Cross country move: RV Buy/Sell advice wanted

Military PCS from DC to Sacramento this summer. Only car is '15 GTI. Wife, two kids, old cat (who, for better or worse, is going to live forever). Cruise America wants $5400 for a cross country one way. I have the cash to buy up to a $20k motorhome and sell the other end. We need to sleep four.

Is this a dumb idea? If not, any preferred brands? We'll be leaving early July, so I thought we'd buy in early June, and sell in August. I would prefer not to take it in the shorts on this, but recognize that risk.

I know nothing about these things, and would not intend to keep it, but for the cross country, it would certainly make things more comfortable. We're happy camping, and taking it easy- no real plans for city visits during the trip.

Like: is this a bad idea: http://smd.craigslist.org/rvs/4955976267.html

Or this: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/rvs/4966045114.html

RVs don't really haul much outside of clothes and personal belonging. Not furniture or anything. Are you shipping that stuff separate? Shipping the car or towing?

Why would this be better than a used F15ilveRamo or a 4Runner/Tahoe and a box trailer? Stay in hotels or tent camp across the country. Or get a pull behind camper. For one thing, they'd be safer (small risk of getting hit, but still there). Another, they (trailer+truck/SUV) would be much easier to sell. Additionally, at the end of the trip, if you can't sell it, you have a usable vehicle.

Kinda what I was thinking.

Trade the new GTI on a newer Quad Cab truck with a big bed, purchase a truck camper.

From what I can tell, RV's have pretty bad resale. If you buy something truck or van-like, make sure it isn't rusty and that it will pass emissions as that will hurt resale in Cali.

Military PCS move for the uninitiated means the military moves your stuff for you.

I like the first option, cheaper buy in, lower miles and bigger. Put the VW on a tow dolly and enjoy a leisurely cross country adventure.

With a $10K buy in on that unit if it doesn't need much work (if the tires are original it would be good to replace them before setting out) you should be fine come resale time. Or you may decide that California has so much to see from an RV you want to keep it forever.

This sounds like a great trip, enjoy!!

Also, the V10, while drinking lots of gas will be more comfortable pulling the weight of the RV plus car. Accept that mileage will be 8 give or take and simply cruise.

Another, somewhat off the wall option would be to buy a cheaper RV and sell it as a "perfect Burning Man RV" at this end. Late July/early August seems to be the time when the classifieds here are full of those.

Mind you, not all of them are RVs that you'd actually want to live in.

Thanks KY- yeah military pays for stuff to be moved. Had considered buying a truck anyway, but I think the motorhome would be best for the cat situation. I think I can get them to pay for shipping the VW or at least get miles for it.

Anyway- I think selling it in the other end is what really concerns me, especially at the end of the season.

My guess? Lots of East Coasters retire, buy an RV and head west to see AZ and CA and then get tired of the road and settle down there. This dumps RVs on the West Coast market making resale difficult. I can't see not taking a huge hit, unless you found something unique that is hard to find out West.

For the price of the first one and the rental, you should be able to come out ahead with the buy/sell plan. Definitely go for a V10 larger model though, as the smaller ones are too small for a family of four for that long.

In reply to pinchvalve:

The prices didn't seem to be that far off the asking prices I see on CL out here, but I agree, needs more research.

The other thing to keep in mind is making sure that you can get the RV smogged in CA, otherwise you'd have the hassle of trying to sell it in Oregon or NV.

Older Triton engines had problems blowing out spark plugs, and the first Triton MH chassis also had issues with sticking brake calipers (this was worse in humid climates--we had terrible problems with this with a Dolphin we owned). I would stay out of a '98 or '99 for those reasons.

I would think that a truck and camper would be easier to unload on the west coast from the above comments, but it doesn't really help you tow the GTI. If you are set on towing the GTI, a Class C with the V10 is the way to go, but some of the HUGE Cs had a big enough body to limit towing. Try to stay as small as you comfortably can. No personal experience with running one, though.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Or this: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/rvs/4966045114.html

170K miles? Wow... they actually used the thing!

Tough question to answer. The economics of an RV are always hard to justify.

Crew cab 1-ton pick-up with a slide-in?

I'm not sure the travel wil lbe any easier for the cat. It may "look" like a big house, but they will instantly know they are "moving" and how that affects them is a bit of an unknown. When I had my conversion van, we thought maybe the ex's cat would be ok roaming free in the back. He hated it.

Not set on towing GT . Would ship separate likely. Thanks for the tips on the v10's. I remember Grm having love hate with RVs a while back.

I would recommend door #1. At that price you should be able to get back most of your money. Allow enough time to sightsee along the way. I've done the trip several times and it gives you real perspective on the size and resources we have here. If you can't get shipping for your car, a tow dolly should work fine.

I'll go a different way (a little). skip the V10. The V8 is almost as powerful and doesn't like to blow spark plugs through the hood. Regardless of the fact that its not as bad as the interwebs say it is, the V10 will limit your pool of buyers when you sell. For a one-way blast, the V8 might be slightly slower but you can put up with it for 3000 miles. The V8 is vanilla. It isn't a good or bad thing. The V10 is Mint Chip. Only some will want it and others will hate it.

You should do well as long as you buy smart. Double check with CL in sacramento to see how they're selling. Another tip... title it there before you sell. I lived in CA for 6 years. People see a rust-belt title and they suddenly become interested in the 6 million other RVs for sale without salty bellies. Again, its unlikely that an RV has salt damage, but perception is huge. That is the secret of CA vehilces; its a buyer's market. With so many millions of vehicles exactly like the one you're selling, the smallest downside can take your vehicle off their list.

Don't expect to make money, but you should break even if you're careful and are willing to advertise/deliver to Frisco or LA. Central CA has a big RV following.

Sounds like it has the potential to be a fun trip. I'd just buy the best rv for the money...miles, condition, maybe look at ebay completed auctions to see what configurations sell best, then enjoy your trip. Good on you for thinking of your cat as well.