What 'add on' items to ask for when purchasing from dealer?

[maa]

This is our new RV purchase and I realize there will be a lot of items to buy after the purchase. What do new AS come with and what is reasonable for the dealer to 'throw in' upon request? Hoses, generator, bike rack, etc? What other must have items will we need right away?

Thanks!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The trailer comes with sheets, and bedding. The propane tanks should be full. You get a shore power cord. You probably get a floor mat. There is nothing in the way of kitchenware unless we are talking about one of the co-branded models. Exact details vary a bit model to model.

The typical "toss in pack" includes a drain hose setup, a water hose, and maybe a 15A adapter. If you paid MSRP for the trailer, the add in's may be a bit more generous.

Bob

[Piggy Bank]

Ours "threw in" a wasp cover on the furnace vent, and extra keys.

Offered a discount at their parts and accessories department.

Other than that, we got everything ourselves.

[Philip Jones]

We did not get sheets with our trailer.

[switz]

The new trailer comes with "many" cheap pillows with colors depending on the model of the trailer and a very cheap bed spread.

Dealers will often throw in a four pack of toilet paper and perhaps the under kitchen sink water filter element.

[dkottum]

They're highly unlikely to "throw in" anything of value. We got a start up bucket of cheap hoses, etc, maybe some TP, no sheets. They did offer us a free fire starter. Airstream provided the built-in water filter, throw and bed pillows and bedspread (we used the bedspread 6 years, bed pillows became spares).

If you're getting a generator or bike rack you're paying for it somewhere.

[Piggy Bank]

Consider amazon prime if you are not currently a member. We found that was useful.

[AstroBruce]

I got the dealer to throw in a pair of Zip Dee chairs and a pair of Airstream earings for my wife.

Bruce

[maa]

Ok thanks everyone. Didn't know if it was common to ask for some of the additional items as part of the negotiations process as I think our negotiated price isn't moving any more (15% off msrp)

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by maa

Ok thanks everyone. Didn't know if it was common to ask for some of the additional items as part of the negotiations process as I think our negotiated price isn't moving any more (15% off msrp)

Hi

He's got another 5% or so in the deal before he hits bottom. This is the wrong time of year to get a really good price from some dealers. They can sell just about anything they have in inventory this time of year.

As noted above, what comes standard on a 33' Classic is not what comes standard on a 16' Basecamp. The same is true in terms of % off MSRP. My guess is that there's more room to fiddle percentage wise on a $158,000 trailer than on a $40,000 one. Fixed costs like shipping and prep have to come out somewhere.

Bob

[thiel]

I negotiated the price and THEN asked them: "throw in an equalizer hitch--installed--and you have a deal."

[PKI]

The Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch was included along with a power cord, 15 amp pigtail, sewer drain hose, expandable sewer support stand, 90 degree sewer fitting, 25 ft white water hose, 25 ft grey black water flush hose, a couple of tire chocks, a set of legos, a pair of step pads, a door mat, some tank treatment, 4 rolls of toilet paper, and the decorative pillows/mattress cover.

It was a special sale, but our dealer includes a comprehensive starter kit. This required no negotiation, it was what our dealer provided.

If you want to negotiate, get the fantastic fan hoods installed, 30/50 amp pigtail, a hitch coupler lock (hitch vault), and some coffee cups. Pat

[m.hony]

We got these things thrown in with the deal:
-Equal-i-zer Original 4-point Sway Control Hitch
-Wasp screens for water heater and furnace
-MaxxAir cover for the Fantastic Fan
-Tire covers
-Airstream trailer awning lights
-Lunch
-A tank of gas
There may be more items but that is all I can remember right now.
With the first trailer:
-EazLift hitch
-RV starter kit- sewer hose, water hose, RV toilet paper, tank chemical

[WindyJim]

Not a throw in by any means, but to me the single best add on (not necessarily dealer add on) is solar. If you store your airstream outside, or anticipate doing any dry camping, this is the one item that adds so much to your camping enjoyment!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by m.hony

We got these things thrown in with the deal:
-Equal-i-zer Original 4-point Sway Control Hitch
-Wasp screens for water heater and furnace
-MaxxAir cover for the Fantastic Fan
-Tire covers
-Airstream trailer awning lights
-Lunch
-A tank of gas
There may be more items but that is all I can remember right now.
With the first trailer:
-EazLift hitch
-RV starter kit- sewer hose, water hose, RV toilet paper, tank chemical

Hi

You got LUNCH !!! All I got was a couple bottles of water

We did get a hitch from the dealer. I was never under the impression that it was part of the trailer deal it's self.

If you assume a "typical" MSRP of $80,000 on an AS, 1% of MSRP comes out to $800. That will pay for a typical hitch. I have absolutely no idea how you could work out weather your purchase price was within 1% of ideal without a whole lot of information none of us have access to.

Bob

[m.hony]

I was aggravated and about to renege on the deal.
They were being extra kind so I would go through with it.
In 20/20 hindsight I should have reneged and taken my check to another dealer, but I didn't want me and my wife to take another day off to go do it again the next week and the expense of it- That dealer was 4 hours away. The dealer I should have gone to in the first place is 5 hours away.

[Rgentum]

Let's be honest about it: a dealer is not going to sell its product without making a profit. Therefore, a dealer can either:
1. Sell the product at a significant discount with negligible other giveaways; or
2. Sell the product at a modest discount & provide generous giveaways; or
3. Hope that the customer will pay at or close to MSRP for the trailer & any other goods, resulting in the dealer's making significant profit.

In our case, the dealer sold us the AS at 20% off MSRP & gave us a coupon worth 10% off on anything in its RV store. Subjectively, I thought we got a good deal. I bought most of the other incidentals from Amazon.

[tujeeze]

Im really in no hurry to purchase an AS, but would just like to know when is the best time to buy? New and Used?

[maa]

This is really helpful, thanks everyone!

[PatLee]

Which dealership did you buy from?