Most comments here are correct, even if in disagreement. It's all based on personal experience.
I'll make a few comments:
- if you can't embrace fixing and improving things as being part of the hobby, then you will likely be frustrated.
- if you can't stomach loosing most of your investment in 10-15 years and chalk it up to great value for the experience, then you will likely be frustrated.
It's like most hobby type investments. The experiences they give are where the value is. If you aren't making memories, then the value is poor.
We've been all over the country in ours, with over 300 nights in the first 2 years. Although I wouldn't be happy, the whole thing could rot away tomorrow and it has already provided a decent value. I wouldn't trade the memories back for the money.
I don't have much experience with different models, but I have noticed a clear difference between my entry level Thor product and my current mid-level Forest River. Neither meets my expectations, but the Surveyor is much, much closer. We keep it under a roof, and I do not question it will hold up nicely to 15 years or more.
