Buying a 5th wheel (pictures)

[DoughBoy]

Hey all

I'm currently looking at getting my first 5th wheel, nothing special, just affordable. I have one picked out that I like but had a couple questions.

First, I cannot find this trailer on the nada guides so I was hoping some of you could suggest a price that I could offer to the seller (he's asking $6,000). I would need this towed and parked but it is only a 20 mile round trip from where it is, hopefully seller could do that.

The flaws, that I have seen, needs new couch, oven doesn't work but burners do, carpet needs deep cleaning or replacing and needs a new stereo.

I have walked through it and it seems in decent shape, no visible water damage/leaks, plumbing and electric are good, anything else to look at?

Thank you for any help

His ad states:
MOTIVATED TO SELL 1998 Wildwood 37ft 5th wheel, 3 slideouts 3 way over under freezer refrigerator, 2 way hot water heater gas/ electric. A/C full length ceiling duct system.Gas heat full length floor duct system ..Queen size bed with standing head room..toilet / sink &large shower.gas stove/oven.microwave. 3 waste water holding tanks..100 gallon fresh water tank. New wheel bearings,tires only have 1500 miles on them..Tandem axles ..1 spare tire

[SeilerBird]

http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/1998/Wildwood-by-Forest-River/M-37FKSS/4074357/Standard-Equipment

[DoughBoy]

Thanks, I saw that but one part confused me 

RV Type
Travel Trailer

 

[Alfa38User]

tires only have 1500 miles on them

Looks older than a 98 with that siding but....

The mileage on the tires means little. If they are older than 7 years or so they likely need replacing to be safe. Check the date of manufacture imprinted on the tire itself.

Otherwise looks good!!! Planned what truck you are going to use to haul it  yet???

[chaperall lite]

 :)When we were looking for a 5th wheel...we were told to check the roof carefully.....as repairs can be costly... look up inside the top cupboards for any water marks.... maybe it was stored inside?    good luck and good traveling.

[SeilerBird]

Thanks, I saw that but one part confused me 

RV Type
Travel Trailer

 

I think the problem is that he is not describing it properly. Have you seen it in person? From the photo it doesn't look 37 feet to me. The door is two feet wide so it looks to be the 28 foot model.

http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/1998/Wildwood-by-Forest-River/M-27RKSS-SLD/4074370/Standard-Equipment

But to further cloud the issue he says it has three slides and the most that Nada lists for that year is one slide.

[DoughBoy]

Thanks for all the replies! Good advice about inside the top cupboards for water marks

I have seen it in person but didn't think to actually measure it, looked big enough to me

Tires seem to be good, they only need to last another 20 miles. I will pay someone to tow it to the park for me and I will be living in it for as long as i'm working my current job so hopefully it wont be moving for quite some time

I was going to offer $4,500 seeing as how the nada guide lists it in the low-mid $5k range then I can get a new oven/couch for it

[Frizlefrak]

I was going to offer $4,500 seeing as how the nada guide lists it in the low-mid $5k range then I can get a new oven/couch for it

Sounds like a good offer.  The worst he can say is no, and maybe he'll counter offer.  The oven may not need to be replaced, may just be a thermocouple, and they are cheap.  Looks like a decent unit for the money....but like was already mentioned, give the roof a good once over.  If you find anything minor, still could be room for more negotiating. 

[Stonesriver]

I'll bet the "37" was a typo and he meant "27". Something very easy to miss.

After you determine the correct length, you might show him the NADA guide when you counter-offer. On either length, $4,500 is above the average retail and with the stove needing replacement, it's between low and average, anyway. A lot of people set prices on what they think something ought to be worth. I've encountered that too many times to count in the last six months of researching fifth wheels and trucks.

Linda

[COMer]

There should be a tag on the trailer that shows things like the weight and the year of manufacture.  You can check his facts that way and perhaps gather additional negotiating points.