The most reliable Travel Trailer

a little more money? I guess $20,000 to $50,000 is a little more money to you, but it's a lot to me. Maybe you'll say that you get it back in resale, but I don't see that to be the case. I just checked NADA values for a random 23-foot Airstream, and it decreased in value from about $50K to $20K in 6 years. That's 60 percent depreciation in 6 years which is about normal for RVs.

I suspect if you looked at life cycle costs, keep the Airstream for 30-40 years, and look at resale, the Airstream probably actually would cost less than five new Jaycos. Each Jayco will cost more than the previous one due to annual CPI percentage cost increases, and each will suffer depreciation that has to be again recouped in the new purchase. The Airstream is paid for once, not five times. In fact in 30-40 years the fifth and last Jayco probably would cost around what the Airstream cost new 30-40 years prior. Look at Airstream prices in the mid 1970's or 80's and they were less than or equal to a similar size Jayco today. If you want to talk about square foot living space or ease in towing; that is a different topic. And since I have owned three cabover truck campers that have the highest cost per square foot living space of any RV, Airstreams look pretty big to me. I guess they don't look that big to you.

$20-50,000 spread over 30-40 years is not really all that much money. Buy that $35,000 Jayco five times and see how much of that $20-50,000 you saved by not purchasing the Airstream. I never said Airstreams are for everybody. I never suggested purchasing a new one, either. I never said they were cheap. I only responded to the OP when he asked about reliable travel trailers. What is more reliable than the fact that two thirds of all built are still on the road. Really pretty impressive stats. From my thirty years of RV ownership I have come to one conclusion that cheap is cheap. No hiding it, no getting around it, no trying to suggest that cheap can also be quality, and no doubt many shop price or floor plans. I get that. And the entry fee for an Airstream is substantial. That is a fact, no denying it.