As I read the forum, it is full of newer folks, like myself and extremely experienced folks that have lived the life for years and have a lot of lessons learned.Would be nice to hear to what you would do differently on your next purchase. For myself, I bought the model year end sale and felt that I did a good purchase, but it didn't have thermopane windows. My next purchase, I will insist on purchasing one with thermopanes.Anyone have thoughts about doing things differently "next time"?

My "next time" advice is:Buy a tow vehicle that will handle our next 2 (bigger and heavier) trailers.

I really like everything about my KZ, it's a good size, the features and equipment are good and the price was real good. Even if I had 3x as much to spend, I don't think I'd really get 3x more value from a more expensive brand.

There are a few changes since we bought ours. But overall I guess I would have to say we are pleased with our choice. Afterall we have had it for close to 12 years now.

Didn't know about RV.net when we purchased our current rig and truck nearly ten years ago. We got lucky as both TT and TV have served us well with no major issues with either other than general maintenance and upkeep. I have gleaned plenty from this forum since joining in 2008 and still enjoy perusing when time allows. We are planning to keep our current rig and leave it on a piece of property we own. With the kids all grown and busy with college/work they don't accompany us on most trips. We do intend to purchase another RV here in the next year or two, one that is ideally suited for couples. Next rig will certainly be more four seasons capable.

I am very pleased with my current TT (Outback 298RE). But it took several years of tent camping, pop-up camping, and two previous TT's to get it right. Actually, Tent, pop-up, and 2 previous TT's were the right decision AT THE TIME.That's the thing! Time changes things as things change in time! What works today may be completely bad a year from now. Yes, at the time Tent camping was perfect for us. It met our needs, we were happy, kids had a blast, life was good. But things changed over time ... we got a bit older, so did the kids. The ground got harder, joints began to hurt a bit more, it rained one too many times, our finances improved, our life-style improved, everything improved, no need for a tent any more, move up to a bit more luxury, comfort, soft bed, and DRY and WARM in the Fall and winter! Kids loved the pop-up. Then they got older, graduated high school, moved out!You see things change over time. We got older, making better money, more stable. Moved a few times, jobs changed, homes changed, constant change, change, change.Best advise I can provide a young family starting out camping, is to do it purchase your choice of camping (equipment) wisely.... what you can COMFORTABLY afford at the time, and grow and change as things around you change. Stay out of debt as much as possible. Live WELL inside your means. When things improve financially, THEN consider the next step in your camping experience. And face it... it's STILL true... your 3rd camper will be the one that should have been first. But really ... there just aren't too many of us that knew what that 3rd one would be until we got it!So, if you are planning on starting out camping or RV-ing ... stay within your means. yea! EVERYONE wants the $500,000 Monico Motor Home. But when you've got a beer budget, you simply cannot drink wine! So my advise ... expect life to change you.... and your camping style. Nothing stays the same. Be prepared for changes and expect them. Nothing wrong with that.EDIT:Consider the first car you owned / or drove / when you were 16 years old. What are you driving now? Would it make any sense to have the same car when you are 65? You see ... your needs changed .... so will your camping styles. Be prepared for changes, of of course, the greatest change, when we all reach a point we simply cannot do the camping "thing" any more, because age has taken too much toll on us. Then we make the ultimate "change" and have to "let it go!"

What would you do differently "next time"? | Good Sam Community

hbrady
Explorer
Nov 03, 2016
TrailerTraveler1 wrote:
X2 on a tow vehicle that can handle a bigger trailer....

X3, wish I STARTED with a 3500 SRW Diesel.
JAC1982
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
1) researched more. My husband was just a BF of a little over a year at the time and so I didn't feel like I could interject when he was rarin' to go and just buy our camper right off the lot, no negotiating, no asking to throw in a generator, nothing.

2) believed the salesman when he said his F150 could pull our trailer "no problem"

3) And, tied into #1 and #2, I wish we had just gotten a 5th wheel straight off the bat. But, the truck couldn't do a 5th wheel, and the 5th wheel we now want as our "long term" trailer, didn't exist in 2013.
jfkmk
Explorer
Oct 26, 2016
First one was a small class c. Loved it and had a lot of fun, but it was a pain for parking in towns and breaking camp every time we wanted to sight see. Also wasn't fond of the 7-8 mpg. That unit was used.

The first new one was a small TT. Easy to tow, easy to store on the side of the house, and once at came, easy to get around with just the tv. Gas mileage, even when towing is much better.

We love the TT, and about the only two things we would do differently are: Being small, there is a "pinch point" going from the front of the TT to the back. A slide would be great! Also, I would get one with a seating area other than the dinette.

That being said, this will do quite well for another five or so years until retirement then we'll get the slightly bigger unit for extended trips.
jmac
Explorer
Oct 26, 2016
If I could start over, I would go 'fulltime' earlier, I went when I was 60, fulltimed for 12 years, now due to medical we are off the road. Still have MOHO ,and hope to travel again next year. Happy with DP.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2016
We just bought a Cedar Creek 36CKTS. We have looked at this model for the past 4 years and everything else we looked at was compared to it. There is nothing about it that we don't like. Only regret was we didn't buy one 4 years ago. It's exactly what we wanted..No disappointments.

B.O.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2016
No regrets. 10 years, over 1600 nights, more than 100,000 miles on the trailer, done all the states at least twice, had our share of maintenance issues as expected with use, been to a few shows, looked around a few dealerships when getting parts, never once seen anything that we would trade what we have for.

This is what happens when thorough research is done before the first $ is put down.
OLYLEN
Explorer
Oct 25, 2016
Well next time I'm going to be rich and enjoy Halloween so much more.

LEN
CopilotCompanio
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
I have really enjoyed this thread. There are some very interesting observations here. Lemme ask a question. I've had a Class A and a Class C. I liked them both -- equally, really. Maybe I'm just the kind of person that is happy with whatever I have? I dunno?

Now, I find myself curious about travel trailers. Do I really want a travel trailer or is curiosity killing the cat? Again, I dunno? Will I buy an Arctic Fox TT & then think "I wonder what it would have been like if I had bought a fiberglass egg variety?" Does this curiosity about other rigs EVER go away?

Is this just the natural progression of things for your run-of-the-mill RVer? Maybe this curiosity is simply an RV manifestation of "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence?"

Thoughts?

/CC
TrailerTravele1
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
X2 on a tow vehicle that can handle a bigger trailer.

The only issue we have with our little Lance 1685 is that the shower is a bit cramped - next trailer will have a bigger shower - and we now have the Toyota Tundra to pull it. :)
Redterpos3
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
At the time I purchased I was drooling over the 5th wheels. I love space. And so I figured someday I would upgrade. Now, after using our trailer I realize that most 5th wheels do exactly what our current one does. The space would mean more propane for the heater, more time before cooling down in summer. More space means more junk I would carry with me. Now going to the shows I am not enticed which really surprises me. I enjoy what I have now, and I like having my bed in my truck to use for the stuff I want to carry with me!!