Buying Old or New?

Are you getting your money’s worth buying an older model camper, or should you ‘bite the bullet’ and get a new one?

(the writing on the side of this camper reads: “We got our money’s worth”)

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.