We have been camping for 15 years, and full-timing for 4 years. We have a nice 5th wheel, but the new 5th wheels look inviting. How long do you keep an RV, or motor home, before getting a newer one? Our 5th wheel is 4 years old, and still in good shape. A newer one will probably cost us $30k plus our trailer. I like the new stuff such as leveling devices and newer looks. But other than that we reall like our 5th wheel except it is too long (37 feet vs 34 feet).. . . I guess the thing is, do we sell our used, but in good shape, 5th wheel Now and buy a new one. OR, just pull the thing down the road until it falls apart, then buy a new or used one.=???your help would be appreciated. . . .ken and sue

My Creek is 10 years old and is likely my last fiver. New is nice, but....Why have payments?Why fork out for the depreciation?$3500 for 6PT level up system10K for full body paint.5K for moreride suspension and disk brake conversion.Seems to me that is still way under 30K + you would have to fork out for new.

Buy a new one. Stimulate the economy and help put shoes on the kids of the ones who are still working. I bought an older one because it was my first FW and people suggested learning on something cheaper. I will probably buy a new one or slightly used but I'll give it more time. It's easy to love the new ones when we check them out but I also look at the systems on newer ones and think that older may be better. The cheesy nature and shoddy workmanship of most rv's just doesn't seem like it's something that needs complexity added to it.

My question would be...how full time are you? Do you move alot or do you tend to sit still for months at a time? The roads absolutely beat the******out of your 5er. When our last 5er was having one problem after another with the suspension, tires, etc, it was time for something else. That's why we went new. To some it may be bad logic but for us it worked out well... Good luck on your decision!

Let's see our rig is 13 yrs old and we have no plans to buy a new one. We know her by now and it is cheaper to fix problems than opt for a new one with new bells/whistles (which won't work right for the first year) and huge outlay to do so. So we just keep what we have got until she can no longer run - - which will probably be long after we will be able to still use her.

Bought our Phaeton new on December 16 2005, just turned over 106,000 miles. Cat engine is running strong. Just had $2400 worth of service and repairs done, still way cheaper than a new rig.

How long to keep RV when Full-timing? | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

weathershak
Explorer
May 22, 2015
3 years in a now 13 YO rig. It is starting to nickel and dime me from time to time but it is paid for and if I figure the repair cost compared to monthly payments, interest, and depreciation, I am still way ahead.
It is tough though. Walking past some of those pretty newer rigs with all the bells and whistles. Then common sense kicks in.:R
fitznj
Explorer
May 22, 2015
10 years and still looks like new. We store the TT out of the weather and both my wife and I clean/maintain it perfectly. We will probably sell/exchange it when:

1 - the repairs start mounting up and are unsustainable
2 - the floor plan does not suit our needs any more
3 - I get too old to be able to tow safely

I think it's a personal decision - if you're the type that always wants/needs the latest and greatest then go for it. I'm a "technology luddite" - so simple and basic suits me just fine !!!

Gerry
S-n-L
Explorer
May 22, 2015
I do not think it is a question of age but rather how the rv was outfitted regardless of age. If you buy the right rv for you it can be of any age. We have a 2008 and plan to keep it for a long time. It has everything we could want and a new rv would only give us minimal advantages over what we have.

For the same price point, I would rather buy a used rv with higher end mechanics and features than a newer one with less.

For instance we love having air leveling, auto gen start, true sign wave inverter, nice genny, big engine, higher level aqua hot, solid wood cabinets residential fridge. These all have nothing to do with age.

Stuart
Teacher_s_Pet
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Bought our Phaeton new on December 16 2005, just turned over 106,000 miles. Cat engine is running strong. Just had $2400 worth of service and repairs done, still way cheaper than a new rig.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Let's see our rig is 13 yrs old and we have no plans to buy a new one. We know her by now and it is cheaper to fix problems than opt for a new one with new bells/whistles (which won't work right for the first year) and huge outlay to do so. So we just keep what we have got until she can no longer run - - which will probably be long after we will be able to still use her.
Wingnusa
Explorer
May 22, 2015
My question would be...how full time are you? Do you move alot or do you tend to sit still for months at a time? The roads absolutely beat the******out of your 5er. When our last 5er was having one problem after another with the suspension, tires, etc, it was time for something else. That's why we went new. To some it may be bad logic but for us it worked out well... Good luck on your decision!
azrving
Explorer
May 21, 2015
Buy a new one. Stimulate the economy and help put shoes on the kids of the ones who are still working. I bought an older one because it was my first FW and people suggested learning on something cheaper. I will probably buy a new one or slightly used but I'll give it more time. It's easy to love the new ones when we check them out but I also look at the systems on newer ones and think that older may be better. The cheesy nature and shoddy workmanship of most rv's just doesn't seem like it's something that needs complexity added to it.
donn0128
Explorer II
May 21, 2015
My Creek is 10 years old and is likely my last fiver. New is nice, but....
Why have payments?
Why fork out for the depreciation?
$3500 for 6PT level up system
10K for full body paint.
5K for moreride suspension and disk brake conversion.

Seems to me that is still way under 30K + you would have to fork out for new.

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How long to keep RV when Full-timing?

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