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Topic: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27 (Read 595 times) previous topic - next topic
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Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
My wife and I have been looking for a 26.5 mid bath or something in that range. After looking at just about every Lazy Daze on the market I was wondering why the 30 footers seem to be selling for what seems to be less than the mid 20 footers. Are they harder to drive, maneuver or park? I am simply trying to decide whether to save a few bucks and go for a 30 footer or wait for a mid 20 to finally show up on the market again. Any help and input will be gladly appreciated.

Phil
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #1 –
A large portion of the available floorspace in the 30' & 31' models is taken up by the bedroom. This makes the 'day use' area feel smaller than the 27' models, which convert sleeping areas to make all the available floor space available daytime. This flexibility for day-use roominess makes the shorter models a more in-demand choice. Payload capacity is also larger in the shorter models.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #2 –
Thanks for the quick reply. Great information that I needed to know.

Phil
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #3 –
What I like about the 30ft units is the space around the drivers seat.  The front of the cabinet is open without anything behind you to keep from reclining the seat while driving.  The other aspect of the 30ft units is the bedroom in the back.  Dont have to put everything away in order to get going.  Finally I like having a separate toilet and shower.  But downsides are the length after the axle, which means you have to be careful when turning the rig, and the lower payload capacity.  The first owner of my unit had extra heavy front springs and an additional leaf added to the rear.  This doesnt raise the load capacity, but at least the rearend doesnt drag.
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #4 –
There are many reasons why owners like their floor plans over other floor plans.  I think it is true, that whatever floor plan you purchase or inherit, you will adapt to its shortcomings.  My first LD was the 26.5 Rear Bath, also known as the party plan.  I liked it a lot, but it was an older model (94) built on the 350 chassis with the Ford V8.  My wife felt there was limited privacy and grew tired of making up the beds daily.  Our current LD is a 2007 30 TB which works just fine for us.  It affords separate living areas as does the midbath.  I go to sleep earlier than she does and she can stay up and read and/or watch TV.  The limited cargo carrying capacity is not a problem for us because we don't load it down and take shorter trips.  We have plenty of space to put things but we are mindful of the weight.  For those that choose to full-time, the mid-bath seems to be the model of choice.  With it you get separate living areas and can carry more.  However, the draw back is your guests are sitting either in your dinette (not the most comfortable) or on your rear couches which is most often your bed.  Although there are some who make the cab overhead their primary sleeping area.  Get the drift/pattern?  Find a nicely maintained and low mileage LD, you will make the floorplan work for you, just be amenable to compromise.

Gary
2007 30' TB
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #5 –
I thought I'd start with 'they are lower because that is the model I have and my choices always end up less lucrative'.
The population of them is smaller than the other floorplans and maybe it is a niche market that has less appeal to the general prospective owner cohort.  The walk around bed put us into that niche and LD was not producing a 26.5 IB in 2013.  It was purchased with the understanding that there were objective conditions about weight and loading that required ongoing vigilance.

Of the later 31IB models I have seen come on the market, most of them seem to be sales due to domestic issues, mainly health ones.  Those may be circumstances in which the seller is not motivated to get the last possible dollar for the rig. I haven't looked at comparison prices for older models in relation to similar aged alternative size/floor plans.

So consider what you want, and your budget, and be aware of the community you will be joining.

Welcome aboard.

Joel
Joel & Terry Wiley
2013  31 IB   ORWAN   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #6 –
Thanks for all of the input folks. Currently just about any recent Lazy Dayz seem to be made out of unobtanium, just very few and far between in any configuration.

Phil
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #7 –
The last couple 30 footers we considerd were selling due to death and were priced 8-$12k higher than the guide. 

The biggest thing I found is how much capacity is available.  One we looked at was weighed and was very close to the total limit with it fully loaded for travel.  It could have been over rear axle capacity, who lnows.   Also if it has levelers, which I would want, that takes away 200-300 lbs capacity. 

We live in Michigan and can’t buy a LD until I find covered storage for winter.  Very expense and hard to find.  The snow on that flat roof is of concern to me. 

The 30 IB or TB with a dinette is our favorite and of course the hardest to find.  Those barrel chairs just are not to our liking.  If one comes up may have to dig a tunnel to store it because may not find another!

If you can attend one of the LD regional events you can see many varieties of LD and get advice from experts.

Ron
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #8 –
And remember, the guide is just a guide. Speaking of that, there will be an update done on it soon as we just noticed the 2019 base price on the guide does not match the current pricing on the Lazy Daze website. At any rate, it’s still just a guide.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #9 –
Hello Ron you are correct its very hard to find the dinette and when I do its usually the twin bed but we want the island bed .
Good luck with your search.
                                      Jody
2009 Kodiak 32 foot Island Bed
 
Re: Why are 30 footers selling at lower prices than the 26.5 or 27
Reply #10 –
If you have a chance to check out variations, here are some things to consider:  the back window on a TB goes clear across the back of the rig because the wardrobes are at the foot of the beds--really nice for looking at the stars.  My folks chose a TB configuration in their Pace Arrow because they had a King in the stix house & RV Queens are slightly more cozy than residential Queens.  My rig's previous family swapped out the original twins for lovely Tempurpedic twins from Costco, which necessitated about 6" extensions along the edge supported by sturdy shelf brackets, & removal of the original bedside table (they created a removable custom replacement, which makes wrestling linens onto the beds much easier--& did it so well I was hard-put to find where they deconstructed the original table).  For me as a solo, the TB has been ideal for guests (elderly aunt & granddaughters).

Also, the barrel chairs/drop-down table provide a more open-feeling lounge than a fixed dinette, & allow for adding a small foot stool/swapping out chairs that may better suit personal preferences (I've found the sofa isn't terribly comfortable for TV viewing & moving a chair can make computer use at the table easier).  YMMV

Best of luck as you search for the right-for-you rig.

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm