samven1

Hedgesville, WV usa

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El Monte also has a dealer in Florida but if you need to go to LA anyway Texas may be more convenient. I called about several El Monte rentals and the mileage was in the 80K-90K range but they were newer units at the higher price points, I am sure you would not have any trouble finding one in the low 100k range.
I did notice that the selection is better at the end of the year, my guess is the new ones are coming in and they start putting the used ones up for sale.
Just be ready to pull the trigger when you find the one you want, if its in particularly good shape and a popular style they will sell right out from under you.
Sam
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Mich F

Plantation, Fl

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I've seen ElMonte advertising 2013 and 2014 motor homes for sale.
they must be relatively low mileage units.
I just went on their site again and found 2015s for sale. I assume these are real low mileage. I know I've also seen these or similar models selling brand new for this price.
El Monte RV sales
* This post was
edited 04/21/15 05:38pm by Mich F *
2014 Itasca Spirit 31K Class C
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OutdoorPhotographer

Arizona

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Thanks all. Family in FL too so more options. I'm looking at 9-12 month timeframe before I'm ready to buy so researching now. By the time I'm ready to purchase, I'll know what I need to know to pull the trigger quickly. Among other things, getting myself on the waitlist for a storage spot.
2008 Rockwood Signature Ultralite 5th Wheel
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jonthebru

Maui

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My first post after reading this thread for a year or 2. Several questions, but I'll start with: The CruiseAmerica RVs are stripped down versions. Electrically and plumbing wise they are simplified for unfamiliar users. For anyone who has bought one of these, how easy is it to improve for example the electrical functions, to add more receptacles or a higher rated inverter or converter? In other words, when they ran the wires in construction, did they skimp on things?
Same with other aspects of the house part of the RV if anyone has anything to add.
The real reason I would consider a used rental was to get beyond the V10 spark plug problem that was fixed in 2005 (RV models from 2006).
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w3ozwizard

Lacey, Washington

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After looking at so many used class C motorhomes over the past 6 months I finally decided and will pick up a used one from CA on Friday this week. I may be crazy but this particular motorhome looks like it has just rolled off the assemble line. My wife and I spent two days checking everything we could. In the inside, try as hard as we could, we could only find a small ding on the dresser next to the bed, a small cut on the floor which you had to look very close to find, and part of the trim around the dinette had a screw pulled lose. After telling the people there about this things they fixed them for us. I went under and over the rig. There was no instance of any bushing or bearing leaks. The seals on the engine and transmission were clean and tight. The pan and block looked like a brand new engine. The bolts in the pan and motor mounts were brand new. To me it looked like a new engine block.I have done several engine replacements myself. I plugged in my analyzer and their were no reported failures reported by the computer. The rig started right up and ran smooth and strong. No smoke or missing and no blow-by. I could find no rust and tested to make sure I could not find any place on the frame where there were welds of flaws at all. The tires were replaced this year according to CarFax and the DOT code said they were manufactured in 2012 and they appeared to be in great shape.
NOW here is my point. We spent 2 days,drove almost 200 miles each day and spent at least 8 hours total going over the rig as closely and thoroughly as we could. It looked to us that the re-manufacturing process they do down there in Arizona does in fact bring those MHs back to as close to new condition as can be done. Now is that going to guarantee that we will not have problems with it? Of course not. But comparing this re-done rig at $26,000 against many other rigs on other lots for as much as $39,000 with mileage of over 60K, it was an easy choice for me. It is just more cost effective to buy this one and put what ever I have to in it for the next few years than buy one from a private person or lot where it may have been washed up some but not much else has been done to it. So it comes down to mileage vs price per mile and the winner was the CA former rental Majestic for me.
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ironwood6058

Harrisburg NC

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Congratulations w3oz!!!!
We purchased our Majestic, named Harvey the RV, in 2012 and have had a wonderful experience. Hope you enjoy your rig as much as we've enjoyed ours.
2006 Four Winds Majestic 28A
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OutdoorPhotographer

Arizona

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Congrats!
Post a few updates in this thread as you go. I'm a few years away but strongly leaning to purchasing a rental and this thread has been invaluable. I'm going to El Monte's FL sales lot this summer while I'm in the area to check them out and intend to rent for my longer trips the next couple years. Renting gives me a larger option than my PUP and helps me explore different models.
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BoxinTheCompass

Florida

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Thanks w3ozwizard for the update! Sounds promising in the next year or so! Keep us posted on your travels
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KristinU

Connecticut

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Congratulations and happy trails, W3ozwizard!
Cheers!
Kristin
2008 Winnebago Chalet 31C
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w3ozwizard

Lacey, Washington

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Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I am not one who is easily convinced on anything. So if it does not work out well OR does, I will be posting here and other places to update you all. If this had not worked out I was in contact with El Monte and would have gone down there to look some over, but because I wanted to do a very detailed inspection it would have meant spending many days there and the associated costs involved. But the folks there seemed very accommodating and they had a big selection so I am sure I could have found something appropriate. But really folks in looking at the local RV lots here in my area and listing by private sellers, most were way over priced and in not anywhere near as good a shape as the one I found at CA. By the way have you seen the re-manufacturing facility for CA in Arizona? It is a mammoth place, kind of looks like a Boeing assembly plant. Thanks for the good wishes again.
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