Yesterday we left Show Low Lake Campground and moved to the campground at the Elks lodge. Since we were only going about three miles, we didn’t bother hooking up the van to tow, Terry just drove it and followed me.
The Elks lodge has fifteen full hookup 30/50 amp gravel sites in the pine trees, which at $15 a night is a heck of a deal in this resort area. The sites are not very level, and we are once again wishing we had leveling jacks.
When we arrived, we were the only RV here, and there was a sailboat on a trailer in one other site. A couple of hours after we got settled in, a pickup with a large overhead camper arrived and parked with the boat. Shortly after that, a very nice Mountain Aire diesel pusher arrived, so now we have some neighbors.
For RVers who travel as much as we do, membership in the Elks and Moose can be a real money saver. Many lodges have dedicated RV parks like this, and even more will allow traveling members to spend the night in their parking lots. The fee, if they charge any at all, is usually very low compared to local RV parks, and the money we pay goes to help support the lodges’ community work, so everybody wins!
After being on a site with just electric for two weeks, it was time to dump our holding tanks, and then Terry started a load of laundry. With those chores out of the way, we drove a few blocks to my daughter Tiffany’s house, where son-in-law Jim threw some steaks on the grill.
Tiffany had seen a Holiday Rambler diesel pusher in a yard nearby for sale, and she took me over to check it out. It was a 1996 model, and just in looking at its outside condition, I knew it was not something we would be interested in.
The owner told me that she and her husband had purchased it five years ago, had driven it less than 2,000 miles, and it has been sitting for over two years. She said nobody had even been inside it in over a year, and I could sure tell that the minute she opened the door! It reeked with a musty, mildew smell, the furniture was faded from the sun, and the roof had obviously suffered some water damage. She said they owed “about” $36,000 to $38,000 and just wanted to get enough out of it to pay the bank off. I wanted to tell her lots of luck, but I just told her it didn’t fit our needs and we left.
It is unfortunate that there are so many people who are buried in RVs that they will never be able to sell for what they owe on them. And then there are hopeful sellers who are just unrealistic in their expectations. We have been actively shopping for a used diesel pusher, and have seen some very good deals out there. But we have also seen people asking 20 to 30 percent more for their coaches than other similar rigs are going for.
I exchanged e-mails with a gentleman who read in the blog that we were shopping, who has a five year old upscale diesel coach for sale. He and his wife fulltimed in it until she passed away last year, and he no longer travels. He paid $225,000 for it, and he wants $185,000 firm. The coach is way out of our price range, but I sent him several online ads for the same year and model coaches with asking prices of $100,000 to $125,000 so he would know why he wasn’t getting any offers. He replied that losing $8,000 a year was bad enough, and he would just keep advertising it until the right buyer comes along. It’s a nice rig, but I think he’ll own it a long, long time.
Thought For The Day – You know you’re into middle age when you realize that caution is the only thing you care to exercise.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
One of our good friends just bought a 2006 Coachman Sportscoach. 39 ft. Diesel pusher, Cummins 300hp, double slide, with less than 7000 miles on it. It was listed on ebay for 89,000 and he offered 60,000 and the seller contacted them and they made the purchase for 65,000. So there are great deals out there. The deals are good for an outright buy, no trades.
Hello Nick, We found the same thing when looking for a “New to Us” RV. I was actually a blessing in disguise. I our long search for a good used RV, we came across a great deal on a charter Bus. We have never converted a bus before, but we do know construction. We will have a 1987 MCI 102A3 Bus Convertion on the road by July 1st of this year. There are good deals out there, so take your time. You never know what may come along. All the Best, Michael & Christi Hargis
PS> We are looking forward to Yuma.
It is unfortunate that many people find themselves upside down with their RVs and need to sell. But in hoping to sell for more than the RV is worth they only compound their situation in that as the RV ages, it continues to decline in value. It is a rare event when someone will overpay for a used RV.