Buy a used 2417 or new 2518?

[cire74]

Hey everyone..

I have narrowed my search for a TrailManor to a used 2417 or a new 2518. The used 2014-2015 2417s seem to be going for around $18-20k, which surprised me. Part of me wants to just get a new one since I am financing anyway and the payment wouldn’t be much different at $30k with a decent down payment.

My concern with a new 2518 is that warranty service would be too far from my home (800+ miles each way) and I’ve read about having to take new RVs back one or more times for warranty service and having to leave it for weeks at a time.

I have only owned used RVs before. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Bill]

Where are you located? Eight hundred miles is indeed a long hike.

Presumably if you buy new, you will be buying from a dealer. A good dealer, such as MCD in Massachusetts, will do a very thorough pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before you arrive, and then do another with you when you pick it up. You should plan on spending a couple hours at pickup time. There are number of suggestions and lists of PDI items here on the Forum.

I think you have been reading a lot of scare stories about build problems on motor homes and upright campers coming out of Indiana. (I read Chuck's RVT, too.) They apparently have some truth for those units, though I think the stories may be overhyped. But they do not seem to apply to Trail Manor trailers. I have bought three of them, new, and never had any kind of problem like you are describing.

Another good thing is to plan a two-or-three night stay in a campground near the dealer. This will give you a chance to test everything out at your leisure, and get back to the dealer with questions. If you feel the need, you can even take your trailer back to the dealer if you come to feel the need. But I have much better confidence in TMs than the headlines would have you believe.

Of course you have to remember that if you buy used, you run the risk of unknown or undisclosed problems. And in that case, you have no warranty coverage at all.

We'll be interested in what you decide.

Bill

[cire74]

Thank you Bill. I appreciate the feedback. I miscalculated the hike to the dealer (Prosser in WI and I'm in Central/Southern FL). It is more like 1300 miles one-way.

I wish Trailmanor made 2518s a few years ago so I could search for a used one to buy. Looks like they just started making them again (2019/2020?) I am not thrilled about eating most of the depreciation on a new unit. It looked like they only made the 2417s for a few years (2013-2015?) so there aren't alot out there in the used market.

[cjminear]

Originally Posted by cire74

Thank you Bill. I appreciate the feedback. I miscalculated the hike to the dealer (Prosser in WI and I'm in Central/Southern FL). It is more like 1300 miles one-way.

I wish Trailmanor made 2518s a few years ago so I could search for a used one to buy. Looks like they just started making them again (2019/2020?) I am not thrilled about eating most of the depreciation on a new unit. It looked like they only made the 2417s for a few years (2013-2015?) so there aren't alot out there in the used market.

Have you thought about a 2619 or a 2720 with the collapsible hitch a used one might be easier to find.

[cire74]

Originally Posted by cjminear

Have you thought about a 2619 or a 2720 with the collapsible hitch a used one might be easier to find.

I did but unfortunately they weigh too much. Between the tongue weight and the GVWR, they are just too heavy. I thought the 2619 would have been ok but it appears to weight the same as the 2720.

[cjminear]

Originally Posted by cire74

I did but unfortunately they weigh too much. Between the tongue weight and the GVWR, they are just too heavy. I thought the 2619 would have been ok but it appears to weight the same as the 2720.

Ah that makes sense I added two 12 volt golf cart batteries and they weigh 85 lb a peace so that made my tongue weight even worse. But I'm pulling with the full size GMC pickup so it's not too much of an issue.

[Shane826]

Specialty RV & Marine has a new 2020 2518 they are wholesaling for $25k... But they are in Wyoming.

307-856-4479

[cire74]

Originally Posted by Shane826

Specialty RV & Marine has a new 2020 2518 they are wholesaling for $25k... But they are in Wyoming.

307-856-4479

I appreciate that lead! Thank you. Do dealers negotiate much with new Trailmanors? I called one and tried to work a deal on a 2720 and he was only willing to come down $500 from his asking of $29995. I told him I was looking for the best deal between 3 specific dealers and he said he couldnt go lower because of his costs.

I read that it isnt unheard of to strike deals of 25-35% off of asking price for new RVs, but not sure if this applies to Trailmanors?

[Bill]

30% off original asking price? Or 30% off MSRP? They are not at all the same, of course.

Bill

[cire74]

I meant off of the MSRP. Thanks for the clarification.