popup vs travel trailer

SoundGuy wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:
Seems obvious to me - if you want to enjoy the comforts offered by camping in a travel trailer rather than a popup the maintenance and costs involved in owning such a trailer are going to be exponentially greater. It's MUCH easier to justify owning a popup that may only get used a few times each season and the rest of the time just sit there than a travel trailer that over it's lifespan will cost it's owner a considerable amount, whether used often or rarely at all.

afidel wrote:
Just looked through the offerings at the dealer I bought my trailer from, only 2 base units (8' box with zero features) are significantly cheaper than what I bought my trailer for, everything else ranges from a few hundred less to a few thousand more. I haven't owned a popup but I have used one and the per-trip maintenance on a popup is enough more to easily make up for the annual sealant check on the travel trailer.

My current travel trailer is just 19', a couple's trailer that offers pretty well the same amenities as much larger TTs but in a smaller towing package. Here in Canada current 2019 models retail for a ridiculous $27,000 Cdn + any accessories one might want + hitch equipment + here in Ontario 13% tax, yet I'd be lucky to sell mine for half that. :E With the demise of Fleetwood Folding Trailers a.k.a. Coleman back in 2011 which among other reasons became just too expensive I know of no popup sold here that comes even remotely close to the cost of my little 19' dual axle travel trailer. In it's life I've had the brakes and bearings done twice $$$, the sealant checked and re-caulked several times $$$, and last summer a brand new set of 4 Goodyear Endurance tires installed $$$$. Our first popup, a Jayco Eagle 10UD we had for only one season and I put no $$ into it except for A/C which I later moved to our second popup. It was a Fleetwood with an ABS roof and the only $$ I spent on it was for a battery, two new tires 5 yrs in, and a bearing repack as we were heading out on a long trip west, no caulking of any kind needed. After 6 yrs, 200+ nights of camping, and ~ 35,000 miles of towing I sold that camper for more than half of what I paid for it as it was still in essentially new condition as I was able to park it year round in my heated workshop, which I obviously can't do with a travel trailer. The costs to maintain these 2 popups over 8 yrs and at least 40,000 miles were insignificant compared to the costs of not only buying but also maintaining our current travel trailer which when it someday sells will have depreciated significantly more in $$$$$ than would any popup simply because it cost more in the first place AND it's had to live it's life outdoors exposed to the elements. When it comes to the total cost of ownership a popup wins hands down over any travel trailer every time, no question about it.

Ah, see my trailer was $12,500 and most of the popups at that same dealer are $11,500 to $16,500, there are those two stripped units for $8,000 but everything else is close enough to my trailer as to make no difference.