Tips on buying an RV

Best Place to Buy a Fuse

• Your local Winnebago dealer.  Though maybe not the cheapest approach, it might be the best approach for service and support after the sale (or not depending on the dealer).  It is always best to get competing quotes for a purchase this large.  It is also good to read the reviews on all of the dealers to see how their followup is after the sale.  If you are looking for the least expensive price on a new Fuse try the dealers below:
• Lewis RV in Dayton, Ohio. -  Good Reviews and low cost - $198.50 all inclusive fees
• Lichtsinn RV in  Forest City, Iowa - Good reviews and closest dealer to the factory
• Lazy Days in Tampa,  FL, Tucson, AZ & Loveland, CO - Large volume dealer

How much should I pay for a new motorhome ?

My banker gave me the following advice I will pass along.  This was advise from early 2015.  He is a motorhome person and has owned many motorhomes in the past:

• This advise is for Winnebago motorhomes.  Different brands have different markups.  He was very explicit about this.
• His suggestion was negotiate a discount off of list price.  
• Have your financing worked out in advance and shop that as well.  Sometimes the dealer may have a better financing worked out than your bank and sometimes they don't.  Definitely go in there with a strong hand and ready to buy.
• Remember that the dealer wants to make the sale as much as you want buy the motorhome.  
• If you don't make a deal, don't feel bad.  They are making more motorhomes every day.  There are plenty of people selling them.  If they don't have what you want, Winnebago will make you one.   This is not like land where they are not making any more.
• Start the process by asking for a 33% discount knowing you are lowballing them.  Expect a counter.
• Offer 30% off and if it has been sitting and they are trying to get rid of it, they will call you back in a few days to do the deal.   
• Offer 27% off  and if it is a normal unit, they will call you back in a day or so to do the deal.  
• Offer 25% off and they will pretend cry but do the deal without letting you leave the office.   
• Anything less than 25% and they should be jumping over the table to get you to sign.    
• He said the dealers price on the units from Winnebago is 26-27% off before any holdbacks/sales incentives/etc.   The dealers real cost is about 30-33% off list on a normal unit once incentives are taken into account.     
• He said just like with cars, if it is a hot unit they will hold back to see if they could find a fatter fish to sell it to.  If it is slow moving or last years model then you might be able to get even a better discount.
• I have read of some people getting up to 40% off list for last years models of poor selling motorhomes.  That is probably a very rare case for a Winnebago but might be true for a lower quality brand.
• I confirmed his advise when I talked to a dealer about a Winnebago View and the dealer offered to order whatever I wanted for 27% off list.  I never got to brass tacks with this dealer, but it seemed to confirm what he told me.
• My Fuse was the first one on the dealers lot (a hot unit) and my first motorhome purchase ever.  I just started with a 25% off offer and they took it with no haggling. To be honest, if they had not taken it I would have walked.  I probably could have done better but I don't like haggling.  More confirmation of what my banker told me.

Insurance for my Motorhome

Shop multiple companies and agents.  In my case I got a quote from my normal auto/home insurance agent and it was 2-3x the cost of what I purchased.  I actually purchased insurance from the dealer since their quote from a name brand company was the best offer I got.