The local dealers around here are having a rv show at the local mall. There are all sorts of rv and travel trailers featuring all vendors new and used.

My question is one dealer has a used 2009 Carriage Cari-lite36XTRM5 for $54K. I can go and get a brand new 2015 Palomino Columbus F340RK <table class="ItemListRow" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> </tr></tbody></table>for around the same money give or take a couple of pennies.

Is Carriage that much better of builder for 6 year old 5th wheel to command such a price. There are several Carriages in the 2007 range that the dealers are asking upper $40k-$50k?

Your thoughts? Am i not comparing apples to apples?

 

No you are not. Carriage was a premium manufacturer now out of business, but genuinely high end. As to whether it is worth it to you is your call.

 

Being you are in the industry, with you knowing what you do, which would you buy?

 

To answer that I would have to see the actual unit and go through it. I also would have to know the selling and not the asking price. With a new unit, you have a warranty, which you would not have with a used unit, although you could likely purchase a warranty with the Carriage. This situation is somewhat like trying to decide between a used Lexus or a new Camry.

I tend to gravitate towards high-end units used such as Excel, Mobile Suites, Hitchhiker, and so forth as the parts you can't see are often better constructed as are the materials they use, but new less expensive units are perfectly serviceable. The condition of the Carriage in this case is also extremely important. Something that has been abused or not maintained is not worth purchasing regardless.

In the end, you really should purchase the unit you like the best as buying something you don't really want is always a mistake. Sorry I can't be more help.

Steve

 

Seems a bit high to me.

 

Seems high too me. For $54k that'll get a nice new but certainly not the quality.

Also what are the weights of it? Maybe a little heavy for your 250? Just sayin'.

 

I guess I am not clear as to whether the price posted is the asking or selling and there can be a huge difference. Prices are always very fluid and depend on a load of things, but basically boil down to supply and demand. To find out how much less you can pay, float an offer and see. And again, if something has not been maintained, it is not a good deal no matter what the price.

And yeah, the Carriages are likely heavier than the comparison in this case. and you absolutely can pay a lot less than 54K and get something that is nice, will last along time, and you will enjoy.

 

The prices were listed show prices. The real question is if people would pay a hirer price for a quality used unit versus a new unit.

Was trying to find a new unit that I thought may be comparable to the Carriage. Would not of posed the question comparing to a Shasta.

With the Carriage not being manufactured any more, how is it to get parts?

 

There are some aftermarket places that you can get stuff from


A quick search of the internet should help.


Also many of the items like stoves/refrig/heater and such are used in multiple trailers.

 

Understood. You just have to get way up the price point to get comparable build quality. Do people pay more for classics? For sure, just as with Air Streams, etc. RVs are just like Ford trucks in that regards. That is part of what makes the asking price so high. Is some of that illusory? Absolutely!!

Show prices don't mean squat. You can buy the same unit at the same or lower price next week on the lot. Show price is just hype to get buyers.

In terms of parts, other than specific body parts, RV manufacturers are just assemblers. It is how heavy the axles are or the size of the tires. Here's an example, a couple of years ago I had to replace the air conditioner on an Excel. Now when you pull the AC unit you see there is about six inches of block insulation in the ceiling. It's built like a darn tank. All high-end fixtures, etc. You have to use a thick roof kit to install the air conditioner. You will not see that in about 99% of the RVs out there.

It is things like that that you can't see that carried Carriage's reputation for so many years. When the 08 recession hit, lots of manufacturers went out of business, they were one of them.

Now if you want Carriage quality, you are going to have to go a good ways up in price of a new unit, but again what is the condition of the Carriage, what do you actually have to pay, and if you had high-end quality how would it benefit you? For the vast majority of owners, it would not do a thing for their enjoyment. There isn't a good or bad choice here.

We do not currently have a high-end unit. We have a very basic unit and are having a ball. We have had extremely high-end units and those were fun too. I will tell you this, if you buy high-end used that is more than five years old and pay too much, you will get hosed when you go to sell or trade. New and shiny has a lot more buyers than old and classic.

Steve

 

They all can leak. Even Airstreams and their particle board floors rot out like the rest of them. Check for water damage in the corners inside. We've driven many miles to look at high end units that looked great in the pictures but turned out to be neglected and suffering soft walls and delamination outside. I've grown to prefer more affordable units and trade every 6~ years. Our next trailer will be back to wood frame and aluminum sides. Likely a good ol' Jayco Jayflight.

 

http://www.oconnorrv.com/brochures/c...rilite_bro.pdf

You probably found the brochure for the carriage but if not here you go. The carrilite's are heavier and a dually will be in order. I'm on my second carriage (2005 and now 2010)product that I just purchased for fultiming and couldn't be happier with the product, it's not perfect but when your pulling these things down the road things will have to be looked after.

Also are you looking for a rig to live in or just weekend worrier in.

Good luck on finding the right RV to fit your needs.

 

I purchased a used 2007 Carriage C-Force 39SV1 fifth wheel in January because of the quality and the price. I am in the Toronto area and although this trailer was listed on the NADA guide in the $40K - $50K range the dealer already had it down to $35K Canadian. It appeared to have been on their lot for a couple of years at least but the build quality inside was far superior to anything else we had looked at on their lot or at the Toronto RV show. I offered them $30K for the trailer and we met at $31K with them agreeing that all systems would be working when I picked the unit up. In addition for $2,000 more I purchased an extended warranty which covers all systems for four years which I think is better coverage than you get with a new trailer.


Our budget was $40K or less and we looked at trailers as high as $80K that still were not as well made in our opinion as the Carriage. There were some things about the C-Force that are a not equivalent to modern trailers such as the toilet area being separate from the rest of the bathroom. Newer trailers seem to be putting all of the bathroom fixtures in the same room.


We wanted a toy hauler and ours has that as well as all the options like the dual fuel tanks (generator and toys), built in 5500 watt Onan generator and all the optional stainless steel cabinets and the sink. However all new toy haulers have benches and/or beds that can lower electrically from the ceiling but our trailer does not have that. Our garage also has no heating or cooling as it is not tied into the HVAC system. I paid the dealer a few hundred dollars and they extended the A/C trunk duct into the garage and if I need heat back there I'll install a low wattage electric heater and leave the door to the rest of the coach open.


So we gave up a few things in going with an older used unit but for us the quality was more important and we thought it was a great price for a well made unit that met all of our needs - even if we didn't get a few "wants". The other thing that really sold us on the Carriage was the lighter colours on the interior. So many of the newer units are very dark inside and we did not like that at all.


There is still a Carriage Travel Club in operation if you want to send a few questions about the trailer you are considering to them. I found them very helpful when I was researching purchasing our unit.


Good luck with your purchase.

 

Congrats on your trailer, it's shame that so many of the quality builders have gone the way of the Condor. I'm guessing your talking of this site Carriage Lifestyle Owners Club & Forum ? Portal

Lot's of good info there and on Yahoo groups but i think the Yahoo one is harder to navigate for info.

 

Have fun with your "new to you" RV. They all are fun. Everyone remember, you can not simply buy by brand. How something is maintained is very important. Carriage is a good brand, but not all Carriages are worth buying.

Also research extended warranties carefully before writing the check. Dealers flock to them because the profit margin is significant and not all dealers, service centers, and technicians will accept them. As with anything, Caveat emptor.

Steve