Huge Depreciation, Not trade-able

[Concerned tax payer]

We used this camper 4 times, it is all but new. I am tired of the aggravating birdbath sitting in my yard so I spent 2 weekends trying to find a dealer that would trade it for one with a sloping roof, appears they all know about the problems and do not want it as a trade, One dealer was going to trade my 2016 25WAB to a 2017 Jayco with similar MSRP but 1 year newer. $12,000 difference. This camper is still under warranty and has dropped from $30,000 new price to $16,000 average retail. Before you make the same mistake I did look your potential purchase over, crawl under and look at the welds, check the splices on the wiring and see if they used crimp splices that are not sealed, look in the bathroom for a heater vent, get a ladder and look at the roof and see if it has a way for water to run off, check for easy access to the propane tanks and the valves on the water heater, and see if the general fit and finish shows workers pride.

[rockfordroo]

When I store my TT, I crank up the tongue jack so the roof is NOT level; water can run off the rear.

[rsdata]

Seems like you are asking for water intrusion trouble keeping the trailer roof level all year with standing water... drive one side up on a 2 x 10 board and have side to side drainage, or like most everyone does, crank up the front end to have it drain to the rear... or both

and drive it off the lot depreciation is nothing new...

fix the drainage issue before condemning your choice of trailers

[The_Rhino]

Originally Posted by Concerned tax payer

...I spent 2 weekends trying to find a dealer that would trade it for one with a sloping roof, appears they all know about the problems and do not want it as a trade...

IMO they went with a flat roof, no slide-out, etc. to keep the empty weight down so that this toy hauler could be "1/2 ton towable" depending on payload...

EDIT: Just noticed that it has a METAL ROOF so isn't that an upgrade? These remind me of the ones folks sit on at the races...

Dealers don't want too many used RVs on the lot taking away from new sales so they never provide good trade-in values & often sell them ASAP at prices lower the Craigslist, RVTrader, etc. just to get them off the lot...

That said, your best bet is to sell your unit via Craigslist, RVTrader, eBay, this forum, etc. There aren't too many toy haulers that are 1/2 ton towable, so focus on the good qualities when you are trying to sell... If there are any know issues, have them fixed while still under warranty...

[Concerned tax payer]

Buying a new camper, feeling like I was take advantage of for a year, selling it at a 40% loss and settling for a used camper, great advice. THANKS

[Concerned tax payer]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

When I store my TT, I crank up the tongue jack so the roof is NOT level; water can run off the rear.

rockfordroo, you have 5200 posts, you must work for the Factory to post that much? I don't look at this as entry level, it was $30,000.

[Concerned tax payer]

Originally Posted by The_Rhino

IMO they went with a flat roof, no slide-out, etc. to keep the empty weight down so that this toy hauler could be "1/2 ton towable" depending on payload...

EDIT: Just noticed that it has a METAL ROOF so isn't that an upgrade? These remind me of the ones folks sit on at the races...

Dealers don't want too many used RVs on the lot taking away from new sales so they never provide good trade-in values & often sell them ASAP at prices lower the Craigslist, RVTrader, etc. just to get them off the lot...

That said, your best bet is to sell your unit via Craigslist, RVTrader, eBay, this forum, etc. There aren't too many toy haulers that are 1/2 ton towable, so focus on the good qualities when you are trying to sell... If there are any know issues, have them fixed while still under warranty...

This is not a walk on roof, you can bow the roof with one finger. it is not even close to the ones being sat on at races! It was advertised as a seamless roof, when it has close to 100 feet of caulked seam around the perimeter and the roof vents and air conditioner.

[asquared]

Unfortunately all RVs have a serious depreciation issue. Most dealerships will give you an extremely lowball offer. I am in the process of selling my fiver. A local dealership offered me $15k under NADA trade value for a fiver in immaculate condition. Similar issue with my last tt. NADA value means nothing to dealers when trading because they have trouble selling used units so they would rather you not trade. We learned we are way better off taking the time to sell the trailer ourselves on craigslist. We ended up getting $3000 less than we paid for the tt. The fiver was just listed last night so it is too soon to tell.

If you have a lien, you can still sell it yourself, it is just a bit harder. Also make sure you only deal face to face and make sure you do all transactions directly at a bank.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by Concerned tax payer

rockfordroo, you have 5200 posts, you must work for the Factory to post that much? I don't look at this as entry level, it was $30,000.

