I'm at a year and a half and already "thinking" about my next move up..

I kept my last trailer for 8 years and plan to keep this one as long or at least until we decide to upgrade/downgrade. Since we have a loan the more important factor will be making certain we have some sort of equity in this trailer before doing anything.

We had our old bumper pull Raptor for 3 years, but we didn't use it much because we actually didn't really like it and my husband wasn't that comfortable pulling it (we originally didn't have enough truck for it), and our RZR barely fit in it (it rubbed on the wall in the garage). He did next to no research before purchasing it and I was just the girlfriend at the time so I didn't get a lot of input :) It pretty much looked like new when we traded it in. This new one we plan to keep for a long time....I can't imagine going any bigger and unless some new fantastic plan comes out with a large enough separate garage, I don't see how we could go smaller either. We did a ton of research and looked at it and every other available option over the span of a year. There's still a few small things I'd change if I could, but none we looked at checked all the boxes... this one checked the most. But, we bought this thinking of the future. We're in our mid 30s and maybe thinking of having one kid, so there's room for hypothetical kid. And, should hypothetical kid happen, we may want to get a 4 seat RZR, so the garage is big enough for that too.

JAC1982 wrote:We had our old bumper pull Raptor for 3 years, but we didn't use it much because we actually didn't really like it and my husband wasn't that comfortable pulling it (we originally didn't have enough truck for it), and our RZR barely fit in it (it rubbed on the wall in the garage). He did next to no research before purchasing it and I was just the girlfriend at the time so I didn't get a lot of input :) It pretty much looked like new when we traded it in. This new one we plan to keep for a long time....I can't imagine going any bigger and unless some new fantastic plan comes out with a large enough separate garage, I don't see how we could go smaller either. We did a ton of research and looked at it and every other available option over the span of a year. There's still a few small things I'd change if I could, but none we looked at checked all the boxes... this one checked the most. But, we bought this thinking of the future. We're in our mid 30s and maybe thinking of having one kid, so there's room for hypothetical kid. And, should hypothetical kid happen, we may want to get a 4 seat RZR, so the garage is big enough for that too.Yeah that where we are - we have a 2 yo boy and want enough garage space for his future toys as well as ours.. I really want a sep garage but with a 5th wheel I can't use my bed for add'l toys so that leaves us prob steering towards and open model with around 16' of garage. I look at our current TH ( our first) as kind the practice purchase to see what you really want and need. IMO The quality on my current trailer is pretty darn good ( Livin Lite all aluminum ) so have pretty much accepted the fact the next one may not be as good quality wise..

I've still have my first one I bought new in 2003. I have kept it under covered storage when not in use.

Txsurfer wrote:JAC1982 wrote:We had our old bumper pull Raptor for 3 years, but we didn't use it much because we actually didn't really like it and my husband wasn't that comfortable pulling it (we originally didn't have enough truck for it), and our RZR barely fit in it (it rubbed on the wall in the garage). He did next to no research before purchasing it and I was just the girlfriend at the time so I didn't get a lot of input :) It pretty much looked like new when we traded it in. This new one we plan to keep for a long time....I can't imagine going any bigger and unless some new fantastic plan comes out with a large enough separate garage, I don't see how we could go smaller either. We did a ton of research and looked at it and every other available option over the span of a year. There's still a few small things I'd change if I could, but none we looked at checked all the boxes... this one checked the most. But, we bought this thinking of the future. We're in our mid 30s and maybe thinking of having one kid, so there's room for hypothetical kid. And, should hypothetical kid happen, we may want to get a 4 seat RZR, so the garage is big enough for that too.Yeah that where we are - we have a 2 yo boy and want enough garage space for his future toys as well as ours.. I really want a sep garage but with a 5th wheel I can't use my bed for add'l toys so that leaves us prob steering towards and open model with around 16' of garage. I look at our current TH ( our first) as kind the practice purchase to see what you really want and need. IMO The quality on my current trailer is pretty darn good ( Livin Lite all aluminum ) so have pretty much accepted the fact the next one may not be as good quality wise..Yeah that would be the only thing that could cause us to get a bigger one, like if we had a kid and he/she wanted their own toys instead of the RZR. Or, I might want my own RZR someday... his and hers LOL!

How long do you keep your Toy Haulers? | Good Sam Community

Txsurfer
Explorer
Jul 26, 2017
BTW - we have done 69 nights in our 24 in less than 2 years so I feel like I have a decent grip on my wants..
Txsurfer
Explorer
Jul 26, 2017
Bedlam wrote:
You might as well upgrade the truck now and then start saving for that fifth wheel. When we decided we wanted a larger truck camper, the F250 had to go and be replaced with something that could handle the additional payload. It was over two years after getting my 5500 that I could finally upgrade from my Arctic Fox to my current Host.

Agreed - new truck in the works for next year. Prob 1 toner
Bedlam
Moderator
Jul 26, 2017
You might as well upgrade the truck now and then start saving for that fifth wheel. When we decided we wanted a larger truck camper, the F250 had to go and be replaced with something that could handle the additional payload. It was over two years after getting my 5500 that I could finally upgrade from my Arctic Fox to my current Host.
Txsurfer
Explorer
Jul 26, 2017
Well just got back from 14 nights in our 24 and while we love it I think we are going to have to upgrade in the future. Must have's going forward

Sep Garage ( muddy/wet dog and kid can come in through garage- all muddy shoes stay there )
Sep Bedroom ( tired of unloading the buggy to sleep )
Fueling Station (tired of 5 gallon jugs )
Built in Gen ( quieter )
LR slide ( tired of one way traffic )
WAY more storage ( tired of digging through cabinets )

Looks like a 5th wheel is in our future..
Vulcanmars
Explorer
Jul 15, 2017
3 years for my first (24ft.) 8 years for my second (32ft. FW) Both were better built than the new ones.
dedmiston
Moderator
Jul 13, 2017
1) 12 years
2) Hopefully a long long time
nwcutie
Explorer
Jul 13, 2017
First one 2 years, 2nd one 8 years, this one we'll keep til the wheels fall off as we plan to live in it down the road when we build our retirement home.
LowRyter
Explorer
Jul 08, 2017
I've had mine for nine years. Have replaced the aluminum front with fiberglass after a hailstorm, had the frame repaired (both were expensive), replaced all the tires, added 6 volt batteries, fixed damage after being broken into twice, replaced the radio and outside speakers, replaced TV antenna (does anyone know how to repair broken coax connector?).

I don't want one any larger but slides would be nice, less maintenance and work above all. I've kept it in a covered awning storage site since I bought it but am disappointed with the security.

I only have a 3/4 ton Duramax, so I can't go to three axle unit and really don't want the hassle of trading up.
Badhabt
Explorer
Jul 07, 2017
Going on year 11 in October on our Raptor...
atwowheelguy
Explorer
Jul 07, 2017
Txsurfer wrote:
I really like my 24 but the fact we have to roll everything out to put the bed down gets a little old when you are doing midway stops. A sep forward bedroom is our main criteria for the next one. I know I'll miss the 24 at some point tho

My selection criteria was:

A front bed, sleep without unloading
Able to haul two dirt bikes
Within the weight limits of my F150
Used, in good shape, much less expensive than new (no debt)
Within 400 miles of home

I searched for 53 weeks and then one turned up 20 miles up the road.
Four years old, stored indoors.
"I'm a happy camper."

Probably keep it until I am too old to ride or too old to wrestle the trailer.