Mocoondo
Chicago, IL
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510dogmom wrote:I really don't trust sales people and I wonder if I was ripped off. I have been asking for repairs on specific items since I purchased my CA 23A last month. I had it checked over and found that several maintenance items needed to be done...new brakes, new shocks, steering stabilizer, and other stuff. It totals to around $2000. CA refuses to pay for any of it since it is maintenance. Are they getting away with this? I feel like I've been manipulated and I need a reality check if they are responsible for this or if I am.
When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.
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bghouse
Washington
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Newbie here and first up - thanks for such an awesome thread. I made sure to read all 75 pages first before posting my question and made so many notes of all the tips.
I know you'll need a little context before I ask my questions. I plan to full time in my RV. I will eventually travel coast to coast, but my heart lies in the Northwest and Southwest - very snowbird like. I don't need TV, but I do need to be able to run my computer gear (web developer and writer) as I'm still working on the road. I prefer the smaller 25' rig, so the 23A from Cruise America or something 25-ish from El Monte. I want to enjoy the driving, so good handling is important (and something I end up paying if wasn't there i guess). Safety also for me is a priority. I will not be towing a car at this point, although possible a scooter or electric bike on the back - or simply driving my rig into town. While I am willing to learn on this new adventure, I currently have limited knowledge and abilities for DIY, so I will need to pay to have upgrades and fixes done.
With that out of the way - here's my questions...
1.) With the CA 23A, am I able to add a backup camera easily? Am I limited to just a wireless one?
2.) Can automatic leveling be adding to a coach that doesn't have them already?
3.) Is there room in the CA 23A to add in an inverter and additional batteries / solar? (please feel free to point me to another thread as I know this isn't about solar - lol)
4.) I understand that the units at El Monte might have more of these features already, as they are more production line models - but there is barely any inventory showing on the site. Is there a certain time of year that I would find more inventory at El Monte?
5.) When buying from CA or El Monte, what are my options for getting service and/or parts upgrades, new things like a backup camera added, etc.? Do I have to go to just their rental facilities?
I don't want to go to long on this post, and thank you in advance for your replies :-)
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IAMICHABOD
Sunny So Cal
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bghouse,welcome to the Forum.
I can only answer some of your Questions but I hope that it will help.
#4 El Monte sometimes is really slow in putting up new inventory up on their website.
Usually El Monte have sales at the end of the season around Sept and more inventory.
There are 2 people that will be more than happy to help you out with any questions that you have on inventory and what you may be looking for.
Darylin Fragoso here on the west coast can be reached @ 562-404-9300 or 888-266-0189.
Mike Dwan @562-483-4949 is the National Sales Manager he can help you to find anything,both nice people ,I have contacted them both for answers related to this thread.
El Monte service centers can add anything needed,like upgrades or additions,or things that may need fixing at time of sale of afterwards. They are very good at it and stand behind their Rvs after the sale.
I believe that there others on the thread that have installed backup cameras,they may be along soon so keep checking back.
Good Luck in your Quest for that RV that will suit your needs.
2006 TIOGA 26Q CHEVY 6.0 WORKHORSE VORTEC
Former El Monte RV Rental
Retired Teamster Local 692
Buying A Rental Class C
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bghouse
Washington
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Thank you IAMICHABOD. September sounds like just about the right time, as my rental here in Baja will be up. Just need to figure out my fall / winter plans so I know I have a place to go. Still very much a newbie, so want to take it slow and be around people in case I run into trouble.
(I watched that movie RV with Robin Williams last night - hit every last one of my fears and I laughed until i cried)
I'll definitely put those numbers in my notebook right now. And thanks SO MUCH for this thread - it totally unblocked me, as my mind was just having such a hard time with prices I was seeing on other used rigs. This gave me the confidence to consider ex-rentals and higher mileage.
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bghouse
Washington
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One more question - is there anywhere online to find the detailed specs for some of these models that are specifically made for rentals? I'm not finding a lot of details on Cruise America or El Monte sites....
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510dogmom
California
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Mocoondo wrote:510dogmom wrote:I really don't trust sales people and I wonder if I was ripped off. I have been asking for repairs on specific items since I purchased my CA 23A last month. I had it checked over and found that several maintenance items needed to be done...new brakes, new shocks, steering stabilizer, and other stuff. It totals to around $2000. CA refuses to pay for any of it since it is maintenance. Are they getting away with this? I feel like I've been manipulated and I need a reality check if they are responsible for this or if I am.
When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.
From your history, I see that you work for CA, so I take your information with a grain of salt.
I would hope that CA would replace these items during the time they check over the systems prior to selling them. It is bad form to say the rig is ready for sale when so much needs repair. Also, the promise to repair items that are found problematic during the first 30 days is bogus. Does CA really want that negative reputation?
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Photomike
Southern Alberta or where the camper is parked!
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Mocoondo wrote:When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.
I agree with what you say about the used part BUT CA advertises reconditioned and I can assure you mine was not reconditioned!!!! In fact as I was signing I asked the sales person "Do the dishes come with the RV" and he said no they are taken out when we clean them for sale. WELL they were still in my unit!!! Plus a few other things that should have been looked after were not. He said the same thing, which must be a BS line from the company "If you find anything in the first month just call" well you can call but there ain't no one returning calls. Took me six months to get an extra set of keys that I was told I would have in a month then only one key worked of three.
If that is how CA wants to run it, like you mentioned above, they should clearly say it "These are used, buyer beware!!".
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IAMICHABOD
Sunny So Cal
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bghouse wrote:One more question - is there anywhere online to find the detailed specs for some of these models that are specifically made for rentals? I'm not finding a lot of details on Cruise America or El Monte sites....
Specs for Cruse America Majestic is hard to come by,they are purpose built,and as such and the only specs is what they put out.
On the other hand El Monte RVs are production models and their specs are easily found from the MFG.
Example: El Monte 2011 Tioga Ranger 25 G
Tioga Brochure PDF is a bit small but you can zoom it up.
This goes for most of the El Monte Fleet,all production models.They are ordered from the MFG in lots so they are all the same.
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bghouse
Washington
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Thanks IAMICHABOD - yeah, it makes me super curious about the CA ones lol
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Mocoondo
Chicago, IL
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510dogmom wrote:Mocoondo wrote:510dogmom wrote:I really don't trust sales people and I wonder if I was ripped off. I have been asking for repairs on specific items since I purchased my CA 23A last month. I had it checked over and found that several maintenance items needed to be done...new brakes, new shocks, steering stabilizer, and other stuff. It totals to around $2000. CA refuses to pay for any of it since it is maintenance. Are they getting away with this? I feel like I've been manipulated and I need a reality check if they are responsible for this or if I am.
When you buy used, everything on the motorhome is used. If you want one with all new components, then you have to buy new. They have a hundred or more 23A's for sale. You could have always picked one with less miles and therefore less wear on the above listed components.
From your history, I see that you work for CA, so I take your information with a grain of salt.
I would hope that CA would replace these items during the time they check over the systems prior to selling them. It is bad form to say the rig is ready for sale when so much needs repair. Also, the promise to repair items that are found problematic during the first 30 days is bogus. Does CA really want that negative reputation?
I am sure you and everyone else would want every component replaced new. Who wouldn't want everything new for the same price as used? "Reconditioned" means "overhaul, rebuild or restore", not "replace". If you buy a motorhome with 100,000 miles on it, assume everything has 100,000 miles on it. To assume otherwise is foolish.
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