How far did you go?

[gocarp]

How far did you travel to pick up your first camper? I have what I feel is a great deal on a 26bh in front of me, but I will need to travel about 600 miles (9hrs) one way to get it. I've never pulled anything other than a 5'x10' landscaping trailer and I'm worried that my trip back with the camper will be challenging one. Trying to weigh how much of a pain it will be to go get it into the cost. Driving this far will save me about $3000.

[Jmooney]

Go for it. Book a couple sites on the turn trip

[Jmooney]

The only down side is if you can't find a local dealer to service it for you if needed

[Country_Mouse]

Luckily I found ours locally. Just keep in mind that the return trip you'll be driving slower with a trailer so add on that additional time. Agree with above, grab a site one night.

[Gunnar]

We bought our first trailer years ago while living in Hinton AB. There was one dealer on the way to Edmonton. Once in Edmonton there were a few. I thought somewhere there we would find something. Many stops in between and we finally ended up in Calgary. Our route put on over 600 kms one way.

[need-a-vacation]

Is this a new trailer? If no other dealer closer will even meet you somewhere in the middle, or even cheaper than 1/2, go for it!!! Hard part is going through the trailer before signing the papers, and having time for repairs if needed before heading home.

Make sure the tire pressure is good to go (including the spare tire!!!), lug nuts are torqued properly, wdh adjusted, and the brake controller adjusted. Take the right equipment to be able to replace a tire in the even you get a flat. Jack, some boards for the jack (to raise the jack if needed), socket/ ratchet/ torque wrench, etc.

As for towing a larger trailer, just remember that stopping distance is increased, and when turning do not cut the corner!!! The longer the trailer, the further you need to go into the intersection before turning so the trailer doesn't clip the car waiting to turn/ or possibly the median. Check your mirrors as you are making turns to make sure you won't clip anything with the trailer. Take your time and you will be fine!

Good luck!!!

[Bassdogs]

Forget worrying about dealer service. In this day and age, people move all the time and dealers have a real hard time trying to tell someone who moved from Indiana to Ky that they won't service that trailer they brought down with them. My experience with a local dealer [who quoted me a higher price and lost the sale] was great when I took my W Hawk in for final warrantee service on the TT I drove 450 miles one way to buy for thousands less.

Go easy on the drive back, pay attention at the pickup [do your homework], and if possible take a veteran RV owner with you on the trip.

[Levinehikeski]

If a dealership won't work on a vehicle that wasn't bought there, they won't ever get my money. Besides, as with cars, isn't service (and used models)where all the money is?

Btw, I drove roughly 170 miles round trip to pick up mine

[Fairenatic]

I traveled 1200 miles one way to Middlebury, Indiana.

Saved about $5000, spend about $1000 in hotels and fuel.

But, I got to take a mini vacation and really enjoyed the few nights in the TT on the way back. No reservations. Just stopped at ones I found along the way.

Was worth every penny\mile. I would do it again.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Levinehikeski

If a dealership won't work on a vehicle that wasn't bought there, they won't ever get my money. Besides, as with cars, isn't service (and used models)where all the money is?

Btw, I drove roughly 170 miles round trip to pick up mine

Dealers don't make any money on warranty service. They are lucky to break even.

[Jhowemca]

I had mine shipped on u-ship 850 miles for $900.
I saved way more than that by buying in IA so it was worth it for me.

[Bassdogs]

Like I said before don't fret the dealer service thing. I have owned 2 TT's and 3 pop-ups over a 25 year span and have had them to a dealer [all of them combined] 4 times. The TT's made one trip each for warrantee stuff before they went off warrantee. Beyond warrantee periods there is really no need to seek out a Jayco dealer to fix an A/C or fridge or brakes etc as all of the manufacturers pretty much use the same stuff.

[Aero_Dave]

Well, I'll be doing a 1800 mile round-trip to save money. Leaving this Thursday, can't wait! Wife & I will have a little get-away, spend 2 nights camping in the new 5'ver on the way home. I'd say it should be a really nice weekend for us!

Dave...

[Fairenatic]

Originally Posted by Aero_Dave

Well, I'll be doing a 1800 mile round-trip to save money. Leaving this Thursday, can't wait! Wife & I will have a little get-away, spend 2 nights camping in the new 5'ver on the way home. I'd say it should be a really nice weekend for us!

Dave...

Hope you are well prepared to conduct your PDI. Good luck.

[MzLiz]

Aero_Dave - please let us know when you get home with your new "Madame" how the trip went. That is a nice 5th wheel you bought!

[Gone campin]

Originally Posted by norty1

Dealers don't make any money on warranty service. They are lucky to break even.

That is true, but if that is how they look at it, they are very short-sighted... the relationship they build will keep the person coming back after the warranty runs out...

[Edd505]

600 miles for 3K? When do we go? Take a short vacation and enjoy the new 5W on the way home, you will find out how things work. The 3k will buy lots of stuff. Make a short list of things you will need, water hose, sewer hose & fittings, wheel chocks. Wally World has many necessities for an RV and the dealer will have more. Stock up before picking up the 5W as dealer prices will be more than Wally. Enjoy the trip!

[RedHorse1]

We travelled roughly 1000 mi one way to pick up our first TT (X23B) which was Houston to Orlando. The second was a 5er which we bought in the Dallas area (~250 mi one way).
We used the first trip as a mini vacation like "Faire" and enjoyed ourselves on the return but I was white-knuckled a couple of times (construction on I-12 that bypasses New Orleans and pouring rain) since it was my 1st time pulling a travel trailer (a massive 24' ). When we picked up the 5er we roared to Dallas, did our PDI and spent the night locally and headed back to Houston the next day.

[SMS1115]

Bought ours used, so 12 miles was the extent of our pick up trip. Next one, we will have to see where the best deal is and go from there.

[us71na]

Originally Posted by Aero_Dave

Well, I'll be doing a 1800 mile round-trip to save money.

I would make the first stop close to where you pick it up. That way if you have any problems you can go right back and have the dealer fix them.

We drove 250 miles one way to buy our trailer for two reasons. First the local dealer had one, but said it was sold and he didn't plan to get any more of that model in. Second we got a better price by several thousand dollars than the local dealer offered.

When out trailer did need warranty work, the local dealer had to take care of it as he had a Jayco shingle hanging out front. Your warranty is from Jayco, not the dealer.