Question What is getting up there in mileage on a Newmar coach

[Kevin D Pem]

I have seen parks that limit the coach age, but those are the *EXCEPTION* and not the rule. These apply more to resorts, and lots that cater to a luxury crowed. Even those parks that have posted a 10 or 15 year rule do not enforce them. It is more of an excuse to keep the "Cousin Eddies" out, which is kind of dumb way of handling it. I have seen some cousin Eddies in a brand new RV.

We travel a lot, and have been to most of the lower 48 states. You should not worry at all about having an older coach while traveling. There is always going to be plenty of places that you can use the coach.

I agree that that is how it is used. But that does not change how the financial institutions need to look at that number rule. I have an 83' fifth that has no problem getting into many parks. had a 91' kwick camp tent trailer behind my wing and a Good Sam refused me. Have not been back in a Good Sam's and never will, as the trailer was totally restored as was the bike. When people ask about Good Sam's you can bet I don't recommend them either.

Sorry for the rant that was the first and only time one of my vintage rigs was refused.

 

[skychs]

Is there an exemption for vintage RV’s?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Is there an exemption for vintage RV’s?

Nothing in writing. Only the discretion of the manager I guess. A restored or re-manufactured RV is in fact a new RV for all practical purposes. The attraction for many that it is in your park and you get to look at it most of the time up close and personal without going to a show is incentive enough for many parks to let it in.

 

[redbaron]

as @Kevin D Pem stated, some parks are complete jerks. The good sam park rating system is another example of a complete load of manure. Good sam will charge the park to become a good sam park, and then charge them to move up in the ratings. It has very little to do with what the park actually provides, and a whole lot on how much marketing dollars the park pays to GS. I have provided consulting services for many RV park owners over the years and have advised that they raise their standard prices by 10% on all advertised prices, and to drop the paid marketing for GS, FMCA, AAA, etc. They then ask the guest if they have any discount memberships, and no matter what the guest has...they offer a 10% reduction.

All parks have reported increased profits doing this method. The other discount that I recommend is the stay for 6 days, get the 7th for free. This helps to encourage longer stays, which reduces the change over moves in and out. Those change overs are where most of the damage occurs for an RV park.

I will never understand a park that will allow a $35k 8 year old class A into the park, but will deny a fully restored Wander Lodge because its too old. That is plain stupidity.

 

[Webz]

Looking up the value of my coach on NADA. When it came to mileage I saw this:

Mileage
Mileage MAY be taken into consideration for gas engine only.
Enter Mileage:
(DO NOT use for diesel engines)

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Looking up the value of my coach on NADA. When it came to mileage I saw this:

Mileage
Mileage MAY be taken into consideration for gas engine only.
Enter Mileage:
(DO NOT use for diesel engines)

That is what I was thinking when I first read this post, but.
The more I thought the more I considered vibration and the toll it has on anything going down the road. A full timer can wear out the interior long before even a gas drive train will fail. I really don't know how I would judge value for resale. Many people could not put a professional finish on wood trim, or be able to re upholster the furniture to professional standards. Yet without that kind of care the value will constantly erode. Much faster if used all the time than as a vacation home. Do they have professional appraisers for RVs?

 

[Webz]

You can get an on-line appraisal from NIRVC that asks the important questions:

Trade in Condition Report 2.0

Please click the link to complete this form.

form.jotform.com

This will give you some idea what to look for if buying.
I feel that maintenance is the key more so than mileage.
I send an oil sample to a lab at each oil change. It gives me and the next owner peace of mind.

 

[Jabber Jaw]

My 2 cents:
The first RV we had was a 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire 3778 on a Wokhorse W-22 chassis. The coach had 42,500 miles on it. When I went to look at it, took a friend that has had 5 Class A/C RV's, & lots of mechanical experience. His remarks were, "I'm not sure I've seen an older coach as nice as this one"! He was very, very impressed! As was I !
This coach looked like new on the inside, & everything was original, even the 2 old bulky TV's. Checked it out stem to stern, everything functioned. As for the drive train, we also drove it about 60-70 miles, & it purred like a kitten. It was a one owner, ordered new from Newmar. Had a professional inspector check it over, including driving it. He recommended changing the marker light lens, and one headlight, which I had done prior to driving it away. The underside of the chassis looked like a new one, & obviously this coach had had extremely great care taken of it, even to be stored inside when not in use. Due to it being like new, & was so impressive, is what led me to buy a new Newmar.
The couple that bought it from us, love it, and remarked that this was a "special coach", as they had looked at numerous others.
At a Newmar Rally, was parked beside a 2017 Ventana owner, he came over & while we were drinking coffee, asked if my coach was a 2010 or 2011! I was extremely pleased, & he was shocked that it was a 2004. He said he had seen 4-5 year old Newmar's that didn't look as good!
So, it is possible to have a 16 year old coach that looks like new, and runs like it too, if properly taken care of & maintained!
I love my 2020 Newmar, but would not be upset if I still had the 2004!

 

[Old-RV'er]

If the owner takes care of it, routine maintenance, etc., they can go hundreds of thousands of miles. Transmission service about 3-5 years depending on Type of fluid, transynd versus normal, engine oil and filter changes, fuel filter changes, lubrication and inspections of the chassis, all that. My last coach had 60K, and I never worried about the mileage, age, out in the sun, etc. are more harsh on it than miles, since MH's seem to sit a lot, instead of being driven. Machinery is designed to work.

 

[AbdRahim]

It's more about how you use your coach. If you haven't read about the 10 year rule it would behoove you to read up. Many RV parks don't allow RVs older than 15 years. This is the real limitation on how long your coach will last. It can still be a beauty but!!!

So, then it also depends on where you plan to go. I won't spend money enough on camping to go to the places that limit the age of the MH. Perhaps I should splurge and try one for two weeks one year. Then go to my economy place with all of the discounts for the next month.

 

[Jim]

I have provided consulting services for many RV park owners over the years . . .

Consulting services for RV park owners? Interesting. My new best friend.

 

[Hgallyn]

It's more about how you use your coach. If you haven't read about the 10 year rule it would behoove you to read up. Many RV parks don't allow RVs older than 15 years. This is the real limitation on how long your coach will last. It can still be a beauty but!!!

Are you referring to RV parks where you stay for an extended period of time?

 

[Neemer]

Are you referring to RV parks where you stay for an extended period of time?

Different parks have different rules. I can tell you this though: if your coach is in good shape, you won’t have a problem at 99 percent of parks.

 

[Hgallyn]

Different parks have different rules. I can tell you this though: if your coach is in good shape, you won’t have a problem at 99 percent of parks.

Thank you!