Has anyone tried to sell a TT recently???

[DHayden]

I have a sneaking suspicion that soon more and more people will be walking away from their 5er's as they are there mortgages. Then all the repo's will flood the markets.

 

[duckcarvr]

when we got our first run of high fuel prices i thoought rvs would go down but they didnt, infact record sales. the economy was so much higher then . But fuel prices are so much higher now it can't help but effect rv prices. Also less competition for rv sites will make them come down also. when i started rving in 1995 sites were $8 to 14 a night full hook up. last summer we paid $45 in levenworth washington. A state park here averages $20 a night with no hook up. My truck miliage almost doubles when not towing, that would go a long ways to help pay for a hotel room. if you plan on buying an rv wait the economy is headed down hill fast, a month or two may make a big difference. robert

 

[DonTX]

I am so excited I can hardly wait!

I have a sneaking suspicion that soon more and more people will be walking away from their 5er's as they are there mortgages. Then all the repo's will flood the markets.

 

[LRutigliano]

For the die-hard RV'ers, its not about saving money vs. a hotel, its a lifestyle choice.



You can certainly have a great time staying in a hotel, but its a totally different experience.



I wouldn't give up my RV vacations because I love campfires, bar-b-que dinners, my own bed, the "fun" of towing the RV, seeing all of the neat RV's and people at the parks, etc, etc and its an American past time...



Seriously, we have a boat too and when we go RV'g to places with a lake, river, etc we bring the boat which is towed by my wife in the Durango (talk about a huge fuel bill... )



Why? because we choose too and love doing it. Its an experience that our family cherishes and wont forget.



We also stay at hotels and houses when its a different type of vacation.



Lets hope for the best in our economy and with the people that have RVs and not prey on them when their luck turns. These people are our family too.



Louis

 

[HBarlow]

For the die-hard RV'ers, its not about saving money vs. a hotel, its a lifestyle choice.



You can certainly have a great time staying in a hotel, but its a totally different experience.



I wouldn't give up my RV vacations because I love campfires, bar-b-que dinners, my own bed, the "fun" of towing the RV, seeing all of the neat RV's and people at the parks, etc, etc and its an American past time...



Seriously, we have a boat too and when we go RV'g to places with a lake, river, etc we bring the boat which is towed by my wife in the Durango (talk about a huge fuel bill... )



Why? because we choose too and love doing it. Its an experience that our family cherishes and wont forget.



We also stay at hotels and houses when its a different type of vacation.



Lets hope for the best in our economy and with the people that have RVs and not prey on them when their luck turns. These people are our family too.



Louis

You said it best! And you spoke for many of us. Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. To hell with the price of diesel fuel and long live Dodge-Cummins owners and RVing as an American pastime.

 

[Grizzly]

For the die-hard RV'ers, its not about saving money vs. a hotel, its a lifestyle choice.

You can certainly have a great time staying in a hotel, but its a totally different experience.

I wouldn't give up my RV vacations because I love campfires, bar-b-que dinners, my own bed, the "fun" of towing the RV, seeing all of the neat RV's and people at the parks, etc, etc and its an American past time...

Seriously, we have a boat too and when we go RV'g to places with a lake, river, etc we bring the boat which is towed by my wife in the Durango (talk about a huge fuel bill... )

Why? because we choose too and love doing it. Its an experience that our family cherishes and wont forget.

We also stay at hotels and houses when its a different type of vacation.

Lets hope for the best in our economy and with the people that have RVs and not prey on them when their luck turns. These people are our family too.

Louis

I totally agree with you and Harvey, except for staying in Hotels and Houses. We enjoy our camp outs with family and friends. We just won't go as far and stay longer.

 

[Matt400]

Our TT is not for sale but. .

to reflect on the market we bought a new 07 Charger the last week of December, msrp was 35. 2 and we got it for 25. 2



Our PT cruiser it replaced took 3 months to sell and while in perfect / excellent condition ended up going for between poor and fair KBB value.



Our 02 Mastercraft X10 has been for sale now for 2 years. Its new owner will be getting it for well below blue book value.



We have had thoughts of a new 5th wheel but our TT is paid for, serves our purpose so figure whats the rush.

 

[PaulWatkins]

I haven't noticed any drop in prices or sales. I recently bought a toyhauler and had to sell my 2 yr old travel trailer. I had it listed for 4 weeks, and finally sold it for $400 less than I originally posted it at. It sold for NADA guide value. When I bought my toyhauler, the dealer said they are still selling. He sold everyone he brought to the RV show and took 20 orders on top of that. The way I see it, if I use 100 gallons of fuel on a trip, that's only $100 or so more that it would have cost last season. Not really that much really. Besides, I'd be driving to work spending the money on fuel anyway. I'd rather be camping!! :-laf

 

[DonTX]

It is a double edged sword for me, I am trying to buy a truck camper with slides and sell my fifth wheel all at about the same time. The way I see it, if my fifth wheel is almost worthless, then the price of the truck camper should be about worthless as well.

 

[Grizzly]

Pinehurst RV Dealer in Idaho, where we purchased our Arctic Fox last October told me today that business is booming and hasn't let up at all. They primarily sell AF and Nash TT and 5er. Not all RV dealers are feeling the effects of high fuel cost. He didn't say, but I'm sure they're mostly selling smaller units.

 

[DonTX]

I am in a part of the country where RV sales are crazy anyway, but I am seeing some deeply discounted ebay sales of new units, more than usual it would seem.

