I wonder how many others have walked this path.We got the bug for a new fiver recently. Made the mistake of looking at some of the new spacious floor plans with opposing slides, which are lighter than our camper in some cases. So we cleaned up our fiver and made a list of all the improvements we have made to it over the years. And you know what? Our existing fiver has more nice features than most of the new ones that are in our weight range for our truck. We also just coated the roof to prevent leaks(being proactive). Some of the things we added can't be purchased even as options on some of the new fifth wheels. Restrictions on what can be attached or welded to frames of the new ones limits the nice things that can be added: like electric leveling jacks, rear mount cargo rack to name a couple that we have on our fiver. They can be added after the warranty expires, but we camp a lot, and doing without those things would be a hassle....on top of the monthly payment for the camper.(Ours is Paid For)I also consider the 30 grand we would pay for the trade difference would finance years of traveling in our current fiver and the repairs that it might need along the way.On the other hand being 65 years old, I feel we may have 10 more years in our rving future, and it might be good to trade for a new one now instead of nursing ours along for the next 10 or more years. Is a 10 year old Cougar fifth wheel pushing the limits for rving?Anybody have a benchmark for when to buy a new one, or experience with keeping the old one and maybe regretting it? Or happy you kept the old one?

In our preliminary plans for retirement, my thoughts are to keep & maintain our existing 5er but purchase a newer truck. In my mind, the technology and layout in our 5er is just fine.

Started fulltiming in 1996 with a 1991 HH, and a FL truck, traded for a 1998 HH Champagne. Since we had the last truck we would need, we maintained the trailer. Still have it today, no urge to trade.Jim

Our fiver is pushing ten years old and just as nice as it was when we bought it - yes, I have thought about updating the outside with a full body paint job, but other than that we are very happy with what we have. We spend six to seven months a year in the fiver and it works out just fine for us.No intention looking at new ones for the foreseeable future.

After looking at new ones that were just as shoddy as the old ones I bought a 14 year old one that was in great shape. New or old all the same upgrades are needed. Generator, high profile toilet, faucets, led, 14 speed fan, Lt tires, upgraded converter, axle flip, wet bolts, ez flex, 4 batteries, rebuilt battery box,vent covers, AND drill holes all over to install stuff like solar. When I drag it through places we like to go I dont worry about the paint.

Unless yours is starting to have serious issues and you foresee putting a lot of miles on it I would suggest staying put. You obviously take good care of it and are happy with it.It will be worth squat on trade, you have already eaten the majority of depreciation.

Fixing up fiver to trade for new | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

laknox
Nomad
Sep 17, 2015
camperkilgore wrote:
I wonder how many others have walked this path.

We got the bug for a new fiver recently. Made the mistake of looking at some of the new spacious floor plans with opposing slides, which are lighter than our camper in some cases. So we cleaned up our fiver and made a list of all the improvements we have made to it over the years. And you know what?

Our existing fiver has more nice features than most of the new ones that are in our weight range for our truck. We also just coated the roof to prevent leaks(being proactive). Some of the things we added can't be purchased even as options on some of the new fifth wheels. Restrictions on what can be attached or welded to frames of the new ones limits the nice things that can be added: like electric leveling jacks, rear mount cargo rack to name a couple that we have on our fiver. They can be added after the warranty expires, but we camp a lot, and doing without those things would be a hassle....on top of the monthly payment for the camper.(Ours is Paid For)

I also consider the 30 grand we would pay for the trade difference would finance years of traveling in our current fiver and the repairs that it might need along the way.

On the other hand being 65 years old, I feel we may have 10 more years in our rving future, and it might be good to trade for a new one now instead of nursing ours along for the next 10 or more years. Is a 10 year old Cougar fifth wheel pushing the limits for rving?

Anybody have a benchmark for when to buy a new one, or experience with keeping the old one and maybe regretting it? Or happy you kept the old one?

There are a lot of mid-size (+/- 30') FWs that are coming with 4-6 pt leveling systems and a number of mfrs do put factory hitches on the back. One, that I'm looking at, is the Jayco Eagle and Eagle HT models. Both come with a 3k rated receiver on the back and both come with optional leveling systems. My only real knock on the HT is that they have smallish (IMO) black tanks and, for boondocking, this leaves something to be desired. Another brand I'm looking at is the KZ Durango 1500. Larger tanks, also with optional leveling system, but no rear hitch option. For me, that's not a huge deal, but it =would= be nice. The Jayco gives me the option of putting a genny on the back, while the KZ can be had with gen-prep. I just mention these since they're on my short list for our next FW and both are lighter than my current Komfort. There are any number of others out there along the same lines.

Lyle
Wet_Coast
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
Thsi about sums it all up!
After looking at new ones that were just as shoddy as the old ones I bought a 14 year old one that was in great shape.

New or old all the same upgrades are needed. Generator, high profile toilet, faucets, led, 14 speed fan, Lt tires, upgraded converter, axle flip, wet bolts, ez flex, 4 batteries, rebuilt battery box,vent covers, AND drill holes all over to install stuff like solar. When I drag it through places we like to go I don't worry about the paint.

Unless yours is starting to have serious issues and you foresee putting a lot of miles on it I would suggest staying put. You obviously take good care of it and are happy with it.
It will be worth squat on trade, you have already eaten the majority of depreciation.

I bought my 1987 Okanagan 18.5 footer 5th and drag it everywhere. WE bought a new Bronco Pop Top and promptly sold it 4 month later because the workmanship as so bad. I will always fall back to an older unit. A couple of dozen tubes of PL400 and some TLC will keep this until happy. Truck updates are what you want to work on..

my .035 Canadian for .02 USD
romore
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2015
Unless yours is starting to have serious issues and you foresee putting a lot of miles on it I would suggest staying put. You obviously take good care of it and are happy with it.
It will be worth squat on trade, you have already eaten the majority of depreciation.
azrving
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
After looking at new ones that were just as shoddy as the old ones I bought a 14 year old one that was in great shape.

New or old all the same upgrades are needed. Generator, high profile toilet, faucets, led, 14 speed fan, Lt tires, upgraded converter, axle flip, wet bolts, ez flex, 4 batteries, rebuilt battery box,vent covers, AND drill holes all over to install stuff like solar. When I drag it through places we like to go I dont worry about the paint.
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
Our fiver is pushing ten years old and just as nice as it was when we bought it - yes, I have thought about updating the outside with a full body paint job, but other than that we are very happy with what we have. We spend six to seven months a year in the fiver and it works out just fine for us.

No intention looking at new ones for the foreseeable future.
Jim-Linda
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2015
Started fulltiming in 1996 with a 1991 HH, and a FL truck, traded for a 1998 HH Champagne. Since we had the last truck we would need, we maintained the trailer. Still have it today, no urge to trade.

Jim
korbe
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
In our preliminary plans for retirement, my thoughts are to keep & maintain our existing 5er but purchase a newer truck. In my mind, the technology and layout in our 5er is just fine.

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Fixing up fiver to trade for new

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