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PLEASE Advise:1995 Coleman Rio Grande

Started by bethbritt, Apr 01, 2008, 06:10 PM

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bethbritt

I know absolutely nothing about buying a camper, so please help me. Is this a good deal? What kind of questions should I ask him? This was just posted today, and I want one so bad that I'm scared I'll buy the first one I go look at.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/626140745.html

Thanks,
Beth

SkipP

Quote from: bethbrittI know absolutely nothing about buying a camper, so please help me. Is this a good deal? What kind of questions should I ask him? This was just posted today, and I want one so bad that I'm scared I'll buy the first one I go look at.
 
http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/626140745.html
 
Thanks,
Beth
We had one of these! Our first pop-up, in fact. This camper was in Coleman/Fleetwood's "Destiny" Series so it has the pull out step and the flip over galley. We really enjoyed ours...the floorplan worked well for four. One thing that was a bit of a pain was the pull out Gaucho bed. It's a sofa by day but can be a bed at night. Only problem is, when it's in the "bed" mode, it's almost impossible to get around. Nothing bad, just an inconvience.
 
The tenting is made of Coleman's "Sunbrella" and is very durable. Take a close look at the lid on the front trunk. It was originally equipped with a plastic "live" hinge that will fail (the hinge was simply a flexible piece of plastic that ran the width of the lid). It can be replaced with an aluminum piano hinge fairly easily. Another potential problem area is the side access door to the front trunk. It can leak and that will cause the trunk flooring to swell. If it goes on too long, it's possible for the flooring in the trunk to rot under the linoleum. One other potential leak point that I'd ask about is the roof. This model has the two-piece aluminum roof and, if the seam isn't maintained, it can leak.
 
The tires are the smaller, fatter ones. I'd ask when the bearings were last serviced. Also, check on the condition of the stabilizers. They are the swing-down, lever type and they can be a bit of a pain if they're rusty. Ours didn't come with brakes so that's probably a non-issue.
 
Best of luck to you!

naganthunter

Quote from: bethbrittI know absolutely nothing about buying a camper, so please help me. Is this a good deal? What kind of questions should I ask him? This was just posted today, and I want one so bad that I'm scared I'll buy the first one I go look at.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/626140745.html

Thanks,
Beth


Beth - welcome to your new addiction.  There's a GREAT resource on this webpage that provides a pretty good checklist on what to look for.

http://www.title-3.com/BuyUsed.htm

They go through a step-by-step inspection that should help a lot.

In addition to those steps listed on this website, I'd also take a good look at the frame to make sure there's no rust or cracked welds.  

Hope this helps!!

NH

WolfPack

Hi and welcome ask him for more pic of the camper. colemen/fleetwood made good camper, set up a time to go and see it and when you go have him set it up that way you can see if the top goes up ok and the bed slid out ok and make sure all the elec works and don't be shy to ask him Q about the camper.

Beer Belly

Check the Tenting material closely...it can be expensive to replace...all other suggestions are good ones also...."$100 Spare Tire" ???...I got a new one with a Rim from the dealer for $56....but that was just before I sold my 1995 Coleman/Fleetwood Chesepeake (in July '07) that was in mint condition for a price you really don't want to know...let's just say EXTREMELY cheap...new camper was on the way.

bethbritt

I called and emailed him the night he posted it, no one answered and I left a message. He just emailed this morning me to say that it sold already. It must have sold within a few hours of him posting it! Well that has taught me a good lesson. I'm going to go ahead and pull the money out of the bank so I can zoom on over and buy me one before someone else does. Do they normally sell that fast?

naganthunter

Quote from: bethbrittI called and emailed him the night he posted it, no one answered and I left a message. He just emailed this morning me to say that it sold already. It must have sold within a few hours of him posting it! Well that has taught me a good lesson. I'm going to go ahead and pull the money out of the bank so I can zoom on over and buy me one before someone else does. Do they normally sell that fast?

When they're a smokin' good deal, you bet they do.  It must have been a nice camper.

SkipP

Quote from: naganthunterWhen they're a smokin' good deal, you bet they do. It must have been a nice camper.
Or it may have been someone who just rolled the dice and bought it without without taking the time to do a little research and ask questions like Beth has.
 
This is the time of year to sell a camper for good reason. More buyers out there!

spicyville1

Quote from: bethbrittI know absolutely nothing about buying a camper, so please help me. Is this a good deal? What kind of questions should I ask him? This was just posted today, and I want one so bad that I'm scared I'll buy the first one I go look at.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/626140745.html

Thanks,
Beth



Keep trying Beth, I will continue sending you ones to look at if I find them, Robert

spicyville1

Quote from: spicyville1Keep trying Beth, I will continue sending you ones to look at if I find them, Robert

I wished DH would go for a little money money. This one would be great one and it is brand new. I know you could might get the price down a little more.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/630063595.html

Not bad for $800.00
http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/629797541.html

$4500 but do not be shy about bargaining with people. This is a nice camper
http://nashville.craigslist.org/rvs/629464209.html

bethbritt

Out  of nowhere, hubby says, "Well if we get a pop-up I'd rather get one with a warranty" Talk about throwing me through a loop...LOL..He says he won't spend more than $8000, so it'll be a basic one. The funny thing is that after talking with ya'll (I'm southern lol) and all my TONS of research, I now want a used one with more space and options. I'm still looking at craigslist about 30 x per day! This search has become an obsession for me.

