your rig

sdianel wrote:
we bought our DP in 2005 and have been full timing since 2009. Same rig. No plans to trade it in. We haven't found one we like better. Ours is 33' with 2 slides.

Just checked that Allure out online..... Very nice. I like the size!

First new trailer was a 1991 NuWa 40ft Champange, traded it in 1998 for a 38ft Champagne, still have it. Maintenance is the magic word.

Jim

We bought our fulltime 5er used been in it for 5 years it's now eleven years old plan on keeping it till I win the lotto or the wheels fall off then buy another good used unit. We have replaced a few things, new window coverings in BR, DW wants new carpet and window coverings in the living room. We really like the floorplan.

For us, the biggest headache as full timers was initial warranty work on our new rig. If you are traveling all over you probably will not be close to your "selling dealer" when a repair is needed that first year or two. At least with Keystone Montana dealers it was like pulling teeth to get them to honor our factory warranty in a timely manner since we didn't purchase the unit from them. For that reason we wouldn't be trading very often as full timers.

But the main reason we would stay in a unit for up to 10 years before trading would be modifications and maintenance. Once you get the bugs worked out of a new fiver and get all the options installed you need/want it is time to sit back and enjoy. I really don't think it is much different than owning a sticknbrick in that respect, you probably wouldn't switch houses every 2 or 3 years.

After 18 months of looking at new fifthwheels, we purchased our current rig in 2008 to vacation in, and in 2010 we realized we weren't at the house enough to make the house worth keeping. Been fulltiming since then. We have a 34 ft Hitchhiker II LS and we love it. We keep looking at newer rigs but with the mods we've done over time to this one, nothing new is near as good. Swapped out the old nasty carpet this year, and will likely keep upgrading things here and there until we're forced into a new rig.

I read someplace full-timer RVers trade for something different every three to four years.

Not us. Have the same 5th wheel trailer since we started full-time RVing October 2004. But then have the same truck too.

I've talked to a lot of full-timers over the years before we started full-timing, and in the time since.

If the couple/ person were not experienced long time RVers - they tended to purchase a second full-time rig within two-three years of starting to full-time. Didn't get it right the first time. (Applies to us - we have realized we would be better off in a 33-34 ft gas class A).

Once folks get a rig they like and that works for them - they tend to keep it for many years.

Full-timers seem to prefer to keep their rig 6-10 years. The number of full-timers I've met with over 10 year old rigs is significant, but most would like to get a newer rig, but haven't found one which fits their needs and budget.

Experienced full-timers seem to be very comfortable with purchasing a used 3-5 year old rig and keeping it for 10 years.

We used our 33' 5th wheel for 8 years.

We used the 40' motorhome for 10 years.

We have a 2007 Holiday Rambler we purchased in 2006. Would like to get a new one but no one makes the floor plan we have any more and we are not willing to give it up. Our solution was to get the interior updated last year with new carpet, new tile, new MCD shades through out, and a home style refrigerator.

Now good for another 7 years.

Been in ours, full time, since June 2006.

It needs some things refreshed, like upholstery, and window treatments.

We are going to keep it or buy new.

Right now we haven't reached a decision.