This forum is not associated with Forest river. We are a separate entity, just a group of members who own, have owned or may want to own a FR product. Some members are factory reps but are here of their own volition. Number of posts have nothing to do with where one works. Members are here to help one another.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Concerned tax payer

rockfordroo, you have 5200 posts, you must work for the Factory to post that much? I don't look at this as entry level, it was $30,000.

rockfordroo has a join date of June 2012 and he has helped others out a lot. Only he knows how long his experience goes back. Many on here have been camping for years before they bought a FR product. I have been camping for 26 years and did not know FRF was here before I bought my 2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS in 2013.

[KFX450RXC]

In 2014, bought my 30WRS new for around $27,500. Put over 8000 miles on it going to many ATV races and it was a great camper. 1.5 years later, sold it for $21,500. I'm good with that.

The metal roof is a plus with this camper. But I keep mine underneath a shelter anyway. They're tough as nails.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Concerned tax payer

Buying a new camper, feeling like I was take advantage of for a year, selling it at a 40% loss and settling for a used camper, great advice. THANKS

We're telling you to KEEP it and store it with a slope so it will drain.
Did you actually buy it hoping to sit on the roof???

Why sell it?
USE it!!

My last 2 trailers had flat roofs that pooled water when the AC was running.
I had no issues and did as others- I stored it with plenty of slope to the rear.

Go camping! Happy Trails!

[DreiHunde]

As others have said...Keep it, store it at an angle of some sort (mine usually stays nose high, just because) and use it!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Concerned tax payer

rockfordroo, you have 5200 posts, you must work for the Factory to post that much? I don't look at this as entry level, it was $30,000.

Don't work for the factory. I average about 3 posts/day. There are a lot members here with 3 times my number of posts.

$30K may not be entry level, but it sure isn't top-of-the-line, either.

Maybe if you had posted the year, manufacturer and model of your RV, someone with the same or similar unit could provide some better advice for you.

Originally Posted by Scrapper

rockfordroo has a join date of June 2012 and he has helped others out a lot. Only he knows how long his experience goes back. Many on here have been camping for years before they bought a FR product. I have been camping for 26 years and did not know FRF was here before I bought my 2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS in 2013.

Thanks for the support, Scrapper.

[Concerned tax payer]

It's a 2016 25WAB Work and Play built by Forest River.

[seagrace]

I'm kind of in agreement with others here, you bought the unit, knowing it had a flat roof, if water pools on it while stored, then crank the stand up enough for that water to run off. Not sure what you are expecting though.

Simple solution, does not require the angry energy here.

[bshort]

First trailer we bought was a small, plain unit. One year later, we decided to upgrade. Trade in was off the table, as the quote was 50% less than what I paid the year prior. Sold it on Craigslist, but it took about 8 months of wading through low balls and trade offers. Sold it at about 4K less than I paid new and was glad to see it go.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Concerned tax payer

We used this camper 4 times, it is all but new. I am tired of the aggravating birdbath sitting in my yard so I spent 2 weekends trying to find a dealer that would trade it for one with a sloping roof, appears they all know about the problems and do not want it as a trade, One dealer was going to trade my 2016 25WAB to a 2017 Jayco with similar MSRP but 1 year newer. $12,000 difference. This camper is still under warranty and has dropped from $30,000 new price to $16,000 average retail. Before you make the same mistake I did look your potential purchase over, crawl under and look at the welds, check the splices on the wiring and see if they used crimp splices that are not sealed, look in the bathroom for a heater vent, get a ladder and look at the roof and see if it has a way for water to run off, check for easy access to the propane tanks and the valves on the water heater, and see if the general fit and finish shows workers pride.

So you checked all this out and still bought a flat roof. Sounds like you may have bought with out totally thinking through about flat roof. Also did you jump into something and after buying it was not big enough trailer. I agree with others just need to raise the front and let water drain and enjoy it and Later RJD

[Dodge Guy]

Storing it with the trailer up or down will not help when you are out using it! That to me is a huge problem that Forest River will deny any water leak concern saying it was never inspected and caulked every 6 months.

[BandJCarm]

You posted a problem. Rockfordroo and many others offered the best suggestions they could think of to help you with a trailer that you chose to buy and now don't like.

I doubt they'll buy it off of you, though.

I guess you can try and make this trailer work and use it, or you can trade/sell it at a loss and get another........but I bet it will have lots of issues too. Just guessing. Everyone here that owns a camper is "upside down" whether they paid cash or owe a ton. They just depreciate that much. It's life.

Or you can get out of the camping business and take up golf or something.

Those are all choices all of us make. But I gotta think it's hard to help someone who doesn't want help.