coachman is more of an entry level unit. Probably ok if you aren't towing it a ton. Sounds nice, but remember, not being used a lot is not always a good thing. Check to make sure all the appliances work, especially the fridge and the water system. Also, not sure I would trust the tires, they are probably atleast 8 or 9 years old. Trailer Life recommends not keeping tires for more than 7 years, regardless of tread life. Again, maybe a moot point if you are using it as a park unit.



Thanks for your service. Hope whatever 5er you get works out for you.

Good points. I woke up thinking about things not being used and the problems they can cause.



Thanks, again.

 

[RColston]

Depending on what you will do with it in the future, might be better off spending a little more to get something a little bigger in a moderate to upper end unit. Look on rv trader at hitch hiker, alfa. They both have multi slide units in the 29-32 foot length that may better serve you. Also ditto what foil said.



Rick

 

[Alan Reagan]

Roger, that Rick. I appreciate the input, guys.

 

[GMike]

I'd also check the cieling for signs of leaking, and crawl up on the roof to check it out for cracks and such. You will see cracks in the putty they put around the vents, that can be repaired and not a problem if it hasn't been leaking.

We lived in our 5th for 6 Mos. while our house was being built. To My supprise nothing broke. The trailer was 5 years old at the time. It is an entry level.

But 6 Mos. in a trailer ain't camping. Could not have gone another week.



Mike

 

[Vic]

Concur on getting out of transient quarters. Used prices are available on the web, but have lost the website (my old PC with that info has crashed for the last time). Maybe your base credit union has the data too if you're handy to one. Also, take a close look at Issue 53 of the TDR and the new TDRV column written by G. R. Whale. Agree with everything already said based on my 12 recent years of extensive RVing. If your candidate rig was laid up OK, it should be fine. You might pull the drain plug on the hot water heater... it will need to be flushed if it wasn't drained on layup. We've travelled coast to coast and lived for six months at a time in a previous 27 foot fiver (two adults and two dogs) without major fit problems. As an old tin can sailor not used to lots of space, 200 square feet of private space complete with head and kitchen can feel like a real luxury.

 

[pwr2tow]

www.nada.com click on link to find value.

 

[rlyons]

If I remember right that Coachman is wood studded construction. One leak and you have a big problem. I also think it has the cheaper rubber sheet roofing, if so that is a problem as they age. Look for a unit with aluminum studs and a one piece fiberglass roof they are much lighter and the framework will last forever. My Holiday Rambler is 20 years old and is still in as good of condition as new. I had to repaint it this year but that is not bad for 20 years of use. Forest River has a fine unit and a lot of others also. It will pay in the long run to pay a little more to get a quality unit that will last than to go cheap and have it fall apart in a few years as well as lose all it's resale value.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I'm going to pass on this one. You guys got me to thinking and to doing more research. The comments about the wood construction really concerned me.



I found a Sunnybrook today about a mile away. It's an 03 with 15K miles on it. It looks in good shape but I'll know more when I look it over.



Thanks again for all the inputs. I'll be headed back to the base tomorrow at 0200. Maybe I can stand the TVQ one more week.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I wouldn't discount it just because of the wood construction. I'm pretty sure Teton Homes still makes their 5ers with wood framing, and they are one of the best units out there.

 

[BNH4221]

Alan -



Sunnybrook makes nice stuff. Try sunnybrooktalk for tons of good info. Nice people there too



As an aside, check the crank open skylight vent covers on the roof. I have found from personal experience that they get brittle over time. Fairly cheap and easy to replace but they always break at the worst possible time. Like when you are on the road. In a downpour. At night. When the kids are asleep directly underneath. :{



Good luck and like the others said, Thanks for your service. It is NOT unappreciated.

 

[Loren]

Alan,



My wife and I lived in a 32-foot Holiday Rambler travel trailer in the 1970's when I was a Navy flight student. We bought it because at that time Navy students traveled to five different bases before getting to a fleet duty station. It turned out to be a good decision financially.



We paid about $9000 for the trailer new (I told you it was the 1970's) and sold it for about half that amount 18 months later. That $4500 was the down payment on our first house, as well as furniture money.



I think you’ll be glad you decided to get out of base housing and into something where you can build some equity.



Here’s a more useful suggestion: Buy your RV used. There is such a HUGE amount of depreciation to the first owner of any RV, that most people should buy used. The only reasons I can see to buy a new RV are that you can easily afford it and you want a particular model that is difficult to find in the used market.



Good luck,

Loren

 

[BLMills]

Not to get off subject or steal Alan's show. I am also considering a used 5th wheel since I have orders back out to San Diego next fall. My wife and kids are settled in to Colorado Springs and don't plan on moving again. I, like Alan can't stand transient quarters and in my case think a used 5th wheel would be more economical than renting a place in California. I'm considering a used toy hauler so at least I would have a garage for my tools.



Couple of questions from a potential newby RVer:



Will a 2500 handle a 30 footer or so, realizing there a variances in tongue weights, gross weights, etc. between makes and models?



Any considerations having a short bed? I also have gooseneck ball (Hide-a-hitch I believe) and considered a gooseneck/slide adapter.



Haven't had a chance to call the base RV sites, but do most have water/electric/sewer hookups for long term? I guess my main concern would be having to hook up the truck once a week to go "off load" the CHT (navy speak).



Opinions on toy hauler brands? Don't really care about the "plush" factor, but something comfortable with enough bunk capacity for my wife, 3 kids and German Shorthair when the come visit and maybe for travelling later.



Thanks for letting me jump in to the conversation and Alan thanks for serving!

 

[Troubleshooter]

Some additional places to look for new/used RVs on the 'net, either for purchase or for getting an idea of real-world costs:



http://www.rvonline.com

http://ww2.rvtraderonline.com/



I lived in the transient billets for about 2 weeks after returning from this last deployment, and that was sufficient! Looked around and purchased a 5'er , and lived in the FAMCAMP until I signed out a couple of weeks ago. Several FAMCAMP residents were active-duty assigned to the post, so what you are suggesting is not at all unusual. One WO lived in his MH until the deployment, put it into storage for the year, and pulled it out again and is living in it until he PCS's next year.



However, camp amenities vary widely. Ours (Ft Stewart GA) had water and electric hookups, but no sewer; you had to go dump. Oddly, they did allow you to dump grey water directly onto the ground at your campsite! A good resource for checking on what's available at a given FAMCAMP is

http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/ or go to the PX/BX/NEX and buy a copy of the guide to military campgrounds.



Still a viable way to go if you're in a relatively temperate climate.



Which reminds me -- check the water system and see if there are leaks on that used trailer (i. e. , did he drain the system after that one & only camping trip, or did it freeze and cause the pipes to burst?)



Best of luck.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Thanks for the advice on buying used. Base housing in my case is the visitors quarters and I get moved around quite a bit. You know what I mean?

 

[RJOL]

... I'm considering buying a fifth wheel and putting in the RV park on base...

You might want to check with the base you're going to be stationed at. Most bases limit the number of days you can stay in the on-base RV campsite.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I checked and they usually prefer you don't go over 60 days. Then they told me that they make allowances depending on the situation. I fall into the allowance granted category due to the recall.



Thanks.