A local dealer has a "new" 2008 Fleetwood Terra 36T for which they are asking $77,000.

I know it's a "low end" Class A motorhome; but, it seems like an awful lot of motorhome for the money.

When we do buy our intent is use it seasonally; i.e. two or three months at a time in the winter, and then a few weeks and/or weekends in the summer.

Any thoughts, opinions, and/or suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Thanks!

Bob

I went out on the internet and they are asking $89-99K for 2009 Terra 36Ts and found one 2008 for $84K, which retails about $110K. A 36' motorhome needs two air conditioners to keep it cool and since Fleetwood does not use much wall insulation in their gas motorhomes, you will need the air conditioning. The ones on the internet have 30AMP service with an "EMS", which means one air conditioner will shut down when you run the microwave or toaster and Fleetwood saved wiring cost by wiring for 30AMP instead of 50AMP. El Monte RV Rentals uses Terras, for what ever that means. Find the Weight information sticker and find the CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity) for this motorhome. Full-timers need this number to be over 3,000lbs, but a part-timer could get away with 2,000. What kind of car are you towing behind it, if you are thinking of doing that, and does it have the weight rating to tow that car? Does it have a generator? How many house batteries? How much storage underneath (called "basement storage)? Why does it seem like "an awful lot of motorhome for the money"?

Bill, thanks very much for your response and comments and questions.

In answer to your last question, it probably seems like a lot of motorhome for the money to me because at this point I don't know enough to make good judgements about them.

From prior looking a couple of years ago, I was of the impression that there was no such thing as a "new" class A motorhome for under $125,000 or more.

GCWR is listed as 26,000 #'s, and GVWR is shown as 22,000 #'s; so I think that means CCC is 4,000 #'s ????

Hitch rating weight is listed as 5,000 #'s.

It has a 5.5kw generator.

It does have two roof mounted air conditioners, but it is only 30 amp which sounds like is a BIG negative factor.

Don't know how many batteries, but there appears to be lots of storage.  "Basement" compartments of various sizes run the from the front wheels all the way to rear end.  Compartments behind the rear wheels are full width.

Another thing that made me think it may be a lot for the money, is that they also have an '09 Bounder 35E for which they are asking $91,500.  In comparing the brochures between the Terra and the Bounder, it appears that the frames and basic construction, engines and transmissions are the same, and that the differences are primarily in better furniture, appliances, and fixtures on the Bounder.  I do not remember and can't determine from the brochure whether the Bounder is 30 amp or 50 amp.

I prefer not spend more than about $75,000.  Am I better off finding and buying a higher quality "used" motorhome than considering the "new" Terra???

Again, thanks for sharing your time, experience and knowledge!!

Bob

GCWR is how much weight you can have combined between the motorhome and the towed car and GVWR is the maximum weight the motorhome can handle, so you can tow up to a 4,000 lb vehicle.  I guess you are not going to tow a Hummer.

There is a piece of paper somewhere in that motorhome, normally on the inside of a cabinet door, that tells you the important weights.  Sometimes the paper is in front, sometimes in the kitchen.  It will tell you the UVW, the unloaded vehicle weight, which is the motorhome full of gas, but no water, no propane, no people, and no stuff.  Then it will tell you how much the full water weighs, how much the full propane weighs and will add 154lbs per sleeping position for people.  Subtract the UVW, water, propane and people and you get the CCC.  The CCC is how much you can carry and be safe.  This is a 38' motorhome, a bit long for only having 22,000 lbs of GVWR so I suspect the CCC is a small number like 1,000 to 1,500 lbs.

Digging deeper it has two batteries.  That is enough to run the furnace overnight in normal RVing weather while dry camping, at a rally or overnight at a store parking lot.

I am just trying to play devils advocate.  Terra is not a full-timer RV, but that is not what you are after. 

I think you should look at some used motorhomes just to decide yourself.  There should be some good deals on 2007 and 2008 used ones that are in great shape.  Remember Fleetwood is in Chapter 11 and is being sold off, who knows if you will have any warranty.

Bill, I appreciate you playing "devil's advocate."  That's the kind of info I need.

It sounds like the Terra is probably too much of a "lightweight" in several areas for our purposes.

What later model used brands do you suggest I seek and investigate, given that our plan is in effect to "full time" from December to March in a warm climate, and do the occasional week/weekend during the summer, and prefer to spend in the $70,000 to $90,000 range????

Thanks VERY MUCH for your help!!

Bob

My advice is to join RV Consumer Group athttp://rv.org/. It costs money, but compared to the price of a motorhome it is cheap. They provide resources on how to evaluate an RV and ratings, plus they set a usage level of "weekender", "vacation", "snowbird" and "full-time" on the RVs. Since you are talking trips longer than a couple weeks your usage level would be considered "snowbird", but I haven't bought since 2004. I recommend looking at well rated RVs at one level below your usage level (I think that would be "vacation") along with those at your usage level. Many full-timers are happy with "snowbird" rated RVs, so a "vacation" rated RV could be fine for you.

Thanks much Bill  !!!

I've placed an order w/ them.