Some is because nobody is buying a real truck anymore, and therefore large units are a bit sluggish in sales maybe.

 

[HBarlow]

Overall RV sales are slower than they were a year ago but I'm sure sales vary among RV type, price levels, brands, and regions of the country. Motorhome sales are much slower.



An RV business website I read has reported Travel Supreme, one of the top manufacturers, has shut down and sold their assets and other major Indiana manufacturers have slowed production.

 

[jkidd]

I buy/ sell travel trailers and 5th wheels in southern CA. Prices have dropped 20-25% in the last 8 months for the under 10k (mostly 2000 and older) range.



January I lost money hand over fist



There are some good deals to be had out there as a private party. I have picked a few up and delivered them as far as 1300 miles.

 

[GaryOwen]

According to RVIA, wholesale shipments of RV's is estimated at 305k for 08. 2007 was 353k, 2006 was 390k (record year). 2008 is still expected to be the 8th highest in sales in the last 25 years.



Most dealers I deliver to say sales are down slightly. A few say that sales suck. A few say sales are way up.



One dealer that said sales were way up explained that people who are losing their houses due to high mortgages are buying trailers for housing.



Guess it might be a good time to find a deal, but I am always looking and haven't found any bargains yet.



Gary

 

[DHayden]

An RV business website I read has reported Travel Supreme, one of the top manufacturers, has shut down and sold their assets

Travel Supreme shut down and sold off? this is the first I heard but assumed they were one of the top 2 brands. My dream vehicle is a Travel Supreme Select diesel pusher. . guess I'll have to buy used if the day ever comes :-laf

 

[DonTX]

I had considered that same market slice in selling my larger 5th wheel. It is a perfectly comfortable "home" for someone, and at a far less price than any brick and mortar place, and could be moved if the owner got transferred. I don't think most yuppies consider that option though, no class living in an RV. .

 

[HBarlow]

This is the second similar article I've read which mentions that Travel Supreme shut down and sold its assets to Jayco. Both of the articles focused on what Jayco is doing but never offered many facts on Travel Supreme.



I am personally saddened by the closing of Travel Supreme. They built an outstanding fifth wheel travel trailer. I formerly owned one purchased used. I set it up in northern IN as my home away from home and lived in it three very cold winters while I was working as an RV transporter. They are great products. It was comfortable at overnight low temps of 0*F.



IMHO it was the motorhomes that killed TS. I spent a weekend in Travel Supreme's company RV park in Wakarusa several years ago waiting to tour the factory and buy a couple of parts for the TS fiver I had at the time. All the other occupants of the company RV park were owners of new TS motorhomes. Each of them had lists of warranty repairs as long as my arm. I also discovered that TS's factory service department wouldn't do any non-warranty (read paid) work on older trailers because the factoryi service department was overwhelmed with warranty work on motorhomes.



______________________________________________________________

Here's the article:



"Jayco to Build A's, Fivers in Travel Supreme Plant

RV Business

Friday, April 4, 2008



Middlebury, Ind. -based Jayco Corp. today (April 4) announced that it has established a new subsidiary to manufacture and market luxury fifth-wheels and diesel-powered Class A motorhomes.



The new company, Entegra Coach Inc. , will assume operations in a 160,000-square-foot facility in Wakarusa, Ind. , that formerly housed luxury fifth-wheel and motorhome builder Travel Supreme Corp. The company had been struggling in a down market and had closed its operations for a week in January to assess its options.



Jayco said that Glenn Troyer, former president of Travel Supreme, has been appointed president of Entegra Coach.



“Over the years, Jayco has established a reputation for building good products and for working closely with dealers to provide exemplary customer service,” said Wilbur Bontrager, president and CEO. “This new venture allows us to extend our business model to new segments of the RV market. We are energized by the opportunities for Entegra Coach and we look forward to the synergies associated with this new venture. ”



Bontrager said Entegra Coach will build two lines of upscale fifth-wheels and three lines of diesel-pusher Class A motorhomes.



In addition, he indicated that the new division could ultimately build products for two other Jayco Corp. subsidiaries, Jayco Inc. and Starcraft RV. "

 

[HBarlow]

I had considered that same market slice in selling my larger 5th wheel. It is a perfectly comfortable "home" for someone, and at a far less price than any brick and mortar place, and could be moved if the owner got transferred. I don't think most yuppies consider that option though, no class living in an RV. .

Don,



Have you tried advertising where oil and gas exploration/production is strong? I have heard from several sources that anywhere oil/gas industry crews are working housing is in critical shortage and many of the workers are buying and living in large TTs and 5ers.



Same with highway construction projects.

 

[Matt400]

One dealer that said sales were way up explained that people who are losing their houses due to high mortgages are buying trailers for housing.

Interesting you mentioned that, I know a fella in our area who did just that.

 

[mberry]

We have a TT now that I don't really care for. I can't stand up straight in the shower, no slide out, no couch 26' bunkhouse. We went and looked at 5th wheels a couple of weeks ago. They offered me $12K for my TT but only wanted to take off $2K from the price of the 5ver. We paid just under $10K for the TT. That still left $27K in price, and they offered me 19% interest. I know my credit isn't that great, but dang. No way am I paying $400 a month for 144 or 16x months for a new 5ver. My truck will be paid for in 5 months. Hopefully by then they might be a little more reasonable. The only thing Anyone want to trade?