Life expectancy of pickup campers...

ruthiebaby88 wrote:
How long do you expect a unit to last before it's more trouble than it's worth?

My lifetime, unless a major disaster hits it like a tree falling on it.

ruthiebaby88 wrote:
Is it better to get a newer/cheaper model or an older higher quality brand?

Only you can make that decision. For me, it was the older higher quality brand.

ruthiebaby88 wrote:
What do you expect to pay for yearly maintenance on your pickup camper?

I do not expect to pay anything per year for maintenance. Safe to say very little if any maintenance for 6 to 7 years. I refurbished/replaced/upgraded my TC in about a three year time frame, and used it weekly while doing so. I spent about $9000 total, material and parts only. I have done virtually no maintenance other than wash a couple of time a year, and wax maybe every other year.


I am of the belief the molded fiberglass TCs are the way to go for years of service with the least amount of maintenance, durability, and ease of repair.

I am the second owner of my 1988 Bigfoot, having purchased it in Feb 2004. It sat under (leaning against) an Oak Tree for at least seven years with no cover or maintenance before I bought it. It has never been under a cover since new, and is now 28 years old. I re-caulked when I bought it, and two or three times since. I had two windows leak, so I pulled and re-caulked all of them. No other leaks. I wax it once a year at most.

All TCs must have holes in the shell to accommodate windows and the appliances such as the fridge. Look at a non molded fiberglass TC shell. Every seam is prone to leaking. Typically, a 11.5 foot have over 60 feet of seams. The molded fiberglass has one seam, approximately 32 feet on a 11.5 foot TC and it has the top of the seam overlapping the bottom. I doubt it could leak at the seam if it had no caulk. Never heard of the wings rotting on a molded fiberglass.

I can put my Bigfoot under cover, I have a shop that will accommodate it. I prefer to use my shop for other things. I am in the process of building a 10'x20' shop just for my wood working tools. I could just as easily built it for the TC. When I bought ($1000) my 1988 Bigfoot it did not have the luxuries it now has. It now has all new or rebuild appliances, A/C, Solar (tilt-able), AGM battery, LEDs inside and out, Stable Lift, Wave3 heat, Microwave, TV, and Honda 2000 generator.