Duck
Miami Lakes, Fl
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Joined: 03/04/2001
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I have been buying a new rv about every four years. Have a new one on order which we will keep until we retire from the rv lifestyle.
Don
08-FORD F350 PSD
13 Bighorn 3055RL
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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Well, we're on our 5th one in 8 years. First was a pop-up, just right when the kids were little, but with no bathroom and an 8ft box it was very tight. *shudder* Number 2 was a little 19-footer that we loved but was really too small for us. Traded for Number 3, a 30-footer with super slide big enough for 9 people and a standard poodle. Loved it, but we wrecked it. Bought Number 4, large size popup with hardside bathroom. Very nice unit, but ultimately way too large now that none of the kids are camping with us. Which leads us to Number 5. We just bought a 25ft TT that is *just right* for the two of us. I'm hoping this is the last one for a long time.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
2009 Ford F250 XL
2006 Dutchmen 25F
Me & DH in non-parenting mode!
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jassrnj
Bath, PA
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Joined: 09/26/2011
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My last trailer was a 1996 Holiday Rambler which I sold in 2011. It was in good shape and I'm sure the new owners will get several years of service out of it. I found that if they do NOT get water damaged and you stay up with maintenance 15+ years should be no problem.
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dannytas
Pioneer, CA
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Joined: 05/04/2009
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In 2008 we bought a new, 18' Aljo Lite, kept 1 year. Traded the Aljo for a for a 2009 31' Class C Fleetwood Tioga SL. A year later traded the Tioga for a 2010 37' Dutchman Colorado. 2 years later traded for a 34' 2012 Keystone Cougar. Hopefully it's the last, for awhile. 
'12 Keystone Cougar 297RKSWE
'03 Dodge 3500 QC 4X4 Long bed Dually
DW-Lynn
BigDog-Kelley
LittleDog-Kroozer
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Happy_Trails
Fulltime, USA
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Joined: 11/21/2006
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Leaky Roofs are easy to repair. Catch them asap and fix.
Lots of info here about how to do the various roofs in other topic forums.
Have coated ours quite a few times over the years.
Bob & Nadine
1984 Allegro, always at home!
Living Life With a "Golden Age Passport"
and Thousand Trails VIP Membership, Priceless!
Home Park: Verde Valley.
Korean Veteran - 5th Regimental Combat Team
.....Every Mission assigned, Accomplished.....
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Dave's Wife
Albuquerque, NM- The Land of Enchantment
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Joined: 09/24/2002
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Bought our 1998 TT used in 2001 just sold it. Bought a used 5th wheel and plan to keep it till it's at least paid off in two years.
Sheila aka...
Dave's Wife
2003 29 ft. Holiday Rambler Alumascape 5th wheel
'03 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually
Dave & Me
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tatest
Oklahoma Green Country
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Joined: 05/14/2005
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Most of the depreciation is up front, prices of usable trailers tend to plateau at 10-15 years.
I've no idea what "most people" do, I have friends who have traded trailers every couple of years trying to figure out which one they liked, others who go 10 to 20 years until a life change means an change in how they RV. I have some friends. We have a couple guys in the RV club who buy them at 15-20 years old and keep them (more than one at a time) another 20 years or more.
We kept our first TT until my uncle borrowed it, pulled it up to Fairbanks and then down to Mexico City, brought it back literally shaken apart. That's a better measure than number of years.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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RRinNFla
Northeast Florida
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Joined: 07/11/2008
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After reading these comments, my conclusion is that most people who read these forums do their research and make a decision they can live with for a long time.
On the other hand, I notice that the dealer lots are full of two year old units that are from either
a) people still trying to figure out what they want
b) people who have to have the newest and greatest (same folks who lease their car)
c) people who decided they really don't like rving
Richard
2007 Keystone Cougar 291RLS
2008 Ford F250 V10 (Gas), EC, SB, 4X4
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TriumphGuy
Simpsonville, SC, USA
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Joined: 11/02/2004
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We hopped between used campers around $10k for about 2-3 years each until we had a good TV to get what we were looking for, then bought a bunkhouse 5er. I wasn't completely confident it would hold together long term so I sold it while I was ahead, then bought our 2008 used (no longer in the $10k range though!). We would not have bought this one had we not been reasonably sure it would be a very long term purchase ... I intend to keep it until it's about worth nothing and then get another.
Best advice I can give to anyone shopping is to go used for your first couple campers, until you are certain what will work for you. Otherwise you'll be in a) and c) above and taking a big hit.
2008 Crossroads Cruiser 32BL (Mack); 2000 Ford F250 Lariat 7.3 (Doreen); 2000 A4 Audi 1.8T Quattro (Lightning); 2006 Subaru Outback 2.5XT (Sally); Last but not least - one great wife and two beautiful kids.
Any opinions are my own and not of my employer.
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EPenney
Galt, Ca
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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Bought a 1985 Prowler 18D new in 1985, and kept it for 18 years. I sometimes miss that TT.
'07 Chevy 2500HD Silverado "Classic" CC D/A 4x4
'07 Komfort Trailblazer T252FS fifth wheel
Reese Signature 18K Slider and other stuff.....some useful.....some not
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