Camper Buyer’s Checklist
Whether buying your first camper, upgrading or just thinking about it, the Camper Purchase Checklist will help clarify your thoughts and prevent you from missing the most important considerations in the decision making process. If you experienced difficulty downloading your Checklist kit after payment, please send me a message via the Contact page.
The Camper Purchase Checklist is a complete camper buyer’s tool-kit containing:
- The BIG list of important items you need to check when buying a camper
- Bill of Sale agreement to secure your interests as a buyer
- Cost Calculator for you to assess the expense of buying the camper (bonus #1)
- Research form for recording all the necessary information from your dealings with a seller
- Additional instructions about things to check when buying
- Inquiry register to record and keep track of campers you have enquired about
- Plus 2 bonus document lists for your use
For those who are using the Camper Purchase Checklist, share your comments, tell readers about your buying experience.
WARNING: Self proclaimed “Experts” will find no value in this material.
Members: Click Here to watch a video about what to check when buying.
Tags: Buying a camper, buying a campervan caravan campertrailer, campervan buyers list, jayco camper trailer, jayco dove hawk eagle swan explorer flamingo, jayco outback, prepurchase checklist
Buying a camper, new products | Davo 24/09/2009
5 Comments to “Camper Buyer’s Checklist”
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By Davo admin, 23/09/2009 @ 7:39 pm
Hi, tell us about your camper buying experience, did you work a great deal?.
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By K&C Smiley, 12/10/2009 @ 11:10 am
Hi Steve. Great result today! We picked up a fully sic 4 berth Explorer c/van for $3000 less than it should have been. Kyle & Cindy
By Muzzo, 14/10/2009 @ 8:37 am
We bought an older Jayco Swan (2004) in perfect condition, seller had added trigg hitch, drop jacks, annexe and kitchen awning, for a great deal just a bit over $15K. Thanks for the email newsletter tips and the checklist tools. Without them we would be still scratching our head trying to spot the best deal. Stoked!
By Ann & Colin, 30/01/2010 @ 9:26 am
Hi there, I’ve just purchased your product, but I lost the webpage with the other checklists. Can you please email me the rest of the pdfs? It looks like a good product, thank you.
Also, do you know of any site where I can find the specs of earlier models of Jayco popup campers? It seems they get heavier as they get newer and we are interested in purchasing a lighter model.
thanks
Ann and Colin
By Davo, 30/01/2010 @ 11:05 am
Hey Ann & colin; thanks for your question. Regarding older Jayco’s being lighter, well here are my thoughts on the topic if it helps. I understand you are considering the purchase of an older model but haven’t commited to this yet, in which case there is a fair bit of looking around before you make up your mind one way or the other. I find the checklist is ideal for this process and that is how it should be used, since comparing one camper to the next can be a little daunting, with a guide like the Camper Purchase Checklist you’ll quickly become an expert on features, condition and suitability.
Forgive me if this sounds like a sales pitch, however some of the issues you need to consider with older campers are these:
1. 50% or more of the camper is canvas and age will cause deterioration, especially when stored outside. Additionally, the later models have improved quality in most areas including fabrics resistant to UV rays and extreme outdoor exposure in our climate.
2. Jayco, Goldstream and other quality Australian made campers have to be made robust enough to last the years of punishment, weight is also critical and something Im sure they aim to keep to a minimum. They also use the faults and failings of the older models to make improvements to the new models. New materials and new equipment, including improved strengthening is likely to add a small amout of weight, but not so much that it should deter you from buying a later model.
3. As a general rule, older model campers will fall into 3 broad categories of use: 1. Well used 2. Moderately used , and 3. Rarely used. When inspecting you can usually determine their condition visually, then by asking the seller how much use they have put it to, they will give you a cross referrence to visual condition. This is a basic step towards the pending negotiations, but remember even a “Rarely Used” camper that is more than say 6 years old will have things that need fixing. For example, common things to watch for are eyelets, pumps, electical items, awning poles, tears in the canvas. There is also the cables that hold the roof up; they may be rusted and on their last legs. (has it been stored near the ocean?) People I met at a campsite recently told the story of their roof colapsing on them because the cables broke. The Jayco was a 2002 model and had roof racks – a sure indication the cables and pulleys have been stressed, the camper was owned since new, but they had a preference for beachfront locations, as we often do!
4. When you add it all up, the extra cost you need to factor in could make the camper overpriced in the market.
5. Resale value of an older camper will usually decrease faster after the first or second year of ownership. This means that if you buy say a rarely used 2000 model camper for a price consistent with reasonable market value, its unlikely to change much over the course of a year, but after another year of age it no longer is a 10 year old camper it’s an 11 year old camper. Something to be mindful of.
Should you consider a late model camper, you will immediately overcome many of these issues mentioned above. I’m not suggesting buying a new camper, however if you use the Checklist and read the information in this article, you will increase your chances of getting the best deal possible and avoid losing money longer term. I recommend a lot of looking and even visit a Jayco sales yard (don’t get caught by the hard sell) and view the features of the new campers. Not much has changed since 2007 & 2008 and stats show people use their campers just 4 times a year. This is why there are so many opportunities to get a used late model camper in good condition. Much of the information you need can be found here on the website, if you find some great information we don’t have, please post about it here.
Thanks for your purchase of the Camper Purchase Checklist, I wish you great success with your iminent purchase.
Davo.