Also, we found out that because we are military, if we buy a pop-up in KY than we don't have to pay sales tax. We live about 2 minutes from the state line, so that works out wonderful.

My hitch was installed today, so all I need now is my camper.

spicyville1

Quote from: bethbrittOut  of nowhere, hubby says, "Well if we get a pop-up I'd rather get one with a warranty" Talk about throwing me through a loop...LOL..He says he won't spend more than $8000, so it'll be a basic one. The funny thing is that after talking with ya'll (I'm southern lol) and all my TONS of research, I now want a used one with more space and options. I'm still looking at craigslist about 30 x per day! This search has become an obsession for me.

Also, we found out that because we are military, if we buy a pop-up in KY than we don't have to pay sales tax. We live about 2 minutes from the state line, so that works out wonderful.

My hitch was installed today, so all I need now is my camper.


Have you had any luck over the weekend?  :-()  If not :(  keep plugging away. Did you see the 2008 Palomino Pony? I know you cannot wait!  You will get it home ond just to put things into perspective you will have a margarita after you set it up in your driveway :sombraro:   One thing I was going to ask. What is your tow vehicle? Thx Robert

spicyville1

Quote from: bethbrittOut  of nowhere, hubby says, "Well if we get a pop-up I'd rather get one with a warranty" Talk about throwing me through a loop...LOL..He says he won't spend more than $8000, so it'll be a basic one. The funny thing is that after talking with ya'll (I'm southern lol) and all my TONS of research, I now want a used one with more space and options. I'm still looking at craigslist about 30 x per day! This search has become an obsession for me.

Also, we found out that because we are military, if we buy a pop-up in KY than we don't have to pay sales tax. We live about 2 minutes from the state line, so that works out wonderful.

My hitch was installed today, so all I need now is my camper.


If that is the case you might want to check that if you register it in Tennessee, you still may have to pay TN sales tax even though it was purchased in KY.

flyfisherman

Quote from: bethbrittOut  of nowhere, hubby says, "Well if we get a pop-up I'd rather get one with a warranty" Talk about throwing me through a loop...LOL..He says he won't spend more than $8000, so it'll be a basic one. The funny thing is that after talking with ya'll (I'm southern lol) and all my TONS of research, I now want a used one with more space and options. I'm still looking at craigslist about 30 x per day! This search has become an obsession for me.

Also, we found out that because we are military, if we buy a pop-up in KY than we don't have to pay sales tax. We live about 2 minutes from the state line, so that works out wonderful.

My hitch was installed today, so all I need now is my camper.


Here's something to consider ... a brand new 10' box PU (really a Flagstaff), furnance, 3-way frig and all you got to do is add the A/C. Good price for a new unit. And should be an easy tow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200209955835&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010



Fly

bethbritt

The past week has been full of ups and downs. Between eager anticipation and complete frustration, I'm a mess. I have found a 2007 Palomino Yearling 4124 with the shower/cassette potty and all the fixins (except has no AC). Dealer wants $6995 which is below the base value. It was used last summer, and the previous owner traded up a couple weeks ago. The dealer showed it to me and my hubby, and then spent time with me and had me take it down and put it back up! He was really nice, since every other dealer didn't want to bother with all that trouble. He made me do everything by myself, leading me through it all. It was definitely a confidence booster, because I was scared that I wouldn't be able to handle it on my own and now I know I can. As far as the sales tax thing goes, found out that since it is not a motorized vehicle than it doesn't apply. As far as my TV goes, it's a 2006 Nissan Quest. Yes, a minivan, so I'm limited to what I can pull. So after taxes, extended 4-yr bumper to bumper warranty, finance charges, and AC the total comes to right over $10,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as I want it, I would be mad at myself for spending that kind of money on something that is going to depreciate so quickly. We also have excellent credit, just about as good as you can get with our credit scores. The loan guy said he'd finance anything we wanted, and then went as far as to question why we wanted a pop-up! However, even with our credit scores, we can't get an interest rate lower than 11.7%. On the flip side, they will finance as far out as 7 years making our total payment $135 a month. I have a credit card with only 8.9% apr, but if I used it, the payment would be much higher than the $135.The $135 a month isn't bad; it's just more than i wanted to spend every month. Was hoping to keep it at no more than $100.

Do u see my dilemma? Hubby has begrudgingly said okay, lets get it, but I don't know what I should do. What do u think?